A delightful read written by Vannetta Chapman. I found Annie Kauffmann a funny but yet serious character. She sure set Levi in his place and a run for his future. To know and learn more about this story, read the book, you won't be disappointed.

Looking forward to the next book in this series.

I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This is my honest review in my own words.

Hello everyone! I'm back today to share some thoughts that I have on The Amish Christmas Matchmaker by Vannetta Chapman. I found this to be a sweet romance that really had me rooting for the main characters to stop be so stubborn and admit their feelings for each other.


But now that I think about it, I feel that way about a lot of romance novels. Haha. I recommend this one if you like:

Sweet Amish romances
Love/hate relationships
Stubborn love interests
Entrepreneurial women
Stories that focus on family & friendships

To tell you a bit about this story, it focuses on the life of Annie Kauffmann, a young Amish woman who takes great pride in 2 things: Her family and her catering business. But all that changes when Levi Lapp comes to town. He challenges her in more ways than one, and if he has it his way, she and her family will be moving to Texas and she'll have to leave all her hard work behind, and that's the last thing she wants.

Here are 5 Things I Think you should Know about this book:
1. Annie is a very headstrong main character

And I loved it! She's a young woman who knows what she wants and is incredibly business oriented. She runs a catering business for Amish Weddings along with her English (non Amish) business partner and these ladies really stay busy. Throughout the story Annie was set in her ways, which really bugged Levi because he was so determined to find people to move to Texas and start a new Amish community with him, but she stayed true to herself and didn't compromise her beliefs.

2. The "Hate" between Annie and Levi is very cute

They say that opposites attract, and Annie and Levi are very opposite of each other. Annie is set in her ways and content to stay in Goshen, In for the rest of her life. Levi is new to town and determined to convince some of the community that they should move to Texas with him and start a new life. They are as different as night and day, and yet, they manage to become very good friends over the course of just a couple of months. They bicker a little bit and it always made me smile when they did.

3. This book has Fake Dating... and I Loved it

I love when the two main characters decide to fake date for whatever reason or another. In this book, Annie and Levi decide that they will step out a couple of times so that Annie's parents will leave them alone and stop thinking that they like each other (although they obviously do). I enjoyed reading about their dates together.

4. There are a lot of details about the Amish in this story

I felt like I learned a lot about the Amish through this story, although I should probably take it with a grain of salt considering that this is a work of fiction. I'm not sure how accurate all of the details are, although I'm sure the author did her research. I liked the different German words and phrases that were thrown in throughout the story.

5. The story takes place over a couple of months

At first I was confused when I started reading because it's called The Amish Christmas Matchmaker and it didn't seem to have that much to do with Christmas. But then I realized that the story ends around Christmastime. So if you're looking for a Christmas heavy book, this isn't it. But it's still a great story that I highly recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! I really enjoyed it. If you like heartwarming romances then you should definitely pick this one up.

A wonderful story set in Indiana but with Texas roots! Annie has a successful catering business and does a bit of matchmaking on the side. Life is good and busy but the arrival of Levi, a Texas Amish cowboy, turns her world topsy turvy with his idea of finding interested families to move to a new community in Texas. Annie is dismayed to learn her father and mother might be one of those families! Annie and Levi don't see eye to eye so life becomes very interesting to say the least!
I love Amish stories as well as westerns. This presented both to me. I loved the humor in the book when life became a little too serious. Just like in anyone's life there are highs and lows and how we face them can make or break a person. This is a terrific book that can be read at anytime, not just the holidays.

While searching titles on Net-Galley, I found The Amish Christmas Matchmaker, and the book description appealed to me. I requested it from the publisher, and they were kind enough to approve my request to read and review. My opinions are my own and are not influenced in any way.


This is the first book I’ve read by Vanetta Chapman, and it’s a heartwarming tale of a young couple who must find their way past a huge obstacle. Annie Kaufmann has a thriving business with her close, English friend as wedding planners.

Levi Lapp arrives in Goshen. He convinces families to join him in Texas and form a new Amish community. Annie’s father, ever the dreamer, is eager to agree, and even her brothers find it appealing, as are several others in their community. Land is expensive in Goshen and it will be difficult to acquire additional land. The land in Texas is much more affordable.

While Annie is heartbroken, when her plan to Levi to find him a girl to hold him in Goshen, fails. She knows she must stay in Goshen. After all, she has a thriving business. A strong attraction between Annie and Levi develops as she plays matchmaker, but since he plans to go to Texas, it can never be allowed to grow. Can Levi and Annie find a way beyond their differences or are they too great to overcome?

This is a romance between two individuals whose strong faith guides their decisions. The pacing is a tad slow in the first half of the book, but it moves better later on. There is no doubt that Ms. Chapman has studied the Amish community and their language. She uses just enough to give it a strong sense of what it is like in an Amish community. I enjoyed that aspect of the story a great deal.

