The More the Merrier

by Linda Byler

From beloved Amish writer Linda Byler, comes a heartwarming Christmas romance set during the Great Depression.

It’s 1931, and times are tough for the Miller family, who are raising eight children in the midst of the Great Depression. When Eli Miller passes away unexpectedly, and then a fire destroys their barn, Annie has no idea how she’ll make ends meet. The Amish community rallies around her and the children, as is their custom, but as days turn into weeks and then into months, Annie’s friends and neighbors return to their own routines and seem to expect Annie to do the same. Annie knows she needs to stay strong for the children and figure out a way to keep everyone warm and clothed and fed, but she is heartbroken and exhausted. She reminds herself that God will provide, but every day feels like an uphill battle.

When Annie receives a letter from a widower with six children of his own, she tries to put it out of her mind. Her critical mother reminds her that it's too soon to start a new friendship with a man, and warns her that blending a family will be complicated. In the weeks and months to follow, Annie must learn to make her own decisions—and accept the consequences, good and bad—face her past, and embark on a new journey that will transform her and her large, complicated family. When life seems especially complicated one summer, she finds herself saying that by Christmas everything will start to come together, but she has no idea the challenges—and ultimately blessings—headed her way.

Genres: Amish, Christmas, Amish Fiction, Historical

200 pages, Hardcover

Published October 1, 2019

About the author

Linda Byler grew up Amish and is an active member of the Amish church today. Growing up, Linda Byler loved to read and write. In fact, she still does. She is well known within the Amish community as a columnist for a weekly Amish newspaper. Linda and her husband, their children and grandchildren live in central Pennsylvania.

Reviews

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

We get to visit yesteryear in this delightful Amish romance novella length book.
The Great Depression is a troubling time, everyone struggles to make ends meet by doing without many things. How is a recently widowed Amish mother of eight ever to get by?
When a near tragedy nearly puts her over the edge she knows she has to stay strong for their sake.
Eli is a widower and lost his wife recently and has his own six children to take care of so why can't he get the pretty widow out of his mind?
The toll of taking care of eight children on her own is taking it's toll on her mentally and physically.
She knows she should say no to a possible friendship he proposes but she is learning to make her own decisions now after the death of her husband and coming into her own.
Together they will prayerfully weather the storms that may come, trusting in him to pull them through the challenges of combining two families.
Excellent, I'd love to see this story continued in another book.
Published October 1st 2019 by Good Books
I was given a complimentary copy. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

[Dianne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would suggest that this writer do a little more research before taking pen to paper. I also suggest that she send her books to Beta readers before going to an editor or at least using an editor. The misspellings, added words and other grammatical errors made for a difficult read...(what exactly is "sie" when introducing a new character BTW?). It would have helped to have the dictionary of Amish Words at the beginning of the book instead of the end.


There were too many historical inconsistencies and inaccuracies in this book. The writing was flat and very much unlike anything else I've ever read or experienced with the Amish. I understand that their faith was a bit more liberal than usual---but this went a little too far for the typical reader to grasp. Do Amish children really go to a school that has multiple grade levels that isn't a one-room schoolhouse? Did the author research just exactly what a single dollar was worth during the Great Depression? No American would have paid a dollar for a dozen eggs. A dollar back then was the equivalent of over 14 dollars. RESEARCH!!! Make it believable.


It's nice to know that the author is/was Amish and writes her novels with pen and paper, but the tools don't matter when the story is flat and difficult to read and believe.

*ARC supplied by the publisher.

[Angela (Kentuckybooklover) Brocato-Skaggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

My dad was born in the depression and the stories he tells of growing up with little to nothing is heartbreaking but the love his family had was beautiful. Annie’s story is one of heartache and despair but also one of resilience and love.

This is a beautiful Christmas read that is worthy to read no matter the season. An Amish love story from a real Amish author.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Skyhorse Publishing, through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

[Aminata Coote · Rating 3 out of 5]

Annie is a widow and the mother of eight children. Her husband died a few months earlier and things are difficult because funds are tight and Annie doesn’t want to ask the church for help. Dan is a widower and the father of six children. His children have never really known the comfort of a loving, stable mother and he longs to provide that for them.

