The second book in this series, we continue to follow Michelle's story as she overhauls her life and decides to take control of her future. We also get to know Sara and learn her story (and I'm guessing the third book is going to prominently feature her story). Ezekial plays a large role in helping Michelle to work through her personal struggles and insecurities, and a beautiful love story develops. There are some surprises here - things that I was even unaware could happen - that add to the suspense of the story. Overall, another great installment, and I look forward to the third!

THE FORGIVING JAR. Wanda Brunsetter # 2
Michelle going to the Lapps, to admit what she had done, pretending to be someone she wasn’t. Eziekel is taking her, and with wisdom to comfort her that it will be okay, you have nothing to worry about. He had come to Harrisburg to get her, and wouldn’t let her leave.
Sara with the death of her Mother, finding she had been raised Amish. Grandparents had welcomed her to come. While commitments delayed it, till later to find another woman living as her. She still was living with them until she could find a job. This was upsetting to Sara, how.could they forgive, and welcome her to stay on. She was even given the bedroom that use to be her Sara’s mother’s. There would be a lot of changes for both of these woman, learning forgiveness and wanting God’s will in their lives. Very surprising ending as we now await the third in this series. Given ARC by Net Galley and Barbour for my voluntary review and my honest opinion.

I love this series!! This is book two and it is just as good if not better than book one. I really enjoyed this book. I love how Wanda E. Brunstetter writes her series, she never leaves you with a cliffhanger. This book has all the emotions that deal with everyday life and the people in the book become your friends. Now I will wait for the next book. If you are looking for a very written book, here it is! I highly recommend this book. Thank you Barbour Publishing Shiloh Run Press via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. This is my honest opinion of this book.

Book 2 in the series. I enjoyed it very much. Can not wait to read the third book coming next fall. This continues with Sara Murray the Lapps real granddaughter and her impostor Michelle. Sara cannot believe that her grandparents forgave Michelle and let her stay with them. This book shows the jealous between the girls. Michelle wants to become Amish and Sara does not. When Sara accidentally runs over Michelle's dog things start to chance. A beautiful story of forgiveness.

A good story overall, and as the name implies it focuses on forgiveness. Sara comes back to her grandparent's house, to find the Imposter living there again. The one who had previously pretended to be her was now a fixture in the house. Not understanding how her grandparents could forgive her, she struggles to come to terms with it. Getting close to Brad, a student at a college nearby for ministers, the push of forgiveness and a lot of quotes from the Bible are all throughout this book. Overall I did enjoy it, but didn't really feel the romantic sparks. Would recommend.

One of my fave Amish authors. The author's easy-reading style is great. I have read the majority of her books. I also read the previous book in this series. I love how the characters continue as does their story. I love the conflicts and the way things turned out.

The story was good, engaging and my favorite genre. Will continue reading books by this author. I recommend this book.

I received an ebook from NetGalley for my review. All thoughts are my own.

The Forgiving Jar is the second book in the series. It is as good as the first and the focus is on forgiveness as the title implies. I love almost everything Wanda Brunstetter writes and I am looking forward to the third nook in the series. Thanks netgalley for gifting me with an arc of this nook, the opinion is my own .

I have read most of Wanda Brunstetter's books. I enjoyed The Prayer Jar, the first book in this series. Although each of these books can be read as a stand alone book, I think you will benefit from reading The Prayer Jar first. We are introduced to the same characters and we learn more about them in The Forgiving Jar, the second book. The grandparents, Willis and Mary Ruth King are just darling people. Both Michelle and Sara have had a difficult past, both are not sure about their future. The girls learn and mature from handling the friction between each other. Forgiveness is the main theme of this story, but there is so much more.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. My opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the first Armish / christian book I have read and i found it delightful.
Although this was the second in a series I didn't I couldn't catch up with the plot. I will however read the next book!
There is alot that can be taken from this book and alot of lovely verses and references.
A real lesson in love and forgiveness.
Well written and very enjoyable.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is the second book in The Prayer Jars series by Wanda E. Brunstetter. Sara, who has decided to move to be close to her grandparents, learns that her grandparents have asked Michelle, the girl we met in the first book who had impersonated Sara, to move in with them. Sara is very upset, suspecting that Michelle has an ulterior motive that her grandparents are not aware. She can’t imagine how her grandparents could forgive Michelle for her deceitfulness and lies.

Finding an old jar in the barn filled with scriptures that all seem to be geared to forgiveness, Sara ponders these in her heart and learns that forgiveness is a necessary step she must take in order to move on with her life.

I enjoyed the twists and turns in this book and highly recommend it to those who enjoy reading Amish genre.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Forgiving Jar

by Wanda E. Brunstetter is a new book released soon by Barbour Press. We are back in the existences of Michelle, Sara and the wonderful elderly couple in the person of Mary Ruth and Willis Lapp.

The couple if you remember the first book I previously treated and reviewed lost their daughter, and they learned this thanks to a letter sent by Sara, the daughter of their daughter, disappeared too many years ago without to let them know anymore what happened to her.
Sara after all has a good existence, but curiosity is great and the desire of trying to understand a world like the one of Amish so distant by her reality is immense. Her mother never told her that in a past phase of her existence she was an Amish.

