Loved reading this book. Amazing story and the characters lend to the charm of this book. I would highly recommend this book. You would not be disappointed.

4.5 stars

This was a story with heart, with interesting and very real in their faults and all characters.
This was also unputdownable, while warming my heart.
Everything just worked really well!

I love, love, love Amish fiction and I love Kathleen Fuller as an author of Amish fiction. This book was wonderful. I was hooked from the beginning and fell in love with the characters almost immediately. Great topics and great ending. I'm still smiling. Definitely will be telling my friends about this book!

The Courtship Plan

by Kathleen Fuller

Things aren’t going well for Charity Raber as she looks for a job and a husband in Birch Creek. She was one of many young ladies responding to an ad that said there were a lot of young Amish men in Birch Creek looking for wives. Charity is thin with bright red hair and more freckles than can be counted. Because of a difficult family background, she comes across as…odd. She is too eager, her speech is unfiltered, and she just doesn’t know how to act around her peers. She was even set up with a date as a prank by one brother fooling another. She escapes more embarrassment by moving to Marigold where she is hired as a caregiver to Shirley, a kind English woman. To her dismay, just as she is adjusting well, one of the brothers moves in next door.

Charity wants love and sets out to get a husband with the aid of library books that hold some pretty bad advice and lead Charity into some situations that are very funny. The interactions between Shirley and Charity with their neighbor Jesse are the basis of a good story that is mostly not a fairy tale romance. A fun addition is Shirley’s escape artist dog Monroe. A serious complication is Charity’s relationship with her father and stepmother.

Love and forgiveness are strong themes that move forward an interesting story. Charity is a complicated character with a complicated background. She is the underdog protagonist that you will root for, but a happy ending seems difficult to achieve.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Christian, Romance

Notes: #1 in the Amish of Marigold Series. This book references a prank that I had also read about in the last book of the Amish Mail-Order Bride Series, but they are really independent series. The reader will get all the information needed right in The Courtship Plan.

Publication: January 17, 2023—Zondervan

Memorable Lines:

He’d called her weird and a pest. He wasn’t the first one to throw those awful adjectives at her. That honor was reserved for her mother.

When he’d told her Shirley cared, her heart leapt. Someone cared about her. She soaked that in like a dried-up sponge sitting in a saucer of fresh water.

She replaced her kapp with a kerchief and tried to bolster her own spirits, like she always had. but she failed. She was tired, so tired of being her own cheerleader.

This was such a delightful read and the story highly intrigued me.
Many thanks to Zondervan and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I think it's hilarious that the author paired up Jesse, the troublemaker who placed the newspaper ad bringing all the marriage-minded women to Birch Creek, with Charity, one of those young women with the prickliest of attitudes. They both have grown up and matured a bit, and even though they can't stand each other, their connection provides ample opportunities to "help" each other and go through more refining. I really liked Shirley, the woman Charity cares for, and her oft-escaping dog, who both play an important role in bringing Jesse and Charity together. I appreciated the life lessons they learned during their time in Marigold, especially Jesse coming to terms with the impact of his prank.

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

Charity Raber is excited for a fresh start in a new community, who doesn't know about her past desperate ways. Jesse Bontrager is the last person she expected to see again, will they be able to put their past behind them and give love a chance?

A charming and humorous opposites attract romance, I loved Shirley and how she genuinely cares for her friend Charity, and doesn't want her to be hurt. She is probably my favorite person in the story. I liked how Charity and Jesse get to see a different side of each other and that Jesse wants to be kind to Charity. It was also really cute how the dog helped bring them together along with Shirley.

This was a quick read, with a sweet plot, filled with humor, faith, and romance. I liked how Charity grew since the first time we met her in a previous book, and how she continues to mature in this story as well.

Overall, a wonderful story from probably my favorite author in Amish fiction. A wonderful start to what is sure to be a great series!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is my first Kathleen Fuller book and I am grateful to the publisher for my complimentary copy and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

I am not a huge fan of Amish Fiction but my mind maybe changed .The book follows Charity Raber who is a single but searching young woman that goes to Birch Creek to secure a husband from the listed and desperate bachelors in the newspaper. She is stood up by Jesse and ends up working as a caretaker for an elderly woman but life has other plans when Jesse moves next door. Love has a way of finding people and if you need a book about a determined bachelorette and a grumpy bachelor then the courtship plan is for you.

