Second in The Prayer Jars series, Wanda Brunstetter welcomes the reader back to Strasburg, Pennsylvania and the home and farm of Mary Ruth and Willis Lapp. I appreciate this powerful novel much more than The Hope Jar. The Lapps are folks I think many of us would like to have as grandparents!

After the death of Rhoda, her mother, Sara Murray found a letter in Mom's Bible that changed her life. The letter explained how her mother had been raised Amish. When Rhoda learned she was pregnant, she left her loving parents, never returning. Sara does not know who her father is, only her stepfather, Dean. Sara has since visited and spent time with the Lapps after a young woman, Michelle, deceived them, letting them think she was their granddaughter. She left when she knew the real Sara was arriving, and her Amish friend Ezekiel brought her back to apologize to them. They forgave her and invited her to stay with them again until she gets back on her feet. She is determined to get a job and earn money to pay back the cash she borrowed from their stash when she left.

Sara returns to stay at her grandparents' home as her job has ended, and she hopes to find one near their home so she can get to know them. She finds Michelle in the barn, stunned and angry that she is there again. Certain Michelle is going to try to get something from them, Sara wants her far away from her grandparents. She refuses to forgive the deception Michelle acted out. When the Lapps arrive at home, they find their beloved granddaughter Sara talking about leaving, and unable to understand how they could forgive Michelle.

Sara is a bitter young woman who feels people have lied to her all their lives. She is unforgiving, even of her late mother, for keeping her away from her grandparents and her birth father. She won't even try to get along with Michelle. When in the basement of the house one day, she finds a jar full of scripture verses and quotes that someone has saved. Curious, she reads a couple, and returns more than once to see what she will find in it. Sara doesn't believe in God, however, certain that if God exists, He would care about her, listen to her prayers, even answer them. It takes more than one crisis and a deception of her own, before she is willing to listen hear what Michelle might have to share with her and begin to understand forgiveness.

Sara is the primary focus of The Forgiving Jar, even though we do see the continuous changes in Michelle's life. Both young women are described well, as are the Lapps. Sara was easy to have empathy for when realizing that I have struggled with some of the same emotions. Mary Ruth and Willis, being faithful people of prayer, continue to bring the situation before the Lord. It will be like meeting a new person if the writer of scriptures and quotes in the prayer jars is revealed!

Forgiving others is a focus for several people in this novel. I have had to look at my own "history" of forgiving others, and how often I think the slate is clean until remembering a person or event. This delightful yet serious novel is a lesson in many ways. There are twists in the plot, some sweet and some not as sweet, that truly make the story what it is. I highly recommend this to fans of the author and of well-written Amish Christian fiction.

From a grateful heart: I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

The Forgiving Jar by much-loved author Wanda Brunstetter is the second book in her new series, The Prayer Jars. Readers will follow the characters from the first book in the series, The Hope Jar. The author has given enough of the back story of the characters that one could read The Forgiving Jar as a stand-alone without getting lost and having a lot of questions. I loved the characters --strong, resilient, and realistic with depth to their emotions, strengths, and foibles that readers will connect well with. Mary Ruth and Willis Lapp, trusting and compassionate. Michelle is filled with self doubt and feelings of unworthiness. Sara is flat out suspicious, angry and pretty much unforgiving towards Michelle who had 'wormed her way' into Sara's grandparents' hearts. Will the canning jars with notes of wisdom like "Broken people are made whole by God's love." be the key to a change of heart for each of the young women? Can they recognize that what's done is done and can't be changed or would each of their pasts continue to haunt them? The Forgiving Jar is a beautifully captivating story of forgiveness, family, finding faith, and lots of romance too. You won't want to miss this sweet Amish romance. I can't wait for the next book in the series, The Healing Jar.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

The Forgiving Jar

I couldn't put this book down! This is book 2 in the series The Prayer Jars by Wanda Brunstetter. This book continues where the first book stopped. Michelle is back in Lancaster County trying to build a life for herself.

Sara has finally met her Amish grandparents. But she was in for a big surprise. Someone has been impersonating her and living with her grandparents. Sara struggles with being loved and accepted. The resentment and anger she feels towards Michelle kept her spirit imprisoned. Sara is on a journey to forgiveness.

One of the people that enters her path is Brad. Brad is studying to be a minister. He is concerned about being unequally yoked when he finds that Sara is not a believer. Circumstances occur that challenges Sara's attitude toward God. It is through the difficulties that "Sara is able to feel thankful for God's love and forgiveness. She would never have experienced any of this if it hadn't been for the prayer jar that led her to the truth."

If you want to ponder about forgiveness in your own life this book will help you to realize that the person that is hurt the most is the person who will not forgive. I was challenged to rethink my own grudges and to face them. I was reminded again that Matthew 6:14 is true. I must forgive others so God can forgive me.

Wanda Brunstetter is wonderful, imaginative, gifted author. Thank you, Wanda, for enriching my life.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

This is truly a heartfelt story I would surely recommend to anyone. Forgiveness is one of the best things we can do, not only for others but for ourselves. Wanda E. Brunstetter has captured my attention again!!

Book 2 in the series. I enjoyed it very much. Can not wait to read the third book coming next fall. This continues with Sara Murray the Lapps real granddaughter and her impostor Michelle. Sara cannot believe that her grandparents forgave Michelle and let her stay with them. This book shows the jealous between the girls. Michelle wants to become Amish and Sara does not. When Sara accidentally runs over Michelle's dog things start to chance. A beautiful story of forgiveness.