Sisters by the Sea - by Wanda E Brunstetter & Jean Brunstetter & Richelle Brunstetter & Lorine Brunstetter Van Corbach (Paperback)

These sweet stories are perfect for every reader! I loved how each of the 4 stories is unique, yet also tied together by the strand of the family they revolve around. I also liked the setting. Taking place in sunny Florida is a bit unique for an Amish book, but it’s perfect for these stories! The stories are each quick reads, so this book is perfect for vacation, bedtime reading, or anytime! It would be a great gift for a girlfriend or female family member, too. I plan to gift a few this holiday season to some special women on my Christmas list! I loved this book, and I look forward to reading more books from Wanda Brunstetter in the future! This book was provided to me by Barbour Publishing. I was not required to leave a positive (or any) review. Opinions and ideas expressed in this review are my own.

Sisters by the Sea is four novellas written by Wanda Brunstetter along with her daughter, daughter-in-law & granddaughter about the four Lambright sisters, who at various times and for various reasons find themselves in Sarasota, FL and experience life changing experiences. In The Seashell Cake, Leora moves to FL for medical reasons and meets John Miller, who is on vacation. They hit it off and begin to fall in love. But when it's time for John to return home, Leora won't even consider moving back north and won't tell why. She and John must decide if they can overcome her refusal to see if their love can grow. In The Beach Ball, Violet visits Leora while trying to decide if she is wiling to put aside her free-spirited ways and join the Amish church. She begins to date an Amish man named Levi, as well as and Englisher named Dan. Join Violet as she wrestles through her feelings between the men and whether or not to remain in the Amish faith. In Fragments of a Sand Dollar, Francine visits Leora after breaking up with her boyfriend Matthew. She need to put some time and space between her and her memories while her broken heart attempts to heal. While there, she meets a young man named Lucas, and he serves as a welcomed distraction. Decisions must be made as the end of Francine's vacation approaches and Matthew shows up in Sarasota to find Francine. In A Sarasota Sunset, Alana visits Leora after a tragedy that results in the ending of her relationship. She arrives in Sarasota filled with anxiety and dives into her art to heal and soothe her soul. She meets James, who loves adventure, but she struggles to join him and causes him to doubt the sincerity of how much she really cares for him. Will they overcome the obstacles between them or will they give up on each other and love?

Ms. Brunstetter along with other members of her family has written four short stories that intertwine with each other The Seashell Cake Leora Lambrights suffers from SAD (seasonal affective disorder) and it brings on depression in the cold weather. With her doctor's advice, she decides to visit her family in Sarosata. She is an excellent cake decorator and already has a job and a place to stay. One day she meets John Miller who admires her work and eventually decides to date. The problem is John is only here for a much-needed vacation from his home in Michigan. He has been working so hard on the roofing business he owns that he needs to relax. Leora enjoys his company but breaks it off when she realizes she could never live in Michigan with her condition Love has a way of solving problems and making things right. The Beach Ball Violet Lambright moves to Florida as she wants to be independent and decide for herself if she wants to join the Church. She works as a waitress and meets Levi who was raised Amish. She likes him but suddenly Levi is introducing her to things she does not feel comfortable with plus one of his friends Barry is not somebody she wants to hang around with. By mere chance, she meets Dan when she is in a gift shop and both are looking at a beach ball. There is only one so Dan tells her to take it. As luck would have it they meet again and start dating. She is now confused as although Dan is not Amish she likes him. Leave it to a beach ball to help her make her decision of how she wants to spend her life. Fragments of a Sand Dollar Francine Lambright is shocked when her boyfriend, Matthew of almost two years tells her he has a calling to be a missionary. Upset and depressed she is about to join the Church when her sister tells her to come for a visit. While shell hunting on the beach she meets Lucas and they decide to see each other. He is English and many things she sees him doing are all new and some are not to her liking and others are. He has a friend Barry, who she feels is trouble and wonders if she could be with Lucas when he has friends like he does. Unexpectedly Matthen pays her a surprise visit and he admits how much he misses her and she feels the same. Can they come to a comprise to make it work? A Sarasota Sunset Alana has decided to visit her family in Sarasota as she is upset and plagued with anxiety after the way Ben has treated her. She is a gifted artist and finds that when she paints she feels much better. By chance, she meets James Miller who is not like her and loves adventure and new things. She is a little skeptical at first but then decides to try some new things. James is opening her eyes to new challenges and she decides she wants to move on but is somewhat frightened. Will that push James away or will she be open and express her past so she can have a future.

