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A Perfect Amish Romance

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If I could give this book 10 stars I would. Wonderful story teaching us that not all that we strive for is not necessary and sometimes we need that encouragement to go the extra step. Misunderstandings and encouragement is weaved throughout the storyline.

I am under no obligation to give a positive review and the review is my own opinion.

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Overall, the book was fine. There were characters I really enjoyed, but there were moments the storyline had not focused on the two main characters.
Aaron is secretly taking his GED, but does not want his family to know due to his brother Tim leaving his faith to join the English. Kayla works at her aunt's shop, but her father in deep in his grief which causes finances to be to tight. The librarian Anne has recommended Aaron to go see Kayla for tutoring. The two meet and it begins their relationship.

The good points are there is a subtle building of emotions between Aaron and Kayla, and each character is both trying to figure out who they are. I also like there is a realness to Kayla's relationship with her father and Aaron's worries of disapproval of his parents to continue his education. However, the story sometimes focused too much on Aaron's younger sister Tiny and her budding relationship that Aaron and Kayla was pushed in the background I would have liked the story to consistently keep focus on the two main characters.

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Did you know that the library Bookmobile visits the Amish communities.....I didn't! But this community has a special lady, who brings the books and much else, to the communities every couple of weeks. A retired accountant, Sarah Anne Miller, is a stickler for perfection.....but as we all know....NOTHING is perfect, in this world!!

Aaron Coblentz is a man who is secretly seeking to obtain his GED. He feels that it will give him the extra credibility for his boss to see Aaron's proficiency at his place of work, a classy furniture store. But it must be kept secret from Aaron's family. Aaron's older brother, Tim, jumped the fence and left the Amish community and it broke his family's hearts. Aaron would not do the same and he didn't even want his family thinking that was his reason for the GED, so it became a big secret.

We all know how secrets go....usually they tend to twist and turn the life they are involved into.....and this secret not only involves Aaron, but it will now become part of his tutor's life....namely, Kayla Kaufman. You will watch as Kayla and Aaron go through these secrets and how the deceptions will worm themselves into their lives. "Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive"....

Shelley Shepard Gray is one of my favorite Amish genre authors. I have read many of her novels and this story will not disappoint you!! Grab a cool drink, favorite candle and comfy chair.....sit back and enjoy the novel that will have wanting more, after the last page is turned!!

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In this tender story, two Amish couples learn that no romance is perfect, hence the title. They each have challenges to overcome, which could drive a wedge between the pairs rather than draw them closer. The bookmobile librarian plays a simple role of helpful influence in each life. I love books and libraries (having worked in one myself), so that element added enjoyment to the tale. There are some parts in the book unexpected in the Amish, but they are like others too. The characters’ struggles make them stronger, and readers learn life lessons along with those in the novel. It took me a while to connect with the people and get into the story, but it turned out to be quite heartwarming. I received a copy from the publisher through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

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A Perfect Amish Romance
by Shelley Shepard Gray
Another story in a wonderful series, its interesting having the character read the other stories in the series. An Amish girl finds a way to trust another, after a difficult three years. The loss of her mother had destroyed her world. Secondarily her boyfriend abandoned her and broke her abliliity to trust any one. She struggles against these weights. He was an Amish boy only wanting to earn a fair wage. But his boss would not promote him with out an education. Amish tradition did not allow college or higher education, he was unable to get his high school diploma, but with her help he may pass the GED and find the promotion he wanted.

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I have recently read several books promoting literacy. When I picked up A Perfect Amish Romance by Shelley Shepard Gray, I was worried it would be along the same lines. I have loved everything that I have read by Gray, and I enjoyed this book as well. A Perfect Amish Romance was original, thought-provoking, and nothing like the other books I had read.

Sarah Anne Miller has recently retired from being an accountant. On a whim she signed up to be a part-time librarian, driving the bookmobile around the country roads of Berlin. She is nervous about this new adventure and wonders if anything will go right. Her boss reminds her that no one expects perfection. In her role as the bookmobile librarian, she has the opportunity to help the patrons and goes above and beyond the call of duty.

