About this book:

“Shaken by her parents' divorce and discouraged by the growing chasm between herself and her serious boyfriend, Nikki Werner seeks solace at her uncle's farm in a small Missouri hamlet. She'll spend the summer there, picking up the pieces of her shattered present so she can plan a better future. But what awaits her at the ancestral farm is a past she barely knows.
Among her late grandmother's belongings, Nikki finds an old notebook filled with handwritten German recipes and wise sayings pulled from the book of Proverbs. With each recipe she makes, she invites locals to the family table to hear their stories about the town's history, her ancestors--and her estranged father.
What started as a cathartic way to connect to her heritage soon becomes the means through which she learns how the women before her endured--with the help of their cooking prowess. Nikki realizes how delicious streusel with a healthy dollop of faith can serve as a guide to heal wounds of the past.”


Series: As of now, no, a stand-alone novel.


Spiritual Content- Prayers & Blessings over food; Many Scriptures are quoted, mentioned, thought about, & read; Bible reading (Wes); Wes & Aunt Emma are members of Lutheran churches; Church going, sermons, & singing; Many talks about God, Jesus, peace, forgiveness, & those in the Bible; 'H's are not capital when referring to God; On one Sunday, Wes struggles to pay attention to the sermon because of a woman; Nikki thinks of cooking and baking as “close to God as she might get” (because she’s creating); Many mentions of God, Jesus, His peace, & forgiveness; Mentions of prayers, praying, & giving thanks; Mentions of praying for “divine whacks” for certain people; Mentions of Bibles, Bible reading, & those and events in the Bible; Mentions of the Lutheran church, their services, synod congregations, church going, sermons, pastors/vicars, hymns, hymnals, & services; Mentions of the enemy using malice and bitterness; Mentions of Martin Luther & Dietrich Bonhoeffer (including a quote by the latter); A handful of mentions of Heaven; A handful of mentions of a Lutheran publishing house (Concordia); A few mentions of a portrait of Jesus at a church; A few mentions of devotionals; A few mentions of blessings & being Blessed; A few mentions of confirmation classes; A couple mentions of the Holy Spirit; A mention of Bible studies; A mention of seminary; A mention of Sunday school; A mention of a pastor making the sign of a cross; A mention of a cross charm;
*Note: Nikki goes to her grandmother’s gravestone to talk to her and fells silly doing so because she doesn’t think she can hear her, but says that she’s “murky on the theology of such things”; A teasing mention of expecting men to “evolve past” a gender flaw; A teasing mention of someone being called a “future teller” (the person responds that she is a “life liver or an experience haver”); A mention of hero worship; A mention of a superstition.


Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘dumb’ and an ‘oh my word’; A mention of a person’s name being “like a curse word”; Finding a friend’s body (from heatstroke, barely-above-not-detailed); Grief (for the death of a friend and son-like friend, & Nikki for her parent’s divorce); Nikki’s parents are recently divorced & a major focus of this book is Nikki’s hurt and bitterness towards her father for his actions (This is discussed and mentioned often as well as many bitter comments from Nikki towards him; Uncle Wes prays hard for his involvement in both his niece and brother’s lives and tries to talk with them both throughout the book; *Spoiler* The book ends with Nikki trying to forgive and reconnect with her father *End of Spoiler*; Wes tells a lie to someone (because he doesn’t want the person’s help) & quickly tries to make the lie true; Mentions of the Nazis, an execution, a concentration camp, wars, injuries/wounds, pain, prejudices (towards German-Americans); Mentions of deaths & grief (for a mother, a sister, parents for their a son, a friend, & what could have been/close relationships with others); Mentions of a divorce & the grief from those involved (Nikki, her mother, & sister); Mentions of a man’s unhealed hurt from his father’s words and actions & therefore hurting others with his own actions (including a shouting match, a missed swing; *Spoiler* Nikki’s father *End of Spoiler*); Mentions of an elderly family member falling & her injuries (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of alcohol, people drinking at parties/celebrations, wine at communion, & a woman telling others not to tell her pastor that she had a beer; Mentions of a father spanking & “tanning the hide” of his sons when disobeying; A few mentions of the death of a farmer in a tractor rollover accident; A few mentions of a bully & a sibling punching the bully that was picking on his brother; A few mentions of lies, lying, & liars (including a woman telling one and saying she’ll ask for forgiveness later); A mention of a POW camp; A mention of rumors;
*Note: In high school, Uncle Wes recalls that he needed to “figure out who he was” without anyone’s expectations of him; An older woman comments that “marriage used to mean so much more than it does these days. People seem to throw it away like it’s a used paper towel.”; A few comments about an older sibling not being able to have a childhood like her young sister did; Mentions of a woman’s father not being around much because of his mental health (implied that he was living in a mental institution and she tried hard to love him where he was); Mentions of a western movie & country singers and songs (Shane, Alan Ladd Western, Reba McEntire, Neal McCoy, Alan Jackson, Luke Bryan, Bob Seger, & George Strait); Mentions of authors & books (classics, Judy Blume, Beverly Cleary, & Harry Potter); Mentions of car brands; Mentions of brand names (Hostess, John Deere, Big Red gum, Juicy Fruit, Wrigley’s, Life cereal, Mary Janes, Hugo Boss cologne, & Mounds candy bars); A few mentions of baseball teams; A few mentions of stores (including Dollar General); A few mentions of Google; A mention of Rocky; A mention of Hallmark movies; A mention of Netflix; A mention of Facebook.


Sexual Content- Some Touches, Dancing, Embraces, Nearness, & Smelling (barely-above-not-detailed); Blushes; Noticing (including Wes noticing a woman’s hips and lips, barely-above-not-detailed); a ‘babe’; Nikki’s father had an affair & married the other woman after divorcing her mother (*Spoilers* Her father says they weren’t happy and is now happier with his new wife; Nikki didn’t realize that her parents were unhappy and her mother shares that “the empty nest amplifies the gaps in a relationship. The gaps had become so much bigger than we realized. We had neglected too many things for too long. I tried to work on them, but it takes two.” *End of Spoilers*); Because of the hurt of her parents’ sudden divorce and father’s affair, Nikki worries about her own relationship with her boyfriend and it shakes her view of marriage and security; Nikki’s sister tells her that “Love is often confused with infatuation. I found [her husband] attractive, for sure…but the real way I knew was because I trusted him. With everything….I trusted him to see the worst of me, the ugliest pieces, and still choose me.”; When Nikki comments on marriage being “big enough to hurt you if you get it wrong”, another woman tells her that “Yes, I suppose that is true. But marriage is also big enough to be the most noble role you’ll ever have.”; *Spoiler* The book ends with Nikki and her boyfriend forgiving each other for their words and actions *End of Spoiler*; Mentions of dating, dances, break-ups, & a broken heart; A few mentions of an elopement (with a couple moving away first and then getting married); A couple mentions of complicated relationships; A mention of a kiss; Some love, falling/being in love, & the emotions (light);
*Note: Mentions of a calf having to be “cut” to become a steer (a few mentions of his wounds, but nothing else); A mention of underwear & sports bras; A mention of a man wearing only swim trunks.

-Nikki Werner, age 26
-(Uncle) Wesley “Wes” Werner
P.O.V. switches between them
336 pages

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Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars (and a half)

{This book could be triggering or potentially healing to those whose parents have divorced.}

This book is a slower pace than most books I read, so it took me a bit to get into it, but at the same time was such a comforting read in the way of the writing style. It’s easy to visualize different places and events in the book and I really like that.

