Her Pretend Amish Boyfriend (Surprised by Love Book 5) by Rachel J. Good

Book Details: 

Title: Her Pretend Amish Boyfriend 

Series: Surprised by Love Book 5

Author: Rachel J. Good

Publisher: Zebra Books

Pages: 320

Release Date: June 27, 2023

Genre: Amish Romance

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Book Description:

Hiding a painful secret, valley newcomer Noah Riehl is looking for a fresh start with few complications.  He hopes his job at the Farmer’s Market will give him the quiet life he craves. But light-hearted Caroline Hartzler has other ideas. She practically falls in love with him at first sight. And when she asks Noah for a not-so-simple favor—and won’t take no for answer—he finds himself reluctantly agreeing . . .
 
Caroline refuses to listen to the gossip that has followed Noah into the valley, or even to her own daed’s warnings. She’s taken with Noah and his gentle, generous spirit. In fact, he’s the perfect person to help her discourage an unwanted suitor—by pretending they’re courting. Yet the more time they spend together, the more Caroline must remind herself that their relationship is just a temporary ruse. But she’s not the only one struggling. . . . Secretly, Noah’s feelings for Caroline deepen more than he thought possible, helping him renew his faltering faith. But when rumors about his past threaten to ruin them both, they must pray that the truth leads them to the blessed union they long for . . .

My Thoughts: A Great Story 

This was such a great story and one that had me connecting to its wonderful characters right off the bat.  

While some may disagree, Caroline was an absolute breath of fresh air. I loved how she had a directness of saying whatever came to mind while also having such a deep and caring nature. That may sound like an oxymoron, but in her case it’s true. Reigning in her directness and impulsivity causes her some difficulty, but watching her grow in doing so was sometimes funny and sometimes painful, but also inspiring. 

Noah touched my heart from the get go. There was some mystery revolving around him and his story, and I really wanted to find out what that was all about. Getting to know him and his story caused me moments of sadness, but also moments of joy, especially as I watched him and Caroline develop a beautiful friendship. Their story kept me turning pages to see how their relationship would continue to develop especially when some unexpected issues crept in. 

However, a major highlight for me was a revelation that Noah experienced which was unexpected and left me completely in awe. I was touched beyond words as it had me reflecting on how great God’s love and faithfulness truly are. The story is a wonderful combination of many rich elements that deeply touched my heart and will stay with me for quite some time. I highly recommend it. 

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book.  All comments and opinions are voluntary and completely my own.

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About the Author:  Rachel J. Good

USA Today bestselling author Rachel J. Good grew up near Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the setting for many of 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 loves to travel and visit many different Amish communities. In searching for the best Amish soft pretzels, she's visited many Amish markets, auctions, and mud sales. Because of her love of Amish food, she tries to include recipes in her books as often as possible. When she's not traveling, she spends time with family and writing.

In addition to her Amish novels, she's written more than 60 books, including children's educational books, adult nonfiction, and fiction for children and teens under several pen names. To find out more about Rachel and her books, you can sign up for her newsletter: http://bit.ly/1qwci4Q

Rachel enjoys meeting readers and speaks regularly at book events, schools, libraries, churches, book clubs, and conferences across the country. She also loves talking about Amish life, using authentic Amish clothes and goods, and/or doing coloring parties.

You can connect with Rachel on her website (http://www.racheljgood.com) or Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/racheljgoodnovels).