Where Is the Hope in Grief for a Young Amish Widow? Sylvia has been nearly paralyzed with grief and anxiety since the tragic death of her husband, father, and brother in a traffic accident. She tries to help in the family’s greenhouse while caring for her two young children, but she prefers not to have to deal with customers. Her mother’s own grief causes her to hover over her children and … children and grandchildren, and Sylvia seeks a diversion. She takes up birdwatching and soon meets an Amish man who teaches her about local birds. But Sylvia’s mother doesn’t trust Dennis Weaver, and as the relationship sours, mysterious attacks on the greenhouse start up again.
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This is a well written book that hooks you on the first page and doesn’t let go. This is book two of the Amish Greenhouse Mystery series, it can be read as a stand alone, but It’s so much better if you read book one, The Crow’s Call. This is a wonderful series that has just enough suspense, drama and romance to keep you turning the pages. I love this series and can’t wait to read the next book. Thank you Barbour Publishing – Shiloh Run Press via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
It’s hard grieving for those we’ve loved and lost to death. In this second book of the Amish Greenhouse mystery series, Sylvia, her mom, sister and brother are still missing the three men in their lives that died in a tragic buggy accident. Almost a year has passed and they are trying to get on with their daily routines. Their greenhouse is still getting struck by mysterious sabotage and phone threats trying to make them shut down and move. Add to the mix a nosy Englisher across the street, Virginia, a male named Monroe trying to get in good with Belinda (the mother), and a shaggy “homeless” woman named Maude and strange, sometimes funny happenings befall the family. Sylvia decides to rent her house she lived in with her husband, now deceased, to a newcomer to the area, Dennis. She, her brother Henry and Dennis all enjoy birding together. Her mother Belinda disapproves of her friendship with Dennis. Join this Amish family in their new adventures working, loving and living. You don’t have to read book one to enjoy this one but it makes the relationships easier to understand.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley but was not required to write a review.
I’ve been waiting for Wanda Burnstetter’s second Amish Greenhouse Mystery, The Mockingbird’s Song, and it was worth the wait. This book focuses on Sylvia, and the grief she is mired in after the devastating loss of not only her husband but also her father and brother. There is no timeline on grief. As the anniversary of the accident approaches, she is still content to keep close to her mother’s home, her haven from the outside world. The home she shared with her husband is closed up and remains the same as the day of the accident.
It was a complete surprise to all when she allowed newcomer Dennis Weaver the option to rent her house and set up his horse training business on the grounds. Change is in the air for both Sylvia and Dennis, two people who needed a fresh start in life.
The mystery of the Amish Greenhouse remains unsolved but the random acts of vandalism hit closer to home each time. As this book concludes, one has to wonder if it is the neighbor who mistrusts the Amish, rambunctious teens on rumspringa, or the owners of the new bigger Englisch greenhouse? Or someone else entirely? I enjoyed The Mockingbird’s Song, possibly because once again we see a glimpse into human nature. The good, the surprising and some that could use a little improvement. whether the reader is Englisch or Amish, we are more alike than we think.
Interesting story filled with mystery, grief and the possibility of hope and love. I enjoy reading stories by Wanda E. Brunstetter. I received a complimentary copy of the book and was under no obligation to post a review.
As always Brunstetter’s book are wonderful!
I loved everything about this book except for one of the characters.
I did not care for Virginia. Not even the slightest bit! In fact, she and her husband has driven me crazy throughout the whole story! I don’t understand how someone can be like that. I think she’s a person who’d be unhappy no matter where she lives!
Belinda is my favorite character. I liked how she held her head up high no matter what situation she’s in. She’s just trying to get through life as best as she can. She’s strong and stalwart and still manages to get the job done.
I especially enjoyed learning about the bird watching! it’s making me want to go and try my hand at it. I thought it was very interesting. I learned a lot!
I admire Sylvia too. People handle grief differently and I think Sylvia will be ok. It just takes time and we will always miss our loved ones. I know I miss my family a lot to this day! You don’t just “get over it” like a so called friend told me to do once.