What I read: The Courtship Plan by Kathleen Fuller

Why I picked it up: I’ve read and loved Kathleen Fuller before, so I requested this on NetGalley. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

How I read it: On e-arc from NetGally in less than 24 hours.

What it’s about: Charity moved to a town because she saw an ad in the paper advertising lots of single men who were looking for Brides. Turns out it was actually a prank of a teenager for his brothers. Now she’s trying to navigate life as an adult (she’s just 18 or 19) and turns out the guy who snubbed her last is her new neighbor. There’s a lot of learning on both of their parts as they navigate what a relationship could look like together.

What I liked: There are a lot of couples and families introduced. This seems like it’s going to be a series, so I’ll be delighted to return back to those characters.

What I disliked: They are so young – some of their drama is just teen angst, and it got old. I don’t know that this is a YA book, but I’m classifying it there.

Genre: Chaste love story, amish fiction, small town, young adult.

Rating & Recommendation: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and sure – amish fiction is a delight and this falls right into that category.

Charity Raber may drive the reader crazy at first. She wears neon signs, front and back, in bold, blinking letters — “I WANT TO GET MARRIED. NOW!!!!”

She is ditzy, obnoxious, and has the social skills of a two-year-old. Okay, there had been a newspaper ad saying Birch Creek had a lot of desperate bachelors wanting to be married. When Jesse Bontrager tells her he is not interested and especially not interested in her, Charity is hurt. But she doesn’t give up her “plan” — she just changes locations.

My review…
A year later, Charity lives in Marigold and is a caretaker for an elderly English lady. Charity hasn’t given up her Courtship Plan — she just has a new one. This time she won’t make a fool of herself — she does. Again, and again, and again…

Jesse Bontrager ends up in Marigold and oh no, lives next door to Shirley, the woman Charity assists. Both Jesse and Shirley learn about “The Courtship Plan” which mostly comes from a book (with a lot of bad advice in it).

The story certainly had amusing moments. Some were the “advice” from one of the books Charity checked out of the library. But frankly, Charity was just TOO. Too clumsy. Too unaware of her actions. Too everything.

It became very easy to lay the story aside and do something else. In all honesty, had this not been a NetGalley read, I probably would never have finished it. However, at about the 50% mark, Charity started growing up. A lot of credit goes to a character who never utters a word but does issue a well-placed bark here and there. Monroe, a cute little black and white dog, belongs to Shirley but likes Jesse and makes unauthorized visits. [My furry manager makes no-notice neighborly house inspections.] So Charity and Jesse talk even when they really would rather not. And slowly …

There are several sub-plots to “The Courtship Plan” which enrich the story. As well as some great laugh-out-loud moments. I just found that Charity was way too ditzy for way toooooo long for me, thus the 3.5 star rating, routed to four when necessary.

I received a complimentary DRC (digital review copy) of “The Courtship Plan” via NetGalley from the publisher, Zondervan Fiction. A positive review was not required; the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Rating: 3.5 stars
#TheCourtshipPlan #NetGalley #KathleenFuller
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Series: “An Amish of Marigold Novel”
Genre: Amish
Pub. Date: 17 Jan 2023
Pages: 318
Publisher: Zondervan Fiction, Zondervan
Cover: Just okay. Says “Amish”.

This book had me glued to it! Kathleen Fuller has definitely gotten better over time and has written so you don’t want to put the book down. In this book, you get caught up in a four-some. You have Charity, Jesse, Saloma, and Clarence. They are all from Marigold. Charity has made a plan to get a husband; Jesse is not even looking for a girlfriend; Saloma is interested in Jesse; Clarence is interested in Saloma. Somehow couples to be made out of these four friends. The question is who gets whom? You will need to read this book to see what happens with these four.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary ebook from NetGalley for my honest review.

The Courtship Plan became available January 17, 2023.

This is a joyful book. Kathleen Fuller has again captured my heart with a different storyline - not the usual boy meets girl - they like each other- they court- they get married and the journey was perfect. i highly recommend this book if you have not had the pleasure.

