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Pleasant Valley #3
Anna's Return
In the third Pleasant Valley novel, the Amish community welcomes back one of their daughters, but she hasn’t returned alone...After spending three years in the English world, Anna Beiler has come back to Pleasant Valley with a baby girl, which will surely cause a stir since Anna is unmarried. She is also hiding the baby is not hers by birth, nor does she intend to stay. Rather, she desperately needs sanctuary from the child’s violent father...It surprises Anna how quickly her Amish habits return to her, and how satisfying it feels to reconnect with her friends and family. Even Anna’s childhood friend Samuel, whose slow, thoughtful manner used to frustrate her, becomes a fond and reassuring companion.But Anna hasn’t fully faced the consequences of her irresponsible youth, and now, her mere presence may endanger the family she holds dear. If she wants to stay, she must seek forgiveness from the community whose blessing she took for granted, and experience the true change of heart required to make a new beginning.
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2010
44 people are currently reading
765 people want to read
About the author
Marta Perry
201 books769 followersMarta Perry is a Pennsylvania-based author of over 35 novels, many of them inspirational romances. She uses her rural Pennsylvania life and her Pennsylvania Dutch heritage in writing her books, especially in her Pleasant Valley Amish series for Berkley Books and her new Amish-set suspense series for HQN Books.
Marta and her husband live in a centuries-old farmhouse in a quiet central Pennsylvania valley. They have three grown children and six beautiful grandchildren, and when she's not busy writing her next book, she's usually trying to keep up with her gardening, baking for church events, or visiting those beautiful grandkids.
Marta and her husband live in a centuries-old farmhouse in a quiet central Pennsylvania valley. They have three grown children and six beautiful grandchildren, and when she's not busy writing her next book, she's usually trying to keep up with her gardening, baking for church events, or visiting those beautiful grandkids.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
October 8, 2018
Anna Beiler returns home after being separated from her Amish family for three long years. She is no longer that same young irresponsible girl that she was when she ran away to the English world. She doesn't return to her family alone but brings a one year old baby girl with her.
What Anna's family doesn't know is that she is on the run and doesn't plan on staying long. She's hoping to throw her baby, Gracie's father off by blending into the Amish community. Pete has no idea that Anna is Amish or even where she came from. Pete wants to take Gracie away from Anna even though she has legal custody of her. But is she really safe from Pete and his treats to take Gracie from her.
I was swept into this story from the beginning. The spark of interest that seemed to grow between Anna and Samuel , her brother Joseph's best friend. I enjoyed the edge of seat reading in this story as Anna's greatest fears seemed to be coming true near the end of the book.
A real nail biter for sure and for certain. Enough said.
If you've been keeping up with this series you won't want to miss Anna's Return, book three. If your a fan of Marta Perry you will love this book as it certainly didn't disappoint this reader. I highly recommend it to all readers of Christian Fiction.
What Anna's family doesn't know is that she is on the run and doesn't plan on staying long. She's hoping to throw her baby, Gracie's father off by blending into the Amish community. Pete has no idea that Anna is Amish or even where she came from. Pete wants to take Gracie away from Anna even though she has legal custody of her. But is she really safe from Pete and his treats to take Gracie from her.
I was swept into this story from the beginning. The spark of interest that seemed to grow between Anna and Samuel , her brother Joseph's best friend. I enjoyed the edge of seat reading in this story as Anna's greatest fears seemed to be coming true near the end of the book.
A real nail biter for sure and for certain. Enough said.
If you've been keeping up with this series you won't want to miss Anna's Return, book three. If your a fan of Marta Perry you will love this book as it certainly didn't disappoint this reader. I highly recommend it to all readers of Christian Fiction.
February 10, 2023
Strength overcomes all
I forgot how much I had enjoyed the first two books in the series many years ago but quickly remembered when I started this book.
Anna and her family shows us how strength in God and family will help us overcome anything. Nothing is to much for our God.
I forgot how much I had enjoyed the first two books in the series many years ago but quickly remembered when I started this book.
Anna and her family shows us how strength in God and family will help us overcome anything. Nothing is to much for our God.
