The Pretender by the amazing wordsmith Wanda Brunstetter is a Christian mystery Amish novel. This is Book Three in the series. Finally we will get the answer that has been concerning Roses’s family since Book One. If you haven’t read the first two yet. This may easily be read as a stand alone, but I would encourage you to read the entire series.

Set in modern day, this is a captivating book from the very beginning. I was immediately invested in the story and the interesting characters. The writing style is easy to read with multi-layered, relatable characters. Descriptions are on point and take me to Amish country. I loved learning some new Amish words. There are twists and turns to keep readers interested and guessing. One of Rosa’s sisters is not nice at all. I scolded her multiple times while reading this novel.

There are struggles, triumph, and trials along with forgiveness and family drama in this book. The Christian is very clear and done well. At the end of the book, there is a recipe from the story.

I highly recommend this wonderful book. This series would make a great selection for a reading group. There is so much to discuss. The author has provided discussion questions to assist. This novel earns a 5 star rating from me. A complimentary copy from the publisher, but these are my honest thoughts.

Well, this series has come to a wrap. It was more of a sweet ending as opposed to a dark and sinister one, which made the series feel more like a cozy mystery than a suspenseful one. But that is on brand for Brunstetter. This book didn’t really have much mystery left in it. It was like that part ended with book 2, but I am still glad I read this one because otherwise I would’ve really wondered about Rosa and what happened to her. I’m also curious if there is more to be said about the Petersheim family, maybe in another book or another series.

Now, about this book. Rosa suddenly goes home, and we learn what she’s been doing for the last two and a half years. Oh, and by the way, if you haven’t read the first two books, I highly recommend them. While this book is a three star, I rated the other two much higher, so overall the series has been really good. Rosa is afraid to go home because she’s pregnant and not married, and her dad is a pretty strict guy and the bishop, so you know, tough crowd. She confides in Anthony, the cook at the restaurant where she works. She doesn’t know him very well, and he doesn’t know her either, but he decides to go home with her and pretend to be her husband, hence the name of the book The Pretender. The story goes on from there. Later in the book, it does wrap up a few things from the first two books, so a little bit of the mystery is still there. I guess I was just hoping for something darker. But it’s Wanda Brunstetter, she’s the queen of sweet, and I should know that. Still, I felt like the first two books set this up to go in a different direction. Even so, this was a sweet and well-done story, and I’m hoping the Petersheim family shows up again later.

If you are a fan of cozy mysteries, or if you simply want a feel-good Amish fiction read, I recommend this book. But only after you’ve read books one and two, wink wink.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

This is probably one of the best books the author has written. Deceit has a way of being revealed and in this case it causes an avalanche of hurt. I really liked how the author illustrates how a lie can have lasting effects on people. We think that if we hide something it will not be found out. Rosa has been estranged from her family for awhile. Being in New York working as a waitress is so different from how she was raised. No one knows that she is Amish but soon that secret will be found out. What will her family’s reaction be when she reappears on her family’s doorstep after two years?


Anthony is a gifted chef who works at his father’s restaurant. He is happy and content until Rosa springs something on him. He is willing to help Rosa when she asks first help. His life is turned upside down when he travels with her back to her family’s home. What a shock it is to find out Rosa is Amish. Thinking that he is helping Rosa he agrees to pretend they are married. Oh my will this backfire on them.

There is another character in the story that really stood out to me. Rosa’s sister Susan is jealous of her and is not happy when she comes back home. Susan is bitter and has a way of spreading lies. I did feel bad for Susan because she is very insecure. We can find ourselves being bitter when we are unhappy with our own lives. Can Susan find a way to repent and find unconditional love?

What is evident in the story is the importance of listening to God. We all sin, but need to ask for forgiveness. I love how Anthony starts to want a relationship with God. Nothing happens by accident and when he finds something special in his baggage, his heart is softened. Beautiful message of letting go of the past shows how God can restore joy. I loved how the author uses scriptures in the story and weaves a touching story of redemption, restoring and rejoicing.


“God’s truth will always win out.”

I received a copy of this book from the publisher and the author. The review is my own opinion.

The Pretender: The Big Valley Disappearance #3 (A Mifflin County Mystery) by Wanda E Brunstetter
Finally, Rosa Petersheim mystery has been solved. The Protector (book 1) is when Rosa disappeared. Nobody knows if she is dead or alive. Her brother, family and friends have searched for her. No clues or any idea what happened to her. The Peacemaker (book 2), everyone has adjusted to going on with their lives after Rosa’s disappearance. The Pretender (book 3), it has been 2 years since Rosa disappeared and now, she finally comes home. She is not alone. She brings along her husband, her pretend husband who is helping her because she is pregnant with another man’s baby. Their plan was for Rosa to get back into the family so she can have the baby and support of her family. But, things don’t go the way they planned. What happens next? Got the book but read the series from the beginning. I really enjoyed reading this series by Wanda E. Brunstetter who is a great story teller and author. I am looking forward to reading more books by the author. I highly recommend this book and the series to anyone who loves really Amish fiction.
All thoughts and opinions shared here in this review are my own.

