The Amish Cooking Class - The Seekers

Book 1 of Amish Cooking Class

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Pub Date 01 Feb 2017 | Archive Date 31 Aug 2017

Description

Join a class of unlikely Ohioans who take cooking lessons at Lyle and Heidi Troyer’s Amish farm. A woman engaged to marry, an expectant mother estranged from her family, a widowed mom seeking to simplify, a Vietnam vet who camps on the Troyer’s farm, and an Amish widower make up the mismatched lot of students. But Heidi’s cooking lessons soon turn to life lessons as they each share the challenges they are facing. Is this what God had in mind when Heidi got the idea for cooking classes?
 

Join a class of unlikely Ohioans who take cooking lessons at Lyle and Heidi Troyer’s Amish farm. A woman engaged to marry, an expectant mother estranged from her family, a widowed mom seeking to...


Available Editions

EDITION Paperback
ISBN 9781624167447
PRICE $15.99 (USD)
PAGES 320

Average rating from 56 members


Featured Reviews

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I think this is going to be my new favorite series of Wanda Brunstetter, and she has so many amazing series.. It was super interesting to see the diverse characters that signed up for the cooking class Heidi advertised. Also, I love the support her husband Lyle gives in her starting this venture. The bond that they have is a very sweet and special one. It also highlights what I am sure for many infertile couples is a challenging situation- when one spouse wants to adopt and the other does not. Heidi was inspired by her Aunt Emma, who always managed to provide friendship and a supportive shoulder to her quilting students, and Heidi hoped to do the same with her cooking students. Each of the characters seems so real, due to Brunstetters' gift in writing and describing characters. Even Ron, who at the beginning, seems difficult to appreciate, with his gruff ways and his tendency to take advantage of others- as the story progresses readers get a deeper understanding of his troubles. And through Charlene and Len, anyone who has ever faced mother in law difficulties can identify! Loretta and Eli develop a beautiful and special friendship- with great potential for more. Kendra faces a difficult decision about the baby she is carrying, given that she feels tremendously alone in the world. Heidi is the "glue" that brings each of these characters together to create a new "family" of sorts. I highly recommend!

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I really enjoyed this book by Wanda Burnstetter. I have read many of her books and it is similar to the style of the Amishing Quilting Class series, which I also really liked. Several people of very diverse backgrounds sign up for an Amish cooking class. Most have some underlying problems in their lives and the new friendships that they make can prove to be very healing.

I really liked the light-hearted feelings that come across in the book and the caring for others and love of family that comes through as you read this book.

It was a very good read and I will continue reading the series.

I received am ebook copy from NetGalley for my honest review, which I have given.

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The Seekers is the first installment to Wanda Brunstetter's newest series, Amish Cooking Class. I really enjoyed this book. It reminded me of her Half Stitched Amish Quilting Club series, which is my favorite of all her books.
In The Seekers, Heidi starts an Amish cooking class and gets some interesting students. Such as:
A young, single, and pregnant Kendra
Engaged Charlene, who needs help with her lack of kitchen skills
A young widowed, Amish man, Eli
Single and widowed mother Loretta
Vietnam vet, Ron
Of all the characters, Ron, was my favorite.
I cannot wait to read the next book of the series.
Highly highly recommended.
5 plus stars

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This is the first book of a new series by Wanda Brunstetter.

Placed in the Amish settlement of Holmes County, Ohio, Heidi Troyer decides to teach a cooking class to help fill in the extra hours of time she has since she doesn’t have any children to occupy her time.

The group of students, none of which can cook, consists of a wide variety of people who are from very different walks of life. As the book develops, so does the storyline of each student. Their friendships form, things happen in their lives they didn’t expect and Heidi soon comes to see that God is using this class for her to lead and become an integral part of their lives, and they in her life as well.

I enjoyed this book and look forward to the next one in the series.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Shiloh Run Press in exchange for my unbiased opinion of the book.

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I enjoyed this book very much. I like when the English and Amish have a close relationship. Trying to make a little extra money, ended up bringing a group of unlikely friends together.

