The Peacemaker

I am loving this series. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

I loved Ada and Ephraim story. I loved their families, especially Ephraim’s grandmother. I loved how she loved her cat. I enjoyed the characters from the first book. Such a good story.

I received an advanced copy from the publisher and NetGalley. This book review is my own opinion.

Welcome back to another exciting book in this series. A young woman has been missing for a year and the community stills wonders what happened to her. I think not knowing would be so devastating and could keep people from moving forward. Ada misses her best friend so much. She longs for the times they spent together and feels empty inside . Grief has overwhelmed Ada as she tries to think of her future. She thinks of Rosa a lot and it feels like she doesn’t feel like she should find happiness because perhaps she feels like it would mean she has given up hope of ever seeing her friend again.

Ephraim moved away from his family to help take care of his grandmother. He misses Rosa but knows that some people think he is a suspect in her disappearance. That would be such a big burden to overcome. When he comes home for a visit a friendship starts to develop between him and Ada. I did like Ephraim’s relationship with his grandmother. He was patient, helpful and protective of her. I appreciate how the author illustrates how grandparents are important to a family.

With a look inside the Amish community you see people who help each other, love unconditionally and work had. I love how they live simple lives and grow much of their own vegetables, fruits and herbs. Working long hours they appreciate what God has given them. Their commitment to faith is encouraging and also share meals together after services.

It was interesting to read about Ben and Susan. Neither of them have joined the church yet. As they share pizza together they talk about the challenges they face. Ben doesn’t like all the rules that he would have to abide by if he joined. Susan mentions that her dad is the bishop for their church district and believes that most of the rules come from the Bible. I wonder why Ben is so against joining the church? It bothered me that he was trying to influence Susan not to join.

I loved how Ada was always trying to help others and relied on God to give her words of encouragement. The story is emotional and filled with faith as we follow characters who share their struggles. Will Ada and Ephraim be able to find a way to grow their relationship? Can Susan trust Ben? Who will solve the mystery of Rosa?

I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher. The review is my own opinion.

The Peacemaker (A Mifflin County Mystery, Book 2) by Wanda E. Brunstetter
This is the second book in the series. The first book, The Protector, is where Rosa disappeared and her brother Norman was obsessed with finding her that it almost jeopardizes his relationship with his girlfriend. Rosa’s boyfriend Ephraim has been blamed for her disappearance even though he is innocent.
The Peacemaker, the second book focuses on Ada (Rosa’s best friend) and Ephraim. Also, Susan and Ben. I liked reading about Ada and Ephraim getting to know each other. Ada has always cared about Ephraim but it took Ephraim time to get to caring about Ada the way she always hoped for and not think of Rosa.
I really enjoyed reading The Peacemaker but was hoping there would be something of what happened to Rosa. I guess I will have to wait for the third book in the series. I am looking forward to reading the third book, The Pretender: The Big Valley Disappearance #3. Wanda Brunstetter is an excellent author and I have always loved reading her books.
I would recommend this series to anyone who likes reading Amish fiction.

This is the second book in the Mifflin County mystery series.
I've been reading Wanda's books as long as she's been writing them. I love how realistic they are.
This book picks up perfectly where the first book in the series ends.
We have the same characters as the last book, but it focuses more on a different family this time.
There is really a lot going on in this fast-paced book. Really things changed so quickly with the characters at times it was hard to keep up.
I experienced so many emotions while reading this and we really do see the Amish experience the dame emotions we do including self-doubt at times.
Full of examples of faithful living and praying in this clean read that I really enjoyed. I had trouble putting this one down and greatly look forward to the conclusion of the series in the next book.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressef are my own.

About a year ago, Ada’s best friend, Rosa, disappeared and there has been no trace of her. Rosa’s boyfriend, Ephraim, and Ada have become close friends over time, although many in the community suspect Ephraim of Rosa’s missing.

During this period fires are started in neighborhood barns by an arsonist and the search is on to reveal the culprit. There are many other characters in the book which I also enjoyed getting to know.

I did not read book one in this series, but I picked up the story just fine without it. Readers of Wanda E. Brunstetter will enjoy this 2nd book in the series.

If you enjoy Amish fiction, you will enjoy this fun, heartwarming book. I received a complimentary copy from Barbour Publishing and Net Galley and was under no obligation to post a review.

