A Lovely Christmas Story

While grieving the sudden death of her parents, Keturah Esch is tasked with taking care of her siblings and running the family business. As the lone survivor of an accident that took his mother and left him paralyzed, Jason Zook is also grieving. During his healing process, Jason begins writing inspirational messages to people that write about their grief in the Amish newspaper. One of Jason's inspirational messages ends up being to Keturah. That communication ends up being the beginning to a pen pal relationship between the two. While their relationship begins as pen pals, it soon takes a turn when Jason finds a way to meet Keturah without revealing who he is.

I loved getting to know Jason and Keturah and seeing their relationship develop. I also enjoyed the secondary characters who added to the story without taking the spotlight off of Jason and Keturah. I was also touched by how caring the characters were toward Keturah, her sisters, and Jason. These relationships and the characters' interactions are part of what made this such a wonderful story.

An Unexpected Amish Christmas is the third book in Rachel J. Good's Surprised by Love series. It is a lovely Christmas story of romance, love, forgiveness, faith, and overcoming. While it can be read as a stand alone, I highly recommend that you read it along with the rest of the series. You won't be disappointed.

***I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. All comments and opinions are my own.

I have always enjoyed Rachel J. Goods novels and this one did not disappoint!! It is again a wonderful read and enjoyable story line. It is a take on overcoming a sudden disability and finding reasons to go on with life.

Jacob Zook was in a buggy accident which resulted in a spinal injury that affected his legs and arms. He now must rehab to where he is a contributing and functional member of the Amish community. It is a tough road, being in a wheelchair and a journey that doesn't happen overnight. He struggles with the everyday tasks that he did without thinking, before the accident. He is also tormented by a decision he made on the morning of the fated day and he must come to terms with the fact that he needs to reconcile that decision if he is to move on with life. But Jacob reads about a tragic accident that left 4 children alone, as it killed their parents and left the oldest, Keturah Esch, to take care of her younger siblings.

Jacob decides to write to Keturah and let her know that she is not alone and if she needs someone to talk to that understands the depth of loss, she can write to him. HOWEVER, Jacob wrote anonymously so Keturah has no idea who he is or where he is from. But his letters are such a joy to her and way to unburden herself without judgment. But how long can the letters go on before one or the other must reveal themselves?

Jacob goes to the Green Valley Farmers Market, one day, and finds himself before Ketura Esch but she has no idea who he is and he does not reveal himself. This story has twists and turns, ups and downs and eventually comes to a place that decisions must be made, but will they be made for the right reasons?

Sit in your comfy chair, surround yourself with the smells of the holidays, and a warm drink of choice....cuddle under a warm and cozy blanket and put yourself into the lives of Jacob and Keturah.....you won't be sorry!!

I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author and Zebra Books through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

An Unexpected Amish Christmas is the third installment in Rachel J. Good’s “Surprised by Love” series. Kartirah Esch works at the Green Valley Farmer’s Market with her younger sisters. She is raising them after the sudden death of their parents. Jeremiah Zook is recovering in a wheelchair from a terrible accident that took his mother. Jacob and Keturah meet each other and Jacob starts working at the girls’ pretzel stand. I was rooting for Keturah and Jeremiah the whole time.
Rachel J. Good has done an amazing job of creating real and complex characters. She also weaves in characters from her earlier books. I especially enjoy Mrs. Vandenburg, who owns the market. This can be a stand alone book, but I highly suggest that you read these books in order. Trust me, you will love the first two!!
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author and Zebra Books through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

This is book 3 in the Surprised by Love series. I don't think that It is necessary to read other books in the series to enjoy this one, although there are some recurring characters.

Most of the action in the book takes place in a large Marketplace where many people have stalls and sell all kinds of merchandise, from fresh produce and meat to baked goods, flowers, wreaths, preserves, clothing. furniture, books - you name it, it's there. I would love to visit that Marketplace! There are Amish communities in the area so there are quite a few Amish who run their businesses out of the Marketplace, along with many non-Amish.

