This is a great mystery. I loved the aspect of a brother being the protector of his sister and not just a boyfriend over a girlfriend. While there was a romantic aspect in it, the main story was the mystery and over the brother going through his grief and tragedy of loosing his sister.

The Protector is a captivating story about an Amish family. The author keeps the interest high as she tells the story of a missing young lady. With illness, injury, the shenanigans of a young brother and the romantic trials of the older brother, the pages just kept turning! With this book being a part of a 2 book series, I would think readers will find some resolution to the mystery of Rosa's disappearance and I'm looking forward to reading the second book. Readers who enjoy stories of family and faith will not want to miss The Protector. I was given a complimentary copy of the book through NetGalley and was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are my own.

This one is good and odd at the same time. Overall, not one I'll read again but it was an interesting one time read.

This is the first book in a new series by Wanda E Brunstetter. Rosa Peterscheim was at a gathering with some Amish friends when she and her boyfriend have words and no one has seen Rosa or heard from her since. Did something happen to her, or did she simply run away? Her mother is terribly distraught, crying and losing weight. Her older brother, Norman feels it was his job to protect her and he is somewhat obsessive with finding her. So much that he has allowed it to take time away from his girlfriend, Salina. Most of their dates include him making a stop to inquire about Rosa with someone who knew her. Salina has tried to be sympathetic and understanding, but she wonders if Rosa doesn't want to be found and if she and Norman has the future together that she once believed in.
Eventually, the sheriff's department has given up on the search for Rosa and is calling it a 'cold case.' Rosa's father has announced that the family isn't to speak her name again. He has also said that if she returns that she better have a good reason for where she has been or will not be welcomed back. Rosa had not yet joined the church, so she would not be shunned by the Amish community, but her father talks as though the family would shun her. He is one of the preachers and his family doesn't understand this at all.
Rosa's younger brother, Alvin, is a rambunctious little boy who is lacking the attention of his family. The other two sisters argue frequently and worry about their mother.
There was one phone call in the shed and Susan was sure that in the background noise she heard a party going on and Rosa's voice.
Will Rosa be found or come home in Book 2? Can't wait to see.
I was given a free advanced ecopy by the publisher, Barbour. I was under no obligation to leave a positive review.

Wanda Brunstetter's The Protector is a heartwarming Amish romance that tells the story of Leila, a young lady who struggles with fears, and Freeman, an Amish farmer who will go to whatever lengths necessary to help her overcome them. As their paths cross, healing, faith, and unexpected love find both characters.

Brunstetter's storytelling shines with relatable characters and a soft rendition of Amish life, underlining themes of forgiveness and trust.

Overall, The Protector is charming and an uplifting read for any fan of Amish fiction. It's a sweet reminder of the power of love and faith in overcoming life's challenges.

When Rosa Petersheim disappears without a trace, all of Big Valley is shaken. Not the least of which is her brother, Norman. And as the family's struggles mount, Norman's protective side is stretched thin. He throws himself into following every possible lead, to the neglect of his girlfriend, Salina. While Salina tries to be supportive, Norman falls deeper and deeper in to the mystery of Rosa's disappearance. Can he accept what he may never solve? Or will the Petersheim family be torn apart?

I do enjoy Brunstetter's writing and this one definitely does a beautiful job of combining a mystery with the wholesomeness of Amish fiction. I was also intrigued by the fact that the main character was a man. It's not often you find a male lead in this genre, particularly one that acts as the nurturer. Brunstetter does a great job of bringing out Norman's nurturing side with his family while still maintaining his masculinity. Additionally, while Rosa is never actually present in this novel, her impact on the family is felt strongly throughout the writing. Brunstetter leaves us on a cliffhanger, with her disappearance still a mystery.

All in all, The Protector was a good book with a unique perspective. I look forward to seeing where the author takes the storyline from her as she continues the series. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Amish fiction or is looking for a mystery.

*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Where is Rosa?
This is book one The Protector, a Mifflin County Mystery series by Wanda E. Brunstetter. Rosa Petersheim has disappeared after being with her boyfriend and there is no trace of where she is or what happened to her. Did she leave the community on her own free will, was she kidnapped or even alive? Norman Petersheim, Rosa’s brother has been looking for her and searching for answers with no luck. Norman is so obsessed with finding his sister that it is affecting his relationship with his girlfriend who hopes to marry Norman one day. But, with Norman concentrating more on Rosa and not his girlfriend puts their relationship in jeopardy. Rosa’s mother is grieving so much that it is affecting her health. The middle daughter is trying to win her mother’s favoritism by doing more of what Rosa would have done, hoping that her mother would favor her and not Rosa.
The book seems to have a different story line from other books that I have read by Wanda but it is still a great book. It does not reveal where or what happened to Rosa but the story will continue in book two The Peacemaker due March 1, 2025 (too long to wait!) I am looking forward to the next book and hope to find out what happened to Rosa. I do recommend this book to anyone who likes Amish fiction and a clean, Christian mystery.
I received a complimentary copy of the book and was under no obligation to post a review. The opinions are my own.

