Surprising twists

The "Hope Jar", written by New York Times best-selling author Wanda E. Brunstetter, is the first book in a new 3-book series that plays mainly in a moderate Amish community in Strasburg, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, where Mary Ruth and Willis Lapps, an older Amish couple, live.
Sara Murray, age 24, just lost her mother, Rhoda, who was only 43 years old and died very suddenly of colon cancer. She does not have a good relationship with her stepfather, Dean, and her step brother, Kenny, who is eight years younger than she is. Only after her mother's death does Sara learn about parts of her heritage, but she still has some open questions and plans to visit her grand-parents as soon as possible.
Michelle Taylor is a former foster child, living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was taken away from her abusive parents, Ginny and Herb, and lost all contact with her brothers Ernie and Jack when all three of them were placed in foster care. Michelle is nearly destitute. She will soon be homeless due to the fact that she has lost her job and that she has next to no money left. She decides to run away from her abusive boyfriend, Jerry.
At the bus station in Philadelphia Michelle is mistaken as the grand-daughter of Mary Ruth and Willis because of her hair color. The elderly couple were unaware of their grand-daughter, Sara Murray, until they recently received a letter informing them of the death of their long-lost daughter Rhoda who ran away when she was eighteen. Michelle assumes the identity of Sara Murray and goes to live with Mary Ruth and Willis who accept her. She wants to be fully loved and find some roots. During her stay with the Lapps her dishonesty starts to bother her and she plans to leave since she know that the true Sara will come due to the fact that she intercepted and occasionally answered her letters. The prayers and notes that she found in two jars, the one in the barn and the other in the cellar, start to work in her heart. She is aware of her unworthiness, but she lacks the courage to confess her deception.

"The Hope Jar" does not answer all the questions of the reader, e.g. "Who is the writer of the prayers and notes found in the jars in the barn and the cellar by Michelle?", "How will the life of Michelle and Sara continue?", or "Will Michelle ever find her brothers Ernie and Jack from who she was separated when they were placed in foster care?" Nevertheless I highly recommend it and am waiting for the next book in the series entitled "The Forgiving Jar" because I really enjoyed this book and its caracters.

This book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley free of charge. The reviewer was under no obligation to offer a positive review.
#TheHopeJar #NetGalley

Inspiring is the word I would use to describe this book. There is pain, fear, deceit, love, hope and triumph. This story is beautifully written and wonderfully executed. The Hope Jar weaves the tale of two young women who have experienced tragedy. Sara has lost her mother and Michelle has never really felt like a part of a family at all. Sara’s grandparents, who have been estranged from their deceased daughter, are looking forward to meeting and building a relationship with their granddaughter. When they see Michelle at the bus station, they mistakenly think her to be their Sara. Michelle is at a hopeless phase in her life, so she readily pretends to be their granddaughter and returns with them to their Amish farm. An old blue jar in the barn filled with quotes, thoughts and prayers inspires Michelle to have faith that things are never hopeless. But how will she untangle the web of lies she has spun? How will the family she has come to love handle the betrayal? What has become of the real Sara? This is the first Amish fiction book I have read. It did not disappoint.

The Hope Jar by Wanda Brunstetter

The start of a new Amish fiction series


Michelle, through a strange set of circumstances, found herself pretending to be someone she wasn’t. In some ways, it helped her out of a very rough situation, yet it caused her no end of guilt.

The Hope Jar had a very interesting premise – a girl caught up in a snowball of events that afforded her a place to escape her abusive boyfriend. A safe haven where she was loved and cared for. There were some interesting plot elements. I have heard this author’s name for quite some time but had never read any of her books before this. I was intrigued.

Fear is a powerful motivator, whether it is fear of being hurt or of hurting others. I understood Michelle’s motivations for behaving as she did. Ezekiel, on the other hand, seemed very selfish, shallow and immature. I was not a fan of his.

The storytelling was a little dry. The dialog seemed unnatural in parts and it seemed like there was so much explaining of the Amish way of life in the conversations. Yes, I understand that would have been necessary – it was more the execution that was tedious.

I was also disappointed that the consequences of the lies Michelle and Ezekiel told were as insignificant as they were. Not that I wanted anything terrible to happen to them as a result! Yet it felt like they only experienced a little bit of discomfort and because they repented, things were just okay. While I understand and appreciate so much the grace we have received and know that Jesus’ blood has covered all our sins, our actions have consequences and this story missed an opportunity for a good moral lesson.

From looking at other reviews, it appears that most people really loved this book. If you enjoy Amish fiction, it might be worth looking at what others have said and consider reading it.


