3 Short Stories of Love in a Unique Amish Community In an area of Pennsylvania called The Big Valley, a uniquely blended Amish community thrives in which 3 distinct groups of Amish identify themselves by the colors of their buggy’s top—white, black, or yellow. Join New York Times Bestselling Author Wanda E. Brunstetter, her daughter-in-law, and granddaughter in experiencing the stories of three … experiencing the stories of three young women who search for faith and love within this special place. Deanna is a widow who sees her second chance of love slipping away. Rose Mary is at a point in life where she must choose the path of her faith and the right man to walk with her on it. Leila is burdened with family responsibilities and wonders when she will ever start a family of her own.
more
The Brides of the Big Valley by Wanda E. Brunstetter, Richelle Brunstetter and Jean Brunstetter contains three Amish romance stories set in an area called The Big Valley in Pennsylvania. Three different Amish communities live here, and they are distinguished by the color of their buggy tops: yellow, white and black. Deanna’s Determination by Wanda E. Brunstetter has widow Deanna Speicher getting engaged to Elmer Yoder. Her son, Abner has Down’s syndrome and he adores Elmer. But then a tragic accident threatens to take away their future. Rose Mary’s Resolve by Jean Brunstetter features Rose Mary Renno who has just begun working at her father’s furniture shop, Renno’s Furniture Shop. Rose Mary has been dating Tom Yoder who is encouraging her to jump the fence, which is not in Rose Mary’s future, so she breaks up with him. But then someone unexpected enters her life and Rose Mary is torn. What path will Rose Mary take? Leila’s Longing by Richelle Brunstetter has the artistic, Leila Fisher managing the card shop and the house as her mother’s pregnancy advances in the yellow top community. Leila is an introvert who has difficulty communicating with people and making friends. She meets Aden Troyer at a singing in the black top community and they begin courting. Then a tragedy occurs that could derail their plans for their future.
The Brides of the Big Valley contains three charming Amish stories. I thought the stories were well-written with steady pacing. I like that there is a common thread throughout the three books. All three feature the same community and the Renno family. We also get updates on Elmer and Deanna in Rose Mary’s Resolve and Leila’s Longing. Wanda has an engaging writing style. I immediately became absorbed in Deanna’s Determination. Jean and Richelle are accomplished writers who provided enriching novellas. I thought the various characters in The Brides of the Big Valley were realistic and it was interesting to learn about the three diverse Amish communities. They are all Amish and in the same valley, but they have various differences (not just the color of their buggy tops). My favorite was Deanna’s Determination. It is a story that touched my heart and I found myself rooting for Deanna and Elmer. I really liked the cardmaking in Leila’s Determination and the fact they had a shop selling the handmade cards plus cardmaking supplies. The phrase I wanted to share with you comes from Leila’s Longing and is “His presence provides us with contentment” (that makes me feel loved and peaceful). All three authors provided inspiring and enticing tales. There is a recipe included from each story. The Brides of the Big Valley are heartwarming stories about love, family, and faith.
The Brides of the Big Valley is a collection of three romances all set in the Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, known as the Big Valley, and is written by three generations of Brunstetters, Wanda, her daughter-in-law, Jean, and Wanda’s granddaughter, Richelle. It was very interesting to read about the three different Amish groups in the Big Valley and how they interacted with individuals from each of the other congregations. Each of the main characters is challenged in her faith as she seeks to do God’s will in her life in regards 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. Having now read two of these collections by these three women I am looking forward to reading even more from this set of authors.
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.
The Brides of the Big Valley is a collection of three romances from a unique Pennsylvania Amish Community. These romances include:
Deanna’s Determination by Wanda E Brunstetter – story of a widow, Deanna, having a second chance at love.
Rose Mary’s Resolve by Jean Brunstetter – Rose Mary has to choose between staying Amish or follow her love.
Leila’s Longing by Richelle Brunstetter – Leila struggles which community she should be with.
I enjoyed every one of these stories. I give the whole collection five plus stars.
