Matched and Married is the second book in the Amish Mail-Order Bride series by Kathleen Fuller. Before I read this book today, I hadn't read an Amish book of hers in several years. The past several years she has had a contemporary fiction series which I have been reading.
Margaret Yoder is a young Amish woman ready to settle down after a rather wild rumspringa, running around period the Amish do before deciding if they want to join the church. Her past won't stay in the past though, it shows up on her doorstep in the form of former Englisher friends who want her to continue the behavior she has put behind her. With three daughters and Maragret the last, her mother just wants her to get married. Everything Maragret does seems to be met with her mother's disapproval. Margaret has no intentions of getting married anytime soon though. Going to Birch Creek to visit family will be the perfect escape from old temptations and to appease her mother she'll pretend to look for a husband. Her aunt whom she is staying with understands her and enjoys her visit though she's not looking for a husband. Meeting a local in Birch Creek, Owen Bontrager while out foraging for herbs for the natural medicines she makes Margaret is pleased to find out he's not looking for a spouse either. Knowing that she won't be in Birch Creek long she tries hard to concentrate on being a strong Amish church member but the more she's around Own the more intriguing she finds him. He's smart and they have interesting conversations which draws them closer. Knowing her mother wants her to return home soon to find a suitable match will she be able to go home and just forget about Owen and the awakening her heart has had towards love?
I've always enjoyed this author's series and this one too, though I don't feel the mother should have been so domineering.

Pub Date 07 Sep 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Due to personal reasons I have altered the genres I am reviewing and I will not be finishing this book. I'm sure it is an enjoyable read however it is not for me.

I loved the premise of this novel, the characters were okay, my favorite was Owen Bontrager. I disliked Margaret Yoder, but kept reading with the hope that I would change my mind about her. After a few chapters, my feelings didn’t change, which made the storyline drag on and on. There were a few things I did enjoy such as Margaret working to forget her past and making her future brighter and some of the secondary characters were interesting.
I usually enjoy this author writing, but for some reason, this just wasn’t for me.
I received a copy from the publisher through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Matched and Married is the second installment from Kathleen Fuller's An Amish Mail-Order Bride series. I really liked this sweet book. I look forward to reading the next book in the series. Four stars.

Return to Birch Creek with this charming Amish romance.

Margaret plans to go to Birch Creek to get away from her mother's constant disapproval and the temptations that she left behind when she joined the church. She isn't looking for a husband, but rather a respite.

Workaholic Owen Bontrager loves to work his family's farm, enjoying the constant battle to stay one step ahead of what needs to be done. He is at a loss when his family forces him to take a break from his labors, the last thing he is looking for is marriage, but he strikes up a friendship with Margaret over their shared love of herbs and plants.

A light-hearted romance, filled with misunderstanding and charming characters. I also liked that we got to follow up with a previous characters, and meet new faces as well. This was a fast read, feel-good, predictable but not in a bad way, as I enjoy a sweet Amish romance every now and then. I liked that Owen is a hardworker, though he struggled with balance. It was sweet how he and Margaret brought out the best in each other.

Overall, an enjoyable read. I'll definitely be picking up Katherine's story when it comes out!

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

Margaret Yoder is 20 years old and her mother wants her to get married. She was a wild child during rumspringa and her parents want her settled. After seeing a want ad for brides, her mother sends her to Birch Creek to stay with her cousins in order to find a husband. Margaret goes but has no plans for marriage. Strange things can happen when you’re not looking!

My favorite part of this book was on the first page, with the description of Margaret's trendy non-Amish clothing! When Margaret visits her relatives, she leaves her own community so as to avoid her past indiscretions, and become more faithful to her beliefs. Owen devotes his time to farming, to the point of exhaustion. Both Margaret and Owen are determined not to get romantically involved, yet they cannot avoid their growing interest in one another.

Although this romance is quite predictable, the plot twists and turns keep readers interested in the action. Margaret and Owen are realistic and likeable, each with his or her own flaws and failings. Readers who enjoy clean stories, without violence, sexual intimacies, or strong language will find this story to be an intriguing read, worth the time to peruse it.(The cliff hanger ending was hard to take though!)

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

Margaret Yoder's mother keeps pressuring her to get married. She decides to return to Birch Creek to visit family—and pretend to find a husband.
Like Margaret, Owen Bontrager isn’t looking for a spouse, something that’s hard to avoid in Birch Creek, where an ad for brides in the local paper has brought a swarm of single women to the thriving town. Even the town is in on the matchmaking

I have really enjoyed this series. It is only the 2nd book but it was a spin off of another series. You get the feeling of being part of a community and learn something about yourself along the way.

