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The Brides of the Big Valley
3 Short Stories of Love in a Unique Amish Community--Now a #1 Publishers Weekly Bestseller!
In an area of Pennsylvania called The Big Valley, a uniquely blended Amish community thrives in which 3 distinct groups of Amish identify themselves by the colors of their buggy’s top—white, black, or yellow. Join New York Times Bestselling Author Wanda E. Brunstetter, her daughter-in-law, and granddaughter in experiencing the stories of three young women who search for faith and love within this special place. Deanna is a widow who sees her second chance of love slipping away. Rose Mary is at a point in life where she must choose the path of her faith and the right man to walk with her on it. Leila is burdened with family responsibilities and wonders when she will ever start a family of her own.
In an area of Pennsylvania called The Big Valley, a uniquely blended Amish community thrives in which 3 distinct groups of Amish identify themselves by the colors of their buggy’s top—white, black, or yellow. Join New York Times Bestselling Author Wanda E. Brunstetter, her daughter-in-law, and granddaughter in experiencing the stories of three young women who search for faith and love within this special place. Deanna is a widow who sees her second chance of love slipping away. Rose Mary is at a point in life where she must choose the path of her faith and the right man to walk with her on it. Leila is burdened with family responsibilities and wonders when she will ever start a family of her own.
448 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2019
166 people are currently reading
3545 people want to read
About the author
Wanda E. Brunstetter
215 books2,325 followersNew 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.
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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 215 reviews
June 6, 2019
Three novellas by three generations of the Brunstetter ladies.
All three different and unique in there own way. Amish fiction fans are in for a real treat with this book.
My Favorite was Deanna's Determination, about a widow raising her little boy who has Down’s Syndrome you are going to be touched by this one for sure. It's not a same ole same ole Amish story.
I gave this book 4 stars and recommend it for Amish fiction fans.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.
All three different and unique in there own way. Amish fiction fans are in for a real treat with this book.
My Favorite was Deanna's Determination, about a widow raising her little boy who has Down’s Syndrome you are going to be touched by this one for sure. It's not a same ole same ole Amish story.
I gave this book 4 stars and recommend it for Amish fiction fans.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.
June 8, 2019
This was a really nice read.
Written by mother, daughter in law and grandchild. They really.made the stories work, and compliment eachother perfectly.
Each short story was well written and all three felt complete and not cut short or rushed.
Set in three neighbouring Amish communities, It was interesting to read about the different standards and lifestyles each had.
I was also very happy to read that the first story included a child with downs syndrome, special needs adult and children are not portrayed often enough in fiction.
Overall Very enjoyable.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Written by mother, daughter in law and grandchild. They really.made the stories work, and compliment eachother perfectly.
Each short story was well written and all three felt complete and not cut short or rushed.
Set in three neighbouring Amish communities, It was interesting to read about the different standards and lifestyles each had.
I was also very happy to read that the first story included a child with downs syndrome, special needs adult and children are not portrayed often enough in fiction.
Overall Very enjoyable.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 12, 2019
I've enjoyed every book I've read by Wanda Brunstetter and now her daughter in law and grand daughter are writing with her as well. These are such charming Amish stories.
The Amish romance stories are set in in an area called The Big Valley in Pennsylvania.
I found it interesting that three different communities lived here and they are distinguished by the colors of their buggy tops.
These wholesome romances were enjoyable and I'll be looking forward to more by these authors.
Published June 1st 2019 by Shiloh Run Press.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.
The Amish romance stories are set in in an area called The Big Valley in Pennsylvania.
I found it interesting that three different communities lived here and they are distinguished by the colors of their buggy tops.
These wholesome romances were enjoyable and I'll be looking forward to more by these authors.
Published June 1st 2019 by Shiloh Run Press.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.
June 18, 2019
Barbour captivates with this trio of novellas set in a Pennsylvania Amish community — each focuses on love and faith, each deeply touches the heart. 5/5
Pub Date 01 Jun 2019.
Thanks to the authors, Barbour Publishing, Inc. and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinion are mine.
#TheBridesOfTheBigValley #NetGalley
Pub Date 01 Jun 2019.
Thanks to the authors, Barbour Publishing, Inc. and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinion are mine.
#TheBridesOfTheBigValley #NetGalley
May 24, 2019
Wanda E. Brunstetter is a bestselling author of many Amish fiction novels and a founder of the genre. She has teamed up with her daughter-in-law and granddaughter in The Brides of Big Valley. The ladies each gave us an Amish romance story featuring the three groups of Amish living in the Mifflin County, Pennsylvania area fondly known as Big Valley. The three groups have adopted unique practices that differentiate themselves from the other groups. Interestingly enough, one of the practices is that the groups have distinct colored tops on their horse-drawn buggies. The groups are generally referred to by their particular buggy color: “yellow-toppers”, “white-toppers” and the black-toppers”.
Deanna’s Determination by Wanda E. Brunstetter
Deanna Speicher is a widow with a 5 year-old son, Abner, who has Down’s Syndrome. Elmer Yoder has feelings for Deanna, his deceased best friend’s wife, and she and her son are seemingly developing feelings for him. Tragedy strikes and everyone is uncertain about the future.
Wanda Brunstetter brought this story to life. The details in this story were realistic because Ms. Brunstetter has drawn from her personal history, research and interactions with her Amish friends.
Rose Mary’s Resolve by Jean Brunstetter
Rose Mary Renno is nineteen years old and is nearing time to take her vows and join the Amish church. She knows that she wants to join the church but is conflicted because of her choice of boyfriend.
I enjoyed this story, though the writing was somewhat stilted and awkward in places.
Leila’s Longing by Richelle Brunstetter
Leila Fisher enjoys card-making, but not working in her family’s card shop. She finds communicating with strangers difficult, but must get over her insecurities and help her family. Leila wonders how she will ever have a family of her own since she believes no man could ever find her interesting enough to ask her on a date.
Richelle Brunstetter completes this book perfectly. I fully enjoyed her storytelling.
The Brunstetter women have penned an excellent collaboration. I enjoyed each of the stories and give this collection 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it to fans of Christian romance, especially Amish romance.
My thanks to Barbour Publishing, Inc. and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.
Deanna’s Determination by Wanda E. Brunstetter
Deanna Speicher is a widow with a 5 year-old son, Abner, who has Down’s Syndrome. Elmer Yoder has feelings for Deanna, his deceased best friend’s wife, and she and her son are seemingly developing feelings for him. Tragedy strikes and everyone is uncertain about the future.
Wanda Brunstetter brought this story to life. The details in this story were realistic because Ms. Brunstetter has drawn from her personal history, research and interactions with her Amish friends.
Rose Mary’s Resolve by Jean Brunstetter
Rose Mary Renno is nineteen years old and is nearing time to take her vows and join the Amish church. She knows that she wants to join the church but is conflicted because of her choice of boyfriend.
I enjoyed this story, though the writing was somewhat stilted and awkward in places.
Leila’s Longing by Richelle Brunstetter
Leila Fisher enjoys card-making, but not working in her family’s card shop. She finds communicating with strangers difficult, but must get over her insecurities and help her family. Leila wonders how she will ever have a family of her own since she believes no man could ever find her interesting enough to ask her on a date.
Richelle Brunstetter completes this book perfectly. I fully enjoyed her storytelling.
