In this combined series review of the Surprised By Love series by Rachel J. Good, I am covering the first four books, An Unexpected Amish Proposal, An Unexpected Amish Courtship, An Unexpected Amish Christmas and An Amish Marriage of Convenience. Book 5, Her Pretend Amish Boyfriend, releases June 27. For now the review for that title will be on Goodreads and NetGalley and will post to this blog and Amazon on release date.
Genre: Inspirational Romance
Publisher: Zebra
Format: Kindle ARC
No. of pages: 352
Date of Publication: March 30, 2021
My Rating: 5 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
Sometimes love is found in the most unexpected places—as three blessed men will discover in Rachel J. Good’s heartwarming Amish romance series, set in a bustling Pennsylvania community . . .
When an organic farm causes rents to skyrocket at the Valley Green Farmer’s Market, Fern Blauch’s family baked goods stand is driven to the edge of eviction. . . . Until a mysterious temporary reprieve. Fern is confused when she discovers the benefactor is barbecued chicken stand owner—and her longtime crush—Gideon Hartzler. She’s grateful, but pridefully tells him she intends to pay him back. If only she can find a new place to sell her wares . . .
To stay competitive, and help as many others as he can, Gideon expands his stand to provide full meals—including dessert. That’s where Fern comes in. As the two work long hours, side-by-side, business booms—and so does their attraction. Still, the demands of caring for aging parents and struggling relatives cause them to hide any feelings beyond friendship. But as new challenges emerge and Gideon and Fern turn more deeply to their faith, and to each other, will love find a place at their table?
MY THOUGHTS:
Gideon is expanding his stand to accompany other sellers driven out due to an expansion. The stands being driven out are being taken over by an organic farm stand. Gideon and the other Amish farmers that are affected by the change have been at the Valley Green Farmer's Market and Auction for generations Not only is Gideon kindly planning on accommodating others at his barbecue chicken stand, someone else steps in to help. She is a dear nonagenarian named Mrs. Vandenburg that plays a vital role in each of the five stories I have had the pleasure of meeting in each of the books in this series.
In this first book, Fern's future suddenly seems very uncertain. If her bakery fails, she will not be able to support herself and her family. Not only does she help her parents, but her brother is on a Mission and she has been sending funds to him. The market has both Amish and English sellers, and things seem to be changing rapidly.
Gideon is not only looking after the other sellers being driven out, he employs his widowed sister-in-law. In fact, she and her four children reside with Gideon and his parents and he has been invaluable to her after the loss of his brother. However, his duty and kindness has her thinking that the two might suit.
Not about to happen, as sparks fly between Gideon and Fern. While the two slowly warm to one another, there is another story taking place. More than the organic farm coming to the market, Gideon takes on a surly teen at his barbecue stand. There is a lot of drama and it just might involve the teen named Adian. This adds an extra layer to an already engaging read, thus making this first book in this series an absolutely wonderful read.
Many thanks to Zebra and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
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Genre: Inspirational Romance
Publisher: Zebra
Format: Kindle ARC
No. of pages: 331
Date of Publication: July 27, 2021
My Rating: 5 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
Sometimes love, guided by the Grace of God, is found in the most unexpected places or in unexpected ways. And in USA Today bestselling author Rachel J. Good's second Surprised by Love romance, the bustling Green Valley Farmer's Market and Auction is the perfect setting for a shy man who trains assistance dogs and a young woman with fledgling a homemade pet food business to find love when they least expect it...
The luscious scent of fresh-picked peaches and summer apples...the warming promise of grilled corn, sweet and savory baked goods...and love. In Rachel J. Good's uplifting Amish romance series, blessed hearts come together in a bustling Pennsylvania community and farmer's market...
Jilted by her first love, Sovilla Mast fled her hometown to live in Pennsylvania with an aunt she's never met. Only after she arrives does she realize that the cantankerous woman has left the faith and alienated everyone around her. To take her mind off her sadness, Sovilla turns to baking homemade pet food and treats to sell at the Valley Green Farmer's Market. It's there she meets dog breeder Isaac Lantz...
Shy and kind-hearted, Isaac breeds Labrador retrievers and works as a puppy raiser for assistance dogs. When he and Sovilla bond at the market, he is immediately drawn to her. And when he tells her he needs a new puppy raiser, Sovilla jumps at the chance. But as their friendship deepens, Isaac can't help but notice that Sovilla keeps herself at a safe distance. Gaining a puppy's trust and affection has been easy for Isaac, yet he has no idea how to win the heart of the woman he's fallen in love with--until Sovilla needs advice in dealing with her aunt. Soon, Isaac is putting his lessons from man's best friend, and his faith, to work for the good of all involved...
MY THOUGHTS:
Isaac is lovely shy young man who breeds Labrador Retrievers so that they can be service dogs. Not only is Isaac quite shy, he has a stutter that embarrasses him, thus he remains quiet when among others. When Isaac meets Sovila at the Green Farmer's Market and Auction, he is even more tongue tied than ever. He is quite smitten. He has found some information that he hopes to help him with his stutter and spends many quiet hours trying to improve his speech.
Sorvila is drawn to Isaac and is not bothered one bit about his stuttering. However, his shyness makes it difficult for her to discover whether or not he is drawn to her as well. Just as the first book in this series feature the ever-wise 92-year-old Mrs. Vandenburg, she notices the possible young love and makes sure to give these young people a chance at a happy future together.
