Cover Image: The Walnut Creek Wish

The Walnut Creek Wish

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Member Reviews

Have you ever read a book that you didn’t really hate but didn’t really like? It was MEH???

I read Wanda Brunstetter for her Amish stories and The Walnut Creek Wish was more Englisch (non-Amish) than Amish-focused. The two main characters were selfish individuals who were unlikable. I groaned and Mohamed aloud about their issues than I ever have reading.

I try to write only positive reviews but it was hard to do for this book.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Barbour Publishing, Inc., through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

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I always know that Wanda Brunstetter's name on a book means I will love it. She writes great, believable stories about people and their lives. Her books put you in the small towns, helping your friends and neighbors as you find faith in the goodness of others. The Creektown Discoveries series features the Memory Keepers Antique Store where Orley and Lois Troyer share their life's learnings with their customers. I loved this book and am looking forward to our next trip to Walnut Creek.

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This story has been so much fun to read I hated to say goodbye to the characters. I feel like I have made new friends and hope to visit them soon. The setting is perfect and I loved being a part of the Amish community and witness their love for God, family and friends.

Rhonda and Jeff are a typical couple living in a nice condo and have high level stressful jobs. They don’t see each other much due to work and this slowly starts to put a strain on their marriage. We discover that they have had some roadblocks that have caused them to be bitter at God. They both want a child so bad but that has not happened yet. They have strained relationships with family members which stems from them not wanting to talk about religion. How sad that they have pushed God out of their lives. Maybe with their new home they have purchased they can spend more time together.

My favorite couple in the story is Orley and Lois. They are funny, full of life and love each other unconditionally. The couple owns a very interesting shop that I would love to visit. Can you imagine walking into their store and seeing memories of toys from your childhood? It’s the perfect place for Jeff to visit as he love to collect antiques. It was no accident that Jeff came to this store because Orley and Lois will be very important to this couple who has lost their way. It was encouraging to see how Orley and Lois offered friendship and spiritual guidance. Oh it may not seem like they were getting through to Jeff and Rhonda but God was working in His loving way to bring them back to Him.

Jeff and Rhonda find themselves going through one crisis after another. You can feel their hopelessness as things start to crumble around them. It is easy to become distant from your spouse when you see them as the enemy. What a mess their lives were becoming yet God was still there watching over them. The last part of the story is where I cried as I wanted Jeff and Rhonda to rekindle their marriage and bring God back into their marriage. The author does an amazing job of using scriptures to show that God never leaves us or forsakes us.

I hope you get your tissues out as you follow Jeff and Rhonda on their journey through loss, anger, forgiveness, learning to fight for their marriage and finding peace within themselves. I loved the lessons the author gives readers about finding joy again and knowing that God has a plan for each of us. He puts people in our pathway for a reason. Orley and Lois were there to encourage and speak God’s Word into their lives. Their gentle spirit helped Jeff and Rhonda begin to see that they needed to make changes in their lives. I’m so glad that the author wrote this story because it reminded me that there are people who care for others and that when we invite Him into our lives we are set free from the things that have caused us to become bitter. This is the best book the author has written.

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

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A great start to a new series. Lois and Orley own an antique store in Amish country. When englishers Jeff and Rhonda move to town they are struggling with issues. A lack of faith and good advice is something they can learn. Liked this one, and rooted for the couple. Would highly recommend this book and author. Look forward to more in the series.

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An Enjoyable Inviting Read with Likable Characters

The Walnut Creek Wish is the first book I’ve read by Wanda E. Brunstetter.

Jeff and Rhonda Davis have been married for nearly thirteen years. But their marriage has been strained and they’ve grown apart. Both are hardworking and care about one another, but disappointment over not having children has impacted their marriage. In a last-ditch effort to try and help their marriage, against better judgment, the Davis’ decide to purchase a new home in Walnut Creek, OH. The additional strain of financial issues, when their old house doesn’t sell, adds more pressure. Jeff has a love for antiques and befriends an Amish couple, Orley and Lois Troyer, who own a local antique store. A rather unconventional friendship develops between the couples. Will their friendship and faith-filled influence be enough to help Jeff and Rhonda?

I loved this book. I appreciated the development of the characters and they really came alive. I liked that the author wasn’t in a hurry to rush from one action scene to the next. Instead, the reader gets to know the characters and what made them the way they are. It was interesting to learn why Jeff and Rhonda had rejected the Christian faith and to see God at work in their breaking down those walls.

I read a lot of books by Christian writers and publishers, and it’s a rare occurrence these days when the Gospel message is shared as part of the storyline. That is why I loved this book. The Troyer’s built a relationship with the Davis’, cared about them, and prayed for them. They shared their faith and eventually shared the Gospel of Christ with Jeff and Rhonda. I liked and cared about these characters.