I received this book from the publisher, but was not required to write a review. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
I found these three stories to be heartwarming and fun being written by family members. Wanda Brunstetter authored Deanna’s Determination. Deanna, a member of the white top buggy community, lost her husband through an accident and is trying to raise her young son by herself. Her husband’s best friend is determined to help her all he can until an accident befalls him.
Wanda’s daughter in law, Jean Brunstetter, wrote Rose Mary’s Resolve. Rose Mary belongs to the black top buggy community and is courted by Tom who is contemplating leaving the Amish. She has no plans to do the same. When a plane stalls and lands in one of her family’s fields, she is attracted to the young English pilot who has a bad bump to the head.
Wanda’s granddaughter, Richelle Brunstetter, penned Leila’s Longing. Leila is a member of the yellow top buggy community, who are a little less conservative. She has been troubled most of her young life because of things that happened at school. She has a hard time making friends and having confidence in herself. But she also longs to fall in love and one day marry and raise a family of her own.
This was the first time I’d heard anything about the different Amish Communities based on the color of the buggy top. Some more conservative than others and the white tops do not have indoor plumbing. They are closely guarded groups that do not encourage young people to intermarry and leave their own communities. But when couples fall in love….what are they to do? All these characters in each story had problems and issues to work out. I was drawn to each one and their circumstances and waited on their happy endings. Romance and family bonds were forefront in each story as well as their searches for God’s guidance in each of their unique situations.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
a) Deanna’s determination
In this short story, Deanna, of ‘white toppers’ conservative amish group, is a strong young widow woman.
when accident occured to the people you love, le life will become upside down.
only with faith, help, love, you can have the strength to go ahead, change the heart and mind, to re-invent your life, and put away the angst and fear.
b) Rose Mary’s resolve
Tom, Rose Mary boyfriend, likes English world, with car to drive, shops full of clothes, time to visit cieies and go around.
He pushes Rose Mary to try English world too, but she is content with the life as amish with God to speak to, with family and friends, simple things to enjoy.
c) Leila’s longing
Leila is a shy person, with fear and trouble to speak to the people. slow she’ll learn and improve to trust people, thanks to Aden and his patient and love.
These 3 stories make the readers feel good and think about some topics: simple life, God, trust, forgiven, death and grieving.
Three incredible Amish romances!
Each of the three authors wrote a separate story. They are set in the same town though the main characters are in different Amish communities. I was fascinated by seeing the differences among the communities. As I went through the stories I loved the fact that in the latter two there was at least a mention of a character from the previous ones.
All of the authors developed wonderful characters. I loved all of the main ones. The stories are each unique and captured my interest very quickly. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing how each person dealt with the difficulties that they faced. Each main character had wonderful people supporting and encouraging them along the way.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All of the opinions expressed are my own.
I live 38 miles from this unique community and really enjoyed learning new things about the 3 different beliefs of these Amish. The stories are interesting and well written.
This collection of three stories set in Pennsylvania was a quick but great read. I enjoyed that each story focused on the different “toppers” in the Amish community.
My favorite story was Deanna’s Determination. You have a widowed mom with a son with Downs Syndrome who is trying to create a life for both of them. There are so many misconceptions regarding special needs children and in this story, we get to see their loving and curious side. No different than other children their age. Beautiful!
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Shiloh Run Press, through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.
When I first started out going back to reading Inspirational Romance, Wanda Brunstetter’s books were always a go to for me, because I knew they were well written and easy to connect with. Over time, though, I’ve veered away from her books, and this book really brought that into sharp focus for me. It just wasn’t that enjoyable over all!
I liked seeing a special needs child in the first story, but the story was ultimately forgettable. I had a hard time connecting to Deanna, despite her being a special needs mother, and found that Elmer wasn’t that likeable of a hero. Rose Mary’s story is by far my favorite of the three! It was engaging, and somewhat angsty. I loved the hero that was written for her as well, as he seemed to be a perfect compliment to her. Leila’s story was another good story, but felt a bit awkward at points. I liked how relevant that story was to my own life!
All things considered, this was a decent book to read once, but ultimately was forgettable.
3 Amish novellas by 3 Brunstetter Women.
Three wonderful stories in one book by Wanda E Brunstetter, Jean Brunstetter & Richelle Brunstetter. Each one written with a different Amish community with different rules and different color buggies within the same area of Big Valley.