The Brunstetter women have penned an excellent collaboration. I enjoyed each of the stories and give this collection 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it to fans of Christian romance, especially Amish romance.
My thanks to Barbour Publishing, Inc. and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.
June 7, 2019
The familiar setting makes this a worthwhile read.
Read
May 1, 2019I won an arc copy of The Brides of The Big Valley from the publisher, Barbour Publishing, and the author, Wanda Brunstetter! A huge thank you to them!
Love always finds a way.
In Pennsylvania, there's an area called The Big Valley. There is a size three distinct groups of Amish. They distinguish themselves by the color of their buggy tops yellow, white, or black. These are the stories of three women who live there. Deanna, a widow who sees the second chance at love, Rose Mary who must use the right man to walk her face with, and Lelia, who wonders if she will ever trust someone enough to start a family with them.
As I stated in other reviews, Amish fiction is something my mother and I share a deep love for. Wanda Brunstetter, and her family did not disappoint in The Brides of The Big Valley. These were tales of three women set in their faith, and were predictable yet sweetly unique.
Deanna's Determination - Elmer has always loved the recently widowed Deanna and her young son Abner. After some time of his friend's death has passed , he reaches out to Deanna. When things finally seem to be going all right a tragedy strikes these two young lovers.
This was so heartwarming. There is representation for down syndrome. I learned so much about down syndrome from the actions of young Abner. He was sure are a sweetheart. His mother Deanna such a caring mother and definitely someone to admire. Elmer was also wonderfully warm. It came as no surprise to me that Wanda Brunstetter created well-formed and well-defined characters in a established world. Her characters fall in love in one of the most beautifully distinct world's I have read about. Elmer's struggle with depression was very relatable. I emphasized with him so much. The ending of Deanna's Determination set up the other two stories nicely.
Rose Mary's Resolve - Rose Mary's loves her family, but her life is not all perfect. Her current boyfriend pressures her to go English, but she doesn't want to. Everything changes when a plane crashes into her family's field.
Jean Brunstetter definitely has a lot of talent. She brings on more modern feel to the Amish genre. I liked how strongly grounded in her faith Rose Mary was. She also gaines confidence as the story builds and manages to stick up for herself. I am a sucker for a character who gains confidence. Kevin and Rose Mary were adorable together, but I had a reservation when it came to Kevin. Rose Mary did a wonderful job of asserting herself, but Kevin place some pressures on her like her old boyfriend did in my opinion, at least at first. That lost him a few points. However I did love this ending. It was something I have seen before but the way it came about was new to me.
Lelia's Longing - Lelia runs card shop. Due to events that happened at school, she isolates and doesn't trust easily. With the love of her family and a boy named Aden, she slowly comes out of her shell. This was very sweet. Perhaps my favorite of the three books, I felt Leila's struggles on a personal level. She goes through something that is very like a situation I have been through. The relationships she learns to have are so pure and beautiful. The ending made me tear up but I love the way it ended up tying to the other stories.
Although slightly formulaic, the writing and pacing are absolutely perfect. It's engaging and comfortably keeps on.
These books are so sweet. It is abundantly clear that the talent of writing runs through this family. These ladies took the Amish fiction genre and crafted three beautiful and unique stories in a world that is over abundantly predictable at times. It is also nice to see characters from the previous stories play roles in all three of the stories. We get to see how well they're doing either well the other tales are taking place or set shortly after.
Not only did I learn more about Down Syndrome, I also learned completely new to me facts about the Amish. That's something I greatly value. What I value even more perhaps is the fact that through these three stories I felt my faith in love and God become reaffirmed.
If you're looking for heartwarming tales, or are an avid fan of Wanda Brunstetter, The Brides of The Big Valley is not a collection of stories can be missed.
Love always finds a way.
In Pennsylvania, there's an area called The Big Valley. There is a size three distinct groups of Amish. They distinguish themselves by the color of their buggy tops yellow, white, or black. These are the stories of three women who live there. Deanna, a widow who sees the second chance at love, Rose Mary who must use the right man to walk her face with, and Lelia, who wonders if she will ever trust someone enough to start a family with them.
As I stated in other reviews, Amish fiction is something my mother and I share a deep love for. Wanda Brunstetter, and her family did not disappoint in The Brides of The Big Valley. These were tales of three women set in their faith, and were predictable yet sweetly unique.
Deanna's Determination - Elmer has always loved the recently widowed Deanna and her young son Abner. After some time of his friend's death has passed , he reaches out to Deanna. When things finally seem to be going all right a tragedy strikes these two young lovers.
This was so heartwarming. There is representation for down syndrome. I learned so much about down syndrome from the actions of young Abner. He was sure are a sweetheart. His mother Deanna such a caring mother and definitely someone to admire. Elmer was also wonderfully warm. It came as no surprise to me that Wanda Brunstetter created well-formed and well-defined characters in a established world. Her characters fall in love in one of the most beautifully distinct world's I have read about. Elmer's struggle with depression was very relatable. I emphasized with him so much. The ending of Deanna's Determination set up the other two stories nicely.
Rose Mary's Resolve - Rose Mary's loves her family, but her life is not all perfect. Her current boyfriend pressures her to go English, but she doesn't want to. Everything changes when a plane crashes into her family's field.
Jean Brunstetter definitely has a lot of talent. She brings on more modern feel to the Amish genre. I liked how strongly grounded in her faith Rose Mary was. She also gaines confidence as the story builds and manages to stick up for herself. I am a sucker for a character who gains confidence. Kevin and Rose Mary were adorable together, but I had a reservation when it came to Kevin. Rose Mary did a wonderful job of asserting herself, but Kevin place some pressures on her like her old boyfriend did in my opinion, at least at first. That lost him a few points. However I did love this ending. It was something I have seen before but the way it came about was new to me.
Lelia's Longing - Lelia runs card shop. Due to events that happened at school, she isolates and doesn't trust easily. With the love of her family and a boy named Aden, she slowly comes out of her shell. This was very sweet. Perhaps my favorite of the three books, I felt Leila's struggles on a personal level. She goes through something that is very like a situation I have been through. The relationships she learns to have are so pure and beautiful. The ending made me tear up but I love the way it ended up tying to the other stories.
Although slightly formulaic, the writing and pacing are absolutely perfect. It's engaging and comfortably keeps on.
These books are so sweet. It is abundantly clear that the talent of writing runs through this family. These ladies took the Amish fiction genre and crafted three beautiful and unique stories in a world that is over abundantly predictable at times. It is also nice to see characters from the previous stories play roles in all three of the stories. We get to see how well they're doing either well the other tales are taking place or set shortly after.
Not only did I learn more about Down Syndrome, I also learned completely new to me facts about the Amish. That's something I greatly value. What I value even more perhaps is the fact that through these three stories I felt my faith in love and God become reaffirmed.
If you're looking for heartwarming tales, or are an avid fan of Wanda Brunstetter, The Brides of The Big Valley is not a collection of stories can be missed.
May 31, 2019
Once again Ms Brunstetter has created a lovely book containing three different stories. She did this around Christmas and it is a great way to enjoy her stories and the ones written by other members of her family
Deanna's Determination by Wanda E. Brunstetter
Deanna is a young widower with a son Abner, who is six years old and has Down syndrome. Her husband, Simon died in a freak accident and she is living with her father, as it is too much to live on her own. Elmer has loved Deanna for years but when his best friend started to court her he had to move on. Unfortunately, he never stopped loving Deanna but knew when she married he had to forget about her.
