Letters of Trust {Review}

 

Book One in the Friendship Letters series, Letters of Trust follows the early marriage of Vic and Eleanor Lapp.  One day while the couple is watching Vic's younger brother, the boy tragically drowns in their pond.  Devasted by the events and blaming himself, Vic turns to alcohol and his drinking quickly spins out of control.  Although Eleanor fights to honor him, she soon learns that she can't run from the truth and must face it in order to save her marriage.  Through the trials of these early years, she finds comfort in the letters she recieves from her dear friend, Doretta.  But with the Lapp's future uncertain, can they find their way together again and can Vic forgive himself before it's too late?

Wanda E. Brunstetter is a fairly new author to me.  I've only read a few of her books.  This one follows a young bride trying desperately to honor her marriage and finding herself quickly in over her head.  Far from family, newly married, struggling with her own grief and still trying to help her husband, Eleanor's heartache paints an accurate picture of the reality of alcoholism.  Watching this character search for answers, one could easily identify with the frustrations and desperation she felt.  There were certainly parts of this book that were difficult to read as Vic treated Eleanor quite poorly at times. Still she loved him and sought to do her best in the situation.  This was a tale of the dark challenges of alcoholism, but also the desperate love of families that find themselves in a similiar situation.  I would recommend this title for anyone who enjoys Amish fiction

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