Someone (Jesse Bontrager) put an ad in the newspaper in Birch Creek, Ohio that bachelors were looking for wives. He thought it was funny. Well...many single women came expecting to find husbands. A few did. Some did not, and left quite disappointed. Charity Raber was one of those women who came in hopes of finding a husband.
Charity is red headed, tons of freckles and speaks before thinking. She desperately needed to find someone to love her. Her mother passed away when she was very young. Then, her grandmother passed away. Her father remarried soon after to a woman that seems to detest Charity. Her father is distant.
She was to have a date with Jesse Bontrager, which did not work out at all.
Charity did not find love or a husband in Birch Creek. She went back home to her father's house very upset.
A year later, Charity has found work in Marigold as the caretaker for an elderly English woma, Shirley. Charity is quite happy there. But...she soon realizes that Jesse is also now in Marigold working not far from where Charity lives. Due to circumstances, they continue to meet.
Charity is prepared this time to find a husband. She has gone to the library and checked out books and is faithfully following the advice. The things she says and does is quite humorous! Shirley is unable to talk her out of her plan.
I always enjoy Kathleen Fuller's books and I just loved this story! It is the sweetest love story every!
I was given an advanced ecopy by the publisher, Zondervan, through Net Galley. I was not required to leave a positive review.

This is a Clean Amish Romance, and this is the first book An Amish of Marigold series. At the beginning of this book I did not think I would like this book, but I really loved this book by the ending. I did feel that the beginning of this book was a little slow to really get moving. The romance was slow moving, but I loved that it was slow moving. The romance was hate to love, and I loved the drama between the two main characters. The older lady in this book was one of my favorite characters, and she loved to get in the middle of everything which I loved. The dog in this book was also one of my favorite characters, and that dog always found trouble which I was living for. This book was a solid Clean Romance read. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Zondervan) or author (Kathleen Fuller) 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.

This is another delightful book by Kathleen Fuller. I enjoyed this because we see some of the characters from her former books that take place in Birch Creek.

Charity Raber moves to Birch Creek as many other Amish women have done to answer an advertisement to find a husband among many Amish men who are looking for wives. Charity is desperate to find a husband. So desperate that she tends to scare everyone away. Deciding she needs a new start, she moves to Marigold. She is a now works for an English woman and has decided she will concoct a plan to get a husband. She is horrified when a former young man she knew in Birch Creek moves next door. They both want nothing to do with each other, but circumstances seem to keep bringing them together.

The is a lot of laughter, yet empathy for Charity’s situation. Truly, only God knows how this will work out as they find out that His ways are not always our ways. You will definitely want to read this book.

Thanks to Zondervan and NetGalley for the complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed are my own.

I read and loved all the books in the “Amish Mail Order Bride” series by Kathleen Fuller and was excited to read Jesse’s story. “The Courtship Plan” is book one of the “Amish of Marigold” series.
We met Charity Raber in “Love in Plain Sight,” and she was not painted in the best light. She was selfish and insistent on finding a husband. We get to know her in “The Courtship Plan,” and I feel she and I would have been great friends – if she wasn’t fictional. We have similarities and a determination that drives us forward, even when we should hesitate and not jump forward. I also tend to talk too much when I’m in awkward situations. Kathleen Fuller has a way of creating relatable characters, and she hits the nail on the head with this book.
You should give this book a read, actually – give any of Kathleen Fuller’s books a read. She’s an amazing author (one of my favs).
I received an advanced copy of this book, and the opinions in this review are my own.

The Courtship Plan is book one in Kathleen Fuller's "Amish of Marigold" series, but it brings back characters that were introduced in her Amish Mail-Order Brides series, and in her Birch Creek series, so it feels like visiting old friends!

Charity Raber is nearly desperate to marry, unfortunately, her desperation scares almost every man she encounters. She arrived in Birch Creek a few years back after seeing a newspaper advertisement stating that the bachelors of the town were looking for brides. She had no idea that she would be one of MANY who showed up, and that the number of bachelors in the town was extremely exaggerated. Her one and only date at the time, was set up by one of the Bontrager brothers as a joke on their brother, Jesse. Deciding she needs to implement a courtship plan if she ever hopes to land a husband, she checks out a stack of relationship books from the library and begins writing out her plan. She didn't count on the first bachelor she meets in Marigold being Jesse Bontrager.