My heart hurt for Nikki. With everything that she’s going through—the bitter heartbreak of her father’s affair and new marriage and then her questioning love with her serious boyfriend, I can’t blame her from running away. That said, I do wish she would have been honest and upfront with her boyfriend, because they’ve obviously been together a while and really do care for each other. I wish the ending was just a little bit longer for this reason alone because how it all worked out felt a little rushed. I do wish we could have seen more faith elements from Nikki’s point of view, as well, because personal faith moments (such as praying or reading the Bible) were mostly from Uncle Wes.

I’m pretty sure I have a great Aunt (or two 😉) like Aunt Emma in this book, so she was easily my favorite character. Even though I’m not typically one for books with recipes and/or a food focus, I was curious about this book because of my own German heritage and actually recognized a couple of the recipes mentioned.

There’s a lot to unpack in this book. There’s so many wisdom-like nuggets thrown throughout it. It’s really a book I feel like you have to savior each chapter to understand hidden conversations and meanings, to be able to understand what Uncle Wes means when he thinks about history repeating itself. Does everything wrap up with a nice, neat little bow at the end of this book? No, not necessarily, but it’s realistic. There’s hope for the future at the end of this book and that’s what made it good.

I think I would say that I liked “The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip” just a touch more, but I still really enjoyed this one as well. I’ll definitely be watching out for any new books by this author in the future!



Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogspot.com/2024/01/the-divine-proverb-of-streusel-by-sara.html?m=0


*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Revell) for this honest review.

“The Divine Proverb of Streusel” by Sara Brunsvold is an utterly satisfying novel with an unusual thought-provoking title, delightfully multilayered with heartache, heartbreak and healing, forgiveness and love of family, interspersed with brilliant nuggets of wisdom. When Nikki Werner tries to retrieve her shattered present at her uncle’s farm, the past confronts her in a strange way, through an old notebook found among her grandmother’s possessions, filled with handwritten German recipes and wise sayings from the book of Proverbs. By connecting to her heritage, Nikki learns how her ancestral women endured – through their proficient culinary prowess, exceptional cooking skills and a healthy dose of faith thrown in for good measure. This is a beautiful faith-filled novel, a tale so honest that simple times and simple truth stand out in glaring light. With its intricate details and memorable, highly relatable characters, it is a veritable feast to rediscover one’s illustrious heritage and reconcile the most fragmented relationships. Sara Brunsvold pens a tale so lavishly flavored with the enlightening wisdom of past generations and life’s valuable lessons learnt in the crucible of suffering.

The Divine Proverb of Streusel
Sara Brunsvold
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Nikki Werner's life has been turned upside down. Her parents have recently divorced, her childhood home is being sold, and her father has remarried. A decision to take a drive to clear her head turns into an unexpected trip to the farm where she visited her grandmother once a year as a child. Nikki winds up on her uncle's doorstep and when she learns he's renovating the farmhouse, she decides to stay and help.

Among her late grandmother's boxes, Nikki finds some German hymn books and a notebook of handwritten recipes along with wisdom from the book of Proverbs. Determined to try out the recipes and share them with the people who knew her grandmother, Nikki begins to learn stories about the town, her family history, and her estranged father.

Our introduction to this author was a pleasant surprise! We were impressed with the intricately woven scripture and faith-based references. There was no doubt this was a Christian fiction work.

The main character, Nikki Werner, was struggling with her dad’s family betrayal and how she could be certain of her own progressing relationship with Isaac. She was plagued with bitterness and doubt as she escapes to her late grandmother’s vacant farmhouse. Under the guidance of her Uncle Wes, a few local residents, her Aunt Emma (through email), and the recovered family notebook with recipes and words of wisdom, she begins to see the past, present and her future through different eyes. Brunsvold included an impactful clarification when Nikki asks her Aunt Emma how she forgives. She gracefully responds it isn’t how but why.

We highly recommend you read this novel to uncover all the hidden gems in this story. We look forward to reading more from Sara Brunsvold.

We received an advance copy from the publisher. This is our honest review.