This review was originally posted on Among the Reads

I would like to thank Celebrate Lit for giving me a copy of this book. This gift did not influence my opinion or review.

Honestly this book had a slow start for me and I had trouble getting into it for a few chapters. However it turned out to be a very fun read so I am very glad that I stuck it out. Sara Murray, the real Sarah recently found out about her grandparents, the Lapps, after the death of her mother. Michelle, the fake Sarah, has had a difficult life and made some not so great choices including a guy that she needs to get away from. These two separate and independent events collide into a story of forgiveness and discovery that all started with mistaken identity and a lie.
Sarah, writes to her grandparents, the letter gets wet, Michelle is at the right place at the right time and even though she is the wrong person she decides this is the answer to her problem. The genuine love that Michelle develops for the people she meets and her struggle with her deception were believable and relateable. Her joy and growth expressed through her time with the Lapps was wonderful to experience as I read and enjoyed this book.
I loved getting to know the characters in this book and I liked the direction the story took. Michelle, the grandparents, Ezekiel, Brian and Sarah all made this novel what it is. This book is the first in a series and I look forward to the others.

THE HOPE JAR is the first book in Ms. Brunstetter's new series. Ms. Brunstetter is a somewhat new author for me, and while I understand that some authors tend to lean heavily to the squeaky-clean, innocence of the Amish, I was not expecting this to be a question and answer book about the Amish and why they believe what they do and do what they do and how are they different. The story kind of gets lost in the telling and I struggled with the realism of some parts of the story.



To be honest, I don't even know what to say about this book. I ended up skimming, I like the idea that the second book in the series has the real granddaughter but I'm kind of wondering if it'll be the same as this story with it being a textbook about the differences in Amish and the why's and what for's. Most Amish fiction fans know this stuff, and anyone who is being introduced to Amish fiction for the first time would likely be turned off by this story.



And I know Ms. Brunstetter is one of the most popular Amish authors so, don't take my word for it. Maybe a story about an imposter nonAmish girl is a story you will absolutely love. It might just be me... so, underneath this is a link to read a free excerpt at amazon.



I was given a copy free. All opinions are my own.

My first opinion of Michelle Taylor was less than favorable to be honest. I thought about her character as the story unfolded and I completely changed my mind about her when I remembered she had escaped an abusive relationship. I understood her need to leave a bad situation, but I was sad that she would resort to misleading the elderly Amish couple that mistook her for the granddaughter they had never met.

The situation they found themselves in was almost beneficial to the three characters. It gave Michelle the sense of belonging that she needed and it gave the Lapps someone to care for and dote on. I don’t excuse what she did, but it brought some happiness to the older couple. As Michelle slips into her role of, Sara Murray (the Lapps real granddaughter) she goes about life on the farm and the Amish community, where she finds what she’s always wanted, love and acceptance.

I think that this is a great start to the author’s new series. There are interesting characters that we meet in the, Hope Jar that piqued my curiosity. The real Sara finally makes it to the farm to meet her grandparents for a short time and I desperately want to know the story of her deceased mother. Ezekiel and Brad are two more characters that I liked very much and can hardly wait to see what the author has planned for them. As for Michelle? I associate that saying, “Home Is Where The Heart Is” to her and think she will make amends for her dishonesty and mistakes she made.

The Hope Jar is well worth the read which I why I recommend it to other readers.

I received a copy from the publisher and was under no obligation to give a positive review. All opinions are my own.

In this new series written by a very talented author , she gives us a gripping and emotional story about hope, forgiveness and acceptance. Have you ever been so desperate to be accepted by someone, that you would do anything? Michelle is in a bad relationship that has become dangerous and needs to find a safe place to go. I felt her fears as her boyfriend threatened her and hurt her. I wanted her to run as fast and as far away as she could.

When Michelle gets off the bus after leaving her abusive boyfriend, she is suddenly mistaken for Sara, the granddaughter of Willis and Mary Ruth Lapp. I thought it was very intriguing that a young woman would take advantage of this sweet elderly couple. Michelle has a chance to start a new life and grabs hold of her false identity. It's lucky for her that Willis and Mary Ruth have never seen their granddaughter before. Maybe she can pull this off and find a new home in Amish country.

I adored Willis and Mary Ruth. They were so excited to meet their granddaughter and hopefully find out what happened to their daughter who left home so long ago. Their broken hearts hopefully will start to mend as they get to know their granddaughter. There is of course one little catch to all this. At some point Sara, the real granddaughter will show up. How long can Michelle keep up this charade? I did feel a sense of relief from Michelle as she settles into her new life.

