The Pretender - (A Mifflin County Mystery) by Wanda E Brunstetter (Paperback)

The Pretender is the 3rd book in Wanda Brunstetters “A Mifflin County Mystery series. The Pretender closes the loop on the series, bringing readers a much anticipated finale to the mysterious disappearance of Rosa Petersheim, a little over two years before. While the first book, The Protector, dealt with her disappearance and how it affected her family and friends, the second book, The Peacemaker, dealt with her family and friends still having no idea what happened to her, but inevitably, life goes on, and it did for the Petersheim family, and Rosa’s boyfriend and best friend, Ada. In book 3, The Pretender, all the questions are answered: what happened to Rosa, and who played a role in continuing the mystery. Rosa has returned home, and while it is a joyous occasion, there are still a lot of things that have to be dealt with, and questions that need to be answered. Confession and forgiveness play a crucial role in the lives of many of the people we’ve come to know over the past two books. Ms. Brunstetter once again artfully ties up all the loose ends, leaving readers feeling hopeful for the future, as well as the enduring promise of love and compassion, given to each of us by God, or Jesus, however you choose to see Him.

The Pretender is such a good conclusion to the Mifflin County Mystery series! Rosa Petersheim returns home after 2 years with a husband in tow and a baby on the way. Some of her family is overjoyed that their long lost family member has returned home and some are wary and suspicious that things are not quite as they seem. Many secrets are revealed, while more secrets are kept. If Rosa comes clean to her family about all the secrets she's kept and lies she told, will she find herself estranged from her family for good?

Finally! Finally, we learn what happened to the young Amish girl who disappeared from her home in the Big Valley two years ago. Rosa Petersheim returns to Belleville, Pennsylvania, but her homecoming isn't as happy as you would expect. Rosa has a secret, so she reluctantly introduces Anthony Reeves as her pretend husband, but this soon illustrates what we all know: one lie can lead to many! It's easy to assume that Amish people are exempt from lies, deceit, and sibling jealousy but Wanda E. Brunstetter's thought-provoking story reminds us that these feelings are common in all cultures. How do we repair the damage? Faith, forgiveness, and understanding are the keys! I recommend The Pretender to all who enjoy well-developed characters, cozy mysteries, and faith-filled stories. I received a complimentary copy from the author and publisher. There was no obligation for a positive review.

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16 Confession and forgiveness.... That is the idea to take away from the story of "The Pretender." Rosa Petersheim returns home and life is full of challenges day by day.

I enjoy reading all of Wanda’s books. This is book three of the Mifflin County Mystery series. This book gives readers a much anticipated finale to the mysterious disappearance of Rosa Petersheim, a little over two years before. I recommend reading the books in order to follow the story to its conclusion. Forgiveness is the theme throughout this book. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader's copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions shared here in this review are my own.

This is book three in A Mifflin County Mystery series and I must say it was my favorite. The long awaited answers as to what happened to Rosa Petersheim are tackled and my heart hurt for her as she returns home to face all of her bad choices. She doesn’t return alone and I really love the character of Anthony and how he tries to help her. Some of her family members are difficult especially Susan whom we have met in previous books. She shows how jealousy clouds her good judgement and how choices hurt others. This is a very interesting Amish read and kept my attention from the beginning. I loved that it wasn’t predictable and has a few surprises. You can always count on this author to provide a story grounded in faith, family, sweet romance, and a little mystery to keep it interesting. I really enjoyed this story and found the conclusion satisfying. I received a complimentary copy from Barbour Publishing. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.

I have been waiting for The Pretender, so I can discover what happened to Rosa Petersheim. The Pretender by Wanda E. Brunstetter is the third book in A Mifflin County Mysteries. It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series, but it helps to understand the mystery to read the books in order. I was drawn into the story right away. The characters were well done. I liked Rosa and Anthony Reeves. I felt for Anthony. He is a good guy with a big heart. Susan was irritating for much of the story. Talk about having a chip on your shoulder. The Pretender is an inspirational story. One of the themes in the story is the damage caused by lies. Lies have a way of quickly snowballing out of control. I was happy that the author included an epilogue that nicely wrapped up the book. The Pretender was my favorite book in the series.

Two years ago, Rosa ran away from her Amish family and lifestyle. Now she finds herself unmarried and pregnant with a baby the father won't claim. He only choice for a life for her baby is to return home. But her dad is very strict, and she is afraid he will kick her out as soon as he sees her. Her co-worker, Anthony, has vacation coming. He suggests he use it to pose as her husband, and take her to see her folks. At the end of two weeks, they could have a big fight, split up, and pretend to get a divorce. Her family would feel sorry for her, and take her in. This sounds great until they actually do it, and things do not go as they thought--especially since Rosa does not warn Anthony that her family is Amish. In the end, things happen they had not counted on, and a big mess results. Additionally, Rosa's sister, Susan, tries to sabotage everything Rosa tries to do. Although part of a series, this story stands on its own. However, the book before this one, The Peacemaker, talks a lot about Rosa, so reading it would add even more to this story. I recommend this great five-star tale. It will grab your attention from the beginning, and not let go. Also, included in the book is the recipe for German pizza. Thanks to Barbour Books, for providing Tickmenot with a book to review. Opinions are my own.