This book is like a primer on establishing relationships with the past and improving current ones. Nikki Werner flees to her Uncle Wes’s property in rural Missouri when her father’s leaving her mom breaks her heart, followed by a her boyfriend not being someone she can count on right now. At Uncle Wes’s farm, Nikki finds an old notebook that belonged to her grandmother and that contains handwritten recipes along with proverbs. As Nikki lovingly prepares the old recipes, she learns to put heart into her cooking as she thinks about all of the challenges in life that she is now facing. She meets new people, makes new friends and gets insight into what she is facing and how to face it. During the reading of this book, I was challenged to think about my own past and its effect on my present and apply God’s truth to what has happened and is happening. This is a book that teaches lessons about redemption, forgiveness, looking for the path God wants for you and not accepting less than God’s peace and His best in your life. I loved all of the characters, especially Aunt Emma who dispensed wisdom as well as unconditional love. The plot was well-paced and totally engrossing as Nikki invites one person after another and learns a lot about her past from each of them, all while pondering in her mind about what to do about her father and her boyfriend. The recipes are fascinating, too, making me want to try a few of them like the pancakes and the streusel. I am impressed with the author’s story within a story and the depth of her research. All in all, this is a wonderful book with a story clamoring to be read again and again and enjoyed by book clubs as they discuss the recipes, the importance of connection to the past and forgiving even when it’s hard.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell, the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertisng.”

I loved Brunsvold's debut novel and was eagerly anticipating her follow up. Like Mrs Kip, 'Streusel' is built on going deep with her characters in a small town setting. She particularly explores the impact of family, how parents personalities, strengths and weaknesses flow into their children and how they can still be prominent long into adult life.

Nicky Werner is 26, an English teacher who has just finished the school year. She's now on summer break and life goes a little haywire. Her father recently left her mom and re-married very quickly thereafter much to Nicky, her mom and sister's surprise and anger. Nicky doesn't know how to deal with the betrayal and in a fit of emotion drives 200 miles to the place of her childhood that always brought her peace: her grandmother Ann's farmhouse.

Nicky's greeted by her uncle Wes, who is living in the accompanying homestead. Wes, surprised by the unexpected visit from the niece he hasn't seen for years, receives Nicky with mixed feelings. Initially, Nicky plans only to stay for a weekend but this soon becomes the summer break.

Nicky and Wes get to renovating the farmhouse while she learns more about her father's family. Nicky hopes this will help in her healing. At the same time, her boyfriend, Isaac, didn't take Nicky's sudden excursion well and promptly leaves for a similar period to manage a project in Portland. As some other reviewers have mentioned, I found Isaac's response a little childish, but that doesn't take away from the fact, we can do these types of things out of fear, hurt, and confusion. Similarly, some of Nicky's responses appear a little immature, but once again, that shouldn't 't take away from the authenticity of the story. People, no matter the age, can behave in such a way when circumstances push their buttons in such a way.

Nicky is forced to go deeper into herself but I'm not convinced we really get to the bottom of what's going on inside her beyond the obvious hurt from how her father has reacted. Nicky gets a better understanding of her father's background and his father's old fashioned strict command and control-style parental style.

Wes is an intriguing character. He too has struggled in adulthood from the challenging role model of a father. He has a tendency to keep everything pent up inside, unlike his brother, Nicky's dad, who's the gregarious one. Wes has a strong confidante in his Aunt Emma, his mom's younger sister. She, in some ways, is the star of the story. Her wisdom and willingness to simply listen and encourage is a wonderful example for Wes and Nicky. They both learn a lot from her.

I struggled with Wes's reaction to his strong feelings for Joyce. Joyce is a marvellous character, a woman who has been in love with Wes for much of her life. Wes has had similar feelings but for some unexplained reason is fearful of taking the next step. I wish Brunsvold had given us a little more insight into Wes's character, which might explain some of his standoffish behaviour towards the love of his life.

