An Amish camel farm??? I have never heard about camel milk for therapeutic treatment, but author Rachel Good almost always teaches me something new in her books. I knew this story was going to be good and it certainly was.

I loved both main characters. Priscilla is feisty and stands up for herself and her friends. Gabriel is shy and quiet. Yet both are battling hurts from unjust accusations and situations. I enjoyed how their faith and trust in God and each other grew as they spent time together. And defended each other. Rachel’s mother, as a secondary character, was a piece of work. She made me laugh in an “I can’t believe this” kind of way but I still wanted to shake her.

If you enjoy Amish fiction that has spiritual truths as characters overcome, and of course a sweet clean romance, then you’ll enjoy this book.

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

4.5 stars

If you’re like me, you may not have noticed the camel on the cover of His Pretend Amish Bride right away. In fact, I didn’t notice it until I was putting this post together, after I’d read the book. But let me assure you that you aren’t seeing things – that IS in a fact a camel on the cover, and camels do factor prominently in this sweet Amish romance set in Pennsylvania. I also had never really heard of camel farming or all the benefits of camel milk before I read Good’s latest novel, and now I’m fascinated!

I loved Priscilla and Gabe together! Their instant connection deepens into a tender friendship that just made my heart smile. And while the more overt focus is on Priscilla being the perfect helpmeet for Gabe, even before they address their growing affection for one another, I enjoyed watching Gabe fill that role for Priscilla too in slightly more subtle ways. The fact that each of them are facing a ruined reputation for separate reasons – caused by other people’s betrayals – drew some interesting parallels that I also thought Good did well. And oh how I fell in love with both of these characters along the way!

Bottom Line: His Pretend Amish Bride surprised me (pleasantly) in several different ways – from a camel farm in Amish country to a faith thread that came from an unexpected (but delightful!) source to a bit of a sucker-punch twist that I really did not see coming and even to the way the title factors into the story differently than I originally thought it would. This kept the reading experience fresh and intriguing for me and had me turning the pages, fully absorbed in the story, from start to finish. Great characters that avoid becoming stereotypes or one-dimensional, a quaint & somewhat unique setting, and engaging writing make this a must-read for fans of Amish fiction. Very much looking forward to the next book!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

I learned a few things about Camel farming in this Amish Romance. Gabriel Kauffman is starting a new path to keep a promise that is close to his heart and conscience. Starting a camel farm near his brother's house, he is able to have the support of his decision to start this new endeavor. He is passionate about the health benefits of camel's milk to his community. On his first day setting up his store front, he meets Priscilla Ebersol. She has an autistic younger brother and teaches in the special needs children in her community. Of course when these two meet, they have more in common than the health benefits of camel's milk.

Priscilla is going thru a difficult break up that has caused her humiliation and gossip even among the people closest to her. She guards the details of the break up in order not to bring undue shame to others. This drives Gabriel and Priscilla closer together but it is their commitments that keep them from not going further. Even with their promises of the past, they stand up for each other in difficult times.

The romance between the two was a process of spiritual growth that involved faith and the perils of gossip. I would love to know more about Camel's milk and if I ever have the opportunity like try it for myself. Apparently it has many benefits.

A Special Thank you to Kensington Books and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

Although the Amish community stays secluded doesn’t mean that they don’t experience some of the same issues we face. His Pretend Amish Bride addressed some of the issues both personal relationships and needs of children. Gabe sells camel milk which has many benefits. Priscilla, as a teacher at a special needs school, is able to see how helpful it can be for the community right away. The commonality brings the two together. Both Gabe and Priscilla have faced hardships in relationships which make it hard to begin a relationship deeper than friendship. As they work together toward a common goal, they begin to heal and trust again.

I enjoyed the plot and the twist that came with the story so it wasn’t too predictable. My first thought was I would not respond the same way Priscilla to the betrayal and would be quick to make sure my name was cleared. Then after reading and thinking about how Jesus when he was wrongly accused, it made me value her choices even more.

I felt like I learned a lot about camel’s milk during the book as well. I was interested to read about all the benefits and am curious to learn more about camel farms. The book is part of series, Unexpected Amish Blessings. The first one looks at the benefits of horse therapy within the book. His Pretend Amish Bride could easily stand alone as well.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own and I was not required to leave a positive review.

