An Amish Second Chance Romance by Rachel J Good, book eight in the Surprised by Love series, is an emotional and sweet story of two individuals brought together to help a couple of little boys who have lost their parents.

Cathy Zehr is a skillful donut maker and rather outspoken to others; seldom holding back her beliefs. She believes talking about others’ failings is only telling the honest truth, and trying to prevent others from making the same mistakes. Her gossiping has made her an alt maidel, someone never courted to be a wife. She’s at a loss for more than words when she must care for her ailing brother's young sons. She has no idea how she will be able to take care of her two grandnephews when she has little time, no experience, and a ton of baggage from her own upbringing. To find out what not to do, she turns to reserved woodworker Myron King, a bachelor who raised his orphaned niece and nephew. His advice proves invaluable; plus, Cathy discovers they have much in common. She fears their growing closeness will never help overcome her deep trauma; much less lead to love.

Myron is taken aback by Cathy’s request, yet also intrigued. He was a failure in bringing up his nephew and nephew; perhaps confessing his parenting regrets will ease some of his guilt. Still, he’s surprised when Cathy truly listens to him, even softening her blunt manner. Myron is even more surprised by his growing attraction to her; despite his fears about risking heartbreak again. The magic of English matchmaker, Mrs Vandenburg, with her prayers and guidance, are an additional help to this couple. When their deepest secrets suddenly collide, hopefully faith, forgiveness, and courage can help unite their longing hearts, as well as provide a normal Amish life for the young boys.

This is such an enjoyable series with wonderful characters and realistic issues to overcome. An Amish Second Chance Romance is an emotional, wonderful and sweet story of two individuals brought together to help a couple of little boys who have lost their parents.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
#NetGalley #Kensington #AnAmishSecondChanceRomance

This is a heartwarming story that's full of hope, forgiveness, and God's love. This book was an absolute joy to read.
I received a complimentary copy from Kensington Publishing / Zebra via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

An Amish Second Chance Romance by Rachel J. Good has Mrs. Vandenburg helping others and making another match at the Green Valley Farmers Market in Pennsylvania. Mrs. Vandenburg is a delightful character who uses her nudges from God as well as her money to aid others. Cathy Zehr and Myron King are not the most likeable characters in the beginning. I like that we get to see what made them this way. It will take time and patience to improve their behavior and life outlook. I would have liked less time devoted to their negative behavior (Cathy got on my nerves after a while). We get to see how negative comments can affect a person (mental abuse can be just as debilitating as physical abuse) over time, especially if that is all they hear. It is great to see that sometimes we do get a second chance. I was happy there was an epilogue which left me smiling. An Amish Second Chance Romance is the eighth book in the Surprised by Love series, but it can be read as a standalone. I loved the descriptions of Myron’s painted cabinets. I would have loved either of them (or both). Myron was definitely a skilled craftsman. An Amish Second Chance Romance is story about hope, redemption, forgiveness, second chances, love, and faith.

At first, Cathy and Myron are almost too grouchy and stuck in their ways to be believable. They are definitely not likable, but two young boys will change their lives. As they work together to care for the boys and we slowly learn about their pasts, we start to care about them. I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher through Netgalley. This is my honest and voluntarily given review. At first I didn't know what to think about this book, but I did enjoy reading the story. It shows how much guilt and fear affect a life. This is the first book that I have read in this series. It's good as a standalone.

This is not your usual loving and kind Amish romance - it is about real gossipy people with bad tempers and heartrending losses!

Myron King was taising Tim, his teenage nephew, who had lost his parents, Tim was wild, he used drugs and hung around other rebellious teens and Tim was constantly worried about him.

Cathy Zehr ran her own donut shop, she had never married or even been asked to marry someone. She was one of Green Valleys' top gossips, if she even thought someone was doing wrong she gossiped about that person. Needless to say Cathy had few friends and except for her nephew Wayno, no family.

Wayne had called that morning and said he was going to Mexico and needed her to watch his two young boys, while he went to Mexico for cancer treatment. Cathy agreed to watch them, but she was already stressing about caring for 2 messy children for a couple of weeks!


Cathy saw Waynes' nephew Abe near her donut shop and gave him a box of donuts with a note on it to take to his Uncle Myron. When Abe delivered the donuts, the note said that Cathy neede parenting advice for her nephews from Myron and that she wanted to talk to him after church on Sunday!

