A sweet clean romance between two people with troubles- Stephen,, a widower with five (!) children, and Nettie, who has her own sad backstory (no spoilers). They meet at the farm market and their relationship blooms from friendship to an marriage of convenience- or is it? Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I'd not read any other books in this series but this made a fine standalone and a good relaxing read.

I would like to thank Netgalley, Kensington Books and Rachel J Good for the E ARC of this book.
This is book 4 in the Surprised by Love series.
Stephen has moved from New York State to Lancaster County to start running his brother’s Pork business, so that his brother can move closer to his fiancé. On Stephen’s first day at the farmer’s market, he does something that brings him to the attention of Nettie. They don’t get off to the best start.
Stephen and Nettie are asked by the owner of the market to be involved in a new project she wishes to start. While both are a bit reluctant to begin with, they find themselves drawn into the project and excited by it. They are both drawn to each other but there are many things and a person who stand in their way. Will they manage to forge a strong relationship?
I like Stephen as a character, he was gentle and loving, wanted to help Nettie and cared about his children as well. I found Nettie hard to like at first but as her back story was revealed I understood why she was as she was. I also found one of Stephen’s daughters hard to like but could understand why she felt as she did. There was a lot of growth for numerous characters in this story and it was good to see. I loved the owner of the market; she is a great character who doesn’t allow herself to be intimidated by others.
I would recommend this book and the others in this series.

A great story of self discovery and forgiveness. Sometimes it takes another's perspective and love to help you see yourself clearly. This was demonstrated admirably in this story.

A good , fun , clean book. I enjoyed.. the story line and the characters..
It’s good to find good clean interesting books to read ..

Fun to see love develop ..

Another addition to the Surprised by Love series featuring matchmaker Mrs.V. The character does an admirable job helping in her community although many of her projects do not seem as easy as described. Love the second chance Nettie and Stephen are given. Recommended.

I love reading about the Amish. This book was so different than others I read. I really enjoyed it. It is a story of Nettie and Stephen. Both are widowed and the setting is The Green Valley Farmer’s Market. Both have children. They meet when Stephen is trying to fix a sign at the market and climbs a ladder which he is afraid of heights. When Nettie see's him about to fall she runs to his rescue but is very disturbed of his carelessness. With a push from a older women Mrs. Vandenburg who is a matchmaker she pushes Stephen towards Nettie. I loved the characters and really enjoyed Mrs. Vandenburg. There is a lot going on in this book and keeps you wanting to learn more. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher to allow me to read and give my own opinion.

Nettie has lived life on the streets and knows more about life than she should. As the mother of four children and a widow, she is having to work to put food on the table for her children and to help her late husband's brother.

Stephen is a widowed father of five, his oldest being Joline, a recalcitrant preteen who bullies her way around and wonders why she doesn't have friends. She is head-smart, but not necessarily book-smart, partly due to the fact that she's dyslexic. Stephen knows he has his hand full with her and in some things, she just doesn't give a flying flip.

Rachel J Good has put together a "sweet" Amish story that is more than just the sweetness of the characters. The struggles and issues are real world problems. She weaves a story of redemption that goes beyond just the salvation Christ offers to us.

One of the lynchpin characters is an elderly woman who wishes to provide a safe haven/hangout for teens on a troubled path. She enlists Stephen and Nettie to help her develop a training center, recreational center for at risk teens.

This is definitely a five-star book about overcoming fears, finding forgiveness, finding love, and overcoming obstacles. It's got it all!

Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and a Barbeque Chicken Dinner

Kensington Books provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are totally my own.

This book really did touch on many subjects. Especially with the outreach program at the center to help youth at risk. Was surprised that the Amish would be involved, but it did play into the reasons as to why Nettie had so many things that most Amish woman never deal with. What I did have a problem with was the disrespect shown by Joleen, the Amish that I have been involved with would never act that way, but it did add to the story!

I did enjoy how the author wrapped up this read, and we did have people living their faith!

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

Delightful Amish romance - loved the family scenes and the characters coming in and out of the shop. Well written with a happily ever after.