I really loved this story. It was very interesting to learn about how the use of camels milk can help so many people. I want to research more on the benefits for people with diabetes. I laughed and cried while reading this story. I loved the characters and how inspirational the story was. I received a copy of this book from Celebratelit for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

-His Pretend Amish Bride
Why is it that we don't give ourselves credit? This is common whether you are Amish or an Englisher.
Priscilla could do so much for others but is hesitant to stand up for herself. Gabriel hated speaking in front of others. He had no problem if it meant protecting someone he cared about.

Priscilla was trying to stay strong and be faithful. She handled her heartbreak by prayer and trusting GOD had a plan. Gabriel thought he had a plan but GOD knew differently.

An interesting twist to this story is the camel milk farm Gabriel owns. I never heard of drinking camel milk. What an interesting sight it would be? You are driving down a country road and you see a bunch of camels in the field. I think I would be drawn to go into the store and try it. Would you?

I enjoyed visiting characters that were in a previous book: His Unexpected Amish Twins.

I received this free to review from Celebrate Lit.

When the bishop accused her of indiscretions with her long-time boyfriend that she didn't commit, she was stunned into silence. As if discovering her boyfriend's betrayal wasn't enough pain, having him ask her to cover for him just added insult to injury. Yet Priscilla knew that if word got out, he would lose his job - and his ability to provide for his widowed mother. Not fully realizing the cost of silence, she agreed. . .

I was stunned by Priscilla's mother's reaction to the gossip and rumors that flew! That she not only didn't trust her daughter's integrity but wouldn't even listen to her pleas of innocence broke my heart. And then to have her continue to try to push her back to Matthew. Ouch!!

I did love the way Gabe, despite being a stranger, cared so deeply for Priscilla's well-being. He was shy and struggled with speaking to strangers, especially groups of them. That he cared enough to step out of his comfort zone was such a beautiful picture of sacrifice - and this before he even realized how much he cared about her! I also enjoyed the ways Priscilla rescued him - to the point that more than one person assumed she was his wife, and thus the title of the story.

Learning more about camels and uses of camel milk was very interesting. I had no idea that it could be therapeutic for so many different conditions. If you have read other stories by Rachel J. Good, you may know that a number of them deal with special-needs children in the Amish community. Priscilla had discovered camel milk as a possible help for her autistic brother and learned so much about it that she was a bit passionate about helping others discover it as well.

It was enjoyable to read of the tentative relationship between Gabe and Priscilla as they were drawn to each other though each had reasons not to try to allow it to grow.

The author's heart for sharing her faith in Jesus overflowed into having Priscilla share her faith with the reporter who came to write an article about Gabe's business. I appreciated the clear, concise message of God's forgiveness, shared in a relatable and non-preachy manner.

His Pretend Amish Bride is a fun book for those who enjoy Amish fiction with a bit of mystery and romance.

Although it’s been several years since I’ve been there, one of my favorite day-trips is visiting Sugarcreek and Berlin, Ohio, known where I live as simply Amish Country. Something that surprised me within the last decade or so was the growing market of Amish organic and specialty products, as I did not associate these with the Amish people. I suppose that I never gave much thought to them needing gluten-free, dairy-free, or other specialty items because their lifestyle and diet seems in my mind to be healthier and relatively free of chemical ingredients. This is part of the reason that I loved “His Pretend Amish Bride” so much. It made me think and opened my eyes to the similarities between their culture and ours.

Rachel Good always writes an absorbing story that I find difficult to put down and often end up reading in a few sittings. Whether intentional or not, I think that “His Pretend Amish Bride” releases at the perfect time because it highlights how much we actually have in common with the Amish, rather than how different we are, dispelling the large-scale “us vs. them” mentality that is currently tearing our nation apart. This was the first time I had heard of camel’s milk and it being used for those with specific health conditions, particularly autism. I find this information fascinating and exciting because it is a natural alternative. I also had no idea that the Amish might own camel farms, or that such places even existed in the US, for that matter! The issues that Gabriel Kauffman faces with his camel farm due to problems with Englishers demonstrate that the Amish are not immune to being taken advantage of either. Their approach, however, to such situations and to life in general, is often much different from ours, although it shouldn’t be. We should also seek to live at peace with others and to do what is right, whether we end up benefiting from it or not, and we should learn to trust God more instead of trying to take control ourselves.

