Member Reviews

Sweet story

I always enjoy Beth Wiseman's books and "An Unlikely Match" is no exception. As this is a stressful time for me, I found the tone of this book to be very calming and diverting from my real-world problems. This is not great literary fiction, but is the best kind of escapist romantic fiction with well developed characters and a good plot with a few twists. It reminds one that all will be well with the world.

Thank you to the publisher who lent me a time-constrained e-arc via Netgalley; this review is optional and my own opinion.

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Once again, Beth Wiseman proves why she is one of the best Inspirational Amish fiction writers that there is. I read my first book by her a couple of years ago and then gobbled them all up as quick as I can. Now I wait excitedly for each new release. And, as usual, An Unlikely Match did not disappoint. Book two in the Amish Inn series brings us back to the Peony Inn where Esther and Lizzie are providing food and comfort for their guests, along with a little matchmaking. This time, though, the matchmaking may not be a good idea. The newest guests at the inn are all part of a big movie production that is happening. One of them, Jayce, just wants out of the industry, but since his dad is the producer, he is on board to help out and then hopefully leave the business for good. Evelyn is an Amish young lady who meets Jayce on the road when her horse is hurt and is instantly charmed by his good looks and his kindness to her horse. What follows is a whirlwind romance that is bound to end in heartache, as Jayce only has one month to be at the inn before he heads back to LA. However, with Lizzie, Esther, and God, anything is possible. I love how this book explored themes of redemption, trust, and faith. I love that I laughed out loud and cried a little too. I love that we get to see the characters again soon in another book in the series. Thank you again to #BethWiseman and #NetGalley for sharing your heart and your stories with us. #Bookstagram #all_the_pages

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This series is so much fun to read and the characters seem like family now. I adore Esther and Lizzie so much. These two women are full of life and make me laugh. Their schemes to matchmake always gives readers an adventure to read. Wouldn’t it be nice to stay at their Inn?

I loved the plot of this story where a production crew overtakes the Inn and surrounding land. Someone made a mistake when they accepted the booking. Oh I laughed so hard when the motor homes pull up with limos following close behind. The noise of the generators are enough to make you run away. The author does an incredible job of letting us see two characters try to understand each other’s beliefs.

Evelyn is a sweet quiet and hard working young woman. She has deep faith and her actions show how much she respects her heritage. The Amish have always fascinated me and this story talked about the differences between the Amish beliefs and other beliefs.

Jayce is here with his father to help with the movie but their relationship is strained. His father is very stern and doesn’t seem to want to spend any time repairing his relationship with Jayce. I liked how Evelyn and Jayce became friends. I enjoyed reading how Jayce and Evelyn began to have feelings for each other but Evelyn is not sure she should let her feelings grow for him. They come from different backgrounds and have very deep conversations about God. I thought it was very interesting for them to question each other about what they believed in. There are many religions in the world so I think Jayce was a little confused why Evelyn believed one way when he was never taught that. This part of the story was well written and answered sone questions I have had about the Amish ways.

I cannot leave out my favorite character Gus. He is gruff, standoffish and a loner. I do think he may have a crush on one of the sisters who runs the Inn. I hope this gets more attention in the next book. His unhappiness is explained in the story and I wanted to give him a big hug. All these years he has been sad and now I know why. Don’t miss the excitement when Gus gets a part in the movie. There is a nice surprise about him that will have you respecting him even more.

I loved this story so much because it shows how two people who are different are willing to listen to each other and follow their heart. Life is too short and they need to live each day in happiness. God is very important to both Evelyn and Jayce. The importance of prayer in the story is prevalent as they each seek God’s wisdom for their future. There is reconciliation, forgiveness and new beginnings that fill the pages of this inspiring story.

I received a copy of this book from the author and Zondervan Publishing. The review is my own opinion.

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When I started reading this, I immediately knew that I had read book 1 of this series. I remembered the very memorable characters from book 1, such as grumpy Gus, Lizzie, Esther. I was so happy to continue this fun and enjoyable series. I enjoyed the book because it was a really light-hearted read for me. There was drama, laughs and so enjoyable.

I found this heartwarming romance very nice as Amish girl gets to know Enlish boy or "man" as Evelyn never fails to point out. A page-turning book that will keep you reading till the very end!