I love these four short stories! First, is sister Leora who moves to Florida for her health. She finds love and marries. Next follows her sister, Violet, who will she choose Dan or Levi? Then comes Francine... Alana comes too who needs a change due to anxiety and fear. Will love prevail?

Intriguing characters, an unusual setting, and real-life issues make this more than a typical Amish fiction book. Wanda Brunstetter and three members of her own family join together to write about four sisters who decide to seek a new life in Florida. None of the sisters go together, and they all have different reasons for leaving Indiana, but their goals are the same. They're looking for new purposes and new lives in the Pinecraft Amish community of Sarasota. Wanda E. Brunstetter has become one of my favorite authors and I've also read stories written by her daughter-law Jean and her granddaughter Richelle, but this book introduces the writing talents of Brunstetter's daughter, Lorine Brunstetter Van Corbach. I found it amazing that each author was able to write a tale that blended so well with the others, and I appreciated that they each mentioned all of the Lambright family in their individual stories. Sisters by the Sea is a well-written collection that will keep you engaged in the lives of Leora, Violet, Francine, and Alana Lambright. I recommend it to all who enjoy Amish fiction and Christian romance, and I look forward to more joint efforts by these authors. I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher. There was no obligation for a positive review. These are my own opinions.

I loved how the four short stories blended so well together and were so enjoyable to read. As you progress through the book there is a real connection and it is just like one great story. I love Amish fiction and this book added to the list of good, clean Amish romances. It was fun to see how the sisters found their way through life after each having a situation that had to be worked through. The stories all shared growth in the characters. I loved the Florida setting and the contrast and differences in each of the sisters. It was a fun read and I will continue reading books written by these authors. I received a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Sisters By the Sea is a lovely novella collection of Amish fiction featuring four sisters. The stories are written by Wanda Brunstetter, her daughter-in-law, her daughter, and her granddaughter with each writing one of the stories in the book. Even though the stories are written by different people, they smoothly tie together for a pleasant and consistent reading experience. Set in the Sarasota, Florida area, the Lambright sisters are each having to make decisions about their future and what is right for their individual lives. From dealing with anxiety and health issues to romance to deciding whether to leave the Amish church, all four sisters lean on faith and each other to make choices for themselves. Each novella is long enough to give a satisfying full story without being overly lengthy. All four stories intertwine enough to make this feel similar to a full-length novel, but one that is enjoyed in smaller bites. Overall, an enjoyable clean read with good characters in a lovely setting. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and publisher. A positive review was not required, and all opinions are my own.

Sisters by the Sea contains four novellas written by Wanda E. Brunstetter, Jean Brunstetter, Richelle Brunstetter, and Lorine Brunstetter Van Corbach. We get to travel to Sarasota, Florida to spend time with Leora Lambright and her sisters, Violet, Francine, and Alana. I liked that the stories were set in nearby Sarasota. I was familiar with some of the places mentioned, especially Siesta Key (a beautiful beach). I liked the characters, but I wish they had been fleshed out more (I know that is hard to do in a short story). The characters are realistic and relatable. I thought the authors gave us a realistic look at women who have grown up Amish and are at a crossroads. They need to decide whether to be baptized or not as well as where they would like to live. I like that a spotlight is shown on SAD (seasonal affective disorder). There are good life lessons and encouragement in each tale. I enjoyed the descriptions of the beaches. I could envision the beautiful blue ocean and feel warm sand between my toes. I liked how faith was incorporated into each story and I appreciated that the romances were clean (there was some kissing). Sisters by the Sea transports you to sunny Sarasota with a seashell cake, a persistent suitor, beautiful beaches, artistic sisters, stunning sunsets, and supportive parents.