In my opinion, Sylvia is doing a fabulous job and I like how Brunstetter has portrayed her. I keep finding myself wanting to “pray” for her but then I catch myself.
I think that because this book doesn’t offer any closure, there’s more to come about this interesting family. I have a feeling that Brunstetter is holding out and is going to surprise us when we least expect it. I’m really looking forward to it!
I highly recommend this book. Brunstetter’s a wonderful author and I enjoy her writings very much
My thanks to Netgalley and Barbour publishing for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review and all opinions are my own.
I enjoyed the first book in the Amish Greenhouse Mysteries series The Crow’s Call and looked forward to the The Mockingbird’s Song. I was not disappointed! Although this is the second book in the series, it works well as a stand-alone since Ms. Brunstetter provides rich details from the first story to bridge the two books. With her expert storytelling skills, Ms. Brunstetter continues the story of the King family focusing mainly on the oldest daughter Sylvia as she after 8 months is still struggling seemingly more than the rest of the family with the devastating loss of her father, husband, and brother. Vandalism at the greenhouse continues, but more emphasis is put on Sylvia’s journey of faith, grief recovery, and her relationship with a new love rather than the mystery of the vandalism which still remains unsolved at the end of this book. Although this book is not as suspenseful as the first one, it kept my interest with its own surprises. The faith element is strong affirming the spiritual values of forgiveness and accepting God’s will. The characters primary and secondary are well-crafted and engaging. I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the third book in the series The Robin’s Greeting to see how the mystery plays out. I highly recommend this book especially for fans of Amish fiction.
I received a copy of this book in e-book form from the publisher via netgalley but am under no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
King family, december.
Christmas is near and it’s an happy occasion to be all together with the family, unlucky Daddy, brother and husband died 8 months ago.
Sylvia is still greaving.
Mom explains her: “Everyone deals with their grief in different way”.
We must have patience, time will help.
Sylvia doesn’t like to go and work in the Greenhouse, so she stays at home with her 2children, mourning, sad and pity herself.
Luckily her brother Henry introduces her to a new hobby: birdwatching, that slowly makes her smile again.
But some strange and bad things happened at the Greenhouse..
I enjoyed reading this book, I’m looking forward to read the next book in this mystery, amish serie,’The robin’s greeting”!
This book is the second in the series Amish Greenhouse Mysteries. I read the first book and agreed to read this one to see if any of the unfinished business of the first book was addressed or cleared up. Sadly, it was not. I gave the first book a 2-star rating for this. I give this book a 3-star rating as it was better written in my opinion. Most books get a 3-star rating, a great book gets 4 stars and a really fantastic book gets the elusive 5-star review, just for reference.
This book did continue the story but it did not address the mysteries going on or give a definitive answer to who or why the problems were occurring. It also still had the neighbors that live across the street in the story but their part did not do anything for this except as filler as far as I could see. Another thing I did not like was so much repeating from the first book. This was done a lot in the first 1/4 to 1/3 of the story. I guess it helps if you didn’t read the first book but even so, it was too much unnecessary information, which again seemed like more filler than needed information.
Now, on to what I did like. The story was interesting and the new character introduced was nice. It was focused more on the relationship between the oldest daughter and the new character than anything else. Once the story got started, without the references to the previous book, things flowed pretty well. But, again, it ended without coming to any conclusions.
The copy I received was an ARC and the editing was mostly well done. It does need another review/clean up but hopefully, that will be done. I was given a copy through Netgalley by Barbour Publishers and Shiloh Run Press. The review is totally my own and not required nor influence.
This Amish story has many life lessons that apply to all walks of life. A devastated young widow with two small children trying to be a great mom while suffering from the loss of her husband as well as her father and brother in a buggy accident is quite the trial. How she overcomes her grief is a gradual process and one to learn from in this book.
While reading book 2 of this series, Amish Greenhouse Mysteries, I easily imagined what it was like in their lives, in their homes and in their relationships.
It is well written by Wanda Brunstetter. I’ve enjoyed all her books.I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.