I received a complimentary ebook copy of this book, which I highly recommend from NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

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This is the second book in the Amish Inn series by Beth Wiseman. You are going to want to read the first book in the series so you can meet all of the characters, such as Esther and Lizzie.
We meet Evelyn Schrock, a young Amish girl and Jace Clarkson, a Englisher who works for his father’s movie company. I was rooting for Evelyn and Jace the entire time. I also loved Esther and Lizzie, who own The Peony Inn. Gus is an Englisher who lives behind the hotel. The banter between the sisters and Gus was great! Beth Wiseman keeps you guessing until the end and the ending does not disappoint!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and Zondervan Books through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

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I haven't read Amish fiction for a long time and now I'm not sure why I haven't. I like seeing cultures clash and seeing things from a different perspective. It made me laugh when Esther realized her sister booked in a Production company instead of a Produce company. It was fun watching Jayce (from Hollywood) and Evelyn (an Amish woman) become friends. I love witty banter and they didn't disappoint. Even the feud between Gus and Lizzie was entertaining.

There were some poignant moments and a good reminder to listen for God's voice. "Sometimes His words are subtle, but the more time you spend in tune with Him, the easier it becomes to hear His wisdom" (location 2450).

I'm curious to see what happens between Gus & Esther and to find out what Lizzie has in store for Rose. I'll definitely check out the next book in the series and will go back and read the first one. Thank you to Zondervan for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

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An Unlikely Match is a very well written Amish romance. Good plot and character dynamics. I highly recommend this book.

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This is a well written book that is full of drama, laughs and romance. It was a fun read that keep me turning the pages to see what happened next. This book was an absolute joy to read. Thank you Zondervan Fiction via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

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A return visit for me to The Peony Inn, and the delightful widowed sister's Esther and Lizzie who run the Inn along with some matchmaking.
Now with the arrival of Hollywood and RV's in their yard the sister's are at their breaking point taking care of meals and the Inn and non-stop laundry, they need help!
Grumpy Gus is back, and so is the bickering, but the sisters are so busy. Enter Jayce, who knew a rich Hollywood kid would know how to cook, but that is not all we learn about him and he has a growing friendship with Evelyn Schrock. Jayce likes what he sees about Evelyn's life, but could he forsake two cars, phones, and lots of money for the simple life.
This read kept me page turning, we become immersed in these people lives, their ups and downs, and you may need ear plugs when you meet Rose! With her there is another book coming! Yes!
I received this book through the Publisher Zondervan, and was not required to give a positive review.

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This was such a lovely surprise!

Ok, 1) roughly 20% of these kinds of books are about food, and as a very food motivated person I lust after these wonderful family (in this case inn) meals.

2) this book... wow, I didn’t realize how much I needed a good character driven story, and I am not just talking about the main characters, smaller side characters you don’t think much about at first also get their time to shine. More than romantic relationships gets time to grow and evolve and I am here for it. Gus especially, and I did not see it coming.

I love the time this book spends on conversations and making characters try to relate to each other, but also especially how it doesn’t shy away from reality, i.e. nothing feels “unreal” or too speedy really, as is sometimes common in the genre. It felt organic and true to all characters.

There was a series of lovely quotes, but I don’t want to spoil anything for anyone else, all I’ll share is “Cling to your convictions, but allow room for change and growth. Be the person you want to be, and never forget that anything is possible.”

All I can say is that if you want a romance that allows for genuine complications, a variety of interpersonal relationships, and character growth, this might be for you.

I, meanwhile, will wait for Rose’s story, I found her wonderfully charming and can’t wait to see her as a lead. However I’ll admit that I may just be ready for a few more rounds of Lizzie and Gus, this grump off dynamic must continue!

Beth Wiseman writes beautifully and takes her time, this is a good thing. Thank you to NetGalley and Zondervan for this ARC, I’m excited to see this in print.

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I really enjoyed this sequel to Beth Wiseman's A Picture of Love. Here we meet Jayce who comes to The Peony Inn to work for his movie producer dad. He's barely in Amish country when he runs into Evelyn a local young lady. They seem to fall for each other pretty quick but their seemingly insurmountable problem is that she's Amish and he's not.