The long awaited answer of what happened to Rosa Petersheim. This book is a great picture of what forgiveness and redemption can do and the positive impact of healing those who do the forgiving as well as the forgiven. Despite the great lesson, it's also a fabulous story , encouraging me to turn more pages as I hurry to see how lives change with dishonesty, deception, true forgiveness, and the light of redemption. I recommend this book whether or not you have read the first two books in this series. Wanda Brunstetter is a master at bringing real life situations to the page with the Amish way of life as a background setting and always a romance with all the heart flutters.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
We FINALLY find out what happened to Rosa!! This was a great ending to a series that had me invested from the very first page.
This book really can’t be read as a stand alone, so I suggest reading the books in order. The mystery makes more sense when you read them in order. That way you can also see the growth of the characters, especially Susan, Rosa’s sister. Many thanks to the author, Barbour Publishing and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
#ThePretender #WandaBrunstetter #BarbourPublishing #AmishFiction #BookLove #Bookstagram #NewBook #ILoveBooks #BooksSetInAmishCountry #AmishRomance #MifflinCountyMystery

Great ending to a series that has kept us hooked and wondering all the way through. Rosa finally returns home and reveals the mystery that she is not dead after all, but left of her own free will. This story walks through the tough consequences of choices Rosa has made and wraps up the three book series perfectly. Another Brunstetter win!

This was my favorite book in the series! I love that Rosa is now home and we know what she went through. The addition of Anthony to the story enriched the plotline so much. He was such a likeable character. I found Susan to be irritating after a while. I continue to love that the author ends the story with a recipe from the story.



Thanks to netgalley and Barbour Publishing for the arc. The opinions are my own.

Rosa Petersheim disappeared from her parents home two years ago and her family has worried and prayed for her. They do not know if she left of her own accord, or if she was taken. They don't know if she is still alive...or not. Suddenly, she appears at her parents home, on her birthday. With a husband. Neither are Amish.
Her mother is ecstatic to see Rosa. Her father is the bishop and isn't welcoming. A younger sister, Susan, not so much. She, now has to give up Rosa's room and go back to sharing a room with another sister.
Rosa had left of her own accord. She felt she didn't want to be Amish. Her travels eventually led her to working as a waitress in a restaurant. She was having an affair with a married man who dumped her once she revealed to him that she was pregnant. Anthony, the son of the restaurant owner, found Rosa crying. Rosa explained her dilemma and said she had no where to go but back home to her parents. She felt they may not accept her back being unmarried and pregnant. A plan is devised. Anthony will drive her back, pretend to be her husband, and then they will split up and he'll return home. Surely, then her parents would accept her and her child.
Well, you know what they say about the best laid plans.
Rosa's father is upset that she just left without a word and allowed them to worry about her. She explained that she had left them a not, and had called several times leaving messages on the answering machine. She had, also mailed letters and postcards. He does not believe her as she had lied so much in the past. What happened to her note, voicemails, letters and postcards? Rosa cannot imagine.
Rosa now realizes she should have never left her home. She seems to value their way of life so much more now. But, will she be allowed to stay? And, what of these feelings she's beginning to develop for Anthony?
I enjoyed this story. Great characters.
I was given an advanced ecopy by the publisher, Barbour Fiction, through Netgalley. I was under no obligation to leave a positive review.

Four Stars ♥️♥️♥️♥️
Okay. This is honestly one of the stranger books I've read, at least in my experience of the book, and my thought process as I read.
For the first seventy some percent of the book this was honestly going to be a three star review. The only reason being the characters.

The plot was awesome, and kept pulling me back to see what would happen next. I would give it a four point five for the plot alone.
The writing while not my favorite was pretty good as well.

The characters though. For the first part of the book they annoyed me so much. In the way they acted, the way they thought, the way they spoke to each other. No one was doing anything very nice to each other. Other than two characters from previous books, and the two younger children.

But then.

The pivotal changes, where the characters see they are wrong, admit they are wrong, and actually change. That made the characters go from people I honestly would rank as some of the lower characters I have read to much much higher.

Note that before the story starts the MFC does get pregnant with another woman's husband. And it is in a way the make up of the story. It is not talked about all the time, but enough to remember what is happening. She repents, asking for God's forgiveness.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this E-arc

Anthony Reeves is a kindhearted guy who works at his parents' restaurant. Eileen Peterson, one of the waitresses is in trouble. He has two weeks of vacation coming to him, so it seems like a fun idea to take the woman back to her home and family. All he has to do is pretend to be her husband until they can have a fight and he abandons her. Piece of cake. An adventure!
Rosa Petersheim has been missing from her Amish community for two years. She has tried to contact her family but hasn't heard from them. Now, she's coming back. Will they accept her? She's going in with a pretend husband hoping she can stay. Who is the pretender here?
Where do lies really get a person?
I love the conclusion of the mystery. I received an e-copy of this book by Wanda Brunstetter from a Mifflin Count Mystery Series via NetGalley from Barbour Publishing. It's a five-star read for me and that's my unsolicited opinion. I'm among the readers who has wondered what happened to Rosa Petersheim. This book is well worth the wait. I liked finding out what has been going on with her and the lessons she learned about where home is and who it is with. Her sister Susan is up to her same tricks and is being found out. Anthony is an excellent character. This is such a good read.