The Lapps are at the same time extremely sad and excited. Sad because they lost their beloved daughter, but happy for the possibility of discovering this new important member of their family. They tell her that they would have met her with pleasure.

But my favorite character is the one of Michelle. Michelle lived in a disgraceful family, her boyfriend was horrible, she was homeless, no job, desperate she didn't know where to go, and when she meets this nice elderly couple asking her if she was their niece Sara, Michelle answers: yes.
Without exhitation.

For this girl, surrounded just by internal and external confusion, where there was just chaos, disorder, violence, the Lapps meant not the Paradise: more.
Good food, a family where love and friendship were visible, someone in grade of appreciating people, Michelle felt she loved immensely to staying there.

This new book focuses on the arrival of Michelle, again in the Lapps' house, this time with her name and last name Taylor for the Thanksgiving and the one of Sara. Yes, in the previous book the story was, after all, discovered.

The Lapps understood that desperation was high and the possibility of a good nest for Michelle where resting mind and body adding some good hard work and prayers was a good conclusion.
They understood her desperation. Sara at first, in this book doesn't. She thinks that maybe she is again there for opportunism; she doesn't love her grand-parents but who knows why she is there.

While Michelle is genuinily not just in love for the Lapps, her adoptive Amish family but also for that life, that she will choice of not lose anymore.

Ezekiel is the boyfriend of Michelle, while Brad in the first book attracted by Michelle/Sara maybe will start to flirt with Sara...

The jars are not so central in the story after all, because these girls will experience a lot; also the departure of a beloved domestic animal, the joy of meeting someone never seen in their existence, new jobs, friendships and meetings. A marriage and other stories will follow but what it is for sure, these jars and the Lapps will help these girls in their new path and their new existence.

A memorable story this one. Altruistic people are in grade to better the world.

I know you'll love this book. It can't be different. Wanda is in grade to speak directly to the heart of people with simplicity, accuracy and great tenderness and understanding.

I thank NetGalley and Barbour for this ebook.

Anna Maria Polidori

As always Wanda Brunstetterwrote a great book. I previewed book one and now book 2. The spiritual and wholesome journey the characters make is fabulous.i am getting a prayer jar for Christmas and plan to put scripture and insughtful writings in it.

Book 2 continues the story of Sara who finds out that she has grandparents who are Amish and Michelle who posed as Sara for a few months. One amazing story of learning to forgive not just the others who have hurt you but to forgive herself. The story had me laughing, cheering and even shedding a few tears.

The Forgiving Jar by Wanda E. Brunstetter is set in Amish country but not all of the characters are Amish.
The Lapps are Amish and live in Strasburg Pennsylvania. Michelle previously impersonated their granddaughter and has now come back to seek forgiveness. She has received it and is now living on the Lapp farm and helping them while looking for a job. Sara, the Lapps real granddaughter, is currently unemployed and decided to come for an extended visit as she also searches for work in Strasburg. She is very resentful of Michelle, especially when she learns Michelle is staying in her mother’s old room. Sara also believes that Michelle is trying to get something else form her grandparents including their love. Michelle embraces the Amish lifestyle and begins to see Ezekiel King as more than a friend and they both decide to be baptized and join the Amish church. Sara prefers to keep her car and wear her English clothes. Sara discovers a jar of Bible verses and short quotes on forgiveness hidden on a shelf in the basement. Will reading them change her heart and help her forgive Michelle? Is Michelle the only person she needs to forgive?
I enjoyed this story very much. I had previously read “The Hope Jar” which is the story of how Michelle came to impersonate Sara. There is enough background in this book that you will not feel you missed too much if you haven’t read it but I recommend it. The characters are so well-written you feel they could step off the page. I do enjoy anything written by Wanda Brunstetter and this story does not disappoint at all. She deals with a variety of topics including dating issues, religious differences, making decisions and family relationships all in very real ways without being preachy or diminishing anyone’s view. I give this book 5 of 5 stars.
I received an advance copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

The Forgiving Jar by Wanda E. Brunstetter is book two in her The Prayer Jars series. This Amish fiction novel is another in the genre by this author of multiple bestsellers. The novel is part of a series but the author has done a good job of making it a standalone, still there are a few places where a bit more background would have enhanced the story. However, this does not detract from the overall enjoyment of this excellent book.

Sara Murray has just learned that her deceased mother’s parents are members of an Amish community in Pennsylvania. She arrives at her grandparents’ home to find a young lady posing as her. Her grandparents forgive the imposter but Sara is still resentful. Sara’s feelings of betrayal and resentment hinder her relationships with the imposter, her grandparents and her new friend, Brad. Will the bible verses and other inspirational notes she finds in a canning jar help her to forgive and move forward with a positive outlook on life and love?

Brunstetter has written an absolute gem. There are twists worthy of any action-adventure movie, except the excitement is from emotion not car chases and explosions. The author is writing from personal knowledge of Amish practices, so the novel is purely authentic.

I give The Forgiving Jar 5 out of 5 stars. It’s a great read for fans of chaste romance and/or religious fiction. If you aren’t a fan of books with religious themes, take a pass on this one.

My thanks to Barbour Publishing, Inc. and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.

