Menno Eicher has a to-do list. The widower and father of two young daughters decides to go to Colorado to accomplish the most important component. Esther Kiem has a big chore cut out for her as she reluctantly welcomes the uninvited trio to her home. She is the perfect person to help him find a wife that best suits his list of needed qualities. Busy with her quilting shop and pregnancy this unplanned business has created a challenge.
Baker Joanna Yoder becomes a distraction for Menno's mission. She is perturbed with his search likening it to choosing a can of corn at the grocery store.
I want to thank Jennifer Beckstrand, Kensington Publishing Corp./Zebra Books and NetGalley for my copy of this entertaining book.
I love this series by Jennifer Beckstrand. The author's prose is pure delight. The familiar characters including Cathy Larsen are back for another laugh out loud adventure. This is another gem filled with great humor and poignant moments. It's a five-star read for me.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I love everything by Jennifer Beckstrand. Menno goes to Colorado with his young girls to get a new wife. He makes a list of what he wants in a woman. He botches it up and the women in town work together to help him find his perfect match. I was craving some corn after I finished this story!
This was a delightful and quick read. It’s part of a series but can be read as a stand alone. It’s such a good series that you will want to read the other books. Many thanks to the author and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I adore everything I’ve read by Jennifer Beckstrand. The Amish Quiltmaker’s Uninvited Guest is no exception. I literally laughed my way through it. Delightful, charming, and fun, it is the story of Menno and Joanna. Menno needs a wife. He made a list of things to do and finding a wife is at the top. Joanna thinks he is handsome and sweet and a good dad, but she doesn’t want to be something he just checks off of a list. Can the two figure out that all they want is each other? Or will their pride and stubbornness get in the way? A great book. Wish I could give it more stars!

The Amish Quiltmaker's Uninvited Guest will have you laughing, crying and all the emotions in between. Menno feels he must find a wife after his wife's passing a year before. He hopes to come to his cousin's community, pick a wife and be married and back to his home in a month. Really--How can a man think picking a wife could be as easy and quick as picking out a pie in the store? Joanna Yoder, Esther's friend, thinks Menno is ridiculous but a chance meeting has her wondering. Although she feels she is definitely should not be on the list, God may have other plans. Will Menno find his wife in a month? Will Joanne helping lead to more? I received a copy through Netgalley. A review was not required.

First Impressions Aren't Always Accurate

Joanna Yoder's first impressions of Menno Eicher weren't very favorable. As far as she was concerned, a man who makes a list that includes "finding a wife" doesn't rank very high on her list.

Menno is a very practical and obedient person, hence his to-do list. But his practical side sometimes gets in the way of what his heart is telling him.

And that is where Joanna and Menno's tug of war begins. Their story includes a lot of back-and-forth banter and some amusing occurrences. These include contributions by delightful children, some fun animals, and some well-meaning friends. All of this had me laughing and smiling more than once. It was often frustrating to watch Joanna wrestle with the fact that first impressions aren't always accurate, especially in matters of the heart. But following Menno's path to finding what was there all along was an absolute joy to see. It's a beautiful story that will truly touch your heart.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. All comments and opinions are voluntary and completely my own.

The Amish Quiltmaker's Uninvited Guest by Jennifer Beckstrand, book five in The Amish Quiltmaker series, is a clever, entertaining, emotional, humorous, and takes joy in its desperate romantic circumstances as other women who are not opposed to marriage appear, as the nature of obedience is examined. I loved Joanna and Menno’s heartwarming and sweet Amish romance with its perfect balance of humor, heartwarming love, real life issues, and faith.

Menno Eicher, a widower with two small daughters and farm in Idaho, is trying to follow his bishop’s directions and find a wife in a month; since his wife has been gone for a year. He travels with his daughters and a to-do list to Colorado in search of a new wife since where he lives there are few families, and no current options; staying with his cousin Levi and his wife Ester. Joanna Yoder is one of four sisters and at 28 accepts that she’s an old maid and is satisfied with her life. She is good friends with Ester and when Joanna and the rest of the quilting circle hear of Menno’s plan, they agree to help a pregnant Ester with her added chores due to his visit. Joanna thinks Menno is ridiculous to plan to pick a wife like a can of corn but is willing to help Ester by watching his daughters. A chance meeting with Joanna at the bakery and Menno can’t get her out of his mind; finding ways to spend time with her despite Joanna not being interested in marrying him. Menno is convinced that G-d put Joanna in his path the moment he gets to town and feels like checking off his list will be easy. Menno is nice and handsome and his daughters are sweet but he has met his match in Joanna. Menno keeps making many mistakes instead of trusting G-d to guide him. So begins their beautiful journey of love, faith, mistakes, and second chances.

