When all hope is lost, where can she turn?

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Hope JarAbout the Book


Book Title: The Hope Jar (The Prayer Jars, Book 1)
Author: Wanda E. Brunstetter
Genre: Amish Fiction
Release date: August 7, 2018
A Brand-New Series from New York Times Best Selling Author Wanda E. Brunstetter.
What happens when making an elderly Amish couple very happy means going along with a lie that gets bigger by the day?
Michelle Taylor is not who her new family in Lancaster County believes her to be. The Lapps were looking for their long-lost granddaughter when they met Michelle and she assumed the identity of Sara Murray. Once homeless and hopeless, Michelle has come to love her new Amish friends and even considers the idea of romance among them.
Finding an old blue jar in the barn that is filled with slips of paper containing thoughts, quotes, and prayers by an unknown author becomes a boost to Michelle’s budding faith— but also convicting. How can she tell the truth without hurting the ones she has truly come to love?

Click here to purchase your copy!
 My Thoughts
We join Sarah Murray after the death of her mother. She has just found a letter left by her mother explaining a little about her unheard of past. Sarah has grandparents and is excited to finally get a chance to know her mother’s family. She writes the Lapps a letter explaining that she is coming to visit. A mishap causes them to not be able to read the return address and leave them unsure of the date Sarah will arrive.

Michelle Taylor has lived a difficult life, having been taken from her abusive parents and separated from her brothers, she now finds herself in another abusive relationship with her now boyfriend. Impulsively deciding to leave, she finds herself in the bus station at the same times the Lapps are there to pick up Sarah.

A mistaken identity is just what Michelle needs to get away from her life. She lets the Lapps believe she is there granddaughter and joins them on their farm. Michelle has never felt more at home or loved in her life and she easily falls into the role of being Sarah Murray.

Meanwhile, Sarah is left wondering if her grandparents received her letter or even want to meet her.
Without giving away too much more of the book, the only thing I found lacking was learning more about the real Sarah and how her relationship worked out in the long run. We also never found out who wrote the notes in the prayer jar. I am anticipating that these answers will be explained more in the second book in the series.
Brunstetter did a terrific job writing her new novel. Michelle was a very complicated character and even though she lied and deceived not only the Lapps but others in the community, Brunstetter made her a likeable character, one that you grew to love and hope that someone would help her straighten out her life. 

About the Author

Wanda BrunstetterNew York Times bestselling and award-winning author Wanda E. Brunstetter is one of the founders of the Amish fiction genre. She has written close to 90 books translated in four languages. With over 10 million copies sold, Wanda’s stories consistently earn spots on the nations 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.

Make your own Prayer Jar!

Want to make your own prayer jar to pass along to future generations? CLICK HERE to download a printable template you can use to write your sentiments on. Simply cut out each strip of paper when you’re finished and put them in the jar of your choice.

Blog Stops

Among the Reads, August 14
The Avid Reader, August 14
Just Commonly, August 15
Genesis 5020, August 16
Mary Hake, August 16
Bigreadersite, August 16
Lighthouse Academy, August 17
Splashes of Joy, August 20
SusanLovesBooks, August 20
Cafinated Reads, August 23
Quiet quilter, August 23
Carpe Diem, August 24
Texas Book-aholic, August 26

Giveaway

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To celebrate her tour, Wanda is giving away a grand prize that includes a $25 Amazon Gift Card, jar-shaped notepad, and a copy of The Hope Jar (with an autographed book plate inside).
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/d40a/the-hope-jar-celebration-tour-giveaway

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