The Hawaiian Discovery Review

Posted by abakersp in Amish / 1 Comment

Hi friends! I am finally getting caught up on reviews, so if you suddenly see a bunch of them post on goodreads, you’ll know why 😉 I’ll try to space them out on the blog so your inbox doesn’t go too crazy. Ha! I’m starting out with the latest book by Wanda and Jean Brunstetter. It wasn’t my favorite book by them, but I still enjoyed it. I have to be honest, the review was hard to write, because the very thing I didn’t like about the book is a huge spoiler. So I can really only talk about it with people who have already read it. It happens every now and then – a book that you just assume you will love falls a bit short. But still, it’s a good book for Amish fans!

About the Book

Ellen Lambright mourned when her best friend, Mandy, moved from Indiana to Hawaii. But now Ellen has received the Amish church’s permission to go to Hawaii and help Mandy through challenging times. Rob Smith works on the Williams family’s organic farm, far from his past mistakes and burning regrets. When Ellen befriends Rob, the attraction is mutual, but her commitment to the Amish faith stands between them. Could a heartfelt discovery lead to forgiveness, reunion, and love? Or is Ellen’s destiny waiting for her in Indiana?

Find out in this sequel to The Hawaiian Quilt from New York Times bestselling author Wanda E. Brunstetter, writing with her daughter-in-law Jean Brunstetter.

My Perspective

I was surprised at the fact that I thought this book was just “ok”. I have been a fan of Wanda Brunstetter for awhile, and especially enjoy it when she teams up with Jean Brunstetter. But there was just something a little bit off about this book for me. To be honest, I think it was Rob’s character. I can’t go into details, because it will ruin the surprise in the story line, but I will say that what happened to his character I think was just a little bit too much for me. It seemed almost forced to make the story line work, and not natural or realistic. Now, there are tons of great reviews for this book, so remember that this is merely my opinion!

The setting of this book was absolutely stunning, I mean it’s Hawaii! But even Hawaii needs a good author to describe its beauty, and Wanda and Jean have done a wonderful job in doing that. They have a way of writing to make me feel like I am in both Indiana and Hawaii just by closing my eyes. I also enjoyed Ellen’s character. She shows what a true friend is like, and she’s something we could all stand to be a little more like (most of the time). She stepped in when needed, she moved across an ocean to help her friend, and she never really complained.

Overall I think fans of Amish fiction, and especially the team of Wanda and Jean will enjoy this book. It just didn’t happen to be one of my favorites. I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

About the Author

Wanda E. Brunstetter

Wanda Brunstetter is an award-winning romance novelist who has led millions of readers to lose their heart in the Amish life. She is the author of almost 90 books with more than 10 million copies sold. Many of her books have landed on the top bestseller lists, including the New York Times, USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly, CBA, ECPA, and CBD. Wanda is considered one of the founders of the Amish fiction genre, and her work has been covered by national publications, including Time Magazine and USA Today.

Wanda’s fascination with the Amish culture developed when she met her husband, Richard, who grew up in a Mennonite church, and whose family has a Pennsylvania Dutch heritage. Meeting her new Mennonite sister-in-laws caused Wanda to yearn for the simpler life. In their travels, she and her husband have become close friends with many Amish people across America. Wanda’s desire to explore their culture increased when she discovered that her great-great grandparents were part of the Anabaptist faith.

All of Wanda’s novels are based on personal research intended to accurately portray the Amish way of life. Many of her books are well-read and trusted by the Amish, who credit her for giving readers a deeper understanding of the people and their customs.

Wanda’s primary attraction to the Amish is their desire to live a devout Christian life that strives to honor God, work hard, and maintain close family ties. Whenever she visits her Amish friends, Wanda finds herself drawn to their peaceful lifestyle, sincerity, and close family ties, which is in stark contrast to the chaos and busyness that plagues so many modern “Englishers.” Time and time again, Wanda loses her heart in the Amish life, and she hopes her readers will, too. For more information, visit: www.WandaBrunstetter.com