Jeremiah, a young Amish man, was severely injured in an accident. He was traveling in a van with other Amish when a car struck it. He lived but is in a wheelchair, and is having to regain the use of his body - arms and hands as well as his legs. I thought Jeremiah was an admirable character. He has human struggles with his changed circumstances and occasionally has despair but he doesn't give up. As part of his rehabilitation, he goes to work at the pretzel stand run by Keturah and her sisters. One thing that made the book so good was that nothing about his disability was sugar-coated. Jeremiah has to struggle, for example, to learn to use the tongs at the pretzel stand.

Keturah and her three younger sisters are also Amish. They lost their parents in an accident, and the four are left to make their living in their market stall where they make pretzels. I admired Keturah so much - she was so young to have to be the head of her family. Her youngest sister was only 8 years old. I learned quite a lot about pretzel-making in this book and would love to try a freshly made one.

There is a very slow build romance, and I would say that the romance is not the focus of the book. I thought the focus was the challenges that Jeremiah, Keturah, and her sisters faced, and their struggle to continue to have faith. It's an excellent book and I highly recommend it.

I received a copy of this book from publisher Kensington via NetGalley. These are my own opinions of the book.

This novel definitely fits the description of a novel about Amish people. However, it differs in its treatment of physical disabilities, loss of loved ones, and rebuilding lives.

Keturah and Jeremiah both have lost family members and try to cope with putting their lives back together. Jeremiah has also been injured in an accident, and arrives at Keturah's family pretzel stand as part of a rehab program. The story deals with their relationship, as well as how the business adapts for a person with disabilities. Both Keturah and Jeremiah have secrets that affect their growing affection, and these issues must be resolved. Both of them are also dealing with leftovers from their past and moving towards a new future together.

Although it is part of a series, this book can be read as a standalone. Readers who enjoy clean reads without descriptive violence and sexual content or strong language would appreciate this addition to the repertoire of stories about the Amish people and culture. There is a strong Christian message in this book.

I received this book from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

This is an Amish Christmas Romance, and this is the third book in the Surprised by Love series. I have read the other books before reading this book. I have to say part of the reason I loved this book so much is because I read the other books and know the side characters in this book. I loved the main characters in this book, and the main characters stories was so touching. Jacob's character overcame so much in this book, and I loved how the author wrote his character. This is a great story, but I would not say this as a lot of Christmas. There is a little bit of Christmas sprinkle through out this book. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Zebra) or author (Rachel J. Good) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

While An Unexpected Amish Christmas is the third book in the Surprised by Love series, it can be read as a stand-alone novel. However, several characters make appearances in all the books, so for a broader understanding of them, I would read the series in order.

Keturah and her siblings lost their parents, casting Keturah into the role of mom and caretaker. Not only that, but she has to keep their family pretzel stand going. She is extremely lonely and weary until a pen pal reaches out who seems to know exactly what she is going through. I admired Keturah's strength as she was forced into these roles. She does her best to honor her parents and care for her siblings, trying to maintain a positive attitude, even amid their grief. While she allows her sisters to grieve and gives them the grace to do that, Keturah struggles with her own emotions.

Jeremiah has also recently lost a parent and his mobility in an accident. He feels guilty for the accident and reaches out to others who have lost loved ones, hoping to help with his guilt and to feel like he has a purpose. Once Jeremiah meets Keturah he has a greater motivation for doing his therapy in the hopes to gain his full mobility back. While this is a noble goal, I did not agree with his thoughts that while he was in a wheelchair he had nothing to offer. That's simply not true.

I enjoyed this story. It has a unique storyline and is not the "typical" Amish story, while several threads kept the story moving. It is a quick read that covers loss, grief, forgiveness, and love. As I mentioned earlier that are several characters that make reappearances, like Mrs. Vanderberg, a wealthy old lady with matchmaking tendencies, who everyone loves, and Bo with his womanizing ways who everyone tends to avoid. The character development is great as you feel like you are there with the characters.

While the story is more focused on Keturah and Jeremiah's lives, it does slowly build-up to Christmas. I would recommend this story to anyone who loves a sweet Christmas story, Amish story, or love story. Fans of Shelley Shepard Gray, Beth Wiseman, and Amy Clipston will enjoy this series by Rachel J. Good.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book. I was not required to provide a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4 stars
An Unexpected Amish Christmas
by Rachel J. Good
I loved this charming Amish story set once again in the Marketplace. Jeremiah and Keturah meet through mutual tragedy and become friends and coworkers at her family's pretzel stand.
Rachel J Good has written an Amish story that is quite different from others I have read. An Unexpected Amish Christmas is charming, sweet and a delightful read on a lazy fall day. Good is one of my all-time favorite Amish authors.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley.