This novel offers a heartfelt glimpse at romance and special needs, also. As Priscilla tells Alyssa, the Amish aren’t perfect either and need Jesus just as much as everyone else, including us. Good points this out to readers right from chapter one with Matthew’s betrayal, but goes on to show how one can still respond out of God’s love. I loved that Priscilla works at an Amish special needs school, which is something else that I did not realize existed, and the inclusion of the hippotherapy program (which is the focus of book one in this series) toward the end of the narrative tied in nicely. All of the elements that Good incorporates blend into a beautiful story about how God uses what seems to be our darkest moments to bring our greatest joys when we trust Him and live to honor Him.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Celebrate Lit and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.

Author Rachel J. Good has written a most unusual Amish Christian tale.  It was a delight to read and taught me a lot about.......camels!  Yes, this is an Amish book about a small camel farm.  I was captivated by the story and wonderful characters.

This is the story of Priscilla Ebersol, Amish school teacher.  She is preparing a picnic lunch to share with her beau, Matthew King, when she received upsetting news from the  Bishop.  This news could cause Priscilla to lose her job.  She leaves her house and goes to the new camel farm owned by Gabe Kauffman.

Throughout the book the author has sprinkled in twists and turns to keep readers on their toes and turning pages.  The characters are believable and realistic.  It is easy to see that author Good has done intensive research of the Amish and camels.  The conversations sounded authentic and the descriptions took me to Amish Country.

There are many spiritual and life lessons in this sweet book.  I love books that teach lessons and remind us what we should do.  This one certainly does both.

Expect a few mysteries to accompany the lessons and surprises. This was a fantastic Amish fictional tale.  I highly recommend to everyone.  A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit but these are my honest words.  It gets a 5 out of 5 stars from me.

This book was a page turner for sure for me! At first, I was simply shocked at the way Priscilla and her father decided to handle Matthew’s indiscretion. I felt so sorry for Priscilla and the way she was being treated.

Then, I was captivated by the story line involving Gabe. Once again, at first I was shocked at how much trouble Gabe had taking a stand for his business and I was frustrated with him. However, this opened up a great opportunity for Priscilla to help Gabe and his business. There was definitely an attraction that began to brew between these two, however, Gabe seemed determined to keep his distance emotionally.

So many interesting things happened in this novel including the threat to Gabe’s business, the situation with Matthew, and the hope of a romance between the two main characters. It kept me eagerly turning the pages. After reading the first couple of chapters for the next book, which were included at the end of this one, I am really looking forward to seeing what happens with that story, as well.

(4.5 stars)

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

His Pretend Amish Bride by Rachel J. Good has Priscilla Ebersol preparing a picnic lunch to enjoy with her beau, Matthew King. She is surprised to find Bishop Troyer at the door, and he delivers some upsetting news that could cause Priscilla to lose a job she loves. Needing to get out of the house, Priscilla heads to the new camel farm. Gabe Kauffman has just moved to Bird-in-Hand with his camels. Priscilla has done research on the benefits of camel milk for autistic children, and she wants to purchase some her for brother, Asher. Priscilla finds that she can share with Gabe what has happened without worry that he will share with others. When a pushy Englischer tries to bully Gabe into selling his farm, Priscilla is there to assist Gabe. He finds it difficult to talk in front of large crowds and when faced by an angry, bullying individual. The man assumes Priscilla is Gabe’s wife with the way she defends Gabe and his business. This sets the tone for the rest of the story. I enjoyed reading His Pretend Amish Bride. It is a cute story with romance, secrets, betrayal, theft, bullying, and gossip. I liked the characters in this story. I thought they were developed and realistic. The book is well-written with a good flow and pacing. I was unaware of the benefits of camel milk until I read this story. It was interesting learning about camel farming. I enjoyed the side stories in His Pretend Amish Bride because they added depth and interest. There is also humor sprinkled throughout. The Amish characters had deep faith and were wonderful examples to others. Priscilla helps a woman find Jesus which I thought was inspiring. I appreciated the epilogue which nicely wrapped up the book. His Pretend Amish Bride was a delightful story, and I am eager to read the next Unexpected Amish Blessings novel. My favorite line from His Pretend Amish Bride is, “Mamm says worrying isn’t trusting God.” His Pretend Amish Bride is a charming Amish tale with an unethical Englischer, missing milk, rampant rumors, galling glossophobia, a major misunderstanding, and camel curiosity.

This was such a unique Amish story, that included camels of all things! The thing I enjoy about Rachel Good's stories is that they are different than your typical Amish story. Here we have a young Amish woman who is keeping this enormous secret, one I personally felt she shouldn't have kept. And yet in keeping it, it made the storyline that much better. Priscilla sacrificed so much by keeping this secret, and it showed a lot of her character - in a good way. I'm not sure I would have been able to do it.

