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Review of “The Protector” by Wanda Brunstetter—the first book in her new “The Mifflin County Mystery” series!

Publisher Description:

A Mysterious Disappearance Shakes an Amish Family’s Faith


In book one of A Mifflin County Mystery series, after a night out with her boyfriend, Rosa Petersheim has disappeared from the Big Valley without a trace. Norman Petersheim always considered himself his sister’s protector, and he can’t believe she would have left home of her own accord. Clearly, he must have failed her. He throws all he has into helping the authorities search for Rosa, while trying to support his parents and siblings–who are struggling both mentally and physically. Salina Swarey loves Norman and hopes they are headed toward marriage, but his obsession with Rosa’s whereabouts is driving them apart. Can Norman find peace and contentment, even if he never learns where Rosa has gone?

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My Review:

This book immediately begins with a mystery:  What happened to Rosa Petersheim? This question drives the rest of the storyline as the Petersheim family work through the implications of Rosa’s disappearance. Rosalind’s older brother, Norman, had always considered himself her protector, and feels it is his responsibility to find Rosa.  But Rosa’s disappearance affects each member of the Petersheim family in a profound way, and as Norman’s search continues, he is faced with important decisions he must make about his own future.  

The tension of finding out what happened to Rosa is present all the throughout the book.  Her disappearance drives all the actions and emotions of the characters, and it was interesting to see each individual reaction to this.  Since this is a three-book series, every question is not answered and at the end of the book, there are characters that are still making crucial life decisions.  But as with all of this author’s books, she provides hope and direction from the scripture.  This beautiful thread of faith runs all the way through the storyline. 

I enjoyed reading this story, and I’m looking forward to see what happens next for the Petersheim family. I also now want to know what’s happened to Rosa and to see what comes next for the Petersheim siblings.

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

About the author

Wanda Brunstetter is an award-winning romance novelist who has led millions of readers to lose their heart in the Amish life. She is the author of over 100 books with more than 12 million copies sold. Many of her books have landed on the top bestseller lists, including the New York Times, USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly, CBA, ECPA, and CBD. Wanda is considered one of the founders of the Amish fiction genre, and her work has been covered by national publications, including Time Magazine and USA Today.

Wanda’s fascination with the Amish culture developed when she met her husband, Richard, who grew up in a Mennonite church, and whose family has a Pennsylvania Dutch heritage. Meeting her new Mennonite sister-in-laws caused Wanda to yearn for the simpler life. In their travels, she and her husband have become close friends with many Amish people across America. Wanda’s desire to explore their culture increased when she discovered that her great-great grandparents were part of the Anabaptist faith.

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

Wanda’s primary attraction to the Amish is their desire to live a devout Christian life that strives to honor God, work hard, and maintain close family ties. Whenever she visits her Amish friends, Wanda finds herself drawn to their peaceful lifestyle, sincerity, and close family ties, which is in stark contrast to the chaos and busyness that plagues so many modern “Englishers.” Time and time again, Wanda loses her heart in the Amish life, and she hopes her readers will, too. For more information, visit: www.WandaBrunstetter.com

1 Comment

  1. Kay Garrett

    Sounds like an amazing story. Can’t wait to read it myself. Thanks for the review and the heads up.
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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