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    The Christmas Secret: Will an 1880 Christmas Eve Wedding be Cancelled by Revelations in an Old Diary?
    The Christmas Secret: Will an 1880 Christmas Eve Wedding be Cancelled by Revelations in an Old Diary?
    The Christmas Secret: Will an 1880 Christmas Eve Wedding be Cancelled by Revelations in an Old Diary?
    Audiobook2 hours

    The Christmas Secret: Will an 1880 Christmas Eve Wedding be Cancelled by Revelations in an Old Diary?

    Written by Wanda E Brunstetter

    Narrated by Rebecca Gallagher

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    A family secret might destroy a couple's hope for marriage.

    Elizabeth Canning discovers an awful secret in her estranged aunt's diary. Believing her chances for a happy marriage are spoiled, she leaves her fiancé a letter and flees town. In hopes that distance will heal her broken heart, she takes refuge in her grandparents' Pennsylvania home.

    Anticipating a Christmas Eve wedding with Elizabeth, David Stinner is confused by her letter and desperate to find her. Can David root out the truth about the past and bring back his bride? Or is the truth destined to bring an ultimate end to their romance?
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherOasis Audio
    Release dateOct 1, 2016
    ISBN9781621886457
    Author

    Wanda E Brunstetter

    New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Wanda E. Brunstetter is one of the founders of the Amish fiction genre. She has written more than 100 books translated in four languages. With over 12 million copies sold, Wanda's stories consistently earn spots on the nation's most prestigious bestseller lists and have received numerous awards. Wanda’s ancestors were part of the Anabaptist faith, and her novels are based on personal research intended to accurately portray the Amish way of life. Her books are well-read and trusted by many Amish, who credit her for giving readers a deeper understanding of the people and their customs. When Wanda visits her Amish friends, she finds herself drawn to their peaceful lifestyle, sincerity, and close family ties. Wanda enjoys photography, ventriloquism, gardening, bird-watching, beachcombing, and spending time with her family. She and her husband, Richard, have been blessed with two grown children, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. To learn more about Wanda, visit her website at www.wandabrunstetter.com. 

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    Reviews for The Christmas Secret

    4/5

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    • 5/5
      A Log Cabin Christmas

      Nine Popular Authors



      This is a book about 9 different short stories. The various authors are in their own right published and recognizable names. I enjoyed these stories they were quick reads and fun. I was not disappointed that the story was over other than just as you get to know the characters the story has concluded. But for Christmas stories these were fun and about the holiday season.

