Customer Reviews

A Sister's Test (Thorndike Christian Romance)

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

A Sister's Test by Wanda Brunstetter is the second book in the Sisters of Holmes County series. Ruth Hostettler, the younger sister of Grace from A Sister's Secret, the first book, has recently broken up with troubled Luke and seeks the kind of loving marriage that Grace has found with Cleon. When Martin Gingerich starts courting her, they both feel the need to marry immediately, as though something is warning them. The attacks on the Hostettler family farm have continued and ratcheted up in intensity. Someone has it out for this Amish family, and they aren't afraid to take extreme measures. Is it Grace's English ex-boyfriend or Luke, Ruth's ex-boyfriend who is still going through rumspringa? I don't normally read the many Amish Christian fiction books on the market, but this series truly stands out from the rest. There is suspense and mystery along with deep faith and family. It's a real page turner that's impossible to put down. Each member of the family has their own way of dealing with the siege of terror, from the father's quiet acceptance, to youngest sister Martha's detective work. Every character pops off of the page and breathes life into the story. I don't know how I'm going to hold out until July to read the final book in the series, A Sister's Hope, to find out who the attacker is!

I don't get it. I read the first and second book and was again left with no ending. The whole book focussus on the vandalisms and threats, as did the first book and still, no conclusion to that. Also, reading this book is like watching a soap opera. You can skip a page and read a page and not miss a beat. If you were to delete all of the repeating the same things over and over again, you'd probably be left with 100 pages rather than the nearly 300 that there is. I have many books by W. Brunstetter and other Amish others but must say that this series is a terrible bore.

I love how the book is a continuation of the first book, but still has its own plotline. Just when I think I can figure out who is doing all the bad things to the Hostetlers, I'm turned another way and think it's someone else. The ONLY thing I recommend is that you don't read the front cover to see what it's about. I could figure out what was going to happen to Ruth by reading that, and yet it still took me in different turns once it got there. I love the simplicity, the wholesomeness, the suspense, and the emotions involved throughout the book. Can't wait for number 3!!

* Note I marked this as three stars, but Amazon is showing five and it will not edit*

I'm really struggling with reading this series. This is the first (meaning this series) of Wanda Brunstetter for me to read and I'm just not sure what I think. I have read various authors of Amish Christian Fiction over the years, as well as many history books of the Amish dealing with my quilting addiction. I have never heard before of the Amish so often going to a Dentist, or Chiropractor, sure I've heard of them seeing a Doctor or go...more I'm really struggling with reading this series. This is the first (meaning this series) of Wanda Brunstetter for me to read and I'm just not sure what I think. I have read various authors of Amish Christian Fiction over the years, as well as many history books of the Amish dealing with my quilting addiction. I have never heard before of the Amish so often going to a Dentist, or Chiropractor, sure I've heard of them seeing a Doctor or going to the hospital under extreme circumstances, but it is very strange to hear of various Amish persons continually seeing a Chiropractor.

This book picks up just a few weeks after the first one ends, and I really would like to say that there are more smiles and rose blossoms in reading the book of Job than there is in this book. I just do not understand how so much strife can continue one thing after another. I'm ready for some happiness! Geez, these books are depressing me. But, I refuse to just quit the author or the series, because surely as much strife is shown to be as possible there must be such happiness to compare. Because I know that as much as the Lord is one for taking, He also giveth!

Ahh it gets better and better. Although there are a lot of unhappy things happening to our favorite beloved family, and we still don't know who could be doing these horrific things, the family still puts their trust in God.

Could it be Luke, who Roman fired? Could it be Gary Walker whom Grace broke up and he said he would get even? Could it be someone like the English neighbors who wanted to buy the property?

So many things happen in life, and this story reminds us we need to trust in him.

Beautiful, just a beautiful wonderful read.

As usual Wanda Brunstetter keeps us in suspense. This is a well written book continuing the trials of the Hostettler family. Read to see how Grace and Cleon are doing and how Ruth handles the trials of her life.
I can hardly wait for Book #3 to see how everything turns out.

I'm just curious. Are all her books this depressing? This is the 2nd series of Wanda Brunstetter that I have read and so much bad happens. In the first series a little girl gets struck by lightening too. And there is also an english reporter. Can't she be a little more creative? I am a little more than half way done with the second book in this series and have figured out how it's going to end but so many times I've wanted to put it down because it's the same old repetitive things happening over and over. How many times can this person strike one families home and not be caught by someone. They are right there working most of the time and no one ever sees anything or anyone. This person(s) must be really fast in their getaway. I'm sorry to say that this series isn't doing much for me. The first series I read "Brides of Lancaster County" wasn't quite so bad. I think when I finish these I will read more of Beverly Lewis. Not that everything in her books is good but definitely not as depressing as these. There are also a lot of typos in these books. Take your time Wanda and write a better story.

I am not a reader I just spend each day reading God`s precious word. I am 64 years old and I have a twin sister who just stopped talking to me seven months ago due to family influences. The very difficult part is we built her a home on our property over ten year ago in which we took care of her because her husband left with her best friend. My heart is broken and my mind wouldn't let it go even though I put it in God's hands. I was in a Christian book store and picked up your book Lydia's Charm and put it down. Something kept drawing me back to that book. I bought it and began reading it and could not put it down. I had read the whole book in three days. It touched my heart so much that my husband took me to buy nine other books one being A sister's Test. It almost appeared that the book in some ways was written for me.I read them before I go to bed and it helps so much to keep my mind off of my sadness. Thank you for the blessings I receive in your writings.

And so the story goes:
* "Ruth is kind and caring.
* Ruth falls in love with Martin, who reciprocates her love for him.
* They live in an environment of threats and vandalism.
* Abe, father of six children, recently lost his wife Alma to a lightning stroke (act of nature).
* Ruth and Martin get married.
* Martin gets killed in an orchestrated buggy accident.
* Ruth survives, but her uterus is surgically removed.
* Ruth works for Abe because, a) she loves to care for children, b) Abe has no one to help him with his family, and c) she wants/needs to overcome her grief after losing Martin to a mysterious buggy accident on Christmas eve.
* Ruth and Abe fall in love and get married."

Happy ending? Not really.

There is no resolution or revelation as to who was behind the threats and vandalism (damaged mail boxes, stink bomb, buggy ramming, etc). Was it Luke Friesen, who got fired by his boss Roman (father of Ruth, Grace and Martha), the mysterious reporter Gary Walker (who drifts in and out of Holmes county), or the sneaky neighbor Ray Larson, who covets their home(s) for acquiring more real estate, or perhaps even sheriff Osborne, whose detective skills and passion for apprehending the perpetrator seem rather limited? I shall never know. In the end, it doesn't matter. Only Brunstetter knows. And she seems to relish keeping those secrets to her herself.

I wasted two days reading this book for nothing.
i feel like screaming, "i want my money back!"

In the second book of "Sister's of Holmes County," we find the Hostettler family continues to be under attack. "A Sister's Test," is filled with suspense, mystery, murder and a surprise visit from Roman's sister Rosemary, who left home thirty years ago and was never heard from again.

Could the attacker be someone from Grace's past? Or the young Amish man who worked for Roman, and was fired. Why isn't the Sheriff doing more to find the person who is responsible for acts of violence?

This book is intriguing from the start of the book until the end. If you like this genre you will love this book.

This book is rated G
Sandra Heptinstall