Ms Beckstrand adds another outstanding installment to a wonderful series; drawing me into a story of choices, grace, forgiveness, and love all within the beautiful backdrop of the Amish community’s faith and lifestyle, as shown through sweet moments, supportive family, friendships, and life choices. I’m not sure I will see a can of corn the same way after reading this story.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
#NetGalley #Kensington

I chuckled. I laughed out loud. I guffawed.
This was a fun read.

Esther is pregnant. Quite pregnant. She runs a quilt shop and creates beautiful quilts. Her husband’s distant cousin Menno Eicher and his children arrive uninvited to stay with her family for a month. A MONTH!!! You see, Menno is a widower and he needs to get married by the end of the month. He has a To-Do list to find the “perfect wife”, you won’t believe it when you read it. He wants Esther to make a list of 'maedels' who fit his requirements. Menno is hard-headed with about as much romance in him as the tinest thimble ever made. And he frustrates Esther and just about anyone he meets.

Joanna Yoder is no longer a young maedel. She creates and sells lip-smacking desserts. She hears about Menno before she meets him and doesn’t know who he is at first. His children are charming and … well, she already knows that she is NOT interested. Who could marry a man who goes about choosing a wife like he would a can of corn?

There is one young woman in the community who seems to be VERY interested in pursuing a marriage with the To-Do list man. And another that is interested but only part of the time.

The dialogue in this story just kept me entertained. There is one scene where Joanna makes it VERY clear to Menno that she is not interested in being on his “possible” wife list and Menno interprets 180 degrees the other direction.

What many don’t see is Menno quietly feeling some days he is “drowning in his responsibilities”. Ever felt like that? Most of us reach that point sometime in our lives. And we all handle it the best we know how. And Menno handles it with careful planning (i.e., To-Do lists).

Menno also can put his foot in his mouth and shove it past his kneecap to his hipbone. There’s the time he tells Joanna she is an …. no, I won’t spoil that scene for you. And as usual, Menno ends up wondering how anything he said was wrong. After all, it was all true. The man is oblivious.

I’m giving this book 5 stars. I’m expecting several errors will be corrected in the published release. I had a hard time putting this one down. It was so much fun to read. Oh — the character I didn’t like in this one is Menno’s bishop. See if you feel the same way.

I received a complimentary DRC (digital review copy) of The Amish Quiltmaker’s Uninvited Guest via NetGalley from the publisher, Kensington Books | Kensington. A positive review was not required; the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Rating: 5 stars
Cover: Disliked. I mean I truly disliked it. The picture is fussy unless viewed in a large size and the yellow title & author are awful. Doesn’t look professional.
Pages: 286
Publish Date: 25 June 2024
#TheAmishQuiltmakersUninvitedGuest #NetGalley #JenniferBeckstrand

The Amish Quiltmaker's Uninvited Guest
Jennifer Beckstrand

3.5 - 4 stars
What an absolutely irritating, frustrating and ultimately sweet story. I almost threw my kindle in frustration more than once at Menno and Joanna's behavior, not to mention Verla Ann.
There were some quite hilarious moments within, derived come from “a plan” that is explained near the end of the book. I realized at one point I was about 75% finished and so completely frustrated with the antics of Menno that I wanted to give up. But, I was far too invested in the story to just stop reading, and I am so glad I didn't. I do recommend this book.

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

In The Amish Quiltmaker’s Uninvited Guest by Jennifer Beckstrand, Joanna Yoder, an Amish lady, is minding her own business alongside her sisters Mary, Ada, and Beth and their friends Cathy and Esther. They plan to gift an old lady with quilts for her hundredth birthday, and each of the sisters has chosen different patterns. However, according to Cathy, each pattern has its meaning, and the pattern that Joanna has chosen is likely to bring her trouble. In any case, Joanna does not believe it, as the Amish are not superstitious. and so she goes ahead and chooses it. Menno, the cousin to Esther's husband, who lost his wife a year ago, is determined to do God's will and obey his bishop, who has instructed him that precisely one year after the demise of his wife, he has to find a new wife. So he plans an extended visit to Esther's home, who is expectant and a mother of two, not to mention the fact that she makes and sells quilts, but Menno needs a job, a wife, and his girls to be taken care of. What started like a list by Menno blossomed into a chance meeting between him and Joanna and God knows where this will lead. To find out, get a copy of the book The Amish Quiltmaker’s Uninvited Guest by Jennifer Beckstrand

