Amish couple Heidi and Lyle live a simple life on their farm, but with Lyle out most of the day and no children to care for, Heidi finds her days empty. When Heidi advertises a cooking class – that she will teach in her home kitchen – an unexpected variety of participants arrives. They’re nervous to start cooking, but also nervous about being judged by a new group of people.

The Seekers is very predictable, and an easy, straightforward read. I kind of needed something like that when I read this, so I appreciated the no-effort, feel-good experience! The Seekers wasn’t overly simplistic, though. The author wrote in a few characters that I myself judged … and by the end she had taught me a little lesson about that. *hangs head in shame*

Once in a while it’s necessary to get back to basics, on an Amish farm, with a cooking class worthy of The Breakfast Club, and a lesson much more important than the pie crust turning out. I found that in The Seekers.

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I loved this book. The characters were very real. I have read Wanda Brunstesters books since her very first Amish story was published and have never been disappointed. I look forward to the remaining books in the series and have a vision of seeing this book brought to life on the stage of The Ohio Star Theater in Sugarcreek Ohio in the future.

This is the first book in a new series and it starts off with a wonderful cast of characters. The author once again has written a story that captures the essence of human spirit. I especially liked this book because it gives readers a glimpse into Amish cooking. Each character comes alive with the stroke of words that eloquently glide across the pages. I was so enthralled with the book that I read it in one day.

Heidi fills her days with keeping a well kept home, gardening and making delicious meals for her husband. She is happy except for the emptiness of not having a child. To keep herself busy and help bring in extra income, she offers cooking classes in her home. I know if I saw a flyer offering Amish cooking classes, I would be rushing to sign up. The author described the food that is made with such vividness that I could smell the dishes as they were cooking.

The people that sign up for the class have come to learn how to cook, but each one will walk away with so much more. I instantly loved each character and how they all were looking for companionship, acceptance, love and encouragement. As the group started getting to know each other, there were friendships started and a bond that grows between each one.

I found it very fascinating that Heidi and her husband , Lyle willingly let a complete stranger park his RV on their land . Ron was my favorite character because he could be any of us who look for forgiveness and a need to be liked. He is a man who is struggling to survive and looks for help wherever he can find it. I loved how the author shows how vulnerable he really is and the secret that He has lived with for a long time. His character is very relatable because we have felt lost at sometime . Will he fit into the cooking class ? Can he open up and find the unconditional love that God has for him?

There are other characters in the book that remind us how much rejection and loneliness can affect us. Each character was written with great passion and I came to like everyone of them and cheered them on as Heidi showed them grace and compassion. This is one book you don't want to miss. I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to read about healing, forgiveness, friendship and His love for everyone. Don't miss the delicious recipes at the end. There are also discussion questions included that help you dig deeper as you reflect on your life.

"God commands us to forgive others, just as He forgives us."

I received a copy of this book from the author and Barbour Publishing . The review is my honest opinion.

Lovely story of Heidi who is Amish and begins teaching a cooking class. She feels she needs something to help fill her days as she has been unable to bear children that she longs for. Her first class begins with five students. One includes, Ron, who mysteriously showed up at Heidi and Lyle's property asking to park his RV on their property until he can make repairs on it. I started out disliking Ron, but all is not as it first seems with him. Heidi hopes her cooking classes can be a ministry to her students and it is. Although, the story is a bit predictable, there are also surprises. The reader will get caught up in each character. A real delight and easy read.

Amish Cooking Class
THE SEEKERS

BY Wanda Brunstetter

What is not to love about Wanda's books? I am always eager to start a new book by Wanda Brunstetter. It is so easy to be caught up into her books and finish it within a few days. That is why I took my time in starting this delightful story of Heidi Troyer and her cooking class. I knew that I wouldn't be able to put it down until the very last page.

Heidi not only taught her students how to cook but to learn that God has a plan for each one of us. Each student has an obstacle to overcome but God was right there beside them paving the way for better days ahead.

I loved this book and am looking forward to any future sequels. Ms. Brunstetter hit it out of the park with The Seekers. I highly recommend this to read. I have never been disappointed by anything she has written.

A group of Englishers and one Amish man come together for an Amish cooking class.  Instructor Heidi Troyer suffers from infertility and is taking on the class to help others and distract herself.  Like any small group, this one works together to help each other overcome issues.  Heidi and her husband Lyle also look on this class as an opportunity to witness to the class.  A war veteran, Ron, seems to need the most patience of all.
Brunstetter weaves an interest and almost believable story of the power of friendship and listening.