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The Amish Cooking Class by Wanda Brunstetter is a novel about people who, for a variety of reasons, come together to take a cooking class.
Heidi Troyer is married but has no children so she decides to offer a series of cooking classes to add to the family income and occupy some of her time while her husband is away working as an auctioneer. She puts up fliers and gets a very diverse group to sign up- Loretta is a young widow with two small children who longs for a simple life, Charlene is engaged but a disaster in the kitchen, Kendra is a single expectant mother who needs something fin in her life, Eli is a widowed neighbor who lacks cooking skills and Ron is a drifter who is currently camped on Heidi and Lyle’s property. Heidi is nervous about teaching and whether the class can work well together as they are so different. As the class gets to know each other, they begin to share some of their personal lives with each other and privately with Heidi. Will she be able to assist them in finding their way? She does include scripture with each recipe but does it make a difference? Heidi turns her concerns over to God as she awaits the answers.
I love everything Wanda Brunstetter writes and this book is no exception. She makes the characters come alive and all of them experience real life problems and setbacks. She is able to bring their issues to logical conclusions as the characters often focus on scripture and prayer, as well as other characters, to guide them. Ron made me angry by some of his behaviors and I wanted to cry with Heidi when she longs for a child.
I highly recommend this book to everyone who enjoys Christian novels. There are so many great stories within the main story line that there is something for every reader.
This review is my own honest opinion of this book. I received a complimentary copy from Barbour Publishing though I am under no obligation to post a review.

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This is only the second book which I have read by Wanda Brunsetter. However, I am coming to understand why so many recommend her books when discussing Amish Fiction. Her books contain just the right amount of humor and serious issues to keep the reader turning the pages.

The Amish Cooking Class finds Heidi Troyer opening her home to teach authentic Amish cooking to her students. Never sure who will sign up for such a class, Heidi tries to focus on meals which are good, filling but easy to prepare. Along with her recipes, Heidi offers scriptures to help those she feels may need it. When the five students show up, Heidi is not sure how this class will survive or if they will continue. However, through scripture and healing, everybody comes out better at the end. There is even a surprise for Heidi and Lyle. Was this what Heidi wanted when she felt God leading her to teach this class?

I love how the class interacted with one another. We were also shown glimpses into the lives of the students outside of the class. The storyline shows that even in books the life is not always easy. This was an enjoyable read. I didn't want to put in down in case I might miss something. I was given a copy through Netgalley. The review was done because I enjoyed the book and the author.

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What happens when a class of unlikely Ohioans take a cooking class at Lyle and Heidi Troyer’s Amish farm? We find out in Wanda E. Brunstetter’s The Seekers which is book 1 in her Amish Cooking Class Series.

To be completely honest, I wasn’t that excited about this book when I first heard about it because it reminded me so much of Wanda’s other, and highly popular, Half-Stitched series. So I went into this book not knowing if it would meet my expectations because I wasn’t sure what else Wanda would write about on such a similar topic, but let me tell you, she DID IT!

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I enjoyed getting to know the different characters (a woman engaged to marry, an expectant mother estranged from her family, a widowed mom seeking to simplify, a Vietnam vet who camps on the Troyer’s farm, and an Amish widower).

I was impressed with how Wanda kept me interested in the lives of each of the characters. I also enjoyed Heidi and the role she played in the lives of the characters.

The one lesson that stands out to me from this book is that we never know how we can impact the people in our lives. Heidi viewed her role in teaching the class both an educational time for the students, but also a time to positively impact them.

Wanda took a story I wasn’t sure I’d enjoy and did what she does best, she transported me into the story and made me connect with the characters. After reading this book I’m really looking forward to the next one in the series, The Blessing.

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I found myself fully engrossed in this new book, and kept page turning to try and find the out come of this uncommon group of participants in Heidi Troyer’s new cooking class.
What a range of characters we have here, and at first could see no common denominator to them, except learning to cook. Now the idea of taking cooking lessons from an Amish woman does hold appeal, and could see myself doing so, and I can cook.
When Ron showed up and decided to stay for the lessons, my mind was screaming “No”, and yet he did add to the drama. While these students didn’t air their dirty laundry at the classes we were gifted to their lives between the classes.
Besides being gifted with some delicious Amish recipes, and I am going to try them, we are shown compassion and understanding, for all, even when we want to get rid of one of them.
A really fun read in this new series, and I cannot wait for the next book in this series.
I received this book through Net Galley and Barbour Publishing, Inc., and was not required to give a positive review.

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This is a story about Heidi and Lyle Troyer. Heidi starts a cooking class in her home to teach Amish cooking. Her students all have some sort of problems. Each needing help. Kendra is a single women who is pregnant and her parent kick her out of their home. Loretta has lost her husband is is raising two children on her own. Eli is a Amish man who lost his wife in a bike accident.. Charlene is in love with a man but his mother hates her. Ron is a ex vet with many problems. Can Heidi help all these loss souls? Can she finally have a child which she wants so bad and can not conceive? This is a beautiful story about each of their lives and the friendship they bond between each other.

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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.

