I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing, Netgalley and was under no obligation to post a review. No compensation was received for sharing this review and all opinions are my own.
Series: The Amish Cooking Class #1
Published by Barbour Publishing on February 1st 2017
Source: Barbour Publishing, Netgalley
Genres: Fiction, Christian, Romance, Amish & Mennonite
Pages: 320
Join a class of unlikely Ohioans who take cooking lessons at Lyle and Heidi Troyer’s Amish farm. A woman engaged to marry, an expectant mother estranged from her family, a widowed mom seeking to simplify, a Vietnam vet who camps on the Troyer’s farm, and an Amish widower make up the mismatched lot of students. But Heidi’s cooking lessons soon turn to life lessons as they each share the challenges they are facing. Is this what God had in mind when Heidi got the idea for cooking classes?
The Seekers is the first book in the Amish Cooking Class series by Wanda E. Brunstetter. I really enjoyed this book. It was a mostly lighthearted read and I really enjoyed how it was the weaving of multiple lives together in one story. I think some people may not appreciate how the story switches perspective but I found it to be a fresh approach. I’m not sure that I’ve seen this done in Amish books. It was new to me and fresh.
Each of the students in Heidi’s class have their own unique set of challenges and while my heart went out to each of them—I was especially touched by Ron. My dad is a veteran so I have a soft spot in my heart for the men and women who have given so much to serve our country.
If you’re looking for a fairly lighthearted-feel good outcome and a quick and delightful read—this is the book for you. There’s also quite a few enjoyable recipes in the back of the book if you would like to try making an authentic Amish meal. I haven’t tried them yet but I fully intend to!
Overall, this book just hit the spot for me. I was needing a pick-me-up after reading a few books with dark content. I wouldn’t say that everything is sunshine and roses in this book but the redemptive themes brought healing and peace that I so needed.
I look forward to reading more in this series and in seeing how more books written with this multi-person perspective plays out. The author did a great job in making each of the characters come across as individuals. They were well-developed and I’m super curious if we’ll get to see glimpses of them in future installments or if there will be a new cast of characters.
While I wouldn’t call this book out for being particularly deep in terms of content, sometimes you just need a very feel-good quick read and this book definitely fits that bill. This would make a great book-club read or a story to share with a friend.
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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