Amish Cooking Class - The Celebration

Wanda E. Brunstetter

Feb 2018 · Amish Cooking Class Book 3 · Barbour Publishing

About this ebook

Return to Holmes County, Ohio, for Amish style cooking class.

Lyle and Heidi Troyer have taken in a brother and sister, who were orphaned when their parents were killed in a car accident. Hoping to help the children adapt and make friends, Heidi decides to hold a series of cooking classes for kids. But kids are always accompanied by an adult—and that is where the trouble arises.
 
Miranda Cooper is living the life of a single mom to her two kids while separated from her husband, but Trent is trying to worm his way back into her heart.
 
Denise McGuire’s life as a wife, mom, and real estate broker is full and spilling over.
 
Darren Keller, single dad and firefighter, and Ellen Blackburn, single mom and nurse, find a few things in common.
 
Will hearts be healed over plates of Amish food?

This is the third book in The Amish Cooking Class series.
Book #1:  The Amish Cooking Class - The Seekers
Book #2:  The Amish Cooking Class - The Blessing

Ratings and reviews

The Celebration is enjoyable. I like that you get to meet all the families and it rotational. It not with only one family and I like that. I like how Wanda does that with this book and series. I like Hedi Toyer and how we see how she has struggled. We alway see how she reaches out to other children and their parents along the way as she is trying to help her foster children adjust and get to know other children. We meet the Velma and her family. We also see the other families and meet them. Will they all heal over this Amish food and cooking class. Then gain they may form friendships they did not know will happen. The one thing I noticed that I wish was different was that it gave us more of the children point of view more. It was a cooking class for children. I was hoping that would let see the children point of view along with the parents point of view. The plot is done well. Wanda Brunstetter as done herself well with this book. I know this is the third book in the series. I want to read the other two hopefully soon. I would recommend any of Wanda’s books to read. This is good. This one is unique to me and have yet to see and Amish author do it the way she as.

Amish Cooking Class – The Celebration by Wanda E. Brunstetter is the third book in this Amish series. Lyle and Heidi Troyer are enjoying being foster parents to Marsha and Randy. The two children lost their parents in an auto accident and have been living with the Troyer’s for the last four months. Marsha is starting to talk, but Randy still refuses to obey Heidi at times. Lyle suggests that Heidi hold cooking classes for children. It will give the kids a chance to socialize with other children. Heidi quickly learns that teaching children is very different from adults. Anything can and will happen especially when children are present. Heidi has a diverse group in her latest cooking class. Miranda Cooper is estranged from her husband which leaves her managing their two children on her own. Her husband, Trent wants to return home and hopes Miranda will forgive him for his transgression. Darren Keller is a widower whose son loves cookies. The cooking classes will teach the boy cooking and keep him occupied. Denise McGuire might as well be raising her daughter on her own. Her husband is busy with work and Kassidy is getting out of control. Ellen Blackburn is a single mother. Her daughter, Becky is very shy, and Ellen hopes the class will help the child come out of her shell. Velma Kimball and her family have moved in down the street. Velma would like her daughter, Peggy Ann to attend the class. Due to lack of funds, though, she cannot afford it and hopes to work out a trade with Heidi. With God’s help, Heidi will make it through the six weeks of classes and hopefully help each of these families. Amish Cooking Class – The Celebration can be read alone, but I highly recommend reading the first two books in this lovely, heartwarming series. I found the book to be well-written and to have a nice pace. I was immediately drawn into the story and I did not want to stop reading. I stayed up very late to finish this marvelous book. Heidi is such a sweet woman with a big heart. The author created characters that are very real. They have problems in their lives that readers can relate to. The scripture provided on the back of the recipe cards plus the behavior they witness in the Troyer home guides each of them. They begin to question their lives and make changes. Some of the themes present in Amish Cooking Class – The Celebration are forgiveness, grace, love, friendship, prayer, trusting God, family, helping others and learning from our mistakes. We all make mistakes (sometimes the same one over and over). The trick is to learn from them. Amish Cooking Class – The Celebration is my favorite book in the series. I enjoyed reading each of them, but this one is special. The children added another element to the story. Your heart will go out to the families especially the Kimball’s. This is one of those books that will tug at your heartstrings as well as provide you with moments of laughter. The ending was delightful. Ms. Brunstetter did a fabulous job of wrapping up the various storylines and providing readers with a joyous conclusion. Fans of Wanda E. Brunstetter and Amish fiction will be delighted with Amish Cooking Class – The Celebration.

Oh, how I enjoyed being back in Heidi Troyer’s warm, inviting kitchen as she begins another cooking class, this one different than past classes. The warmth of friendship and love found in the Troyer home and the Walnut Creek area is a gift. Gentle, uplifting conversations, real-world challenges and disappointments, and wisdom gained through heartache allow Heidi and her beloved husband, Lyle, make this a read that I have looked forward to. This is third in the Amish Cooking Class series, and it can be read as a standalone. The first page invited me into the novel, and I was happy to stay there throughout. Heidi and Lyle have had foster children Randy and Marsha for several months since their parents died in an accident, and would like to adopt them. Randy is 6, and protective of his 3-year-old sister Marsha, who rarely speaks unless spoken to. When they discuss how best to help the children, Lyle suggests that it is time for a new cooking class, this time for children, so Randy and Marsha might benefit from interacting with other children. This group of students certainly gives Heidi something to think about! The children’s behaviors are … different … as are some of the parents. Enter Jeremy, whose mom died two years ago; one of the girls claims he kicks her under the table. Kevin and Debbie’s mom sent their dad packing a few weeks ago and nothing is the same. They are interested in the farm animals and chickens. Kassidy is one of the oldest, and the wealth of her family gives her a real ‘tude. She talks back to or tries to pick fights with everyone. Becky learns a huge secret that will change her life. She has a helicopter mom, who did everything for her in the first class. This is the most challenging group to date! It is a relief to Heidi when she sees a couple of her former students who are now friends. When Heidi meets their new neighbors, she wants to help them. Young Peggy is very clingy, which is hard for her mom, Velma. Velma’s husband Hank is a truck driver, away for days at a time. Their oldest son left home at 18 and never looked back; their 17-year-old daughter just left with her boyfriend. Velma’s heart is broken, but she is willing to do any kind of chore in exchange for Peggy to take cooking lessons. Some of the class interactions aren’t pretty, but peace-loving Heidi is lovingly firm with those who misbehave. The author has a gift for including a variety of personalities and walking in their moccasins while portraying them! She puts an eclectic mix into Heidi’s kitchen and brings something new to each one. One thing I enjoyed was seeing Heidi visiting students from her prior classes, showing how friendship transcends the business. There are interesting twists that occur within each family. There are so many balls in the air, so to speak, that it is amazing to see how the author catches each one perfectly without missing a child. Heidi plumbs a well of compassion and kindness that is a direct result of her relationship with the Lord. I also enjoyed seeing the effect her gentle surprises on the recipe cards had on the students and/or parents. There are surprises throughout; no reader wants to miss the Celebration at the end. I highly recommend The Celebration, as well as the earlier two novels. This is a must-read series! From a grateful heart: I received a copy of this from the publisher and NetGalley, and here 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.