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This is book 2 in the "Brides of Lehigh Canal Series" and I enjoyed my time once again in Walnutport, PA. It was good to see how much Betsy Nelson had changed (you can read what she used to be like in book 1, "Kelly's Chance"). Betsy has come home from her work in New York City to care for her father, who was the pastor there in Walnutport until his heart attack. It will be hard for Betsy to see a new man come in and replace her father and also have to give up their parsonage home.

William Covington is a man from wealth and status in Buffalo who has a desire to minister to the needs of others. He is delighted to be called to the church in Walnutport and will quickly learn to love the people there, and appreciate Betsy and her father. But having been left once before at the altar, William has vowed to serve the Lord as a single man. He wasn't counting on meeting a woman like Betsy though.

This was a sweet story about two individuals who had a love for their Lord and a desire to serve him. They find themselves working together and growing in their attraction to one another. Betsy turned out to be a fine young woman and I am glad, because I didn't care for her at all in book one. I also liked how the author kept up with the other folks in town that you came to know from reading the first story in this series. It doesn't take you long to read these stories, so it is a nice "get away" with a little history thrown in, with a delightful love story. ( )

*Thanks to Angie Brillhart of Barbour Books for providing a copy for review.*

This is the second book in the series BRIDES OF LEHIGH CANAL, but I have not read the first one. This is the first book I have ever read of Wanda's that was not Amish. I have all her Amish books in my collection.

Betsy had moved away from Walnutport, Pennsylvania when she was younger as she had made a folo of herself over a local young man and he had married someone else. She moved to New York City and was lead to the Lord by and started to help the Salvation Army. She worked at all types of things to help people and children.
Her father was a Bishop in the local perish until he had a heart attack and that is when Betsy came home to take care of him. The Deacons had called another young man to come and meet the people at the church to see if he would become their new pastor.
She was turned off on men because of the way she had acted when she was younger. William Covington the man that was called to meet with the men at the church. He was turned off on marraige also because he had been jilted at the alter.
Well before I give the complete story away I need to stop and just say that you need to buy this book and read it, it is GREAT!

You can get it at any Christian Book store and also online at Christianbooks.com and Amazon,

This book was supplied by Goodreads in order for me to review. ( )

This was a wonderful story! Wanda Brunstetter has always been a favorite of mine with her Amish novels, but she is also superbly talented in that she has a gift to also write non-Amish stories. Her stories are always written with God's love and gentle words and it overflows onto the reader when they open this the book.

Betsy's Return, book 2 in the Brides of Lehigh Canal series, could easily be read as a stand alone novel but I'm a stickler for reading a series in order whenever possible and also recommending they be read in order, so I would suggest just that: read Kelly's Chance and then Betsy's Return, both of which are WONDERFUL!

The characters in Betsy's Return are wonderful and full of humor. Both Betsy and William are struggling with personal issues like forgiveness, heartache and following God's true will for their lives. I laughed many times throughout this story, I prayed for the characters and I could feel the love of God reach to my soul. A wonderful feeling when you read a book!

Well done, Wanda! She created yet another 5 star book worthy of high recommendations! It's the perfect blend of history, humor, love and inspiration and shouldn't be missed! ( )