Amish Fiction

Sadie Detweiler never imagined she’d move to Kentucky, yet here she is: a pregnant, unmarried Amish girl banished by unforgiving parents to live with kin she barely knows. The men are gruff and her cousins are secretive. Worst of all, elderly matriarch Verba becomes mysteriously ill shortly after Sadie moves in. When EMT Noah Freeman arrives, Sadie immediately notices he’s unlike any other Amish man she’s met. Though Sadie is drawn to him, she has little hope he will reciprocate her feelings once he learns she’s with child.

Come and sit awhile as you enjoy 18 fictional short stories of love, joy, and the peace found in Amish country. Amish Country is known for an atmosphere of peace and quiet, perfect for front-porch sitting with a good book. Join New York Times best-selling author Wanda E. Brunstetter, her daughter-in-law, and granddaughter, as they share 18 heartwarming stories from Amish Country. These fictional short stories include journeys we can all relate to as we seek how to live led by love, joy, peace, patience, and other Fruits of the Spirit.

Octogenarian sleuth Ettie Smith doesn't go looking for trouble. Trouble finds her! Mysteriously, Amish buggies have been disappearing. Worse, the biggest vendor of Amish buggies was found murdered. Can Ettie pick up the pace of her sleuthing to rein in the killer?

After spending three years in the English world, Anna Beiler has come home. She brings with her a baby girl, which will surely cause a stir since Anna is unmarried. She is also hiding secrets: The baby is not hers by birth, nor does Anna intend to stay. Rather, she desperately needs sanctuary from the child’s violent father.

Millie is happy that her childhood friend, Uriah Schrock, has returned to Harvest after decades away. He was sweet on Millie in their school days, but she only had eyes for her future husband. Now, there's a new spark between them, so Millie is concerned when Uriah doesn't show up at the Harvest concert series - or for his job as the Village square's groundskeeper. Perhaps Millie has been involved in too many murder investigations, but she has a sinking feeling. And when she and her best friend, Lois, find Uriah with the police, it seems she's right....

When Elizabeth Kaufman received the news of her husband's death at the Battle of Vicksburg in 1863, she felt only relief. She determined that she would never be at the mercy of any man again, even if it meant she would never have a family of her own. Then Aaron Zook comes home with her brother when the war ends two years later.

Ryan Lapp had promised to marry Lorene Bontrager as soon as he was able to build them a house, but the day never came. Ryan moved away. Five years later, Lorene has settled in to her old maid role, and she’s shocked when her younger sister announces her quick engagement to Ryan’s younger brother.

Phineas King knows better than to expect anything but shock and pity wherever he shows his face. Horribly scarred from the tragic accident that claimed his mother's life, he chooses to keep his distance from everyone, focusing his time and energy on the bees his family raises. So why does he start finding excuses to seek out Deborah Lantz, the beautiful new arrival in town?

Angie's parents are visiting Rolling Brook for Christmas - but unfortunately her ex is joining them. Luckily Angie has no time to dwell on her romantic troubles as she prepares her store, Running Stitch, for the town's traditional progressive dinner, featuring a sleigh ride stopping at each shop for a different course of the meal.

When a "lost" rose is discovered at Rose Hill Farm, Billy is sent to track down its origins. Get in, identify the rose, and get out. That's his plan. The only catch is that he's having a hard time narrowing down the identity of the lost rose, and he can't get those tropical blue eyes of Bess Riehl out of his mind. As the history of the lost rose is pieced together, it reminds Bess and Billy - and Amos, too - that Christmas truly is the season of miracles.

Growing up in the Depression, Tom thinks his southern Indiana life is perfect, until the day the green beans burn on the stove and he cannot find his mother. As an adult, Tom determines he will never forgive God for taking the most important person in his life. Not even the prestige of working in the White House under President Eisenhower and in the CIA under President Kennedy can ease his bitterness. Then, through an unexpected voice and an unpretentious Amish man, Tom Kirkman is forever changed.

His Second-Chance Family by RaeAnne Thayne: Julia Blair is hoping for a fresh start. So when she sees an apartment-for-rent sign on Brambleberry House, she can’t help but feel that it’s a good omen. Having spent summers as a teen in a cottage near the rambling Victorian home, Julia easily pictures herself and her two children starting over in the one place that’s always felt welcoming to her. Katie’s Redemption by Patricia Davids: After two years away, Katie Lantz returns to her Amish community nine months pregnant - and unmarried.

Bright, curious, and restless, Ruthie Stoltzfus loves her family but is stuck in a sea of indecision about her future: Should she stay Amish? Or should she leave? She's done all she can to prepare to go - passed the GED, saved her money - but she can't quite set her journey into motion. Patrick Kelly is a young man on a journey of his own. He's come to Stoney Ridge to convert to the Amish and has given himself 30 days to learn the language, drive a buggy, and adapt to "everything Plain". Time, to Patrick, is of the essence.

In the midst of family heartaches, can two young Amish people move past their grief and trust that God’s will includes finding happiness again?

LeEtta Miller brazenly accepts a dare from her friends. What harm is there in kissing a handsome stranger she’ll never see again? Unfortunately, the incident was witnessed and when her father learns her good virtues are marred, he wills her to marry. Benuel Ropp wanted a family, but not this way. He was trying to regain some of what he tarnished by coming to Cherry Grove, not to get married to a stranger. Well, if Laura thought he’d flinch and let her boldness add another stain to his name, she was mistaken.

Settling in to her new life in Canaan, Colorado, Katie Ann Stoltzfus gives birth to a beautiful baby boy. This child comes to her late in life following the death of her estranged husband. She resolves to play the role of both father and mother to the child. Ivan was her one true love and despite his infidelities, she mourns his loss and vows never to trust another man. But when a meddling - but good hearted - Englisch woman plays matchmaker for Katie Ann and Eli Detweiler who just arrived in Canaan, they both need to restructure their expectations of the future....

Find out what happened to Wilma before she got married and had her six daughters.

Tally Smucker’s quiet life of reading and quilting hides her sorrow over her mother’s declining health and the lack of a fulfilling future for herself. When her daily life is shaken by her free-spirited neighbor Danielle - who grew up Plain but joined the Army at 18 - Tally’s instinct is to distance herself. Yet she finds she can’t turn away when Danielle’s brother, Kenan, specifically asks for her help.

A student at heart, Ruth is finally a teacher at the Amish schoolhouse. But after her first day, she wonders if she's made a mistake. The students want nothing to do with learning. Deflated, she makes a promise to herself to not give up - not yet.

Love is a promise - for better or worse. When a group of eight cousins and friends leaves their Indiana Amish community for a weekend getaway, a horrific accident brings them home forever changed. Permanently disabled by the accident, Wayne Lambright struggles to take care of himself. He can't imagine being able to be the kind of husband his fiance, Loraine Miller, needs. Determined to sacrifice his happiness to give her a better life, he breaks their engagement.