Sara Brunsvold’s debut novel, The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip, won a lot of praise … which meant I started reading The Divine Proverb of Streusel with a little hesitation. Would it be as good? Could it be as good?
In my view, it’s better.
Nikki Warner is broken. Four months ago, her father left her mother for another woman. Their divorce came through a month ago, and he married his mistress last weekend. As a teacher, Nikki has summer off, so she runs away to the Warner family farm, a place she hasn’t visited since she was twelve.
Wes Warner is Nikki’s uncle, a Christian, who has recently returned to the farm after decades in the army. He doesn’t know how to help the hurting Nikki except to make her welcome, give her a place to stay and something to do, and pray for her.
Nikki finds her grandmother’s old recipe books in the old family home. Although she’s no cook, she starts working her way through the traditional German recipes, finding herself again as she finds out more about her family.
The writing is very understated, with the messages coming through as a ripple rather than a roar. But that is what gives the writing power and makes for a compelling read. It’s easy to read, with characters it’s easy to sympathise with and root for.
Recommended for women’s fiction fans looking for something a little out of the ordinary that reminds us of the importance of connection to family and to God.
Thanks to Revell and NetGalley for providing a fee ebook for review.
About Sara Brunsvold
Sara Brunsvold creates stories that speak hope, truth, and life. Influenced by humble women of God who find His fingerprints in the everyday, she does the same in her life and her storytelling. Sara’s recognitions include the 2020 ACFW Genesis Award for Contemporary Fiction. She lives with her family in Kansas City, where she can often be spotted writing at a park or library.
Find Sara Brunsvold online at
About The Divine Proverb of Streusel
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.
You can find The Divine Proverb of Streusel online at:
Amazon | BookBub | Goodreads | Koorong
Rev. 
Rachel Magee writes rom-coms and women’s fiction with relatable characters, witty dialogue, and plenty of happily-ever-afters. Her stories are usually set in fun, sunny locations where she doesn’t mind spending lots of time ‘researching’. When she’s not out scouting the setting of her next book, you can find her at home in The Woodlands, Texas with her amazing husband and their two adventurous kids.
Denise Hunter is the internationally published bestselling author of more than 30 books, including “The Convenient Groom” and “A December Bride” which have been made into Hallmark movies. She has appeared on the The 700 club and won awards such as The Holt Medallion Award, The Carol Award, The Reader’s Choice Award, The Foreword Book of the Year Award, and is a RITA finalist.
Becca Kinzer lives in Springfield, Illinois where she works as a critical care nurse. When she’s not taking care of sick patients or reminding her husband and two kids that frozen chicken nuggets is a gourmet meal, she enjoys making up lighthearted stories with serious laughs. She is a 2018 ACFW First Impressions Contest winner, a 2019 Genesis Contest winner, 2021 Cascade Award winner, and all-around champion coffee drinker.
Tara Grace Ericson lives in Missouri with her husband and 3 sons. She studied engineering and worked as an engineer for many years before embracing her creative side to become a full-time author.
Janelle Leonard is a Jane Austen fangirl with an overactive imagination who creates web-twisty plotlines from her home in Pennsylvania. When she’s not writing, reading, editing, drinking coffee, or working at an elementary school library, she’s finding creative ways to procrastinate. She is passionate about living authentically while serving and encouraging others to see their worth, using writing as a key to unlock worlds of possibility.