Aaron is trying to get his GED but does not want his family to know. He goes to Sarah Anne for help and she introduces him to Kayla, who will tutor him. Kayla has her own secrets and is several years older than Aaron. Despite the differences in age and the way they were raised, can they overcome the obstacles that stand in their way?

A Perfect Amish Romance is a masterpiece. The details are intricately woven together into a beautiful story. The plot flows seamlessly, the characters are well-developed and engaging, the dialogue is intriguing and authentic. While there are some serious moments in the book, I found this to be fairly light reading. There are many themes in this book, including a strong faith element.

I loved this book! I love that it is promoting literacy through a bookmobile. It took me back to my childhood when we had bookmobiles that would come around. It also made me wonder why such a thing does not exist anymore. Or if it does, why don’t I know about it? I adored the character development and loved Aaron’s whole family. The way they interact with each other was refreshing. I also appreciated Sarah’s best bookmobiling rules at the beginning of each chapter, they were an unexpected bonus to the story.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves reading. I would also recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading stories about the Amish, although in this book it is not a strong element. I would also recommend it to anyone who likes clean romance novels.

Thank you to Net Galley and Gallery Books for the opportunity to read this book. I was not required to give a positive review but am more than happy to do so! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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When I was little, the town we lived in was so small that it didn’t have a library. What we did get, however, was a bookmobile. I loved that bookmobile so much. A Perfect Amish Romance brought those memories back. I loved Sarah Anne. She went from being very apprehensive about being the bookmobile librarian to being totally perfect at it. Aaron was studying for his GED, but didn’t want his parents to find out about it. Kayla was the tutor that Sarah Anne found for him. Tiny is Aaron’s sister and she is in love with Aaron’s friend, Joel. I loved this book. I loved the characters. I loved that the characters grew as people by the time the story finished. I just really enjoyed this book and I can’t wait to read the next in the series. Thank you to Netgalley and Gallery Books for the ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

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I received this copy from netgalley.
I always love Shelley's book's.
I love the character's and the cover and the title. I can not wait for more of her books.

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Loved it and can not wait for more books. This is a story about Aaron Coblentz and Kayla Kaufman. It revolves around a book mobile and Sara Anne who runs it. She is English and runs a bookmobile that goes to the Amish areas. Aaron wants to get his GED but wants it kept a secret from his parents because he does not want to hurt them like his brother Tim did. He needs help with this and Sara Anne gets Kayla to tutor him. Kayla holds a secret about her father and her life after her mother's death. As Aaron and Kayla get to know each other a spark connects them. Can they find love or will it just be friendship? I loved the characters in the book. Shelley Shepard Gray always has away to draw you into her books.

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This was a wonderful beginning in what sounds like a great series. A retired older lady, Sarah Anne, studies to become a librarian and in turn gets a job driving a bookmobile. She’s a little nervous at first but comes to love her patrons, mostly in an Amish community. She becomes a mentor and advisor for many. Aaron wants to take the GED even though he’s Amish. He needs to advance in his job but is afraid of what his parents would think so he keeps it secret. Sarah Anne introduces him to Kayla, also Amish, who has already passed the GED. They begin study sessions. Kayla has problems of her own having to do with her father. He can’t seem to get over losing his wife and live again. This puts a financial burden on Kayla. I loved seeing how these two grew and matured in their personal lives as well as together. There were other characters along the way that I couldn’t help but care for and want to get to know more. And in these characters I could see a maturing and a growth in them turning from their selfish ways and learning to help and care for others. Sarah Anne had that affect on many people. I can’t wait for the next book to see what adventures Sarah Anne has for us readers!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley but was not required to write a review positive or otherwise. All opinions are strictly my own.