March 27, 2011
Title: ANNA’S RETURN
Author: Marta Perry
Publisher: Berkley
June 2010
ISBN: 978-0425234266
Genre: Inspirational/Amish
Anna Beiler left her Amish family behind three years ago, rebellious and angry at the rules. Now, she’s home with a baby girl she’s determined to keep from the father—a man who is unsafe. Wanting to protect her baby, Gracie, Anna goes to the one place Gracie’s father would never look. But Anna’s family misunderstands her reasons for returning. They believe she is home for good and they’re anxious for her to talk to the bishop to restore full fellowship in the community.
Samuel Fisher also left the Amish, but he returned home for different reasons. Now he’s working for Anna’s brother in the machine shop, and training horses on the side. He understands Anna’s dilemma like none other, but he can’t get her to open up to him.
Anna is hiding secrets that she is unwilling to share. Not the least of which, her return is temporary. But will something happen that will change her mind? Or will she once again flee the rules that once held her hostage?
ANNA’S RETURN is the third book in Ms. Perry’s Pleasant Valley series, but it easily stands alone. I enjoyed getting to know Anna and Samuel, and I kept hoping that the two of them would find their footing, not only with each other, but with their own selves.
I enjoyed reading ANNA’S RETURN, and learning more about their lives. If you enjoy Amish fiction, you won’t want to miss ANNA’S RETURN. A glossary, some delicious sounding recipes, and excerpts from the first two books in the series, Leah’s Choice and Rachel’s Garden are included at the end of the book. $14.00. 308 pages.
Author: Marta Perry
Publisher: Berkley
June 2010
ISBN: 978-0425234266
Genre: Inspirational/Amish
Anna Beiler left her Amish family behind three years ago, rebellious and angry at the rules. Now, she’s home with a baby girl she’s determined to keep from the father—a man who is unsafe. Wanting to protect her baby, Gracie, Anna goes to the one place Gracie’s father would never look. But Anna’s family misunderstands her reasons for returning. They believe she is home for good and they’re anxious for her to talk to the bishop to restore full fellowship in the community.
Samuel Fisher also left the Amish, but he returned home for different reasons. Now he’s working for Anna’s brother in the machine shop, and training horses on the side. He understands Anna’s dilemma like none other, but he can’t get her to open up to him.
Anna is hiding secrets that she is unwilling to share. Not the least of which, her return is temporary. But will something happen that will change her mind? Or will she once again flee the rules that once held her hostage?
ANNA’S RETURN is the third book in Ms. Perry’s Pleasant Valley series, but it easily stands alone. I enjoyed getting to know Anna and Samuel, and I kept hoping that the two of them would find their footing, not only with each other, but with their own selves.
I enjoyed reading ANNA’S RETURN, and learning more about their lives. If you enjoy Amish fiction, you won’t want to miss ANNA’S RETURN. A glossary, some delicious sounding recipes, and excerpts from the first two books in the series, Leah’s Choice and Rachel’s Garden are included at the end of the book. $14.00. 308 pages.
January 1, 2019
Anna's Return was a thriller and romance rolled into one. It was very refreshing. This one kept me on the edge of my seat to the end.
Anna Beiler had spent three years in the English world after running away from her Amish roots. Now she is back with her adopted daughter Gracie. This is sure to cause a stir. Her plan is to stay there until she and Gracie are safe. Gracie’s father Pete signed away his rights before she was born. Her mother gave her legally to Anna before she died. Now Pete wants her back and will do anything to get her.
Anna’s plans were temporary she thought. The Samuel entered her life. She finds that what she had run from can be mended and forgiveness is there for the asking.
I absolutely love Amish fiction. I hate to say it but it is one of the very few types of romance stories I will read. I love the simple life, the budding romance and the Christian lessons all wrapped up in one book. Marta Perry did an excellent job with her characters. You could feel the fear and pain in Anna’s situation. We can all relate to doing something stupid and fearing we will not be forgiven. I look forward to reading more of her books.
Anna Beiler had spent three years in the English world after running away from her Amish roots. Now she is back with her adopted daughter Gracie. This is sure to cause a stir. Her plan is to stay there until she and Gracie are safe. Gracie’s father Pete signed away his rights before she was born. Her mother gave her legally to Anna before she died. Now Pete wants her back and will do anything to get her.
Anna’s plans were temporary she thought. The Samuel entered her life. She finds that what she had run from can be mended and forgiveness is there for the asking.
I absolutely love Amish fiction. I hate to say it but it is one of the very few types of romance stories I will read. I love the simple life, the budding romance and the Christian lessons all wrapped up in one book. Marta Perry did an excellent job with her characters. You could feel the fear and pain in Anna’s situation. We can all relate to doing something stupid and fearing we will not be forgiven. I look forward to reading more of her books.