When Simon died, Elmer was there for her and her son and helped them thru some very difficult months. Now, Elmer is hoping that he can display his love for Deanna and possibly get married. Abner loves him and thinks of him like a dad. When Deanna accepts to marry him Elmer feels his life is complete. Sadly, we never realize how a person’s life can change in a split second.
After a very serious accident, Elmer has decided he cannot burden Deanna with his disability and care for her son also. He feels it is just too much for her. His heart is broken once again and feels like his life is over.
After Elmer starts to stop feeling sorry for him and realizes he can do many things without help he once again thinks, maybe he can marry the women of his dreams.
Ms. Brunstetter never disappoints her fans, as they will see in this three-story collection.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to review it.
Rose Mary’s Resolve by Jean Brunstetter
Rose Mary Renno was excited about learning how to work at her father's furniture store. Her sister Linda, who is getting married soon is going to teach her how to take over the front desk. Linda and her husband will be moving away and so she needed to learn how to help out and earn money.
Rose Mary had been trying to convince Tom who she has been going out with that she had no intention of going English, as Tom wanted. When she was out with her friend Marlene, for lunch Tom came in and stopped by the table. When he asked her out she said yes and Marlene said why did you do that? I have been trying but he does not want to accept my terms. He was going to be helping his Uncle soon and would be moving away for a while so hopefully, he would take the hint.
While Tom was away visiting his Uncle, Rose Mary had hoped he would finally realize they were done seeing each other. It had been more than a week since they broke up and Rose was outside helping her brother with his chores when they heard a noise. They looked up and just about moved out of the way before a plane was landing on their property.
They both watched as the plane came down and bounced along the terrain. After going over to the plane with her brother Harvey they realized the pilot was not coming out and wondered if he was hurt. When they rushed over they realized the young man was bending over and was bleeding from a cut on his head. Together and with the help of the other family members, they managed to get him out and helped him inside to sit on the couch. He said he was ok but he rested and they gave him an ice pack for his head.
After several days of staying with them, he realized he needed to get his plane repaired so he could fly home. During the time he stayed with them which was almost two weeks Kevin and Rose Mary seemed to become good friends, they talked and he questioned her about her religion and the different things that they did like praying before each meal and the way they dressed.
When the day finally arrived that he was about to leave they each realized they would miss each other. Kevin said he would come and visit and the family seemed to be ok as he was just a friend but her mother and her aunt worried they were getting serious. She assured them she was not going English and they were just friends.
During one of the visits, things seemed to take a change. Rose Mary had bought him a bible and wrote a note for him inside. Kevin realized things were not right and he decided he would surprise her but when he saw Tom there he just left. As always things do not always seem to be what they look like.
Rose Mary missed him but after calling and leaving a message she did not get a return phone call. Kevin had definitely changed as his mother noticed and even asked her to join him at church services. When he stumbles upon the note that was included in with the bible he realizes that things have to change and his life is going to make some huge changes. Can he become Amish as he knows she will not become English. Very enjoyable
Leila’s Longing by Richelle Brunstetter
Leila Fisher is a young woman from the yellow top buggy community. She has a lot of responsibility for a young woman. She is helping her mother, who is with
a child, running the house, cooking meals, and helping to take care of her younger brother. As if that was not enough she had to run the store they had as her mother was told to have bed rest. She liked the work when she did it with her mother as she was creative and with stamp and ribbons she created beautiful cards, which she sold. People would come in and purchase supplies and cards but she was not a people person and it added to her anxiety.
Leila had problems making friends in school, as she did not know how to control her behavior and became overbearing at times. Needless to say, she was made fun of and had no real friends. Hannah started out being her friend but then things changed and she said: "I don't want to be friends anymore." It seems like the two times one when she told a boy she liked him and when she thought Hannah and her were friends they both turned against her. She was left doubting herself and never really felt comfortable around others.
Needless to say, her only real friend was her mother Darla who was concerned about her always being busy with chores and not hanging around young people of having fun. If Leila had some free time she could go outside and sketch things like flowers, insects and her surroundings.
At her mothers urging she finally got up the nerve to attend a Sunday gathering that included singing which she did enjoy. While attending the singing event she met Sue who was a little younger then she was and seemed awkward at first but then they talked and she relaxed. Later she introduced her to her brother Aden. She as well as Aden did not feel comfortable in the environment but they seemed like two people who were meant to be each other's, sole mates. After talking a while Samuel who worked with Aden came over and said something to embarrass her. Nobody else knew that he was a boy from the past whom she liked and again made fun of her.
Aden is from the black top community and usually, the Amish like to stay amongst themselves. Since Leila is from the yellow community. They slowly evolve into being friends and find they both are shy but can talk to each other.
Her mother seems happy that Leila has finally found someone who seemed interested in her but she assured Darla that they were just friends and nothing more. When a deadly event occurs Lilia explains that she cannot see Aden any longer has now she has more responsibility than before.
Can love conquer all? This story is interesting as it shows the struggles both are going thru plus the pressure of wondering if one of them could join the others community.
Deanna's Determination by Wanda E. Brunstetter
Deanna is a young widower with a son Abner, who is six years old and has Down syndrome. Her husband, Simon died in a freak accident and she is living with her father, as it is too much to live on her own. Elmer has loved Deanna for years but when his best friend started to court her he had to move on. Unfortunately, he never stopped loving Deanna but knew when she married he had to forget about her.
When Simon died, Elmer was there for her and her son and helped them thru some very difficult months. Now, Elmer is hoping that he can display his love for Deanna and possibly get married. Abner loves him and thinks of him like a dad. When Deanna accepts to marry him Elmer feels his life is complete. Sadly, we never realize how a person’s life can change in a split second.
After a very serious accident, Elmer has decided he cannot burden Deanna with his disability and care for her son also. He feels it is just too much for her. His heart is broken once again and feels like his life is over.
After Elmer starts to stop feeling sorry for him and realizes he can do many things without help he once again thinks, maybe he can marry the women of his dreams.
Ms. Brunstetter never disappoints her fans, as they will see in this three-story collection.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to review it.
Rose Mary’s Resolve by Jean Brunstetter
Rose Mary Renno was excited about learning how to work at her father's furniture store. Her sister Linda, who is getting married soon is going to teach her how to take over the front desk. Linda and her husband will be moving away and so she needed to learn how to help out and earn money.
Rose Mary had been trying to convince Tom who she has been going out with that she had no intention of going English, as Tom wanted. When she was out with her friend Marlene, for lunch Tom came in and stopped by the table. When he asked her out she said yes and Marlene said why did you do that? I have been trying but he does not want to accept my terms. He was going to be helping his Uncle soon and would be moving away for a while so hopefully, he would take the hint.
While Tom was away visiting his Uncle, Rose Mary had hoped he would finally realize they were done seeing each other. It had been more than a week since they broke up and Rose was outside helping her brother with his chores when they heard a noise. They looked up and just about moved out of the way before a plane was landing on their property.
They both watched as the plane came down and bounced along the terrain. After going over to the plane with her brother Harvey they realized the pilot was not coming out and wondered if he was hurt. When they rushed over they realized the young man was bending over and was bleeding from a cut on his head. Together and with the help of the other family members, they managed to get him out and helped him inside to sit on the couch. He said he was ok but he rested and they gave him an ice pack for his head.
