C-

The Brides of the Big Valley

This is a collection of inspirational novellas written by three generations of Brunstetter women. Each story follows a different couple in the intertwined community of Big Valley, Pennsylvania where three Amish communities with varying levels of observance live in harmony. The writing is uneven but all the characters have non-farming jobs, which is unusual for this sub-genre. I frequently read Amish and enjoy farm settings, but it’s nice to see an acknowledgement that farming alone isn’t sustainable for many communities. The stories include trips to local restaurants, named with the real locations, where characters describe menu items in bizarrely specific detail. The result feels at times like an awkward advertisement. For example:

“[He] placed his order for a Saddlers Run sandwich, consisting of turkey, bacon, avocado, mozzarella cheese, and tomatoes on sourdough bread.”

In “Deanna’s Determination”, a widowed mother of a special-needs child is courting her late husband’s best friend. After being blinded in an accident, her betrothed questions his ability to provide for a family. This story needed a longer format. Each scene was barely a sketch, leaving Wanda Brunstetter’s characteristically simple writing style to feel choppy. As a result, the characters were emotionally flattened and one-dimensional. I appreciated the hero having a disability, although the depiction of him struggling to adapt did not break new fictional ground.

“Rose Mary’s Resolve” is the most cinematic of the three stories. A young woman, working her first job at her family’s furniture store, struggles to convince her persistent ex-boyfriend that she truly does want to break up with him. Kevin, a pilot, literally flies into her life when his plane crashes in her family’s backyard. Kevin is afraid of his domineering father and fascinated by Rose Mary’s religion. Their story was predictable but pleasant, and the heroine’s people-pleasing ways were relatable.

“Leila’s Longing” is the most overtly religious of the novellas. Leila is a shy artist who encounters Aden, a kind logger prone to dad jokes, at a youth singing. Leila was previously bullied by Aden’s best friend. They’re from different Amish church communities yet immediately drawn to one another despite the challenges of dating outside their respective churches. Leila and Aden are well-drawn characters, and the slow trickle of trust and longing in their relationship was delightful. I was underwhelmed by the community-based conflict since the differences between their relatively progressive communities seemed insignificant. The story also contains a minor subplot about infertility solved with prayer, which I found frustrating and might be triggering for some readers.

This would be an easy tester for people new to Amish romance because it includes typical themes, tropes, and challenges within the subgenre. Readers with a low tolerance for inspirational romance are likely to be disappointed.

– Shana

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 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.