A Cousin's Promise by Wanda Brunstetter - REVIEWED

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
A Cousin's Promise
Barbour Books (March 1, 2009)
by
Wanda Brunstetter


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Wanda enjoys writing about the Amish because they live a peaceful, simple life─something she says we all need in this day and age.

Using the knowledge her Amish friends have shared with her, Wanda has also produced several children’s titles in the Rachel Yoder─Always Trouble Somewhere series, an Amish cookbook, and a devotional collection entitled The Simpler Life, which was released in July 2008 and celebrates the virtues of the Amish lifestyle. Wanda and her husband are members of the fellowship of Christian Magicians.

Wanda is also a member of the North American Association of ventriloquists, American Christian Fiction Writers, and the Northwest Christian Writers Association. She lives in Washington State, where her husband pastors, but takes every opportunity to visit Amish settlements across the country.

Other books by Wanda are A Sister's Test, A Sister's Hope, and A Sister's Secret


ABOUT THE BOOK

Wayne Lambright who, crippled after a tragic accident, feels himself unworthy of her love; and Jake Beechy who, after having abandoned her to explore the English world, returns to renew their courtship.

Willkumm to the lush and lavish Amish country where Wanda Brunstetter's new romantic series, Indiana Cousins, begins with A Cousin's Promise. Loraine Miller finds herself torn between the love of two good men.

When a horrific accident cripples Wayne Lambright, he finds it difficult enough to take care of himself, much less Loraine Miller, his future bride. Will he sacrifice his happiness to give her a better life?

Having already been jilted once, Loraine is terrified of yet another rejection. But does she love Wayne enough to marry him, for better or worse? When her old boyfriend Jake Beechy returns from exploring the English world, he hopes Loraine will give him another chance.

How will God work to give Loraine the desires of her heart? To which man will she pledge her love and loyalty - for better or worse, until death they do part?

If you would like to read the first chapter of A Cousin's Promise, go HERE

MY REVIEW:

Although the Amish have chosen a simple lifestyle, it does not make them immune to the complications that often accompany romance. Just like the rest of the human race, Amish parents want to see their children happily wed, and they become a bit bearish when they think someone might cause their children emotional pain. A Cousin’s Promise is a rather emotionally complex story that revolves around a broken romance. Using that relationship as a centerpiece, Wanda Brunstetter weaves many layers of conflict around the couple – parents letting go of their adult children, loving relatives trying to prevent hurt feelings between people that they care about, wounded pride used to smother true emotion toward someone - so many layers!

I didn’t have to read very far into this story before I was ready to take both Loraine and Wayne’s mothers to the nearest woodshed for a spanking! Having been on the receiving end of similar relationships, those two ladies just made me rather angry! And poor Wayne, he struggled so trying to get over his accident injuries, that I could understand why he got confused about his feelings toward Loraine. And Ella – she was so shaken after the accident that I think she was just being overprotective of Loraine out of love – I don’t think she even realized what she was doing. I’m telling you now, you are going to feel a bit frustrated at times during this story, because you really want to just straighten the whole mess out yourself!

Thankfully, the Lord is patient with all we human-types, and slowly but surely, each character within the story settled down and remembered Who was really guiding the events in their lives. Time and some rather eye-opening circumstances bring truth to light in this tight-knit Amish community, and many things end in satisfying resolution. I’m not going to spoil the story….so pick up a copy of A Cousin’s Promise today and get ready for an honest yet complex look into the human heart.