Showing results by author "Wanda E. Brunstetter" in All Categories

Life for Kelly McGregor is a daily drudge of driving her overbearing father's mules along Pennsylvanias Lehigh Canal. She dreams of one day owning an art gallery where her own drawings and paintings are on display. But these dreams don't include marriage. . .not after seeing what her father has done to her mother.

A year after her boyfriend was killed, a traumatized Katie Miller returns to her Amish community in Indiana, struggling with depression and panic attacks. Will she ever find the courage to face her inner demons? Freeman Bontrager has been interested in Katie ever since they were in school. Now that Katie is home, Freeman finds excuses to spend time at the Miller house. Is there any future for him with this emotionally scarred woman, or should he turn to the fair beauty Eunice Byler?

With the arrival of spring comes happiness and fun. Not so for eleven-year-old Rachel Yoder, who springs into nonstop trouble that turns her from a smiling, laughing girl into a sour-faced grouch. Extra chores, a trip to the eye doctor’s office for glasses, and a little white lie make things go from bad to worse for Rachel and her family. Will Rachel ever learn the secret to true happiness?

Rachel's back in school in Lancaster County! And that's where trouble finds her once again! Except this time, trouble has a freckled face and an unruly cowlick. His name is Orlie, and he seems determined to humiliate this 10-year-old Amish girl at every turn.

Rachel's not enjoying her school year - there are so many other things she'd rather be doing than schoolwork! As she shirks her responsibilities, Rachel encounters everything from cows escaping the pasture to an overflowing sink, dirty sheets, and rotten eggs. Rachel wants to be all grown up, but she's having a hard time accepting the responsibility that goes with it. Will she ever learn the value of growing up into a dependable adult?

School's out! And so is an energetic Amish girl with trouble following close on her barefooted heels! When nine-year-old Rachel Yoder isn't bringing frogs to church or taking wild buggy rides, she's setting fireflies free and trying out new skateboads in all the wrong places. Will Rachel's friends and family survive the mischief she brings into their lives - and will Rachel learn any life lessons along the way?

As summer is coming to an end, Rachel’s troubles are just beginning. Not only does she have a new baby sister to deal with, but she has an ornery cat on the loose, too. Rachel begins to feel that life just isn’t fair. When her jealousy leads her to take a trip to an amusement park with her English friend – without her parents’ permission – her problems only get worse. Will Rachel ever learn to be content?

Rachel Yoder has been out-of-sorts ever since her best friend moved away. What will she do without her? When a new girl named Audra shows up at the Amish schoolhouse, Rachel soon finds herself with a sticky sandwich, a mud-spattered dress, a sore nose, and a rotten attitude. As things go from bad to worse, Rachel is in danger of losing more than one friend. Will she ever learn the value of forgiveness?

Ten-year old Rachel is driving her Amish friends and family “buggy” with her lack of patience, which brings her trouble at every turn – from sledding into a creek to ruining a yummy shoofly pie, to flunking a test in school, to being dragged facedown in the snow. Will Rachel spend the entire winter getting into more trouble than her Lancaster County family and schoolmates can handle? Or will she finally discover that patience has its own rewards?

For the past two years Belinda King, along with her two grown daughters and teenage son, has been struggling to keep the family greenhouse running. Despite disconcerting events that have threatened to put them out of business, they have survived two growing seasons. And now Belinda can focus on the two suitors vying for her attention. Herschel Fisher, a new acquaintance, makes her feel relaxed, and Monroe Esh, an admirer from her past, reminds her of her youth. But just when Belinda thinks she can choose between her suitors, life throws more trials her way.

The Brunstetters return to a unique Amish setting for three new stories of love. Journey back to an area of Pennsylvania that is home to three distinct Amish communities and meet three young women who face heartfelt disappointments in romance.

Sylvia has been nearly paralyzed with grief and anxiety since the tragic death of her husband, father, and brother in a traffic accident. She tries to help in the family's greenhouse while caring for her two young children, but she prefers not to have to deal with customers. Her mother's own grief causes her to hover over her children and grandchildren, and Sylvia seeks a diversion. She takes up birdwatching and soon meets an Amish man who teaches her about local birds.

When Vernon King, his son, and son-in-law are involved in a terrible accident, three women are left to cope with their deaths, as they become the sole providers of the family they have left. The women’s only income must come from the family greenhouse, but someone seems to be trying to force them out of business.

Three lone wagons on the California Trail become trapped in the Sierra Nevada Mountains by a sudden snowstorm. Stuck in tight quarters with others makes Cynthia Cooper reevaluate her reasons for being engaged to fellow-traveler Walter Prentice. When a widowed father heading to a California ranch and a gold prospector both show an interest in Cynthia, she has to reconsider here dreams for marriage alongside her responsibility to care for her mother. Can love win over her timid heart?

Allison Troyer is of marriageable age and needs to learn how to manage an Amish household. Can a girl who feels as faceless, purposeless, and neglected as her tattered Amish doll, find her way among strangers when her family sends her off to Missouri? James Esh likes what he sees when Allison Troyer walks into the barn. Will anything keep this brash young Amish man from stealing her affections? Aaron Zook has vowed never to lose his heart to another. Yet when James makes advances on Allison, Aaron can’t help but intercede.

Melinda Andrews believes all animals should be protected and cared for by humans. Her long-time sweetheart, Gabe Swartz believes in enjoying responsible hunting for food and population control. When Gabe proposes marriage to Melinda, she worries that their differences on this issue could war against their happiness. When a veterinary friend suggests Melinda make a career out of animal care–even go as far as veterinary schooling–Melinda is intrigued. But the desire to become a vet could drive more conflict between Melinda and Gabe.

Barbara Zook was devastated when her husband, David, was killed. Will she be able to raise their four young boys and manage her beloved David’s harness store on her own? When harness maker Paul Hilty arrives in Webster County, Missouri, he finds himself agreeing to help run Barbara’s shop. Things are going fairly well until widower Bishop John Frey comes a-courting Barbara, and Paul’s jealousy takes everyone by surprise. Will Paul try to beat out the competition or end up hightailing it back to Pennsylvania? Will Barbara marry for love or be forced to enter into a marriage of convenience?

Faith Stutzman Andrews ran away from her Amish home in Webster County, Missouri, ten years ago to chase an unusual dream—that of being an entertainer on the English stage. After enduring an abusive marriage, Faith is now widowed and arrives back on her parents’ doorstep, hoping they’ll provide a stable home for her six-year-old daughter while Faith goes back on the comedy club tour. Will the lure of the English world prove too strong for Faith or will she discover that home is where her future lies?

Two years since Rosa Petersheim mysteriously disappeared from her Amish home, there has been no word from her. Her family and friends have suffered in the silence, though they have tried to move on with life. Then one day Rosa just as suddenly reappears at her parent’s home. . .with a husband in tow.

Ada’s best friend, Rosa, disappeared a year ago and still has not been found. In their grief and confusion, Ada and Rosa’s boyfriend, Ephraim, have grown very close. But some in the community feel Ephraim is responsible for Rosa’s disappearance. Now Rosa’s younger sister is making accusations against Ephraim that can’t be true, and he pulls away from Ada, feeling betrayed. A fire set by an arsonist might finally be the thing to reveal secrets that have long been dividing this community of friends and family. But will it be too late for love between the peacemaker and the suspect?