When Annie’s barn burns down, Dan is right on hand to offer help. After he leaves that evening, he can’t get the widow out of his mind for some reason. He prays about it and eventually decides to write her a letter of introduction—he would like her to consider the possibility of starting a relationship. Eventually, she and Dan get married and begin the process of trying to blend the two families together.

This book had great potential. When I saw the description, I anticipated the challenges that would arise from trying to blend such a large family. I also imagined they would get a lot of pushback from their families and friends who’d dissuade each of them from taking on so many children. I guess that happened but I didn’t get to experience it as most of the book was written as if it was by someone on the outside looking in. I didn’t feel drawn into the scene and found it difficult to feel any emotion for the characters.

Know God—it’s important for us to have a relationship with God as this is what will get us through things like death and difficulties in life. Annie seemed to draw closer to God through her prayers though there was no real mention of her going to church. She mentioned the church but didn’t seem to have any connection to it. She also seemed remarkably isolated when the Amish are noted for their close-knit communities.

We are reminded that we are the church and should seek opportunities to draw closer to each other especially people who are in need. We also need to remember that when we’re in need, the church is there to lift us up—at least, they should be.

Know yourself—many times Annie experienced guilt because of her thoughts or treatment of the children. She had to realize that everyone makes mistakes. It is God who gives us victory over sin and the ability to learn from our mistakes.

Run your race—while Annie’s mom would have preferred for her not to marry a widower with so many children, she decided to go ahead because ultimately it was her happiness on the line. Each of us has to make decisions when they affect our lives. We should consider the advice given to us by people who care about us, but ultimately, everyone has to run their own race.

I did not enjoy this book as the author did more telling than showing. I did, however, love the first line as it immediately set the premise that life was hard and it was hard because of Eli’s death.
I received an advanced reader copy from NetGalley; a positive review was not required.

[Pamela Pavkov · Rating 5 out of 5]

The More the Merrier is another fantasticAmish Christmas romance written by Linda Byler. This book is about the Amish back in 1931 during the depression. There is so much to learn as to how families survived this awful time. The characters are very well developed and very likeable. The story will draw you in from the first page. The hardships that Annie faced just to put food on the table for her right children is so hard to fathom.

When Annie lost her husband in a terrific accident she thought nothing could get worse and then a fire breaks out. How Annie keeps going is just amazing. Then when a widower with six children of his own asks Annie to marry him she just can't figure how caring for 14 children could possibly work. As this story unfolds the sheer determination of Annie and Dan to make this family work is heartwarming. When Christmas descends upon them Annie is amazed at the difference from her previous years. The author has done an amazing job relaying her story through her characters.

I was not given a complimentary copy of this book to read and review. I was not approached to post a favorable response. I have rated this story with five stars for meeting my expectations of a wonderful story that I can highly recommend to others.

Congratulations to Linda Byler for writing another fantastic Christmas story involving the Amish for her readers enjoyment.

[Barb · Rating 1 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it. This book was such a disappointment to me. It was just so boring that I found myself skimming through parts of it.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the story took a bit for me to get into because it was mostly narrative and kept jumping in time, I found myself enjoying it. Sweet but not unrealistic in its portrayal of the characters and their relationships, full of interesting lifestyle details, and a little meaty as Annie finds love and acceptance after years of subpar treatment from the women in her family and her first husband. The Christmas part of the story is basically just the ending, but when it does arrive the author fills it out with a generous dose of Christmas spirit.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this Amish story that takes place during the Great Depression as I haven’t read many books set in this time period, Amish or otherwise. Annie is recently widowed and is a woman of strong faith but it’s her indefatigable spirit that impressed me the most. There isn’t anything she won’t do to keep her small farm going and put food in her childrens bellies but she’s at the end of her rope and I was so relieved when Amish widower Daniel Beilers’ persistence pays off when he and Annie are wed. Annie is thrilled that the bigger and successful farm produces the food her children so desperately need but Annie’s days won’t be stress free by any stretch of the imagination. The attitudes and antics of their newly combined brood of 14 children keep her hopping and reminded me of an old movie with Lucille Ball and Henry Fonda, “Yours, Mine and Ours”, Amish style. This author is new to me and I’m looking forward to reading more of her delightful storytelling. I read an early copy of this book through NetGalley and all opinions expressed in my voluntary review are completely my own.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book opens in 1931 during the Great Depression. Anna’s husband Eli has recently passed leaving her to cater to their brood—eight children between the ages of 16 and three years old—on her own. With little money and no job at hand, this seems like a daunting task.