This book is fabulous; as I learned a few Amish words, 'Ach' was my favorite. I also learned quite a lot about the Amish way of life; they are very devoted people. Additionally, the book has an incredible sense of humor Examples are p. 36, "Ach! If Esther felt like dirt, Joanna was a worm crawling under the dirt." and p. 141, "Menno’s heart had been doing acrobats for several minutes. Now it did a complete nosedive." But the marriage proposals were the most hilarious. I also like both the major and the minor characters. They form a great combination and complement one another, making the book even more fascinating. Finally, as I have also read the book Amish Quiltmaker's Unlikely Match by the same author, it was an extraordinary experience being familiar with most of the characters in the previous book, and I enjoyed it.

There is nothing I disliked about the book.

I rate the book The Amish Quiltmaker’s Uninvited Guest by Jennifer Beckstrand 5 out of 5 stars for the above reasons and the fact that the story was engaging to the end. It is also a book that can lift one's spirit, given the sense of humor in it.

I recommend it first to those readers who've read and enjoyed Amish Quiltmaker's Unlikely Match by the same author; they will enjoy this one as well. I also recommend it to those who love Christian romance books with a sense of humor.

I always love Jennifer stories.
I couldn't put it down.
I loved the cover and I think the title matched the story, can't wait for the next story.

The Amish Quiltmaker’s Uninvited Guest by Jennifer Beckstrand is a heartwarming and cute story. I enjoyed Menno and Joanna’s story. I admit, though, that it took me time to warm up to Menno. I am surprised that Menno managed to find someone to marry him the first time around. I like the author’s writing style. It makes the story easy to read. I also like that we get to see things from Joanna and Menno’s point of view. While The Amish Quiltmaker’s Uninvited Guest is the fifth book in The Amish Quiltmaker series, it can be read as a standalone. I laughed often while reading (which had my mother giving me looks plus I woke her up once or twice). The Amish Quiltmaker’s Uninvited Guest is a story about mistakes, love, second chances, humor, and faith. I will never look at a can of a corn the same way again. The Amish Quiltmaker’s Uninvited Guest an entertaining tale about a matrimonial mission, galloping goats, an adorable dog, sympathetic sisters, appetizing fry pies, a quilt quandary, and a joyful journey.

Esther’s distant cousin, widower Menno Eicher, needs to be hard-headed and practical. Swamped by family and farm responsibilities, he must find the perfect wife as quickly as possible, so he’s shown up in Colorado—with “finding a wife” on his To-Do list! Esther’s community has many women who could match his ever-growing requirements. Yet after a chance meeting, Menno keeps coming back to baker Joanna Yoder. Hard-working, honest, and forthright, she’s distracting Menno from his search, opening his heart—but refuses to believe he’s falling hopelessly in love with her . . .

Happily busy inventing and selling delicious desserts, Joanna has no time for someone as ridiculously exacting as Menno. After all, what sort of man thinks choosing a wife is like picking a pie at the general store? But once she sees the surprisingly kind heart, doting father, and understanding man beneath his hard-to-please ways, she has second thoughts. With faith and genuine love, might the few things they have in common overcome the differences between them—and prove precious enough to risk a future together?

This was another great read from Jennifer. A sweet, Christian romance, that shows our plans are nothing compared to His plans for us.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this ARC in return for my honest review.

I am enjoying the Amish Quiltmaker series set in the small Amish community in Colorado. The characters are endearing, funny, and share their spiritual insight with their community. I almost feel a part of it.

Menno Eicher has been told by his bishop in Idaho that his mourning is over and he needs to find a wife now. With two small girls, he heads to Colorado to visit his cousin Esther (the quiltmaker) in hopes in find a wife. On top of his written list..find a wife. Joanna Yoder upon hearing this from Esther is appalled that a man can look for wife like a can of corn. She firmly does not want to be on this list. However, what we plan is not always in God's plan. On a chance meeting, she meets Menno and his two girls when they arrive in town only to be attracted to him. When she learns who he is, she teases him and their relationship begins. Menno unknownst to him has fallen in love but cannot seem to get out of the list zone to hear what God is saying and trying to teach him. He has a month to convince Joanna to marry him.

