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Indiana Cousins #3

A Cousin's Challenge

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Kumme back to Amish country, where sign language tutor Jolene Yoder finds herself attracted to her newest student—a brokenhearted Lonnie Hershberger. Love-shy Lonnie sees no future in becoming emotionally tied to Jolene. For how could he hope to protect her, if he can’t even hear? Besides, Jake Beechy seems to be taking up most of her free time. Meanwhile, Ella Miller is worried Jake will end up breaking her cousin Jolene’s heart. Little does Ella know that Jake is interested in her—not Jolene. What drastic measures will God use to bring these couples together?

289 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2010

100 people are currently reading
899 people want to read

About the author

Wanda E. Brunstetter

208 books2,327 followers
New York Times bestselling and award-winning author, Wanda E. Brunstetter is one of the founders of the Amish fiction genre. She has written close to 90 books translated in four languages. With over 10 million copies sold, Wanda's stories consistently earn spots on the nations 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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5 stars
761 (47%)
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523 (32%)
3 stars
245 (15%)
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49 (3%)
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19 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
Profile Image for Amy Clipston.
Author 118 books2,204 followers
October 17, 2020
Just loved this series! This book was a beautiful story of love after loss, new beginnings and faith. Amish fiction fans will enjoy every page!
Profile Image for Sally Lindsay-briggs.
826 reviews53 followers
May 21, 2024
This poignant love story was a toss between 4 and 5 stars. It plodded along slowly (like many do) until 3/4 of the way and then it moved fast and furious with a death, blooming romances with fireworks and a scary kidnapping.Two aspects I loved: a recipe for Friendship bread and a very helpful Bible verse “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go. I will guide thee with mine eye”. Psalm 32:8
Profile Image for Megan Hansen.
Author 13 books29 followers
April 12, 2010
Surprisingly I liked this book more than the last in the series. The leading lady, Jolene, is deaf and it is intriguing and exciting to watch her story unfold. I’ve never read a book with a deaf character before, but I can’t imagine how it could be done better. The romances in this book were sweet and I loved the recipe at the end of the book!
Profile Image for Rose | Adventurous Bookworm.
1,211 reviews174 followers
April 19, 2022
Overall, this was a solid ending to the trilogy. It was a bit over the top with all the love stuff (which was why I didn't give it five stars) but very clean and good for younger readers of Christian fiction. (I remember enjoying this one when I was 14.)

Content: nothing to worry about, maybe some kissing

4 Stars
Profile Image for Megan Griffin.
222 reviews1 follower
October 23, 2020
This was probably my favorite book in the series! I loved having two different romances going at the same time. I am very happy with who turned out with who and their happy ending. I loved the final paragraph that talked about how God works everything out for His good. This truly is a reminder that He is good and no matter what happens He is in control and is working it out for His plan in our lives.
Profile Image for Melody.
144 reviews18 followers
July 4, 2016
3.5 stars

This book wasn't bad at all, but I must say that I was quite disappointed by it.
It seemed to me there were far too many tragedies going on for a small Amish community. Also, some problems were solved way to easily for my liking while others seemed far too hard to resolve. All of this made the book not so realistic, and that's a shame because the story had so much potential.

The love stories were sweet however, and I enjoyed the characters. I also liked that the reader could get a glimpse of what had happened to Loraine and Katie of the two previous books.
Profile Image for Courtney.
4,298 reviews
July 17, 2017
An amazing tale of how God's wonderful will is always on time. The "hero" of the novel loses his hearing, and upon doing so feels out of sorts and worthless. When he meets the woman who is to teach him sign language, he feels unable to began a new life. God's love conquerors all in this book, and His will is for everyone to find love in one way or another.
Profile Image for Deborah.
274 reviews
June 26, 2013
In this final installment to the Indiana Cousin Trilogy, Jolene Yoder returns to Indiana following the van accident that took her hearing. She is to be the teacher to two deaf Amish children that are new to the community, and though she has her misgivings, she is determined to be a good teacher as she once was.

Lonnie Hershberger is deafened by an accidental explosion, and is having a hard time adjusting to a world of silence. Jolene offers to help him learn how to communicate in his new world, but Lonnie is reluctant to go steady, especially since she seems sweet on Jake Beechy. But Jake Beechy is fighting his attraction to her cousin Ella, despite her continual rejection. Will these young people find God's will - and each other?

I loved this charming series, but one thing I noticed in this book was how accident prone the characters were. It seems as if the author used convenient "accidents" to force characters to action, and there was just so much of this going on in the book. I really had to wonder whether some of the end results and actions were because everyone kept getting into one predicament or another.