Then you add Gabe to the storyline. Oh sweet Gabe. He had a secret of his own, which I did NOT see coming AT ALL. Wow, Good really got me on that one, and I loved it! Anyways, Gabe tried so hard to be strong, and in some ways he was. But at the end of the day he was shy, or at least had trouble speaking up for himself. At first I was annoying that Priscilla would kind of swoop in and take over, but as I continued the story, I found myself really enjoying their relationship - each one of them contributed their strength and they really were best when together.

It's been awhile since I've read an Amish story, and I was glad to have one in my hands again. Good managed to teach me, intrigue me, and keep me turning the pages. With camels (I still can't get over that!), special needs children, love, twists and turns, His Pretend Amish Bride was an enjoyable story. Amish fiction fans will love it!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A camel farm? Yes, a camel farm! Gabe buys the farm and starts selling camel milk. Pricilla works at an Amish school for special needs children. Her brother is autistic and she has studied about the benefits of camels milk for children with autism. She joins forces with Gabe to help promote the camels milk for his business as well as help children.
Devious characters were set on ruining Gabe and trying to take over his business. Law suits were being threatened. Will Gabe lose out on his dream?
Pricilla amazed me in her unselfishness and willingness to let others think untrue things about her in order to do what she thought God would want her to do. She also shared about the love of Jesus and brought another into his love.
Gabe was attracted to Pricilla but a secret he was keeping made him enforce a hands off policy. I admired his wanting to keep a long ago promise although for the wrong reasons.
This story opened my eyes to the benefits of camel’s milk and I did some research of my own. There are several ailments and conditions that is said to be helped by drinking it. You can even buy it online in powder form, but it’s expensive. I think I’ll let the camel milk go by, I don’t even drink cows milk.
I received a complimentary ebook copy of this novel from the author but was not required to write a review.

I loved this book, I loved the relationship between gabe and Priscilla because of how fast they grew close. my favorite character is gabe, because of how much he loved Priscilla. I loved how Rachel put A camel farm in the story I thought it was a interesting idea for the book. I didn't like the character Matthew what he did to Priscilla. to find out what happen you'll have to get a copy of your own and find out. I love the cover and the title fit the story.

Gabriel Kauffman has bought a farm where he is raising camels and selling their milk. He's researched the benefits of camels' milk and wants to make a go of selling the milk to families who could use the milk for their own health.

Priscilla Ebersol is an assistant to the teacher of the special needs school in her Amish community. She loves being there because she loves helping the special needs children--especially her brother, Asher, who is autistic. She has been dating Matthew for about a year when she finds out that he's been having relationship behind her back with his boss's daughter, Mara. And it seems that Matthew and Mara have been caught in a compromising situation, but Mara looks enough like Priscilla that the people in their community assume it was Priscilla in the orchard with Matthew. When Matthew comes forward for confession, he does not clear up Priscilla's name, and lets the church assume the worst about her.

Gabriel's farm and dairy operations are assaulted by unscrupulous business owners who want to put Gabriel out of business and make a fair try at it by calling in the Food and Drug Administration inspectors to try to shut down Gabriel's farm. Much of the book revolves around the inspection and the help Priscilla gives Gabriel to work through the inspection and the help she gives him for the school field trip she has set up for the horse therapy farm her friend Hope has.

I am finding I like Rachel J Good's writings books better than some of the other Amish fiction authors. Her characters are human beings with flaws and foibles, and her settings are true to form for where the stories are located.

The Pretend Amish Bride is a five star book, with two thumbs up, and a free pint of camel's milk.

Kensington Publications and NetGalley.com provided the galley I read for this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is book 2 of the Unexpected Amish Blessings series. This story is about Priscilla and Gabe. Priscilla a special needs teacher to children and is engage. When her fiancee' hurts and betrays her they break off the engagement and Priscilla is heartbroken and takes her mind off things by doing research into her brothers Autism condition and how camel's milk may help. This is where Gabe comes in to the story, he is the owner of a camel milk farm and Priscilla visits to get camel's milk. When the two meet there is some interest there from both of them. Due to Gabe's past he may not be the person Priscilla thinks he is. Because of their interest and they way they are together some think Priscilla and Gabe are already married. Can these two come together and be a couple? Does Gabe's past become a problem? Can their faith, friendship and passion for the same interest make them be together?

