An Unexpected Amish Proposal by Rachel J. Good is the debut of the Surprised by Love series. I enjoyed reading this entertaining Amish novel. It contains a delightful cast of characters from Fern to Aiden to Mrs. Vandenburg. I like the diverse cast of characters. There are not just warmhearted characters that you will love. The mean-spirited owner of the market who is only interested in money, the grumpy Nick who owns the candy stall, Nick’s son who is going through a rebellious phase, and Nettie, Gideon’s sister-in-law, who wants more than a brotherly relationship with him. Gideon Hartzler is a strong character. He is a man who has taken on a heavy load that has him sacrificing a personal life. Gideon has liked Fern since they were children, but his obligations keep him from courting her. He also has a secret that is weighing him down. Fern is a good balance to Gideon. She has a kind, thoughtful woman with a big heart. Fern is also a wonderful baker who makes cinnamon rolls that Gideon just loves to eat. I enjoyed the interactions between the characters. The dialogue was realistic especially between Nick and Aiden (an angsty teen with a hot headed, grumpy father). Mrs. Vandenburg is a delight. She is a forceful woman who wants to help others. I hope we see more of her in the other books in the series. The Valley Green Farmer’s Market is the central location of the book. The stall owners know each other and some of them have had stalls since the market began. There are regular customers who expect their favorite shops to be there with the items they are used to acquiring especially candy and baked goods. Forgiveness and prayer are the two dominant Christian themes. It is important to not only forgive others but yourself. An Unexpected Amish Proposal is more than a romance. There are a couple of storylines happening at the same time. I like how it all came together into one engaging Amish tale. I am looking forward to the next book in the series. An Unexpected Amish Proposal is feel-good Amish story with scrumptious cinnamon rolls, market stall mayhem, revenue problems, a needy in-law, and succulent chicken. ( )

"An Unexpected Amish Proposal" tells the story of people who sell their goods at a market. When the rent prices rise astronomically, the lives of the people are affected in many ways. Fern and Gideon both run food stalls, and they find a way to work together and to help others who are facing ruin due to the rent increase. They also find their long-time friendship has become a romantic relationship, but many obstacles stand in their way.

The characters are interesting and realistic, and deal with problems common to most people: job loss, income reduction, judgmental attitudes, family squabbles, and guilt over past events. The story never failed to hold my interest. Enough detail was provided to allow readers to use their imagination to picture the market and the people who work there. Surprising twists wrapped up the story and lead into the next novel in the series.

This is a sweet romance, with a clear Christian message. I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own. ( )

I really enjoyed this sweet Amish read. The story revolves around a group of people who have worked in a market place for many years and with even older family generations who previously sold their wares in their own booths. They are friends who are suddenly surprised with space rental price increases that appears to be a way to push them out of business.
There are lots of issues that occur as a result of this, as well as a blossoming relationship. There are struggles with personalities in the story that unfolds and some "villains" and some absolutely wonderful people, with loving and Christian values. It's a great book and I recommend it! I have enjoyed all the books I have read written by this author.

I received an ebook copy from NetGalley. All thoughts are my own. ( )

I am surprisingly impressed with the writing in this book. The author did an awesome job. I have read several Amish romances, but never been so drawn into the stories. This book captured my attention by keeping several narratives going at the same time. I had to pay attention to keep up! The story takes place in Lancaster County Pennsylvania. Many Amish supplement or make their income selling home cooked, grown, of crafted articles at Farmers Market. As did the two main characters Fern and Gideon in the book. The side stories revolved around family, friends, and coworkers of the couple besides the story of their blossoming love for one another. The Author captured the in-depth emotions of the characters along with the faith and traditions of the Amish. I encourage others to pick this book up! ( )