I have enjoyed this delightful Amish romance series from Pennsylvania Amish country centered around the Green Valley Farmer's Market. Jeremiah lost his mamm in an accident that left him in a wheelchair living in a rehab center. Keturah and her three sisters lost both of their parents in an accident as well. In Jeremiah's grief, he reaches out to other Amish who have lost their family members by sending letters of encouragement. Keturah finds comfort in Jeremiah's letters, which he signs as A Friend Who Cares to stay anonymous. Jeremiah has an opportunity to visit her family pretzel stand at the market where he meets Keturah and her sisters and later he has an opportunity to work at the stand through his rehab. But he never lets Keturah know who he is even though he and she continue to correspond. The relationship of the two and the sisters is a rocky road but one worth traveling. This story is one of dealing with grief, old hurts, pride, and hope for a future, including scripture and many prayers. We see characters from the other two stories including the meddling (in a good way) and wise Mrs. Vandenberg, who sees and knows everything going on and is the star all in the series, in my opinion. Lovely story for those who enjoy Amish romance.
I received a complimentary ARC from Kensington Books through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.

This is a story of loss, tragic loss of loved ones, and we are with the survivors. Now this is the third book in this series, with some recurring characters, but it can be read alone.

Words of comfort, hard times, and survival, a business to run, and a body to try to make work again. These are life challenges, that both of the main characters are dealing with, and the choices that are made, and trying to live their faith, and what their parents would have wanted.

We are gifted by the words of the author as to how these broken families begin to mend.

Don't miss the Epilogue!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Kensington, Zebra, and was not required to give a positive review.

"An Unexpected Amish Christmas" by Rachel J. Good is a wonderful story and a definite read for Christmas. I'll take a cinnamon sugar pretzel. Oh, and a raisin pretzel.

Keturah and her three sisters run a pretzel stand at the Green Valley Farmer's Market. As the book begins we learn that their parents have died in the past week and now they must run the family business themselves. Their father had a certain way of doing things and constantly watched to ensure that the pretzel stand ran to his 'exact' specifications. Their Mamm was the person that made sure everything ran smoothly and would quietly soften, if possible, her husband's smarting comments. The girls are missing their parents horribly but Keturah is the oldest and feels the responsibility for her sisters and the family business.

Jeremiah is in rehab -- physical rehab. An Amish dairy farmer and extremely active young man now needs 24 x 7 care. although there is a possibility of some recovery. As part of his physical therapy, he is using a special device on his fingers to write. When he was injured, his Mamm died of her injuries. Because he understands the pain of such loss, he has decided to select someone in the Amish newspaper who has also suffered such a loss. Writing is a long and painful process but he continues to write letters.

Then he selects Keturah and writes his letter including some Bible verses that have helped him in hope it helps her. And she replies. And a new world opens for both of them. Slowly. But both lives are improved.

Add in a delightful ninety plus Mrs. Vandenburg who is a take-charge kind of lady. You'll love her.
And Darryl, a young man with a generous, loving heart.
There is even a dog is the list of characters which is always a plus in my book.
Oh, and Bo. Boo Hiss!!! Ladies, if you've ever been around that kind of guy, you'll know what I mean.

I loved this book. Enjoyed it from page 1 to the end. Do add this one to your Read-This-Christmas list. I highly recommend.

A thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Kensington Books, for the opportunity to read and review an ARC (advanced reader's copy) of this book. The opinions expressed in my review are my own.

Rating: 5 stars
Cover rating: Excellent.

#AnUnexpectedAmishChristmas #NetGalley #RachelJGood #KensingtonBooks

This book was so good! It's well written and hooks you on the first page. It's full of emotions and you can feel every one of them. Once I stared reading this book I couldn't put it down. If you are a fan of Amish fiction you will love this book.
I received a complimentary copy from Kensington Books, Zebra via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Pride keeps us silent when we should speak. It makes us pretend we're someone we're not. Anit it causes us to hide the truth.

