The Sugarcreek Surprise

Wanda E. Brunstetter

Mar 2022 · Creektown Discoveries Book 2 · Barbour Publishing

About this ebook

Book 2 in the Creektown Discoveries series. 
Antique Store Owners Offer Romance Advice to a Smitten Carpenter

Welcome to Sugarcreek, Ohio, where the Amish schoolteacher has a determined admirer. Tragically losing her parents as a child, Lisa Miller has grown up being afraid of loving and losing. She dedicates herself to teaching at an Amish schoolhouse and helping the grandparents who raised her, all the while avoiding the advances of newcomer Paul Herchberger. Paul enjoys antiques and meets Orley Troyer while looking for unique old milk bottles at yard sales. Orley and his wife offer prayers and advice as Paul tries to reach Lisa’s closed heart. But when secrets are revealed, will Lisa use them as an excuse to close herself off again?
 

Ratings and reviews

This is book 2 of the Creektown Discoveries series. I had previously read the first in the series. They are both nice and clean Amish stories. This was an enjoyable story with two people that need to heal from their past trials and disappointments. I really liked Paul's character. I liked how he didn't give up on Lisa and his patience was very endearing to me. I loved seeing the Troyers return in this book and mentor the struggling couple. They were very patient, caring and trusting in God's hand in the paths of the people they help. I loved Maggie, the stray dog, who also had her trials as well and helped to show Lisa how to be able to love again. There were a few slower sections in the book, but I still enjoyed it very much. If you enjoy Amish romance, you will enjoy reading this book. I received a copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and NetGalley and was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

Paul finds himself fascinated with Lisa from the moment he meets her. She seems familiar to him, but he cannot imagine how they could have met. As Paul spends more time with Lisa, he finds himself falling for her. Paul is not sure how to get Lisa to open up her heart to love. Paul meets Orley and his wife, Lois at their antique shop, Memory Keepers while searching for a special milk bottle. Orley and Lois offer advice to Paul on how to break past Lisa’s walls as well as their prayers. Just when Paul believes he is making progress with Lisa, a secret comes to light that has the door to Lisa’s heart closing. What will it take for Lisa to be open to love? The Sugarcreek Surprise by Wanda E. Brunstetter is the second Creektown Discoveries novel. It can be read as a standalone for those who have not indulged in The Walnut Creek Wish. I thought The Sugarcreek Surprise was well-written with developed characters. The story had a good flow and moved along at a steady pace. I liked the characters in this story that included Lisa’s grandparents, Paul’s Uncle Abe, Lois and Orley Troyer, and the sweet, Maggie. Maggie is a dog that follows Lisa home from school and becomes devoted to her. There are good life lessons in the story. Lisa needs to learn that you cannot close yourself off from close relationships just to avoid pain. Pain is a part of life just like love. The two work hand in hand. Faith is an essential element in this tale. We get to see the importance of prayer and trusting God. My favorite quote from The Sugarcreek Surprise is “We as humans can only do so much, but Jesus can work out any problem no matter how big it is.” There is some repetition in the story especially about Lisa and how she does not wish to marry. The ending will leave you smiling, and I am glad there was an epilogue. I am eager to read the third novel in the Creektown Discoveries series. There are two recipes at the end along with discussion questions. The Sugarcreek Surprise is a touching Amish tale with a protective pooch, a distressed schoolteacher, a caring carpenter, gentle grandparents, sweet students, and a gracious God.

5 Stars, A unique view of daily Amish living THE SUGARCREEK SURPRISE (CREEKTOWN DISCOVERIES SERIES, VOLUME 2) by Wanda E. Brunstetter This delightful inspirational novel has a little bit of everything in it. There is PTSD-Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Romance, being thwarted at love, mentoring, children, family, pets, daily living in the Amish way of life, loss of parents and grandparents, matchmaking, health issues, church, singing, and prayer. All of which come together in the best way to make a great novel. The story revolves around Lisa Miller and Paul Herchberger as the main characters, but just as important are the behind-the-scenes mentors Orley and Lois Troyer, owners of the Memory Keepers Antique Store. They are central to the storyline in both books in this series. Orley likes to visit with his customers, mentoring anyone who needs help that he can give. Lois has a newspaper column called Dear Caroline, where she gives anonymous advice to people who write to her column. They both feel led to mentor and help out anyone who needs it. The author knows how to tug at your heartstrings to make you feel as though you are inside of her stories, living in the events with her characters. With much gratitude, I received a complimentary copy of #thesugarcreeksuprise from the author and #barbourpublishinginc I was under no obligation to post a review. #heartstrings #contemporaryromance #amishfiction #coverlove #favoritebooks #creektowndiscoveriesseries #inspirational #indiana #ohio #wandabrunstetter #antiques

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.