The Farmers’ Market Mishap Review

Posted by abakersp in Amish / 2 Comments

I think it’s neat when two authors get together and decide to work on a book. Any time you see Wanda and Jean Brunstetter coauthor a book, you know it’s going to be good!

About the Book

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Living alone for the first time in her life is lonely for Elma Hochstetler, whose twin sister Thelma recently married. Though they share the running of a general store, more and more of Thelma’s time is taken up by her growing family. Elma has dated some, but she wonders if she is just too picky to find love.

Through a mishap at the farmers’ market, Elma meets Ben Wagler and instantly likes him. But there is a problem. He lives in Grabill—50 miles away! But Elma has tried long-distance dating before, and it won’t work for her.  Besides the store needs her. Her sister needs her. Elma feels love will forever remain beyond her grasp.

Elma has a habit of putting others before her own needs. Can she learn to take a risk at following the desires of her heart?

My Perspective

This was a quick, easy, and fun read for me. I loved seeing how Elma and Thelma lived their lives apart, yet still seeing each other as often as they could. It’s not too often that you see stories of Amish women in their thirties and not married yet, so seeing Elma that old surprised me. But it was a great reminder that love comes in God’s timing, not ours. Just because you’re Amish doesn’t mean you’re married by age twenty like a lot of people think!

I thought that Ben and Elma’s story was sweet, but I almost wanted to see a little bit more of their interactions. Even so, they were such a cute couple, neither understanding how difficult it would be for them to move their entire life if the relationship continued. But perhaps that was the whole point of the story. Would you be willing to leave everything you’ve ever known for love? I imagine that would be extremely difficult.

What I enjoyed most about this was Elma’s time at the store. She had to make some tough decisions and it was nice to see her making them and defending no matter what others thought. This was really the only time she did things without worrying about others. The rest of the time she was always putting others before herself, especially when it came to her relationship with Ben. I liked seeing that side of her character.

If you are looking for a nice, light hearted read, then I suggest you check this out. Make sure you etch out plenty of time to read, as you may find yourself reading it all at once like me! 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 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

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