After several days of staying with them, he realized he needed to get his plane repaired so he could fly home. During the time he stayed with them which was almost two weeks Kevin and Rose Mary seemed to become good friends, they talked and he questioned her about her religion and the different things that they did like praying before each meal and the way they dressed.
When the day finally arrived that he was about to leave they each realized they would miss each other. Kevin said he would come and visit and the family seemed to be ok as he was just a friend but her mother and her aunt worried they were getting serious. She assured them she was not going English and they were just friends.
During one of the visits, things seemed to take a change. Rose Mary had bought him a bible and wrote a note for him inside. Kevin realized things were not right and he decided he would surprise her but when he saw Tom there he just left. As always things do not always seem to be what they look like.
Rose Mary missed him but after calling and leaving a message she did not get a return phone call. Kevin had definitely changed as his mother noticed and even asked her to join him at church services. When he stumbles upon the note that was included in with the bible he realizes that things have to change and his life is going to make some huge changes. Can he become Amish as he knows she will not become English. Very enjoyable
Leila’s Longing by Richelle Brunstetter
Leila Fisher is a young woman from the yellow top buggy community. She has a lot of responsibility for a young woman. She is helping her mother, who is with
a child, running the house, cooking meals, and helping to take care of her younger brother. As if that was not enough she had to run the store they had as her mother was told to have bed rest. She liked the work when she did it with her mother as she was creative and with stamp and ribbons she created beautiful cards, which she sold. People would come in and purchase supplies and cards but she was not a people person and it added to her anxiety.
Leila had problems making friends in school, as she did not know how to control her behavior and became overbearing at times. Needless to say, she was made fun of and had no real friends. Hannah started out being her friend but then things changed and she said: "I don't want to be friends anymore." It seems like the two times one when she told a boy she liked him and when she thought Hannah and her were friends they both turned against her. She was left doubting herself and never really felt comfortable around others.
Needless to say, her only real friend was her mother Darla who was concerned about her always being busy with chores and not hanging around young people of having fun. If Leila had some free time she could go outside and sketch things like flowers, insects and her surroundings.
At her mothers urging she finally got up the nerve to attend a Sunday gathering that included singing which she did enjoy. While attending the singing event she met Sue who was a little younger then she was and seemed awkward at first but then they talked and she relaxed. Later she introduced her to her brother Aden. She as well as Aden did not feel comfortable in the environment but they seemed like two people who were meant to be each other's, sole mates. After talking a while Samuel who worked with Aden came over and said something to embarrass her. Nobody else knew that he was a boy from the past whom she liked and again made fun of her.
Aden is from the black top community and usually, the Amish like to stay amongst themselves. Since Leila is from the yellow community. They slowly evolve into being friends and find they both are shy but can talk to each other.
Her mother seems happy that Leila has finally found someone who seemed interested in her but she assured Darla that they were just friends and nothing more. When a deadly event occurs Lilia explains that she cannot see Aden any longer has now she has more responsibility than before.
Can love conquer all? This story is interesting as it shows the struggles both are going thru plus the pressure of wondering if one of them could join the others community.
August 31, 2024
A quick and cute read.
Format: hardcopy
Format: hardcopy
June 7, 2019
Three generations of Brunstetter women pen the three Amish romance tales found in “The Brides of the Big Valley”, which is fitting because the stories themselves have intertwining characters. Furthermore, three Amish communities from the Big Valley region in Pennsylvania are represented: the very conservative and plain white-toppers, the conservative black-toppers, and the more progressive yellow-toppers. This was the first that I had heard about these groups and found it very interesting that despite their differences, they lived in the same general area and intermingled, at least to some extent. Being contemporary, these stories reflect issues that affect not only the Amish, but the English world as well, which makes them easy to relate to and provides insight into the Amish way of life.
In “Deanna’s Determination”, the Amish characters are white-toppers, strictly adhering to a plain and simple lifestyle without indoor plumbing. As a widow with a young son, Abner, Deanna struggles to make ends meet. A friend shows interest in her, but when a tragedy occurs, Deanna’s world is upended all over again. So many can relate to circumstances such as these. What I appreciated most about this story was its inclusion of two central characters with significant disabilities, one of whom I will not mention in order to avoid spoilers. Abner has Down Syndrome, and I enjoyed his cheerful and loving yet sometimes challenging personality. Deanna, in my opinion, was not very determined, at least not during the majority of the narrative, but it was interesting to see how the Amish cope with disabilities.
As the title hints, “Rose Mary’s Resolve” deals with the pull and temptation that the English world can have on Amish teenagers. A black-topper, Rose Mary has grown up in a conservative Amish community. However, she finds it difficult to take a stand, whether that is with dating another Amish boy who is considering becoming English or with a young English man who suddenly appears in her life. Notable in this story is the point of view of an English outsider and the serious decisions faced by Amish young people. This tale reminds me somewhat of Rachel Good’s novel “The Amish Midwife’s Secret”.
“Leila’s Longing” had the biggest impact on me. I could empathize with Leila in not fitting in with others of her age group and with being socially awkward. As a yellow-topper, she belongs to an Amish community that is a bit more progressive. Having experienced bullying as a child, she does not trust people and has not forgiven those who hurt her in the past. When she does begin to connect with a few other young people, they are from the black-top community, which causes some tension that threatens their relationship. Beyond the germane issues of victimization and regrets, this story also deals with heartbreak and family ties.
Following each story is a recipe pulled from the narrative itself, and the alliterative titles further contribute to the charm. One aspect that I would have liked to see is more use of the Pennsylvania Dutch language. Many times, the characters call their parents “Mom” and “Dad”, with an occasional reference to them as “Mamm” and “Daed”. Consistency would add to the atmosphere and further immerse the reader in the stories. Overall, however, these tales are sweet and will appeal to modern readers, especially those who may be curious about different Amish communities and their lifestyles.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and Goodreads and was under no obligation to post a review.
In “Deanna’s Determination”, the Amish characters are white-toppers, strictly adhering to a plain and simple lifestyle without indoor plumbing. As a widow with a young son, Abner, Deanna struggles to make ends meet. A friend shows interest in her, but when a tragedy occurs, Deanna’s world is upended all over again. So many can relate to circumstances such as these. What I appreciated most about this story was its inclusion of two central characters with significant disabilities, one of whom I will not mention in order to avoid spoilers. Abner has Down Syndrome, and I enjoyed his cheerful and loving yet sometimes challenging personality. Deanna, in my opinion, was not very determined, at least not during the majority of the narrative, but it was interesting to see how the Amish cope with disabilities.
As the title hints, “Rose Mary’s Resolve” deals with the pull and temptation that the English world can have on Amish teenagers. A black-topper, Rose Mary has grown up in a conservative Amish community. However, she finds it difficult to take a stand, whether that is with dating another Amish boy who is considering becoming English or with a young English man who suddenly appears in her life. Notable in this story is the point of view of an English outsider and the serious decisions faced by Amish young people. This tale reminds me somewhat of Rachel Good’s novel “The Amish Midwife’s Secret”.
