Tragedy. Heartache. Parents gone. Keturah, the eldest of four siblings, was suddenly left responsibile for them and their pretzel business. Somehow, through the fog and haze of deep mourning, the sisters carry on. Keturah is comforted by an unexpected letter from "A Friend Who Cares." Enter wheelchair bound Jeremiah helping out at the pretzel stand despite the difficulties his disabilities present. Is there connection between him and the girls; especially with Keturah?

An easy read with hints of Amish culture intertwined but the reader will be surprized at the twists of fate - or, is it the Lord's working for their good? If only those sparks of romance which lurk and beg to be kindled, will ignite! Maybe it will happen during Christmas?

~Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger~

September 2021

Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the review copy given by the publisher.

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I love to read about the things happening at the Farmers Market! Rachel Good is a great author. This book is about a tragedy that brings about romance. Mrs Vandenburg is an older wealthy, kind woman who helps behind the scenes. I can't wait to read more from Rachel.

3.5 stars

I love Christmas-themed books, as well as Amish novels, so this book is a great combination and perfect to get in the mood for the upcoming holiday season. While this is the third book in the series, I felt it could stand alone, though the reader may gain a better appreciation for the characters by reading them in order, as there are characters from prior books in this one. Key themes are love, faith, and redemption. It was also fun to get an insider's view of the pretzel business! I've never read that in another book.

Jacob Zook is in rehab recovering from a horrible accident that took his mother. He decides to send condolences to others who have recently lost family members. Keturah Esch is struggling with running the family business (a pretzel stand in the local farmers market ) and help her 3 younger sisters deal with their grief after their parents are killed in an accident. Jacob sends his condolences anonymously but it helps Keturah so much that she continues to correspond with him even though she doesn't know his identity.

I loved this story and enjoyed learning about the innerworkings of the pretzel business. I also enjoyed revisiting characters and setting from earlier in the series. Recommend!

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

Great addition to the Surprised by Love series! Sweet but sad story. I loved Jacob's compassion and insight. Keturah is a strong woman taking care of her three younger sisters and the pretzel shop. Love Mrs. Vandenberg and her mission to help others. I liked the emphasis on rehabilitation and overcoming disabilities. Looking forward to the next on the series.

This is the third book in Good's Surprised by Love series and releases Oct 26. If you've read the other two books in this series, you won't want to miss this one! Keturah and Jeremiah have both recently lost parents. Jeremiah was in the accident when he lost his mom and has amassed quite a few injuries. Keturah and her sisters run a pretzel stand at the market, and Jeremiah ends up working there . Accommodations are made at the stand to help Jeremiah work better with his disabilities. Jeremiah and Keturah develop a strong relationship through working together at the stand and letter writing. How will their relationship turn out?

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book. All opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

#AnUnexpectedAmishChristmas #NetGalley

I was provided a copy of this book to read by the publisher on Netgalley.com. This was the third book in the "Surprised by Love" series. This story involves Keturah and Jacob, initially two strangers, that have both suffered a recent tragedy in their young lives. Keturah is raising her sisters and running the pretzel stand, while Jacob fights back after a bad injury leaving him a wheelchair. Rachel J. Good tells a wonderful story of love, redemption and faith. I always feel like the author has a personal message of faith for me and I find myself adopting the measures of faith followed by the characters. These stories have provided a calmness in my soul in my rather hectic life. I am going to read more from this author and other Amish stories. Beautifully written.

I always look forward to a good Christmas story, especially an Amish one. I really liked the story line, as there were multiple threads to follow. How Keturah works and worries about taking care of her sisters. How Jacob has to rebuild his life, and finds a way to reach out and help others going through hard times. I did not feel as if I knew where this was going after the first chapter, as I sometimes do with Amish fiction. Very sweet story.

Jeremiah is in a wheelchair, trying to go through therapy to improve his motor skills after a horrible car accident. He lost his mother in the crash too, and reaches out to others to show blessings and kindness, which helps him as well. Hearing about the loss of both parents, a family of four girls from 7 to early 20s, he writes to the oldest, Keturah, and they begin writing to each other. Meeting her and helping out in the pretzel stand, they get closer, although she doesn't know he is the pen-pal. A wonderful and sweet Amish romance set in the market. Fun series and author, and highly recommend this one. Hard to put down.

Jeremiah is wheelchair bound because of an accident, so while he is in rehab, he begins writing encouraging letters to an Amish newspaper to people who are grieving. Keturah is trying to run her families pretzel shop and raise her younger siblings after her parents were killed in an accident. When Jeremiah reaches out to her through a letter, they begin to be penpals. When Jeremiah volunteers to help Keturah at her pretzel shop, he soon realizes this is the young lady he has been writing to. He is afraid to reveal this to Keturah because she has poured her heart and fears out to him in these letters. Will they still be friends once he tells her who he is? Will Keturah realize his reasoning behind not telling her immediately?

I enjoyed this book and found it hard to put down. The author does a good job in showing that even though people can have disabilities, whether physically or spiritually, with the help of faith and prayer, they can be overcome.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher for my review and opinion.

Keturah Esch and her 3 sisters are lost in grief at the death of their parents in an accident. Keturah, being the oldest sister, must now take on the parenting role, not only at home, but at the pretzel stand her family has run at the local farmer’s market for many years.

