Book Review: The Healing by Wanda E. Brunstetter

The Healing by Wanda E. Brunstetter is part of the Kentucky Brothers series about a family of Amish brothers who have chosen to leave their Pennsylvania farm and move down to a community in Kentucky to start over. In this novel, we meet Samuel Fisher, a young man who has recently lost his wife in a tragic accident - she fell down the stairs and broke her neck. He not only lost his wife that day, but an unborn child. Now a widower and with four other children to care for, he feels hopeless. His entire world had been held in his wife's capable hands, and his grief for her is too much for him to bear.

Living in Pennsylvania and daily seeing the sights that remind him of his wife is too difficult for Samuel, so he decides to move down to Kentucky, where his brother Titus relocated some time before. Titus takes him in, but Samuel's depression puts too great a burden on Titus, and he has to demonstrate some tough love to get his brother back on his feet.

When the opportunity comes for Samuel to help remodel an old house and turn it into a bed and breakfast, he's grateful for the work. It keeps his mind occupied. But then comes the problem of who will take care of the children?

Esther Belier is a kind, dedicated young Amish woman in need of a job, and caring for Samuel's children is right up her alley. At first, she's appalled at the way he ignores his children, his own pain seeming to come first, but as time passes and his heart begins to heal, she develops feelings for him. But will he heal enough for a new relationship?

My thoughts: I have always enjoyed stories about the Amish, and I never fail to put one down without thinking, "I want to go buy a farm somewhere." These stories are always so down-to-earth, without all the complications we tend to heap on top of ourselves by getting caught up in the rush of modern technology. That said, I would miss my computer ...

The story was sweet and enjoyable. I did wish for a little more emotional resolution at the end - we see Esther struggle with her feelings throughout the whole novel, and we see Samuel try to move on, and we are rooting for them. When we finally reach the conclusion, it felt just a little too pat and easily resolved. However, I enjoyed the journey a great deal, and appreciated the demonstration of faith, family values, perseverance, and true charity throughout.

FTC: I received a download of the galley from the publisher, and have not been compensated in any other way.