Because I enjoyed the characters and the setting, I didn’t want to rush through reading this book. This book was very enjoyable. I appreciated that the storyline was clean, without immorality or profanity.

I highly recommend The Walnut Creek Wish by Wanda E. Brunstetter. I love finding an author whose work is new to me, and I look forward to reading more of her work.

I would like to thank Barbour Publishing, Inc and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of The Walnut Creek Wish by Wanda E. Brunstetter. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.

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Great new installation by Brunstetter. I like her simple yet real style--the characters like Jeff and Rhonda really feel like real people. I do appreciate getting a glimpse into the Amish lifestyle from the perspective of people who are not Amish, as a lot of her books tend to come from within the community, so this is refreshing perspective. I felt that the story was moved a lot by dialogue--as in, many times characters communicated a lot more information than they should have been in reality for the purpose of backstory, but overall it worked. I look forward to the future books in this series.

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I was asked to read and review The Walnut Creek Wish by Wanda Brunstetter. Ms. Brunstetter is a prolific writer of Amish fiction that portrays the Amish life in a very romantic way.

This novel is the story of an older Amish couple, Orley and Lois Troyer, who own an antique store. They visit garage sales, estate sales and others to find item to sell in their shop.

Jeff and Rhonda are from the city where their respective jobs are fast-paced and leave little time for them to spend with each other. They decide to purchase a house in Walnut Creek. Jeff is an antique lover and has quite a collection. Living in Walnut Creek is much slower paced for them, but the commute to their jobs is much longer. Rhonda doesn’t see that she fits in and Jeff has made friends with Orley as their interest in antiques brings them together.

Although I like the story line, I find novels that are mostly dialogue very boring. I enjoy narrative much more. I am finding that the latest novels by Ms. Brunstetter are mostly dialogue and I do not care for them as much as I used to. However, the story lines are interesting and I keep reading to find out what happens.
I received a free print copy of this book from Barbour Publishers in return for my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

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I received an arc copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it. This was not one of my favorite books by this author. The story centers around an Amish couple and a couple not Amish. I skimmed through some of it because it was slow and drawn out. I am hoping that the next one in the series will be better.

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Another heartwarming tale

This is another heartwarming tale from Ms Brunstetter, one of my favorite authors for this genre. I enjoy her characters which have their own foibles and challenges. I enjoyed this book as a light entertainment but with messages. Great for vacation reading.

Thank you to the publisher who lent me a time=constrained e-arc via Netgalley with no obligation. This review is optional and my own opin

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It was fun to read this story of beginnings for Rhonda and Jeff. They move to a town where there is less stress but do they really. I love Orkney and Lois and their antique shop. They try to help people that seem to need some guidance in their lives. I love the romance that happens in this story. As always this story is great from beginning to ending. I look forward to many more books in this series. I received a copy of this book from Barbour Publishing for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

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Orley and Lois Troyer own an antique store in Walnut Creek, Ohio.
A new customer came into the store, he is English and also a new neighbor in need of spiritual help.
Plain, sweet characters for the first story of the new serie.
Thanks to let me read this book to: author, editor, Netgalley.

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The Walnut Creek Wish begins Wanda E Brunstetter’s Creektown Discoveries series. It is exactly what I would expect from her work books. This story is full of faith, forgiveness, hope, and healing. I adored the couple Orley and Lois Troyer. I love how they showed support and comfort for those around them, especially for Jeff and Rhonda. I found the whole tale to be beautiful and inspiring.

The Walnut Creek Wish is getting a very well deserved five plus stars from me. I highly recommend it for readers who enjoy reading clean Amish fiction. I can not wait for the release of book two from Creektown Discoveries series, Sugarcreek Surprise.

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I just adored this book and it's new line of characters!
Orley is my favorite! He just cracks me up.I loved his personality. He just never grew up so to speak. More people need to be just like him! I really appreciate the way he sticks by Lois his wife in all things. She made me laugh too in her own way. She's such a delight!
I think Brunstetter has done a wonderful job in writing this book! Especially with Jeff and Rhonda's issues.
My heart really went out to that couple.
They remind me of our issues and things that we deal with in a marriage. Marriage isn't easy that's for sure. It takes work.
As always Brunstetter writes the best stories. I simply couldn't put this book down! I loved this book and I can't wait to read the next one!
Highly recommended
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

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This is an Amish Fiction/Women's Fiction, and this is the first book in the Creektown Discoveries series. This story is told by an English Marries couple that is having some issues in their marriage, and they move to Amish country. Rhonda and Jeff in this book really just want to make their marriage better this whole book, but I found the book just to go over the same things over and over. It also as an underlined sadness through out this book. I just wanted so much more from this book. I wanted the characters to stand out more, and I wanted them to be more developed. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Barbour Fiction) or author (Wanda E. Brunstetter) via NetGalley, so I can give honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

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This is a book about repentance, acceptance, and life changes. I have read many of Wanda's books but this one is my favorite. She dealt with real life issues that married couples often face. Growing apart, wanting children and not being able to have them, challenging careers and a feeling of needing a new beginning. This couple has to learn to step back and let God lead. I look forward to the next book in this series.