When a jar is found with scriptures and prayers, this to me was the turning point in the story. It opened up a broken heart and allowed the person to feel hope and love. Each time the jar was opened, a fresh sprinkle of redemption came over them. Wouldn't it be nice to find a hidden jar like that? You are at a place in your life where you see no hope, no way out and no one loves you. You are drawn to the jar and there inside is the hope and acceptance you have been looking for.

I loved Michelle the most because I could easily identify with her. I know what it is like to want a place to feel safe and loving people who care for you. Will she be changed as she continues to deceive the people who have opened their hearts and home to her? I loved how easily Michelle started to draw closer to Willis and Mary Ruth. They are true examples of people who love unconditionally. Will Michelle's secret be found out? Will Michelle find a way to open her heart to God? I was sad for the story to end. There were several questions left unanswered and I hope the author addresses it in another book . The author does an amazing job of allowing the characters to deal with hard issues like domestic abuse and forgiveness. I liked that these subjects were handled with grace and showed readers that there is always hope.

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy , and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:16

I received a copy of this book from the author and Netgalley. The review is my own opinion.

*thank you to Netgalley and to the publishers for providing me with this book in exchange for an honest review*

After having read a book previously by Wanda, I was a bit Leary jumping back in but I must say, THE HOPE JAR has turned around my opinion of her! This book is fun and sweet, just as is expect an Amish fiction to be. I am excited to see where the next two books take us!

The Hope Jar by Wanda E Brunstetter is one of her best so far. I am excited to see a new series is on the horizon for this beloved author.

When I opened the story I connected immediately with Sara. She was so devastated after the death of her mother that she was honestly surprised at her stepfather's kindness when he allowed he to go through her mother's things. I felt as though she was going to leave right away and meet her long lost relatives. Time and interesting circumstances intervened.

When Michelle was introduced I wondered just what role she would play in the story. Her life never seemed to right and when she seized the opportunity to take advantage of a simple act of mistaken identity the story took off. The path she chose and the role she played in the lives of Willis and Mary Ruth's lives was amazing. She assumed the role of Sara as though she was born to it.

These well developed characters will win your heart. I had to make time to finish the book because I wanted to see what happened next. Wanda E Brunstetter delivers on a regular basis and for those interested in Amish fiction, this book gives a good idea of how the simple life may not be as simple as one thinks. I look forward to the next book in the Prayer Jars series so I can re-visit this Amish church district to see what happens next. I have a feeling there more stories out there! I recommend this with 5 stars!

The Hope Jar by much-loved author Wanda Brunstetter is the first book in her new series, The Prayer Jars. If the rest of the books in the series are as good as the first, this reader can't wait to read the next one. I loved the characters --strong, resilient, and realistic with a depth to their emotions, strengths, and foibles that readers will connect well with. Mary Ruth and Willis Lapp, trusting and compassionate. Michelle, deceitful and yet with a difficult life to contend with. Sara, grieving and desperate to find the family she never knew existed. The Hope Jar is a beautifully captivating story of an unexpected family, mistaken identity, loss, finding faith, and a little romance too. When I was getting close to the end of the book I wondered how the author was going to resolve some of the issues and relationships in the few pages I had left to read. Well, she didn't. She left a bit of a cliffhanger and I have to wait to read The Forgiving Jar! You won't want to miss this sweet Amish romance.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

The Hope Jar
by Wanda E. Brunstetter

Barbour Publishing, Inc.

Shiloh Run Press
Christian , General Fiction (Adult)
Pub Date 01 Aug 2018


I am reviewing a copy of The Hope Jar through Shiloh Run Press and Netgalley!


Michelle Taylor is not who she appears to be to her new family in Lancaster! Michelle Murray took on the identity of Sara Murray the Lapps long lost Granddaughter who had once been homeless as well as hopeless. Michelle has come to love her new life in Amish country and even considers the possibility of a romance.


Michelle finds an old blue jar in the barn a jar that is filled with thoughts and quotes and prayers by an unknown author allowing Michelle to boost her budding faith but it also convicts her. Will she find a way to tell the truth without hurting the people she has grown to love?


I give Hope Jar five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

I have always enjoyed Ms. Brunstetter's books. In The Hope Jar, she gives us a new twist. It is a story of sweet Amish grandparents and an English granddaughter.

I loved the way we got to see both worlds. We see what it would be like to be dropped down in Lancaster County, with no prior knowledge. On the side of the Amish grandparents, there big surprise is a granddaughter. The child of there daughter that ran away at the age of 18.

