The Hope Jar

Wanda E. Brunstetter

Aug 2018 · The Prayer Jars Book 1 · Barbour Publishing

About this eBook

Michelle is not who her new Amish family believes her to be, but how can she tell the truth without hurting the ones she has come to love?
 

Ratings and reviews

I have always enjoyed Ms. Brunstetter's books. In The Hope Jar, she gives us a new twist. It is a story of sweet Amish grandparents and an English granddaughter. I loved the way we got to see both worlds. We see what it would be like to be dropped down in Lancaster County, with no prior knowledge. On the side of the Amish grandparents, there big surprise is a granddaughter. The child of there daughter that ran away at the age of 18. When they received a letter from Sara the granddaughter, they had made plans to meet her at the bus station. Due to a mistaken identity, they bring home Michelle Taylor instead. I wasn't too sure I would like Michelle, especially when she continued to lie. At the begging she was desperate to get out of town. She had no family, no place to live, no money and she was running from an abusive boyfriend. She saw an opportunity and toke advantage of it. She finally had someone who cared for her. Someone who didn't abuse her or want something from her. It got harder and harder to tell the truth. She didn't want to hurt the Lapps, but that is just what she did. I loved the way Michelle found the blue Mason jar in the barn with the prayers and Bible scriptures. My mom told me her mother, my grandmother, would hide dollar bills in a Mason jar in their barn. She buried them in the corner for safe keeping. Wanda Brunstetter has such a way of creating characters that just pop off her pages. Michele was someone we could relate to, even if we have not been in her position before. As in all of her books, Ms. Brunstetter brings Christian values throughout her story. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it. I received a copy of this book from Shiloh Run Press through NetGalleys. The opinions expressed in this book are my own.

The Hope Jar by Wanda E. Brunstetter is the first novel in The Prayer Jars series. Sara Murray’s mother passed away two weeks ago without revealing the identity of her birth father. Sara is going through her mother’s Bible when she finds a letter telling her about her Amish maternal grandparents. Excited to find out more about her family and potentially her birth father, Sara writes to them about her impending visit. Mary Ruth and Willis Lapp are at the bus station looking for Sara. They notice woman with red hair who resembles their deceased daughter, Rhoda and approach her. Michelle Taylor is looking for a fresh start away from her abusive boyfriend and the Lapp’s provide it. Mary Ruth is so excited to meet her granddaughter that she does not give Michelle, a chance to talk and she soon finds herself off to their home. Michelle quickly settles into life on the Lapp’s farm enjoying the serenity and the lifestyle. She feels guilty for deceiving them, but Michelle does not know how to correct the situation. One day in the barn, Michelle finds a blue mason jar filled with slips of paper. On the slips of paper are quotes, prayers, thoughts and Scripture that speak to Michelle and budding faith. Michelle has come to love the Lapp’s, but what will happen when they discover the truth. Can they forgive her deception? The Hope Jar is a lovely, fulfilling story. I thought it was well-written with steady pacing which makes the book easy to read (and enjoy). The Hope Jar captured and held my attention. It is an intriguing and thought-provoking novel. The book contains good characters with my favorite being the Lapp’s. They are such sweet, welcoming down-to-earth people. Mary Ruth shares her love, wisdom and faith with her family, friends and the people she encounters on her journey through life. I could feel the Lapp’s heartbreak when they found out that Michelle was deceiving them. While The Hope Jar focuses on Michelle, there are sections with Sara’s story from her point-of-view. I hope we find out more about Sara in the next novel. We get to see Michelle grow throughout the story, though, she still has a way to go (as do we all). At the end of the book, there are still unresolved issues. I like the inclusion of the history of the Amish people. It provides insight into the Amish religion and their way of life. There are discussion questions and recipes at the end of the book. The Hope Jar is a story of faith, hope and love. I look forward to reading The Forgiving Jar when it releases.

The Hope Jar is first in a new series, The Prayer Jars, by Wanda Brunstetter, a gifted storyteller who reflects the Amish faith and way of life with sensitivity and clarity. It is a beautiful novel of faith, love, and relationship. The characters come to life through their words and actions, even if some might have begun with deception. Sara’s mom passed away after a short bout of cancer. She left a surprise for Sara that she could have never imagined. Sara never knew who her father was; her mother married when she was six, but Sara never got close to Dean. Her mother had a very different life before Sara was born, and she is stunned at the revelation that will change her life forever. Michelle is unemployed again, and ready to pack and run. The man she is dating is abusive, and she refuses to stay in the same situation her mother lived in. The best thing that happened was going into foster care. While her heart aches that she never saw her younger brothers again, she did have one good foster family. What she wants the most is to be part of a loving family, to be loved, accepted, and belong somewhere. She is at the train station to see where she could go with the money she has left when her life changes forever. Willis and Mary Ruth Lapp have a life of love and faith. The ache of their heart is that their daughter, Rhoda, left home more than twenty years ago without a word from her since. Mary Ruth is a woman of prayer, relying on the Lord for everything. They go to the train station when and where they believe they are to pick up Rhoda's daughter. They see a young woman with red hair the color of Rhoda’s and run to welcome her. Their lives change forever. One thing that will bind together the hearts of at least two of the characters is the contents of jars hidden in the barn and basement of the Lapps’ home. The scripture verses and prayers contribute to the change of at least two lives in this novel – the one who wrote them, and the one who finds and meditates on them. Of all the characters, I like Mary Ruth best because of her faith and the love she pours out on those around her. I grew to like Michelle a great deal, despite her actions, as her background resulted in her desire – and human need for – the love and acceptance of a family. This reader got to know each of the primary characters well as the novel progressed. This heartwarming novel shows the power of love and hope that Christians can share in the lives of others as a reflection of God’s love for us. The Lapps are down-to-earth people who have had their share of pain and loss and gift others with what they received from the Lord. They don’t know anything about Sara/ Michelle yet they freely give their love as they would their family or to anyone in their Amish community. I enjoyed watching the changes in a city girl who didn’t want to be near chickens or hogs, and who didn’t know about God’s love for her. The Lapps are a sermon in action, giving the world-weary a remarkable picture of Amish life. I like how some of the circumstances were resolved by the end, but wanted to see more time devoted to Sara (maybe in the next in series) and felt as if the end came too quickly. I am looking for the next novel in the series, and highly recommend this one to those who appreciate well-written Amish fiction. From a grateful heart: I received a copy of the e-arc from the publisher and NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

About the author

New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Wanda E. Brunstetter is one of the founders of the Amish fiction genre. She has written more than 100 books translated in four languages. With over 11 million copies sold, Wanda's stories consistently earn spots on the nation's most prestigious bestseller lists and have received numerous awards. Wanda’s ancestors were part of the Anabaptist faith, and her novels are based on personal research intended to accurately portray the Amish way of life. Her books are well-read and trusted by many Amish, who credit her for giving readers a deeper understanding of the people and their customs. When Wanda visits her Amish friends, she finds herself drawn to their peaceful lifestyle, sincerity, and close family ties. Wanda enjoys photography, ventriloquism, gardening, bird-watching, beachcombing, and spending time with her family. She and her husband, Richard, have been blessed with two grown children, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. To learn more about Wanda, visit her website at www.wandabrunstetter.com.