The Brides of the Big Valley: 3 Romances from a Unique Pennsylvania Amish Community

Wanda E. Brunstetter · Jean Brunstetter · Richelle Brunstetter

Jun 2019 · Barbour Publishing

About this ebook

3 Short Stories of Love in a Unique Amish Community--Now a #1 Publishers Weekly Bestseller!
 
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 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.
 

Ratings and reviews

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.

Good

About the author

New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Wanda E. Brunstetter is one of the founders of the Amish fiction genre. She has written more than 100 books translated in four languages. With over 11 million copies sold, Wanda's stories consistently earn spots on the nation's most prestigious bestseller lists and have received numerous awards. Wanda’s ancestors were part of the Anabaptist faith, and her novels are based on personal research intended to accurately portray the Amish way of life. Her books are well-read and trusted by many Amish, who credit her for giving readers a deeper understanding of the people and their customs. When Wanda visits her Amish friends, she finds herself drawn to their peaceful lifestyle, sincerity, and close family ties. Wanda enjoys photography, ventriloquism, gardening, bird-watching, beachcombing, and spending time with her family. She and her husband, Richard, have been blessed with two grown children, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. To learn more about Wanda, visit her website at www.wandabrunstetter.com.

Jean Brunstetter became fascinated with the Amish when she first went to Pennsylvania to visit her father-in-law’s family. Since that time, Jean has become friends with several Amish families and enjoys writing about their way of life. She also likes to put some of the simple practices followed by the Amish into her daily routine. Jean lives in Washington State with her husband, Richard Jr. and their three children, but takes every opportunity to visit Amish communities in several states. In addition to writing, Jean enjoys boating, gardening, and spending time on the beach. Visit Jean's website at www.jeanbrunstetter.com.

Richelle Brunstetter lives in the Pacific Northwest and developed a desire to write when she took creative writing in high school. After enrolling in college classes, her overall experience enticed her to become a writer, and she wants to implement what she’s learned into her stories. Just starting her writing career, her first published story appears in The Beloved Christmas Quilt beside her grandmother, Wanda E. Brunstetter, and her mother, Jean. Richelle enjoys traveling to different places, her favorite being Kauai, Hawaii.