Return to the Big Valley is a delightful collection of three novellas written in collaboration by Wanda E Brunstetter, Jean Brunstetter and Richelle Brunstetter. Three generations of Brunstetter women have once again taken u to the Big Valley and the lives of three Amish women.

Wilma's Wish is a test of strength for Wilma, who wasn't keen on the idea of a ready made family when her fiancee Israel becomes guardian for his five nephews. Taking on responsibility of this sort would give anyone pause, but these five boys give her a run for the money and Wilma can't seem to do anything to help the boys adjust to their new home let alone accept her as their future aunt and mother figure. The situation seems hopeless, but long favored Amish author Wanda E Brusntetter wrapped this story up with a charming conclusion that will warm the reader's heart.

Martha's Miracle, by Jean Brunstetter is a unique story in that Martha is not your typical Amish woman, well versed in home keeping, quilting or preserving the garden bounty. It would seem that she is in danger of becoming a spinster but for the chance to be courted by a charming fireman intent on leaving their faith. I enjoyed this story first off because Martha is not your typical Amish woman. It is an intriguing story.

Alma's Acceptance by Richelle Brunstetter introduces to yet another young Amish woman who has what seems like an impossible dilemma. Widowed, she returns to her childhood community, hoping a change of scenery can help her recover from the loss of her husband. Ironically, she happens to reconnect with an old friend she hadn't seen since her family moved to Kentucky when she was a young teen. He has never forgotten Alma, nor connected to or married anyone. This story has a twist that has bishops from both communities conferring until a solution is met that satisfies all.

I enjoy reading this type of fiction not only for the entertainment, but for the glimpse into the Amish way of life. Not saddled with the cares of the "modern" way of life, they still live, love and enjoy life in their own community. Wanda E, Brunstetter, her daughter-in-law Jean and now granddaughter Richelle have long standing ties to the Amish community. While these stories are fiction, they are entertaining and often have a bit of a life lesson inside.

The Return to the Big Valley is the Brunstetter's latest collection of inspirational Amish novellas. As much as I love Wanda Brunstetter's work, I have to admit this novella collection was not what I was hoping for.

Each novella tells the story of an Amish couple who face challenges and disappointments.

The first, Wilma's Wish by Wanda Brunstetter, was my favourite. Wilma and Isaac are looking forward to their wedding, when his sister's sudden death throws a curveball into their plans. Although I struggled with understanding Wilma's initial decisions, I appreciated seeing the characters develop and grow closer to God and to each other throughout their struggles.

Martha's Miracle, written by Jean Brunstetter, tells the tale of an unusual woman named Martha. Unlike most Amish women, Martha loves the outdoors, hunting, and fishing, and the man she is beginning to care for seems to be considering jumping the fence into the English world. Although this wasn't my favourite story, the characters were likeable and the growth they both made as it progressed.

Alma's Acceptance by Richelle Brunstetter is the final novella in the collection. Alma has returned to her hometown to visit a friend after the tragic loss of her husband several months before. Sparks fly when she's reunited with her childhood friend Elias, who she had a crush on for years, but is it too soon? Unfortunately, I really struggled with finishing this one. Alma's behaviour is brushed off as being part of her grief and a "type A" character when instead she is quite rude and doesn't respect people's boundaries. There wasn't any character development, and it seemed to focus more on everyone accepting her where she was instead of seeing it as an opportunity to change. Aside from that, the writing was decent and I enjoyed the side characters.

If you've read the Brunstetter's past work, you'll likely enjoy at least one of the novellas in the collection. All in all, they are typical faith-filled Amish fiction, and an easy read.

*I received a complimentary copy of The Return to the Big Valley through the publisher and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. My positive review is not required.

RETURN TO THE BIG VALLEY is a compilation of three novellas, written by related women. In WILMA’S WISH, Wilma Hosteller, who lives in the Amish community of Reedsville, PA in the Big Valley, is excited to be marrying Israel Zook. When an accident takes the life of his sister, Israel is the only relative left to care of his sister’s five boys. Wilma agrees to take on the job of tending to them during the day while Israel is at work. But the boys are very badly behaved and do not like Wilma. They make it extremely difficult for her. Can Wilma make this work, or will she call off the marriage for good?