Wait until you hear how these two help with parenting Waynes' 2 sons! A confirmed cranky bachelor and the town gossip have their hands full !

Cathy Zehr is a skilled doughnut maker. She is also a quick talker. This means she is not really suitable as a wife, as she is seen as a gossip. She works with Myron King to find out what she needs to change to become a wife.

This is a cute romance, where I felt all of the emotions.

I really enjoy this series, its so fun catching up with Mrs. Vanderburg and her willing and helpful heart. She is always so blunt, loving and caring in the kindest way it makes me as the reader pause and sometimes am humbled by what its being shared with the characters. I like Myron a lot he seem broken in away that he need to have his eyes opened through someone else's journey to see the brokenness he was dealing with. I wish the author would had followed up more with someone who was a big part of the story in the beginning who was connected to Myron as I so want to know what was next for this person. Cathy was not one of my favorites, while in the end you find out why her guard is up so high part of me wishes the truth would have come out at least to the reader early on so that it would make a ton more sense what she acted they way she does. While in the end I like how everything played out it just felt like her situation just kept going more than it maybe needed to. I do hope the author tells Tahiti's story I feel like that is a story I won't be able to put down. Overall this was a cute story with some very thought subjects discussed. They author did keep it a clean read.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Rachel J. Good is an automatic read for me. And her “Surprised by Love” series is my favorite!
This story focuses on Cathy Zehr and Myron King. They are both older and crotchety. When Cathy has to take care of her nephew’s boys, she turns to Myron so she doesn’t make the same mistakes he did when he raised his nephew. Can two people who are so jaded from life change?
I think this is one of my favorites in the series. It does deal with some intense issues, but done in a delicate way. You can read this as a standalone but the series is good, I think you should read them all!! Many thanks to the author, Zebra Books and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
#AnAmishSecondChanceRomamce #RachJGood #Zebra #AmishFiction #BookLove #Bookstagram #NewBook #ILoveBooks #BooksSetInAmishCountry #AmishRomance #SurprisedByLoveSeries

This is such a great series, love Mrs. Vandenberg, she is such a gift!
We meet a middle age Amish, very busy woman, that had a tragic childhood. She is being asked to take care of her two little nephews while their Dad receives treatments. So Cathy asks Myron, a man whom raised a nephew, for his help, telling of mistakes he made. As things are revealed, oh wow, what really hard times.
The children are so sweet, but dealing with the hard part of life, and Myron becomes a God send!
As we journey along in the book, again Mrs. Vandenberg seem to know exactly what is needed, and also when things go wrong.
Can the four of them make a family? The boys maybe just what is needed to heal these rather broken adults.
We are gifted with an epilogue, and am hoping for more in this series!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Kensington, and was not required to give a positive review.

I have to give a huge thank you to Rachel J. Good, Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced reader's copy of this book. This is one of my all-time favorite Amish fiction series. I love the character of Mrs. Vandenberg, a well-to-do "English" woman who with God's direction is always willing to help those in need including those with needy hearts.
Cindy Zehr is an expert doughnut maker. She is also very plain spoken, up and to the point that she unwittingly has deeply hurt others in her presence. She is anxious about everything from her home to her Dough-Re-Mi doughnut business at the Green Valley Farmer's Market. The single woman is beside herself when her brother needs her help in caring for his children when he is ill.
Myron King is a bachelor who was given the responsibility to raise two children alone. He tried to do his best. Sadly, he has been so strict his nephew Tim is bitter and hard-hearted when he leaves the community.
Cindy knows of Myron's failing, so she visits him to get advice on how not to fail with her new charges. She's so busy with everything she needs to know what not to do. Truth is, she doesn't quite know everything.
This story is emotional with a lot going on. Both adults have deep-seated wounds. Two little boys need care and understanding. As the story moves forward the reader comes to understand why each one needs change in their lives. I could see why Cindy is a lonely gossip. Two controlling people have a second chance for a new story if they heed God's direction and take help from Mrs. Vandenberg. This is a heartwarming story. It's a high five for me. I read it in one day. I couldn't wait or pace myself.

An Amish Second Chance Romance is an amazing story written by Racel J. Good in her Surprised by Love series. The author has done a wonderful job in defining the perfect characters to tell this story. There are so many emotions and secrets being held throughout this story it keeps the reader wanting to help them. Finding a way to finding forgiveness is hard but thank goodness Mrs. Vandenberg knows just how to handle it. Cathy and Myron wii not see it coming. I absolutely loved the way this story shows how someone can change and it is never to late to find love.