New friendships, life lessons, a good dose of scriptural wisdom, and great food combine when an Amish woman opens her home to teach cooking classes to five students in various stages of life!

It's been a while since I've read a story by this author and since I love her writing, jumped at the chance! I really loved reading all the ways God used Heidi to reach out to others, not only to teach how to cook delicious Amish meals, but also the deeper things in life. I think she got just as much out of the lessons as her students! The characters were well developed and each one held a certain charm for me, even Ron who could sometimes be surely. There were many things each character struggled with, and I admired the way Heidi always prayed to ask God how best to help them. I've long found the Amish lifestyle appealing in their their simple faith & sense of community. This story strengthened my admiration even more. I even found a recipe or two I'll be trying myself at home! All in all, this was a charming story full of compassion, God's love extended in human hands & friendships I can see lasting a lifetime.

I enjoyed this novel about Amish cooking classes taught to an eclectic mixed group wanting to learn to cook for various reasons. I met a pre-engaged couple struggling with in laws; a dishonest vagrant camping out on the property of the teacher; an Amish widowed man; an English widow with 2 children; a pregnant young girl evicted from her home; and a childless couple wrestling with adoption and childlessness. The students in the cooking class couldn't have been more different, but the praying Amish cooking teacher brought them all together, and her home became a place of healing and forgiveness. You will enjoy this book and all the class recipes in the back of the book. I received a PDF of this book in exchange for my review.

Wanda E Brunstetter returns with the first book in her new series, Amish Cooking Class. The Seekers takes us to the home of Heidi Troyer who wants to fill some of her extra time by teaching people how to cook. With her husband's support, she embarks on a journey where she not only teaches cooking but changes the lives of her students.

The Seekers started out good and I really liked the premise of the story. It didn't bother me at all that this series was going to mimic The Half-Stitched Quilting Club because quilting and cooking are two things that the Amish are well-known for and who wouldn't want lessons from them in these two areas? However, I never really felt a strong connection with any of the characters other than Heidi. She was really likable and genuine. As for the students, I liked all of them but Ron. He just rubbed me the wrong way and I was pretty sure he was up to no good.

This story is classic Wanda E. Brunstetter. She has found a recipe for success when it comes to writing and thankfully hasn't strayed away from what she knows works. The story flows easily from chapter to chapter and focuses equally on each of the students and Heidi. There's never a chance to be bored with all that's going on in the lives of these characters. Even though these characters problems may be resolved by the end of the book there is always the chance we will get to see them again in future installments of the series.

This book proves why Wanda is still at the top of her game. Her writing is never stale and she is always coming up with characters and stories her fans can care about and want more of. I can't wait for the next book in this series to see what is happening in Heidi's life and also to see what her next class of students will be like.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher and was not required to write a review. All opinions are mine.

Wanda Brunstetter returns with a new series The Amish Cooking Class and doesn’t disappoint.
In The Seekers, Heidi Troyer and her husband Lyle have not been blessed with children. Heidi longs for a child of her own with every new baby born in the community. After speaking with her Aunt Emma from Half-Stitched Quilting Club series, Heidi decides to teach classes of her own. She is a talented cook and sets up her first series of six classes over the next three months.
The Lord directs five students from different walks of life to take Heidi’s first class. Loretta, a young widow and mother of two, wishes to learn more about the Amish and decides taking Amish cooking classes would be fun. Charlene is a young teacher engaged to the man of her dreams. Unfortunately, his mother is a terrific cook and she is not. Charlene decides learning to cook would impress her mother-in-law-to-be. Eli, a young Amish widower and friend of Lyle, signs up to take classes because he is unable to cook and is tired of eating sandwiches and eating out. Kendra is a young un-wed pregnant woman who was recently kicked out of her parent’s home and living with her friend. She is struggling with embarrassment and the decision to raise her child or give him/her up for adoption. Ron, a Vietnam Veteran, pulls his RV onto the Troyer’s farm when he is at his wits end. He is hungry, broke, and needs a helping hand. He convinces Lyle to let him stay on the farm until he can get his RV repaired.
Wanda has a way of bringing to life several characters and intertwining their stores together for a beautiful story of love, faith, and friendship. Heidi truly wants to help her students and I love the idea of her adding scripture to the back of each week’s recipe cards. There is a great lesson for each of us in the story. Heidi learns to care for and encourage the one student she started out not even trusting in the beginning by faith in knowing that God had brought him to her and Lyle for a reason and they just needed to open their hearts and home to him.
The book kept me engaged and I had a hard time putting in down due to the plot twists and characters. I can honestly not wait to see what the future holds for Heidi and her cooking class. I recommend this book to all Wanda fans, as well as, those who love Amish-Christian fiction.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Barbour Publishing in return for my honest review and was under no obligation to post a review.