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Sweet story about a group of people taking cooking classes together. Each person in the group has a unique life story, yet they all have a connection through the cooking classes. From cooking instructor Heidi to war veteran Ron, each character is interesting. The author tells a great story and even gives recipes in the back of the book. I enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more stories by this author.I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

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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.

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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.

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I enjoy any book by Wanda Brunstetter. I liked that Heidi wanted to be like her aunt and start a cooking class.
This book kept me turning page after page to see what happened to Ron. I thought he was a pretty shifty character and I didn't trust him. I had a funny feeling to see if he was going to try and steel from the Troyers.
I think in some ways the Amish are too trusting. I hate that some people want to harm them in any way. They are people like us and want to stay away from worldly things. In some ways, I think we could learn a thing or two from them.
I like how close they are and how they look out for one another. I also enjoyed that this story isn't too far from my hometown.
I'm glad that Heidi chose to teach some classes for cooking. I thought it was a wonderful idea because it gave her something to do while Liam was at his auction house all day.
I'm not sure how I'd feel about letting strangers in my house but it seemed like these people Loretta, Charlotte, and Kendra were good people.
In some ways I felt sorry for Kendra. I thought it was mean of her family to do what they did to her. This shows that all preachers aren't hunky dory. Some can't see past the end of their noses..
I did however feel like I was learning right alongside these wonderful women and men. Yes, I said men.
It's not uncommon for a man to learn to cook. Some even make a living out of it.
I had to snicker through some parts of this wonderful story. Wanda knew to add to some humor as well as make new friends.
Thanks you Wanda for another wonderful story. I truly do love your books! You are a great storyteller

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful start to a new series, March 6, 2017
By Maggie

This review is from: Amish Cooking Class - The Seekers (Paperback)
I thoroughly enjoy Wanda Brunstetter's books. The characters are well drawn, whether Amish or 'English; and the situations are so universal and believable. This first book of a highly anticipated series is no different; a real winner. The protagonist is sensitive and sweet, the complex interactions of all the characters drive you to read 'just one more chapter', and everything comes out good in the end (except for a few dangly bits that could form the start of the next book!)

Highly recommended. Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the loan of a time-constrained e-copy of the book with no obligations.

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The Seekers is the first installment to Wanda Brunstetter's newest series, Amish Cooking Class. I really enjoyed this book. In The Seekers, Heidi starts an Amish cooking class. I loved all the different individuals and their own stories and what bought each one to the cooking class held by Heidi.

This book revolves around a woman named Heidi Troyer and her Amish cooking class.Heidi Troyer and her husband of eight years, Lyle, have no children yet. She loves her Lyle and their life together but desires children, also. Lyle refuses to adopt, believing that if it is God’s will, Heidi will be able to conceive a child. Heidi considers giving cooking classes since cooking has come naturally to her and classes won’t take time away from her husband. Heidi will lead six lessons over the next three months.

The Lord prepares students for her first class. The students come with different problems to the classes and through out the book, they find solutions. First is Loretta, a widow and single mother of two little kids that just wants to learn a more simpler way of life. She wants to know more about being Amish, so learning Amish cooking in an Amish home sounds beneficial.
Second, Charlene is engaged to a wonderful man, but has no experience in the kitchen. Her financé has a mother who is an expert cook and doesn’t like Charlene. She doesn’t want her future mother-in-law to know she can’t cook.

Third is Eli, is a young widowed man who is part of the Amish community and also doesn't know how to cook much of anything. His wife had been killed by a hit-and-run driver. He couldn’t cook, and eats out frequently after work.

Fourth, Kendra is a young lady who got pregnant out of wedlock and was kicked out of her home by her dad so he wouldn’t be embarrassed in front of church or social friends. The young man also left her.

Last but not least is Ron. He pulls his older RV into the Troyer’s yard, hungry and broke. He tells Heidi and Lyle the first lie, that his rig needs repairs and he needs a place to park until he can repair it. He ends up in the cooking class without planning to be there. The Troyers share their food and time, but he holds his secrets close. A Viet Nam vet with PTSD, Ron always finds ways to justify what he does.

Most of the characters are very likable. We see Heidi as a three-dimensional woman of faith, and get to know her students through their everyday lives. I love how this book focuses so much on God. I also love the recipes and how after each class she gives a notecard with the recipe and a verse on the back.

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Firstly thanks to netgalley for my review copy.