MARTHA’S MIRACLE takes place in Belleville, PA in this same Amish area. Martha Yoder is different from most young ladies her age. She likes the outdoors … fishing, hunting … and somewhat of a tomboy. At twenty-one she still has not found a man who can accept her for who she is. But when she meets Glen Swarey, they make a connection right away. The only problem is, Glen is planning to leave the Amish faith and live in the Englisch world. Could Martha give up being Amish, or convince Glen not to leave the faith?

ALMA’S ACCEPTANCE begins in Hopkinsville, KY, where Alma Wengerd is burying her husband of just one year. An unfortunate accident took his life. When her friend Leila Troyer in Belleville, PA contacts her to come stay with her and her husband for a while, Alma decides it might be a good thing to do. Alma lived in Belleville until her family moved when she was sixteen. There she connects with an old friend, who had feelings for her but never expressed them when they were teens. Alma finds that she still has feelings for his as well. Will the Amish elders allow them to court so soon after her husband’s death?

RETURN TO THE BIG VALLEY was written by Wanda Brunstetter (Wilma’s Wish), her daughter-in-law Jean Brunstetter (Martha’s Miracle) and Wanda’s granddaughter, who is Jean’s daughter, Richelle Brunstetter (Alma’s Acceptance). These ladies have brought us three inspirational stories about how love and triumph over all our difficulties. Each story has strong main characters with supporting characters who are not at all supporting sometimes. The storylines take several unexpected twists and turns, coming to some unexpected conclusions. This book will be great summer reading for anyone who enjoys a good romance.

This book contains 3 stories:
1) Wilma's will
Wilma and Israel are engaged to marry. An accident occured to Israel sister and his life changed a lot:
he must make an important decision about his nephews.
2) Martha's miracle
Martha is a young lady that owns and works in the B&B with her family.
"Martha had grown accustomed to their ways. Like most tourists (..) were curios about the Amish way of life and full of questions"
She also likes hunting and outdoor activities, and because of these hobbies she never has a boyfriend, perhaps in the future..
3) Alma's acceptance
Alma after 1 year of marriage is a widow, it's hard the life without her beloved Michael.
These 3 stories are written by Brunstetter ladies: Wanda, Jean and Richelle.
The characters are amish young women, ready to accept Jesus and join the amish church, eager to help people in need and love others, happy to love and start a family.
Very nice stories that teach something to the readers: as the reality, the woman also have misunderstanding, lost of temper, problems, ills.

3.5 stars

This was not my favorite of any of the Bruntetter books. Two of the three main characters were unlikable especially Alma. I almost did not finish her story because she was so terrible. I understand she had suffered a tragic loss but it was no reason to be the way she was.

The story premises were good and I do suggest for fans of Amish fiction/romance. Just know that the characters may not be warm and fuzzy as we usually like.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Barbour Publishing, Inc., through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

These were 3 enjoyable Amish Novellas written by Grandma(Wanda), Mom(Jean), Daughter(Richelle) Brunstetter. Each story had me captivated for different reasons. They were full of challenges and twist and turns that had me reading until the end. Yes some of the characters drove me nuts but it was nice to see their heart and habits change.

I recommend this book to anyone who loves amish fiction!

Thank you @netgalley and @barbourbooks for a copy of this read.
All opinions are my own!

I absolutely loved this book! Three heart-warming stories that will touch the readers heart and soul. With gentle and kind words God’s love prevails showing that kindness and compassion go a long way.
Readers will delight in the recipes at the end of each story.
This is a five star review from this fan of all three writers

Return to the Big Valley contains three Amish tales by Wanda E. Brunstetter, Jean Brunstetter, and Richelle Brunstetter. The stories are Wilma’s Wish, Martha’s Miracle, and Alma’s Acceptance. We are taken back to Big Valley, Pennsylvania which we visited in The Brides of Big Valley. Each story can be read as a standalone. I thought the stories were well-written with good life lessons. There is good dialogue and pacing as well. Each story gives us a different look at Amish life. They are heartwarming and realistic stories. I could understand Wilma’s hesitancy at suddenly becoming a mother to five mischievous boys who were making life difficult. It was definitely a situation where a person needed to step back and re-evaluate the situation. Martha Yoder is a unique Amish woman. She prefers to be outdoors, and Martha enjoys hunting and fishing. It is hard to find an Amish man who will accept her (who does not want her to change). I liked that we get to see an Amish woman in a non-traditional role. Alma becomes a widow after a year of marriage. Her friend suggests she visit her in Big Valley where she reunites with an old friend and someone she had developed feelings for as a teen. She wonders if it is too soon to find love again. I enjoyed all three tales that deal with grief, caring parents, romantic tension, relationship obstacles, love, and humor. We get to enjoy everyday life in the community. I appreciated the epilogues that nicely wrapped up each novella. Return to the Big Valley has three sweet Amish tales that are a relaxing way to spend an afternoon.