In Deanna’s Determination by Wanda E. Brunstetter, I really enjoyed reading this one because it involved a special needs child with Down’s syndrome and it touched my heart.
Rose Mary’s Resolve by Jean Brunstetter was a surprise to me in the end. An Englisher makes a surprising decision which I didn’t see coming.
Leila’s Longing by Richelle Brunstetter was heart breaking and sad in some parts but turns into a really good story especially in the end.
All three stories were well written and an interesting read. If you like reading Amish fiction, I would recommend this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
Another good book by authors Wanda, Jean, Richelle Brunstetter, it’s especially fun to see the younger Brunstetter coming into her own as an author. I think her story was my favorite in this collection.
Maybe a typical Amish story, I enjoyed learning about the way of identifying different groups according to the color of the buggy tops. We also learned about how strict (or not) a group was based on the buggy top color. I really like it when I learn things while reading a novel. I would have liked a bit more excitement but I know fitting three stories into one book cuts down on the space an author has to expound on things. All in all it’s a clean, relaxing read and I recommend it if you enjoy Amish fiction.
I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.
Each of these three novellas were wonderful. It was interesting to see how each of the characters were a little different since they were each from a different sect of the Amish.
The first story, Deanna’s Determination, made me laugh and cry. I loved the characters.
The second story was Rose Mary’s Resolve. Rose Mary and Kevin have to figure out if they really love each other enough to marry and either become English or for Rose Mary to remain Amish. This was so well done.
The third story is Leila’s Longing. I loved Leila and how she learns to keep her responsibilities to her family and to learn to love Aden. This is a great story that made me laugh and cry.
I received a copy of this book from Barbour Publishing for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
This is a wonderful collection of stories that examine the different lifestyles of the Amish. Each have different rules and even different colors of buggies. Some are very strict as others are a bit more relaxed. I loved finding out more about the differences and how they each had one common thread. They were dedicated to their faith and always helped their neighbors out. I enjoyed how the author brings characters from the different stories together at some point. It was a surprise to have them a part of each story and for me brought the entire book together. Be sure to look for cameos of different characters as you read these charming stories.
Deanna’s Determination
I enjoyed this story and how one of the characters, Abner had Downs Syndrome. The author doesn’t shy away from talking about the handicap and how much of a blessing the child is. Deanna is trying to make ends meet when her husband dies. Going to the market and selling her goods is hard when you have an active child to watch as well. The author explains about Down Syndrome and helps readers understand the challenges families face. Abner was a delight to get to know and I especially loved that he seemed to always be happy.
Deanna has been through several tragedies but has a great friend in Elmer. He has been there to help her when needed but his feelings go deeper than just friendship. There is joy when Deanna says yes to marrying Elmer. He has wanted this for so long and he is excited to have Abner as his son. The bond between them is very special, but something happens to change everything. Will Elmer and Anna overcome this setback? Can Elmer swallow his pride and allow the woman he loves to help him? I loved the story and found it interesting to read about how in a minute your life can change forever.
Rose Mary’s Resolve
This story is about Rose Mary and finding her way to what God has called her for. She has a young man who adores her, but she has said several times she is not interested. He will not take no for an answer and seems to push her to continue going out with him. I did like how excited she was to work in the family furniture store. It is a big step for her and shows her becoming more responsible and maturing.
Tom can be pretty persuasive and he is trying hard to push Rose Mary into the English world. It can be tempting to some who wonder what it would be like to drive a car, wear clothes other than Amish and go anywhere you wanted. Will Rose Mary be tempted to dip her toes in another culture? When a plane lands in an Amish field, I could just image the shocked look on the neighbors faces. Luckily the pilot is not seriously injured and Rose Mary’s family takes him in to help him. As Kevin stays with the family while his plane is being repaired, Rose Mary seems to be getting attached to him. They share lunches together and he enjoys helping around the farm. I think Rose Mary’s parents are hoping his plane gets fixed soon so he can leave. They are becoming concerned about the closeness Rose Mary and Kevin are sharing.
