The Best Reading Order for the Prayer Jars Series
Written by New York Times bestselling author Wanda E. Brunstetter, the Prayer Jars series is a heartwarming journey of faith, secrets, and redemption set in the Amish community of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Unlike many Amish romance series where books function as completely independent stories, the Prayer Jars series features a tightly knit, continuous storyline. Because the events of each book build directly on the consequences of the previous one, you should read them in chronological order.
- The Hope Jar (Published: August 2018)
- The Forgiving Jar (Published: February 2019)
- The Healing Jar (Published: August 2019)
If you prefer having the entire journey in one place, Barbour Publishing also released the complete collection in a single volume titled The Prayer Jars Trilogy.
The Core Trilogy: A Book-by-Book Breakdown
1. The Hope Jar (2018)
The series begins with Michelle Taylor, a young woman fleeing an abusive relationship who finds herself homeless and hopeless. While sheltering at a bus station, she cross paths with an elderly Amish couple, Willis and Mary Ruth Lapp. The Lapps are desperately searching for their long-lost granddaughter, Sara Murray. In a moment of sheer desperation, Michelle decides to impersonate Sara, accompanying the trusting couple back to their farm in Lancaster County.
As Michelle adapts to the quiet Amish lifestyle, she genuinely falls in love with the Lapp family and their community. Her deception weighs heavily on her, especially after she discovers an old blue canning jar in the barn. Inside, she finds slips of paper filled with prayers, thoughts, and scriptures. These messages spark her own faith but also convict her of the lie she is living, setting up a tense struggle between her fear of being exposed and her desire to do what is right.
2. The Forgiving Jar (2019)
The second installment picks up with the arrival of the real Sara Murray. After her mother's death, Sara discovers she has grandparents in Pennsylvania she never knew existed. When she travels to Lancaster County to meet them, she is shocked to find Michelle living in her place. Although Michelle's deception is exposed and she temporarily leaves, the Lapps extend grace, forgiving Michelle and eventually welcoming her back to help her get back on her feet.
Sara struggles deeply with bitterness, unable to understand how her grandparents can forgive someone who lied to them so easily. Her life is further complicated when she meets Brad Fuller, a visitor to the farm who harbors secrets of his own. Amidst these struggles, Sara uncovers another jar of prayers hidden in the barn, which serves as her guide on the difficult road to letting go of resentment and learning to extend forgiveness.
3. The Healing Jar (2019)
The final book focuses on Lenore Lapp, an Amish schoolteacher in her late twenties who fears that love has passed her by. When she moves in with her grandparents to help care for her grandfather after he suffers a stroke, she meets Jesse Smucker, a young widower who recently arrived in the community with his baby daughter. Jesse asks Lenore to help look after his child, and the two quickly grow close.
Although Jesse proposes, he soon breaks off the engagement, realizing he is not ready to move past the grief of losing his late wife. Heartbroken, Lenore throws herself into her teaching and family duties. While working in the garden, she uncovers the third prayer jar. The messages inside guide her through her heartache, helping her find emotional healing while also bringing long-held family secrets to light.
Can These Books Be Read as Standalones?
While each book highlights the journey of a different central woman (Michelle, Sara, and Lenore), they are not designed to be read as standalones. The plot of The Forgiving Jar directly relies on the fallout of Michelle's deception in The Hope Jar, and the Lapp family dynamics carry directly over into The Healing Jar. Reading them out of order will spoil the major resolutions and twists of the previous novels. For the best experience, start with the first book and follow the story chronologically.
The Prayer Jar Devotionals
In addition to the main novels, Wanda E. Brunstetter has released several companion devotionals inspired by the themes of the series. These devotionals are designed to help readers build their own prayer lives, complete with scripture readings, reflections, and prompts to create personal prayer jars.
- The Prayer Jar Devotional: Hope (2022) — Co-authored with Donna K. Maltese, focusing on finding hope in daily life.
- The Prayer Jar Devotional: Forgiveness (2023) — Focuses on the healing power of letting go of grudges.
- The Prayer Jar Devotional: Healing (2023) — Co-authored with Janice Thompson, focusing on restoring emotional and spiritual health.
- The 3-Minute Prayer Jar Devotional: Daily Inspiration for Women (2025) — A collection of quick, encouraging daily devotions.
What to Know Before You Start
Wanda E. Brunstetter is widely considered a pioneer of Amish romance fiction. Her stories are deeply grounded in real Amish traditions, inspired by her husband's Mennonite heritage and their extensive time spent visiting Amish communities. The Prayer Jars series captures this signature authentic atmosphere, focusing on Lancaster County’s rolling hills, simple living, and tight-knit community bonds. The series is clean, inspirational, and deeply focused on faith, making it a perfect fit for readers who enjoy gentle, character-driven Christian fiction.