When they received a letter from Sara the granddaughter, they had made plans to meet her at the bus station. Due to a mistaken identity, they bring home Michelle Taylor instead. I wasn't too sure I would like Michelle, especially when she continued to lie. At the begging she was desperate to get out of town. She had no family, no place to live, no money and she was running from an abusive boyfriend. She saw an opportunity and toke advantage of it. She finally had someone who cared for her. Someone who didn't abuse her or want something from her. It got harder and harder to tell the truth. She didn't want to hurt the Lapps, but that is just what she did.

I loved the way Michelle found the blue Mason jar in the barn with the prayers and Bible scriptures. My mom told me her mother, my grandmother, would hide dollar bills in a Mason jar in their barn. She buried them in the corner for safe keeping.

Wanda Brunstetter has such a way of creating characters that just pop off her pages. Michele was someone we could relate to, even if we have not been in her position before. As in all of her books, Ms. Brunstetter brings Christian values throughout her story. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it.

I received a copy of this book from Shiloh Run Press through NetGalleys. The opinions expressed in this book are my own.

Desperate times lead to desperate measures taken. At least they do in the case of Michelle. Facing homelessness and having an abusive boyfriend she flees her situation not quite knowing where she's going or where she'll eventually end up. At the transportation station she is mistaken for an elderly Amish couple's granddaughter. She tries to tell them at first it's not her that's the granddaughter but the grandmother is persistent and she can barely get a word in edgewise. Eventually figuring she'll go along with it for just a short while after all what can be worse than her current situation. She grows to love her new Amish "family" and the members of the community. Her conscience really bothers her when she has to do things to prevent the grandparents real granddaughter from coming around. She hates deceiving the sweet older couple who have taken her in.She is even in a love triangle with two men interested in her, An Englisher and an Amish man. She doesn't pursue either though feeling undeserving of both even though she does enjoy their company. Her life starts to unravel after an injury and her conscience tells her to tell someone the truth. What will happen when she leaves and the real granddaughter shows up at the grandparents house? I can't wait to read the next book in this series. This book was exceptionally great!
Pub Date 01 Aug 2018
Thank you to Barbour Publishing, Inc. and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Amish Fiction with a touch of romance.

I am not a huge fan of Amish fiction as many of the books are very formulaic. But Brunstetter's book definitely puts a new twist on Amish fiction. Amish grandparents go to the bus station to pick up a granddaughter they have never met as their daughter left home during her rumspringa years and never returned. Now she has died leaving a letter for her daughter telling her about the grandparents.
They pick up a red haired girl thinking she is their granddaughter because their daughter had red hair. But this girl is not Sara, she is running away from an unhappy life. This seems to be just the place she needs to hide so she claims to be the granddaughter.

Michelle, the "supposed" granddaughter, has had a rough life: abusive parents, uncaring foster parents, and an abusive boyfriend. When she meets Willis and Mary Ruth Lapp, she sees caring people who have shown her love like never before. She blossoms under their love and learns to love the simple life of the Amish; but as she blooms, she feels more and more guilty about the deception she is committing. Brad, an Englisher, who is driving the Amish for the summer to help with college expenses where he is studying to be a pastor, awakens Michelle's interest in the Bible and its good news which leads to more guilt on her part. Ezekiel, an Amish man, who is interested in Michelle is lying to his parents; and she watches the discord it creates. Could she face telling Willis and Mary Ruth the truth?

I loved Willis and Mary Ruth. Although I thought they were a bit naive in never asking Michelle for any proof that she was their granddaughter. But they definitely portrayed the hardworking, loving, caring people that the Amish are known to be. And their lesson on forgiveness showed Michelle a true picture of the Gospel as well as a second chance at life.

I would have given this a 5, but the ending seemed abrupt. Of course, it set up things for a second book; but I would have liked to have seen at least a couple of the sub-themes tied up.

I will definitely read book #2 as I hope to see if Brunstetter continues this type of story with more twists and turns and less focus on the romance.

.5 out of 5 stars
Favorite book by this author
By Maggie on August 7, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition
I have read a lot of Ms Brunstetter's books, written by her alone and those written with her daughter-in-law. I have enjoyed them all. But this one is my very favorite. I somewhat agree with another reviewer who found the ending a bit premature or rushed; perhaps an additional chapter would have been better. So, I am anxiously awaiting the next in the series!

