Despite the fact that this one had a love triangle, I listened to it in one sitting. I just couldn't stop.
Although it is very uncommon in most Amish-centered novels, but this one discussed anxiety and panic attacks.
Also, I really wish that we knew what happened to the child that Katie found. Once she went to the police, the situation wasn't really ever mentioned again, leaving no closure.
I really liked how there was not much of a romance plot as much as a deep friendship plot.

Tropes: love-triangle, friends to more

Content: mentions of an accident that took the life of Katie's boyfriend, infant abondenment, anxiety

5 Stars ( )

56936

This series is about 3 cousin's who get involved in a car accident and how it changed each of their lives. In this story Katie Miller finds herself moving back to her Amish community in Indiana, as she had moved to Florida to get over the death of her boyfriend from the accident. She is dealing with panic attacks and is an emotional wreck. Her family doesn't know what to do for her. Freeman Bontrager takes an interest in Katie since he at one time dealt with a similar problem. He wants to help her, even though she fights him every step of the way. A good story about overcoming ones fears and how one must dare to live and love again, even after a heartfelt tragedy. ( )

Every time I read a book from Mrs. Wanda, I love it more and more. This story "A Cousin's Prayer" had me in every feeling possible. I felt sad for what was happening to Katie, have had a panic attack myself I knew what she was feeling and going through. At the same time I did more than once want to shake Eunice. There probably hasn't been a story where I truly did not like a character as much as I did not like Eunice.

But this story is one that will navigate you through a "emotional" feeling that you hardly read in books and well explained as Panic attacks. I truly liked how Mrs. Wanda explained the feelings Katie felt and went through. Along she molded a great story of love and Faith and Trust. Trust and Faith in God and in oneself to move forward.

As all this is happening, Mrs. Wanda brought Eunice into the story to spice it up a little with all the doubts, selfish and envy someone can have. Not only that but how people can be cruel when not knowing facts base rumors, and lies about someone.

Katie was left with an emotional state right after friends, family and her boyfriend Timothy are in a fatal accident. Blaming herself for the cause of the accident she runs from everything that reminds her of the happy life she had. Emerged into being alone she feels safe. Until her cousin's wedding brings her back to the place she ran from and to the only friend that has loved her since their younger days.

At the end Love conquers everything. Love and Faith in God and in one self.

This book is one of my favorites now of Mrs. Wanda. Love the story, the characters and highly recommend it to everyone. It had me until late at night reading to see what the next page hold. ( )

Traumatized by and feeling responsible for a tragic accident that killed three people and injured two others a year before, Katie Miller is reluctant to return to Indiana to be an attendant in her cousin, Loraine’s, wedding. Still grieving, she has been staying with her grandparents in Florida to distance herself from the painful memories. Returning will only remind her that this wedding should have been hers and Timothy’s, but he died, along with Raymond and Paul. Wayne will always be crippled and Jolene will always be deaf - because of her. With her grandmother’s encouragement, she goes home. It’s the hardest but best thing she can do to move on with her life.

When Katie returns for the wedding and can’t return to Florida with her grandmother afterwards, her depression worsens and she begins to have inexplicable panic attacks, though she doesn’t know what to call these overwhelming, suffocating feelings at first. She doesn’t want people to think she’s crazy, but when she faints in church and other times flees to escape her fears, the community starts to wonder what’s wrong with her. Rumors start flying, a mysterious package ends up on her doorstep, and then she is befriended by an old friend, Freeman Bontrager, who can relate to some of the things Katie is experiencing. Freeman fixes bikes for a living and some feel he also wants to “fix” Katie and make her better, to the envy and jealousy of Eunice Byler, who would love to marry a kind man like Freeman. Katie and Freeman both insist they are only friends. Besides, she can’t imagine ever loving another, not after losing Timothy. It would hurt too much to love and lose again. But, God is in control, and all works out for the good for those who love the Lord.

As someone who grew up in the Midwest surrounded by Amish culture, and one who has experienced depression and panic attacks, I can attest to the validity and accuracy of what Brunstetter writes. She infuses her writing with German words and phrases that give her dialogue authenticity. If one can’t figure out the meaning, there is enough context to help the reader or another line of dialogue that will help describe what is meant. Though some of the plot was predictable and some of the dialogue was awkward, the strength of this book are the characters, the details of Amish culture, the faith that is shared, the moral lessons one can learn, and the heartfelt treatment of complex emotional issues.

I would like to read more by this author. This was the first book I’ve read by Ms. Brunstetter. Some people say her writing is too simplistic, but I enjoy her style. This was a quick read for a slow reader like me. The words she uses seems to fit the Plain people and the simple way they live. Unlike many English outsiders, the Amish focus on the basic things in life: faith, friends, and family. I received this book as part of the Early Reviewers Program. One does not have to read the first book in the Indiana Cousins series (A Cousin’s Promise) to enjoy the second book. I will be looking for the third. ( )