Jesse Bontrager never met a practical joke he wouldn't pull, until the biggest one he pulled succeeded far beyond his wildest imaginings. All he wanted was to get his brothers off his back by getting them brides. He had no idea his one little ad would end up with women swarming his little town, hungry for husbands, and making him fair game as well. It seems fortuitous then when he lands a job apprenticing in a buggy shop in Marigold, until he learns that his new next-door neighbor is Charity Raber. He remembers (with some shame) the way he treated her the last time they met - on a date his brother tricked him into - and doesn't want to get involved with her again. Too bad her employer's dog won't stop visiting Jesse, making Charity chase him, and too bad Charity can't seem to stop making embarrassing blunders that Jesse needs to extract her from.

I loved this story! I remembered Charity from Love in Plain Sight, and remembered thinking, "She is scary desperate to get married!" Her back story, told in this book, makes her a whole lot more sympathetic as a character. Her desperation is more about love and acceptance than it is about finding a husband, and it's when she finally gives up her single-minded focus that she begins to see her errors.

Readers who love a hefty dose of humor in their romance stories will love The Courtship Plan. I giggled often, but my heart also broke for Charity's life experiences. I absolutely recommend this one!

The Courtship Plan by Kathleen Fuller is a cute story. Charity Raber arrives in Birth Creek, Ohio with one goal in mind—to find a husband. Charity’s critical stepmother showed her an ad stating that bachelor’s in the town were looking for wives and then she pushed her out the door. Unfortunately, Charity has no success in finding a suitor. Her hopes rise when she is set up on a lunch date with Jesse Bontrager. It turned out to be nothing more than a cruel prank. A year later, Charity is serving as a companion to a kind English woman near Marigold. Charity still wishes to marry and has come up with a courtship plan. Jesse takes a new job and moves in next door to Charity. Jesse learns of Charity’s plan. He is afraid that Charity will end up making a fool of herself. Jesse has gotten to know Charity and he does not want to see her feelings hurt. I laughed often while reading The Courtship Plan. The author created great characters. I enjoyed getting to know Jesse, Charity, and Shirley Pearson. Shirley is the older woman who is Charity’s employer. I loved Monroe, Shirley’s dog. I believe Monroe was Houdini in a previous life. Monroe’s antics had me chuckling. Charity is quirky character. Her mouth had no filter. Charity has a big heart. She is aware of her failings thanks to her disparaging stepmother. Jesse is a kindhearted man. He is looking forward to peace and quiet in his new home (he comes from a large, noisy family). Jesse did not count on the gregarious Charity or an escape artist dog. The romance moved along at a gentle pace which suited the story and characters. The faith elements include forgiveness, prayer, God’s plan for our lives, and God’s timing. There is a good life lesson in this story. The importance of taking responsibility for our actions and making things right (no matter how much time has passed). I enjoyed the first An Amish of Marigold Novel, and I am looking forward to the next book in the series. The Courtship Plan is an entertaining tale with an upsetting prank, a foolproof plan, an escapee pooch, a convivial family, and a gentle God.

This book was fun. You get a deep dive with Amish culture, but it is mingled with the worlds as well. It made it fun and interesting. I did feel like the leap from angsty friend territory to love was too quick. Like, the next day they were in love. But the enemies to lovers is always a fun trope!

Charity moved to Birch Creek with high hopes of finding her happily-ever-after after reading an ad claiming that the town needed wives for their abundance of single men. After taking an aggressive approach to finding a husband that failed, a disappointed Charity moved to another town and began formulating a new plan for catching a man. Jesse feels bad for his secret joke of advertising that his hometown was in need of brides for its single men. Even though the joke made several marriages possible, there have been a lot of disappointed women and ironically, Jesse has no desire to get married anytime soon. When Jesse takes a new job and moves next door to Charity, he remembers Charity with her over-the-top efforts to snag a husband, feels partially responsible, and wants to save her from further humiliation. The Courtship Plan was such a pleasure to read. I laughed and cried and learned to care for and have empathy for a character whose actions were offensive initially. And the unexpected romance made the story even better. Highly recommend! I received an advance copy from NetGalley and the publisher and this voluntary review contains my honest opinions.