Grandma Ann's book of recipes drawn from her mother's kitchen features throughout the story. Having tasted some of them via a past life with an excellent German cook, I'm aware how special they are. We see the power of food, gathering around a table and hospitality of sharing food with others. It adds a nice touch to the story.

Brunsvold has a deft touch with how she flows faith through her stories. It's all very natural and clear it's an important ingredient to her own life and the stories she writes which is excellent.

Perhaps not as outstanding as Mrs Kip, Streusel is strong and I'm looking forward to her third story.

I was fortunate to receive an early ebook copy from Revell via Net Galley. This has had no bearing on my review.

Thank you to Revell for my Advanced copy. All thoughts are my own

This is my first book by Sara Brunsvold and I'm looking forward to more! She wove a story of past and present family pain with heritage and faith. A unique but impactful mix!

Nikki Werner, a high school literature teacher, is left bereft after her father leaves her mother and rapidly remarries. She is unable to commit to her serious boyfriend and, on a whim, escapes to small town Missouri where her father is from. Her quiet, bachelor Uncle Wes takes her in and she starts to help him fix up her grandparents' old farmhouse. In the process, she finds an old recipe book with life lessons that start to mirror her own life. As she works over the summer and befriends many in the small town, Nikki starts to understand what made her uncle and dad who they are. And she learns a lot about herself in the process too.

I enjoyed the journey for both Nikki and Wes as they searched themselves to further their faith. I was hooked by the last half of the book but the first half did drag a little in some places. Regardless, I enjoyed the story!

‘The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs Kip’ set an extremely high benchmark, raising expectations for all readers of Sara Brunsvold’s first novel. ‘The Divine Proverb of Streusel’ has similarities – a younger person learning life’s lessons from older generations – but also many differences – Nikki doesn’t even get to meet her main mentors (at least, not in person.)
The opening chapter tugs at the heartstrings straight away, drawing the reader in to immediately caring. Including the recipes was a good idea, adding to the interest & also providing places to pause in reading.
There are lots of quotes worth taking a note of :-
“Turn away the indignation that will invariably come to your door...pounding in its loud and obnoxious way. Resist its advances. Leave it cold on the porch.”
A book rich in wisdom, & don’t we all need that in our lives...

I wasn’t sure what to expect from The Divine Proverb of Streusel, but I loved this book. The story features Nikki Werner, a literature teacher whose world is rocked by her parents divorce. Unable to commit to her own boyfriend she takes off to the farm where her father grew up. Nikki decides to summer with her bachelor uncle and help him renovate her grandma’s farmhouse.

While clearing old boxes, Nikki finds a recipe book, filled with more than food ideas. Each item also includes a life lesson. As Nikki works though the book, she’s able to process the chaos in her personal and family life.

Sara Brunsvold is one of the most creative writers around. Just wow. This book has it all. From Nikki’s emotional angst, to the brokenness within her wider family. The gentleness of the life lessons in the book, two dashes of romance, and of course, the recipes. The characters and setting are beautifully drawn and I challenge any reader not to enjoy this lovely story.

I received a copy of The Divine Proverb of Streusel from the publisher via NetGalley. The enjoyment is all my own.

“This novel truly affirms that writing of Christian novels is meant to be a ministry on its own.
Sara Brunsvold’s The Divine Proverb of Streusel’ is like a meal prepared by the Divine Chef Himself. Set in the town of Eddner, Missouri this novel has all the ingredients to make it a masterpiece, unforgettable characters, a well-developed plot, and themes that tug at the heart. Nikki Werner is a young woman struggling to come to terms with the divorce and subsequent remarriage of her father. An impulsive decision lands her at the doorstep of her paternal uncle Wesley ‘Wes’ Werner. The two embark on a project to remodel the Werner’s farmhouse leading to a discovery of an extraordinary cooking book which helps to bring healing to a broken woman’s heart.
One thing that stood out for me in this novel is the incorporation of food recipes and nuggets from the book of Proverbs in the Bible. Never have I read a novel which has spoken to me like. The characters of the novel were so relatable with even the minor characters like Aunt Emma and Joyce leaving a mark in my heart. Sara Brunvold has done an awesome job of blending romance, forgiveness, scriptures, food recipes, farm life and pain to create a delightful novel worth reading. This is the first novel I have read from this author, and I cannot wait to read her other works.
For anyone who wants to read a novel that will challenge their faith and cause them to want to whip up German recipes this is a novel for you.
I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Bethany House through NetGalley and Interviews & Reviews for my honest opinion."

