Review of “Sisters by the Sea” by Wanda Brunstetter, Jean Brunstetter, Richelle Brunstetter, and Lorine Brunstetter Van Corbach

Publisher Description:

Four Amish Sisters Develop New Beginnings in Sarasota, Florida

Journey with the bestselling Brunstetter authors to the unique tropical Amish community in Sarasota, Florida, along with four young sisters originally from Indiana.

The Seashell Cake by Wanda E. Brunstetter

Leora Lambright is the first to leave home, seeking a warmer climate for health reasons. While on a winter holiday, roofer John Miller meets Leora in the bakery where she is enjoying expressing herself through cake decorating. They are instantly attracted to each other and spend several days bike riding, fishing, playing shuffleboard, and trying local restaurants. But when Leora makes it clear she’ll never again live up north, without explaining why. Has the romance ended before it could even blossom?

The Beach Ball by Jean Brunstetter

Violet, the youngest of the four Lambright sisters, has always been a bit wild. She moves to Florida to live with her sister as she seeks her independence and considers leaving the Amish way of life. She works as a waitress and drives her own car. Her beauty and free spirit attract a lot of male attention like Levi, who is also Amish. When she first meets Dan Hunter, it is his little red sports car that she admires first, but while dating Dan, Levi keeps trying to make Violet commit to him. Can she settle on who should have her heart and how to live out her faith?

Fragments of a Sand Dollar by Richelle Brunstetter

Francine Lambright is heartbroken that her longtime boyfriend, Matthew, is thinking of leaving the Amish faith, and they have broken up. She is ready to join the church, but her sister invites her to Florida for an extended visit before taking the pledge of faith. While shell hunting at Lido Beach, Francine meets Lucas Hayes, and they soon begin seeing each other, despite him being an Englisher. When Matthew shows up in Pinecraft unexpectedly, how will Francine’s heart respond? 

A Sarasota Sunset by Lorine Brunstetter Van Corbach

Alana Lambright has suffered a series of unfortunate accidents and emotional traumas that have left her plagued by anxiety. She turns to art for peace and healing. While on a visit to her sister in Florida, she takes up seashell artwork and accepts a job in a gift shop. James Miller, a recent college graduate, meets Alana, and, due to his own past, he is initially turned off by the fact that she is Amish. Still he invites Alana on adventurous outings. Alana tries to tamp her anxiety to try the activities but fails and feels like it pushes James away. Can they each deal with the heaviness in their pasts to embrace a future together?

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My Review:

The four novellas in this book were written by four different family members of the Brunstetter family; and each author’s story featured a different Lambright sister.  I was happy to see that each story transitioned very smoothly from author to author.  I also enjoyed seeing the differences in writing styles among the authors.  One thing that impressed me about the book was that there were some different issues  and struggles presented for these characters than you normally find in many Amish books.  The other thing that surprised me was that every character didn’t make the choices that I thought they would.  The characters in these stories followed the different paths that God had for them.  (If you take a close look at the cover, you get a hint of what each sister’s path might be taking.) I also enjoyed the close relationships among the sisters.  It was refreshing to read of a family in full support of each other.

I loved the setting of Sarasota, Florida.  It was fun reading about these Amish sisters as they enjoyed living near a beach setting.  But most of all, I appreciated the strong emphasis on faith and trusting God to guide and direct during times of difficulties. 

I voluntarily received a copy of this book from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.

About the Author

New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Wanda E. Brunstetter is one of the founders of the Amish fiction genre. She has written more than 100 books translated in four languages. With over 12 million copies sold, Wanda’s stories consistently earn spots on the nation’s most prestigious bestseller lists and have received numerous awards.

Wanda’s ancestors were part of the Anabaptist faith, and her novels are based on personal research intended to accurately portray the Amish way of life. Her books are well-read and trusted by many Amish, who credit her for giving readers a deeper understanding of the people and their customs.

When Wanda visits her Amish friends, she finds herself drawn to their peaceful lifestyle, sincerity, and close family ties. Wanda enjoys photography, ventriloquism, gardening, bird-watching, beachcombing, and spending time with her family. She and her husband, Richard, have been blessed with two grown children, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

To learn more about Wanda, visit her website at www.wandabrunstetter.com.

Jean Brunstetter became fascinated with the Amish when she first went to Pennsylvania to visit her father-in-law’s family. Since that time, Jean has become friends with several Amish families and enjoys writing about their way of life. She also likes to put some of the simple practices followed by the Amish into her daily routine. Jean lives in Washington State with her husband, Richard Jr. and their three children, but takes every opportunity to visit Amish communities in several states. In addition to writing, Jean enjoys boating, gardening, and spending time on the beach. Visit Jean’s website at www.jeanbrunstetter.com.

Richelle Brunstetter lives in the Pacific Northwest and developed a desire to write when she took creative writing in high school. After enrolling in college classes, her overall experience enticed her to become a writer, and she wants to implement what she’s learned into her stories. Just starting her writing career, her first published story appears in The Beloved Christmas Quilt beside her grandmother, Wanda E. Brunstetter, and her mother, Jean. Richelle enjoys traveling to different places, her favorite being Kauai, Hawaii. 


Lorine Brunstetter Van Corbach became interested in the Plain people’s culture as a young child, after visiting the Lancaster Amish with her parents. Lorine is a music teacher and lives in Southwest Idaho with her husband, Bil. They have three daughters and two grandchildren. Lorine enjoys playing the piano, singing, writing, gardening, cooking, and traveling.