Book Review: An Unexpected Amish Proposal by Rachel J. Good

AN UNEXPECTED AMISH PROPOSAL by Rachel J. Good
SERIES: Surprised by Love #1
GENRE: Contemporary Amish Romance (Clean)
PUBLISHER: Zebra
RELEASE DATE: March 30, 2021
PAGES: 384

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?

Other Books In This Series

Greed. Lies. Jealousy. Theft. Family conflict. Vandalism. Amish characters.

If you did a double take just now or thought ‘one of these things is not like the others’ then you have only been reading a very small subset of Amish fiction. In Rachel J. Good’s An Unexpected Amish Proposal, there’s all kinds of drama going on at the Valley Green Farmer’s Market and in the lives of the people who frequent it. At the same time, however, the two main characters – Gideon and Fern – are people of integrity and compassion whose faith affects their daily decisions and interactions. So we still get the wholesome feel of Amish fiction but it’s certainly not boring either!

I really liked Gideon and the different layers to his character. He’s still wrestling with grief and guilt over the death of his brother and struggling under the weight of the responsibilities his brother left unsettled. He’s also kind and generous, and he bends over backwards to help people he cares about … including Fern, for whom he’s carried a torch since childhood (and she, for him). They are so sweet around each other, their feelings obvious to everyone except the two of them. Enter the hilarious and feisty Mrs. Vandenburg who’s part matchmaker, part fairy godmother, and part purse whomper. I adored her character (she reminded me of my late grandmother), so I’m eager to hopefully spend more time with her in this series.

Bottom Line: In An Unexpected Amish Proposal by Rachel J. Good, readers are treated to a smorgasbord of compelling layers from the characters to the plot (and subplots). Gideon and Fern are relatable and engaging, and Mrs. Vandenburg is a hoot! I also loved meeting Aidan – a teenager who is more than the first impressions he creates – and (most of) the other people of the farmer’s market. There are of course a few rotten apples in the bunch, and a couple of misguided ones, all of which add some rough edges to the plot and balance out the sweetness of Gideon and Fern’s characters & romance. This book is a great introduction to the series, leaving readers excited for the possibilities of what could happen next. Perfect for fans of Shelley Shepard Gray!

(I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book which I purchased for my own collection. I previously also received a copy from Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.)

My Rating: 4 stars / enjoyed it!

KissingBook Level: 3 / may forget to breathe on occasion

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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, Love & Promises, and Sisters & Friends as well as stories in many anthologies. Rachel can be found online at: RachelJGood.com.

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