The Peacemaker is another engaging story from Wanda Brunstetter. Woven throughout the story of Ephraim and Ada's growing relationship there is an ongoing mystery of a missing young woman. This book is the second in the Mifflin County Mystery series and can be read as a stand-alone book, although I think reading the first will give a fuller background into the lives of some of the characters in The Peacemaker. The author does a great job of bringing the reader right into the Amish community with glimpses of their everyday lives and struggles. I enjoyed the story and look forward to reading the next book. I was given a complimentary copy of the book through NetGalley and was not required to write a review. The opinions are my own.

The Peacemaker is book 2 in the Mifflin County Mystery series. Rosa Petersheim disappeared close to a year ago. While not much has been found on that side, life is still moving forward. Her best friend Ada and boyfriend Ephraim grow closer as they try to move forward. However when secrets and accusations collide, will life ever be the same? I love how Wanda Brunstetter can have a readers emotions go from laughing to crying in just a couple of paragraphs, Her characters are realistic and lovable. I look forward to the next story and hopefully a few answers. While this could be a standalone I would suggest reading the first book for reference and to meet these wonderful people. I received a copy through Netgalley. A review was not required.

I loved getting to know more of the Amish in the Big Valley area of Pennsylvania that I met in “The Protector”, the first novel in the Mifflin County Mystery series. Reading that first might be helpful to learn more about Rosa Petersheim, her mysterious disappearance, and the extensive search Norman, her brother, conducted. A brief backstory of it is included throughout “The Peacemaker”. There is also an unknown arsonist setting fire to many Amish barns, adding to the secrets of the night.

The author delivers more three-dimensional people who had been close to Rosa, including her former boyfriend, Ephraim, and her best friend, Ada. Norman, still suspicious of Ephraim, never thought Ephraim told the full truth of what happened that night she vanished. Ephraim and Ada had each, separately, lovingly confronted Rosa about being baptized and joining the Amish church. The conversation Rosa and Ada had may have damaged their nearly lifelong friendship. Wild parties and friends had been the norm for Ephraim and Rosa during the early days of their Rumspringa. He was ready to settle down, join the church, and marry. Rosa was not. It is still unknown whether Rosa ran away from the Amish community that night, or if she met with a tragic end.

Ada loved where she worked and what she did at a local greenhouse. She wanted to marry and have children, but never had a serious relationship. Many people still whispered that Ephraim probably killed Rosa. He had moved to Bird-in-Hand to help his widowed grandmother. Ephraim wanted to return and help run his father’s harness shop, but his grandmother refused to leave her home. When his father, her only son, had a heart attack, they returned to the Big Valley to help out.

Matters of the heart were front and center, as Norman and his fiancé, Salina, reconciled their differences after the months he spent searching for Rosa. His sister, Susan, dated Ben, a young man who moved to the area about a year ago. Ben still kind of lived the Amish way, but was a daredevil, taking risks that put others in great danger. Ephraim and Ada began courting, and quickly grew close through their mutual interests. Another couple met and began courting, showing how love can occur at any age.

Faith in the Lord was lived out, especially by Ada and other family members. Ada strived to be a peacemaker, continually leaning on the Lord to learn and live it. A troublemaker separated her and Ephraim, and even threatened Ephraim’s freedom. The arsonist set fire to Ephraim’s parents’ barn, and he and his still-recovering father tried to free their horses from the flames.

This is an excellent continuation from the “The Protector”. I was happy to spend time with Ada and Ephraim and get to know them better. I loved how nature was portrayed, as characters listen to or watch birds and various seasonal changes. Each person close to Rosa has had to go forward despite her absence, wondering if they would ever hear from or see her again. I am very much looking forward to the next novel that will hopefully bring good news to the community. I highly recommend this novel and series, especially to those who appreciate reading about the Amish community and enjoy mysteries and romance.

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

Wonderful Amish fiction

I really enjoy Ms Brunstetter's books and 'The Peacemaker' was no exception. Especially at this time, the calming nature of her Amish books is so very valuable to me. There is indeed a mystery, some romance, some characters with spine and characters with issues in their past and/or present, a great plot and interesting characters. I can't wait for the 3rd volume in this series (but you don't have to have read the first volume to follow the plot and characters in this, the 2nd volume of the series). Highly recommended!

Thank you to the publisher who lent me an e-arc via Netgalley with no obligation. The review is optional and my own opinion.