The Divine Proverb of Streusel is a Contemporary Christian Fiction. This family saga by author Sara Brunsvold is filled with cooking and small town church/community. It is a cleverly crafted tale that is ripe with Christian messages, proverbs, scripture, and German recipes.

The author has an easy-going style of writing. A slow pace set the tone for the story. This is not a book to be rushed. It needs to be carefully read and pondered.

Easy to follow, it had me engaged with the distinct characters. I loved reading about the different women and men in Nikki’s family. Each character is precisely crafted to fulfill a specific roll in this poignant multi-generational Christian fiction that is unique in many ways. I adored sassy Aunt Emma. The semi-romance between Uncle Wes and someone sizzles. Sparks fly!

Parts of the story made me emotional along with the characters. It is so easy to relate to certain situations or have a friend that has experienced the same thing. The Christian and life lessons are beautiful. Forgiveness, family, love, redemption, and acceptance are main topics that have remained with me. The proverbs are definitely noteworthy. Sprinkled throughout the story are priceless old German recipes. It was fun reading how they were made and tasted.

A few things bothered me because it was a Christian fiction. There is talk of going to the gravesite to speak to a deceased relative. A mention of drinking beer and not telling their minister. Talk of superstition and hero worship also bothered me. This is just me and may not bother you. In the storyline, I felt let down when certain things were planned and never happened. The ending seemed to appear too soon and was rushed. Do these make it a bad book. Absolutely not!

The Divine Proverb of Streusel is book that will long remain with readers. It will encourage, entertain, inspire, make readers think differently about family and friends in trials. Any reading group would love this as a choice. There is so much to discuss. Hopefully we will see it on a screen sometime as it will make a dynamic movie. I highly recommend this book and rate it 5 out of 5 stars. A copy was provided by Revell Publishing, but these are my honest words.

Thank you Revell and NetGalley for this gifted book!*
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Title: The Divine Proverb of Streusel
Author: Sara Brunsvold
Genre: Christian Fiction/Women’s Fiction
Publisher: Revell

Synopsis: “Sometimes we have to look back to discern the way forward.” Nikki Werner’s life is falling apart. With her dad’s recent leaving and his sudden remarriage, she leaves her mom, boyfriend, and home searching for answers. When she unexpectedly arrives at her uncle’s doorstep, she finds herself renovating her great grandmother’s farmhouse and revealing the secrets of her family’s past. Through a handwritten cookbook, old family history, and newfound friendship, Nikki begins to discover that it takes time, learning, and faith to put everything back together. And like the process that cooking is, sometimes the path to healing and true forgiveness take some effort too.

Analysis: With messages of family, faith, and forgiveness, Sara Brunsvold brings a beautiful character-driven story that is sure to leave an impact on your heart. While it’s not a fast-paced novel, you’ll find that the writing style is beautiful and sprinkled with recipes and proverbs. (I could share a million quotes!) The small town feel and family connections drive you deep into the hearts of Nikki, her uncle, and others in the community. I love how relatable the characters are. And they deal with struggles that many families face today: broken relationships, divorce, and fear. You’ll laugh with these characters, cry with them, and ultimately experience the joy of forgiveness that only Jesus can bring.

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Content Rating: Clean

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A Book for the Keeper Shelf!

