Member Reviews
This is an Amish Fiction, and this is the third book in the Unexpected Amish Blessings series. I love this book, and the characters is so developed. I fall in love with all the characters in this book. All the characters in this book as so much to over come in this book. I love the issues this book covers. This book is well written. I have to say that the beginning starts off slow, but the pace picks up fast. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Zebra) or author (Rachel J. Good) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review about how I feel about this book, and I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.
"His Accidental Amish Family" is a feel-good Christian romance by Rachel J. Good. It tells the story of Anna Flaud, a young Amish woman who wants to walk again after 7 years in a wheelchair; and Levi King, her Amish physiotherapist. Two people of the same faith, with parallel issues of self-worth and love for children. They meet, they think they cannot be together, they learn to overcome their issues, they have a happy ending.
Who would enjoy this book
"His Accidental Amish Family" is not a book which tries to break new markets or trail blaze messages. Therefore, it has a very defined audience: readers who want a non-sexually explicit heterosexual romance, who like inspirational stories, and who read to spend a few moments of easy escape. Or, non-believers who have a bit of a voyeuristic streak for religious otherness.
Who should give it a pass
Avoid "His Accidental Amish Family" if you are triggered by characters built around the whole concept of striving to be good, to overcome the obstacles and have love/God heal all wounds. Even more so , this book may be a frustrating experience for people with political agendas of social change.
Conclusions and suggestions
Rachel J. Good is an author who has followed and produced variations of this theme in many titles. This expertise is clearly reflected in how easily she presents her characters, and how the details of their lives are shown without focusing on them. On the other hand, that expertise makes "His Accidental Amish Family" somewhat dull. It is as predictable as the humdrum of daily life. The only elements of surprise are the ones introduced to further the plot (the brother with brain damage, the refugee children, even the main character’s paralysis), mostly because one does not expect to find them connected to Amish life. It would have been nice if they were not so clearly simple elements to serve the plot, as they are very interesting concepts to explore in the context. Sadly, as I mentioned above they are not used to their fullest potential.
Strength, determination and love are found in this heartwarming story. Family comes in all sizes and shapes. In this special story, Anna is determined to walk again and raise a family. This story reminds me to never give up and always remember God has a plan. I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required.
This is a love story and so much more. The Amish are a group of North American people who do not live in the way most people do. They only use motorised vehicles when there is no alternative and family means everything to them. Anna Flaud is wheelchair bound and cannot have children. She decides that must learn to walk down the length of a room so she can accept a proposal of marriage from an old friend who is waiting for her. Moving to a new town she joins a local community centre that offers gym facilities. Her trainer is Levi and he falls in love with her almost straight away.
There are many problems along the way but when Anna starts fostering children she finally fulfils a deep need in her. When she and Levi finally decide on a life together with a large adopted family this is a beautiful end to a lovely story. Anna is a brave character and overcomes many obstacles along the way.
An insight into the Amish world is fascinating and makes me want to read more stories from Rachel J Good in the future.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this book. Unfortunately, it isn't what I was looking for. I wasn't able to finish it, therfore I will not post a review on Goodreads. I know there is a great audience for this, so I don't want to skew the ratings. Thanks again!
His Accidental Amish Family is a beautifully written and sweet story of Anna Flaud, a young Amish girl who had been in an accident seven years ago that caused her to not be able to walk. Or to have children. She moves to her cousin's home and meets Levi King, her new therapist. She wants to walk to Gabriel, her former boyfriend to answer his proposal from seven years ago. She gets to walking, only to find that Gabriel has a new girlfriend, which crushes Anna, so she thinks she will never be married after all.. She gets licensed to take in foster children, and she get three children whose mother has been taken by immigration. She is no longer hurting about Gabriel, but she doesn't know what to do about her new feelings for Levi. She doesn't know that he is just as attracted to her. When circumstances change, and she has an opportunity to adopt the three children, she needs a husband to do so. What will she do? Great story I really enjoyed!
First sentence: Anna Flaud wheeled herself down the ramp and to the mailbox out front. The spring sunshine warmed her body but not her heart. Purple crocuses and yellow jonquils lined the walkway. In the flower beds, small green shoots fought for room beside spindly tendrils of onion grass. On days like this, Mamm would be tending her plants, but now weeds sprouted everywhere.