This book has an interesting storyline. Mix of Amish and English makes for a nice balance but I don’t think Brunstetter’s stories are overly Amish like some others. I’m not sure if I like that. I think I want a little more Amish-ness in the story. It’s so basic. It seems like in trying to pack in the details, the text becomes wordy and kind of unnatural. I feel like I’m being fed info I don’t need while I’m Wondering why other info isn’t there. Dialogue is also unnatural... i had a hard time thinking it was realistic. This book seems to be written for younger audiences; Pre-teen/teen. I wanted to like the story. It is clean and has many fun elements but I found myself irritated at Michelle. I liked Ezekiel’s character best. He seemed more developed. But everything still was just ok. I want more deep writing, plot development, character development etc. This is too simple.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. This has in no way influenced my review. I wasn’t required to write a review. All thoughts are my own.

The Hope Jar by Wanda E Brunstetter
(A book in the Prayer Jars series)
A Brand-New Series from New York Times Bestselling 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?
this is Sarah Murray'story and Michelle Taylor's story.
Willis and Mary Ruth Lapp'story
Mary Ruth and Willis their daughter Rhoda who left the Amish faith for the English world.
Sara learns that she has grandparents she’s never met: Willis and Mary Ruth Lapp.
Mary Ruth Lapp ambled down the driveway to get the mail. She’d meant to go to the mailbox earlier, but it had rained hard most of the day, and she hadn’t felt like going outside. As some of the clouds parted, a glorious sunset appeared with pink, gold, and orange hues. Mary Ruth took in its beauty, while breathing in the fresh after-rain scent.she did say she’s coming to meet us and should arrive in the afternoon at the bus station in Philadelphia on the fifth of June.
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.
Sarah Murray is their granddaughter.
I highly recommend reading.
The Hope Jar by Wanda E Brunstetter is a wonderful well written 5 star book.
I am looking forward to reading more books Wanda E Brunstetter.
I received an advance reader copy of this book from Barbour Publishing in return for my honest opinion of the book. All opinions and statements expressed are strictly my own.
more books by Wanda E Brunstetter
The Christmas Prayer
The Hawaiian Discovery
The Prairie State Friends Trilogy
(Prairie State Friends)
The Forgiving Jar
(Prayer Jars, book 2
The Discovery Saga

As I turned the final page on this book there was a letdown, I was really enjoying this quick read, and wanted more!
There are a lot of unanswered questions here, and am glad that there is another book to come!
I loved the concept of this story, really a bit different, and yet I could see how it happened. The author seemed to answer some questions, but were they really how all turned out? I really wanted to know more about their real granddaughter, and yet in my heart I wanted the best for the imposter, she needed a break, and maybe God put her in the right place?
An Amish story that will keep you page-turning to the end.

I received this book through Net Galley and Barbour Publishing, and was not required to give a positive review.

Wanda Brunstetter has once again brought you into her world with The Hope Jar. What seems to be Michelle’s misdirection’s is truly a map into finding her place in life. Throughout one can see how one person’s actions are able to drive those around them. Thank You Netgalley for this ARC.

Wanda E. Brunstetter is back with a new series and it's a bit different than anything I've ever read from her. The storyline is one that I found unique and interesting and definitely not the usual cookie-cutter type that can often be found in the genre. Nope. This book has a story that is unusual and at times had me wondering if I loved it or hated it.

Basically based on a case of mistaken identity, down on her luck Michelle is whisked away to the Amish farm of her "grandparents", the Lapps. Needing someplace to stay Michelle goes along with the Lapps thinking she is Sara Murray, their recently discovered granddaughter. While staying on the Lapps farm Michelle comes across jars containing small slips of papers on which prayers are written. Can these small slips of papers and the care given to her by the Lapps change Michelle's outlook? I found this storyline to be both unusual and interesting. I kept wondering if Michelle would be honest with the Lapps and if reading all these little scraps of papers would make her change as a person.

While I enjoyed the storyline of this book I just couldn't relate to the main character, Michelle. In fact, I found her a bit offputting. I understood where she was coming from and perhaps why she went along with the case of mistaken identity. I just couldn't get over her actions with the Lapps who seemed so vulnerable and sweet. I did really like these characters and I also liked their young neighbor, Ezekial.

While for the most part, I found the story well-written and intriguing, I thought the ending was a bit rushed. I wanted a bit more closure to the story before the next book. I do believe we will find out what happens to these characters in the next book as we will probably also learn more about the real Sara Murray. The author definitely knows how to keep readers turning those pages!

If you are looking for a different kind of Amish fiction read then grab this book. Like I've mentioned it's not your usual type of Amish fiction story. I think it will leave you, like me, wanting more.

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