After Michelle left things undone with Willis and Mary Ruth she comes back to face the music. Sara the girl she impersonated is not pleased with this. She puts herself into a situation of thinking she is competing for her grandparents love. Willis and Mary Ruth care a lot about both of these girls and only want them to do well. Ezekiel wants Michelle to join into the Amish faith and become his wife. Brad is a young man Sara/ Michelle before he went off to school. He was not aware that Michelle had pretended to be Sara. He comes back for a visit and this is how he finds out. Everybody involved has to find a way to forgive . Sometimes it is easier said than done. Just like The Hope Jar the girls find hope in The Forgiving Jar. Forgiveness is hard but best for the heart. I have enjoyed this series of books very much. Once I start reading them it doesn't take long to finish.

The Forgiving Jar, by Wanda Brunstetter, is a delightful and beautiful new installment in Wanda Brunstetters' latest series. In The Forgiving Jar, readers are re-introduced to Sarah as she travels to spend an extended visit with her Amish grandparents, not realizing that her imposter is still living with her grandparents.
Sarah has a difficult time, actually this is an understatement- Sarah is extremely bitter that Michelle was able to fool Sarah's grandparents for so many months into believing Michelle was Sarah.
As Sarah's visit progresses, however, she starts to feel some sense of closeness to her grandparents, as she looks for a job in the area, and as Michelle and Sarah gradually thaw towards each other. Throughout, Michelle continues to date Eli as she deices whether to become baptized as Amish in the meantime, Sarah meets and starts to spend time with Brad, who was enchanted with Michelle when he believed she was Sarah.
When Sarah receives a call from her brother informing her that her stepfather has been critically injured, another opportunity for forgiveness appears- can Sarah make peace with the stepfather she has never believed truly loved he like he loved her half brother?
I believe that fans of Wanda Brunstetter will deeply appreciate and be touched by The Forgiving Jar.

The Forgiving Jar is the fabulous addition from Wanda Brunstetter’s The Prayer Jars series. I just loved this book and enjoyed catching up with the characters from the first book of the series. I highly recommend for readers to read The Hope Jar before starting this one. The is a perfect story for anyone struggling to forgive themselves or others. Mrs Brunstetter has the best books for faith and inspiration and this one is no exception.
The Forgiving Jar would be getting one hundred stars if it was possible. I loved it and highly recommend it. It is among my favorites of Amish Fiction.
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

The Forgiving Jar is beautifully written by Wanda Brunstetter with a balance of romance and yet still a degree of mystery and surprise. I feel there could be a third to come! Wanda once again capably weaves through her book the importance of forgiveness and honesty. Sara finds that she had been too quick to judge Michelle for her previous deceit when she also finds herself as the deceiver.

Book number two in Wanda Brunstetter's series, The Prayer Jars, picks up where the first book left off. In the Hope Jar, book one of the series, Michelle Taylor impersonates Sara Murray, the grandchild of Mary Ruth and Willis that they had never met. Near the end of the book, Michelle feels so guilty that she leaves and tells them what she had done in a note, at the same time that the real Sara arrives. Ezekiel, Michelle's friend, finds her and brings her back to face them and apologize for what she had done. Book two, The Forgiving Jar, finds Michelle and Sara both living with Mary Ruth and Willis, who have forgiven Michelle and want to be a part of both girls' lives. Sara is having a hard time with this, as she doesn't understand how they can be so forgiving. Michelle is also having a hard time forgiving herself for the lies she told and the way she deceived everyone. Sara is also struggling with feelings of bitterness and anger towards her mother, who had lied to her for so long before she died, while also trying to figure out her her birth father is. Can the two of them find forgiveness and move forward into the plan that God has established for them? Or will they allow fears and uncertainty to shade their future as well?
I really enjoyed this story. In fact, I didn't want to put it down. It was a great second story to the series and I can't wait for the conclusion in The Healing Jar when it comes out. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys Amish fiction. Wanda Brunstetter tells a great story and really digs into issues that we all face, both Amish and English. I received a free copy of this story from Barbour Publishing through NetGalley and all opinions are my own.

The second in the Prayer Jars series, The Forgiving Jar continues the stories of Sara and Michelle in Lancaster County. Sara is having a hard time forgiving Michelle for her deceit and when she finds her moved back into her grandparents' house, her bitterness prevails. Michelle has a choice to make concerning her Amish boyfriend but not everyone is happy with her decision. Brad also has decisions to make after finding out about Michelle's deception. Will the notes found in the antique jar help the girls find forgiveness? Looking forward to the next installment - hoping for more secrets to be revealed. Highly recommended!

The Forgiving Jar is the second in Wanda Brunstetter’s series The Prayer Jar.. After reading The Hope Jar I was anxious to read The Forgiving Jar. After the death of her mother, Sara was shocked to learn of her Amish grandparents. Since she had no idea her mother was raised Amish Sara is anxious to meet her Amish relatives. When she arrives at her grandparents someone else is living with them pretending to be Sara! The Forgiving Jar begins with Sara returning to her grandparents, not realizing Michelle, aka the pretender, has come back and is again living with Sara’s grandparents. While her grandparents have no trouble forgiving Michelle, Sara struggles with the concept. Add her anger with her mother’s secret, a wonderful guy that seems to good to be true and living in the same house as “ the pretender “ Sara is one big mess. While taking canning jars to the basement Sara discovers a jar filled with folded strips of paper. As she goes back to the jar and reads different notes containing scripture Sara is starting to understand what anger and suspicion can do to a person’s soul and heart.
I highly recommend this book. I would also suggest reading The Hope Jar first since the stories are so intertwined..
Just a side note I wish Mrs. Brunstetter would find a replacement word for “snicker”.
I voluntarily received this book through Netgalley and Zondervan publishing.