I as able to read an advanced copy of this book through Netgalley but was not expected to post a favorable review. I have rated this book with five stars for meeting my expectations of a wonderful story that I can recommend to others.

Community gossip, Cathy Zehr, prides herself on her donut making skills. She also believes in plain speaking. Telling those around her about their failings, she feels will help them to not make the same mistakes. However, this proves to make her unmarriable. No one wants to marry a gossip. When tasked to care for her brothers young sons, Cathy is at a loss on how to parent. She turns to Myron King for advice. Intrigued he offers what he feels is advice on his failings while caring for his orphaned niece and nephew. As they grow closer, Cathy is afraid love cannot overcome her fears. Very well written with characters the reader can really relate. I always enjoy stories with children especially when their mischief is used. I received a copy through Netgalley. A review was not required.

Cathy and Myron's story was just so beautifully redemptive. At moments, these characters were difficult to embrace, but Rachel Good slowly unraveled the past traumas and it made sense the difficulties these characters had with pushing people away, feeling worthy and being quick to jump to conclusions and their mistrust of people. Their connection with each developed into such a beautiful love story as their friendship became more. Adding two adorable boys and the trauma they were facing...this story was super engrossing. Loved this one, but at times, was not sure if accurately reflected the culture of the Amish at least as portrayed by other works in the genre.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #Kensington Publishing for the ARC.

This is such an enjoyable series with wonderful characters and realistic issues to overcome. An Amish Second Chance Romance is an emotional and sweet story of two individuals brought together to help a couple of little boys who have lost their parents. Cathy has her two grandnephews to take care of and she has little time, no experience, and a ton of baggage from her own upbringing. Myron was a failure in bringing up his nephew and Cathy has a strange request. She wants to know what he did wrong so that she can avoid the same mistakes. Encouragement from the Green Valley Marke ownert and local matchmaker, Mrs Vandenburg, the two work together to give the boys a normal Amish life. Only as friends. But the two would never, ever think of the other as a possible mate. They are too snarky, too old, too much bad history. But does Mrs V and God know differently? As the layers of the past are peeled away and healing begins, things look differently. Lovely, heartwarming and a great addition to the series.
I received a copy for an honest review. These are my thoughts.

This was a sweet Amish romance that is full of love, hope and redemption.
Cathy and Myron’’s relationship was fun to follow. What a journey it was!
A beautiful story that brings us faith in God.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

An Amish Second Chance Romance by Rachel J. Good is the eighth book in the Surprised by Love series. This is the story of Myron King, a bachelor who's a woodworker who beccomes a father to his niece and nephew, and Cathy Zehr, an old maid who's in charge of taking care of her two grand nephews while their father gets cancer treatments in MX. She has a donut stand at the Green valley Farmer's Market.

As Cathy's and Myron's lives become more and more entangled, will they put their pasts behind them and become more than friends?

Once again, the astute and lovable Mrs Vandenberg appears in this story, as well as other characters from the past.

The themes of forgiveness, childhood trauma, and the damaging effects of negative words are prominent in this story.

If you've read the other books in this series, you definitely won't want to miss this one. Although this book could be read as a stand alone, I think it would be a much more enjoyable read if you've read at least some of the other books in this series.

Thanks to #KensingtonBooks for an advanced e-pub of this book.

All opinions expressed herein are strictly my own.

#AnAmishSecondChanceRomanc #KensingtonBooks

Cathy Zehr does two things superbly. She is a great cook and a fantastic donut maker with an imaginative name of Dough-Re-Mi for her shop. The second is that she can slice a person to ribbons with just her tongue. Being a wife and a mother are two things that will never happen for her -- until that latter occurs. Their names are John and David.

Myron King is a bachelor who runs a successful woodworking shop. Although he has never been married, he became a father to his brother's two children, Tim & Ivy. Tim has become rebellious, no matter what Myron tries, and has made it clear that he doesn't like or respect Myron, who knows he wasn't a good father, and he knows everyone else thinks so too.

Both Cathy and Myron are abrasive people. Both tend to snap & snarl when questioned. Both do their work but rarely socialize. Both claim they like it that way. And -- both have good reasons why they are the way they are.