I have read several books by Wanda and have enjoyed them all. This one is different (although I have since found out she did a series with Heidi's Aunt teaching Quilting) but to me this was different. In this book we have Heidi who after 8 years of marriage still doesn't have any children so often has time on her hands. She loves to cook and knows how much joy her Aunt gets from teaching quilting so decides to run 6 cooking lessons. The participants are varied, Charlene who is newly engaged, Kendra who is an expectant mother estranged from her family, Lorretta who wants to learn some Amish cooking, Eli an Amish widower who struggles to boil an egg and Ron who has turned up at the Troyer's farm asking if he can camp there for a short while.

The book introduces us to each of the participants as well as Heidi and her husband Lyle and we get to know them and more about there situations. Lorretta has 2 adorable children who I must say are scene stealers at times. A couple of the participants have no idea how to cook but Heidi is patient. What starts out as just lessons becomes more as they get to know one another. I enjoyed the way the book unfolded and was sad to see it end. I am really looking forward to the next book in the series. What I loved most was the interaction between the various people and also the individual stories within the main story.

If you like Amish stories I am sure you will enjoy this one and if you are not a big fan of Amish books you will find this book doesn't focus mainly on their lifestyle because of having both English and Amish involved. A good read.

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MY REVIEW: Can't cook? Looking for friends? Just want to have some fun? Bored? Hungry? Heidi Troyer is ready and willing to take a risk and teach some Amish meals and share a few scripture verses along the way. Come join, she invites and several do just that.
This book was very fun to read and emotional as well. I think readers will enjoy the Amish recipes and learning ways of the Amish as well as shedding a few tears and laughing too. Many people will relate. I personally find great enjoyment in cooking and remember when I was first married, I bought many many many cookbooks and loved trying new recipes on friends and family. I got a wok and a fondue pot and enjoyed trying some new adventures with food, ones that my "good 'ole southern mom and grandma" had never cooked. I even made some big mistakes in cooking, just as some of Heidi's students. Teaching a cooking class also seems a wonderful way to have some fun and earn some money for folks like Heidi.
I am giving this book a 5-star rating and encourage those who enjoy reading Christian and Amish books to give this one a try.
This book was a gift from Barbour Publishing and netgalley. No review was required.

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Wanda E. Brunstetter is one of my favorite Amish authors. I get so lost in her books that hours go by and I find myself reacclimating to my surroundings.

If you were a fan of her Half-Stitched Quilting club series you are going to love her Amish Cooking Class series. We join Heidi Troyer as she teaches 4 Englishers and 1 Amish widow some easy Amish recipes to fix for themselves or family. Everyone is as different as can be but find themselves looking forward to their time together every other Saturday.

I appreciate how Brunstetter is not afraid to show us the imperfect side of Amish life. They have heartaches and differences with their spouses just like us Englishers. You don't always have that portrayed in Amish fiction. She also does a wonderful way in showing us how to apply scripture, love and kindness in fixing those differences.

I didn't want this book end. You can be sure I will be in line to get the second book when it comes out.

Thank you to NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for a copy to read and write a review based solely on my own opinion.

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The Seekers is the first book in the Amish Cooking Class series by Wanda E. Brunstetter. I really enjoyed this book. It was a mostly lighthearted read and I really enjoyed how it was the weaving of multiple lives together in one story. I think some people may not appreciate how the story switches perspective but I found it to be a fresh approach. I’m not sure that I’ve seen this done in Amish books. It was new to me and fresh.

Each of the students in Heidi’s class have their own unique set of challenges and while my heart went out to each of them—I was especially touched by Ron. My dad is a veteran so I have a soft spot in my heart for the men and women who have given so much to serve our country.

If you’re looking for a fairly lighthearted-feel good outcome and a quick and delightful read—this is the book for you. There’s also quite a few enjoyable recipes in the back of the book if you would like to try making an authentic Amish meal. I haven’t tried them yet but I fully intend to!

Overall, this book just hit the spot for me. I was needing a pick-me-up after reading a few books with dark content. I wouldn’t say that everything is sunshine and roses in this book but the redemptive themes brought healing and peace that I so needed.

I look forward to reading more in this series and in seeing how more books written with this multi-person perspective plays out. The author did a great job in making each of the characters come across as individuals. They were well-developed and I’m super curious if we’ll get to see glimpses of them in future installments or if there will be a new cast of characters.

While I wouldn’t call this book out for being particularly deep in terms of content, sometimes you just need a very feel-good quick read and this book definitely fits that bill. This would make a great book-club read or a story to share with a friend.

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I really really enjoyed this book. I cannot wait for the next one to come out and am going to get the quilt ones because I am sure they are going to be just as good. I loved how everyone came to the class with problems and when it was all done they were better if not solved.
I highly recommend this book.