I have been waiting for The Pretender, so I can discover what happened to Rosa Petersheim. The Pretender by Wanda E. Brunstetter is the third book in A Mifflin County Mysteries. It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series, but it helps to understand the mystery to read the books in order. I was drawn into the story right away. The characters were well done. I liked Rosa and Anthony Reeves. I felt for Anthony. He is a good guy with a big heart. Susan was irritating for much of the story. Talk about having a chip on your shoulder. The Pretender is an inspirational story. One of the themes in the story is the damage caused by lies. Lies have a way of quickly snowballing out of control. I was happy that the author included an epilogue that nicely wrapped up the book. The Pretender was my favorite book in the series.

The Pretender by Wanda Brunstetter is the third and last book in the Miflin County Mystery series. The first two were The Protector and The Pretender is as good or better than the previous books. Once you start reading, you won’t want to put it down. Be sure to look for it your favorite store.

The Pretender is the final book in the Mifflin County Mystery trilogy. In this book, Rosa’s disappearance is finally explained. I loved most of the characters in this trilogy. There were three that kind of drove me crazy. I really enjoyed the story. The ending was perfect. While this can be read as a standalone, I would recommend reading the other two first or there could be a lot of confusion. Thank you to Netgalley and Barbour Publishing for the ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

I had not read Wanda Brunstetter's books for a few years. I am so glad that I decided to read this series.
I liked that Rosa's disappearance was not resolved until book 3. I was able to see how different people
dealt with it. I'm not sure I could have been as forgiving as the family was after everything was resolved.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

What a great ending to a wonderful storyline. I have been waiting for months to conclude this series and it was well worth the wait. Great concept and beautifully executed. I didn't know how I'd feel about Rosa but I found myself having compassion for her, and Anthony? Who wouldn't love Anthony! He is the type of man any woman would want!

I received this book complimentary from netgalley but all reviews are my own opinion.

The Pretender is a very emotional story written by Wanda Brunstetter. I loved the storyline which revealed a lot of secrets that were being held. I enjoyed the well developed characters. The sibling rivalry played out in this story really draws the reader In. The great cover will also have the readers interest. I love how the author played on the importance of forgiveness as well.

I did receive an advance copy of this story to read through Netgalley. I was not approached to post a favorable review. I highly recommend this story to all readers.

The Pretender is book three in the Mifflin County Mysteries. This story is about Rosa Petersheim disappearance and where she has been and why she has come home. This story is all about having faith, family, falling in love and a lot of forgiveness on both sides. I enjoyed this book and the series very much. A wonderful conclusion. Thank you to NetGalley and Barbour Publishing.

The Pretender opens with the long-awaited return of a soul both lost and longing for home. Rosa Petersheim’s journey, away and back, is about the deep, aching question we all ask at some point: Will I still be loved, even after everything?

Wanda E. Brunstetter answers that aching question with Gospel truth wrapped in the humble fabric of everyday life. The love and forgiveness poured into these pages are raw and slow. They cost something. Because when grace shows up wearing scars, we recognize it for what it truly is: a gift from God.

“If our Lord could forgive those who had put Him to death, why do we find it so difficult to forgive others?” That question hovers over Rosa’s family, and it settles into the heart of anyone who’s ever wrestled with wounds or withheld grace. The hurt she caused is real. So is the mercy offered … and it flows like healing balm from our Heavenly Father’s hands. Most of us have stood on both sides of that question … needing forgiveness, and needing to forgive.

“…you need to forgive yourself, just as God forgave you as soon as you repented.” Wanda lets Rosa’s redemption unfold slowly, the way true healing often does.

“God works in mysterious ways His wonders to perform.” This story finishes with the kind of ending that feels both unexpected and exactly right … because it reflects what real life often looks like: imperfect people, radically loved by a perfect God.

A comforting read that finishes strong with life applications of God’s precious, powerful Word!
Perfect for readers who love Amish fiction, heartfelt redemption, and stories that point clearly to Jesus.

I received a digital version of this book from the publisher. I am not required to write a positive review nor paid to do so. This is my honest and unbiased review. My thoughts and opinions expressed in this book review are my own. My review focuses on the writing and the story’s content, ensuring transparency and reliability.

The Pretender by Wanda Brusetter is book three of the Mifflin County Mystery series. Publication day is August , 2025.
We finally get the answer to what happened to Rosa Petersheim, and where she has been and what she has been doing for 2 years.

Characters are great, realistic and believable. You have a strong tie with each of them.

The storyline moves smoothly and can be live the Petersheim’s are a real family with real problems.

This book brings a delightful ending to the series. I highly recommend reading the series from the beginning in order to understand the whole story.

I was given an ARC by the publisher, but was not ask or required to give a positive review.