Annie Kaufmann’s character is different from most Amish heroines. While her faith and family are very important to her, she’s also driven to succeed with her business and will not consider setting it aside when her family makes the decision to move. Her stubbornness keeps her from seeing what God has in store for her. It took me a good part of the book to warm to her character, but by the end of the book, I ached for her hurting heart.

Levi Lapp is a great hero. I liked him from the beginning. His drive to honor what he sees as God’s will in his life is admirable. His passion for his goals is very persuasive, and I was not surprised when he convinced many to join him. He wants Annie but knows she will never come with him. I felt his pain and confusion when he realizes, he must choose between his life long plan to move to Texas and the girl he has grown to love.

The romance between Levi and Annie is sweet and typical for this sub-genre. The part where Annie tries her hand at matchmake is amusing. I enjoyed how their love story played out, and I truly wanted them to find their happy ending.

If you enjoy Amish fiction with engaging characters and an interesting plot, then you will like The Amish Christmas Matchmaker. While the Christmas theme is not strong in this book, it’s still a heartwarming story. There’s a good bit of conflict between the main characters, which is resolved in a most satisfying way. Happy reading!

Annie Kauffman is coming into her own with a thriving catering business, and she is thriving in Indiana. Levi Lapp comes strolling in with his Stetson hat, appealing to her father's adventuring spirit, he convinces him to come back with Levi to Texas to start an Amish Colony there, which means that Annie would have to go to Texas as well. A friend suggests that if Annie helps him to find a wife, so that he won't want to move.



But the more time they spend together, the more Annie is confused and wonders if she can continue with her plan and stop herself from falling for him?



Annie doesn't want to move to Texas, she loves her life in Indiana. She is a clever, business minded woman who has worked hard to make her dreams come true. She challenges Levi's ideas, forcing him to troubleshoot problems that he had never anticipated.



Levi loved growing up in Texas and he wants to return, the colony that he was previously a part of failed due to a terrible drought. Annie's questions only prepare him more for Texas, by making him think up solutions to possible problems.



Overall, a charming, original Amish romance. I really liked the interaction between the characters, and how Annie and Levi start from such differing perspectives. A really enjoyable read from beginning to end!



I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Good story about two people who have very definite and very different dreams for their futures. Annie has her booming wedding business in the town where she grew up, close to friends and family. She loves helping others achieve their happily-ever-afters even if she has given up on one of her own. Levi is a visitor to their community. He wants to start an Amish community in Texas, fulfilling a dream he's had since he was a child. Being a romance, you know how the story will end, but the journey on this one was full of ups and downs.

I liked both Annie and Levi, though there were times that both of them irritated me. Annie is kind, giving, loves her family, and is more than a little bit stubborn. Her roots go deep in her family's land, its branches extending to her nearby brothers and sisters and their families, as well as the people she's known all her life. I loved her friendship with her Englisch business partner and the unexpected side of Annie that Priscilla reveals later in the book. Annie is not at all pleased with the arrival of Levi Lapp, in his ridiculous boots and silly cowboy hat, with his plans to recruit members of her community to start a new settlement in Texas. She's furious when he turns his sights on her father and brother. Levi is a hard worker, cheerful and charming, and focused on the future. He dreamed of returning to Texas since he was fourteen and his family moved from there to Indiana then to Pennsylvania. When his relative Old Simon in Indiana agrees to be a minister for the new community, Levi knows the time is right. He arrives in Goshen full of confidence and big plans, only to run into a brick wall named Annie.

There were sparks between Annie and Levi from the beginning. Annie made no secret of her disapproval of his plan to tempt people away from Goshen to Texas; she was nearly rude about it. I was impressed by Levi's patience with her attitude. Though it visibly amused him most of the time, there were a few times that it didn't, such as the meeting with the local bishop. Levi doesn't let it get him down for long, which leads Annie to more desperate measures. She talks him into going out with a friend of hers, hoping that he'll fall in love and give up on going to Texas. It backfires a bit when everyone around them sees the sparks and assumes that Levi and Annie are interested in each other. They decide to go on a few fake dates to show everyone how wrong they are for each other, but even that doesn't go as planned. Except for their visions for the future, Annie and Levi find that they like each other quite a lot. I enjoyed their lively banter and seeing them eventually stop fighting. It's easy to see the feelings grow between them, but the main obstacle is still there. It takes a near tragedy to make them look at what is possible if they both want to make it happen. The scene in the hospital room was incredibly emotional as they realize any problem can be overcome if they do it together. The three-years-later epilogue was great.

My only real complaint in the story was that there were several mentions of troubles between Levi and his family, but no details. I got the feeling that those problems were a big part of what drove Levi's dreams, and some details would have helped in understanding his determination.