Despite my qualms on the excessive accidents, this book gave a very insightful view on life with no sound. Due to previous introduction, the characters kept my interest the whole book through. It was a decent sequel to this wonderful series, and made me realize a very important truth; Amish people are just like us. They aren't perfect, they have their problems, just as we do, and they don't have an easy life. But they keep the faith, simple lifestyle, and sound moral values as best they are able to glorify their Lord Jesus Christ.
Profile Image for Linda Galella.
1,046 reviews102 followers
January 7, 2021
Book 3 in the Indiana Cousins Trilogy and they’re all united once again!

Jolene has returned to Topeka, Indiana from her grandparents place in Florida. She’s been hired back by the Amish school board to teach some deaf children that are new to the community. Everything about this situation is new for everyone involved.

Reuniting with her cousins is a blessing for Jolene and she sets about teaching them, her family and a few friends how to sign so they can communicate with her more effectively. Events take place, of course, where a young man tragically looses his hearing and needs her services. It’s not easy with him, a complicated relationship builds and you can well surmise where this story arc is heading; it’s Wanda after all!

The other two cousins are involved in the story, advancing milestones in their lives. A few secondary characters from the other books become lead players and I expect they’ll show up in other Indiana based books from Ms. Brunstetter.
The Amish are an industrious people which is one reason they make good writing subjects; lots of daily activities to chat about; “Cousin’s Challenge” does exactly that.

There’s plenty of struggle and heartache along the way as the folks in this community live and love alongside each other. These characters have been together, most of them, for three books and are well developed. Even if this is your only volume, there’s enough backstory to read as a stand-alone, no trouble.

Grab a cup of tea, get ready for a visit and find out what happens to these three, busy cousins and how they arrive at their sure to come HEA Wanda
style📚
Profile Image for Tiffany.
192 reviews18 followers
March 26, 2010
I found this book exhausting and overwhelming. The first couple chapters set the pace of extreme dialogue and thoughts of the characters for the rest of the book. It leaves very little interpretation for the reader. I felt that if I met this author in real life she would talk constantly, just like in her writing.

The book is full of tragedy, one after another. I feel the author didn't have any other way to keep going with the book, except to add another tragedy or accident. While its true that tragedy can bring people together, simple honest communication would have done the same thing, and the book would have been much shorter. From the very beginning I knew how the book would end, I just had to sit through all the dialogue to confirm it.

The book was overall very easy to read. I wish the flow of the book was better. The use of regular english and Amish phrases were jagged, and didn't seem to always be in place. Its like the author realized she hadn't used an amish term in a while and should do so. I also feel this book was just like every other book I have read in regards to the Amish culture. Tradegdy and love triangles where everyone thinks they know everything about everyone else's feelings and they don't, but they don't ever talk about it.

I don't know if I will read another book by this author based on this book.
Profile Image for Danielle Turko.
382 reviews1 follower
June 13, 2023
After the accident that took Jolene's hearing, she moved in with her aunt and uncle so she could learn total communication (Lip reading and signing). Now she has hit her stride and feeling confident in her new way of communicating, and so when her parents ask her to move back so she can teach two new children in the community who are deaf she hesitates for a moment. When there, there are a few snags fitting back into the community she called home her whole life but she soon feels completely welcomed. When another unfortunate accident gives her another student, she finds herself drawn to the man who is a situation so similar to her own. While her cousin Ella cautions her not to get to close to a man from their past, she starts to wonder if maybe there's more to Ella's story than meets the eye. Can she get over her own fears of having a family while deaf and embrace God's plan for her life?
This was a good book to the end of the series, although I wish they wrote one more for Ella. Tossing Ella's story in with Jolene did make sense since the plotline was combined, but it didn't really seem to do either story justice and so instead of having the story jump ahead by months I think they could have just changed the plot and made each story separate.
Profile Image for Rosemarie.
347 reviews9 followers
October 3, 2018
Excellent finale to the trilogy, telling the story of two of the four cousins, Jolene and Ella. Jolene returns home from her aunt's home in Pennsylvania where she learned to sign and read lips. After losing her hearing in the van accident (book 1), she thought she'd never be able to teach again; but a family with two deaf children joined the Indiana community, and Jolene was asked to teach them. Her teaching expanded out to many in the community who wanted to learn to sign - including a young man who lost his hearing in an explosion. Meanwhile, Ella was struggling with a terrible tragedy in her family, taking burdens upon herself and refusing help from a kind young man who refused to be pushed away.

