His Accidental Amish Family

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GOOD, RACHEL J.

HIS ACCIDENTAL AMISH FAMILY

In the picturesque Amish community of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, life's detours may prove the path to true happiness...

After a buggy accident when she was a teenager, Anna Flaud was told she would never walk again. Unwilling to be an object of pity, she put aside her dreams of marraige and found purpose as an assistant at a Community Care Center. Now she has a chance to fulfill her dearest wish --- motherhood -- and adopt three siblings with special needs. Yet the opportunity comes with a condition Anna isn't sure sh can meet: finding a husband.

Levi King began working at the center as penance after a careless mistake led to tragedy. Though he's dealing with his own heartbreak, he's drawn to Anna, cheering her on as she strives to regain her mobility. Her quiet determination, her generous heart -- these are qualities to cherish in a wife. Still, Anna's plans give him pause. Given his past, Levi hardly trusts himself to care for one child, let alone three. Yet together, perhaps they could forge a family made sturdier by all they've overcome...

My Review:

I'm always looking for Amish stories with a fresh perspective so I was excited to discover this gem. A heroine with a disability and a rehab center run by Mennonites plus a heartrending adoption story all wrapped up in a compelling inspirational read. 

Rachel J Good is a master at creating emotionally charged blockbuster reads rooted in faith. Themes of forgiveness and trusting in God through impossibly hard times bring extra depth to the story. My heart is full to brimming after taking this journey with Anna and Levi. And I don't mind admitting I shed a tear or two (or a bucketful) at the end. Sniffley sigh. This is the kind of story that sticks with a reader long after the final page is read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or ebook copy -- winner's choice

If you would like a chance to win a copy of His Accidental Amish Family, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winners announced on Saturday March 13  2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck! 

His Unexpected Amish Twins

GIVEAWAY

GOOD, RACHEL J.
HIS UNEXPECTED AMISH TWINS

When Micah Miller's brother and sister-in-law are killed in a buggy accident, he's devastated. But he fulfills the promise he made when their twins were born seven years earlier: to raise Jabin and Chloe should tragedy strike. Still, coping with the children's grief as well as his own, requires extra support. He's surprised to find an Amish farm that offers just that...

Hope Graber had to find a way to save the family farm after her daed's health forced him to stop breeding horses. Providing animal therapy proved to be the asnwer -- thanks to the help of expert trainer Logan Russell. Together, they not only pay the bills, they make positive changes in children's lives. Hope loves working with each child, but she takes a special interest in the Miller twins. She even makes Micah smile again -- and he does the same for her. In fact, as Micah emerges from his depression, he longs to make them one happy family. But will Hope's debt to her Englisch trainer, and their close partnership stand in the way?

My Review:

This is the first book in the Unexpected Amish Blessings series. Love that theme for a series because so often blessings come out of the unexpected as in the tragic circumstances that propel Micah Miller and Hope Graber into each others lives.

Good really messed with my emotions in this complex multi-layered story. There's depth in character and plot and the way she breathes life into a fictional community is sheer magic. I literally felt my way through to the end -- alternately fuming / laughing / swooning my way to that last page. Such brilliant storytelling! I love when a story completely consumes me like this one did. And my critter lovin' self found the horse therapy aspect so interesting. An unusual business venture for an Amish enterprise which made it all the more intriguing.

And --- hooray -- since I was late starting in on this series, the second book, His Pretend Amish Bride is already out so I get to dive back into more unexpected blessing goodness asap!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  His Unexpected Amish Twins, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday August 8 2020 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

The Amish Teacher's Gift

GIVEAWAY

GOOD, RACHEL J.
THE AMISH TEACHER'S GIFT

A Teacher's Love...

Widower Josiah Yoder wants to be a good father. But it's not easy with a deaf young son who doesn't understand why his mamm isn't coming home. At a loss, Josiah enrolls Nathan in a special-needs school and is relieved to see his son immediately comforted by his new teacher, a woman whose sweet charm and gentle smile might be the balm they both need.

With seven siblings to care for, Ada Rupp wasn't sure she wanted to take on teaching, too. But the moment she holds Nathan in her arms, she realizes she'll do all she can to help this lost little boy. Plus, it gives her a chance to spend more time with Josiah. Falling for a man in mourning may be against the rules, but his quiet strength is the support Ada never knew she needed. And, together, they could have the loving family she'd always hoped for.

My Review:

Rachel J. Good has become one of my favourite Amish fiction authors. I just discovered her last year when I read her first two books in the Sisters and Friends series published with Realms and just discovered  this new series with Hachette Book Group as well...not to mention a backlist to add to my retro reads TBR list! I'm in reader heaven!

So, The Amish Teacher's Gift is the first book in the Love and Promises series and I am well and truly smitten. The story totally captivated me! The hero, the heroine, the secondary characters, the community....I lost myself in another world for a spell and loved every second I spent there. And this is a step out of the ordinary from the usual Amish fare which contributed to my fascination. Because central to the story is the community's special-needs school.