“Leila’s Longing” had the biggest impact on me. I could empathize with Leila in not fitting in with others of her age group and with being socially awkward. As a yellow-topper, she belongs to an Amish community that is a bit more progressive. Having experienced bullying as a child, she does not trust people and has not forgiven those who hurt her in the past. When she does begin to connect with a few other young people, they are from the black-top community, which causes some tension that threatens their relationship. Beyond the germane issues of victimization and regrets, this story also deals with heartbreak and family ties.
Following each story is a recipe pulled from the narrative itself, and the alliterative titles further contribute to the charm. One aspect that I would have liked to see is more use of the Pennsylvania Dutch language. Many times, the characters call their parents “Mom” and “Dad”, with an occasional reference to them as “Mamm” and “Daed”. Consistency would add to the atmosphere and further immerse the reader in the stories. Overall, however, these tales are sweet and will appeal to modern readers, especially those who may be curious about different Amish communities and their lifestyles.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and Goodreads and was under no obligation to post a review.
May 27, 2019
The Brides of the Big Valley by Wanda E. Brunstetter, Richelle Brunstetter and Jean Brunstetter contains three Amish romance stories set in an area called The Big Valley in Pennsylvania. Three different Amish communities live here, and they are distinguished by the color of their buggy tops: yellow, white and black. Deanna’s Determination by Wanda E. Brunstetter has widow Deanna Speicher getting engaged to Elmer Yoder. Her son, Abner has Down’s syndrome and he adores Elmer. But then a tragic accident threatens to take away their future. Rose Mary’s Resolve by Jean Brunstetter features Rose Mary Renno who has just begun working at her father’s furniture shop, Renno’s Furniture Shop. Rose Mary has been dating Tom Yoder who is encouraging her to jump the fence, which is not in Rose Mary’s future, so she breaks up with him. But then someone unexpected enters her life and Rose Mary is torn. What path will Rose Mary take? Leila’s Longing by Richelle Brunstetter has the artistic, Leila Fisher managing the card shop and the house as her mother’s pregnancy advances in the yellow top community. Leila is an introvert who has difficulty communicating with people and making friends. She meets Aden Troyer at a singing in the black top community and they begin courting. Then a tragedy occurs that could derail their plans for their future.
The Brides of the Big Valley contains three charming Amish stories. I thought the stories were well-written with steady pacing. I like that there is a common thread throughout the three books. All three feature the same community and the Renno family. We also get updates on Elmer and Deanna in Rose Mary’s Resolve and Leila’s Longing. Wanda has an engaging writing style. I immediately became absorbed in Deanna’s Determination. Jean and Richelle are accomplished writers who provided enriching novellas. I thought the various characters in The Brides of the Big Valley were realistic and it was interesting to learn about the three diverse Amish communities. They are all Amish and in the same valley, but they have various differences (not just the color of their buggy tops). My favorite was Deanna’s Determination. It is a story that touched my heart and I found myself rooting for Deanna and Elmer. I really liked the cardmaking in Leila’s Determination and the fact they had a shop selling the handmade cards plus cardmaking supplies. The phrase I wanted to share with you comes from Leila’s Longing and is “His presence provides us with contentment” (that makes me feel loved and peaceful). All three authors provided inspiring and enticing tales. There is a recipe included from each story. The Brides of the Big Valley are heartwarming stories about love, family, and faith.
The Brides of the Big Valley contains three charming Amish stories. I thought the stories were well-written with steady pacing. I like that there is a common thread throughout the three books. All three feature the same community and the Renno family. We also get updates on Elmer and Deanna in Rose Mary’s Resolve and Leila’s Longing. Wanda has an engaging writing style. I immediately became absorbed in Deanna’s Determination. Jean and Richelle are accomplished writers who provided enriching novellas. I thought the various characters in The Brides of the Big Valley were realistic and it was interesting to learn about the three diverse Amish communities. They are all Amish and in the same valley, but they have various differences (not just the color of their buggy tops). My favorite was Deanna’s Determination. It is a story that touched my heart and I found myself rooting for Deanna and Elmer. I really liked the cardmaking in Leila’s Determination and the fact they had a shop selling the handmade cards plus cardmaking supplies. The phrase I wanted to share with you comes from Leila’s Longing and is “His presence provides us with contentment” (that makes me feel loved and peaceful). All three authors provided inspiring and enticing tales. There is a recipe included from each story. The Brides of the Big Valley are heartwarming stories about love, family, and faith.
January 18, 2020
3.5 Stars! =D
I won a copy from a giveaway on Goodreads. The author(s) or the people running the giveaway did not pay me for a review and all the thoughts here are my own honest opinion.
The summary of all these books, is that I was bored. BORED!!! I have read books by Wanda before I really enjoy them. (Just a side note, but not all these books were written by Wanda, there were two other authors. BUT I WAS STILL BORED!!!) But these books were not my favorite. I felt the writing was too telling did not show the reader what was really happening. I felt that there was not enough drama happening to make a good story, even a romantic one at that. There were a few things that I did enjoy, but basically these weren't my favorite Amish books.
Now I do know that the reason why some of these ended the way they did is because they needed to be short to fit in one volume. But I still think they could've been better.
"Deanna's Determination"
By: Wanda E. Brunstetter
3 Stars
To be honest, I don't like this one. I'm being generous by giving it three stars, mainly because I saw potential.
So basically this book is about a woman who lost her husband so she decides to marry her husband's best friend. Oh, and there is little to no drama about her deciding to marry him. I mean, like Elmer wanted to marry her even before his best friend had married her, but if you don't want to add drama here, fine. There is no journey for them to fall in love. Nope. They already love each other.
The book does add in some drama later, but it was already too late. The book lost me in boredom. And because there is no character development, I felt it was just this one character being ungrateful and complaining about everything. Sure, he might have had some reason, but with no character development and all that telling, I just wanted to smack the character multiple times alongside the head.
I hated all the characters, okay? Usually I don't. But... They were all horrible in this story, okay? I mean, I did like the dog, but that was about it.
I did like how some of the disabilities in the story was described, but that is about it.
I think that this book would've worked great as a murder mystery. That maybe Elmer was responsible for killing Deanna's previous husband to get her hand in marriage. Only for Deanna's father to find out. So Deanna's father confronts Elmer about it. They both get mad and Elmer gets hurt from a horse and goes to the hospital. I know that would have changed the whole book, but I think I would've liked it a little better. Sorry.
"Rose Mary's Resolve"
By: Jean Brunstetter
3.5 Stars
I liked this one a little more than the first. But I was still bored and there was still some telling that was going on. And I didn't like any of the supporting characters, but that's beside the point.
Rose Mary sometimes annoyed me with how someone would tell her to do something and she would just do it because of her weak-will. I was hoping for a little more character development and maybe have her secretly want to do some of those things.
I did like Kevin, but I felt that we needed to know some more things about him. Like why did his dad hate him so much for? I just didn't really think there was much reason behind that, sooo....
And though the outcome of the story was good, I kinda wish we would have had the opposing version.
"Leila's Longing"
By: Richelle Brunstetter
4 Stars
This is my favorite one out of the group. I like how the social anxiety was shown in Leila and how she is at her first singing when her mom asks her to go. I just liked her as a character and how fun her card making job is. ;)
Aden was great too. I like how he is with Leila and how he chooses not to let his friend's opinions about her ruin his opinion about her.
The book could've still had some work done on it for it to really shine. But still, it's the best one of the group.