Premise/plot: Anna Flaud, our determined heroine, works hard toward her goal of learning to walk again. She's promised not to answer a certain marriage proposal until she can walk across the room and give him an answer. (His name is Gabe.) But. It's been years. She's working hard, no question. But will her dream of marriage ever come to pass?
After moving to live with her cousin and her family, she begins rehab at a new facility under the guidance of an Amish man, Levi King. Levi appreciates her determination and positive attitude. In fact, he's never met anyone quite like Anna. She is unforgettable and one of a kind. And perhaps just the kind of woman he needs in his life...
The novel is narrated by both Anna and Levi. Both are positive people who are working to make a difference. In addition to his work at the center, he teaches CPR and water safety classes. Anna, meanwhile, is helping out by taking in foster children. (This is something her aunt does as well.) These two seem made for each other...
My thoughts: Chances are you're thinking this book has a ridiculous title. I agree. I don't know what I'd call it instead--if I was the author or the publisher. But it seems a bit over the top--even for a romance title.
But despite the title, I ended up LOVE, LOVE, LOVING this one. It was probably one of the more unique Christian romances I've ever read, and definitely one of the most unique Amish romances I've read!
I loved that Anna isn't your traditional heroine. I don't know that I have ever ever ever read a romance novel where the main character is in a wheel chair. Anna's character was genuine--I loved her big, big heart. I loved reading about her foster experiences. And Levi was a sweetie!!! I adored him for Anna. These two had me cheering for the relationship from the start.
I haven't read any Amish stories in many years, although this used to be one of my most favorite genres. I am glad I decided to return to these stories as now I remember why I loved them so much.
Rachel Good's writing is stellar and she weaves a story that just captures your heart. In this one, the main character is a young woman who has overcome great challenges in order to be self-sufficient, despite being in a wheelchair. She lives independently and I love how the story includes this aspect. Anna was injured in a buggy accident as a teenager and she has wrestled with her guilt over the happening of that accident. She set a goal for herself to walk across a room to accept a marriage proposal but it took her 7 years to reach that goal. Just prior to doing so, she meets Levi, her physical therapy assistant, and her feelings for him confuse her and cause her to feel ever more guilt.
When she finds that her fiance has fallen in love with another woman, she is devastated and throws herself into becoming a foster parent instead, all while trying to fight her feelings for Levi. She cannot have children of her own and feels that no one will ever want to marry her due to that.
Levi wrestles with his own feelings of guilt over an accident that happened when he was a child, and for which he believes he was the cause of it. When Levi sees Anna with an infant, he assumes she is married and so he then feels guilty for having feelings for her.
This story shows how people can have misunderstandings that could change their lives without communication, trust and faith. Anna and Levi may have missed a chance for love and happiness if they did not take time to ask questions and find the true answers rather than just accepting their assumptions about the other. But I think what I loved most about the story was how even though it is an Amish story, it shows the intersection between that world and the English world in many ways. The story deals with handicaps, foster care, adoption and even touches on DACA and immigration issues.
Anna and Levi make a wonderful romance. What a warm and believable heartwarming story. I in awe of their kindness.
I just loved this book. Rachel J. Good is such a great writer, her books flow so well you never feel lost as you go from chapter to chapter. I felt as if I was in the book watching what was happening not just reading it. The characters are wonderful, I just loved them all, I can not pick a favorite. This books was just so good I did not want it to end. It makes you feel so much, compassion was the big one as well as just doing your best for others. #HisAccidentalAmishFamily #NetGalley
I expected to enjoy this but I wasn't able to get past 11% of the book. I know that the heroine, Anna Flaud, had suffered a lot in her twenty-four years of life, however, she was so whiney in the first 11% that I don't wish to finish the book. And the plot was just taking too long to pick up to a point that it was actually interesting.
The instant attraction was also a downplay for me.
I have been reading Amish genre for several years. I have to say that this is the best book I have read. There were so many issues in this book that really tugged on my heartstrings. As far as I can remember, this is the first Amish book, out of hundreds I have read, that had me in tears as I read and left me in tears as I shared it with my husband.