This is a lovely, feel good series that flows from front to back. Sara is the grand-daughter of an Amish couple living in Amish country Pennsylvania. She had not met her maternal grandparents until her mother’s death. She was quite surprised to find out her mother had been raised Amish. Sara was even more surprised to find out that her impostor (Michelle) was living with her grandparents, totally forgiven for her deceit. This is a story of transitions and sweet forgiveness with a dash romance and a sprinkling of suspense thrown in. Although this is the second in the series and it can stand on its own, I recommend reading The Hope Jar first because it is a beautiful story that provides rich context for the second in the series.

This new book by Wanda Brunstetter is one of her best to date.. Wanda has the wonderful ability to tell a complex story in a simple, straightforward way. As indicated by the title, the theme of this book is forgiveness. Sara is struggling to forgive Michelle for deceiving her grandparents about Michelle’s true identity; Michelle is struggling to forgive her parents of the abusive treatment she received from them. Sara finds an antique jar filled with scriptures and prayers hidden away on a shelf in the basement. Most of the prayers seem to be about forgiving others. As Sara reads the prayers and scriptures, God begins to draw her to Himself. This is a touching story and one that presents forgiveness in a Biblical way.

It’s interesting to see the transformation of both Sara and Michelle’s characters in this book. It’s easy to like Michelle. At first it was much harder for me to like Sara, but I was glad that I kept reading to see Sara’s realization of her need for a Savior.

This is the second in a series about the hidden prayer jars. It would be helpful to have read “The Hope Jar” to get the backstory about both Sara and Michelle, but this book can still be enjoyed on its own. We still don’t know the identity of the author of the hidden prayer jars, but I’M hoping that will be answered in the third book of the series, “The Healing Jar”.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Forgivness is one of the hardest things to do in life and this story is ripe with it. As a continuation of the series the events flowed seamlessly into this book. It was like the first book never stopped. I hope there will be another.

I thought book 1, The Hope Jar was amazing but this one definitely tops it!!!! The Forgiving Jar picks up where The Hope Jar left off and it is recommended you read them in order but in truth is not necessary. Sara has never known her mother's family and after her passing, Sara sets off to learn why. She discovers that her maternal family is Amish but also discovers that someone has taken her place......literally. Michelle, a young girl has been living with Sara's grandparents posing as Sara. When the truth is realized, Sara has to make a difficult journey towards forgiveness and understanding. With the help of a jar of notes she finds, can Sara open her heart to forgive Michelle? Read and find out!!!! My pastor once said that God forgives absolute. It is ourselves that have the hardest time forgiving, especially when it comes to forgiving ourselves of our sins. This story, to me, enforces that lesson he shared. Thank you Ms. Brunstetter for writing this story. It is what I needed in a very dark time.

The hardest thing is to forgive someone who has hurt you. It is even harder to forgive yourself. Michelle and Sarah had help with The Forgiving Jar.

The Forgiving Jar is the second book in a series by Wanda Brunstetter. It seems like I took a speed reading course as I finished this delightful book so quickly. I couldn't put it down. I am excited to know that there will be a book three in August 2019.

We all would benefit from the love and kindness of the Lapp Family. Could Michelle and Sarah learn from their past mistakes? Could they learn to forgive?

Pick up this book. You won't be sorry. It is a treasure. Throughout the book, there are "pearls of wisdom" to read, think about and put into practice.

I received this free to review.

I really enjoyed this follow up story and to see what was going on with Michelle and Ezekiel. I was not a huge fan of Sarah she seemed very immature for most of the story. Both girls face different trials and both are strong and broken souls looking for healing. I really like how Michelle was finding herself even more in this book. I really Brad came off a little judgey as well. In the end of the book I really enjoyed the over all story and the amount of forgiveness that the girls had to work through and how each one worked through what they faced through different ways and how God was a big part of that. I loved the idea of a prayer jar, it's a wonderful idea. This book is a good clean read as well as the characters seem very relatable.

The Forgiving Jar by much-loved author Wanda Brunstetter is the second book in her new series, The Prayer Jars. Readers will follow the characters from the first book in the series, The Hope Jar. The author has given enough of the back story of the characters that one could read The Forgiving Jar as a stand-alone without getting lost and having a lot of questions. I loved the characters --strong, resilient, and realistic with depth to their emotions, strengths, and foibles that readers will connect well with. Mary Ruth and Willis Lapp, trusting and compassionate. Michelle is filled with self doubt and feelings of unworthiness. Sara is flat out suspicious, angry and pretty much unforgiving towards Michelle who had 'wormed her way' into Sara's grandparents' hearts. Will the canning jars with notes of wisdom like "Broken people are made whole by God's love." be the key to a change of heart for each of the young women? Can they recognize that what's done is done and can't be changed or would each of their pasts continue to haunt them? The Forgiving Jar is a beautifully captivating story of forgiveness, family, finding faith, and lots of romance too. You won't want to miss this sweet Amish romance. I can't wait for the next book in the series, The Healing Jar.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

*thank you to Netgalley and Barbour Publishing for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*


In the previous book, The Hope Jar, Sara has just learned about her Amish grandparents. In this one, she’s finally able to go visit and meet them only to discover that there’s another girl, Michelle, living as her! And, to make matters worse, the imposter Michelle has come clean about her deceit AND THE GRANDPARENTS FORGAVE HER. Starting in, Sara is a already upset that someone else has met her grandparents and received all the attention and love *she* should have had; but as we go in, her heart softens. She meets Brad, another person coming to visit her grandparents (popular people).