I have read many books by Wanda E Brunstetter and am a big fan. The backcover of this new series intrigued me and I couldn’t wait to read it. I loved the way the author wrote the story, completely from Norman’s point of view. We didn’t get to see what was happening to Rosa but were left with questions the same way Norman and his family was. I loved how the author dove into the emotional aspects of the characters and took us through their pain, how everyone in the family responded differently and then the friends, boyfriend of Rosa and girlfriend of Norman also reacted. It was very realistic and I was drawn into the story and it has stayed with me for days after turning the last page.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

I loved this newest start for a series. I loved how Norman and Salina have to work out what may have happened to Rosa before they can find happiness. I loved all of the faith they must have to get through their problems. I loved all the inspiration in this story. I received a copy of the book from the publisher for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

What would you do if your sister/daughter/mother/friend went missing with no sign of foul play or anything else? How would you cope? Would you blame yourself? Would you search endlessly? What if a year goes by with no answers? What then? In The Protector By Wanda E. Brunstetter, this is exactly what happens. Rosa, a young Amish woman, goes missing after a youth gathering. Her parents are devastated. Her brother blames himself. This was a good book. I really enjoyed it! As I do all of her books!
Thanks NetGalley!

The Protector by Wanda E. Brunstetter
mysterious medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0

It was so fun to start a new series by Wanda Brunstetter. Also if you are a pumpkin person there is a recipe at the end for you, I am not one of those people. I often rolled my eyes at the siblings in this one but I am excited to see how they grow throughout the series.

The Protector is an excellent, intriguing novel, the first in a new series, in which I often felt as if I were there with the Petersheim family. It is an Amish family drama with a devastating mystery. I saw how family members struggled to endure the crisis in different ways. The characters were very realistic, and while I learned their surface personalities, I appreciated getting to know two people in depth. I also appreciated the spiritual lessons, including one that sparked a sermon.

Mahlon and Elsie’s oldest daughter, Rosa, went to a young people’s gathering with her boyfriend. Neither her parents nor her oldest brother, Norman, liked him, but Rosa continued to see him. She did not return home that night. Her boyfriend said they had a disagreement, and Rosa walked away, refusing a ride from him. She was not seen by her family or friends again. Area law enforcement officers went all out to find her, questioning family and friends, even searching the woods.

Norman took it upon himself to search for Rosa when he wasn’t working. Norman blamed himself for Rosa’s disappearance, believing he failed to protect her. He felt that, as the oldest offspring, his responsibility was to protect their family. He loved Salina, the young woman he was courting, but put any thoughts of marrying her aside until Rosa was found.

Rosa does not appear in the novel, even though she is prayed for, talked about, and thought of every day. Readers get to know her through the eyes and hearts of her family and friends. The hardest thing for Rosa’s family is not knowing if she felt them too strict and had planned to run away, or if she met with foul play and was no longer alive.

Elsie’s health began to deteriorate. She was barely eating, sleeping, or functioning. In the winter, she saw an early robin outdoors in the snow, and was concerned for it. She remembered a verse in Matthew about how the Lord cares for the birds, and how much more He cares for us. She saw what Jesus said about worry in the following verse and repented, asking the Lord’s help to not worry, but to trust in Him.

The day Elsie learned from the sheriff that Rosa’s case was cold and they stopped searching, she collapsed in the snow, leading to her discovering and learning about the disease she now had and how stress was making it much worse. Elsie had to rely on the Lord more than ever.

This very well-written novel includes the first year of Rosa’s absence, and thanks to the author’s skill in storytelling, I learned a great deal about how a family reacts to the devastating loss of an adult child. The spiritual lessons they lived could be helpful to readers going through any number of circumstances. There are many beautiful aspects of Amish life shared, one being how they began to find themselves in tune with nature again as they observed and learned from various species of birds and butterflies. This is the first of a new series, and I am looking forward to getting to know the other family members better and finding Rosa – hopefully alive! I highly recommend this novel to those who enjoy novels about the Amish, and are fans of challenging mysteries and the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

this is the first book in a series by Wanda Brunsteller, was a quick read and a good story. i always enjoy her books,

The Protector, by Wanda E. Brunstetter is the first book in A Mifflin County Mystery series. This is a well written, easy to read story that grabbed my attention from the very beginning and held it to the very end. I enjoyed the mystery about Rosa’s disappearance and how her family and friends responded to it. While her father has chosen to accept her disappearance, her mother grieves terribly, her brother keeps searching and one of her sisters takes advantage of the situation to try to be her mother’s favorite.