Despite the obstacles she faces, her faith in God is unwavering. While she sells some of her farm animals to pay bills, her children help out one way or another on the farm. They milk the cows every morning and every evening and hauled the heavy milk cans to the drive for the milkman.

She’s worried that they’d run out of potatoes 🥔 before the next yield season which isn’t for another five months So she prays to God to give her strength. Her pride won’t let her ask the church deacon for help.

One morning, while the family gathers for breakfast, she notices her barn raising has caught fire. Quickly, she dashes to the barn with her older children to put out the fire and rescue her animals. She wakes up minutes later after passing out from smoke inhalation.

In the meantime, Dan Beiler, a widower with six children—whose wife died from pneumonia—is on his way to the hardware store when he notices plumes of smoke from the barn and later, the sound of the fire alarms from a distance. He follows his horse to Anne’s farm and finds her barn burning. He sees lying on the grass surrounded by her children and offers to carry her inside.

For some reason, he can’t seem to get Anne out of her mind following their encounter.

Days later, as Anne recovers in the hospital, the community helps out—her church has helped rebuild her barn, her mother and sisters stay with the children, her father provided cows and her plants are thriving. She’s touched by their kind gesture.
She often wonders about the stranger who carried into her house. Or maybe it’s just her imagination.

As spring turns into summer, Anne is back to her daily grind: chopping wood, doing her laundry picking vegetables and canning them in mason jars and storing them in the cellar. She does her chores alongside her brood and pays little attention to her appearance or folks who pass judgement at her.

One day, she receives a letter ✉️ with no return address. The letter is from a Daniel Beiler. He writes to introduce himself and then gets down to business; he wants Anne to be friends and would like to know her better. He suggests a date and asks if this sits well with her.

She cries after reading the letter. All the memories of her loss come back in waves and she has no one to turn to. She’s even tried praying but doesn’t feel her prayers have been answered.

After waiting for months and no reply, in the autumn, Daniel Beiler writes her another letter. This time she agrees to meet with him.
After a few dates, he proposes and they agree to get married in March the following year. So far they’ve informed only their oldest children of the news.

After the wedding, they’d have to move to his farm since his house was larger and would accommodate all of them. Anna realizes how blessed she is to have such a wonderful man by her side, someone who can help take off some weight off her shoulders.

The More the Merrier is a touching story of love, resilience, and family. The sense of community is so strong and the characters are warm and relatable. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a light-hearted christian-themed Christmas romance novel.

A word of caution though—this book will leave you famished so have some snack at hand while reading.

Thank you to Linda Byler, NetGalley, and Good Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two separate families learn to become one family.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found The More the Merrier a bit confusing and very different from other novels that I have read within the same genre. The story itself seemed very matter of fact, as though it was recounting events from a diary or journal that didn't give any real explanation or context.

I found it confusing when Annie kept going back to the fact that Dan was considered progressive, and think it would have helped if the author had given a brief explanation as to why Annie thought that - not everyone is familiar with the Amish way of life, given the religion is unique to American culture.

I also found myself forgetting that the story was meant to be based within the post-war depression of the late 1920s and 1930s. It could very easily have been a contemporary story aside from the brief mentions of whatever year it was.

And why was Annie's daughter so sullen? I know she had lost her father, but it irked me that Annie kept putting off talking to her daughter about whatever was happening with her.

