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


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Return to the Big Valley gave way to three romance stories by Wanda, Jean and Richelle Brunstetter in unique Amish communities with their buggies being a specific color instead of the usual black. The characters and decisions they faced were relatable in some ways but some were to unsettling. Each tale is easy to read and not connected to any of the other characters.

Wilma’s Wish found Wilma reconsidering her upcoming wedding to Israel. She cared for him but his five energentic nephews to care for caused undue strain. It was interesting to see how the author brought a second chance at romance through the boys.

Martha and Glen’s story in Martha’s Miracle involved more of the English world. Glen was fascinated with being a firefighter but Martha couldn’t leave her Amish faith.

Alma’s Acceptance found her back in her original Amish community and reconnecting with her first love Elias. The doubts and timing seemed wrong to be so attracted to him after years of separation.

Thank you to NetGalley for an early ARC and Barbour Publishers for a copy of this book without any obligation to write a positive review. I have shared my own opinion.

This is a wonderful collection of three stories by three different authors. Each story is well written and holds your attention from the first page until the last. I loved all three stories and highly recommend this book to anyone who likes Amish fiction. Thank you Barbour Publishing via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

A collection of stories by Wanda, her daughter-in-law and her granddaughter. What a wonderful opportunity to share their love of writing as well as for the Amish.

The three stories demonstrates how GOD works in your life. HE is there during good times and bad.

The three stories were:

Wilma's Wish by Wanda Brunstetter

Martha's Miracle by Jean Brunstetter

Alma's Acceptance by Richelle Brunstetter

The three main characters in each story must make a critical decision that will change their lives but their families as well. These decisions can not be made without prayer.

When you need to make a decision in life do you include prayer? This is a step that is the most important but frequently not done. GOD listens. He guides our steps.

I am never disappointed when I am reading a book by any Brunstetter. I am excited for Richelle as her story shows that she has a great future ahead of her.

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

As always the Brunstetters have an amazing way of capturing Amish life and blending it in to their stories. The characters are so real it feels like you're interacting with them.

This book contain three stories each of which is unique and a sweet read taking place in Amish communities in the Pennsylvania hills. Each story is by a different author and all are enjoyable and make for a very entertaining book. I have enjoyed all of the Brunstetter stories, either from well-known author Wanda and her daughter-in-law and granddaughter. Their writing style is somewhat similar and so the stories blend well together as a book.

I enjoyed the book very much and although there is a previous book, which I have already read, it can be read as a stand-alone book. These Amish stories are about three different young women, each unique in their own way who have felt sorrows in previous relationships.

I received a copy of this book by NetGalley and Barbour Publishing. All thoughts are my own.

The Return to the Big Valley by Wanda Brunstetter is an emotion-filled story of two young Amish adults living in Reedsville, Pennsylvania, who have some life-changing decisions to make.

Wilma Hostetler enjoys quilting and sells many of her creations on consignment in a quilt shop owned by her friend, Deanna Yoder. Wilma has been engaged to marry Israel Zook whom she loves deeply and is anxious to marry. Wilma looks forward to the time when she will have her own home to manage and when she and Israel have their own family.

Israel Zook feels there isn’t another woman in the world to be his wife except for Wilma Hostetler whom he loves and is anxious for their wedding date to arrive. Israel works for a construction company in Belleville and hires a driver to take him to and from work each day. One day at work, Israel receives a life-changing message. His widowed sister, Kathryn, has been kicked in the head by a horse and has died. Kathryn has left 5 young sons, ranging in age from 3 to 12, with no one to care for them. Israel accepts the responsibility of taking in the 5 young boys to raise and care for in his own home.

Wilma agrees to watch the boys while Israel is at work, but sparks fly between the undisciplined and disobedient boys and Wilma. In her exasperation and fatigue, Wilma tells Israel she can no longer care for the boys; and she sadly calls off the wedding to Israel.

Can Israel and Wilma resolve this situation? What will happen to Israel’s young nephews? What will Wilma’s family and friends encourage her to do?

I enjoyed reading this book and highly recommend it, as I am sure other readers will enjoy it too.

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

Return to the Big Valley is a compilation of three stories by Wanda, Jean, and Richelle Brunstetter. Each were stand alone although they took place in the same community. I loved all three stories and finished this book in recored time. I honestly could not put it down once I started. All three stories were well written and the characters were easy to love. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys Amish or Inspirational fiction.