This is three different stories in one.
The first one deals with a young man and his fiance thrust into taking care of his deceased sister's five children. They must overcome the obstacles of becoming an instant family.

The second book deals with a young Amish woman who is a tomboy and the young man who she falls for but who wants her to become English. After tragedy strikes things change. Is it for better or worse, read and find out.

The third stories is about a young widow who returns to where she grew up. She runs into the Amish man who first made her heart spark. Will there be sparks now that she is newly widowed?

Awesome read, that will keep you turning the pages.

Return to the Big Valley by Wanda E. Brunstetter,Jean Brunstetter,Richelle Brunstetter
The Brunstetters Return to a Unique Amish Setting for Three New Stories of Love
Journey back to an area of Pennsylvania that is home to three distinct Amish communities and meet three young women who face heartfelt disappointments in romance.
Wilma’s Wish by Wanda E. Brunstetter
Wilma Hostetler has been courted by Israel Zook for the last year, and he’s recently proposed marriage. But when his sister dies, leaving him to care for five young nephews who openly dislike Wilma, she has second thoughts of starting with a ready-made family and decides to call off the wedding. Can anything be done to restore the relationship, or will Israel seek another wife?
Martha’s Miracle by Jean Brunstetter
Martha Yoder is different from other Amish women in her love of hunting and the outdoors. Meeting Glen Swarey, who is working with the local fire department, seems to be a good match. But can Martha accept Glen’s thoughts of leaving the Amish faith, or will she walk away from a chance at love?
Alma’s Acceptance by Richelle Brunstetter
Alma Wengerd is a young widow who leaves her home in Kentucky to stay with friends in Pennsylvania. Soon she is speeding into a renewed romance with Elias Kurtz and raising the brows of the older church members. When Alma is waylaid by some unexpected news, could putting her happiness with Elias on hold be her only option?
Wilma’s Wish by Wanda E. Brunstetter
This is Wilma Hostetler and Israel Zook's story.
Reedsville, Pennsylvania
Whew! I can’t believe how warm it is already this morning.” Wilma Hostetler fanned her face with one of the quilted pot holders she’d brought to her friend Deanna Yoder’s quilt shop, along with several other items she had recently made. For the past year, Wilma had been bringing quilted items here on consignment. Trying to keep up with demand kept her busy at home.
“You’re right about the heat,” Deanna agreed. “And here it is only the last week of May. Just wait till summer hits and we have days with high humidity to go along with the sweltering heat.”
Wilma placed several table runners on a shelf. “I am thankful for all the trees in my parents’ yard that shade our home. Without those, as well as the cross-draft we get through our open windows, it would feel much worse.”
Lykens, Pennsylvania
Israel sat on the front porch of his sister’s home, waiting for the boys to come out of the house and trying to sort through his disconcerting thoughts. He didn’t know how he had survived the ordeal of his sister’s funeral or the several days after that, but for the sake of the boys, he’d managed to pull himself together and somehow muddled through.
Israel had been here for three weeks and would be taking the children home with him as soon as his driver arrived to pick them up.
The boys, especially Mark, age twelve, and Ethan, who was ten, had made it clear that they didn’t want to go and continued to say they could live in their parents’ home and take care of their younger brothers, Josh, Nate, and Micah. They obviously had no concept of how impossible that would be, and Israel had grown tired of trying to reason with them. Last night he’d gathered his sister’s sons together and told the older ones to pack their suitcases, while he assisted the younger boys with theirs.
Martha’s Miracle by Jean Brunstetter
Martha Yoder is different from other Amish women in her love of hunting and the outdoors. Meeting Glen Swarey, who is working with the local fire department, seems to be a good match. But can Martha accept Glen’s thoughts of leaving the Amish faith, or will she walk away from a chance at love?
This is Martha Yoder and Glen Swarey's story.
It was the first week of May and Martha Yoder's life had become busier than ever.
She flung back the sheets to make the bed in one of the guest rooms at the bed and breakfast her parents owned.
How long will the Robertsons be staying here?
Glen Swarey sat at one of the tables eating his lunch while looking over at a pretty young lady sitting with his friend Lori.
He'd attended the firehouse barbecue benefit today and his friend Kevin Presley had joined him.
Alma’s Acceptance by Richelle Brunstetter
This is Alma Wengerd and Elias Kurtz's story.
Nearly four weeks had passed since the graveside service and with the help of her family Alma had moved her possessions back to her childhood home.
Keeping busy helped Alma avoid thinking about her great loss.
While Alma appreciated the help of her parents and younger sister Makenzie it made her life more difficult in some ways.
Elias Alma bolted to him. Oh my goodness .
I can't believe it.
Embracing Elias brought back so many memories with him and her eyes prickled with tears.
I highly recommend.
Return to the Big Valley by Wanda E. Brunstetter,Jean Brunstetter,Richelle Brunstetter is a wonderful well written 5 star book.
"I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review."