This is a heartfelt story of how Rosa’s family responds to her disappearance and how it affects not only their life but the lives of those close to them. We see the struggles they go through, especially her brother’s relationship with his girlfriend. We see how it affects them physically, with the illness their mother develops. And we see the need to move forward. While they go through their emotions it is evident that they need to lean on God to get them through this.

I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book, this is my honest review.

🌟🌟🌟🌟
Where is Rosa?
That is the question you will be asking yourself while you are reading this book. Rosa disappears and her family is distraught. Her brother Norman, especially feels guilty that her didn’t do enough to protect her. This book ends on a cliff hanger so we habee we by found out what happened to Rosa yet.
Many thanks to the author, Barbour Fiction and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
#TheProtector #WandaBrunstetter #NetGalley #BookLove #Bookstagram #NewBook #ILoveBooks #BooksSetInPennsylvania

I really enjoyed this book. I love mystery books, and when they are Christian it is icing on the cake. My favorite part of this book is from the brothers point of view of his missing sister. I highly recommend this book. I cannot wait for the second book.

Wanda Brunstetter has brought us another wonderful Amish novel. Norman Petersheim is the big brother. When his sister Rosa disapprears, he blames himself for not protecting her enough. His work with the police to find her takes all of his time and energy. He feels the need to support his family in the search. However, with no answers and time moving forward, will he find a place of peace even if she is never found? I received a copy through Netgalley. A review was voluntary.

The "Protector" by Wanda E. Brunettes is another great book! This author knows how to make the characters and storyline come alive.

The story will pull you in by the description and by the end of the first chapter. Norman Petersheim is the oldest brother of Rosa, who disappeared after having an argument with her boyfriend, while at young person gathering. Norman feels responsible of all his siblings, but especially Rosa. Where did she go? Did something happen to her or did she just decide to leave for good. In this book you will see the strain it puts on a family with the not knowing. You see a brother that wished he could do more to bring his sister home and give his family answers, while still trying to live his own life.

The Protector shows you into the Amish community and also the struggle of the family with the unknown. The storyline is great and the characters are likable.

I highly recommend this book to others!

I received is complementary advanced copy for the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are mine and mine alone.

The premise of this story is intriguing following a family’s struggle when a young Amish woman goes missing after a date. It is a different kind of story than Wanda Brunstetter usually tells. The characters are interesting but I did find them unusually negative. The storyline moved very slowly with a lot of repetition so it was a little hard to stay engaged. It is however a nice lead in to the next stories in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Barbour publishing for the opportunity to read for my honest review.

The Protector by Wanda E Brunstetter – A Mystery and Different Kind of Storyline for Amish Fiction

The Protector is Wanda Brunstetter’s newest novel, the first book in the Mifflin County Mystery Series. I enjoy Amish fiction and this author is one of my favorites.

The Protector is quite different than Wanda Brunstetter’s other books. The subject matter is different than most Amish novels. It is about a family member that has gone missing and its impact on each person of the family. The characters, how they handle the stress of the unknown, and how it impacts the family dynamic seemed rather gloomy.

Following a date from night before Rosa Petersheim has gone missing. It is like she vanished and no one has seen her or knows what happened to her. Has she run away? Is it foul play? The police were contacted and investigated the Rosa’s disappearance, but the investigation has stalled. Now three months later, the family has gone on and tried to live their lives. But they are functioning under shadow of their grief and the unknown. In its wake are some very unhealthy family dynamics.

After Rosa went missing her brother Norman has taken on the burden of trying to find Rosa or what happened to her. All his efforts have gone nowhere. Norman had dated Salina for a while now and it seemed like marriage might be on the horizon. But with all his efforts to find Rosa, it has impacted Norman’s relationship with Salina.

Of course, Elsie’s mother’s heart is grieving for her daughter and it has impacted her health. Their father, Mahlon has grown angry and bitter. Their daughter Susan’s reaction has exposed some of her character flaws. Only Tena seems to have the most caring response to all this stress.

Will they ever find out what happened to Rosa? Will she come back home one day? If so, will she be welcomed home or shut out?

Overall, I found the storyline kind of depressing. It seemed like each of the characters were caught up in their own thoughts and feelings without healthy and caring input from others. They did not share their burdens with each other or even friends. It was not until near of end of the storyline that there was some breakthrough in this family’s responses to this trial.

I thought the subject was unique for Amish fiction. In most Amish fiction there is a strong sense of community and caring that seemed to be absent here. Not sure if that was intentional. When an Amish family has someone that goes missing are they presumed to have run away? Is the family shamed or blamed for those circumstances?

I enjoy Wanda Brunstetter’s writing, but struggled a bit with The Protector’s storyline and the characters’ negativity. Since some of the mystery was left hanging, there was no real or satisfying conclusion. I look forward to reading more books by Wanda Brunstetter. I am not sure if this storyline will carry over to the future novels in this series.

I would like to thank Barbour Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of The Protector by Wanda E. Brunstetter. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.