The author does an incredible job of conveying the daily triumphs and despairs that come from working with these special scholars. It's all so true to life -- from the way calm can suddenly catapult into chaos to the piercing sweet exultation when a connection -- no matter how tenuous -- between teacher and student is made. The school scenes left me breathless from tears and laughter.

And there's Ada at the heart of it all. A young, untried teacher with a thirst for knowledge to help her special scholars reach their potential This isn't the first challenge Ada has taken on in her young life, and likely won't be the last. She's already mothering her younger siblings...all seven of them! But when one of her young students, a deaf boy, has even greater needs then she first thought, Ada's heart nearly bursts with the desire to do more. And that pretty much tells you about Ada. She's by no means perfect, doesn't pretend to have all the answers, but she does have a dogged determination that won't allow her to give up...even when a seemingly hostile parent might stand in the way.

Josiah's relationship with his son just about did me in. He's overwhelmed, doing the best he can without all the tools needed to communicate with his deaf son. Honestly, this pair gutted me. Both lost in their grief and confusion. My heart hurt for them. Josiah so out of his element but sincere in his desire to make things better and Nathan without the words or concepts to understand all the changes in his life. There were elements of Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan in this story that really touched me.

What a backdrop to develop a romance against! It's tentative and sweet and uttlerly impossible. They both know it and yet...Dreamy sigh!

A incredible start to a new series that delivers the right mix of laughter, tears and faith. Looking forward to the next book coming out in the fall.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Amish Teacher's Gift, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday July 8 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Buried Secrets

GIVEAWAY

GOOD, RACHEL J.
BURIED SECRETS

Overcome the obstacles that stand in the way of the future God has for you.

Three years after the accident that almost claimed her life, Emma Esh has recovered physically but has no memory of the months before and after the accident. When she moves to a new community to help her sister Lydia and brother-in-law, Caleb, prepare for the birth of twins, she falls for their neighbour Samuel. But the twins' premature birth, a visit from the Englischer Emma once dated, and the sudden return of her memory threaten Emma's romance.

When the secrets of Emma's past are revealed, will love be able to overcome all obstacles?

My Review:

Book Two in the Sisters and Friends series. It reads wonderfully well as a standalone though. And it's pretty unique because the story will have a different kind of impact depending on whether you have read the first book, Change of Heart. That's because Emma has no memory of the months before and immediately after the accident that nearly killed her. So, if you haven't read the first book, you're as clueless as Emma and get to uncover buried secrets right along with her. But, if you have read the first book, you know exactly what happened to Emma and that makes for a very interesting reading perspective since you know more about the main character than she does! Very cool.

Emma is struggling to put her life back together but she's missing some key pieces. While she has the support of her family, she knows they are keeping secrets from her and they treat her as if she's sure to disappoint them. So it's a relief to move to a different community where no one knows her past -- just like her! Even though Lydia can be a bit of an overbearing older sister. (There were times I wanted to shake some sense into her, but I refrained because of her delicate condition.)

Though next door neighbour Samuel intrigues Emma, he makes her nervous too. They have a great first meet scene involving a rambunctious Irish Setter that endeared me to Samuel immediately. :-) A complicated 'non-courtship' ensues as both hero and heroine grapple with letting go of the past in order to reach out towards a future together.

There's plenty of drama -- breath-snatching scenes that left me gobsmacked -- tender ones that left me weak in the knees. And twisty plot turns that kept me reading long after lights out. An excellent addition to the Sisters and Friends series. I can't wait for Book Three's release!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Buried Secrets please leave a comment or send me an email at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line to make it easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday April 16 2017. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Change of Heart

GIVEAWAY

GOOD, RACHEL J.
CHANGE OF HEART

Lydia Esh's younger sister, Emma, is running wild during Rumschpringa, causing the family major heartache. Although it means risking her reputation, her job as a schoolteacher, and her courtship with Jakob Zook, Lydia attends parties to watch over Emma and protect her sister's virtue.

When Emma begins a relationship with Kyle, an Englischer, Lydia teams up with Kyle's older brother, Caleb, to keep the couple apart. As Lydia and Caleb spend time together keeping an eye on their siblings, Lydia falls for this forbidden love.

Will Lydia stay true to her faith even though it means giving up the love she longs for?

My Review:

Eureka! I've just discovered a new-to-me favourite author and she writes Amish stories! Woot! I was completely captivated by the Esh sisters and thrilled to discover this is Book One in the Sisters & Friends series. And we don't have to wait long to get a hold of Book Two -- it comes out this winter. Double woot!

Good has created an enthralling family tale rife with angst, forbidden love and abiding faith. I was on tenterhooks the whole read. The Esh family dynamics had my tummy in knots for most of the read. From Lydia's unbending father to her outspoken grandmother -- well I was laughing and fuming and ready to scream in places. And poor Lydia tries to serenely navigate her way through it all while her heart is in turmoil and her dedication to her faith is tested. Riveting stuff.

If you love Amish fiction, you need to read Change of Heart. Really.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Change of Heart please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the  subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday November 20 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!