I loved both Menno and Joanna for different reasons. Joanna standing firm on what she wanted in a marriage and Menno with misunderstanding of trying to do the right thing. He has plenty of eligible women in the community that teach him a few things about how relationships work. It really became a community effort for Menno and Joanna to get on the same page. It was a fun journey to on with them. Loved it.

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

“The Amish Quiltmaker's Uninvited Guest” is the delightful fifth book in Jennifer Beckstrand’s Amish Quiltmaker romance series. In this book Esther Keim’s cousin widower Menno Eicher is looking for a wife and visits Esther hoping she can help find him one. Menno is very practical and has “finding a wife” on his to-do list. This does not sit well with Joanna Yoder who feels like Menno is treating finding a wife like buying a can of corn. Yet, despite this she is attracted to Menno and he is attracted to her. Will these do be able to see past his to-do list to find true love?

This was such a fun romance to read! I’ve loved every book in the series so far – Beckstrand has a great sense of humor and has created a great set of characters for this series. I loved reading as Joanna and Menno fell in love but didn’t quite realize it. Menno’s heart was in the right place but his inability to see beyond his to-do list was quite humorous. Joanna too was a great character – in love with Menno but afraid that he only was interested in her as a mother to his children. Truthfully, I did feel like the story was stretched out a bit but then, just as I was getting frustrated that the two wouldn’t open their eyes (and heart), Beckstrand threw in a curve that took me by surprise and added much to the story. All in all, I really enjoyed this book.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

What a fantastic Amish romance! This book is a sweet story of a widowed man trying to find a new fray for his 2 young daughters. He is on a mission to get this done in only 1 month. As you can expect this timeline didn’t go over well with the ladies. After reading this I will always giggle when I see a can of corn. A great read!

Menno and his young girls are looking for a wife and a mama! He leaves home to head to Colorado to find this woman and his to-do list has finding a wife as a priority which needs taking care of within a month before he needs to return home "with her". The Colorado community has some good options for him but he has his mind set on the one person who appears to not be at all interested in him. It's a really cute story and true to Jennifer Beckstrand style, filled with humor and keeps you entertained!
I received an arc from Net Galley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Jennifer Beckstrand does not disappoint! Whenever I need a light read that will make me laugh, make me really care about the characters, and have an unexpectedly deep spiritual message woven masterfully throughout the story, she is my go-to! And her books just keep getting better and better! This book did challenge me in the area of forgiveness as I'm not sure I could have forgiven the final conflict as easily as Joanna was able to. All in all, a delightful read! I devoured it in one day!

Filled with humor and plenty of tension, this Amish drama will keep you rooted to your seat as you gallop through the pages. A visiting widower seeks a wife and a mother for his children. Only this item begs to be marked off his to-do list so he seems open to any woman who might qualify, rather than traditionally courting and seeking a deep relationship. The appealing plot was different than any I’ve read before and the intriguing characters liven up the drama. Don’t miss this fun book. Even if you haven’t read any others in this series, don’t worry—this one can stand on its own. I received a copy from the author/publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Esther Kiem, Amish Quiltmaker, living in Colorado becomes hostess for her distant widower cousin from Idaho. He arrives in Colorado, along with his two young daughters, with a to do list and a four week deadline. At the top of that list was finding a new wife. A strange way to pick a wife, he asked his cousin to give him a list of names of women who were possible wives.

You will be surprised to read all the activities that take place, and the women and their reactions and feelings toward him and his search.

As he gets to know each of the women, we wonder and see if and how his choices might lead him to a greater faith and love to risk a new life, not only for him and his daughters, but for the woman he may chose.

This is a very quick read that you definitely will not want to put down until you have read the entire book.

Thanks to Kensington and Netgalley for the copy of this book to read. The opinions expressed are my own.

A humorous tale that compares young women two cans of corn. How dare Menno Eicher comes to Byler to find a wife that fulfills the qualities that he has put on his list. When Johanna Yoder sees the list she is incensed. Yet she helps him takes care of his daughters. The Amish Quiltmaker’s Makers Uninvited Guest it’s a delightful read. Immerse yourself into this contentious romantic story. I will be recommending this book to my friends and family.


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