Wedged between wise words from a legacy of Christian heritage to scripture from Proverbs, the journey described within this emotional story is thought provoking. It begs its reader to take heed to its words, self-reflect, stop to ponder in order to gain an introspective view of our own relationships.

Some of my favorite quotes-

“Love alone would not fix what was broken.”

“In every great romance ever written, love always had a way of returning itself to the giver. Eventually.”

“Do the next thing. When in doubt, when in fear, when in far too deep, it was the only thing she could do.”

“You can either look at what you don’t have and yearn, or you can look at what you do have and give thanks.”

“No joy could be brighter than that of forgiveness received—and given.”

Brunsvold’s story is about discovering family and cultural background through visiting its past and meshing it with the present. She flawlessly employs written, electronic and face-to-face communications to develop relationships throughout the storyline. And if that isn’t enough, she adds the magic of old recipes, baking, a kitchen and a community.

This book is suitable for teens and older with no inappropriate intimate scenes and no bad language. I received this book from the author/publisher free of charge, with no expectation of a positive review. I also purchased my own print copy of this book.

What a story! This was an incredible journey of learning family heritage, learning about the hero and heroine's selves, learning about forgiveness, and learning about cooking. This story was incredible with fantastic characters and so much real life. Also, I can't wait to try some of the recipes. Highly highly highly recommend!!

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

This one was an emotional read for me. It hit home for me as a reader. I could fill what Nikki Werner was going through. Not her parents divorce because as a daughter I never had to go through that. But it was the losing her grandma and finding the German recipes that hit me the hardest, because I to lost my oma and she left behind a collection of German recipes and her Streusel was like a warm hug. Brunsvold did what great writers do she used fiction to hit this reader with the emotion and the feels.

Happy Publication Week to Sara Brunsvold and her sophomore novel The Divine Proverb of Streusel. This outstanding book is my first five-star read of 2024!

As in her debut, Ms. Brunsvold uses intergenerational relationships between women as the framework for powerful storytelling. The Divine Proverb of Streusel explores several themes including the power of legacy and finding one's place in their family of origin.

Plot summary: Her father's devastating actions have Nikki questioning many things in life, and she 'runs away' to her late grandmother's farmhouse seeking time and space to think. There she discovers a handwritten notebook filled with German recipes, wise sayings, and quotes from the Biblical book of Proverbs. As she prepares the recipes, she forms connections to her ancestors, living family members, and the small farming community where generations of her paternal family called home.

This book touched my soul in many ways:
- farm life: I lived on our family farm from birth through age 18.
- Lutheran faith: My lifelong denomination (although I'm a different 'type' of Lutheran).
- German heritage: Both of my parents had rich German ancestry.
- Midwestern sensibility: There's a unique sense to life in the Midwest and the author embodies these rich qualities in her writing.

"Stories are the universal heart language. They bring together what is scattered." This quote from Streusel captures the power of books in general and this novel in particular. I'm so thankful for writers who share their stories so we readers can benefit from them.

Many thanks to Revell and NetGalley for the review copy of this beautiful novel. It's going to touch so many hearts as it did mine.

Oh mylanta, this book!! (I can see why a Facebook group I'm in is obsessed with The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip, if it's anything like this one--I'll find out in short order, as it's rapidly moved up my TBR list after reading this.)

Being in large part about food, it's probably best not to read on an empty stomach, haha--but thankfully, it includes recipes! (And legit ones, not those of yesteryear that--as the book pokes a bit of fun at--give an ingredient without measurements! *cough, laugh*)

The storyline is delightful, and the characters so endearing. I adore Uncle Wes so much, and got a hoot out of his character arc. It was especially enjoyable as I really don't see the uncle-niece relationship much in fiction, let alone as the main arc; that was a neat surprise, and Brunsvold did well with it.

So many feels with this book: humor/laughter, sorrow, anger, healing, and hope above all. The only downside is that it's over!