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This is a wonderful contemporary fiction book!

I don’t really know how to classify it. There is a sweet Amish couple that befriends a younger English couple that is struggling. There is small town life. But at the same time the English couple both work in the city. It all flows nicely though.

All four of the main characters are well developed. I absolutely love Orley and Lois. Their marriage is strong and yet they also learn some things along the way to make it even stronger. Rhonda and Jeff have long journeys that run throughout the book. Part of their journeys are taken individually and part of it is together as a couple.

I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that there is so much focus on growing and improving as people. We need to all remember that we should never stop maturing as long as we are alive.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All of the opinions expressed are my own.

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The Walnut Creek Wish by Wanda E. Brunstetter is the first book in Creektown Discoveries series. I enjoyed this special Amish tale from beginning to end. I thought it was well-written with developed characters. Orley and Lois Troyer own Memory Keepers Antique Store in Walnut Creek, Ohio where Rhonda and Jeff Davis relocate after finding their dream home. Orley bonds with Jeff and has a way of getting Jeff to talk about what is troubling him. Rhonda and Jeff’s marriage has been on a downward spiral for several years. Rhonda yearns for a child, but she has been unable to get pregnant. Both of them spend too much time working and little time with each other. They hoped the move to Walnut Creek would give them a chance to slow down and have less stress in their lives. Unfortunately, a series of events have made their lives more stressful. Orley and Lois provide guidance and love plus pray for the couple. The Walnut Creek Wish is an uplifting story. Orley and Lois Troyer are great characters. Orley is a hoot. I love his zest for life and his upbeat attitude. I thought the characters were realistic. I also thought Jeff and Rhonda’s marital problems were representative of what couple’s experience today. Rhonda is unable to become pregnant and the doctors cannot find a physical reason, stress from work, working long hours, and financial troubles (going into debt to purchase a home). I like the blend of English and Amish. I appreciated that there was an epilogue that nicely wrapped up Rhonda and Jeff’s tale. My favorite phrase is, “. . . when I have a problem too difficult for me, I’ll remember that God is a just a simple prayer away.” I was sorry for this sweet story to end, but I am looking forward to seeing who Orley and Lois help in the next Creektown Discoveries novel. The Walnut Creek Wish is a heartening story with singular treasures, financial failures, a stressful profession, a car commute, and sociable shop owners.

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Struggling to find common ground in their marriage, Jeff & Rhonda Davis move to Walnut Creek when the perfect house opens up. Desiring to get back the love that once burned bright, they hope spending quality time in an ideal town will be the solution. When Jeff meets Orley & Lois Troyer in their Amish owned antique store, it's as if God orchestrated the perfect couple to befriend them.

This was a heart-warming story of lasting friendships, relationship restoration, and a return to a faith both Jeff & Rhonda had years before. I enjoyed the mentorship Orley & Lois extended and the demonstration of what a Godly marriage looks like. In spite of past heartaches and trials for both couples, I really like the wisdom Lois shared with Rhonda: “I had to be willing to accept life with its conditions and on its terms not my own...I decided that my life was a gift from God and was not dependent on any of the things I had once thought were the source of happiness. It's about being able to accept the bitter & sweet parts of life.” ~pg 238

Wanda Brunstetter has a way of creating characters you come to care about & a gentle faith to guide them. I think the epilogue was my favorite part! Watching God work in Jeff & Rhonda's heart to bond them closer together & find their way back to each other was the highlight for me. Fans of Brunstetter will hopefully enjoy this as much as I did! I love that it's her first contemporary and a great start to a new series.

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

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I enjoyed this first book in the new Wanda Brunstetter series Creektown Discoveries. Walnut Creek Wish is a little bit of a departure from her usual Amish tale mostly because the main characters are not Amish. There were a few times when the story dragged a bit especially passages when there is a lot of detail about what the character is thinking. Overall it is a great story about building relationship and finding faith.

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A wonderful book that's a window into a troubled marriage. This story shows how we can become closer in our relationships when we put more time into them instead of our careers. We also need to have God first. I couldn't wait to finish this story to see what happened next. I loved the cute Amish couple.

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