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"A Perfect Amish Romance" features a bookmobile librarian as a matchmaker. Sarah Miller meets and influences many people as she drives the bookmobile to many community locations. Sarah gets to know the entire Coblenz family and finds many benefits and friendships beyond matching people with books. When she connects Aaron Coblenz with his GED tutor Kayla, Sarah never expects the two to form a relationship beyond studying together. Readers also learn of Kayla's family struggles, and of her courage and determination. Meanwhile, Aaron's sister Tiny explores the changes occurring in her friendship with childhood friend and neighbor Joel. Another theme in the story is the role of gossip and how it can destroy the good names of those within the community, particularly when conversations are based on false impressions and jealousy. The meaning of a "perfect romance" is also addressed.

This is a clean romance novel about Amish people, without overt violence, strong language, or graphic intimacy. The loose ends remaining at the close of the book will draw readers into the next novel in the Berlin Bookmobile series.

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

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When I saw that one of my favorite authors was writing a new series and that new series happened involved a bookmobile, I was beyond excited. It brought back so many memories of when I used to wait for the bookmobile to come to my neighborhood.
I loved the visitors to the bookmobile, Sara Anne Miller, the sweet, caring driver of the bookmobile and the wonderful characters we meet along the way. Some we get to know in depth while others, I believe we’ll get to know better in the next book in the series. The Coblentz family are a fun, loving family, which is the complete opposite of Kayla Kaufman and her family. I liked Aaron and Kayla so much, they are both capable, kind people but they don’t always see that in themselves.

One of my favorite things is how the author begins each chapter with the rules about the bookmobile from Sara Anne. They are quite amusing and clever.

Overall, I thought this book is worthy of a 5-star review because it’s truly a terrific read. I look forward to the next book in the series. Add this one to your TBR.

I received a copy through Netgalley and have given my honest opinion.

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"A Perfect Amish Romance" by Shelley Shepard Gray
Berlin Bookmobile #1
Release Date: 1.19.2021

Aaron Coblentz is studying to take his GED exam, so he can receive a promotion at work. Aaron is Amish, so he decides to study in secret, especially since his older brother already left the faith.

Sarah Anne Miller is retired and drives the bookmobile for her community. She helps her patrons find books but has become a listening ear for them, too.

Aaron visits with the Bookmobile Librarian, asking for more study guides, and Ms. Miller arranges for Kayla Kaufman to tutor him!

Kayla's life is in upheaval -- her mother died, and her father is depressed. Kayla's boyfriend broke up with her. Kayla visits the Bookmobile, looking for romance novels.

Kayla begins to lean on Aaron for support, and Aaron relies on Kayla to help him with his GED studying. Their friendship grows.

I enjoyed this book. It was realistic, not mushy, and the characters felt real. Aaron's difficulty with the GED questions made me think of my own students, how if you're not familiar with the dominant culture, it makes it even harder to succeed on standardized tests. I've never read a book by Ms. Shepard Gray, and I am excited for the next book in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

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A new book series is always fun to start. This one is by an author that I have read many books by. I have seen her writing progress over the years and each book is better than the last.
This series focuses on a bookmobile librarian named Englisher Sarah Anne Miller her husband passed away and she is grieving him. Sarah knows the Amish and helps them pick out the books they need and has the ones ready for them to pick up whenever they come in including study books for Amish man Aaron Coblentz who is secretly studying for his GED.
She does him one better though as arranges for Kayla Kaufman to be his tutor.
Kayla is finding it hard to keep things in order as her father spirals into depression after his wive's death and she must deal with his erratic behavior and act like the parent .
When her boyfriend breaks up with her instead of letting it get her down she isn't ready to give up on love and checks out romantic fiction form the library bookmobile.
AAron and Kayla both have a lot of baggage they carry but we see them talking and realizing they have a lot in common. Bookmobile librarian Sarah Anne Miller is quite the matchmaker.
Multiple Sclerosis is also covered in a respectful way.
Looking forward to reading more in this series.


Pub Date 03 Mar 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you
All opinions expressed are my own.

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I've read and enjoyed many books by Shelley Shepard Gray, and this was no exception.

