5-Star Review of "The Hawaiian Quilt"

Review of The Hawaiian Quilt

by Wanda Brunstetter and Jean Brunstetter

Join Mandy Frey as she and three friends leave their Amish community in Indiana for the trip of a lifetime to Hawaii. But when Mandy and one of her friends miss the cruise ship after a port of call on Kauai, how will they adjust and get back home? Find out in this brand new romance from New York Timesbestselling author Wanda E. Brunstetter, writing with her daughter-in-law Jean Brunstetter.

MY REVIEW:  A dream vacation for me would be to visit Hawaii, but I don't know that I'll ever be able to afford that trip; Mandy Frey and her friends' trip was described so vividly that I felt like I was actually there in the tropical paradise.  Mandy lives in an Amish community in Indiana and has never traveled far from home but she has always longed to visit Hawaii.  She and her three friends save their money and plan a trip by train to California and then by cruise ship to the Hawaiian islands and a brief stop in Mexico.   They have an incredible time but Mandy and Ellen miss their cruise ship and get stranded in Hawaii.  They don't know how or when they will get home and how they will afford it as most of their money was invested in this vacation.  Their friends Barbara and Sadie will be worried sick when they don't return to the cruise ship with them.  What will their parents and Mandy's boyfriend, Gideon, think?   

Readers will thrill at finding out how Mandy and Ellen solve this dilemma.

         I rated this book 5 stars as it was truly so descriptive and eloquent that I actually felt like I was there with Mandy and her friends.   The authors brought Hawaii to life for me.   I also could not help feeling affection and compassion for Mandy and Ellen.   Ellen was particularly distressed.   It made me wonder how I would react in a similar situation.   Read this book to find out how the conflict is resolved and how lives are changed in the mean time.

          I received a copy of this book from netgalley and the authors in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions expressed are my own.

About the Authors:

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 70 books with more than 9 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

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.