Oh how I love a Wanda Brunstetter story! She had my emotions all over the place. Once I started reading THE PEACEMAKER it was very hard to stop! The twists and turns made it impossible to put down. What an awesome story. All of Wanda’s characters feel genuine and relatable and put your emotions on one heck of a roller coaster ride. As you are reading, you will find yourself cheering for all of them, praying they can work out their problems and be happy once again.

Once you start reading THE PEACEMAKER it will be very hard to put down! Wanda sure knows how to put a new twist on Amish fiction. Ada’s best friend, Rosa has been missing for over a year. Ephraim, who was Rosa’s boyfriend, reconnects with Ada, and at first, it seems like they just want to solve the mystery of Rosa’s disappearance. Ada is a sweet woman and just wants to keep the peace between her family and friends. She knows many in her Amish community blame Ephraim for Rosa disappearing, but Ada knows now that that isnt true at all. Or is it? Ephraim continues to struggle with his past but wants to be moving forward and he wants to do it with Ada. THE PEACEMAKER is filled with faith, forgiveness, second chances, love, as well as hurt and anger.

THE PEACEMAKER is without a doubt one of the best Amish books I’ve read in 2025 so far. I was instantly emotionally invested in all of the characters. Wanda Brunstetter is such a wonderful and heart tugging author and she had me laughing and crying on the very same page. I am now going to read all of her previous books that I have somehow missed and she is now an auto buy author for me! THE PEACEMAKER is the second book in the Mifflin County Mystery series and I can’t wait to read the third book, The Pretender, which comes out in August. Grab your copy today and get on the couch!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was a great continuation from the first book in the Mifflin County series. I feel like the reader got to see the characters evolve and try to move on from the disappearance of Rosa.

I feel like there are still so many unanswered questions and I can’t wait to see what the next book has in store. I fell in love with the story and the characters.

I really enjoy reading Wanda E Brunstetter’s Amish stories and this one was no different.

A great story with romance and suspense and a moral besides. Ada and Ephraim, along with their community, learn the importance of forgiveness and how lives can be destroyed by betrayal, suspicion, or even distance. The romance between Ada and Ephraim is tentative at first, considering the unsolved disappearance of their friend Rosa. Rosa's sister Susan has begun to follow in the wild ways of her older siblings but she will learn the painful side of betrayal and the hurt that can be caused by spreading gossipy accusations. Will Ada and Ephraim find their way through the tangled wen before them on their way to happily ever after? And who is starting the fires plaguing their community? A good stand-alone book but also part of an intriguing series.

This is the second book in 𝘈 𝘔𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘭𝘪𝘯 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘺 𝘔𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘺 series. Throughout the series, the focus is on the disappearance of Rosa Petersheim and how it has impacted the people around her.

In book two, the focus shifts to Ada, Rosa’s best friend, and Rosa’s ex-boyfriend, Ephraim. Ada is sweet and nurturing to all those around her. Ephraim is living with his grandmother in Bird-in-Hand, and while he misses his community, he does not miss having to deal with people thinking he had something to do with Rosa’s disappearance.

Ada has always secretly had a crush on Ephraim, so when Ephraim's family circumstances bring him back to Belleville, PA, it stirs up all those feelings. Ada doesn’t want to act on them because of her loyalty to Rosa. Plus, she’s convinced that Ephraim still loves Rosa. On the other hand, Ephraim feels a strong sense of duty toward his family and believes it’s his responsibility to care for his grandmother. Since she lives in another city, he sees no point in starting a new life in Belleville.

In this book, we continue to hear from Rosa’s brother, Norman, and her sister, Susan. Susan is a character I do not care for, but I feel like Brunstetter is going somewhere with this storyline. I’m holding out to see what happens throughout the entire series because of it.

This book is for anyone who enjoys series, loves a cliffhanger, and is willing to wait for the mystery to be solved. It’s also perfect for those who love sweet romances involving younger and older couples. I am committed to this series and am still anxiously waiting to find out what happened to Rosa.

𝘐 𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘦𝘥 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘐 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.

I'm a fan of Wanda Brunstetter's books, no matter the genre, mystery, romance or even cookbooks, you can count on a good clean story that will satisfy your reading.

Another wonderful book by Wanda E. Brunstetter. I loved revisiting with Norman and his family but also learning more about Ada (Rosa's best friend) and Ephriam, her old beau. This author has a way with creating wonderful characters that make me feel like I'm part of this close-knit community. I love how everyone looks out for one another and I even love how sacrificially Ephriam took care of his grandmother despite really not wanting to leave his hometown and relocate with her. The author dropped hints throughout book two, keeping the story of Rosa's disappearance alive throughout so that I cannot wait to read the final book in this series and find out what exactly happened to her and how it will ultimately affect her family.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book, but all opinions are my own.

