Anna's Healing

Vannetta Chapman

Oct 2015 · Plain and Simple Miracles Book 1 · Harvest House Publishers

About this ebook

Anna's Healing is the first book in a brand-new collection from popular author Vannetta Chapman. These stories of love and family and Amish community in Oklahoma tell of the miracles that can happen when lives are lived in service to God and to one another.

When a tornado strikes the farms surrounding Cody's Creek, Anna Schwartz's life is changed forever. She suffers a spinal cord injury and suddenly finds herself learning to live as a paraplegic.

Three people—Chloe Roberts, Jacob Graber, and Ruth Schwartz—join forces to help Anna through her darkest days. Chloe is an Englischer who writes for the local paper. Jacob has recently arrived in town and stays on as a hired hand at her uncle's. And Ruth is her grandmother, a woman of deep faith and a compassionate spirit.

Then one morning Anna wakes and finds herself healed. How did it happen? Why did it happen? And what is she to do now? Her life is again turned upside down as the world's attention is drawn to this young Amish girl who has experienced the unexplainable.

Ratings and reviews

I just finished Vannetta Chapman’s latest book Anna’s Healing. Anna Schwartz has moved from her home in Goshen, Indiana to Cody’s Creek, Oklahoma to live with her Uncle Samuel, Aunt Erin, and her grandmother, Ruth. She is helping with the corn harvest when a tornado touches down. The horses take off and Anna is thrown from the wagon. Jacob Graber, a young Amish man who is a traveling farm worker, finds her first and saves her from the second tornado. Anna is airlifted to Tulsa where it is discovered she has suffered a spinal injury. She has a complete break in her lower spine. The doctor states that she will not be able to walk. Anna is confined to a wheelchair and the family as well as the community work on revamping her Uncle Samuel’s home to suit a wheelchair. Anna’s accident turns out to be a blessing for the family. It changes her dour Uncle Samuel and Aunt Erin. They start becoming more sociable, friendly, and a stronger faith. Anna’s friend, Chloe Roberts is there for Anna. Chloe met Anna while writing an article on produce stands in Amish country for Mayes County Chronicle. They become friends and starting spending more time together. She also introduced Anna to her mother who is involved in making quilts for Project Linus. Anna starts making colorful little quilts for the project. Jacob and Anna grow closer during this time, but Anna does not feel that she would be a good wife. Jacob states he is willing to wait. Nine months later after being ill for some time and everyone thinking Anna would not recover, Anna wakes up and can move her feet. She gets up and can walk. Everyone is shocked and thrilled. The doctor does a new MRI and Anna is completely recovered. The media flock to her uncle’s farm as well as people who want her to heal them. Is it a miracle? How did it happen? How will this affect Anna’s family and friends? Anna's Healing is well-written and interesting. Is there such a thing as miracles? The prologue and epilogue are written from Chloe’s point-of-view. The rest of the book is written as third person with an overall perspective (but focuses on Anna). The book is heavy on scripture as Anna’s Mammi frequently quotes scripture and prayer. Can prayer and a strong faith make a difference? I did not enjoy Anna’s Healing as well as Vannetta Chapman’s other books. I found some things to be a little odd in the book. For instance they let Anna goes off by herself when people are trying to get her (and they have a Governor’s special task force protecting her and the farm). This book will leave with you questions and you will ponder about it after you have finished reading the book (which is what books are supposed to do). Some sections in the books were easy to read and others were more difficult (like slogging through a mud). Overall, I enjoyed Anna’s Healing, and I look forward to reading more books by Vannetta Chapman. I give Anna’s Healing 4 out of 5 stars. I received a complimentary copy of Anna’s Healing from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

About the author

Vannetta Chapman writes inspirational fiction full of grace. She has published over one hundred articles in Christian family magazines, receiving more than two dozen awards from Romance Writers of America chapter groups. She discovered her love for the Amish while researching her grandfather’s birthplace of Albion, Pennsylvania. Her novel Falling to Pieces was a 2012 ACFW Carol Award finalist. A Promise for Miriam earned a spot on the June 2012 Christian Retailing Top Ten Fiction list. Chapman was a teacher for 15 years and currently writes full time. She lives in the Texas Hill Country with her husband. For more information, visit her at www.VannettaChapman.com