I enjoyed the ending tremendously, as well, because it gave a peek into all the cousins' lives five years later. Wonderful story!
285 reviews1 follower
October 27, 2021
The final book in the trilogy. Was a good read. Another cousin experiences the traumatic consequences of the accident that had involved all four cousins. It is a good example of how years of carrying a grudge can destroy a person's future happiness if not dealt with. Ella came close to missing out on marriage because of her stubborn heart. Jolene finds happiness even though she had been so sure that being deaf would keep her from finding love. The years have been kind to the cousins as their dreams unfold.
8 reviews
June 30, 2019
This book picked up where book two left off really well. It was another page turner and was hard to put down. The ending of the series was very sad as I really wish there could be a spin off about the children down the road or a prequel of the parents. Love Braunstetters characters they are relatable in their thoughts and actions in the series.
Profile Image for Elizabeth.
35 reviews12 followers
May 4, 2010
A very good book. Ellas accident changed her life. But she over came and such a good story of how a family comes together in time of need.
Profile Image for Kay Leick.
61 reviews1 follower
February 13, 2024
Good light hearted easy to read book. I do enjoy reading book by this author.
Profile Image for Debbie Phillips.
730 reviews48 followers
December 9, 2019
This was a very good Amish fiction about the frustrations of having hearing loss, overcoming the challenges that come with hearing loss, and the challenge of relationships (family, friends and dating/courting). I love this series and was happy to read the last book in this series and count it for one of my Ultimate PopSugar Reading Challenge prompts. The book was well written and the characters seem to be alive, not fake. They have serious challenges to overcome and do not just pull up their bootstraps and get on with it, they truly struggle with their faith, their thoughts, doubts about themselves, God and others; and how and if they can have a spouse and meet the needs of that other person.

I highly recommend this series, but start with book one A Cousin's Promise

Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge prompt(s) –
#10 A book with POP, SUGAR, or CHALLENGE in the title
1,078 reviews3 followers
January 8, 2021
Including multiple deaf characters in a novel is always welcome. Romances are always welcome, too, and Amish romances are a subgenre of their own.
I wish authors wouldn't succumb to the fiction that if you lose one sense, your other ones get stronger. They don't. It's just that, deprived of that sense, you learn to rely on and pay attention to your others more.
There were some places where I found myself feeling like the plot was a bit too convenient and that characters were asked to say things that real people never would in order to move the story along or give clues to readers about what might be coming up next.
Also, certain characters (like Jake) seemed to "sprint" or "race" everywhere.
But people read romances mainly as guilty pleasures or mindless escapes. This was a pleasant way to spend a few days of reading. If you want more realism and less on-the-page plot mechanics, look elsewhere. If you're looking for a sweet slice of warm gooey fiction that's easy going down and gives you the option for second helpings (i.e., more books in the same series), then this is your kind of novel.
Profile Image for Keren Herrera-Lyles.
332 reviews18 followers
April 20, 2021
This is the third book in this series and I have enjoyed it.

This is the story of mainly 2 cousins. After a tragic accident has left one of them deaf and the other one brokenhearted. Jolene and Ella find that their decision of not getting married doesn't really have to be it.

Jolene comes back after a couple of years to help two young children learn how to read lips and sign to be able to communicate. Once there Lonnie has an accident that leaves him deaf and despite his stubborn and hurt heart he finds a friend and more in the Jolene's friendship and help.

Ella who grew up having feelings for Jake, but feeling hurt has found that the more he pushes Jake away her heart is still attached to the young boy she gave it to a long time ago.

Is a story full of Hope, Faith, Trust and Love for oneself and God that brings this sweet story to the conclusion. She will be hooked once you start reading it that you won't want to stop. Several stories but we'll put together that you don't feel lost for the storyline but for the story to be finished.

Highly recommended this series for the Amish reader as well for someone that needs a little pick me up of Hope.
Profile Image for Staci Kinman.
64 reviews2 followers
December 26, 2023
You can’t beat the value of a 3-in-1 book! Three novels put into one book is perfect for someone who loves a series. No waiting for the next book or having to purchase additional books - they’re all right there and ready to go. Being a Hoosier myself, I loved the setting of these stories and enjoyed how each story built on the previous one. A weekend tragedy sets the stage for a whole series of events that impact the lives of these cousins for years to come, for better and for worse. Overcoming challenges is a part of everyone’s life story, and reading about how this family overcomes their many challenges was both inspirational as well as heartwarming. With the focus on the mental health aspect of loss (as well as the impact of physical health), this series has some unique twists and turns. It’s different than any other Amish fiction series that I have read. I loved it!
12 reviews
October 20, 2025
Like the one before it in the series, too predictable.