At first, I did not like Cathy. Geez, not only were her comments cutting, but some are downright mean. And she is a tattletale -- the worst kind in an Amish community. You KNOW who she tattles to, right? I didn't like her. I don't think you will either. 

How these two people are "put" together is different than most Amish stories. That approach was finally what drew me into the book. However, in this reviewer's opinion, the story spent more time with the angst aspect of the plot than was needed. 

If you've read previous books in this series, Mrs. Vandenberg is back and remains my favorite character. I think she has a direct phone line to God. She just *knows* things. And provides gentle guidance to both of the main characters. 

A question for you.
Have you ever had someone in authority over you who only makes negative comments? "You only came in 7th in your graduating class? Why weren't you first? No wonder you couldn't do it. You're not that smart." Maybe it wasn't negative comments, but a lack of positive ones when you did well. Not even if you placed first. Both actions stay with you for the rest of your life. And one of the main characters deals with this every day. 

I read books on my Kindle and use the gold highlighter for words that speak to me. "I meant scars inside. Sometimes those hurt as much or more than a whipping," from Myron's brother, who knew Myron had those internal scars.

This story grew on me. At first, I could read a chapter. Quit. Do something else. The further into the book, the more I enjoyed it. You will too. Rating: 4 stars.

I received a complimentary DRC (digital review copy) of  “An Amish Second Chance Romance” via NetGalley from the publisher, Kensington Publishing | Zebra. A positive review was not required; the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Rating: 4 stars
Series: #8 Surprised by Love
Cover: 0 stars. Nice, but other than the sign on the wall, it is WRONG. Cathy was known for her donuts, not pies. I'd rather have seen her at the counter handing donuts to a customer -- without a smile on her face.
Pages: 320
Publish Date: 29 July 2025
#AnAmishSecondChanceRomance  #NetGalley #RachelJGood #netgalleyreviewer

An Amish Second Chance Romance by Rachel J. Good
(Surprised by Love Book 8)
From stunning handmade crafts to fresh-picked produce and mouthwatering baked goods, Lancaster, Pennsylvania’s Green Valley Farmers Market offers sweet surprises every day—including the chance to make new friends, find community—and even discover a forever kind of happiness . . .
Cathy Zehr prides herself on her skilled donut-making—and on her plain speaking. After all, talking about others’ failings is only telling the honest truth—and it might prevent others from making the same mistakes. But gossiping has made her an alt maidel—someone never courted to be a wife. And she’s finally at a loss for more than words when she must care for her ailing brother's young sons. To find out what not to do, she turns to reserved woodworker Myron King, a bachelor who raised his orphaned niece and nephew. His advice proves invaluable—plus, Cathy discovers they have much in common. Yet she fears their growing closeness will never overcome her deep trauma—much less lead to love . . .
Myron is taken aback by Cathy’s request—yet he’s also intrigued. Perhaps confessing his parenting regrets will ease some of his guilt. Still, he’s surprised when Cathy truly listens to him, even softening her blunt manner. Myron is even more surprised by his growing attraction to her—despite his fears about risking heartbreak again. But when their deepest secrets suddenly collide, can faith, forgiveness, and courage unite their longing hearts?
This is Cathy Zehr and her ailing brother's young sons.
This is Myron King and his orphaned niece and nephew's story.
Cathy Zehr is a skilled donut maker and single Amish woman.
She is being asked to take care of her two little nephews while their Dad receives treatments.
Cathy asks Myron, a man whom raised a nephew and niece, for his help.
She runs a donut stand at the local market
Myron King is wood worker and a bachelor.
I recommend this book.
An Amish Second Chance Romance by Rachel J. Good is a 5 star book.
I am looking forward to reading more books by Rachel J. Good.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions shared here in this review are my own.

This was such a cute book. The story was very well written and the romance was so cute and easy to read.

Outstanding

This later-in-life romance between Cathy Zehr and Myron King is outstanding. Both of them have skeletons in their closets that have shaped who they are: slightly abrasive characters with some judgmental tendencies.

Before Cathy and Myron work together, they only see the faults of each other, but not their own. But as they spend more time together, they begin to see those behaviors in a different light. Myron is a quicker study than Cathy, though. Cathy's struggles to overcome threw some delays into their collaboration and their relationship. However, little by little, newfound self-discoveries, along with the help of a very special woman and faith and trust in God, open the door for healing and love to make their way in. The result is a beautiful and touching story of faith, love, hope, overcoming, healing, and second chances that is a definite must-read.

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