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary digital copy of The Return to the Big Valley by Wanda Brunstetter, Jean Brunstetter, Richelle Brunstetter. I voluntarily agreed to read and review prior to publication. My opinions are my own and nothing has influenced my rating.

The Return to the Big Valley has three well written Amish novellas with endearing characters and heartwarming plots. The pacing is good and kept me engaged from the first page to the last.

Wilma’s Wish is about a young Amish woman who is engaged and looking forward to her upcoming wedding. Then her intended’s sister dies, and he must raise her four boys. The boys are not well behaved and appear to dislike Wilma, but her loving nature eventually wins the boys over. I enjoyed the story and wanted Wilma and Israel to find their happy ending.

Martha’s Miracle is a unique story because Martha is nothing like the typical Amish women. She loves the outdoors and favors fishing and hunting. Fortunately for her, Glen Swarey finds her enchanting and loves her just as she is and doesn’t expect her to change into a meek, subservient female only interested in cooking, sewing and raising children. I thoroughly enjoyed this delightful duo.

Alma’s Acceptance is my least favorite tale in this anthology. The pacing is a bit slower than in the other two stories. Alma is a young widow and she’s returned to Big Valley where she attended school. While working in her friend’s card shop, she becomes reacquainted with Elais Kurtz. Feelings ignite between them, but the elders in their community frown upon their friendship. After all, her late husband hasn’t been gone long. I enjoyed their romance and wanted them to find a way to be with each other.

If you enjoy Amish fiction with engaging characters and heartwarming tales, then you will enjoy The Return to the Big Valley as much as I did. There is no doubt Wanda Brunstetter is an amazing storyteller, and the other two women show promise. Happy reading!

A very well written collection of three Amish romance novellas. I enjoyed each selection. Fans of Amish fiction will enjoy this book.

As always these stories are well written and full of emotion. Each of these authors tells a wonderful Amish romance that will make you laugh and cry. As the title says we have returned to the Big Valley. I love all the characters. I never get tired of all the wonderful descriptions that are woven in to these stories. I received a copy of this book from the author and Barbour publishing for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

I received this book from the publisher through Netgalley for review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Romance, faith and family are the focus in this compilation of three Amish novellas. Short and sweet, each story features the way of life that encompasses the faith of the Amish. Perseverance, hope, love, family and marriage are typical themes of the genre. Anyone wanting a light romance and enjoys the Amish community stories will enjoy this book.

The Return to the Big Valley is a collection of three romances written by three generations of Brunstetters, Wanda, her daughter-in-law, Jean, and Wanda's granddaughter, Richelle. Having read The Brides of the Big Valley collection I was looking forward to reading these novellas and was not disappointed. The Brunstetter authors have put together an interesting and contemporary look at the Amish with this journey back to the Big Valley, Pennsylvania Amish Community.
Each of the main characters is challenged in her faith as she seeks to do God's will in her life in regard to love and marriage. The stories are well-written with strong, lovable characters, good dialogue, twists to the plot, and a little humor amidst the romantic tension. Readers will quickly be caught up in the lives of each of the characters and their stories, hoping for things to turn out satisfactorily. The stories touch on a variety of life issues regarding love and marriage, including unexpected death, ready-made families, and non-traditional role expectations. I enjoyed reading about how each of the couples was able to overcome the obstacles in their relationships to find the happy-ever-after ending we readers like to see. I am looking forward to reading more from these authors and readers who enjoy Amish romance will not want to miss The Return to the Big Valley.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. The opinions are my own.