Ata Detweiler's friend, Rosa Petersheim, had been missing for a year. Did she escape, or was she taken? Ephraim had thought about searching for his fiancée.


The supporting character that intrigued me the most was Ephraim. He lived with his widowed grandmother in Bird-in-Hand.


The writing style was conversational and easy to follow. I recommend this book to fans of Amish and Mennonite fiction.


I rate The Peacemaker 5 stars due to its well-crafted dialogue. The title was unforgettable.


Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, the Libby app, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

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What happened to Rosa??
That is the question on everyone’s mind. Rosa’s best friend, Ada, is still dealing with her friend being missing. She starts hanging out with Ephraim, Rosa’s ex boyfriend. Love is in the air but so is another mystery. If you like a slow burn, this is for you.
I really enjoyed the first book, “The Protector” and this one didn’t disappoint. I highly recommend reading the series in order. The next book can’t come out fast enough! Hopefully we find out what happens to Rosa. 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.
#ThePeacemaker #WandaBrunstetter #BarbourPublishing #NetGalley #AmishMystery #AmishFiction #BookLove #Bookstagram #NewBook #ILoveBooks #BooksSetInAmishCountry

Ada Detweiler's friend Rosa is still missing. In their one year experiencing her loss Ada has grown close to Ephraim Peight, Rosa's boyfriend. Others have been suspicious that he had something to do with the disappearance.
Rosa's sister, Susan, is being rebellious and is seeing Ben, the arrogant newcomer who Norman had to rescue during an ice-skating incident the previous winter. (The Protector) Susan starts making accusations against Ephraim and he pulls away from Ada.
I received an advanced reader's copy from Barbour Publishing through NetGalley. This is my unsolicited opinion about the second book in the Mifflin County Mystery series. I like it very much. The story of the community continues with the shadow of Rosa's disappearance and Ada's desire to bring a sense of peace to the families involved. There is a troublesome mystery going on which includes an arson. Susan is a character that the reader can just feel irked with. It's a good story with two romances. Who is causing problems and what happened to Rosa?
It can be a stand-alone read, but I do recommend reading The Protector if you want to have the whole Mifflin County mystery story.

Loved reading the inspirational and awesome story. Ada has feelings for Ephraim, and she’s willing to spend time with him even if it’s just as friends. Read the highly recommended, wonderfully written, and a must read riveting story.

The Peacemaker by Wanda E. Brunstetter

Rating: Four stars!!

Language/Profanity: NA

Faith: Praying; Bible verse; mention of Bible reading; church messages.

Romance/Sex: Kissing; wanting to kiss; wanting to be alone with a guy; mention of how a character was brought up to think kissing in public is wrong; marriage; being in a bad relationship.

Violence ect.: Fire; heart attack.

Other: Refraining from gossiping; but also gossiping (in my opinion); rumers that someone killed his girlfriend.

Part of a Series: Yes, it is the second book in an on-going series called Mifflin County Mystery.

Synopsis:
An Unresolved Mystery Holds an Amish Community in Limbo

In book two of A Mifflin County Mystery series, Rosa Petersheim’s disappearance continues to cause suspicion and pain to swirl in the Big Valley.
 
Ada’s best friend, Rosa, disappeared a year ago and still has not been found. In their grief and confusion, Ada and Rosa’s boyfriend, Ephraim, have grown very close. But some in the community feel Ephraim is responsible for Rosa’s disappearance. Now Rosa’s younger sister is making accusations against Ephraim that can’t be true, and he pulls away from Ada, feeling betrayed. A fire set by an arsonist might finally be the thing to reveal secrets that have long been dividing this community of friends and family. But will it be too late for love between the peacemaker and the suspect?

Thoughts:
First off. The writing was so much easier to get through!!! There were still parts where it seemed slightly awkward, but it was way less than the other book which made it so much more enjoyable. I loved the characters, and the whole story itself. I didn't like Susan, or her boyfriend though. They were... Yea.
Hopefully we will see more of the mystery soon, and find out what actually happened to the missing girl

Favorite character: Ephraim, and Sarah
Part: The wedding
Quote: NA

Bible Verse: Proverbs 19:17 KJV
[17] He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; And that which he hath given will he pay him again.