Member Review

Paul finds himself fascinated with Lisa from the moment he meets her. She seems familiar to him, but he cannot imagine how they could have met. As Paul spends more time with Lisa, he finds himself falling for her. Paul is not sure how to get Lisa to open up her heart to love. Paul meets Orley and his wife, Lois at their antique shop, Memory Keepers while searching for a special milk bottle. Orley and Lois offer advice to Paul on how to break past Lisa’s walls as well as their prayers. Just when Paul believes he is making progress with Lisa, a secret comes to light that has the door to Lisa’s heart closing. What will it take for Lisa to be open to love? The Sugarcreek Surprise by Wanda E. Brunstetter is the second Creektown Discoveries novel. It can be read as a standalone for those who have not indulged in The Walnut Creek Wish. I thought The Sugarcreek Surprise was well-written with developed characters. The story had a good flow and moved along at a steady pace. I liked the characters in this story that included Lisa’s grandparents, Paul’s Uncle Abe, Lois and Orley Troyer, and the sweet, Maggie. Maggie is a dog that follows Lisa home from school and becomes devoted to her. There are good life lessons in the story. Lisa needs to learn that you cannot close yourself off from close relationships just to avoid pain. Pain is a part of life just like love. The two work hand in hand. Faith is an essential element in this tale. We get to see the importance of prayer and trusting God. My favorite quote from The Sugarcreek Surprise is “We as humans can only do so much, but Jesus can work out any problem no matter how big it is.” There is some repetition in the story especially about Lisa and how she does not wish to marry. The ending will leave you smiling, and I am glad there was an epilogue. I am eager to read the third novel in the Creektown Discoveries series. There are two recipes at the end along with discussion questions. The Sugarcreek Surprise is a touching Amish tale with a protective pooch, a distressed schoolteacher, a caring carpenter, gentle grandparents, sweet students, and a gracious God.