It is a sweet romance of the Amish Mail order bride series of an ad that was run in the Birch Creek Community. The add was inviting other single women from other communities to Birch Creek where there was an abundance of single Amish men. No one knows who set up the ad but there are some clues. The people of the Birch Creek are endearing. Margaret Yoder has seen the ad and sees it has an opportunity to start a new leaf. She has family living there and now living at home only brings her shame. She had made a commitment to her community but before that she dabbed into the English life style more and found it to be superficial. She learned how men found her attractive and the shame of her own desires left her feeling a bit empty. Going to Birch Creek was not to find a husband but to find God's acceptance. She met Aaron and since both her and Aaron were not looking for marriage, they had found a friendship that ran deep. They both discovered their weakness and a strength in God and love.

I appreciated how this dealt with shame. Shame that leads to despair can be very damaging and it can a big hole that we can dig ourselves into. There were several other characters that were dealing with shame for different reasons however, it is a learning experience that we can have to know God in a more deeper and personal way. It is important to deal with shame in healthy way. I feel that shame can be used to bring us to the Lord but it also can lead us away. I loved the story, the community, and how God is center!

A special thank you to Zondervan and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

Birch Creek....what a wonderful place to spend some time to find out where your life is going....or so Margaret Yoder thought! Especially since her mother seems determined to get her out of the house by marrying her off!! NOT Margaret's idea of a good lifetime plan! But she goes to stay with her Aunt Mary and Uncle Freemont as a dutiful daughter would.....especially a daughter who went above and beyond in her rumspringa and is still trying to get past those years and deeds.

As life would have it, Margaret meets Owen Bontrager.....a hard working son of a farmer. Actually, too hard working and as a result, Owen has been exiled to a 2 week vacation where he is forbidden to do ANY work.....what's a fella to do??!!

Margaret has no desire to marry and makes that fact known. However, she is delving into medicinal herbs and flowers......which is where she meets up with Owen. You know what they say about the word "NEVER".....well, Margaret may have to eat her words. Afraid that her reputation, from her running around with the English, will follow her to Birch Creek, Margaret treads lightly, though strongly.

Ever persistent Owen, keeps on chipping away at Margaret's tough exterior.....but, will he be able to get under that tough bark? Will Margaret be able to let the past be the past and move on or will it haunt her days, for the future?

Great read by Kathleen Fuller and it will fill these fall evenings with laughter, smiles and enjoyment, so pull up a comfy chair, a warm blanket and good drink and escape to Birch Creek with Margaret and Owen. You'll be surprised a what you find!!

I was given an advanced copy by the publisher, Zondervan and Netgalley. I was under no obligation to leave a positive review. The opinions written here are my own.

Great story about family, forgiveness, friendship, love and finding a soulmate. Going through lots of arguments, finding yourself and being brave to do what you want to do with your own life.

Come back to Birch Creek with Kathleen Fuller and the rest of the crowd! In Matched and Married, Margaret does just that. She returns to stay with her aunt and uncle, the Yoder's. Her mom is determined to have her married off as quick as possible, but Margaret is just as determined to not get married too quickly. When she meets Owen Bontrager, she finds someone she can relax and be herself with. They enjoy getting to know each other, but they are both clear that they are only looking for friendship. However, the more time they spend together, the more they realize that they both want more. But how do they move past their determination to just be friends? Also, I loved reading about Rhoda Troyer, the former bishop's wife. She has struggled for eight years with trying to move on, but now she is ready. But will her husband come back now? Or is he even alive?
I really enjoyed this book. I feel like the people of Birch Creek are my own friends and family. Looking forward to whatever happens next! Thanks to the publisher for the chance to read this book.
#NetGalley #all_the_pages

Margaret and Owen, a lovely couple in Birch Creek. I want to move there and become friends with the entire town! Such great, well-written characters that are wonderfully developed. I enjoyed Kathleen Fuller's descriptive words. I have never read one of her books that I did not enjoy! This is the second novel in the "Mail-Order Bride" series! I cannot wait for the next one!

Thank you for my advanced ARC copy!

Margaret Yoder did things during her rumspringa (running around time) that she deeply regrets and is now committed to the Amish faith and lifestyle. Her mother seems bent on reminding her of the past. Margaret feels her mother really doesn't care for her.
She made the decision to go to Birch Creek for a visit with an aunt. She really needs a break from home. Her mother was excited about the visit for her hopes are that Margaret will find a husband while there. After all, that's exactly what Margaret needs, according to her mother.
Imagine Margaret's surprise when it was Owen Bontrager, not her aunt, who met her at the train station upon her arrival to Birch Creek. Is her aunt playing matchmaker? Margaret just cannot see herself as a dutiful wife. She is just not like her mother and sisters.
And, she is NOT attracted to Owen at all. Not with his crooked teeth and skinny frame.
Owen, like Margaret has no desire for marriage in the near future. He is a hard worker. In fact, work is all he thinks about and does.
His parents, finally gave him a forced week off from work. Whatever will Owen do with all that time? And, what about things on the farm? His brothers don't care for the place like Owen does.
Well, he ends up accidentally running into Margaret, and they both find that they have things in common.
You must read this story to see how it ends!
This is a really sweet story that I thoroughly enjoyed. Loved the characters!
I was given an advanced ecopy by the publisher, Zondervan and Netgalley. I was under no obligation to leave a positive review.

