"An Unlikely Amish Match" [Indiana Amish Brides] (2020) - Book Review

MY REVIEW

Series: Indiana Amish Brides (Book # 5)

Paperback: 224 pages

Publisher: Love Inspired (Harlequin); Original edition (January 21, 2020)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 133548793X

ISBN-13: 978-1335487933

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“She could never love an Amish rebel...Or could she?

Susannah Beiler is determined to protect the other young marriageable Amish women from falling for the new bad boy in town by pretending to date Micah Fisher herself! Their deal is simple: she’ll keep him company if he stays away from her friends. It’s not long before she starts to see there’s more to Micah than his reputation …”

Thank you in advance to the author, Vannetta Chapman, as well as JustRead Publicity Tours for providing a complimentary copy to review. A positive review was NOT required, and all words are my own.

Not only is Amish Romance a fairly new genre to me (this is the second Amish romance book I’ve read); but the author, Vannetta Chapman, is new to me as well. In addition to writing Amish fiction; the author also writes:

* Amish Cozy Mysteries (these I would LOVE to find out more about)

* Romantic Suspense (one of my FAVORITE genres)

* Contemporary Romance (another favorite)
* Christian Dystopian

As far as the book …

Eagle-eyed readers and fans of Harlequin’s lines (any of them), will notice the cover change. With the other series, the logos were reduced and markings were placed on the left side. This series got a more simplified “banner” and looks like a blue spine color. In months past I saw red, pink, maroon, green, and blue spines. So, I guess this is a move to make a more standard color for the series.

Anyone who has read my blog, or knows me, knows I don’t read Amish fiction. I don’t dislike the genre; I just haven’t read much of it. My only encounter with Amish romance (or rather romantic suspense) was Witness (1985) with Harrison Ford. My how that barn dance scene stands out. And, yes there was some controversy with the film.

Anyway …

Right off the idea of a “bad Amish boy” has me interested! And, after getting to know Susannah and why she was the way she was – my heart broke for her. The idea of pretending to date Micah to keep him away from the other girls was adorable. Already this book mixes humor, sadness, and a bit of fun together.

It is part of the “Indiana Amish Brides” series, though it completely acts as a standalone, so you don’t have to read the other four books. I might go looking for them down the road though.

There is such a conflicting honesty about this one – and, we learn that from Micah. He has an “Englisch” (not a typo, they spell it that way) phone and wants to connect to the Englisch world, but does enjoy the simplicity of his Amish life/roots. He is a rebel because he doesn’t understand certain things or why they are in place. Nor does he feel there should be the rules. He is also not “committed” to the faith, whereas Susannah is.

Micah’s grandparents are very strict and in one scene this is shown by his grandfather (daddi).

Susannah has little to no interest in getting married, partly because of her medical past. This is the second Love Inspired (with even a Heartwarming one in there) book that deals with “CANCER”. As much as I hate adding a spoiler, those who are fighting it or knows someone who is might appreciate the warning.  

She does act like she is damaged goods, but yet isn’t treated as such by the majority of people she is around. She also has the common fear of a relapse.

Amish language is used. The author appears to use what looks like a cross of Pennsylvania Dutch and perhaps another one mixed. As my grandmother’s family once settled in Pennsylvania Dutch country (which explains a spelling in their surname), I guess I inherited some ability to understand and be familiar with Pennsylvania Dutch. Given the content of the sentence – it was easy to figure out who was being referred to and what was being said, and almost the pronunciation as thought I could hear it.

Despite Susannah being the front character, I really enjoyed Micah’s journey more. I enjoyed watching how he matured and after a tragedy he stepped right up to “be a man”. It also broke my heart to see how his grandparents, particularly his daddi, treated him. However, I am sure that as an Englischer looking in, it would seem strange, if not cruel. So, I have to remember to keep the context when I am reading.

Even though this was a “Love Inspired” book, and Susannah’s father was the bishop, I found this was lighter on the faith presentation than usual L.I books. That didn’t bother me one way or the other.

As with most of the Harlequin books I’ve read (Love Inspired, Love Inspired Suspense, Heartwarming, and Intrigue); this was hard to put down. I was halfway into this one, and almost dozing off to sleep before I could summon the willpower to put it down. Needless to say that the writer’s style was one that allowed the story to progress naturally and keep me (the reader) interested – perhaps too much.

This book was an absolute delight, and definitely made me see Amish romance in a new way.

RATING:

4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐– Goodreads

4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐– Bookbub

4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐– Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html)


Other Books in the Series: 

Series: Indiana Amish Brides (Book 1)

Mass Market Paperback: 224 pages

Publisher: Love Inspired; Original edition (July 17, 2018)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 133550964X

ISBN-13: 978-1335509642

“His scars are visible. Hers are hidden…An Indiana Amish Brides match

After tragedy claimed her husband’s life and her son’s ability to walk, Hannah King doesn’t want a new man. She has her family, a home and mounting debts. Scarred Amish bachelor Jacob Schrock offers Hannah the job she desperately needs. But while Hannah helps Jacob resolve his accounting issues, can she and her little boy also heal his wounded heart?”

Series: Indiana Amish Brides (Book 2)

Mass Market Paperback: 224 pages

Publisher: Love Inspired; Original edition (November 20, 2018)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1335509887

ISBN-13: 978-1335509888

“All she wants for Christmas is her memories

An Indiana Amish Brides book

When a young Amish woman collapses in the snow shortly before Christmas, Caleb Wittmer rushes to her aid. Only, “Rachel” remembers nothing of who she is. Now his family has taken in the pretty stranger, disrupting Caleb’s ordered world. He’s determined to find out where she belongs…even if Rachel’s departure means saying goodbye to his old-fashioned heart forever.”

Series: Indiana Amish Brides (Book 3)

Mass Market Paperback: 224 pages

Publisher: Love Inspired; Original edition (April 16, 2019)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1335479139

ISBN-13: 978-1335479136

“Every courting disaster has led him to her.

An Indiana Amish Brides story

After three failed relationships, Amish bachelor Noah Graber would rather disappoint his parents than try again. But when matchmaker Olivia Mae Miller agrees to provide courting lessons, Noah’s perfect match becomes clear—it’s Olivia Mae herself! With ailing grandparents at home, she hadn’t planned on love or marriage. Might a future with Noah be everything she’s been missing?”

Series: Indiana Amish Brides (Book 4)

Mass Market Paperback: 224 pages

Publisher: Love Inspired; Original edition (September 17, 2019)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1335479430

ISBN-13: 978-1335479433

“She’ll find him a wife for Christmas…Which of these Indiana Amish Brides is next?

With her wedding business thriving, Annie Kauffmann could never leave her beloved Amish community. So when handsome Amish cowboy Levi Lapp tries to convince her father to move the family to Texas, she must put a stop to it. If Annie finds Levi a wife, he might forget his dream of moving…but can she keep from falling for him herself?”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Vannetta Chapman has published over one hundred articles in Christian family magazines and received over two dozen awards from Romance Writers of America chapter groups. She discovered her love for the Amish while researching her grandfather's birthplace in Albion, Pennsylvania. Her first novel, A Simple Amish Christmas, quickly became a bestseller. Chapman lives in the Texas Hill Country with her husband. 

She can be found on the following social media accounts:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VannettaChapmanBooks

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vannettachapman/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/VannettaChapman

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