Wanda Brunstetter is at it again, with her newest series "Amish Cooking class book 1 The Seekers".

In life, there's no such thing as having enough friends, especially when they are good ones! Follow Wanda to Sugar Creek, Ohio, where you'll meet some people you'll love - hopefully as much as I did. Two people from this story particularly captured my heart, but I won't give away anymore than that. You'll just have to read and find out! So find a cozy and comfortable place to read, because one you start this tory and you meet Heidi Tryoer, you wont want to stop.

Heidi decides to begin teaching Amish cooking classes out of her home, just as her aunt taught quilting classes. Heidi hopes to fill the emptiness she fills, and starts to think God may have different plans for her life. What she didn't anticipate was that she would meet so many incredible people who would touch her life and fill her with more joy and blessings than she ever dreamed.

This story effortlessly captures the heart, with characters Wanda so beautifully brings to life. She beautifully shows each person's life affected just by taking Heidi's class, and in turn, how they affect her. Along with his touch story, the recipes from Heidi's class can be found in the back of the book. I had the pleasure of making the German pizza one night for my family who absolutely loved it! It's my new go to recipe when I am not sure what to make. Thank you, Wanda for adding these to the book, it brings the story that much more to life.


I was given copy of this book from NetGalley for my review which I have given.

As always, Wanda Brunstetter does a wonderful job making the reader feel a part of the Amish community. Very enjoyable, relaxing book! Highly recommend!

Undeniably a fantastic book. Wanda brings the characters to life in the story. Heidi Troyer decides to offer a cooking class to teach others Amish cooking. Eli, her neighbor reluctantly signs up, Ron who has been living in a motor home on their property wasn't going to sign up but takes the class because Eli was excited to see another male in the group. Charlene decided to learn to cook to surprise her fiance and his mother who constantly puts her down, Kendra who was kicked out of her house because of a pregnancy, and Loretta who lost her husband and has Amish heritage in her blood. Each person is dealing with their own problems and each comes away from the class with a new understanding and new friendships. Through Heidi's teaching and bible verses she gets a surprise herself at the end of the book. I loved reading this new series and look forward to reading the next book.

I received an Advanced copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

The Amish Cooking Class: The Seekers is the first book in a new series by Wanda E. Brunstetter. Heidi Troyer has been married to Lyle for eight years, and they have yet to be blessed with children. Heidi has always enjoyed cooking. After reading a letter from her Aunt Emma, who holds quilting classes in her home, Heidi decides to host a cooking class. Heidi posts an ad advertising her classes and waits to see who God brings her way. Charlene Higgins is a kindergarten teacher and newly engaged. Charlene is unable to cook and hopes these lessons will help. Loretta Donnelly is a widow with two children. Loretta has always been fascinated with all things Amish and this is a way for her to learn some new dishes (and have adult company). Eli Miller lives next to the Troyer’s and is a widower (he misses his wife, Mavis very much). Eli needs to learn some cooking skills. He is tired of eating sandwiches. Kendra Perkins is eighteen and pregnant. Kendra is living with her friend, Dorie since her parents insisted she leave their home. Dorie believes that the cooking classes will be good for Kendra. Ron Hensley sees the ad for the cooking classes and believes the Troyer farm will be a good place to park his RV. Ron travels from Amish town to Amish town relying on the hospitality of others. Ron’s intentions are not good, but maybe spending time with the Troyer’s will change his outlook on life. These individuals all come together to learn how to cook, but end up with so much more.