The relationship between Brad and Sara was a bit questionable at first, but the more I read on, the more I realized they’d be great together.

Though one could read this book alone, I’d recommend reading the previous book THE HOPE JAR just so one can be certain to get a full picture of everything that’s happened.

We are back in Lancaster County with all of the people from the first book. Sara and Michelle are both with Sara’s grandparents, plus we see Ezekiel and his family and Brad and his family along with Sara’s stepfather Dean and her brother Kenny. As the title states, this story focuses on forgiveness. Good lessons and an enjoyable read with old friends. I really wasn’t happy with Sara to start, but if she bothers you, give it time, things will improve.
A complimentary copy was provided by Barbour Publishing and NetGalley. No review was required and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Forgiving Jar is book two in the Prayer Jar series. Book one, The Hope Jar, is good to read first to fully know what has happened but this one could still be read as a stand-alone.
The main theme of course is forgiveness. Two of the main characters, Michelle and Sarah, both have issues from their pasts that need addressing. It eats at both of them, especially Sarah. She is hard-nosed against Michelle and holds tons of resentment towards her. It makes Sarah a very unpleasant person to be around. Both young women are trying to co-exist in the Lapp household while Sarah makes it difficult for Michelle. Michelle spent four months living with the Lapps pretending to be Sarah, their granddaughter whom they had never met. Michelle took steps to finally ask forgiveness and turn her life around but Sarah was unrelenting although her grandparents accepted Michelle’s acknowledgment. They are both trying to find their way and what is meant for them to do.
The jars the two girls had found were filled with slips of paper that had scripture and wise words written on them. This gave them encouragement and food for thought.
It took me a while to warm up to Sarah. Michelle was quicker to confront her past and make things right. All the characters were written as people I’d like to spend time with, very realistic.
It also involves two young men so yes there is some romance included. The enjoyment I found was in reading and discovering how the relationships between all the characters progressed. I’m looking forward to August when book three is released, The Healing Jar.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

Second in The Prayer Jars series, Wanda Brunstetter welcomes the reader back to Strasburg, Pennsylvania and the home and farm of Mary Ruth and Willis Lapp. I appreciate this powerful novel much more than The Hope Jar. The Lapps are folks I think many of us would like to have as grandparents!

After the death of Rhoda, her mother, Sara Murray found a letter in Mom’s Bible that changed her life. The letter explained how her mother had been raised Amish. When Rhoda learned she was pregnant, she left her loving parents, never returning. Sara does not know who her father is, only her stepfather, Dean. Sara has since visited and spent time with the Lapps after a young woman, Michelle, deceived them, letting them think she was their granddaughter. She left when she knew the real Sara was arriving, and her Amish friend Ezekiel brought her back to apologize to them. They forgave her and invited her to stay with them again until she gets back on her feet. She is determined to get a job and earn money to pay back the cash she borrowed from their stash when she left.

Sara returns to stay at her grandparents’ home as her job has ended, and she hopes to find one near their home so she can get to know them. She finds Michelle in the barn, stunned and angry that she is there again. Certain Michelle is going to try to get something from them, Sara wants her far away from her grandparents. She refuses to forgive the deception Michelle acted out. When the Lapps arrive at home, they find their beloved granddaughter Sara talking about leaving, and unable to understand how they could forgive Michelle.

Sara is a bitter young woman who feels people have lied to her all their lives. She is unforgiving, even of her late mother, for keeping her away from her grandparents and her birth father. She won’t even try to get along with Michelle. When in the basement of the house one day, she finds a jar full of scripture verses and quotes that someone has saved. Curious, she reads a couple, and returns more than once to see what she will find in it. Sara doesn’t believe in God, however, certain that if God exists, He would care about her, listen to her prayers, even answer them. It takes more than one crisis and a deception of her own, before she is willing to listen hear what Michelle might have to share with her and begin to understand forgiveness.

Sara is the primary focus of The Forgiving Jar, even though we do see the continuous changes in Michelle’s life. Both young women are described well, as are the Lapps. Sara was easy to have empathy for when realizing that I have struggled with some of the same emotions. Mary Ruth and Willis, being faithful people of prayer, continue to bring the situation before the Lord. It will be like meeting a new person if the writer of scriptures and quotes in the prayer jars is revealed!

Forgiving others is a focus for several people in this novel. I have had to look at my own “history” of forgiving others, and how often I think the slate is clean until remembering a person or event. This delightful yet serious novel is a lesson in many ways. There are twists in the plot, some sweet and some not as sweet, that truly make the story what it is. I highly recommend this to fans of the author and of well-written Amish Christian fiction.