Content in Book:
1. Death. (A mention of someone's husband dying. Someone dying during childbirth, nondestructive.)
2. Someone getting kicked in the head and becoming blind.
3. Mentions of disabilities. (Down syndrome. Blindness.)
I won a copy from a giveaway on Goodreads. The author(s) or the people running the giveaway did not pay me for a review and all the thoughts here are my own honest opinion.
The summary of all these books, is that I was bored. BORED!!! I have read books by Wanda before I really enjoy them. (Just a side note, but not all these books were written by Wanda, there were two other authors. BUT I WAS STILL BORED!!!) But these books were not my favorite. I felt the writing was too telling did not show the reader what was really happening. I felt that there was not enough drama happening to make a good story, even a romantic one at that. There were a few things that I did enjoy, but basically these weren't my favorite Amish books.
Now I do know that the reason why some of these ended the way they did is because they needed to be short to fit in one volume. But I still think they could've been better.
"Deanna's Determination"
By: Wanda E. Brunstetter
3 Stars
To be honest, I don't like this one. I'm being generous by giving it three stars, mainly because I saw potential.
So basically this book is about a woman who lost her husband so she decides to marry her husband's best friend. Oh, and there is little to no drama about her deciding to marry him. I mean, like Elmer wanted to marry her even before his best friend had married her, but if you don't want to add drama here, fine. There is no journey for them to fall in love. Nope. They already love each other.
The book does add in some drama later, but it was already too late. The book lost me in boredom. And because there is no character development, I felt it was just this one character being ungrateful and complaining about everything. Sure, he might have had some reason, but with no character development and all that telling, I just wanted to smack the character multiple times alongside the head.
I hated all the characters, okay? Usually I don't. But... They were all horrible in this story, okay? I mean, I did like the dog, but that was about it.
I did like how some of the disabilities in the story was described, but that is about it.
I think that this book would've worked great as a murder mystery. That maybe Elmer was responsible for killing Deanna's previous husband to get her hand in marriage. Only for Deanna's father to find out. So Deanna's father confronts Elmer about it. They both get mad and Elmer gets hurt from a horse and goes to the hospital. I know that would have changed the whole book, but I think I would've liked it a little better. Sorry.
"Rose Mary's Resolve"
By: Jean Brunstetter
3.5 Stars
I liked this one a little more than the first. But I was still bored and there was still some telling that was going on. And I didn't like any of the supporting characters, but that's beside the point.
Rose Mary sometimes annoyed me with how someone would tell her to do something and she would just do it because of her weak-will. I was hoping for a little more character development and maybe have her secretly want to do some of those things.
I did like Kevin, but I felt that we needed to know some more things about him. Like why did his dad hate him so much for? I just didn't really think there was much reason behind that, sooo....
And though the outcome of the story was good, I kinda wish we would have had the opposing version.
"Leila's Longing"
By: Richelle Brunstetter
4 Stars
This is my favorite one out of the group. I like how the social anxiety was shown in Leila and how she is at her first singing when her mom asks her to go. I just liked her as a character and how fun her card making job is. ;)
Aden was great too. I like how he is with Leila and how he chooses not to let his friend's opinions about her ruin his opinion about her.
The book could've still had some work done on it for it to really shine. But still, it's the best one of the group.
Content in Book:
1. Death. (A mention of someone's husband dying. Someone dying during childbirth, nondestructive.)
2. Someone getting kicked in the head and becoming blind.
3. Mentions of disabilities. (Down syndrome. Blindness.)
May 29, 2019
I've always enjoyed a book by Wanda Brunstetter and to have one co-written by her granddaughter and daughter-in-law was truly delightful! They take us to visit three different Amish communities and introduce us to three couples who fall in love. While I knew there were diversities even among the Amish, I didn't realize they can distinguish themselves by the color of their buggies. Each community has varying degrees of conduct and what is allowed or not allowed. It was very interesting to learn these differences! I'm glad there are Amish fiction authors who do thorough research to get it just right, it lends authenticity to the story.
Getting to know Deanna & her son Abner and their long-time friend Elmer in Deanna's Determination, Rose Mary, Tom and Kevin in Rose Mary's Resolve, and Leila and Aden in Leila's Longing, was a lot of fun! Watching their lives unfold in both love and life was engaging, enjoyable and sometimes heart-wrenching with things they've had to deal with. There's a lot of emotion that each of the authors put into the stories to make it come alive for me as a reader. I liked how they tied each story together with one of the characters from the previous story so you get a complete picture. Big Valley is a place I would certainly want to visit, it sounds peaceful and beautiful. While the stories were beautiful, that cover just drew me in from the get-go! Covers that make me want to open the pages to find out what's inside are the best, in my opinion. There’s also three recipes included at the end of each story to try, I’ve already printed out copies to include in my own recipe book.
Well crafted & unique stories, emotional, and characters steeped in faith is what I loved the most about this collection. Not to mention, the gentle love stories to discover. If you enjoy Amish fiction, you don't have to go looking any farther than The Brides of the Big Valley !
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. *
Getting to know Deanna & her son Abner and their long-time friend Elmer in Deanna's Determination, Rose Mary, Tom and Kevin in Rose Mary's Resolve, and Leila and Aden in Leila's Longing, was a lot of fun! Watching their lives unfold in both love and life was engaging, enjoyable and sometimes heart-wrenching with things they've had to deal with. There's a lot of emotion that each of the authors put into the stories to make it come alive for me as a reader. I liked how they tied each story together with one of the characters from the previous story so you get a complete picture. Big Valley is a place I would certainly want to visit, it sounds peaceful and beautiful. While the stories were beautiful, that cover just drew me in from the get-go! Covers that make me want to open the pages to find out what's inside are the best, in my opinion. There’s also three recipes included at the end of each story to try, I’ve already printed out copies to include in my own recipe book.
Well crafted & unique stories, emotional, and characters steeped in faith is what I loved the most about this collection. Not to mention, the gentle love stories to discover. If you enjoy Amish fiction, you don't have to go looking any farther than The Brides of the Big Valley !
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. *
June 16, 2019
I received The Brides of the Big Valley: 3 Romances from a Unique Pennsylvania Amish Community through a Goodreads Giveaway.
Anytime I see a book about the Amish lifestyle I get excited. There is something about the Amish communities that is so fascinating and mysterious, and I can never resist grabbing any book I see that features these incredible people. The moment I saw The Brides of the Big Valley in my congratulatory email from Goodreads I couldn't believe my luck. Even better, instead of waiting the standard four to six weeks awaiting the arrival of my copy it arrived within a week and a half.
The Brides of the Big Valley is an absolutely stunning book and beautifully written. I enjoyed every single minute reading this book, and I couldn't wait to find out how each individual story ended. The story of Leila's Longing was my favorite without a doubt, most likely because she is actually a relatable character to myself. I felt excited with each budding love story, and I was pleased to witness how each relationship developed.
The thing I loved the most about this book was how each story was entirely separate, yet they were brought together by Elmer. One story featured Elmer's story, Rose Mary's father owned the furniture shop where Elmer worked, and Leila witnessed Elmer selling his wares at the market. It brought the communities full circle and helped to make the book whole. I couldn't resist smiling each time I saw Elmer mentioned in the stories, it felt like he was a string that tied all the women together throughout the Big Valley. This is a fantastic book and I'll definitely be rereading it soon.