May 24, 2015
Restful Amish romance about an Amish girl who returns home with a baby in tow and is immediately accepted back into her family's fold. A gentle romance with the neighbor and a situation where everyone has to face up to their priorities provides a fun story of Christian romance.
July 25, 2013
first time reading this author but not the last. Amish fiction is a nice change of pace from crime fiction and secular romance.
June 23, 2018
Things looked the same in Pleasant Valley, Pa., as Anna Beiler drove down the lane toward her brother Joseph’s house. The September day was warm but she was too tense to notice. The trip from Chicago in a car on its last legs and the fear that Pete would find them kept everything else from Anna’s mind. She’s been gone for three long years. If her Amish family wouldn’t take her back because she was not married, where would she go to keep her daughter Gracie safe? As luck would have it, the car died in the driveway just short of the machine shop her brother ran. Joseph and Myra weren’t home, but Myra’s brother Samuel was minding the shop. Once a fence-jumper himself, he was back home and he had matured in the last three years.
Joseph and Myra welcomed her, and later Joseph went to notify their father, who came back in the buggy. Daadi welcomed Anna when he heard how Gracie came to be Anna’s daughter. When her pregnant friend Jannie learned she had leukemia, she asked Anna to raise her baby, since her ex-boyfriend Pete didn’t want the child. Adoption papers in hand, Anna was find until Pete came by one day to take Gracie. Afraid to stay in Chicago, Anna packed the car and drove home to hide.
Thinking she wouldn’t stay at home, Anna inwardly rebelled against the love of her family and community, and tried to resist the rekindling of feelings for Samuel. But when Pete comes to snatch Gracie, how will she keep her daughter in the non-violent ways of the Amish?
There was a lot of world-building in this book. At times I could almost feel the breeze ruffling the sheets as they hung on the line or smell the food cooking. The emotions of the main characters, too, were well explained, along with the reasons for those emotions. The problem of birth defects among the Amish community is explored gently, with care. The recipes in the back of the book for some of the mentioned dishes are a bonus. This is my first time reading this author and I look forward to another by her.
Joseph and Myra welcomed her, and later Joseph went to notify their father, who came back in the buggy. Daadi welcomed Anna when he heard how Gracie came to be Anna’s daughter. When her pregnant friend Jannie learned she had leukemia, she asked Anna to raise her baby, since her ex-boyfriend Pete didn’t want the child. Adoption papers in hand, Anna was find until Pete came by one day to take Gracie. Afraid to stay in Chicago, Anna packed the car and drove home to hide.
Thinking she wouldn’t stay at home, Anna inwardly rebelled against the love of her family and community, and tried to resist the rekindling of feelings for Samuel. But when Pete comes to snatch Gracie, how will she keep her daughter in the non-violent ways of the Amish?
There was a lot of world-building in this book. At times I could almost feel the breeze ruffling the sheets as they hung on the line or smell the food cooking. The emotions of the main characters, too, were well explained, along with the reasons for those emotions. The problem of birth defects among the Amish community is explored gently, with care. The recipes in the back of the book for some of the mentioned dishes are a bonus. This is my first time reading this author and I look forward to another by her.
June 30, 2010
Written by Stacy A. Agdern for RomanceNovelNews.com
Three years after Anna Beiler deserted the Pennsylvania Amish community of Pleasant Valley, she returns seeking sanctuary with the “Plain People,” along with her baby girl.
She leads her family to believe the child is hers, but she actually had adopted the girl from a friend who died tragically. Anna is hiding from the child’s brutal father.
With each passing day, Anna takes steps toward rejoining the community and the Amish Church. As she reunites with her family, she is also forced to acknowledge her destructive behavior that caused her to leave.
At her side is childhood friend Samuel Fisher, who has also spent time in the “English” world. Samuel is supportive yet reluctant to get close to Anna whom he thinks will leave town again.
But when Anna’s troubles endanger the community, will Samuel and her family stand by her or will she have to leave once more in order to find safety?
“Anna’s Return,” the third book in Marta Perry’s Pleasant Valley series, follows young a woman who “jumped the fence,” leaving the Amish community for the outside world.
Perry excels at writing well-liked characters that readers root for. She also writes a beautiful story of forgiveness. Anna cannot truly return to the Amish community until she is ready, and intrinsic in that readiness is coming to terms with the pain she inflicted before she left.
