Member Reviews
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.
I loved this inspiring story of faith and forgiveness. It is beautifully written and emotional.
Many thanks to Kensington and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.
Her Pretend Amish Boyfriend by wonderfully talented author Rachel J. Good is a Christian Amish romance set in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. It is book five in the author’s Surprised by Love series. If you haven’t read the previous books, you will have no issues reading this as a stand-alone. The author makes certain of that.
This is an engaging tale about young Amish woman, Caroline Hartzler. Her family maintains a barbeque chicken stand in the Green Valley Farmers Market. It is also about Noah Riehl. He is an auctioneer at the same market and has helped Caroline multiple times. There is an elderly English character, Mrs. Vanderburg, that is a real character! She livens things up.
It took just a page or two for me to become invested in this lovely Amish tale. The author has a pleasant style of writing. Her characters are beautifully crafted and seemed like my old friends by the time I finished the book. The story was plausible. The author added twists, humor, emotion, inspiration, and life lessons to make this a page-turning delight. Her Pretend Amish Boyfriend is a book filled with faith, love, hope, second chances, grace, family, forgiveness, and friendships.
I highly recommend this excellent book. Lovers of Amish fiction will devour it. I did. It gets a five out of five star rating from this reader. A copy was provided by NetGalley, but these are my honest thoughts.
*****I received this free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
I love a good Amish romance and this did not disappoint! I was sucked right in to the story and it keep me turning pages. The characters are SO likable. My favorite was the elderly Mrs. V. This is a must read!!
This is the first book that I have read by Rachel J. Good and I will be reading more of her books. This book is a clean, christian romance. It shows us how important praying, trusting God and forgiving others is. Thank You to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
Her Pretend Amish Boyfriend by Rachel J. Good takes us back to Lancaster, Pennsylvania to the Green Valley Farmer’s Market where Caroline Hartzler works at her family’s chicken stand. Noah Riehl is the new auctioneer who comes to Caroline’s aid more than once. I found Her Pretend Amish Boyfriend a delight to read. I smiled and laughed often while reading it. I thought Her Pretend Amish Boyfriend was well-written with engaging characters. I enjoyed getting to know Noah and Caroline. Caroline is such a lively individual. I love her enthusiasm and exuberance for life. Caroline enjoys playing volleyball and loves to win. Her mouth, though, lands her in trouble frequently. It was great to return to the Green Valley Farmer’s Market and catch up with the characters in the earlier books in the series. While Her Pretend Amish Boyfriend is the fifth book in the Surprised by Love series, it can be read as a standalone. My favorite character in this series is Mrs. Vandenburg. She is a sweet woman who has a direct pipeline to the Man upstairs. Mrs. Vandenburg has a habit of being in the right place at the right time. She plays a key role in the story. Mrs. Vandenburg is a clever woman. There is one scene that cracked me up. I thought it was about time this individual got what was coming to him. There is drama mixed in with the lighthearted moments. I enjoyed the witty dialogue. Noah has a secret. Unfortunately, secrets have a way of following you and coming to light. I like that the characters are relatable and realistic. They have flaws and insecurities. Life is messy and we all make mistakes. I enjoyed watching the individuals grow in character and faith. Her Pretend Amish Boyfriend is a story about second chances, family, forgiveness, friendships, love, and grace. It is a story that will leave you with a smile on your face. Her Pretend Amish Boyfriend is an entertaining tale with vigorous volleyball clashes, spilled puzzles, a pretend boyfriend, a benevolent benefactor, repellent rumors, a demanding stand, and a faithful Friend.
Book 5 in author Rachel Good’s Surprised by Love, this can be read as a stand alone. But I enjoyed the other four books and highly recommend them.
Oh my goodness. I wanted to shake Caroline! She started off so self focused and didn’t stop talking. About herself! As time went on I really did come to like her. Especially when she starts working on changing her faults. And Noah. What a hero. Or was he? I felt like he was a people pleaser and couldn’t stand up for himself. But he was so sweet!! And then there’s Mrs. VandenBerg who we see in the other books. Such a kind lady with a direct link to God, or so it seems.
A pretend boyfriend isn’t a new troupe, of course, but I enjoyed this immensely. We saw Amish people with faults and flaws, Some were down right mean but we got to see the why behind it.
If you enjoy Amish fiction then do read this one. You’re sure to like to it!
I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.
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Welcome back to the Green Valley Farmer’s Market, in Lancaster. I LOVE this series. Rachel J. Good has a way of writing perfectly flawed characters. You can’t help but root for Caroline and Noah the entire time.
This is the fifth book in the series. It can be read as a stand alone book, but I highly recommend reading all of the books. Not only will you have all of the character backgrounds, but you will enjoy all of the stories.
I hoping for a book about AnnaMary next and I DEFINITELY want an origin story for Mrs. Vandenberg. Why is she so invested in the Amish? Many thanks to the author, Zebra and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Her Pretend Amish Boyfriend by Rachel J. Good, book five in her Surprised by Love series, is an inspiring and heartwarming tale featuring two Amish people, Caroline Hartzler, whose family has a barbeque chicken stand in the market, and Noah Riehl, an auctioneer, at the Valley Greens Farmers Market. If he could, newcomer Noah Riehl would work every day and then go home; not interacting with anyone else.