Lizzie and Esther, the elderly matchmaking sisters and owners of The Peony Inn are just too much fun. We learn a little more about Grumpy Gus and how he came to live on the property plus we see him get a part in the movie! I can't wait to return to The Peony Inn and see what's in store for Rose!

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review. This was great read for a lazy summer day. All opinions are my own.

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I lived this story of the Amish and Englisch worlds colliding, not only in expected ways like a film production crew staying at an Amish inn, but also in moral and religious ways. I enjoyed seeing the balance between the Amish reaching out into the world to help someone (not to convert them) could result in an Englischer reaching into Amish life for some personal and spiritual nourishment.

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Oh my goodness. I loved An Unlikely Match so much. Jayce and Evelyn are, indeed, an unlikely match. Evelyn is Amish and Jayce’s father is a film maker in LA. Yet, when they meet, sparks fly. I loved both Jayce and Evelyn. This story had a lot of humor in it, too. I got such a kick out of Esther and Lizzie, the widows who own the bed and breakfast where Jayce and the film crew are staying. Somehow I missed book #1 in the series, but this one is a standalone so it’s easy to read without being confused. Thank you to Netgalley and Zondervan for the ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

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This is the second book in the Amish Inn series and I enjoyed it as much as the first one. All the characters were entertaining and each one had something about them that kept my interest and curiosity about what would happen next. Different storyline from any other book I have read, but that is what kept me captivated. I highly recommend this book-you won’t be disappointed.
I was given a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher for my honest opinion and review.

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An Unlikely Match by Beth Wiseman is the second book in the Peony Inn Amish Matchmaker series. I love the drama, humor and romance in this book. It us not tge typical Amish story, it is so different , yet so good. I recommend this book. Thanks netgalley for the arc, my options simply my own thoughts.

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On my return to the Peony Inn in Montgomery, Indiana, I was delighted to reunite with Amish matchmakers Lizzie and Esther and their friend Grumpy Gus and to meet their new guests from Hollywood! This story of family, friendship, fears, and faith is engaging and heartwarming. The well-structured plot flows at a steady pace and kept my attention from beginning to end. The characters are lovable and realistic. Jayce Clarkson and Evelyn Schrock are from different worlds, but are they really so different? Their love is slow building and sweet. The strong faith element is inspiring. I look forward to Book 3 in the series to read Rose’s story and hopefully see how Esther and Gus’s relationship further unfolds.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Zondervan through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in the review are completely my own.

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An Unlikely Match by Beth Wiseman is a delightful story.

Evelyn has been unwilling to date any young man in her community because they do not share her want to know about, life, love, and faith.

Arriving in tow is an interesting young Englishman, Jayce Clarkson. He works for his father, a movie maker, and is very dissatisfied with his life. He is not Amish, she is. Regardless, there is a pull between these two.

This novel is a page turner and keeps you guessing.

If you want a real page turner, pre order this page turner. Publication date will be Jun8, 2021.

Thank you Zondervan Fiction for allowing me to read an ARC of this book through NetGalley. I was not required to give a positive review to this 5-star book.

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We're back at the Peony Inn, with matchmakers Esther and Lizzie as they welcome a new set of quests to the inn. This time, they are serving an entire movie production crew her to film in the caverns. One of those crew members is a young man struggling to find his path in the world despite having grown up in the lap of luxury. As he randomly befriends a local Amish lady, sparks start to fly despite them trying to keep things casual.
Esther and Lizzie want so despirately to step in, but can they face the facts that he will return to LA and she will never leave her home?
I really loved this book and honestly liked it better than the first in the series. I liked that we saw a different side of Gus and even learned a little of his back story.
I highly recommend this book and think it should be a must read on any Amish lovers TBR list. I would rate it a higher star rating, but alas it only goes to 5 starts.
I received a copy of this book from netgalley in return for my honest opinion. All opinions are my own.

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I received an ARC copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it. I so enjoyed this book. It had romance, humor and drama. So very good.

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Two elderly Amish ladies run an Inn in a small Amish village. When a production crew rents their rooms for a movie shoot a lot of Englishers arrive on their property. Among them is Jayce the son of the Producer, a young adult with a wish for a simpler life. He meets Evelyn, a local Amish girl in her Rumspringa and is fascinated with her and her simple ways.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

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