Sometimes opposites could bring out the best in each other when God was involved. And what if, more than just involved, God was at the very center? Could two opposite people bring out the brightest and best in each other?

I have been reading these series and have enjoyed them. How surprising that a matchmaking dilemma could bring out very important issues that are important in relationships and being a Christian. Naomi's sister is the community official matchmaker for the community. It is a very important job that she takes seriously. However, Naomi had a bad experience with a matchmaking that did not work out. It left her questioning herself. Naomi is what you call a progressive Amish. She says what she thinks, she wants to minister to the English, and she is somewhat excitable. Mose and Naomi had known each other when they were children and had been best friends until he moved to Ohio. Mose also has a stutter problem that it makes it hard to communicate. He does write for the Budget and is knows the bible well. He comes back to his old community to be matched up with a quiet, good Amish woman. He has conflicting emotions when he sees and spends time with Naomi. Naomi is helping him with his stuttering problem. She too has conflicting emotions seeing Mose again.

Several things that I gleamed from this is the value of opposites. Some issues come up with ministering to English youth that the Amish community is wary about. The why of this is important in keeping what they believe valued. I understand the concept of leaven more clearly. Safeguarding your heart or reining your heart is important. Trusting someone to help you with that and you with them makes a marriage work.

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

The Amish Matchmaking Dilemma by author Patricia Johns is a Christian Amish novel. This sweet romance is Book One in the Amish Country Matches series. This is a slow moving cute romance. This is the story of Mose and Naomi. Both of these characters were relatable and realistic. I enjoyed watching their relationship develop. The romance was sweet and a bit slow, but it was nicely written. I enjoy Amish books as well as matchmaking ones so this was very interesting to me. I would recommend it to lovers of Amish fiction. It gets a 4 star rating from me. A copy was provided by Net Galley, but these are my honest words.

When Mose comes to town in search of a wife, the local matchmaker sets him up with his childhood friend Naomi – but only as his speaking tutor, for Mose has a severe stutter. Though the pair feel drawn to each other, they seem too different in their outlooks to ever make a match of it.

I’m not religious. I’m certainly not Christian. But I do enjoy reading a wide variety of books, and considering the popularity of Amish romances, I thought it was a genre worth checking out, though it’s not exactly in my wheelhouse.

I thought this was a good first pick. It was a short and sweet romance, gently paced. I thought that Naomi and Mose were very well-suited, and enjoyed how they renewed their friendship and came to understand that their differences would only help the other person grow. I also enjoyed reading about the close-knit community, and how the characters approach the idea of involving themselves in the Englischer community while still holding fast to the insular nature of the Amish.

However, I did feel that some points were harped upon excessively. For example, there’s a lot of discussion of how Naomi is too liberal in her views (but still a good cook!), how she and Mose are afraid that if they embark on a relationship that it will turn out like the difficult marriage of their friends Leah and Daniel, etc. in a way that felt repetitive. I found myself somewhat annoyed with Mose on occasion too, especially in his impulsive behavior toward Trevor, but I suppose it fit with what we know of his character and he did at least repent of it.

And my ultimate take on Amish romance? I think the jury’s still out. While I enjoyed this book, I’m not sure the setting exerted any particular pull on me. I might try another book or two in the genre, but I don’t know how soon that’ll be.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a simple, sweet, heartwarming Christmas book that really put me in a Christmas mood.

This is a Clean Amish Romance, and this is the first book in the Amish Country Matches series. This is a slow moving cute romance. I really loved getting to know these characters. I love seeing Mose learn that he has a lot to give even with his issues. I love seeing Naomi open up and learn that she already loves someone. Mose and Naomi have a great connection, and I loved reading their love story. I cannot wait to read that next book in this series. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Love Inspired) or author (Patricia Johns) 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.

The Amish Matchmaking Dilemma by Patricia Johns is a sweet story. I enjoyed getting to know Mose and Naomi. They are two people who are opposites, but they enjoy each other’s company. They were friends as children and are getting a chance to reconnect. Mose Klassen is in town to fill in for his uncle who takes tourists on tours of Amish businesses in a buggy. He is also hoping that the matchmaker, Adel can find him a wife. The only problem is that Mose stutters. He has had the problem his whole life. Naomi is the one person he is able to talk to without as much difficulty. Adel is hoping Naomi can help Mose become more comfortable talking to women. Naomi is an outspoken individual with a liberal viewpoint while Mose is quiet and conservative. Despite their differences, they are drawn to each other. I thought the story moved along at a gentle pace. The book takes place over the two weeks that Mose is in town. The Amish Matchmaking Dilemma is the first book in the Amish Country Matches series. I like that we get to catch up with Adel and Jake from The Amish Matchmaker’s Choice (you do not need to read this book first). I enjoyed reading this uplifting story. We get to see that despite a person’s “flaws” there is a match for them. Naomi tends to speak before she thinks, has curly red hair that does not like to be tamed, has liberal views, an excellent cook, and is a full-figured woman. Mose is a smart, quiet man who is conservative. Mose’s stutter makes his difficult for him to voice his thoughts, but he can express them in written form. I like that the story is not rushed. If it moved too quickly, we would not understand the couple’s differences and see the challenges that Naomi and Mose face. There is repetition of details (like Mose’s stutter, Naomi’s red hair). I thought the ending was sweet. The faith element was well-done. We see that Naomi and Mose are people of deep faith. They believe that God will direct or guide them. The author shows us Amish values and how their faith is shown in everything they do. I enjoyed The Amish Matchmaking Dilemma. I am looking forward to reading the next Amish Country Matches novel. The Amish Matchmaking Dilemma is a satisfying story with a stutter snag, a chatty Kathy, a teen trouble, delectable delights, tourist trips, and a matchmaking conundrum.