Caroline has a good heart but is impulsive and often speaks without thinking about what she was saying. She seemed to always being criticized: by her best friend, her brother, and her parents; no matter what she did it always turned out to be the wrong thing. Accidentally bumping into newcomer Noah, she became intrigued and curious about him. When Caroline is backed into a corner by an unhappy opposing male volleyball player, she declares that Noah is her boyfriend. Although it was supposed to only be for a moment, Noah and Caroline are soon fake-dating, and it not long before their feelings towards one another to grow.
Noah is kind and has a really good heart despite having been dealt some hard knocks in his young life. He is a victim of circumstances as someone close to Noah betrayed him and lied about him. Noah hasn’t forgiven those that hurt him and over the years he has withdrawn from people. It seems that Noah is punishing himself and has turned away from G-d. He didn’t intend to become interested in romance, but he can’t help being interested in the pretty outspoken Amish girl who ran into him. There is an attraction between the two, but Noah's past makes him leery about getting involved with anyone, much less a love interest. But Caroline is a fixer, sometimes to a fault.
This is a strong story of faith, and reclaiming that faith. In order to be in good standing with their Amish faith, both Noah and Caroline must make wise decisions that will impact their future.
It was enjoyable to see Mrs. Vandenburg, an Englisch woman, over the age of 90, whose family started the market and who played a prominent part in this story. Mrs. V is a wonderful and caring fighter for the rights of others and a great matchmaker, with a direct line to G-d. This is a touching story of the how far one will go for their family and loved ones. We see the importance of forgiveness and healing relationships, especially one's relationship with G-d. I highly recommend Her Pretend Amish Boyfriend to other readers.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
This book is a wonderful addition the Surprised by Love series. It's well written and hooks you on the first page. It has just the right amount of drama to keep you turning the pages to see what happens next.
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.
Caroline's enthusiasm for life often bubbles up in outspoken words and talkativeness, as well as being in a hurry! When she bumps into auctioneer Noah at the market where she works with her brother, Caroline is determined to set things right by sorting the puzzle pieces he spilled when they collided. This sets off a chain of interactions between Caroline and Noah, in which he rescues her from guys who seem determined to accost her. Their evolving relationship causes problems for Noah at the auction and for Caroline at her family's food stand.
Although Noah is attracted to Caroline, secrets from his past prevent him from moving forward with their relationship. When those secrets are revealed, Caroline is determined to clear his name, along with help from an elderly benefactor, who just might be an angel in disguise.
This book was a page turner and kept my interest to the end. The characters are realistic and the story develops around them. It is part of a series by an experienced author, although it can be read as a stand alone. The writing is thoughtful with a clear Christian message. Themes include gossip, judgment, discernment, sacrifice, and hope. This is a clean Christian read without overt violence, sexual scenes, or strong language. Readers of others in the series will enjoy connecting with the characters from past stories. This book is idea for those who enjoy a Christian novel about Amish people, and who enjoy seeing good triumph over evil.
I received this book from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
I found this book so cute. I felt like with Caroline nothing held her back she spoke what was on her mind and believed the best in everyone. She was a fun spirit who just was really fun to read about. Noah was standoffish but for good reason but who really loved and cared deeply for those in his life. He was so broken with things he faced but that did not stop him from living, but also fighting himself to do what was right for himself. I have read another book in this series and I LOVE Ms. V she is an angel for sure she looks beyond the broken and builds people up and shows them the good that's already in there heart. This book for me was a quick read and very enjoyable the author kept this book clean so its suitable for all ages, and well worth the read.
All newcomer Noah Riehl wants is to be invisible and start fresh from past secrets. However, Caroline Hartzler, makes this very hard when she asks for his help. Often deemed impulsive, Caroline falls in love with Noah at first sight. His quiet and gentle ways pull her heart after a really painful break-up. When Noah's past threatens to force him to leave, Caroline realizes she must fight for what she loves. When match maker, Mrs. Vandenburg returns, Noah and Caroline don't stand a chance. Will all work out in the end? I have really enjoyed my visits to the Green Valley Farmer's Market. The characters there are inviting and endearing. It really makes one want to go buy some BBQ and attend the auction. I look forward to the next in the series. I received a copy through Netgalley. A review was not required.
I have enjoyed this series set in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and the Green Valley Farmer's Market and this is a lovely addition. This is the story of two Amish people, Caroline Hartzler, whose family has a barbeque chicken stand in the market, and Noah Riehl, an auctioneer, at the market. There is an attraction between the two, but Noah's past makes him leery about getting involved with anyone, much less a love interest. But Caroline is a fixer, sometimes to a fault. I liked Noah and Caroline and was pulling for them, although I did get a little frustrated with her at times. She has a tendency to be impulsive, doing and saying things without thinking them through. I enjoyed seeing characters from prior books, especially Mrs. Vandenburg, an Englisch woman whose family started the market. Mrs. V is a wonderful and caring fighter for the rights of others and a great matchmaker with a direct line to God. This is a touching story of the how far one will go for their family and loved ones. We see the importance of forgiveness and healing relationships, especially one's relationship with God. Another great story in the series.