Definitely recommended.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

#BookRevew : THE DIVINE PROVERB OF STREUSEL by Sara Brunsvold

The Extraordinary Death of Mrs. Kip charmed me, so I was so happy when the author announced her new book. It didn’t disappoint. I wasn’t sure where the story was heading at first. It’s slow in pace at times, but the author's masterful weaving of mystery and emotions kept me enthralled. I love that this book is a tapestry woven with threads of God's truth and the lives of His people.

Niikki was very troubled with her parents divorce. Her visit to her Uncle Wes’ farm was unexpected, challenging and full of revelations. The moment she stumbled upon books hidden in her grandmother's house, I was utterly captivated. I liked that Nikki is a book lover. Her fondness for stories of her grandparents and great grandparents was endearing.

I enjoyed the small town of Eddner and its people. I appreciated Uncle Wes’ patience. Wes and Joyce's shy glances and few interactions were cute, but Wes's aloofness had me intrigued. Aunt Emma was a hoot. She was full of life and lots of stories to tell as well.

I love the recipe notebook. The wisdom and faith added to each recipe are treasures. With each story savored and recipe mastered, wounds healed and paths unfolded. Although flawed, the lessons in this book are flawless, resonating deeply and guiding me with precision. I highly recommend this book!

Rating: 5 ⭐
Pub date: 16 Jan 2024, out now

Thank you Revell and #netgalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

I really enjoyed reading this book – the characters, the setting, the family dynamics, and especially the recipes with the notes about them. But, I have to confess that the author does not tie everything up in a pretty bow at the end – a little bit like life, which makes the book seem just so real, but not how I like to have a book end. Nikki is a young adult whose dad has just left the family. She discovers community and forgiveness and the value of family ties when, after a particularly trying day, she gets in her car and just drives for hours until she reaches the old family farm in Eddner, Missouri. The more time she spends with her Uncle Wes and gets to know the neighbors who knew her Dad as a kid and her grandparents, the more she learns about herself. And, although Nikki does not ever meet her Great-Aunt Emma in the book, her delightful letters and telephone conversations with Wes and Nikki cracked me up! This is a really good book, sort of reminds me of Mayberry meets Christian fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Author Sara Brunsvold’s The Divine Proverb of Streusel is a heartwarming family drama that twists and turns through Nikki’s struggle with her parent’s divorce and her uncertainty about the future of her own relationship with Isaac.

Nikki’s respite with her uncle seems like just the escape she needs, but her late grandmother’s old recipes and written words of divine wisdom might have the power to set things right in Nikki’s world again.

The Divine Proverb of Streusel is a clean, non-preachy Christian novel that recognizes God amid the messiness of life. It’s a fun, cute, and satisfying read and includes some recipes that I’m tempted to try!

I received an advanced review copy from the publisher, but the opinions expressed here are my own.

I have been reading books for over six decades now and The Divine Proverb of Streusel ranks in the top few that I would put on my list of to read again. Through the years I have found that when authors write about what they know it comes out in their writing. Sara Brunsvold did just that! Writing about her own personal experience dealing with her parents divorce, and her own family ancestry, served as the inspiration for this novel.

This heartfelt story was filled with recipes from a found cookbook by great-grandma Lena Schoenborn with thought-provoking messages. At the beginning of each recipe grandma shares pearls of wisdom derived from proverbs and her own personal experiences in life. With the faith brought forth in the cookbook and from those around her Nikki grows in faith herself.

The Divine Proverb of Streusel is a beautiful story of finding your place in a family you barely know and finding your legacy. A story dealing with anger, bitterness, forgiveness, healing, how to move forward, wisdom, and faith is so well written by this author I could not put it down. I for one cannot wait to read what Sara Brunsvold writes next.

I received a complimentary copy from Revell via Interviews and Reviews through NetGalley for an honest review. I was under no obligation to write a favorable review and all opinions are my own.