As an Australian reading Amish fiction, I think I will stick to authors such as Wanda Brunstetter or Beverly Lewis, whose stories are more descriptive and explain a little more of the Amish culture.

This book might be suited to someone who is more familiar with the Amish.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Amish Christmas Romance During the Depression.
Linda Byler’s new book The More the Merrier is an Amish historical romance that was set in 1931 during the Depression. The book was about Annie with 8 children struggling to live after her husband dies. Dan who is a widower with 6 children shows up when Annie’s barn catches on fire. From there, Dan tries to get them together and eventually into marriage. The book was a short read and enjoyable, but not a favorite to keep on my bookshelf.

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Times were tough in 1931. Annie and Dan have both lost their spouses and both have large families (she has 8 children and he has 6) to feed and care for. Dan was the one who rescued Annie when her barn burned down and he's thought about her ever since. She's under pressure to marry again so when he writes to her, she has a lot to think about. You know they will marry but can they blend their families? Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC. This is a sweet if somewhat shallow novel that actually tugs at the heart as Annie and Dan find their ways to each other. For fans of the genre.

[JoAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The More the Merrier is a sweet historical romance. I enjoyed the plot and can’t imagine such a large family during the depression era. My thanks to the publisher for my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The More the Merrier by Linda Byler is a sweet story. Annie Miller is left a widow with eight children to raise during the depression. Her eldest child has been hired out and his wages to help. But Annie needs to find a way to provide. Then her barn burns down and she almost dies. Annie is rescued by Dan Beiler who is a widower with six children of his own. Dan continues to think about Annie and decides to write her a letter to see if she would be interested in a friendship. The More the Merrier is a story about second chances, forgiveness and love. Linda takes us back to 1931 when everyone (except the 1%) is struggling to survive. We see Annie struggle each day to put food on the table for the kids. Annie must learn to make the decisions now that her husband, Eli is gone. Her life hits an all time low when the barn catches fire. Things always seem to get worse before they get better. Annie prays for guidance to make the right choices for herself and her children. Dan also worries about disrupting his kids’ lives and prays to God. They both want to follow His lead. I liked how they both had such a strong faith. We see that God answers our prayers in His own way and in His timing. I thought the story was realistic with engaging characters. I enjoyed The More the Merrier and look forward to reading more stories by Linda Byler. The More the Merrier is a heartwarming and inspiring story.

[Kaye Wingo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the most heart felt stories I have read in awhile. There is always ups and downs while two families join together but when there are fourteen children involved you know there is going to be a lot of excitement.....fantastic book....

[Btckreiner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author did an excellent story about two widow finding love again together and the daily struggles of joining together 14 siblings into one happy family. Hard to put down. A definite read is your interested in the life of an Amish home.

[Sherry Riddle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved every minute of this book.

What starts out as cold and depressing ends up warm and loving. The characters, the plot, everything in this book is right on queue. Not ever being a part of a large family, the story really drew me in. 14 children?? I can’t even imagine!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very quick Amish Christmas romance

[Catherine Decious]

hoopla

[patricia cosner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written

This story pulled on my heart strings. I couldn't put it down. I looked forward to the happy ending I knew would come.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed this book! Faced with incredible hardships, both protagonists relied on God to bring them what they needed when they needed it. A heartwarming story...

[roberta archuleta · Rating 3 out of 5]

More was best

Enjoyed the story plot. Getting two families to make one is great especially if everyone is content and they were

[Lacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet book about family, second chances and love. Such a great reminder that we always need to give extra attention and patience to those we love even when it is hard. Especially when it is hard. A very nice read!

[Patricia Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

a widow with eight children marries a widower with six children. How they make things work.

[Chanover55 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Annie has been widowed less than a year when her barn burns down and her oldest children have to pull her from the barn. Dan, an Amish widower, comes on the scene while out riding his horse and helps Annie's children get her to the house. Annie has 8 children and feels unprepared to care for them & the farm after her husband's death. Dan has 6 children but feels drawn to Annie. When he asks her to marry him, she accepts with joy but will it last? A wonderful story filled with forgiveness, acceptance and faith in the goodness of God.