I received a copy for the purpose of an honest review.
Her Pretend Amish Boyfriend is Good's fifth book in the Surprised by Love series. Welcome back to Green Valley Farmer’s Market in Lancaster County, PA, where you'll reunite with old favorites like Mrs. V. and meet new characters, like Tim. This story's central characters are Noah Reihl and Caroline Hartzler, who both work at the market.. Noah has a past that he'd rather no one knows about,, but as Caroline and Noah's friendship deepens, will the secrets of his past come to light, and is their any kind of a future for this couple?
This book is one of second chances and forgiveness. If you've read the other books in this series, you won't want to miss this one!
A big thank you to NetGalley for an advanced e-pub of this book. All opinions expressed herein are strictly my own.
#HerPretendAmishBoyfriend #NetGalley
This was very good read for me. The setting of a Farmer’s Market was so much fun! I was drawn in from the beginning. There were so different aspects to the story. The cast of characters were very interesting. From auctions to romance, friendship, competition, gossip, misunderstanding and reconciliation.
Her Pretend Amish Boyfriend (Surprised by Love #5)
by Rachel J. Good
Caroline works in her brother's chicken barbecue stand at the Green Valley Farmer's Market. She was late because of a volleyball game so she took a shortcut thru the back of the tent and ran into the new Auctioneer!
Rumors abound at the Farmer's Market among the vendors about the new Auctioneer. Mrs. Vandenberg is back at the Market with her words of wisdom and well voiced thoughts about the future.
There is love in the air. But, there are roadblocks. A ruined reputation, a deep feeling of rejection, and why doesn't God care about me?
How can everything turn out okay?
Don't skip to the end! You won't want to miss a word.
I just reviewed Her Pretend Amish Boyfriend by Rachel J. Good. #HerPretendAmishBoyfriend #NetGalley
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me an advance copy of this book in return for my honest opinions.
Amish romance fiction is one of my favorite gonre and although I have not read any previous books by Rachel J. Good, I requested based on the book cover and synopsis.
Am happy I was granted a copy to read and review. The book was really good.
I enjoyed getting not know the characters band becoming a part of their world.
Would definitely buy and recommend.
Her pretend Amish Boyfriend is a well written and very moving and emotional book. I found myself moved to tears many times as I read this heart felt story. I was drawn like a magnet into the story almost from the beginning. The two main characters were Noah Riehl and Caroline Hartzler but all characters made this story seem so realistic and a very moving book. This is one of the best books by this Author that I’ve read. I think the main point of the book would be the importance of forgiveness and the importance of prayers and trusting God.
Caroline Hartzler’s mouth often got her in trouble. She is a very impulsive Amish girl who often speaks too quickly before thinking about what she was saying. It seemed she was always being criticized by her best friend and her parents. No matter what she did it always turned out to be the wrong thing. Caroline didn’t have a boyfriend , not that she hadn’t been interested in a certain special Amish man in the past. Then she accidentally bumped into Noah Riehl, an Amish Auctioneer and was attracted to him. Would Caroline chase him off too?
Noah Riehl has been dealt some hard knocks in his young life. He is a victim of circumstances and someone close to Noah betrayed him and lied about him. Noah hasn’t forgiven those that hurt him and over the years he has withdrawn from people . It seems that Noah is punishing himself and has turned away from God. Noah really has a good heart and a kind nature. He doesn’t want any romantic attachments but he can’t help being interested in the pretty outspoken Amish girl who ran into him.
I recommend this book to readers of Amish Romance and Christian Fiction. This is book five of Rachel J. Good’s Surprised by Love series. It could be read as a standalone but characters are carried over from other books in the series. Her Pretend Amish Boyfriend is scheduled to be released on 6/27/23.
I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions shared in this review are my own.
#HerPretendAmishBoyfriend#NetGalley
Her Pretend Amish Boyfriend is the 5 th wonderful addition to the Rachel J. Good's Surprised by Love series. Thank you, Kensington Books, Zebra for allowing me to read an ARC of this book through NetGalley. Views expressed are my own, and I was not required to give a positive review.
I have read all 5 books in this series and have enjoyed each one. Although this book could be read as a standalone, you will really enjoy revisiting characters introduced earlier in the series.
Mrs. Vandenberg returns. She owns the local market place and loves using God’s insight to help her match couples and do God’s bidding.
This is the story of Caroline Hartzler, who is a spirited young woman, and Noah Riehl, a young auctioneer with a questionable past.
Ms. Good has such a unique way of unfolding a story, that you really can’t put it down. She keeps the whole thing interesting by always having something new happening just on the next page. Not only is the storyline well done, but each character is well developed and you can’t help liking or disliking each one.
As this 5-star story unfolds, you see the growth of Caroline and Noah as they learn forgiveness and how to trust God in their lives.
I highly recommend pre-ordering this book. Release day is 27 Jun 2023.