Two tragedies struck a secret identity letter between Jacob Zook and Keturah Esch. They were encouraged by their letters to each other however, they did not who the other was or the circumstances. This sweet Amish romance reminds me of another that is more popular "You Got Mail" taken from the old movie with Jimmy Stewart "Shop Around the Corner". Jacob Zook knows Keturah's story. How her and her sisters are survived by her their parents. They are grieving their loss and learning to go on with the family business which is running a Pretzel shop at the Green Valley Farmer's Market. Jacob Zook is going thru his own tragedy. An accident left him terribly injured and his only surviving parent killed. Jacob is now going thru therapy and Keturah's story brought him a new sense of purpose. He sought her thru letter and with the encouragement he received he wanted to meet her. In his wheelchair, he was able to meet Keturah and help her out in the shop with her sisters. Something clicked in his short time and with the help of the owner of Valley's Farmer Market, he received a job helping Keturah.

Their story reminds me that suffering brings people together and when they work together for a purpose. Suffering also brings misunderstanding such as why, how can I go on, and what do I have to offer. Both Keturah and Jacob answer these questions for themselves and each other. Christmas also is a reminder of anticipation and hope. The timing of Christmas is around the corner and adds to a sweet love story that sees beauty in the ashes.

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

Jeremiah had been in a tragic buggy accident in which he lost his Mother and the use of his legs and some of his fingers. He has a lot to overcome in therapy and in his grief he reads the paper everyday and reaches out to those that have lost loved ones as well.

Keturah and her younger sisters had recently lost both their parents. She receives a letter from A Friend who cares including bible verses to help her deal with their loss. In the meantime it helps Jeremiah too.

I really enjoyed this story and just can't say how emotional it will make you feel. You get so involved in the characters that you fall in love with all of them except I did not care for Bo. But it really is a great book that you don't want to miss out reading.

Jeremiah Zook has spent weeks in a rehab facility, his body broken, due to the accident that not only took his mobility, but also the life of his cherished mother, and several other Amish folks. In an effort to work through his own grief, and to work on regaining the dexterity in his hands, he begins writing letters of hope and condolence to other Amish families who have experienced a great loss just as he did. The rehab center gives him hope that he may regain both the use of his hands, and the use of his legs, but can one little letter put him on the path to mending his broken heart, too?

When Keturah Esch's parents are killed by a drunk driver, she suddenly becomes the head of their household, responsible for her three younger sisters, and the family pretzel stand. The only thing that has brought her any comfort at all was a letter from someone calling himself, A Friend Who Cares. The writer seems to have stepped into her pain, and knows exactly what to say to ease her heart. As they begin a regular correspondence, her burden is lightened, and her heart begins to open.

Jeremiah knows Keturah works at the pretzel stand in the local vendors market, and makes his first foray out of the rehab center to secretly meet his pen pal. The beautiful, overwhelmed Amish woman he finds makes his heart trip, but what can he offer her as an invalid? Offering to help in the stand comes naturally, but he is stunned to realize that the little he's able to do makes a big impression. How can he continue to work with her daily, and keep up their correspondence at the same time?

The twist near the end of this story - wow. I like that Keturah is willing to look past the things Jeremiah can't do, to the things he still can, and that she's willing to go against what her father would have wanted to help others reach their potential. I loved that Jeremiah is willing to help in any way he can, even though his ability is very limited at first.

Readers who enjoy Amish romance will fall for these two. I know I loved it!

I would like to thank NetGalley, Kensington Books and Rachel J Good for an E Arc of this book.
I really enjoyed being back in the Green Valley Farmers Market and meeting new characters. Keturah looks after her 3 younger sisters after the death of her parents. She also runs the family pretzel stall at the market with the help of her sisters. All are finding it hard to adjust to their new family dynamic. Keturah receives an unexpected letter from A Friend who cares and they start writing to each other. This is a way for her to get her feelings out and to work through all that she is dealing with.
Her pen pal is Jacob who is rehabilitating from injuries sustained in a car crash. He ends up coming to the market and as part of his rehab starts helping out at the stall. Changes are a foot in both their lives with the help of the former owner and the present owner of the market, as well as God.
A well written story, with good characters and pacing. I liked the sympathy and understanding in the way this book was written. I really enjoyed being back in the market. A good read for a winters day, with the Christmas tree lights sparkling, a nice hot cuppa and being snuggled up under a cosy blanket.
Would recommend this book. You don’t need to have read the other books in this series to read this one.