You won’t want to miss reading this book as it deals with disabilities, foster care, adoption, broken hearts, children being taken away from their families because of being immigrants, new friends, new love – this book covered so many topics that are relevant to today’s life and issues.
I received a copy of this book from Kensington publishers and NetGalley and was not required to give a review.
Anna and Levi's story. They meet when she goes to him for help on learning how to strengthen herself to walk again. He is a helper, since as an Amish he cannot get the full education. Needless to say, they are attracted to each other, and the two form a connection. Trouble is both of them are not sure of the other, so a lot of the book is does he, does she thoughts, which got a little repetitive after awhile. Minor though, and like the foster care addition to the story. Hard to put this one down, and one I highly recommend. A good book, series and author.
A sweet, clean, easy read with young, likeable characters, “His Accidental Amish Family”, by Rachel J. Good (Kensington Books/Zebra), features a disabled heroine fairly well-adjusted to her condition.
The hero, Gabe, is a sweet Beta hero, tortured by a traumatic event in his childhood.
Anna seemed very comfortable and apt performing her daily routines and not at all hindered by the disability.
The secondary characters, including a group of children, are interesting, yet sometimes feel a bit schematic or too convenient for the story. Jonah, with his challenges and “calming touch”, is an endearing boy, who would make an appealing hero.
Miscommunication and misunderstandings often propel the plot forward, and the romantic relationship relies upon gazing, staring into each other’s eyes and “special glances and secret smiles”. I do like stories involving crushes and infatuations but these dimensions monopolize a lot of the narrative and, in the end, the “soul-to-soul bond” seems a bit feeble.
The vagueness and omission about Anna’s disability is very frustrating; addressing and explaining, even if briefly, some of the injury’s aspects, should have been dealt with within the story. On the one hand, it’s remarkable that the disability isn’t a hindrance for the heroine, but on the other hand it feels like a blatant void in the story and an important dimension of the character is missing. Some aspects of the rehabilitation process were also confusing for me.
Levi is a physical therapist aide and Anna is his new patient. She wants to learn to walk after having a life changing accident with her old boyfriend, Gabe. He had asked her to marry him, but she wouldn't give him an answer until she could walk across the floor to give him the answer. When Anna is finally able to make the trek to give Gabe his answer and sees that he's in love with another woman.
Anna has had her fair share of adverse circumstances thrown her way. After she sees that Gabe truly loves another, she becomes despondent for a while, but finds that she can have a new purpose in fostering children who need emergency placement. Since she lives in close proximity to her aenti Miriam, who is already certified as a foster parent, Anna's certification comes easily, especially after she gets her CPR and water safety certifications.
Levi and Anna both hold secret guilt that they are able to unburden to each other and both of them are able to admit their feelings for each other. After Anna gets a placement of three refugee children, the mother asks that Anna adopt them, which brings Levi and Anna full circle to marriage.
Rachel J Good has written a sweet book that will touch the hearts of all who read it. There were many tears shed as I read this book. The characters have real flaws and real determination to accomplish what they set out to do. This is a five star book with two thumbs up and a picnic lunch.
Zebra Books and NetGalley.com provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Anna is confined to a wheelchair, due to an accident when she was younger. Her cousin Emily asks her to move to Lancaster. Anna wants to walk to her boyfriend Gabe because she told him that’s what she would do in order to marry him. Gabe lives in Lancaster. Anna meets Levi at physical therapy. Sparks fly but there are many obstacles that these two have to overcome. Levi feels guilty about his brother Jonah, who is special needs. I thought the book dragged in some parts. This book talks about having faith and forgiving yourself. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington (Zebra) for the E-ARC. This is my own opinion.
I loved this story! Anna's ability to rise above her circumstances was amazing! She pushed herself so hard through physical therapy and in every aspect of her life.
It was so special to me too that foster care was presented so well in this book.
The characters of Levi, Anna, Jonah, Assad, Taban and Jamilah will be in my heart for quite some time!
Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc!
This book is particularly problematic. The young white heroine fosters three children whose immigrant mother is sent to detention. When the mother is sent back to Somalia, she gives the children to the hero and heroine for adoption. The hero and heroine say that their family was given to them by God. The book is built around the idea that it is not just desirable but divine to rip apart a nonwhite family in order to fulfill the desires of a young white couple. That is sick and wrong.