An Amish Marriage of convenience by Rachel J. Good is a wonderful book that I enjoyed very much. I am giving it a five star review. Nettie is a widow with four children and she has a very unique background for an Amish person. She has many secrets that just she does not want to share with others. Stephen is a widower who also has five children and when they meet there are sparks immediately. Nettie does not feel that she is worthy of Stephen’s attention and his daughter Jolene seconds that feeling. Of course as time goes by things change and Jolene comes around to liking Nettie. Steven suggests a marriage of convenience but Nettie wants a loving marriage. My favorite character by far was the older woman, Mrs. Vandenberg, who founded a community center in town. Many times I had a feeling that she was an angel and not who she said she was.
I received a copy of the book from NetGalley.. The opinions expressed are my own

In any book by author Rachel Good you will learn something new about the Amish community. I won’t give any spoilers but I found this one very interesting.

Well developed characters will pull you into the story. Stephen and Nettie are both misunderstood in their own way and I really wanted to see both of them grow and succeed. Both needed to walk through healing from the past, as did Stephen’s oldest daughter, who made life challenging for many people. Through it all are threads of God’s love and forgiveness, with many lessons we can learn as we read the story.

If you enjoy Amish stories with clean romance and unexpected twists, then I highly recommend An Amish Marriage of Convenience. (Releases August 23, 222)

I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.

2 stars
This is written well enough; however, I bread Amish fiction to not have to deal with the ugliness of life. This book did not allow me that escape.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher.

Thank you Kensington Books, Zebra, for allowing me to read Rachel J Good’s new book, An Amish Marriage of Convenience that will be released, August 23, 2022.
This is her book 4 in the Surprised by Love series.
Fabulous. Just a wonderful addition to this series. Rachel has a great knack for telling a story.

Stephen Lapp has moved with his children from New York to Lancaster after the death of his wife. The plan was to work with is brother until the brother married and moved closer to his fiancés family. That was the plan until he met the strong willed, Nettie Hartzler.

Stephen nor Nettie are the least bit interested in romance until God and an earthly, matchmaker, Mrs. Vandenberg decided differently. It took awhile and a lost of prayer before Nettie could accept that past experiences can be used to further God’s kingdom here on earth.

Now the question remains, will they be open to a marriage of Convenience?

Don’t miss this 5-star book. I was not required to give a positive review, and all opinions are my own.

Rachel is a new author for me so I did not know what to expect. I love reading Amish romance stories, so when I saw this one offered on NetGalley, I decided to take a chance on this author

I am so happy I did. I enjoyed reading the live story if Stephen and Nettie. It was beautifully written and I read it in one day from start to finish. I have added Rachel J. Good to my must read authors list.

Highly recommend. Five Star novel.

Thank you NetGalley, Kensington books, and the author, Rachel J. Good, for granting me an advance copy in return for my honest opinion.

Marriage of Convenience is a delightful Christian Amish fiction. The storyline and characters are different than the normal ones in Amish fiction, but I thought it was very interesting. The children were either sweet angels or spoiled brats. One was a real case and I wanted to discipline her myself!
The author has tucked in many timeless life lessons in this story. Issues pertaining to family life, jealousy, trusting God, gangs, bullying, and more are all dealt with in a manner that makes sense. I highly recommend this book. It gets a 5 star rating from me. A copy was provided by NetGalley, but these are my honest words.

Sweet story about Stephen, a widower, when he moves to a new Amish community, and he meets Nettie, a widow.. They both work at the Marketplace in different booths, but Stephen's oldest daughter, Joline, wants to keep them apart as much as possible, Nettie likes him, but she doesn't believe any man would want to be with her with the kind of past she has. will they be able to overcome these obstacles? Great clean story!

A very heart warming Amish story that wrapped me in as I read it. Most of the characters had past experiences in their younger years that continued to control them in their later years. The importance of forgiveness, and that also includes forgiving yourself, seemed to be the motto of the book. I was totally drawn into this wonderful story and I found it to be entertaining, unpredictable and realistic. There was a few edge of seat reading chapters that had me turning the pages . Tender romance for two lonely people and a promise for a brighter future. This is the second novel by this author that I’ve read and I love her writing style. I can definitely see myself reading more of her books in the future.