From a grateful heart: I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

In book two of The Prayer Jar series, we focus on Sara. Sara is the real granddaughter of Willis and Mary Ruth and the young lady Michelle had been impersonating. Sara is struggling with her faith and with forgiving those she feels has betrayed her throughout her life, including her deceased mom. As she continues to live with her grandparents she finds jealousy rearing its ugly head. Especially when Michelle seems to be getting her life together and the community is forgiving for her sins. Christmas arrives with a friend of her grandparents and Michelle and Sara finds herself liking him as more than a friend. Can Sara find forgiveness in her heart and learn to let jealousy go? Will the prayer jar she finds in her grandparents basement become her saving grace?

I am still reeling from this book. I have not had an Amish book hit me in the feels as this one did in a bit. I still get teary-eyed thinking about it. In book one I was very angry with Michelle impersonating Sara and felt like Sara had a right to be upset and very angry but as book two opened I came to understand Michelle more and realized sometimes when you are at rock bottom you find yourself doing things you never would dream of doing. As for Sara, I could not imagine a parent dying and finding out I had a family I never knew about. I admire Sara for her bravery in contacting and going to live with her grandparents I do not admire her jealousy against Michelle or her feelings against her stepfather. She definitely had a lot of growing up to do in book two. By the end, you will love both Michelle and Sara as if they were a part of your family.

As always with a Wanda Brunstetter book, you will find yourself laughing one moment and in tears the next. I suggest you read book one, The Hope Jar, first. I am eagerly anticipating the third book in the series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing/Shiloh Run Press through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

As the second book in the Prayer Jar series, Wanda Brunstetter has penned another great, enjoyable Amish read in The Forgiving Jar. The real Sara, not the imposter Michelle who had pretended to be Sara in the previous book in this series, discovers a jar full of notes about forgiveness in the basement of her grandparent’s house. “We should always make allowance for other people’s faults”, for example, is one of the many lessons Sara learns on her road to end her bitterness toward Michelle. They both learned the value of letting go of resentments which only eat one up, and they could only do that after realizing the need of asking the Lord for forgiveness. Without giving away any spoilers, there are a couple of blossoming romances as well as the road to a return of faith for both Sara and Michelle. Add into that the precious grandparents, the lovable dogs, and numerous other unforgettable characters and it’s a book you’ll savor even after the last page.

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

This is the second book in the "Prayer Jars" series and I believe the final book. It is a great follow up. We continue where we left off in book one with Michelle returning to the Lapps.
I like the believability of the storyline, if Sarah had forgiven Michelle too soon it just would not be realistic. I like seeing the growth of both girls as they interacted with each other and lived in the same house.
This book was Sarah's story but I liked that Michelle was well featured prominently as well so that we can journey with both girls. The theme of forgiveness ran all through this book and not just for Michelle and Sarah but a few of the characters. I loved seeing how this was achieved on differing level.
The writing was engaging, and the characters delightful. A great read.

Lessons for us all

I really like this author, and this series is one of her best. As the title suggests, this book is about forgiveness, and how you yourself suffer so much when you don't forgive. The lessons are mixed into a sweet story. I would suggest reading the first book in the series before this one. Not just for lovers of Christian or Amish fiction, this book has something for all of us.

Wow! What an incredible story! This is book #2 in the series & every bit as good as book #1. Follow the stories of Michelle & Sara as they learn the consequences of lies and the sweet joy of forgiveness. Enjoy watching them fall in love, learn about the Amish faith, and develop friendships. You will laugh and cry throughout this book. Another fantastic book by Wanda E Brunstetter!

I love this series. Sara found that she had relatives she didn't know after her mother passed. Why did her mother not tell her that she was Amish. When she is finally able to make the trip to meet them, she is surprised to find that someone has been impersonating her. She is even more surprised at how quickly her Grandparents forgive this con-woman. When more heartache befalls Sara, she has a hard time finding any comfort. An old canning jar full of scriptures and prayers becomes her one bright spot. Will she find her way back to God?
I love how the characters in this story transform their personalities. How they come to find Jesus. It is very inspirational. I look forward to the next in the series. I received a copy through Netgalley. I review was not required.

Sara has now taken her rightful place in her grandparents' lives - but when she returns after an absence, this time to stay, she is horrified to find the imposter Michelle back in the house! What's more, she has apparently been forgiven by Sara's grandparents whom she had wronged, and is in a deepening relationship with Ezekiel. In fact, she may even be about to go Amish! Sara hasn't always had an easy life and holds considerable resentment about various things already - but now her grandparents apparently expect her to forgive the liar and deceiver, and to live in the same house with her. When Brad returns for his holidays, the two connect, but he is studying to be a minister, whereas she isn't a Christian and struggles with forgiveness. Will the prayer jar she finds hold the words she needs to be able to make things right in her life?

