A Simply Enchanted Life

The Struggle by Wanda E. Brunstetter

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The Struggle is part three in the Kentucky Brothers series by Wanda E. Brunstetter. Though I have not yet read the others, this book was easily read as a standalone as well with only minimal confusion. The author did a great job of clearing things up for those of us that picked this up without reading the others.


In this story we meet Timothy and his wife Hannah as they make a move from Paradise, Pennsylvania to Christian, Kentucky. Timothy feels the move will provide some much needed space between Hannah and her mother. Hannah has never fully accepted that her place is with her husband and she would rather spend time with her parents than with her new family.

Hannah is determined to make the move as difficult for Timothy as she can. She refuses to makes friends and she oversteps her bounds whenever she can. She is hard to get along with and very controlling, even when it comes to the couple's only child, Mindy. Hannah hovers over Mindy and doesn't allow the child the freedom to learn on her own or enjoy life's simple pleasures. She is condescending and critical of everything and everyone--especially her husband.

When tragedy unfolds around them, Hannah retreats even further away. In one last ditch effort to hold on to hate and the unforgiving spirit that consumes her, Hannah decides to leave her life in Kentucky. From the depths of her depression and despair she is forced to realize that God always has a plan, even when we can't see what that plan is. Our struggle to control our lives instead of letting God have a hand, it often results in being miserable.

"If there is one thing I've learned over the years, it's that we don't get to choose our fate. We can only learn how to live through it."

This book is fantastic. I cried along with the characters when they were sad and hurting and I gained strength for my own pain that I'm going through. I connected with these characters. I see so many of Hannah's flaws in my own self and those are flaws I need pray about myself.

I suggest this book for any fan of the Amish/Christian genres. Especially those that are struggling with trusting God and with bitterness. In this book you'll learn the lesson of enjoying the simple joys of life with the ones you love.



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I received this book free from Barbour Publishing through Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own