This is a cute read by Vannetta Chapman. Her books are the greatest!
I love her books and I really enjoyed this one to the fullest! Her writing is unique.
I think her Amish books are the best!!
Poor Annie!! She's determined to dig her heels in! For which I don't blame her.
Her daed is a piece of work. He has wanderlust again!! Will he pack up the family and move to Texas or will it wear out within the week?
This book will keep you engaged until the end. It's not a very long read but some places in the book will make you laugh out loud.
I feel like I made friends with this family and I didn't want to leave them. This a must ad to my collection.
I recommend this book
My thanks to Netgalley for copy of thos book. NO compensations were received and all opinions are my own.

Annie Kauffman has a plan and that plan does NOT include moving. When Levi Lapp comes to Goshen to recruit families for a new settlement in Texas, her fear is that her father will finally give in to his wanderlust dreams. If he does, where will that leave her? She comes up with a scheme to get Levi interested in a woman, any woman, in her community. He agrees to three dates and after three dates, she will stop throwing roadblocks in front of his plans.

Levi has dreamed of returning to Texas ever since the community that was there had to fold. His life went from happy and carefree in Texas, to uncertain and sad - first in Goshen, then in Lancaster. He has decided that the time is right to make an effort to take a group back to Texas. He's been told that he needs to get commitments from 10 to 12 families and three ministers. Just when he believes he's finally on his way, Annie starts throwing wrenches into the works. How can he make her see that his dream could be a good thing?

As Annie and Levi interact in the story, it's obvious to everyone except Annie, that they are perfect for each other, but they have a Texas-sized hurdle to overcome, and as we all know, everything is bigger in Texas! What will it take to make each of them see the other through the eyes of love?

I always love Vannetta Chapman's stories, and this one had many things to recommend it. From the Stetson-wearing, cowboy boot shod hero, to the "I'm NEVER moving to Texas!" heroine who owns and runs a wedding "food truck", nothing was business as usual for an Amish-themed book. I liked the unexpectedness of those elements.

Readers of Amish fiction will enjoy this story. I know I did!

This is a different twist on an Amish story, and yes, I enjoyed it. That being said I knew the ending early on, but it was an interesting journey getting there, and a few surprises.
When the person you love is almost taken from you, sometimes you wake up and realize what is really important!
I did love the epilogue at the end of the book, it really makes me want to carry on in the lives of these characters.

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Harlequin, and was not required to give a positive review.

“The Amish Christmas Matchmaker” relates the story of two people who are quite determined not to become attracted to each other. Other strong themes include starting a new Amish settlement in a distant location, and Amish business women and their businesses. I thoroughly enjoyed the byplay between the two main characters. The plot moves along logically and quickly, with an ending that wraps everything up nicely. The Christian aspect is an integral part of the story, and quite naturally woven through the decisions being made by the characters.

The title might be somewhat misleading, since the Christmas and matchmaker ideas form a small part of the novel. There is definitely more focus on the business and relocating aspects.

Readers who enjoy a rollicking good, humorous story with great characterizations will enjoy this novel.

I received this book from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

I really enjoyed this book because it has everything I look for when I’m browsing for books, be it online or at my local bookstore. In this delightful story a high spirited Amish entrepreneur meets a wonderful Amish cowboy and plenty of hijinks are determined to follow. With family at the heart of this story how can both Levi and Annie make plans while they’re falling in love when their individual dreams are destined to tear them apart? An exceptionally wonderful read for fans of sweet and wholesome Amish and Christianromance. I read an early copy of this book through NetGalley and all opinions expressed in my voluntary review are completely my own.

Any true fan of Amish fiction will love this holiday book by Vanneta Chapman. True love does not run smoothly for Annie and Levi as they fight over a community move that Levi dreams of and Annie dreads, This enemies to sweethearts story is a perfect Christmas escape.

This is a lovely story about two Amish young people who have completely different dreams of the future. Annie wants to stay in her Amish community for the rest of her life, and Levi wants to establish a new Amish community in Texas. Despite the tension between them, they soon realize what the future could hold for them as a couple, if they can only find a way to reconcile their completely different outlooks for the future.

Annie and Levi’s courtship was entertaining. Both were stubborn and and unmovable as far as their goals for the future and were determined to have their own way. The sparks flying between them made me smile. I wasn’t sure how they would find their happily-ever-after, and had to keep reading to the end to see how the author would resolve the conflict. This story is a good reminder to trust God to provide the way when He’s leading us to something new.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

A lovely sweet almost typical, Amish read with a bit of a twist. This book asks you the question "what if" -what if you fall in love with someone who wants something very different from you? And that is what this book asks us. I can't say that I was thrilled with the outcome, but that is because I am not an Amish woman and I was brought up so very different. Then again Annie is a little different from your typical Amish woman!

This was a fast, sweet, sometimes frustrating read and well worth the price.

*ARC supplied by the publisher.

Cute, but fairly predictable.

I enjoyed reading about Annie's business and seeing her as an independent Amish woman who was ready to give up her family if it meant keeping her business and staying in the community she loved. I don't think enough time was spent developing Levi's character or his past. His family issues are only vaguely mentioned which makes it difficult to understand why he took such a liking to Annie's family.

** ARC received from Netgalley **