Overall, I enjoyed seeing more of the story of these prayer jars and the lives they touched - it was a good follow-on from the first book. However, I did have a few quibbles. I realise that the different points of view are essential to the way the story is told, but I did find myself a bit confused at times with the constant swapping among about five people. Also, the writing itself felt a bit stiff and occasionally preachy - don't get me wrong, I liked the message about forgiveness, but sometimes it felt a bit forced. I will probably try to read the subsequent book(s) in the series, but I did feel a bit disappointed about the writing compared to my memory of the first book in the series. Readers who haven't read the first book of the series, note that it would be helpful to have read it before reading this one, though you could probably pick up enough of the story to get by if necessary.

Characters: I enjoyed them and thought they felt realistic, though with four (or six) main characters none of them got as much 'screen time' as I might have liked.
Storyline: Generally well managed, though the constant switching between points of view got a bit confusing at times.
Content and language: Clean, no issues noted.
Message: A useful message about forgiveness etc.
Rating: 3.5 stars

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

The Forgiving Jar, book two in Wanda E Brunstetter's Prayer Jar series is an inspiring story about forgiveness even when all seems hopeless. Faith and a searching heart can overcome even the worst feelings within an unforgiving heart. Had anyone ever assumed my identity I am sure it would take an act of God to help me get over those feelings of hurt, frustration and sense of being violated. Sara was wounded and justly so. As the story went along, however, I felt she was overtaken by her betrayal and wondered if she could get over it.



Her grandparents loved her and were thrilled to finally have her in their home. They also came to love Michelle, the imposter, who through an honest case of mistaken identity, became Sara in their eyes and hearts. Michelle, for her part, in The Hope Jar, had never known the love they showered on her and as time went on, didn't want to let go of her life as Sara.



Michelle has atoned for her past and tries very hart to be forgiven by Sara, as she has by her new community. If not for a jar filled with scripture, she may not have found the new, peaceful life she lives now.



I enjoyed reading The Forgiving Jar by Wanda E Brunstetter, a book filled with complex characters and moments of self reflection. She knows human nature and the power of prayer. If there is a third book in this series, I will definitely read it! This book is for anyone who likes an intriguing cast of characters along with some food for spiritual thought that, although not preachy, hits the mark. I enjoyed both books in this series, please read my review of The Hope Jar as well. I recommend this book with 5 stars!

The Forgiving Jar, is part of the series The Prayer Jars. This is the second book by Wanda Brunstetter. Having never met her Amish grandparents, Sara seeks out to know them. Unaware of a deceptive Michelle who had been pretending to be her, Sara must find it in her heart to forgive. Michelle has her own reasons for being deceitful. Sara stumbles upon a jar with tiny pieces of paper, holding a scripture on each . She learns to trust God as each scripture unfolds in her hands and in her heart.

Couldn't we all benefit from a forgiving jar in our everyday lives.

This series will warm your heart. You will fall in love with the characters, especially the Lapps. It's helpful to read book one but you can read this solo, as it relays the previous story well. I highly recommend this series and am so excited, for book three, The Healing Jar, due out later this year.

I received a complimentary copy of this book and was under no obligation to post any reviews.

The Forgiving Jar by Wanda Brunstetter is book 2 in The Prayer Jars series. This is a wonderful series showing life and forgiveness.
Sara and her former imposter, Michelle are both back in Lancaster and living with The Lapps. Sara can not understand how her grandparents could forgive Michelle for all of the lies. This opens the door for her to learn how to forgive and to love.
The setting is great and the characters are relatable and likeable. Though, Sara has a few moments of being self centered .
This is a great story that could be read alone but you will want to read The Hope Jar.
I was given an ARC from Netgalley for an honest review.

I received a complimentary copy of The Forgiving Jar by Wanda E. Brunstetter from Barbour Publishing Inc through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Forgiving Jar – the title alone – is such an interesting choice that I had to read this book. I found out while reading this book, that it is actually book two in a series, but it was written so well that it can be read as a standalone novel.

The Forgiving Jar is a well written story which surrounds the lives of two young English ladies who have moved into the Amish community. This is a very interesting twist from always hearing about Amish girls who wants to escape that way of life for the English life.

I stepped outside of my comfort zone by taking on this challenge to read an Amish story. There was once a time I was very interested in the Amish way of life and their history, but I always thought that the Amish fiction novels were somewhat boring and tedious to read. The author has brilliantly showed that Amish fiction can be interesting and can be an exciting read. Wanda has written this so purely that it kept me engaged in the story until I could find out how Sara and Michelle’s life would lead them. I am glad I stepped out of my comfort zone and gave this a try.

The Forgiving Jar fulfils a category on my 2019 Reading Challenge for being a book “outside of my comfort zone”.

How easy do you forgive a person who has been dishonest? In this heartwarming story, notes found in a jar play an important part in life lessons and forgiveness. While reading this book, I reflected on forgiveness in my own life. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

I read the first book in the series (The Hope Jar) last year, and since then I’ve been highly anticipating reading this one. The story is incredibly easy to get sucked into, and the growth and healing the characters experience as they learn more about their Heavenly Father through little slips of paper in a jar. It’s a unique story with quite the interesting plot. In the first book we met Michelle who ended up impersonating Mary Ruth and Willis’s granddaughter Sara (long story, definitely read the first book first). In this story, Michelle has found forgiveness and is still figuring out just where she belongs in this world. Sara is happy she has finally met her grandparents, but she is incredibly skeptical and jealous of Michelle. Her road to forgiveness is a tough one for her, but she finds encouragement not only in the prayer jars, but from others around her.

