An Unexpected Amish Courtship

Rachel J. Good

Jul 2021 · Surprised by Love Book 2 · Zebra Books

About this ebook

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 . . .
 

Ratings and reviews

An Unexpected Amish Courtship is a delightful Amish novel. It can be read as a standalone for those who have not indulged in An Unexpected Amish Proposal. The story is told from Sovilla and Isaac’s point-of-view. I like that we get both of their perspectives (men and women can look at the same issue so differently). Sovilla and Isaac are likeable as well as realistic characters. There is a small cast of secondary characters with my favorite being Mrs. Liesl Vandenberg. She is a charming, Christian woman who loves to play matchmaker as well as help others. She provides good advice to Isaac and Sovilla. I thought An Unexpected Amish Courtship was well-written with good pacing. There is a bit of a mystery in the story as well. Wilma is an unhappy woman who turns her anger and bitterness on others especially Sovilla. We get clues along the way as to what caused the problem. I like how all the storylines are resolved at the end. There are good life lessons in the story with my favorite being that God is in charge of our lives. Christianity is beautifully woven into the story. It is present without being preachy. There are two lines that I wanted to share from An Unexpected Amish Courtship. The first is, “Positive thinking works wonders.” The other is, “When you’re ready to let it go, trust it to God. He’ll forgive anything. And He’s the only one who can heal old hurts.” An Unexpected Amish Courtship we get to see how God can help us overcome our fears and life’s challenges if we let him. I am eager for the next tale in Surprised by Love series. An Unexpected Amish Courtship is a heartwarming Amish tale with a plethora of pickles, a crabby aunt, an irascible uncle, a lack of letters, a precious puppy, a tongue-tied twin, and a beauty from the buckeye state.

This is my voluntary review of a copy I received the publisher. Well done characters, some really charming and sweet, some... not so sweet. There's a great example of grace and forgiveness, as well as Romans 8:28. There are parts that really tug at the heart strings, but they don't linger.

This is the second book of this series. I loved the Amish shops in the stories and how things revolve on their work and socialization there. The main character, Sovilla finds herself being sent away by her mother to an aunt she didn't even know existed. This particular aunt is a struggle to live with and quite hard on Sovilla. They are several different story lines that all tie together as the book continues. There are family secrets, family difficulties, drama and misunderstandings. There is romance and always the love and dependence on God to get through all of it. I enjoyed this book very much. There were characters to love and those that you were very unlovable. The book was well written, and I look forward to the third book in the series. I received an ebook copy from the author and NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

About the author

USA Today bestselling author RACHEL J. GOOD writes life-changing, heart-tugging novels of faith, hope, and forgiveness. She grew up near Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the setting for her Amish novels. Striving to be as authentic as possible, she spends time with her Amish friends, doing chores on their farm and attending family events. Rachel has several Amish series, including Surprised by Love, Unexpected Amish Blessings, Surprised by Love, Love & Promises, and Sisters & Friends as well as stories in many anthologies.