The Seekers by
Wanda Brunstetter is the story of a group of strangers brought together with a
common goal of learning how to cook authentic Amish meals, in the home of Heidi
Troyer. It is reminiscent of Ms.
Brunstetter’s earlier series, The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club, and,
in fact, it is the niece of Anna Miller, the main character of that series, who
offers cooking classes in The Seekers. Characters in The Seekers seem to have an extra layer of depth added to them –
they each have some issue facing them in their lives, and these issues seem a
bit edgier in this book – a widow and widower navigating life without a
partner; a young, expectant mother, estranged from her family; an engaged woman
facing interpersonal conflict; and a Vietnam War veteran who suffers from the
effects of flashbacks and bad decisions. The depth these characters possess is
apparent, as Ms. Brunstetter skillfully takes the reader deep into the lives,
inner thoughts, and struggles each character faces. Each character is realistically portrayed,
which leads to a more complete and satisfying experience for the reader – you
cannot help but relate to the plights of each one, because you’ve either been
there yourself, or know someone who has.
Under Ms. Brunstetter’s careful craftsmanship, characters and readers
alike are taken from the highest of highs to the depths of despair, as each
storyline unfolds. Through it all
though, Ms. Brunstetter delicately weaves threads of hope – hope for fresh
starts, new beginnings, and redemption, as well as the offer of the eternal
love of a forgiving God. Ms. Brunstetter’s books remain the gold standard of
authenticity for the Amish fiction genre.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Barbour
Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
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