I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. No compensation was received for sharing this review and all opinions are my own.
Published by Barbour Publishing on March 1, 2020
Source: Barbour Publishing
Genres: Amish & Mennonite, Christian, Clean & Wholesome, Fiction, Romance
Pages: 320
Mysterious Events Plague a Greenhouse in Pennsylvania’s Amish Country
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.Amy King has just lost her father and brother, and her mother needs her to help run the family’s greenhouse. It doesn’t seem fair to ask her to leave a job she loves, when there is still a sister and brother to help. But Sylvia is also grieving for her husband while left to raise three children, and Henry, just out of school, is saddled with all the jobs his father and older brother used to do. As Amy assumes her new role, she also asks Jared Riehl to put their courtship on hold. When things become even more stressful at the greenhouse, will Amy crumble under the pressure?
The Crow’s Call is the first book in the Amish Greenhouse Mystery series written by Wanda E. Brunstetter. The series introduces us to the Kings, a devout Amish family who are suffering through a horrible tragedy.
As the family’s faith is tested—the call of a crow seems to be either blessing or curse (depending on the perception of the individual) that propels this story forward.
I have always been a fan of Brunstetter’s and the cover of this novel is absolutely stunning. There’s just something about crows that is fascinating and I was eager to jump right into the story.
Unfortunately, the book was not without flaws for me. My interest is piqued in the story progression but this particular installment in the series is bogged down with chores and seemingly bad attitudes from all of the supporting cast.
It took me weeks to work my way through this book because I struggled with the amount of complaining coming from all of the characters. All of the daily chores made me feel tired and overworked. I do understand that this family was grieving and that everyone grieves differently. While it is true that many people bury themselves in their work during times of grief, I simply didn’t want to do their chores with them. I was procrastinating from doing my own when I picked the book up!
Overall, this book is readable. It’s good, clean, typical Amish fiction. I do plan to pick up the rest of the series because I want to know more about the vandalism/mystery and also because I would like to see this family heal and have a little fun. In saying that, I can’t say that the book is all bad—I just wish the story had picked up a bit more quickly.
Note: Kristin reads and reviews both Christian and secular fiction on A Simply Enchanted Life. Out of respect for my readers, I am including a content review. This content review will help you decide whether this book is suitable for you.
Christian or Secular: Christian
ASEL Content Rating: No disturbing violence, bedroom scenes, or profanity
Themes: Grief, Friendship & Dating
Suggested Age: 13+
About Wanda E. Brunstetter
A nationally recognized authority on the Amish community, Wanda E. Brunstetter has sold more than seven million copies of her fiction and nonfiction books. Wanda enjoys an uncommon kinship with the Amish and continues to visit their communities throughout the country. Her books have won numerous awards and topped several bestselling charts.
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