It is a wonderful story of making choices and following God’s direction. I loved the way Rose Mary stuck to her belief’s while deciding if Kevin was the right person for her. The story is a nice look at the Amish life and how devoted they are to family.
Leila’s Longing
Leila is a sweet young woman who helps run the family shop. She is very uncomfortable around people at times. She is not sure of herself and often wonders why she has not caught the eye of any young men in the community. It doesn’t help that an old friend of hers comes into the shop and reminds her how lonely she really is.
With her mother’s encouragement, she suggests Leila should spend more time around people her own age. Maybe she could attend some of the singing get together’s for young people. I could relate to Leila so easily. I was pretty unhappy as a child and very shy. I didn’t want to hang out with anyone and I was picked on a lot.
I liked how Leila started to become comfortable after she met Aden at the singing. He didn’t like the way she was treated at the singing and is intrigued by her. Maybe he can help her overcome her shyness and start to open up to him. This story is emotional and brought tears to my eyes. I loved how Leila started to come out of her shell and express her feelings to Aden. There are many changes that happen to her and her family that will help Leila become more confidant and be able to forgive those who had hurt her in the past.
I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher. The review is my own opinion.
The Brides of the Big Valley is a book with 3 novellas inside, one written by Wanda, one by her daughter-in-law, Jean, and the final one by Wanda’s granddaughter, Richelle. All three stories are individual, but all tie together and are related through the characters, which is a pleasant surprise and really made the stories flow together. All three stories are engaging and enjoyable to read, with characters that are interesting to get to know. I especially enjoyed Deanna’s Determination as it touched on characters with special needs, which is not seen in writing often enough. The story incorporated the two issues of Down’s Syndrome and blindness. Rose Mary’s Resolve touches on the main character having to make life choices based around her faith and upbringing, and deciding what is right for her. In Leila’s Longing, the main character must overcome personal doubts and make a decision about her future. She makes friends with others outside of her community and finds that they aren’t really so different after all. I really enjoyed reading these stories, the plots and characters were pleasant and realistic, and I liked seeing how each woman relied on her faith to lead her in the decisions each one makes. I also enjoyed learning a bit about the three different Amish communities that live in this area of Pennsylvania. The extra background information was a nice addition, as are the recipes included at the end of each story. I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher. My review is based on my own personal opinion of the book.
The Brides of The Big Valley is a compilation of three Christian contemporary Amish romance stories penned by the three Brunstetter ladies. Matriarch Wanda is joined by daughter-in-law Jean and granddaughter Richelle to produce a delightful fiction book that is unique and engaging. I have never read any Amish stories such as these.
The Amish lifestyle fascinates me and by reading these three books I was able to learn even more about it. Opening this paperback is an Introduction section that describes The Big Valley and Amish there. The three different buggy colors intrigued me. Their language and cooking do, too. The Brunstetter ladies have done their research well and really know the Amish culture. It is evidenced in their well written books.
Each story has believable characters that are true to life. They struggle with life issues such as strife, forgiveness, coveting, and not wanting to accept help from others. Through their tale solutions are given on how to deal with these unfortunate and stressful topics. God is frontmost in each of the three books.
All three novellas are set in an area in Pennsylvania known as Big Valley. There are many Amish here but they aren’t all alike in their beliefs and rules. The three separate districts here range from Conservative to Liberal. Each one has their own color of buggy to distinguish themselves.
Wanda has written the first book, Deanna’s Determination. In this story Deanna is a widow with a young son who has Down’s Syndrome. It is a heart wrenching story that has stayed with me long after I finished reading it. I was a bit bothered by switching between Dad and Daed throughout the book, but it could be a Big Valley practice. I loved the little boy, Abner. There are so many life lessons to be learned in this poignant tale.
Jean took on Book Two, Rose Mary’s Resolve. The common thread between these two books is Elmer. He works for her father. In this tale, Mary Rose is deliberating on her faith and finding a man to help her in her walk. She has been considering jumping the fence over into the Englischer World. It is a wonderful story and filled with faith, decisions, consequences, and inspiration. Jean has a very nice style of writing and knows her Amish, also.