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher and netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Return to the Big Valley is a compilation of three stories set in Amish country.
Wilma’s Wish by Wanda E. Brunstetter is the story of Wilma’s life as she prepares for
her marriage to Israel. What happens when he gains custody of his five nephews after
the sudden death of his sister?
Martha’s Miracle by Jean Brunstetter is the story of Martha who helps her parents at
their Bed and Breakfast along with her love of sketching whenever she can get away.
She also loves fishing and hunting which most prospective Amish suitors find
unattractive in spouse. Will she meet a man who can love her for all the things she
enjoys and not expect her to only care for the house, children and meals?
Alma’s Acceptance by Richelle Brunstetter begins in Kentucky where Alma has lost her
new husband in an accident as he was repairing the roof. She decides to visit her
childhood friend in Pennsylvania who is married and has a small child along with a
business to run. Alma is quite a bit of help and sometimes oversteps when helping. Will
she come to acceptance of God’s will and also new love while in PA?
I loved this book very much. The three stories are separate and can be read in any
order but fall together nicely in this trilogy. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys
Amish stories.
I received an advance copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

All three stories were uniques in their own way. The first story dealt with an engaged couple, Israel and Wilma. When Israel’s sister dies and leaves her brother as the guardian of her 5 boys, Wilma agrees to help her fiancée by watching the children while he is at work. When the children become defiant and disobedient towards her, Wilma decides she is not ready to become an instant mom. Will the couple be able to work through these issues and go through with their wedding or will they part ways?

The second story is about a young Amish woman, Martha, who would rather be outdoors hunting or target practicing as to being inside doing chores or sewing. Then she meets Glen and since he has the same interests, it seems like a perfect match. When Glen starts pursuing a job as a firefighter, he begins talking about leaving the Amish community. Martha begins having second doubts about their relationship because she does not want to leave. Will Glen soon realize that his dream of becoming a firefighter may cost him more than the loss of his girlfriend?

The third story is about Alma whose husband died very early in their marriage. She leaves Kentucky to go stay with some friends to get away from her loss. She soon reconnects with an old friend Eli. Alma has a lot to deal with and is trying her best to figure things out. Will she reunite and become more than just friends with Eli?

While I enjoyed all three stories, I found the last one harder to become engaged in the story because of the character and I seemed to have a harder time finishing it.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher for my review and honest opinion.

Normally, I love anything written by the Brunstetters. I am a huge fan of their books. The Return to the Big Valley missed the mark for me. Every single main character annoyed me. If they weren’t overbearing, they were incredibly selfish people. I loved The Brides of the Big Valley, but the sequel is a miss for me. Thank you to Netgalley and Barbour Publishing for the ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

I greatly enjoyed this collection by the Brunstetters. All three novellas were a quick read but each character felt very real and honest in their struggles/emotions. I enjoyed the last one the least, just because Alma's cleaning compulsions were difficult to relate to. I liked seeing God's hand in each story to work everything out for good.

I would definitely recommend this book to a friend.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love me a good Amish Romance and of course when I see 3 of the best working together I had to read! The to Return to the Big Valley was everything I expected and more. I love how much faith was intertwined into it that made it so wholesome. There of course were moments I felt empathetic for the characters and I wanted to just hug them, but knowing these authors they always give a happy ending and that is exactly what I got with this book. AMAZING READ!

I was very excited to read this book. I managed to get through the first two stories and didn’t bother with the final story. I walked into this set of stories thinking that the love story would be one that I would want to continue reading but it took too long for the relationships to progress and when they finally did, there weren’t many details about their life story. Yes I realize this is Amish fiction, and not some adult romance novel, but at least give us some thing other than, “he held her hand and kissed her.” That could be changed to sound a lot more appealing.

It definitely left a lot to be desired in my opinion. I tend to love reading Amish fiction and had high hopes for this one but definitely walked away just thinking “meh.”

Three novellas by this great family of authors leads to very enjoyable reading.

Each story portrays a young Amish couple facing adversity and choices in their lives. Relationships, tough decisions, huge changes of lifestyle, choices of leaving or staying both in the Amish religion and in relationships, makes each story an interesting and enjoyable read.

This is a very quick read. I could not put it down until I was finished. I highly recommend it.

Thank you to Barbour Publishing and NetGalley for the advance copy. All opinions expressed are my own.