There are three wonderful stories within this book about forgiveness, pride, acceptance and following God’s plan for your life. Each story touches in subjects that we can all relate to. The authors fill us with hope as we visit Amish country.


WILMA’S WISH

Getting married should be an exciting time but for Wilma not so much. She has her hands full trying to take care of her fiancé’s five nephews while he is at work. The tragedy of losing their mother has really affected the boys. I could understand the pain they were going through. Poor Wilma may be in over her head as the boys become unruly and disrespectful.

I loved reading how Wilma began to examine her heart and wonder if she had made the right decision. Israel loved her and she had walked away when he needed her the most. The author does a great job of illustrating pride in this beautiful story filled with family, love and forgiveness.



MARTHA’S MIRACLE

I really liked Martha and her zest for life. She loved hunting and fishing which was a bit unusual for an Amish woman. She works hard at her parents B&B but still tries to find time to sketch and be outdoors. Glen is a nice character who hopes to be a fireman someday. As Martha and Glen start dating little differences start to pull them apart. Glen isn’t interested in church and thinks maybe he wants to be English. Poor Martha knows that she can’t be with someone who isn’t equally yoked to her. Glen is a little prideful and doesn’t think he needs to pray about his situation but God always has a way to get our attention.

The story centers around a theme of finding God and trusting Him. I like how Martha never wavered in her faith and continued to pray for Glen. In the midst of a tragedy Glen finds himself asking God for help. You could feel his burdens lifting and it was a nice part of the story to witness his transformation. Martha is someone I would like to be friends with. She has such a giving heart and her faith is steadfast.

ALMA’S ACCEPTANCE

Alma was hard to like at first. I know she is going through a difficult time after the loss of her husband but her attitude is horrible. She is very critical of others and corrects their mistakes without being kind. How would you feel if someone came to your home and pointed out the dust? I would be quite upset and feel embarrassed. Maybe staying with her friend for awhile will help her let her emotions out about her loss. People handle grief in different ways and Alma has decided to bottle it up and pretend she is fine.

Seeing her old friend Elias again brings Alma something to be happy about. He seems to bring her out of her shell but she still holds back her feelings somewhat. I felt bad that many people were not happy with their relationship. After all Alma’s husband hasn’t been dead for very long. Are they rushing things? Has Alma really grieved for her husband? I loved the unexpected surprise the author throws into the story that Alma must face. God always has a plan for us and this story is a great example of trusting God.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review."

Return to the Big Valley is a trilogy featuring Wilma’s Wish by Wanda E. Brusstetter, Martha’s Miracle by Jean Brunstetter, and Alma’s Acceptance by Richelle Brunstetter. I have finished reading the three books by this family of writers.

These novels all take place either in Pennsylvania or Kentucky in the Amish communities located there. Each deals with a young woman who has been disappointed by romance. Although these books have been written by three different authors, I found that the style of writing was very similar in each book.

I enjoyed the story lines, but I was also cognizant of the many in consequential dialogues in each novel. After a while, it grated on my nerves. Such questions as, what to have for breakfast, back and forth dialogue that seemed to be written just to fill up a page were an irritant to me. However, the idea of presenting the Amish way of life did appeal to me.

Heartwarming stories filled with family and love. I enjoyed each story. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

Each of the three novellas compiled in this collection portrayed an Amish couple overcoming a difficult situation. I found the different aspects of the Amish communities interesting. The color of the buggy tops being the way to distinguish the different groups is unique. This wass a quick read.

The three stories written by the Brunstetter women will give you hours of delightful entertainment. Wanda regaled us with the tale of Wilma and Israel courtship. Then a tragic event brings an abrupt halt to their relationship. Will they be able to over come these changes?

Jean introduces the reader to Martha. Martha is not your typical Amish woman. Her love for the out doors, hunting and fishing doesn't attract many Amish men. Glen sees the special spark in Martha and is drawn to her.

Rochelle spins a yarn of a young Alma whose husband dies unexpectedly. This sorrow causes Alma to visit a friend ain Pennsylvania. Will she return home or remain in Pennsylvania?

These Amish stories are heart warming and faith reassuring. It allows me to escape my reality and dwell in the land of make believe for a little while.