One thing that I loved about this story, was that it causes you to not only empathize with the characters, but examine yourself. Have you ever judged someone else for a particular sin until you suddenly feel convicted after committing it yourself? Have you ever thought someone else’s grass was greener until you realize they’re just battling a different beast? This story really challenges the reader to have compassion for others, and to have a forgiving spirit. You don’t have to fully understand what someone else is going through to empathize with them. Compassion really does go a long way.

I really love this series so far, and I am now impatiently waiting for the release of the next book. I highly recommend this story to Amish and Christian Fiction fans. Definitely read the first book first or you will feel very lost, but absolutely pick it up and give it a read!

*I received a copy of this book through NetGalley. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.

I am really enjoying The Prayer Jars series. In the second book the author focuses on the relationship between Sara and Michelle and how they each see themselves fitting into the lives of Willis and Mary Ruth. Sara is bound to be suspicious of Michelle's motives since she pretended to be Sara in the first book. Factor in jealousy and distrust which is understandable while lending a realism to the storyline.

Let's face, it both girls had valid reasons to feel the way they did given their life experiences. Michelle has had a pretty bad upbringing and Sara found out that her mother was Amish after her mother's death. I'm pretty sure my emotions would be all over the place, just as Sara's were. Especially when I saw the person who had pretended to be me, living in my grandparents home.

I didn't care too much for Michelle in the first book but she has matured and grown into a person who is worthy of being forgiven for her past actions. While being accepted in the community she has had time to think about how she wants to live her life and what she needs to do for a brighter future and the people she wants to be part of her future. It took me awhile to warm up to Sara but once I started to understand her feelings I sympathized with her and understood her character better. I was rooting for her to find her own happiness and have the life she wanted.

I was happy to catch up with Ezekiel and Brad because they have been two of my favorites since I met them in the first book. Brad has definite ideas about the qualities he wants in a wife which is as it should be and I like that he isn't the type to settle for less. Ezekiel has matured and made important life decisions that made me even more fond of him.

Overall this story of love, faith, family and forgiveness is one of my favorites penned by Ms. Brunstetter. I love how she brings her characters to life for her readers and leaves you wanting more which is why I cannot wait to read the third book in the series to find out what she will share with us next.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher and was under no obligation to write a review. All opinions are my own.

The Forgiving Jar by Wanda Brunstetter is a wonderful heartfelt book about dealing with bouts of jealousy, and learning to forgive even though it could be the hardest thing that you have to do. She makes the characters seem so real that now that I have finished book 2 in this series I am missing them and can't wait for the next book! I highly recommend this book to anyone!

The second book in The Prayer Jars series is just as good as the first, maybe even better. As we get to know the real Sara Murray we also get to better understand Michelle. We also get to know the other characters more and above all learn about forgiveness.

As much as I didn't care for Michelle in the first book I learned to really like her in The Forgiving Jar. Sara was the character I struggled to like in this book. While I understood her not liking Michelle I thought she was a bit harsh in her thoughts about her and the way she treated her. It was nice seeing Brad in this book again although I thought perhaps he would be more involved in the "forgiving" part of Sara's life than he was. Their friendship seemed very genuine though and it was a nice part of the story.

All in all, I enjoyed this book and can't wait for the next installment in the series. The author has a way of telling a wonderful story and leaving me wanting more of the characters she has created. This book could be read as a standalone but I don't recommend it. While some backstory is provided I suggest reading the series in order so you can fully understand the emotions of all the characters.

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

It's all about forgiveness
The "Forgiving Jar", written by New York Times best-selling author Wanda E. Brunstetter, is the second book in a new 3-book series that plays mainly in a moderate Amish community in Strasburg, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. Michelle Taylor who impersonated the granddaughter of Mary Ruth and Willis Lapp, an older Amish couple, goes back to ask for their forgiveness. Ezekiel King whom she met previously tries to reassure her. Sara Murray, Lapps' real granddaughter returns a month later after losing her job. She is not impressed to find Michelle once again at her grandparents' place. Sara finds a jar with verses and notes about forgiveness hidden on a shelf in the cellar, but she is not really willing to forgive Michelle. When Michelle decides to take religious classes together with Ezekiel to prepare for entering the Amish church Sara has even more reasons to doubt Michelle and to hate her.
When Brad arrives for Christmas he discovers that Michelle had been an imposter, a confirmation for his previous feelings that something had not been right with "Sara." He has difficulties to forgive Michelle for all her lies. But there are others who need forgiveness and need to learn how to forgive.
I highly recommend this book to readers who want to read a romance novel that treats the topic of forgiveness. I appreciated that the book not only includes the story but also Bible verses and notes who deal about this topic. Furthermore, the book includes two recipes and discussion questions for personal reelection or for the book club discussion. I want to point out one caution: Although this is a stand-alone novel, it is the second one in the "The Prayer Jars" series. The issues between Sara and Michelle, and also between Michelle and others might be harder to be understood if the reader has not read the first book in the series (The Hope Jar). Nevertheless, I am looking forward to the last book in the series "The Healing Jar).
The complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley free of charge. I was under no obligation to offer a positive review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#TheForgivingJar #NetGalley