Richelle wraps up the book with Leila’s Longing. Leila has been helping her mother and has done so without complaining. Secretly she yearns for a house and family of her own. Her friends are all married or getting married. She is goes to a singing where young people gather and mingle. Her dilemma is can a strict yellow topper be interested in beginning a relationship and family with someone from a different group?
I would highly recommend this to anyone. If you aren’t certain if you like Amish books, this is a sampling from three excellent authors. Each of the stories is equally entertaining and inspiring. After the novella each author has included a recipe from her story. There are no Discussion Questions at the end, but these would be great book club choices for many reasons. There is heartache, disabilities, and making choices involved in these captivating tales.
After reading these three novella, I am ready for a real trip to Amish Country. This gave me a taste for the real thing! I gladly rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. Each individual story would get a 5, also. A copy was provided by the publisher but these were my own, honest thoughts.
Wanda E. Brunstetter, her daughter-in-law Jean, and her granddaughter Richelle have each written a short story about a young woman from a different district in the Big Valley who finds herself destined to become a bride. None of the three women are the same age and their lives and circumstances have nothing in common but they all find themselves facing issues and conflicts that threaten their chance at happiness. I was especially interested in Wanda Brunstetter’s contribution because she centers her story around a widow with a young child with Down Syndrome and I admired the way Brunstetter describes her situation. Each of these authors has a different approach to storytelling but they each captured my attention and they all stress the deep religious commitment of the Amish.
At the beginning of The Brides of the Big Valley, there is an explanation of the history of this area and I enjoyed learning about the Lancaster County families who purchased land in the Big Valley in 1791 and eventually divided into three districts. Big Valley is so special because of these three unique horse-and-buggy Amish groups who live there. It is true that they all share the same deep religious beliefs and dedication to living a simple and peaceful life but some of their practices vary from being lenient to being very strict. I was especially intrigued with the unique difference in the color of their buggies. Black buggies are commonly seen among the Amish in our area of Kentucky but each district of The Big Valley Amish has its own special color of buggy; either black, yellow, or white.
Wanda E. Brunstetter is known for her ability to entertain as she shares her extensive knowledge of the Amish way of life and this book is certainly no different. The Brides of the Big Valley is an enjoyable book and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys Amish stories and Christian fiction.
I received a complimentary copy from the author but I was under no obligation to write a favorable review.
The Brides of Big Valley by Wanda Brunstetter, Jean Brunstetter, and Richelle Brunstetter, is a book of three stories each told by a different one of the Brunstetter women that will touch your heart. I really enjoyed these stories set in the area of Big Valley, where there are three different types of Amish groups there, each with different colored buggies, and different ways. These stories were as always very easy to get into, with wonderful characters and captivating story lines.
Whether you are a seasoned Amish fiction fan, or new to Amish fiction, this book is a must read!
I received a copy of this book from the author, but was not required to give a positive review. This is my honest opinion of this book.
Wanda, Jean and Richelle has all brought to us 3 heartwarming stories that weave together so beautifully. Learning more about the Amish and the different cultures between them has been so fascinating. Such sweet characters that will become your friends. And stories to captivate your heart. So pleasing to read these stories of how life’s choices can affect your own as well.
Three wonderful Authors, writing in a way that gives you insight into the Amish life style, with romance each different and unique ,you just want more from each. Learn about yellow, white and black top buggies.
I’ve been a long-time fan of Wanda Brunstetter, so I was thoroughly excited when I discovered that she had a book releasing with her daughter-in-law and granddaughter. For three generations to share their writing under the same cover? I knew this was one I needed to check out.
Each of the stories in this book came in just under 150 pages. They were standalones that took place in the same community. They were also loosely connected by a few characters that would make guest appearances. Even though each story was written by a different author, it didn’t feel obvious. They flowed very well together to show glimpses of the community the characters lived in. I enjoyed my time spent in each of the stories. As someone with more personal taste for longer novels instead of shorter novellas, I admit that the stories felt short for me with more abrupt endings that I was expecting, but I also recognize that a lot of that comes with the territory.
Overall I enjoyed this book and would easily recommend to Amish fiction fans especially those who prefer novellas.
*I received a copy of this book from the author and Shiloh Run Press. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.