My blurb …
Mose Klassen wants to be married; Naomi Peachy wants to be married. But each has something that just tends to discourage potential matches. Mose and Naomi were friends as children before his family moved. He is back to his childhood home to find a wife via Naomi’s matchmaking sister, Adel.

But the minute the two meet again, their friendship is as strong as ever. As time goes on, both feel drawn to each other to be more than friends yet … they are SO different. Naomi is a chatterbox, a little “ample”, and a bit too liberal. Mose wishes she was less of the latter but he feels he has a much bigger p-p-p-problem.

Oh, and the last matchmaking — arranged — effort for Naomi was a disaster. Never again!

My review …
Naomi has a few other “flaws” depending on how picky the suitor is. There is her hair which never stays under her capp. It is curly and refuses to stay in a bun. She has a tendency to speak her mind first and think second. (I so identify with her.) She is a great cook and tends to what is nicely called “full-figured”. She has a caring heart and feels that the Amish could give more to the Englishers of what the Amish have. Others do *not* agree.

Patricia Johns is a well-known Amish author. The Amish Matchmaking Dilemma is called “An Uplifting Inspirational Romance” and that is exactly what it is. You can help but like the characters. Mose is an intelligent, caring man who can put his thoughts on paper but they are trapped when he tries to speak. You, the reader, will feel for him and admire Naomi because she totally understands.

The pacing — some might say it’s a little slow but this reviewer never got bored. Most of the story takes place in a two-week period (that’s how long Mose can be away). If rushed, we as readers wouldn’t really “get” the challenges before both the main characters.

This book is such an enjoyable read. It is indeed “an uplifting inspirational romance”. Yes, I recommend it.

I received a complimentary e-ARC copy of The Amish Matchmaking Dilemma via NetGalley from the publisher, HARLEQUIN – Romance (U.S. & Canada), Love Inspired. A positive review was not required; the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Rating: 5 stars
#TheAmishMatchmakingDilemma #NetGalley #PatriciaJohns

Series Amish Country Matches #1
Genre Amish
Pub. Date 23 Aug 2022
Pages 209
Publisher HARLEQUIN – Romance (U.S. & Canada), Love Inspired
Cover Loved this! The woman on the page *is* Naomi.
Rating 5 stars

I loved this read, and wanted to continue in these great character's lives. Sometimes we really do not see what is in front of our eyes.
The author gives us two life long friends, Naomi and Mose, friends as children, and separated by miles, are reunited and both are looking for a spouse of their own. Naomi is an outspoken Amish woman, and leans a bit liberal in her views, whereas Mose is a shy conservative, and deals with a disability. Can these two opposites rekindle their friendship and help each other as these look for their respective partners?
There are a couple of other stories within this read, and answers do come for one of them, and I would love to know how the other comes out?
A book to get lost in, and I'm looking for more by this author!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Harlequin, and was not required to give a positive review.

I was blessed with an ARC copy of this by Netgalley and Harlequin romance. In a time when the world is so dark and heavy, novels like this one help recanted my focus on the meaning and value of life. There is joy, love, loss, and happiness within this novel. Patricia Johns does a really good job of ensuring that readers get to know the characters, and builds a beautiful story around them and their Amish values. I am definitely going to seek out more Patricia Johns novels. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for good, clean, Christian fiction.

The Amish Matchmaking Dilemma is a sweet clean story of Naomi, a talkative woman that has somewhat liberal views compared to her more conservative friends and family members. She doesn't know if she will ever find a husband because of that. Soon though, she finds out an old friend is in town, her dearest friend from childhood, Mose. Mose has come to help his uncle and to find a wife through the matchmaker, who happens to be Naomi's sister, Adele. Naomi is asked to help her old friend with his speech, since he has always endured a stuttering problem. As they work together, their feelings for each other deepen more than ever. Great story!

I did not like the blending of the liberal ideas into an Amish book. I prefer the Amish books that are more Old Order.