The two main characters of this book are Stephen Lapp and Nettie Hartzler. Jolene Lapp could also be considered a main character because she plays an important role in the story. Stephen Lapp is a widower who recently moved his family of five kids to Ephrata Pennsylvania. He wanted to be closer to his brother Ottos Lapp. Stephen is a pig farmer and he and Ottos rent a booth at the Green Valley Farmer’s Market to sell his pork products to the public.

Nettie Hartzler is a widowed mother of four kids. She lives with her brother-in-law Gideon Hartzler and her Mother-in-law. Nettie feels very insecure with her living arrangements and in her past she lived in extreme poverty. She has done many things in her past that she is ashamed of and she has kept many secrets from the Amish church. Lately Gideon has been seeing an Amish woman who works at his fried chicken / bakery stand in the Farmers Market. Nettie worries what will happen to her and her children if Gideon and Fern decide to marry. She will have to move and she fears that her family will face poverty once again.

Stephen Lapp also lives with his fears from his childhood. An accident in his youth has allowed his fears to paralysis him as he grew older. Stephen’s head is turned by Nettie Hartzler after they meet. He is lonely and is drawn to the pretty widow. His daughter Jolene is twelve years old. For years she has been filling her late mothers role in their home. She doesn’t want another woman to take her mother’s place and certainly not that sourpuss Nettie Hartzler. She has lost her mother and she certainly doesn’t want another woman in her kitchen and competing for her father’s attention. She will do whatever it takes to keep the two apart.

I recommend this book to readers of Amish Christian Fiction and Romance Fiction. This is book four of Rachel J. Good’s Surprised by Love series. It can be read as a standalone. This book is scheduled to be released on 8/23/22.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

#AnAmishMarriageofConvenience#NetGalley

It is when we know our true worth, that we can receive the love of God and be free to love others.

I have enjoyed this series and if it continues will continue along with it. With that being said, this had a different spin from others in the series. It wasn't because the main protagonist Nettie, a widowed mother was guarded, or that she was at the mercy of her community and husband's family for her and her children's well being, it was the past she was hiding. From her first husband and his family.

Stephen is also a widowed father and new to the community and the market. He left New York for a fresh start for him and his children. He has good business sense but has a few fears that he has not overcome. One being heights. Stephen and Nettie meet while Stephen is on a ladder about to tumble but Nettie saves the day. She is a little disgruntled with Stephen but Mrs. Vanderberg the owner of the market and a well known match maker sees a match between Stephen and Nettie. She helps it along by suggesting that they both volunteer at Youth Center that targets troubled youth.

To Stephen's surprise, Nettie seems very much entuned to the youth except for Stephen's oldest daughter which brings another thread to this romance. During Mrs. Vanderberg's mission to bring these two together, you learn more about their past, fears, and dreams. You also have a perspective of 14 year old daughter that has taken care of her father and siblings for a long time.

Many threads going on and it was enjoyable to go thru. I did have a hard time believing the real Nettie. I liked her but "choice of weapon" is all I am going to say was a little off the charts. All is good and Mrs. Vanderbergs continues to be the matchmaker you grow to love fondly.

A special thank you to Kensington Books and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review

Surprised by Love book 4



I usually really enjoy anything by this author, but this book was a little slow to keep my attention. I really enjoyed being back in the farmers market and continue to love Mrs. Van. Her generosity and love for her community is remarkable. She can be a little bit pushy with her matchmaking stuff, though.



Stephen's daughter was insufferable in the story. I know she was a teen and didn't want to see her dad re-marry but I found that part of the story to drag on for far too long.

Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.

Rachel Good gives us another great romantic book in her series about the Green Valley Farmer’s Market in Pennsylvania. Each book has brought us new characters that experience relationships and love with workers in the Market. We also get to revisit some of the favorite characters from previous books.

This book introduces us to Stephen Lapp and his children who has just moved into the area and is working with his brother, Amos in the family meat stand. There he meets Nettie Hartzler, a widow with 4 children, who is working with her brother, Gideon, in his stand.

We see many interactions within this couple and their children which makes for entertaining, and surprising reading, due to some of the subject matter, which you would not normally read in Amish romances. Blackmail, hurts, fear, sadness, recovery, relationships, love, and new lifestyles are all a part of this book.

I received a copy of the book from NetGalley and the publisher, Kensington. The opinions expressed are my own. I would highly recommend this book, particularly if you are looking for something different, yet familiar in the Amish genre.