Special thanks to the authors for including a recipe for each of the stories, that was something I've never seen in a romance novel before but I have to admit I loved it. I honestly can't wait to try out the German Potato Salad, or the Chicken Casserole. Both recipes sound delicious!
Anytime I see a book about the Amish lifestyle I get excited. There is something about the Amish communities that is so fascinating and mysterious, and I can never resist grabbing any book I see that features these incredible people. The moment I saw The Brides of the Big Valley in my congratulatory email from Goodreads I couldn't believe my luck. Even better, instead of waiting the standard four to six weeks awaiting the arrival of my copy it arrived within a week and a half.
The Brides of the Big Valley is an absolutely stunning book and beautifully written. I enjoyed every single minute reading this book, and I couldn't wait to find out how each individual story ended. The story of Leila's Longing was my favorite without a doubt, most likely because she is actually a relatable character to myself. I felt excited with each budding love story, and I was pleased to witness how each relationship developed.
The thing I loved the most about this book was how each story was entirely separate, yet they were brought together by Elmer. One story featured Elmer's story, Rose Mary's father owned the furniture shop where Elmer worked, and Leila witnessed Elmer selling his wares at the market. It brought the communities full circle and helped to make the book whole. I couldn't resist smiling each time I saw Elmer mentioned in the stories, it felt like he was a string that tied all the women together throughout the Big Valley. This is a fantastic book and I'll definitely be rereading it soon.
Special thanks to the authors for including a recipe for each of the stories, that was something I've never seen in a romance novel before but I have to admit I loved it. I honestly can't wait to try out the German Potato Salad, or the Chicken Casserole. Both recipes sound delicious!
June 10, 2019
I found these three stories to be heartwarming and fun being written by family members. Wanda Brunstetter authored Deanna’s Determination. Deanna, a member of the white top buggy community, lost her husband through an accident and is trying to raise her young son by herself. Her husband’s best friend is determined to help her all he can until an accident befalls him.
Wanda’s daughter in law, Jean Brunstetter, wrote Rose Mary’s Resolve. Rose Mary belongs to the black top buggy community and is courted by Tom who is contemplating leaving the Amish. She has no plans to do the same. When a plane stalls and lands in one of her family’s fields, she is attracted to the young English pilot who has a bad bump to the head.
Wanda’s granddaughter, Richelle Brunstetter, penned Leila’s Longing. Leila is a member of the yellow top buggy community, who are a little less conservative. She has been troubled most of her young life because of things that happened at school. She has a hard time making friends and having confidence in herself. But she also longs to fall in love and one day marry and raise a family of her own.
This was the first time I’d heard anything about the different Amish Communities based on the color of the buggy top. Some more conservative than others and the white tops do not have indoor plumbing. They are closely guarded groups that do not encourage young people to intermarry and leave their own communities. But when couples fall in love....what are they to do? All these characters in each story had problems and issues to work out. I was drawn to each one and their circumstances and waited on their happy endings. Romance and family bonds were forefront in each story as well as their searches for God’s guidance in each of their unique situations.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
Wanda’s daughter in law, Jean Brunstetter, wrote Rose Mary’s Resolve. Rose Mary belongs to the black top buggy community and is courted by Tom who is contemplating leaving the Amish. She has no plans to do the same. When a plane stalls and lands in one of her family’s fields, she is attracted to the young English pilot who has a bad bump to the head.
Wanda’s granddaughter, Richelle Brunstetter, penned Leila’s Longing. Leila is a member of the yellow top buggy community, who are a little less conservative. She has been troubled most of her young life because of things that happened at school. She has a hard time making friends and having confidence in herself. But she also longs to fall in love and one day marry and raise a family of her own.
This was the first time I’d heard anything about the different Amish Communities based on the color of the buggy top. Some more conservative than others and the white tops do not have indoor plumbing. They are closely guarded groups that do not encourage young people to intermarry and leave their own communities. But when couples fall in love....what are they to do? All these characters in each story had problems and issues to work out. I was drawn to each one and their circumstances and waited on their happy endings. Romance and family bonds were forefront in each story as well as their searches for God’s guidance in each of their unique situations.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
June 14, 2019
The Brides of the Big Valley by three generations of Brunstetter’s will take readers to Big Valley in Pennsylvania with three different sects of Amish. There were minimal mention of differences between the three except color of their buggies and plumbing.
Wanda Brunstetter’s tale Deanna’s Determination brought heartache as Deanna was struggling with grief along with her special need child. Elmer, her husband’s friend, wanted to assist Deanna during her adjustment of grieving and moving back in with her dad; however, there were ups and downs in their relationship. Will they be able to move forward and overcome the trials they each had experienced?
Rose Mary’s Resolve by Jean Brunstetter centered on Rose Mary, her Amish beau Tom Yoder and a pilot. I found this story a little unrealistic with Rose Mary’s family housing the pilot while his plane was being repaired.
Leila’s Longing by Richelle Brunstetter was my favorite in this trilogy collection. Leila’s family came first for her along with creating beautiful cards for her mother’s shop. When Leila finally develops a friendship with Sue and Aden Troyer she felt more confident in ways about herself. With a death in her family, will Leila continue her relationship or fall back into her old way of thinking?
This collection of novellas was easy for me to lay aside and pick up another book that was more engaging. I’m sure there are fans of Wanda Brunstetter that would find this collection captivating, but this wasn’t the case for me this time. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing. I was not required to write a positive review, but have expressed my own opinion.
Wanda Brunstetter’s tale Deanna’s Determination brought heartache as Deanna was struggling with grief along with her special need child. Elmer, her husband’s friend, wanted to assist Deanna during her adjustment of grieving and moving back in with her dad; however, there were ups and downs in their relationship. Will they be able to move forward and overcome the trials they each had experienced?
Rose Mary’s Resolve by Jean Brunstetter centered on Rose Mary, her Amish beau Tom Yoder and a pilot. I found this story a little unrealistic with Rose Mary’s family housing the pilot while his plane was being repaired.
Leila’s Longing by Richelle Brunstetter was my favorite in this trilogy collection. Leila’s family came first for her along with creating beautiful cards for her mother’s shop. When Leila finally develops a friendship with Sue and Aden Troyer she felt more confident in ways about herself. With a death in her family, will Leila continue her relationship or fall back into her old way of thinking?
This collection of novellas was easy for me to lay aside and pick up another book that was more engaging. I’m sure there are fans of Wanda Brunstetter that would find this collection captivating, but this wasn’t the case for me this time. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing. I was not required to write a positive review, but have expressed my own opinion.
August 18, 2019
FTC DISCLAIMER: I RECEIVED AN E-ARC FROM THE PUBLISHER THROUGH ONE OF A VARIETY OF SOURCES. I VOLUNTARILY OFFER MY HONEST REVIEW OF THE BOOK, THOUGH IT IS NOT EXPECTED OF ME! RECEIPT OF THIS BOOK IN THIS MANNER DOES NOT AFFECT MY OPINION OF THE BOOK OR THE CONTENT OF MY REVIEW!
When I first started out going back to reading Inspirational Romance, Wanda Brunstetter's books were always a go to for me, because I knew they were well written and easy to connect with. Over time, though, I've veered away from her books, and this book really brought that into sharp focus for me. It just wasn't that enjoyable over all!
