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.

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.

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.

The Return to the Big Valley is your standard Amish genre fare. The stories are clean, wholesome and enjoyable to read if you like this type of writing.

Recommend.

Review written after downloading a galley from NetGalley.

I've read other novella collections, as well as stories by Wanda E. Brunstetter, and I've always enjoyed them.

I love collections like this, as the stories are quick reads and easy to fit into a busy day. This was no exception. Each story stands on its own and features a young Amish couple facing difficult decisions, Their struggles (including relationship and lifestyle choices) are relatable. I enjoyed the first story ("Wilma's Wish") the most. I had the hardest time connecting with the characters in the final story ("Alma's Acceptance").

There is a prior book, but they don't have to be read in order to be enjoyed.

The Return to the Big Valley by Wanda E. Brunstetter, Jean Brunstetter, and Richelle Brunstetter will be released, June 1, 2021, by Barbour Publishing, Inc.

This is a delightful collection of three stories in which three different women have to deal with romance in three very different ways.

Wilma’s Wish by Wanda E. Brunstetter is the story of Israel Zook and Wilma Hostetler. Israel and Wilma are planning to wed when Israel's sister is killed and he has to take custody of his five nephews. Will Wilma be able to adjust to this ready-made family?


Martha’s Miracle by Jean Brunstetter is Martha Yoder's story. She is nothing like a normal Amish woman who, cooks, sews, and cleans for her family. Martha likes the outdoors. She would rather hunt or fish than anything. Glen Swarey seems to be a perfect match until Martha learns that Glen may not intend to stay Amish. Decisions have to be made. Will they or won't they be a couple?

Alma’s Acceptance by Richelle Brunstetter is not your typical Amish romance. Alma Wengerd is a young widow who moved away from Big Valley several years ago and returns after her husband's untimely death. Her childhood best friend is Elias Kurtz, and he still lives in Big Valley. Can their friendship turn into more?

These authors have given us a 5-star, must-read collection of stories.

Thank you, Barbour Publishing, Inc. for allowing me to read an ARC of this book through NetGalley. The opinions stated here are my own and I was not required to give a positive review.

#TheReturntotheBigValley #NetGalley


<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/3d226c126d23f2a7b669f98f38c6bd7b5d60abc9" width="80" height="80" alt="50 Book Reviews" title="50 Book Reviews"/>

<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/5f1d49912b1d3e291bbb722b5c5580684a81d6a3" width="80" height="80" alt="80%" title="80%"/>

<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/2ea960a6ad9ae2da7145d07dd29c1e1859de3ec9" width="80" height="80" alt="Professional Reader" title="Professional Reader"/>