Jeremiah Zook, who is presently in rehab from being paralyzed from an accident he was in and lost his mother to, is given the opportunity to try to work in the pretzel stand.

Friendships develop, trusts are questioned, and make for a very good read. It was enjoyable to read about characters we have met from former books show up in this book.

I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy Amish books. The author gives us another great book! Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Publishers for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. Opinions expressed are my own.

Writing the letter seemed to help him.

This lady gives Englischers a bad name.

Poor Maleah.

He's so nice.

Their daed sounds...rude.

I just got a grabber, and it really helps.

Mrs. Vandenberg is ninety-two? Good for her!

Someone slap Bo Ridley.

Oh, I like Gideon's display.

Darryl is a saint.

Maybe Olivia can work the credit card machine.

I have never hear heard of red beet eggs.

He should tell her he has money.

But the Englischer used the machine, not her.

Oh dear. She's worried about cheating on him with himself.

Small world. But I have a feeling Mrs. V. already knew.

Cute epilogue.

I received an advance copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Another amazing story by Rachel Good!! This is not the usual run of the mill Amish fiction book. This book has depth to it with layers. I really enjoyed the story as well as some returning characters who I have come to adore. This is another author who I feel would be amazing at having this as a TV series or even a movie. I have become obsessed with these stories.

"An Unexpected Amish Christmas" by Rachel J. Good
#3 Surprised by Love
Release Date: 10.26.2021

Jeremiah Zook, a 25-year-old dairy farmer, is recovering from a horse and buggy accident. He is having difficultly recovering, so in his down time at the rehab center, he is writing inspirational letters to other Amish who have suffered loss.

Keturah Esch, 22-years-old, works at her family's pretzel stand at the farmer's market and responds to the letter in the paper, not knowing it is Jacob. She uses these letters as an outlet, as she is currently raising her three siblings, Lilliane, Rose, and Maleah, and dealing with the loss of her parents, who died in a buggy accident. She feels happy with her correspondence to this anonymous person.

Keturah sees a young man in a wheelchair coming to the farmer's market. They become friendly, but Keturah is concerned on what kind of life Jeremiah could provide if she followed her heart. Jeremiah is afraid to reveal that he is Keturah's pen pal. As their friendship deepens, they realize they rely on one another to process their feelings of grief and forgiveness.

What a feel good story for Christmastime! So much sadness in one book; however, I am always glad for a happy ending. I appreciate that the farmer's market ties each of the stories together. I am always saddened that a series is ending, but I look forward to Ms. Good's next novel.

Thank you, @netgalley, for the opportunity to read in exchange for my honest review.

#bookstagrammer #bookstagram #netgalley #netgalleyreads #netgalleybooks #amishfiction #anunexpectedamishchristmas #racheljgood #christianfiction #amishromance #zebra

5 stars, Original Amish Novel

AN UNEXPECTED AMISH CHRISTMAS
By Rachel J. Good

This novel is a well-done, original Amish novel. When you think of an Amish novel, you usually imagine lots of horses and buggies and large families. This book is not necessarily like that, but it is 100 percent an Amish fiction novel.

Jeremiah Zook, a 25-year-old dairy farmer who has been severely injured in a horse and buggy accident is living in a rehab facility as he desperately tries to regain the mobility and independence that he possessed, before the accident. As part of his therapy, he begins writing to other Amish who have suffered a loss of a family member. He begins a pen pal relationship with Keturah Esch.

Keturah Esch's family runs a baked pretzel shop in a local farmer's market mall. She and her three younger sisters are all at a loss, since their parents died in a buggy accident, throwing their young lives into turmoil. She receives an anonymous condolence letter from "A Friend" and Keturah feels that the author of the letter says the right things that speak directly to her heart. Keturah, at age 22 does not have time for courting, even if she did have someone who interested her. Her sisters, Lilliane,16, Rose, 12, and Maleah, 7 keep her busy between running the pretzel shop and keeping the younger two in school. She finds herself drawn to her mysterious pen pal, but also to Jeremiah who begins working in her shop.

Keturah and Jeremiah find they have many things in common, besides both of them being Amish and having suffered the loss of both sets of parents. Highly recommended.

Much gratitude to #netgalley #zebra for the complimentary copy of #anunexpectedamishchristmas I was under no obligation to post a review.

An Unexpected Amish Christmas is a wonderful and clean romance that I definitely enjoyed reading. The latest in a series of books by Rachel Good I enjoyed reading about other characters I have read in other books. This book can definitely be read as a stand alone novel. Jeremiah has been in an accident, and is wheelchair bound. He has therapy sessions he must go to, but he also writes letters to people that are hurting. One young lady is Keturah, and they begin writing to each other. He meets her at her pretzel shop, and soon works with her. She is doing the best she can, since both her parents were killed in a terrible accident. Not only does she have to take charge of the shop, but now she has to be the leader of their family, and care for her three younger sisters. She can't help but care deeply for the letter writer, who remains nameless, but she is also having feelings for Jeremiah. Wonderful story I really loved!

These young people have such hard emotions to navigate without much guidance. They lean on each other through their letters discussing grief and forgiveness, among other issues.
In person they develop a friendship... and maybe romantic feelings... but...

Wonderful characters, great story!

I received an advance copy of, An Unexpected Amish Christmas, by Rachel J. Good. This is a sweet Amish Christmas story. A great book to cuddle by the fire with.