      I would like to thank Net Galley and Barbour Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy and was never asked to write a favorable review by anyone.
    • 3/5
      There are 9 stories in this book. Some were very good and deserve a 4-5 star rating. However, there were a couple of stories that I did not enjoy. One of them I finally gave up on and did not finish. All 9 stories take place in 'log cabin times' and the writers are very careful about being historically correct in their stories. This is a good book to read on a chilly night while you sit in front of a roaring fire. The stories tell of a time when Christmas was much simpler but living was much more difficult.
    • 5/5
      I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.This is a collection of nine wonderful short stories by nine wonderful authors. They all take place in log cabins, in different states, in the 1800s. There are several reasons I loved this book. First it deals with log cabins which I think are some of the most romantic buildings ever. The stories all happen in my favorite time period in history. If I could go back in time that would be the time period I would wish to live in. The final reason I loved this book was because it was written by nine extremely talented writers, a few I was unfamiliar with, which gave me the opportunity to experience their writing. Each short story is about fifty pages long. I?ve had the book for quite some time. Whenever I wanted to read something but had limited time I would pick the book up. For me reading a book of Christmas stories is just as special in July as it is in December. So let?s talk about these nine stories. I have to say ?Snow Angel? by Margaret Brownley was my favorite. Miss Parker comes west to teach in this one room school house. A lot of the parents don?t have a lot of faith in her ability to survive there. When she and three children are stuck in the school house due to a blizzard, the sheriff must go out to find them. They all end up stuck there. They all have personal issues that make this at times a heart-wrenching and at times a hilarious story. I?ve read many books by Wanda Brunstetter. In ?The Christmas Secret? while preparing the house for a Christmas Eve wedding, bride-to-be Elizabeth finds a journal that holds a secret. The secret is enough to make her run away. Now it is up to the groom-to-be to find her and together work things out. ?Christmas Traps and Trimmings? by Kelly Hake gives you an idea of what life was like for women in the early 1800s. They had little say over their lives. Mina has been promised to a cousin in marriage. She sets off for American with her nurse in search for Sam her guardian and find themselves in an earthquake. This story shakes up their lives in more than one way. ?A Star in the Night? by Liz Johnson is another one I loved. I am very familiar with Franklin, Tennessee. This is set during the Civil War. A Yankee soldier is found near Cora?s cabin in Confederate territory. Cora is dealing with the horrors she has seen in this war while she and her grandfather nurse this man back to health. With their hearts entwined can there be a happily ever after for them? ?The Courting Quilt? by Jane Kirkpatrick shows the lengths unmarried women would go to in finding a husband. Richard is a traveling salesman and partners with Mary to help sell her goods. One of his tactics has him convincing women he will propose to them if they ?meet the test? as a quilter. From this you know things are going to be hopping. ?Under His Wings? by Liz Tolsma is the story of two people who find themselves in a unique situation. Adie cooks for the lumber camp and lives in a cottage with her father. This is her protection. Noah is working to save money to go to seminary and become a preacher. Then Adie?s father is killed in an accident. She is fair game for all of these men as the only female in camp. Noah is there to protect her if she will only allow him to, even if it is a marriage of convenience.takes place in the Minnesota North Woods in 1875. Beth Sorenson is convinced that she can only be a minister's wife and Todd Rambek, a mere blacksmith, will never do. After all her family has been ministers and wives of ministers for several generations and as a minister's wife she can be in service. The Christmas program that Beth is putting together can only be done by her, no one else is capable of doing it right. But when the unexpected happens and everything seems ruined can Beth learn a valuable lesson in service and see what is right in front of her? Or will Beth drive away those who care for her with her attitude? ?The Dogtrot Christmas? by Michelle Ule takes place in Texas. While a man is off to war his land is sold without his permission. He returns to finds a brother and sister building a dogtrot cabin. If you don?t know what this is the look it up. It is quite fascinating and resourceful. Luis must learn to forgive and Molly may just be the one to help him heal.brother-in-law Manuel or will peace elude him? Can Molly's kindness help a soul damaged by war? ?A Grand County Christmas? by Debra Ullrick takes place in Colorado. This is a story of loss yet we find God?s goodness through this loss. Widower Amadeus finds Awyna freezing and starving outside his cabin. She?d been out looking for food and got lost. She stays with him and his three children and his mother until the weather breaks. She returns home only to find she?s lost everything. But, sometimes the loss of one thing leads us to what great thing God has for us. ?Christmas Service? by Erica Vetsch is one of those stories that can step on your toes. I remember telling my parents I felt God calling me to be a missionary. I was sure I was going to be a missionary like the many I?d grown up learning about. This seems funny because I was such a shy person. I asked a missionary how I could have been so wrong when I became a teacher. That missionary told me that missionaries come in all kinds of packages and for me it was the package of a teacher. So when I read this story about Beth who believes she needs to marry a preacher because that is the only way she can serve God I got tickled. She had a great man, Todd, a blacksmith in front of her that wanted to court her but she couldn?t see it for her own blinders. Sometimes God has to allow drastic things to happen to open our eyes. This book is filled with stories that show God?s infinite love for us as we bumble along in life. It doesn?t matter that these stories took place in the 1800s because they are just as appropriate to today. You know the saying, same situation different setting. I definitely recommend this book and would not wait until Christmas time to enjoy it. We should celebrate the true meaning of Christmas year round.
    • 5/5
      A wonderful sweet story! Perfect read for Christmas! Love and hope prevail!
    • 5/5
      Very good book. All the books I have read from Wanda B have been excellent
    • 4/5
      This was a very short, sweet Christmas novella taking place in 1880. Elizabeth Canning is getting married to David Stinner on Christmas Eve and she is busy getting the tiny cabin her grandfather built for her grandmother, ready for their new life. When she finds an old journal in a desk, life changes drastically. It appears that her Aunt Lovina shares a secret from decades earlier, a secret that causes Elizabeth to leave her family and David a note and run away. She can't let them know what she found out in the journal because it will bring shame to so many. Once David discovers Elizabeth's note, he is confused and hurt. He actually thinks she has left to be with another man and that she never really loved him. He goes to her best friend Helen, who seems to be the only one who knows where Elizabeth has gone. He puts his faith and trust in God and prays to find the answers he is looking for.

      THE CHRISTMAS SECRET is a short, sweet novella and the flow of the story was such that I did not want to stop reading. Wanda Brunstetter held my interest throughout. There are a couple of important messages in this story about communication and not always believing what you read without investigating and verifying the information. Even though in this short book I did not have a lot of time to connect with the characters, I found that I was still cheering for David to find Elizabeth and sort out this problem quickly.
    • 3/5
      The Christmas Secret by Wanda E. Brunstetter is set in Allentown, Pennsylvania in November of 1880. Elizabeth Canning is getting ready to marry David Stinner on Christmas Eve (which is also Elizabeth’s birthday). They will be living in a cabin built by Elizabeth’s grandfather and it is very special to Elizabeth. While cleaning out the cabin, Elizabeth finds a journal written by her Aunt Lovina (she grew up in the cabin along with Elizabeth’s mother). The first entry dates back to Lovina’s sixteenth birthday. Elizabeth starts reading the journal and discovers a startling secret that will ruin her life and affect others. Elizabeth only tells the devastating secret to her friend, Helen. Elizabeth calls off the wedding and quickly leaves town to stay with her grandparents. David does not understand why Elizabeth called off their wedding. David sets out to find Elizabeth and get answers. Will David and Elizabeth be able to overcome the obstacle thrown in their path? You will have to read The Christmas Secret to see if David and Elizabeth make it to the alter on Christmas Eve.The Christmas Secret is a sweet short story (it is a novella not a full-length book). It is nicely written and easy to read (good flow). It can easily be finished in an hour. I did, though, find it predictable and reminiscent of something I have read previously. Once the secret was revealed I knew what would happen. It is really not a Christmas story. It is set during Christmas, but it is a historical romance novella. It is a nice story, but I just expected more from this author. I give The Christmas Secret 3.5 out of 5 stars. It has nice messages about the power of love, prayer, faith, and forgiveness.