I liked seeing a special needs child in the first story, but the story was ultimately forgettable. I had a hard time connecting to Deanna, despite her being a special needs mother, and found that Elmer wasn't that likeable of a hero. Rose Mary's story is by far my favorite of the three! It was engaging, and somewhat angsty. I loved the hero that was written for her as well, as he seemed to be a perfect compliment to her. Leila's story was another good story, but felt a bit awkward at points. I liked how relevant that story was to my own life!
All things considered, this was a decent book to read once, but ultimately was forgettable.
When I first started out going back to reading Inspirational Romance, Wanda Brunstetter's books were always a go to for me, because I knew they were well written and easy to connect with. Over time, though, I've veered away from her books, and this book really brought that into sharp focus for me. It just wasn't that enjoyable over all!
I liked seeing a special needs child in the first story, but the story was ultimately forgettable. I had a hard time connecting to Deanna, despite her being a special needs mother, and found that Elmer wasn't that likeable of a hero. Rose Mary's story is by far my favorite of the three! It was engaging, and somewhat angsty. I loved the hero that was written for her as well, as he seemed to be a perfect compliment to her. Leila's story was another good story, but felt a bit awkward at points. I liked how relevant that story was to my own life!
All things considered, this was a decent book to read once, but ultimately was forgettable.
June 1, 2019
This is a book that has 3 different stories from the same extended family. I usually am not one to read a book by different authors as they have their own style and I have found for me that one of the stories or two I don't care for . That does not hold true for this family. I really enjoyed all of the stories one or more than another but they were all good. I like reading about the Amish and always find that I learn a thing or two. Wanda and her family hit a home run with this.
I received this book from the publisher to read and post an honest review which I always do in every review that I write!
I received this book from the publisher to read and post an honest review which I always do in every review that I write!
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May 24, 2019The Brides of the Big Valley, told by three generations of the Brunstetters, tells three unique yet similar stories. Each story centers around a different and distinct Amish group within the larger Amish community of Pennsylvania. While the issues of each differ, the stories share common values. I found each one to be warm hearted, engaging and unique with likeable complex characters. I enjoyed the entire volume of stories equally and highly recommend. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
June 4, 2019
This is a nice collaboration of Wanda Brunstetter, her daughter in law, and granddaughter. They have similar writing styles, so it flowed from one story to the next. I enjoyed learning about the three districts of Amish that live in the Big Valley, PA. Each group is different in various ways but I loved how some characters overlapped into the other novellas. These stories touched on Downs Syndrome, blindness, death, and other real life situations. It is refreshing to know the Amish face the same difficulties that we all do. This is an easy read with characters that have depth. A recommended read for lovers of Amish Fiction or if you are wanting to try this genre.
I received a complimentary copy from Barbour Publishing. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.
I received a complimentary copy from Barbour Publishing. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.
March 18, 2020
I don't usually read Amish but this one intrigued me because Big Valley is about 35 miles from my home. The stories were really good and I learned more about the differences in the "Whitetopped", "Yellowtopped", and the "Blacktopped" Amish in this community.
Even if you aren't normally a reader of this genre, you will enjoy this book. Highly recommend.
Even if you aren't normally a reader of this genre, you will enjoy this book. Highly recommend.
June 10, 2019
Loved all 3 stories that were in this book and loved how all 3 woman had such determination to go after what they wanted with the Good Lord's help.
Glad all 3 woman had a happy ending!! Wish this series continued!!
Glad all 3 woman had a happy ending!! Wish this series continued!!
July 3, 2019
Each story is about faith, trust, family, and love. There are happy endings, but there is pain along the way.
4 stars:
Delilah's Determination
3 stars:
Rose Mary's Resolve
Leila's Longing
4 stars:
Delilah's Determination
3 stars:
Rose Mary's Resolve
Leila's Longing
June 8, 2019
Really enjoyed reading these 3 books in 1. It's amazing how 3 different writers can be seamless in their writing styles.
October 24, 2022
That was just a great collecton.
March 15, 2019
This is a very well written book that holds your attention. I really enjoyed reading this book and learned something new about the Amish. If you enjoy reading heartwarming stories about love and faith, grab this book. Thank you Barbour Publishing Shiloh Run Press via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.
June 6, 2019
A 5-star, must read book. Three great stories each different in their own way. Each story is as sweet as its author with endings just as sweet. It's wonder to see 3 generations of writers come together and write these awesome stories. Well done Wanda, Jean and Richelle. Well done!
June 13, 2019
This is a very good book I like how they told the different different kinds of Amish communities I would highly recommend this book to anyone that likes to read Amish books
June 22, 2019
I really enjoyed Richelle Brunstetter's contribution to this collection and look forward to more of her works in the future! I was able to identify with Leila and the story was really well written.
April 10, 2019
The Brides of the Big Valley is an outstanding collection of three stories written by Wanda Brunstetter, Jean Brunstetter, and Rochelle Brunstetter. These amazing stories are set in the Big Valley in Pennsylvania and involve three different Amish communities. These communities are known by the colors of their buggies Yellow Toppers, White Toppers, and Black buggies. There is a lot of great information that is relayed throughout the three stories that helps the readers understand each community. All three of these intermingle with each other however there are different characters for each story.
Wanda's unique writing style is highlighted in her novella entitled Deanna's Determination. Once again Wanda has shown us why she writes. Her story has love, determination, and faith. When a devastating accident occurs her amazing characters are set on an extremely life changing course. I enjoyed this story immensely.
Jean Brunstetter has written a wonderful story that deals with the younger Amish community members and their struggles with commitment to their faith. Just has you think things are going to turn out a certain way Jean has us traveling a different path. The author has done an outstanding job creating her characters for this novella entitled Rose Mary's Resolve.
Richelle Brunstetter has done a superb job with her novella, Leila's Longings. She has created the perfect characters to tell her story of a young Amish girl who feels Aline except for her family. She takes her readers on a journey about forgiveness and renewed life through a life changing occurrence.
I was given the opportunity to read these fantastic novellas in advance by Netgalley, Barbour Publishing, and Wanda, Jean, and Rochelle Brunstetter. I, however, was not approached by anyone to post a favorable review and all views are strictly my own. I have rated this collection with five stars for meeting my expectations of a wonderful book that I can highly recommend to others.
Wanda's unique writing style is highlighted in her novella entitled Deanna's Determination. Once again Wanda has shown us why she writes. Her story has love, determination, and faith. When a devastating accident occurs her amazing characters are set on an extremely life changing course. I enjoyed this story immensely.
Jean Brunstetter has written a wonderful story that deals with the younger Amish community members and their struggles with commitment to their faith. Just has you think things are going to turn out a certain way Jean has us traveling a different path. The author has done an outstanding job creating her characters for this novella entitled Rose Mary's Resolve.
Richelle Brunstetter has done a superb job with her novella, Leila's Longings. She has created the perfect characters to tell her story of a young Amish girl who feels Aline except for her family. She takes her readers on a journey about forgiveness and renewed life through a life changing occurrence.
I was given the opportunity to read these fantastic novellas in advance by Netgalley, Barbour Publishing, and Wanda, Jean, and Rochelle Brunstetter. I, however, was not approached by anyone to post a favorable review and all views are strictly my own. I have rated this collection with five stars for meeting my expectations of a wonderful book that I can highly recommend to others.
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