What a delightful read! I love the shy and less than perfect Isaac and his desire to improve, although when you love someone it is their heart that draws you to them. Sweet Sovila could see Isaac's heart and I loved how their story worked out.
Many thanks to Zebra and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
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Genre: Inspirational Romance
Publisher: Zebra
Format: Kindle ARC
No. of pages: 352
Date of Publication: October 26 2021
My Rating: 5 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
In USA Today bestselling author Rachel J. Good's new Surprised by Love Amish romance, two lonely pen pals--a grieving woman with too many responsibilities and a shy man paralyzed in a buggy accident--fall in love through their letters. Will the Green Valley Farmer's Market be the unlikely backdrop for translating their feelings from the page to in-person?
Recovering from a horse and buggy accident that took the lives of his family, Jacob Zook is struggling to regain both his spirit and his body. While his legs remain stubbornly opposed to moving, he exercises his hands by writing, and finds the perfect outlet for his grief in inspirational letters to the Amish newspaper. When Keturah Esch, a woman who works at the Green Valley Farmer's Market, responds with gratitude, Jacob has no idea that his hardship is about to become a blessing...
Dealing with her own loss, and responsible for her three siblings, Keturah's new correspondence with the anonymous letter writer becomes a source of joy. And when a shy young man confined to a wheelchair begins to visit the market, Keturah is happy to make his acquaintance--never knowing that Jacob is afraid to reveal himself as her pen pal. After all, what can he offer her, when he can't even walk? Can faith bring two lonely people together in perfect union? As Christmas approaches, Jacob and Keturah get a chance to make their gifts to each other worthy of the blessing of love...
A crackling fire, the promise of snow, the delicious smell of fresh-baked cookies and fallen pine needles...when Christmas is coming, every heart lifts in song.
MY THOUGHTS:
Jacob Zook and Ketura Esch have more in common than either of them realize. For starters, Jacob has lost his family due to a horse and buggy accident and is now confined to a wheelchair. Due to his extensive injuries he has sold his family farm and is currently residing in a rehab center. He becomes pen pals with someone who is also suffering loss. However, he hides his identity and location as he does not want any pity.
When Jacob begins working at the Green Valley Farmer's Market and Auction Keturah finds herself quite drawn to him. However, she is also drawn to her mysterious pen pal. While Jacob is only responsible for himself, after her loss, Keturah is responsible for her three siblings. Even with the love of her siblings, Keturah finds herself quite lonely and has begun to pour her heart out in the letters she has been writing.
Although this book is named An Unexpected Amish Christmas, there was not a Christmas feel to this story. That did not take away from the wonderful love story where Keturah finds her heart nearly split in two.
Many thanks to Zebra and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Genre: Inspirational Romance
Publisher: Zebra
Format: Kindle ARC
No. of pages: 400
Date of Publication: August 23. 2022
My Rating: 5 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
In USA Today bestselling author Rachel J. Good’s sweetly romantic inspirational series, the bustling Green Valley Farmer’s Market in Pennsylvania is an unexpected place for residents of nearby Amish communities to find the partner of their dreams. But as spring gives way to summer and the market fills with the season’s bounty, a new relationship begins to bloom as well…
When widower Stephen Lapp moves his five children from New York State to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, his only plan is to buy his family’s farm stand, Lapp’s Pastured Pork. That way, his brother can move closer to his fiancée and open his own stand. But on Stephen’s first trip to the market, his brave act of kindness nearly ends in catastrophe—until strong-willed Nettie Hartzler saves him—and makes an impression he can’t forget . . .
A widow with private heartaches of her own, Nettie has no interest in getting involved with any man, though she doesn’t discourage their respective children’s new friendships—despite Stephen’s contentious oldest daughter. But when Nettie runs into serious money worries and Stephen proposes a marriage of convenience, she’s distressed and conflicted. She’s come to know Stephen’s gentle heart and generous soul, and she can’t believe he’ll want her if she reveals the sins of her past. God has His own plans for the faithful, however, and this time they may include a second chance at love . . .
MY THOUGHTS:
Widow Nettie thought that her brother-in-law would marry her and care for her and her four children. However, despite his caring for them as his family, his heart belonged to someone else in their Amish community. Not only does Nettie have four children, but she meets widower Stephen and learns that he has five children.
Stephen moved to Lancaster County with his children to assist his engaged brother-in-law. Finding a new wife was definitely not his plan, but the owner of the Farmer's Market where he is now working, nonagenarian Mrs. Vandenburg, takes the choice out of his hands. He just might soon find himself in a huge blended family.
Nettie proved herself strong-willed, especially in book one in this series. Stephen is a good match for her in more ways than one. Of course, anyone reading this series no doubt has fallen in love with Mrs. Vandenburg, as I have in each and every book, as well as book five, coming out in June, that I have already read. Her wisdom is unrivaled and she blesses the lived of everyone she comes into contact with.
Although the Farmer's Market employs both Amish and English, and with Mrs. Vandenburg working hard to bring together Amish couples, there is a sense of unity and community among most of the folks there. Of course, there is always an unlikeable character, but the challenges the Stephen and Nettie overcome in this book make it a very worthy read.
Many thanks to Zebra and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Rachel J. Good grew up near Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the setting for her Amish novels. A former teacher and librarian, she completed her MA from Vermont College while raising five children. She is presently an MFA student at Hollins University. In addition to having more than 2300 articles and 40 books in print or forthcoming under several pseudonyms, she also juggles freelance editing and illustration careers.
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