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Trying to figure out what I want to say about this book is hard. Within the first little bit I felt like Ron was a toad and Lyle was a push over. I was almost immediately annoyed with both of them. However, both played a pivotal role in building a wonderful feel good story. Let's talk about my initial impressions of the rest of the cast, as well. Kendra, while her situation wasn't in any way fair felt like a whiner, Loretta left me feeling wishy washy, Eli interested me, and Charlene seemed so at odds with her security with her career and hobbies while being so annoyingly insecure about her relationship. Of course they were so much more than that but that's were I started with them. I was hoping they would do a lot of growing and changing and for the most part I was rewarded.

There are two things that draw me into a story and keep me engaged. Characters and the the actual story. If I can't bond with the characters and feel like I know them (I don't have to like them!) that hurts how I feel about the story. If I can't bond with the story-line then it's hard to really care what happens or how it turns out. The way this book was set up showing the different characters in their real lives, not just at cooking class grabbed my attention and made me invested in the story. I cared who these people were and wanted to know more about who they were, why they were there, and how it came to pass. I actually hope to see these characters again in future books since I really don't feel like their stories are told. They just aren't finished you know? There has to be more. The drawback, for me, however was that I don't feel like I had a chance to truly bond with the characters. The characters were truly well developed and I came to like them all, I even changed my mind about a few, but there just wasn't enough time with each of them. Giving them more time would have been a mini-series but I feel like the small glimpse weren't quite enough. I lost some of that bond that makes me truly care about a character.

At the end of the day I still feel like Lyle is a push over, but not in a bad way. I feel like what Kendra's family did was completely unacceptable but she's still a bit whinny. Charlene redeemed herself a little bit at the end but I'm not sure I will ever grasp the change of heart her future mother-in-law had and feel like it left a gaping opening that wasn't closed. Eli and Loretta's story I saw coming from a mile away but it was OK because it just made sense. Ron, oh Ron. Ron redeemed himself, sorta, but I felt like it was just too easy. Lacking that ability to really delve into the characters left me with so many unanswered questions about Ron and feel like his revelation was too easy. He was too easy to explain it when I'm sure it was one of the hardest things he has even done. He was too easy to be off the hook. I'm happy for him and honestly, the man needs something too easy in his life.

This book started slow and I was frustrated for about the first part of the book. But as the characters started to grow for me the book came to life. I am so glad that I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by NetGalley. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review. And I truly cannot wait to read the next book in the series!

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This is a wonderful read !! I just loved how the author took us into the lives of all of the characters. And then how the author intertwined different character's lives together !! I am starting the second book in this series today !!
I cannot wait to read the second book to see what happens next !!

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Wanda E. Brunstetter has done it again! She has written another Amish book that is more than a page turner, it's life lessons on some of life's most challenging moments that both Amish and Englishers face in their lives.

Amish widow Heidi Troyer opens up her home for lessons in cooking. What she gets is a variety of Ohioans from all walks of life that have very little in common. What the Ohioans get from Heidi is more than just a cooking lesson.

You don't want to miss out on this book and it's series. The next book is "The Blessing" releasing August 1st, 2017.

I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. No money was exchanged. This is my honest review in my own words.

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First off I need to say that I really enjoyed this book. The story lines were really well written. The way the characters interwove was interesting. Also the timeline of events was consistent and kept a good pace with the story. No one character was given any more importance than the others. However the story was actually very predictable. I could figure out what was going to happen to each character before the book ended. But that's not necessarily a bad thing! This was a very comfortable read. I felt like I was really involved in the story and wanted to keep up with the characters and find out what happened to them. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series. And as an added bonus recipes are included at the end of the story. The great thing about this is they are all easy to fix! You kind of feel like you're in Heidi's kitchen and she's helping you.

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Review: The Seekers is book one of the Amish Cooking Class series by Wanda Brunstetter. Having read one of the books in Wanda’s Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club Series I can see a similarity in the two sets of trilogies. Her books are always simple, delightful reads that offer an Inspirational message. There is an element of predictability in The Seekers. But that is okay with me because the story is not a mystery and I always enjoy happy endings.

In The Seekers, Heidi was sure the cooking class idea was inspired by God but she didn’t know how greatly each students’ life would be affected when the class came to an end. She had a mix of Amish and English students, which made it a little different. All the characters were facing realistic problems that could not be fixed in a day. But they did discover that there was help in facing those problems. My favorite character was Amish widower Eli.

I enjoyed this novel. It is a light, enjoyable read. Depending on how you look at it, you may or may not be satisfied with the ending. This is a trilogy after all so some story lines are going to carry over into the next book. I recommend checking out The Seekers. I think you will want to get a second helping and read The Blessing when it is released in August 2017.

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