Jolene lost her hearing in an accident with her cousins, Katie, Andrew, Ella, Raymond and Loraine as well as Loraine's (at the time fiance) husband and Katie's boyfriend, Timothy, when their English driver, Paul, was taking them from their Amish community in rural Indiana to Hershey Park. For the last 2 years she had been living with her Aunt Dorcas in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, until she gets news that she's needed in Indiana to teach 2 deaf students that have moved from Ohio to Indiana. Reluctantly, she returns to Indiana to teach sign language and lip reading to Sylvia and Irvin until there's an explosion at a nearby farm that leaves Lonnie deaf. Now, Jolene is falling for Lonnie. Can she get him to see that learning sign language and lip reading is beneficial and how will her falling for him impact her ability to teach him?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Dawn.
960 reviews9 followers
February 26, 2020
More like 2.5 stars. Jolene, who lost her hearing in the same accident that took Wayne’s leg and Timothy’s life, has been asked to move back to Indiana from Lancaster where she moved to learn to sign and read lips. There is a deaf brother and sister who need a teacher. She’s resigned herself to be alone for the rest of her life. Jake has also returned to Indiana from Montana to take over for his father’s work following an accident until his father is able to return.


Unlike her previous books, this one read more like a soap opera than anything else. During the first half of the book, it seems as if someone is either dying or getting seriously injured. It’s rather ridiculous for such a small community. Then add in Eunice...
Profile Image for Maria Pierron.
234 reviews3 followers
October 11, 2022
I counted eleven tragedies in this book:

1. Lonnie is bit by a pig
2. Jake's dad breaks his legs
3. Lonnie is hit in the head with a fencepost flying through the air after a propane tank explodes; he goes deaf
4. Eunice or Ella (can't remember which) sprains her ankle (does it need x-rayed??)
5. Ella's dad dies suddenly
6. A kid is hit by a car
7. A kid is diagnosed with leukemia (and there is no resolution on this)
8. Ella breaks her wrist or hand
9. Ella's mom is diagnosed with diabetes
10. Jake trips and falls and becomes unconscious
11. Jake's family gets a message he died (turns out he didn't)

Don't forget that if you're talking to Jolene YOU NEED TO LOOK RIGHT AT HER SO SHE CAN READ YOUR LIPS.
Profile Image for Makoto Kobayashi.
74 reviews6 followers
July 24, 2018
This book's somehow not easy to rate.. For one, I liked the Characters, Lonnie, Ella, Jonele and Jake and all the others. They were sweet, goodhearted and so on, BUT with all these weird accidents happening and I mean SERIOUSLY everything that could happen to a human being is happening in this Amish community, it left me feeling like the author used this some kind of filler. Whenever she wasn't sure how to bring two people together to talk about their feelings, someting bad happened. It was annoying and unbelievable, so it took too much away from the romance happening in this unfortunate town.
Profile Image for LaShunda.
614 reviews1 follower
May 21, 2017
Just when you think surely NOTHING else could happen, it does! As a fan of Wanda E. Brunstetter it pains me to say that this book is not a favorite. Much like the first in the series, keeping the characters straight and their story lines together took more work than I was interested in putting in. That being said, each story line was interesting and could easily have stood alone. Wanda E. Brunstetter is a fantastically engaging storyteller and I am not at all deterred from reading more of her works
Profile Image for Joleen Devens.
178 reviews14 followers
January 18, 2021
I started this book last September and put it down. I just couldn't get into it. But, then I started reading it again in November and Couldn't put the book down. It is fabulous!! I think this series was the best Amish fiction series that I have read. I am now spoiled. It is about a group of young cousins that survive a car accident and how it affected their lives. Great Christian reading. YOU SHOULD READ THESE IN ORDER.
Profile Image for Jennifer Baxter.
57 reviews1 follower
February 20, 2019
This series was beautiful! Like all her other series of books it had its up and downs. I loved how each new book still kept up with the other characters from the first one. It had plenty of twists and turns that you would of never seen coming literally until the last page. I absolutely loved the Epilogue. What a great ending to a great series of books! On to my next set from her.
83 reviews3 followers
July 25, 2017
Wanda takes us to the world of deaf and gives us insight if the challenges they may face in daily living as well as how they overcome and raise above these challenges, A reminder God is in control and his timeing. Twists that you never thought would happen and sweet goodness of love
44 reviews
April 24, 2018
Well done!

This book was written so well that I felt I knew the characters personally. Each character was introduced remarkably. The novel flowed fluidly so there wasn't much confusion as to which character was being portrayed. Well done!!!
2 reviews
October 1, 2018
I love this series

I have been a huge fan of Wanda for many years. The books in this series touched on such great topics, like being handicapped and pushing through depression. Talking about anxiety, grief, what happens when someone is injured and is disabled. Great books👍
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