“Sarah’s Gift” the fourth book in the Pleasant Valley Amish series, will be released in March 2011.
Three years after Anna Beiler deserted the Pennsylvania Amish community of Pleasant Valley, she returns seeking sanctuary with the “Plain People,” along with her baby girl.
She leads her family to believe the child is hers, but she actually had adopted the girl from a friend who died tragically. Anna is hiding from the child’s brutal father.
With each passing day, Anna takes steps toward rejoining the community and the Amish Church. As she reunites with her family, she is also forced to acknowledge her destructive behavior that caused her to leave.
At her side is childhood friend Samuel Fisher, who has also spent time in the “English” world. Samuel is supportive yet reluctant to get close to Anna whom he thinks will leave town again.
But when Anna’s troubles endanger the community, will Samuel and her family stand by her or will she have to leave once more in order to find safety?
“Anna’s Return,” the third book in Marta Perry’s Pleasant Valley series, follows young a woman who “jumped the fence,” leaving the Amish community for the outside world.
Perry excels at writing well-liked characters that readers root for. She also writes a beautiful story of forgiveness. Anna cannot truly return to the Amish community until she is ready, and intrinsic in that readiness is coming to terms with the pain she inflicted before she left.
“Sarah’s Gift” the fourth book in the Pleasant Valley Amish series, will be released in March 2011.
June 21, 2010
Knowledgeable as always, Marta Perry takes the reader into the heart of the Pennsylvania Amish community as the rebel returns after three years among the English world, bearing her child Gracie. It is a story of reclamation, returning to one's roots, learning one's own mind, discovering anew the joy of family, realizing the true nature of love--all this as Anna, Leah's baby sister (Leah's Choice)must confront the havoc she has left in her wake when she allowed her rebellion against the Amish way to take her "over the fence" into the wider world. Perry is a writer with considerable experience and the writing task is not the challenge for her here. Rather, she has the background and insight to tell the story--to know the struggles of all young people growing up in the restrictive society known as the Amish. It is a wonderful book filled with love and understanding, and it is a joy to watch the tentative explorations that both Anna and Samuel make into the world of real caring and love. A very good read and one worth taking the time to enjoy.
February 13, 2020
I am a huge Marta Perry fan but I started reading her books at the middle of her career so I have lots of backtracking to do. I've enjoyed some of the other books in the Pleasant Valley series so when I discovered Anna's Return (book 3) on audible at a great price I knew I had to give it a listen. Tanya Eby's narration made the listening a delight and I loved hearing the Penn Dutch dialect spoken out loud. (I've been mispronouncing tons of words!)
The gripping opening scene sets the stage for a sweet romance with dangerous undercurrents. While, not a suspense, Anna's desperate situation adds an enthralling edge to her return. Anna's on the run and, ironically, she's running back to the community she fled a few years earlier. Love this coming home story -- especially the inspirational thread that sees Anna finally learning to stand her ground and trust God when life gets complicated.
The gripping opening scene sets the stage for a sweet romance with dangerous undercurrents. While, not a suspense, Anna's desperate situation adds an enthralling edge to her return. Anna's on the run and, ironically, she's running back to the community she fled a few years earlier. Love this coming home story -- especially the inspirational thread that sees Anna finally learning to stand her ground and trust God when life gets complicated.
April 19, 2013
Book 3 in the Pleasant Valley Series by Marta Perry
After spending three years in the English world, Anna Beiler returns to the Pleasant Valley Amish with a baby girl, which will surely cause a stir since Anna is unmarried. What they don't know is that the baby is adopted and that Anna desperately needs to protect her from her violent drug addict and dealer father.
Anna finds it reassuring to reconnect with family and old friends, but she hasn't completely faced the consequences of her irresponsible youth - and now, she may be endangering her family. If Anna wants to stay, she must seek forgiveness from the community whose blessing she took for granted. Only then can she experience the true change of heart required to make a new beginning.
After spending three years in the English world, Anna Beiler returns to the Pleasant Valley Amish with a baby girl, which will surely cause a stir since Anna is unmarried. What they don't know is that the baby is adopted and that Anna desperately needs to protect her from her violent drug addict and dealer father.
Anna finds it reassuring to reconnect with family and old friends, but she hasn't completely faced the consequences of her irresponsible youth - and now, she may be endangering her family. If Anna wants to stay, she must seek forgiveness from the community whose blessing she took for granted. Only then can she experience the true change of heart required to make a new beginning.