A riveting read by Rachel Good, this book is hard to put down! Jeremiah Zook is a injured man in rehab who spends his time sending anonymous letters to hurting people. He discovers Keturah and her sisters have lost both their parents. He and Keturah send letters to each other, baring their hearts. Meanwhile, Keturah finds the desperately needed help in their pretzel shop in a man named Jeremiah. A deepening love grows. Will Keturah open her heart to love? Or does she pine for the mystery man sending her letters?

Jeremiah Zook and Keturah Esch are the main characters in this book. Both have recently lost family members and are still grieving. Keturah and her sisters lost both parents and Jeremiah lost his mother. Keturah being the oldest girl of the family immediately took over the role as parent to Lilliane, Rose and Maleah. She also took over the role of running her parent's pretzel booth located in the Green Valley Farmer's Market. Jeremiah was hurt badly in the same accident that killed his mother. Though Jeremiah and Keturah and her siblings are Amish they don't know each other when the story begins.
Jeremiah has been staying at a rehab center for physical therapy to help him regain the use of his limbs and hands. As part of his therapy he writes letters to people who have lost family members offering them encouragement , prayers and helpful scripture verses. He sends Keturah a letter and signs it as from a caring friend. Keturah finds encouragement and peace knowing a caring person is praying for her.
She replies immediately and the two become anonymous pen pals.
While at the Green Valley Market Jeremiah stops to buy pretzels from the Esch girls and meets Keturah . He later goes to work at the Pretzel booth as part of his therapy. Jeremiah knows who Keturah is but she doesn't know that he is the Friend Who Cares letter writer. When the two become attracted to each other he knows he should tell her but has too much time passed? He doesn't want Keturah's pity but would like to court her. What will Keturah think if she ever finds out he is the one sending her those letters? Would Keturah want to date a disabled man like him? All around the Pretzel booth other shops and customers are celebrating the Christmas season but Jeremiah and the Esch girls are missing their late family members during this joyful time of the year.
I loved this Christmassy romantic story because the characters tried to make the best of a sad time in their lives. I especially liked the way other shop owners at the Market went out of their way to help the sisters get through their time of grief and uncertainties. I thought all the characters in this book were great except Bo . I was drawn into the story from the start and by the last part of the book I couldn't put it down. I thought the story had a beautiful ending.
I recommend this book to readers of Amish Fiction and for those who enjoy Christmas books. This is book three of Rachel Good's Surprised by Love series. I read it as a stand alone but would like to read the other books that lead up to this one.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you Kensington Books for allowing me to read Rachel Good’ s upcoming book, AN UNEXPECTED AMISH CHRISTMAS. Release day is October 26, 2021. It would make a great Christmas gift.

This is a delightful story about friendship, love, and forgiveness.

As in her special way, Rachel has given us a new way to view a a problem, that of being physical handicap and feeling totally useless.

Jeremiah Zook ( Jacob) was injured in an accident that killed his mother and others. He is trying to recover and has set Christmas as his goal to be able to walk. Although he is now in a rehabilitation center there is still much to be accomplished. He passes his time by writing others that are suffering loss and grieving.

Keturah has been thrown into the roll of caring for her three younger sisters and running the family Pretzel stand in the farmer’s market. Along comes our all knowing, all caring Mrs. Vanderburg with a solution to Keturah’s problems. Hire help from the rehabilitation center.

By doing this and writing her new pen pal, Kethrah learns how to forgive and love.

This book deserves a 5-star rating. A must order for Amish romance lovers.

I was given an ARC by Kensington Books through Netgalley. All options are mine, and I was not required to give a positive

First of all This is book 3 in the series. And I have not read the first ones. But with that being Said, I really liked This book. IT was different form other Amish fiction book, i guess i expect the more Amish culture from these Books. The buggy. The rumspringa the faith. This book was for me more about family losing parentes and how to continue on. It was a sweet book. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read This e arc in exchange for an honest opinion