As I've come to expect, the well-drawn characters and scenes are interesting and realistic. This is a great way to start off a new series. I loved some key features, including the bookmobile and the Multiple Sclerosis angles. These are elements I'm not used to seeing in Amish-themed novels.

Kayla and Aaron are engaging characters, though I enjoyed the secondary characters, too, and I look forward to seeing them in upcoming novels. This book felt like it was geared toward a bit younger audience than some books by this author, but I love a variety of books (including MG, YA, and NA), so I was okay with that. Aaron is a bit immature, but it's nice to see him grow throughout the book. Sarah was my favorite. She seems like the type of person everyone could benefit from having in their life.(And in some scenes, she reminded me of my grandmother.) I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

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I loved the story of Aaron and Kayla and how their romance evolved. Aaron secretly wants to take the GED test to further his position at the furniture store. Sarah from the Bookmobile refers him to Kayla who has taken the GED test and really needs the extra money. Kayla lost her Mother a few years ago and her Dad has been depressed and unreliable to provide ever since. This is a wonderful story that revolves around different peoples visits to the Bookmobile. It is a very good story and I could not put it down.

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Most Amish Christian fiction that I read will likely be by Amy Clipston or Shelley Shepard Gray. When I saw that A Perfect Amish Romance had to do with a bookmobile I was totally onboard to read it. It certainly did not disappoint and I'm eager to read An Amish Surprise, the second in this series.

This book is not just about Kayla and Aaron's relationship, it also ties in Aaron's sister, Tiny, who long has had eyes for his best friend and neighbor, Joel. Sarah Anne Miller, a 61 year old bookmobile librarian in an integral part of the story and I look forward to seeing more of her in book 2. It is through Sarah Anne that Aaron meets Kayla who will be his tutor for the GED. All the main characters are going through things that help them grow in their faith. They all have had a lot of loss in their lives and it was wonderful to watch them change and learn to be better and happier people as they helped each other.

If you're in the mood for a sweet and clean Amish romance, give this a try. I have to say I've enjoyed everything I've ever read by Shelley Shepard Gray!

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

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A bookmobile is the setting for romance in the start of this new series from a very popular writer. Sarah Anne Miller, a bookmobile librarian, takes her books out to various areas in Berlin coming into contact with several Amish readers, including Aaron, who although Amish, wants to get his GED in order to advance at work. His family, already fearful Aaron will follow in his older brother's footsteps, is against anymore education than the Amish schoolhouse of his youth gave him. When Aaron asks Sarah Anne for some extra books to study, she does one better and sets him up with a tutor, Kayla, an Amish girl from a more progressive sect. Kayla had her heart broken by her ex boyfriend who decided she was too busy with her mother's sickness and then death to be a good girlfriend and is now busy trying to help take care of her father, who is depressed and possible gotten fired from work. While Kayla and Aaron might have some romance blossoming, will their families - who have some other romance drama going on - approve?

The matchmaker being a bookmobile librarian - with some secrets of her own - is a new twist and I enjoyed all of the characters, who were very realistically drawn, they seemed like real people you want to have a happy ending.

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Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Aaron has been struggling to get his g e d for work. He asks one of his friends if they know anyone. He is given the name Kayla who is a tutor. I enjoyed this book.

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I really liked this book, I felt like the book was more geared towards a younger reader (teenagers), however I feel like as an adult reader it was still a very fun read. I liked Kayla she was very independent and very strong willed willing to keep fighting now matter what she faced. Aaron he came off kind of immature at first but I felt like the more you read he seems to grow up a lot. Joel and Tiny was fun to read about as well and you can tell they were both immature but looking to grow up as well. I LOVED Sarah she was hands down my favorite she has a heart for everyone that comes into her life weather big or small, long or short. She truly felt like an angel/grandmother to so many in this book while trying to find more about her self. I really don't think I can say anything negative about this book over all it was just a really good read and draws you in and you want to find out what is going to happen next. This is a good clean read as well.

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