I would recommend this to anyone that loves the heartfelt story and is a fan of Amish books. This is the second in the series but can be read alone as a stand still. It is a story that is filled with faith and love for people, community and God. Very enjoyable afternoon read to relax and let the world go by.

Here's book two in the series. It's so good, it can be a standalone or it can go with the series. Priscilla is a perfect fit for teaching kids with disabilities. Her own brother has suffered from autism, so she's got a huge heart for these children and her work. That alone was very moving. Then there's Gabriel. I love his camel farm. Camels have been being increasingly popular for their milk and it's properties, and I absolutely loved having them in this story. It made it so enjoyable for me! The threat to Gabe's farm, so so realistic, and scary too! The contrast between English and Amish, while also pulling a strong thread of common ground and faith made this book a delight to read. It's a timely focus on overcoming fear and following God's plans for your life, including forgiveness and healing.

Many thanks to Celebrate Lit for my copy of this book. This review is mine, left freely.

This is one story you don’t want to miss if you are a fan of Amish Fiction. The author has written a book that will stay with me forever. The characters are very well developed and made me want to be their friend. Priscilla has such a sweet spirit around her. She teaches children with special needs and you can tell right away how much compassion she has for them. Her brother is autistic and she is always looking for ways to help him.
Gabriel is a good nan who has a very unique farm. I knew little to nothing about camels until I read this book. I am in awe of the vast information the author has included in the story. It is interesting to know that camel’s milk can benefit those with autism. I will admit I didn’t know camels were able to produce milk that people wanted to buy. Their milk is not cheap and after reading the process of getting milk from them I can understand why.
Priscilla finds herself in the midst of a scandal with her now ex-boyfriend. It is admirable that she will not say anything against him even though his lie could ruin her reputation. The Amish are well know for forgiving others and this story is an illustration of how they apply that to their daily lives. Their faith is strong and I loved how the characters never faltered from their belief in God.
I liked the part of the story when someone threatens to destroy Gabriel and his farm if he doesn’t sell to them. I had to pause for a moment and let that sink in. Greed is out there and it slithers in with deceit, lies and jealousy to get what it wants. Gabriel will depend on Priscilla to help him through this storm. I liked how Priscilla never once strayed from believing in Gabriel and stood up for him when rumors started running through the community.
I have to take a moment to applaud the author for a very important part in the story. We never know when an opportunity will rise to share our faith. Priscilla without any hesitation shares her faith with someone that made me cry. This person will have a God moment that is so powerful it must be mentioned. If you get nothing else from this story, you will see how God gives us divine appointments to witness to others.
The story mainly focuses on the camel farm but there is a budding relationship that may blossom if Gabriel can share his past. Priscilla has been hurt once before . She will have to decide if she is willing to trust again and allow her heart to love. I have read several books from this author, but I have to say this one will always be my favorite.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

Priscilla Ebersol is leading a very content life. She is a special needs teacher waiting to marry her boyfriend. However, when his betrayal leads to ruining not only Priscilla's life but her reputation, she sets out to find a new path. Camel's milk seems to have a benefit towards autism. Throwing herself into research, Priscilla is led to Gabriel Kauffman’s camel ranch. Pretending to be married, they continue on with her project. Will this pretend play lead to real life situations? This story embraces forgiveness, love and understanding. It shows how gossip can really be detrimental. I look forward to the next story in this series. I received a copy through Netgalley. A review was not required.

HIS PRETEND AMISH BRIDE is by one of my favorite authors of Amish fiction, Rachel J. Good, and she didn’t disappoint. This is the second book in the UNEXPECTED AMISH BLESSINGS series, and I’m looking forward to reading more. There is a preview for the next book in the series, HIS ACCIDENTAL AMISH FAMILY, and I can’t wait!

Priscilla is a hard worker, an assistant teacher at an Amish special needs school. She also helps out at home with chores and assists Gabe, a camel farmer, in more ways than one since he is shy in groups and gets tongue-tied easily. Priscilla always seems to be in the right place at the right time, and many outsiders think them husband and wife.

There are many plot lines going on at once, and the inclusion of the Englischer reporters and photographers adds a nice touch. The mystery regarding missing and tainted milk enriched the story. There is some closure and a lovely epilogue. It’s nice to be back with some of the other characters we met in the first book in the series, HIS UNEXPECTED AMISH TWINS, as well as a return to the horse therapy farm run by Priscilla’s friend.

A wonderful read with a feel-good ending.