The Amish Cooking Class: The Seekers is well-written and engaging. I enjoyed the characters and the setting (in Ohio). Each person comes away from the cooking class with a new perspective. I appreciated the life lessons presented in the story. I give The Amish Cooking Class: The Seekers 4.5 out of 5 stars. When I finished this book, I was left with a good feeling. The book is a little expected (which is why I took off .5), but I took pleasure in reading it. The Amish Cooking Class: The Seekers is a nice change of pace (good break from reality). It is a sweet and gratifying novel. There are recipes from the story included at the end of the book. I look forward to the next book in this series – The Blessing.

I did not enjoy this book, and in fact did not even finish it. It was extremely predictable.

I really LOVED this book. I think I pretty much love anything Wanda E. Brunstetter but I especially loved this book. Heidi Troyer is a bored Amish housewife with no kids. After receiving a letter from her aunt who gives quilting classes in her home Heidi is inspired to offer cooking classes. She plans to offer 6 classes.
Her students - Loretta is a young widow with 2 children. Charlene is newly engaged, can't cook and is disliked by her future mother in law. Eli is an Amish widower, friend and neighbor of Heidi and her husband, Lyle. Kendra is a young, unwed pregnant woman who has been disowned by her family. Finally there is Ron, who initially is not a student but a grifter out to take advantage of the Troyers but gets pulled into the class.
The characters were interesting and lively. I really like how the story flowed and inter-connected everyone and their stories without getting complicated or cumbersome. I also really liked how everything was not wrapped up in a nice little bow at the end but we are able to get resolution.
I look forward to reading the rest of the series as it comes out.

The Seekers by much-loved author Wanda Brunstetter, is first in her new series, Amish Cooking Class. If the rest of the books in the series are as good as the first, this reader can't wait. Heidi, childless and with time on her hands, has an idea for a new venture--teaching a class on cooking Amish foods. A small but eclectic group signs up and the idea becomes a reality. Englischers and Amish, an unmarried pregnant young woman, a soon-to-be married gal, a widower and a widow, along with a somewhat questionable character make up the class. The author keeps the reader's interest as these six individuals interact and begin to share their lives. Some situations are a little predictable and yet there are some twists and turns that keep the pages turning. There is a little tension as a bull begins to snort and charge at a young girl and some humor as a water hose has a mind of its own and splashes a couple of women. Although a sweet story, the author expertly touches on some very real and heartbreaking subjects as she writes of childlessness, difficult relationships, PTSD and grief The Seekers is a charming story of people from different cultures and circumstances finding friendship and faith in a fun setting.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher. A positive review was not required and the opinions expressed are my own.

What a terrific start to the latest series by Wanda Brunstetter. The Seekers introduces us to Heidi Troyer who has decided to teach Amish Cooking classes in her Ohio home. Her husband, Lyle is a busy auctioneer and he encourages her to share her skills with others.

Yes, it does remind one of The Half Stitched Quilting Club and the fact that Emma Yoder is Heidi’s aunt was perfect and I think nudged Heidi just a bit in her decision.
A mixture of excitement and nervousness lends an air of authenticity as to how she felt as she planned and got ready for her cooking classes.

The people who sign up for her class are a diverse group but we soon learn they have some commonalities. They each have something to overcome besides their obvious need to learn cooking skills. The author tells each of their stories in a unique way as we learn more about their lives and what some are running from and others are running towards.

I had a fondness for Eli, the only Amish person taking the class. He was so sweet and boy did I want him to learn to cook since he was a widower with no skills in the kitchen. The only character that I didn’t immediately like was Ron, but I started to warm up to him after a while and felt sorry for him. At first I considered him a recipe for disaster.

I find I always learn something when I read Wanda’s books. This time I learned the age requirement and steps to take to become an auctioneer!

I can’t wait for the next installment to find out what’s cooking with the Troyer family and their friends.
I received a complimentary copy of The Seekers from the publisher and have given my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed this book, I really enjoyed that it was not really a romance book but had romance in it, almost gave a twist to love story. I loved how the author took a group of misfits in one way or another and brought them together of a cook class. I loved how she shared each person story even though it seems that the main character was Heidi, it felt like they all could be the main character and they brought a lot to the story. I really enjoyed the storyline it was easy to follow with so many fun characters. The book seemed to have some twist and surprises to it as well which was a fun element to the story. The end of the story was a total surprise and I can't wait to read more about these fun characters I really hope there is more to come. If you are looking for a good clean fun amish book or for that matter a good book grab this one it will so be worth it.