June 13, 2014
This is the third book in Marta Perry's Pleasant Valley series about Anna who has come back to her Amish family after spending 3 years in the English world. She comes back to Pleasant Valley to hide her daughter Grace from his birth father. Great story about how Anna deals with her return, her love for Grace, and the lure of the English world. Although this is part of the Pleasant Valley series, you can read one without reading the others. It was great to see the previous books' characters in this as well and to see what has happened in their lives since their story or the previous book. To understand all of the characters better, you should read the other books. I like how Marta Perry introduces the next book's character in the previous book.
January 8, 2016
This is the third book in Marta Perry's Pleasant Valley series about Anna who has come back to her Amish family after spending 3 years in the English world.
She comes back to Pleasant Valley to hide her daughter Grace from her birth father. This story is about how Anna deals with her return, her love for Grace, and the lure of the English world.
Although this is part of the Pleasant Valley series, you can read one without reading the others. The book lagged in a few spots, but overall, as Always an uplifting and pleasant read.
What a struggle Anna had to find her way home to God and her family - but God led her home!
February 2, 2011
I enjoyed this story that is the third in a series. I didn't realize that and hadn't read the first two, but had no trouble understanding what was going on. This is the story of an Amish girl (Anna) that returns to her Amish family after three years away. Anna arrives with a baby and a bit of a mystery. I've visited Amish communities in Pennsylvania and Illinois and am intrigued by the Amish lifestyle, so a good read about them is always fun for me.
November 12, 2014
I love this series and Anna's Return didn't disappoint, Anna's return to Pleasant Vallen starts the rumor mill to judge this young women without waiting to hear her story. It is tense with fear of bringing discovered by the young baby's father who had given the child away for adoption and now has changed his mind. I love the pulling together of the village when danger struck for this young Amish girl who had brought so much love in her return after leaving to live in the english world.
February 17, 2015
Of all the Amish romance/mystery books I have read lately this is my favorite series by far. Each book features a different person's challenge - so far it is someone whom you have met before in an earlier volume, and the main characters of those earlier volumes form the backdrop so as time goes on and you read more you are immersed in a rich community of people you feel you know. It is very enjoyable.
December 5, 2017
Probably closer to a 3.5, this was an enjoyable book, I just didn't like it as well as the rest of the series. The character of Barbara was hard for me to understand in all of the books. She seemed to be a real contradiction at times, although I guess all of us can be somewhat. Anna grew on me, but was not my favorite character at first. The story line about protection, change, truthfulness, and forgiveness was good.
October 2, 2010
I absolutely adored all three books in this series and can't wait to read more by Ms. Perry. I have been studying and reading about the Amish since I was 12 (I am now 39) and these are by far my favorite. I love the calm, peaceful feeling that came over me as I read them. The peace and spirit of the Plain People really shone in these books. Please let there be more!
November 2, 2011
I loved this book as well as the entire series. My memory not being what it used to be, I wanted to re-read the first four books in the series so that I would be ready for the fifth book. I am now eagerly awaiting the arrival of Katie's Way.
July 28, 2010
This was my favorite in the series. It was fun to see Anna mature and come back to the Amish community. It was also interesting to see how she adjusted after living in the English world for three years.
May 20, 2018
This has to be my favorite book so far in the series. Anna has so much on her plate and living in her life through this book...well you just want to be there for her! The coming together of family and love was so engrossing and drawing. I loved it.
May 8, 2025
Funny that I read this Amish book during an ice storm that caused the power to go out so we had no electricity. It was like I was in the book, minus the horses, and the clothes, and the fact that the book houses were warm, and the romance.
June 23, 2010
A delightful Amish read!
August 18, 2010
Great story of faith and trust in family.
February 18, 2011
Another excellent book!! I love her writing style.
July 21, 2011
I really enjoyed this book, the 3rd book in the Pleasant Valley series! Awesome story of how family and faith can help you through many challenges in life.
February 3, 2014
This is a well-written Amish novel. The characters are well-developed, and I enjoyed the storyline.
December 20, 2011
Great book! definitely brought the English world and the Amish world together. It also showed the value of love and support in a family system. Great read!
January 31, 2013
Nice story. I just love these Amish stories.
April 8, 2013
it was. OK book a little boring
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews