Looking for a Miracle (Brides of Lancaster County #2) (Paperback)

~ WANDA E. BRUNSTETTER (Author)
Key Phrases: Mary Ellen, Aunt Mim, Uncle Amos (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

As a child, Rebekah Stoltzfus suffered a freak accident that left her legs paralyzed. Now, confined to a wheelchair, she feels she'll never measure up to the expectations of her Pennsylvania Amish community that a woman should marry and raise a family. She longs to be loved, yet she prays for a way to be self-supporting. Daniel Beachy wants to court Rebekah, but she believes that she is a burden and has convinced herself that love is not for her. Will Rebekah's search for a miracle come true? Or, will she miss God's gift in her battle between self-pity and the determination to be independent?

From the Publisher

The poignant stories that launched Wanda E. Brunstetter's loyal readership are back in the reissue of the popular 4 book Lancaster Brides series. New scenes have been added to these classic Wanda E. Brunstetter novels that further develop the characters and add even more emotion and intrigue to the original story lines. The new Brides of Lancaster County series is being released as 4 full-length novels that will delight first time readers, as well as fans of the original Lancaster Brides books.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc (February 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1597892998
• ISBN-13: 978-1597892995
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #161,039 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Miracles happen, February 21, 2007

By	Barbara Warren - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

In The Merry Heart Rebekah Stoltzfus was a young girl. Now she's grown, but feels life is passing her by. As a child she was permanently injured when hit by a fallen limb in a severe storm. Wheelchair bound, she watches as her cousin Mary Ellen has fun. She has noticed Daniel Beechy, mostly because he's always there, talking and laughing, but Rebekah is sure he's interested in her cousin. After all, what man would want want a handicapped wife.

Tired of being a burden, and convinced she will always be alone, Rebekah searches for a way to be independent. With the encouragement of her family, she opens a greenhouse. She loves plants, and this is something she can do. To her surprise her home business is a success. Mary Ellen marries Johnny, but Daniel is still coming around. Sure he can't love her, Rebekah is convinced he's trying to take over her business.

Looking For A Miracle is a gentle story of love and rejection, self-pity and strength. Sometimes when we dare to trust, there really is a miracle. This is an excellent addition to Wanda Brunstetters Brides of Lancaster series.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Learn to Trust, February 15, 2007

By	Jennifer Beck (Willoughby, OH) - See all my reviews

Rebekka must learn to put her trust in God. After giving up hope that she will ever be married and have a family of her own, and end up being a burden on her family for her entire life, Rebeka Stolzfus learns through her family, faith and study through her Grandma's Bible that God does have a plan for her life that includes all of her dreams despite a disabling condition which requires her to be in a wheelchair for most of her life.

Another great read by Wanda Brunstetter

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wheelchair bound Rebekah feels she'll never measure up to marriage, February 22, 2007

By	Reader Views "www.readerviews.com" (Austin, Texas) - See all my reviews

Reviewed by Kelli Glesige for Reader Views (1/07)

As a child, Rebekah Stoltzfus suffered an accident in a lightning storm which has left her confined to a wheelchair much of the time. Rebekah has now grown into a young woman and watches as her best friend and cousin, Mary Ellen, makes plans involving marriage and children. As for Rebekah, she believes her condition will never allow her to marry, for with partial paralysis, her limitations would never enable her to fulfill the obligations of a proper Pennsylvania Amish wife. Besides, what man would want a wife confined to a wheelchair that might never be able to conceive a child or properly take care of an energetic toddler? No, a normal life is out of the question for Rebekah, without a miracle from God.

Self-pity pulling her down, Rebekah sets her sights on doing something that will allow her to be self-supporting and less dependent on her family. The pain of losing her beloved grandmother and caregiver has made Rebekah realize she must set some goals and work to achieve them, even if she has obstacles to overcome. Rebekah prays for a miracle from God--a way to become self-supporting.

Knowing her love of flowers, Cousin Mary Ellen suggests operating a greenhouse. Rebekah loves the idea, and the family, along with a few friends, enthusiastically pitches in to build the greenhouse very near the Stoltzfus' home, completely wheelchair accessible of course. Rebekah works hard in her new greenhouse business, as word of "Grandma's Place," the name Rebekah has chosen for her business, travels around the close knit Amish community of Lancaster County, and the business is a complete success.

Daniel Beachy begins hanging around Rebekah and her greenhouse, and Rebekah thinks she may have feelings of more than friendship for Daniel. Rebekah denies the feelings, for she knows any type of relationship is simply out of the question for a woman like herself. Rebekah becomes angry when she learns Daniel is only interested in her business and merely feels sorry for her. Besides that, why would any man want a handicapped woman for a wife? It is obvious to Rebekah that Daniel wants to inherit her greenhouse business and get away from dairy farming, his father's chosen profession and one Daniel vehemently dislikes.

"Looking for a Miracle" is refreshing, wholesome, and unpretentious. It is about the simple life of a group of Amish folks and the community they live in. It describes the simple life they lead, their love for the Lord, the importance of prayer, and the high importance they place on the members of their family. This book contains some very important lessons on the things that are most important in life. I give the highest recommendation I can give, plus more, to this exceptional story. "Looking for a Miracle" is Book Two in The Brides of Lancaster County series. It is very appropriate, and recommended, for all ages of readers.