This is the second book in the Amish Mail-order Bride series by Kathleen Fuller. I would recommend reading the first book, A Double Dose of Love, before reading this one. While this book focuses on different characters, there are some from the first book, and it will make it easier to understand and follow all the relationships.

This book is a sweet story about Margaret and Owen. Neither one of them want to get married and in their minds, their reasoning is solid. Unfortunately, Margaret's mother does not share her view and feels that Margaret has to get married before she turns twenty-one and goes through great lengths to make that happen. Owen's plans go awry when his father forces him to take a vacation and this sets an unexpected chain of events into motion.

Margaret and Owen's character grows a lot through the story. They learn a lot about themselves, their family, and love. This is a sweet story of forgiveness, exploration, hope, and love. While most things with the main characters are wrapped up in this story, this book opens the door for the third book in the series.

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book. I was not required to provide a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

What I think you should know:
Matched and Married by Kathleen Fuller is contemporary Amish Fiction. It is the second book in the Amish Mail Order Bride series. It can be read as a standalone however it is set in Birch Creek where many of Fuller’s previous stories are set and does contain some spoilers for the previous stories.

What you might need to know:
Margaret’s Mother is not the typical Amish book mom, she is very judgmental and hostile toward her daughter.

What I think about this book:
I have read several of Fuller’s books and novellas that are set in Birch Creek so I enjoyed that the story has background characters that I already know and love. This was such a unique story, Margaret has joined the church and left Rumspringa behind, however her mother is unwilling to let her forget the mistakes of her past. Owen cannot forget the hunger of his childhood and will work himself sick to make sure that his future does not contain the same hunger. I really enjoyed seeing Owen and Margaret’s friendship grow and watch them discover forgiveness and something they didn’t know that they were looking for. There are a couple of side stories including a side story with Rhoda Troyer whose husband was previously Bishop of the community; these storylines do not resolve during this book. I loved this story and can’t wait to see what happens next in Birch Creek.

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

"Matched and Married" by Kathleen Fuller
And Then Life Happens
I could not put this story down. I loved my time with Margaret & Owen. Two people who were … well you just need to read this story for yourself. A sweet contemporary story of two people who just may need each other more than they could have ever dreamed.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this story from the publisher via NetGalley.
This review is my honest opinion.

How would you feel if your Mom wanted you to get married so badly she made you leave home? Margaret was Amish, she had been wild during her rumspringa years when Amish teenagers tried out the English world for a few years until they joined the church. One of her English friends from that time, Dylan, was not a good influence, and Margaret was still tempted to be with him.
So when Margarets' aunt told her about an ad that was put in the paper in Birch Creek asking for females to come there because there was a shortage of them in the area, Margaret thought that would be a good place to go to get away from her mother.
Owen was one of 10 boys in his family, he worked hard, he was always thinking of ways to improve the family farm, and he never took a vacation. He started to have health issues, so his family made him take a week off.
Margaret meets Owen as he picks her up to take her to her aunts' house. Margaret enjoys being with her aunt and uncle and being with her cousins. Owen does not enjoy being idle, he goes out in the woods to read a book on foraging for wild food and he finds a deserted small cabin and he reads about finding fiddlehead ferns. Margaret enjoys walking and she goes for a walk in the woods and finds the cabin, she sees a lump on the floor and shakes and startles Owen awake.
What do you think will happen to this young couple - you will have to read the book to find out!

Matched and Married by Kathleen Fuller is the story of two people who were not looking for love, but somehow found them anyway. Margaret is happy with her life. She is dedicated to her faith and is not looking for a husband, despite her mother’s insistence. Owen is also not interested in marriage. But when they meet, a friendship soon develops between them. Can they see what is right in front of them before it is too late? This was a fun and sweet story about love, hope, and friendship.

Happy reading!

Margaret Yoder is ready to put her wild past behind her, get rid of her English clothes, and embrace the life of a devout Amish woman, but things keep getting in her way. First is her overly critical mother, who thinks that, because Margaret is 20, she should be married, just as her three sisters were. Second are her English friends, who dared to drop by one afternoon, and wouldn’t take NO for an answer when they asked Margaret about meeting them later to attend a party. And third are her own conflicted feelings about never being good enough in her family’s eyes. Remembering a pleasant visit she had at her aunt’s home in Birch Creek prompts Margaret to plan a return visit, telling her mother she was looking for a husband, though that was the furthest thing from her mind.

The love and support Margaret receives from her Birch Creek friends and family is awesome, and her growing attraction to Owen is a delight to see developing. I really admired Margaret for finding her path and her determination to walk according to her strongly held beliefs. This is a sweet story that draws the reader in with well-developed characters and realistic situations. Although this book is the second in the Mail Order Brides series, I was able to follow along quite well even without reading the first one.