Sixteen-year-old Shannon McNamara has exciting plans for the summer, and she can't wait to get to them. Unbeknownst to her, however, her widowed and ailing mother has plans of her own--to relocate them both to the heart of Amish country in Ohio where she has relatives who can look after her. Shannon quickly learns that living a "simple" life is actually a lot of hard work. But when a hot young Amish guy named Ezra enters the picture, she's ready to get an Amish makeover and even consider making it a permanent change. But does Ezra share her attraction? Will Shannon really make the jump into this new way of life? And will it be for the right reasons? Teen favorite Melody Carlson brings fans another sweet story of worlds--and families--colliding, exploring themes important to teen girls through an engaging tale.
From fresh-picked produce to oven-warm pies, small-town Lancaster County, Pennsylvania’s Green Valley Farmer’s Market has everything your heart desires—including a chance to find love . . . Hiding a painful secret, valley newcomer Noah Riehl is looking for a fresh start with few complications. He hopes his job at the Farmer’s Market will give him the quiet life he craves. But light-hearted Caroline Hartzler has other ideas. She practically falls in love with him at first sight. And when she asks Noah for a not-so-simple favor—and won’t take no for answer—he finds himself reluctantly agreeing . . . Caroline refuses to listen to the gossip that has followed Noah into the valley, or even to her own daed’s warnings. She’s taken with Noah and his gentle, generous spirit. In fact, he’s the perfect person to help her discourage an unwanted suitor—by pretending they’re courting. Yet the more time they spend together, the more Caroline must remind herself that their relationship is just a temporary ruse. But she’s not the only one struggling. . . . Secretly, Noah’s feelings for Caroline deepen more than he thought possible, helping him renew his faltering faith. But when rumors about his past threaten to ruin them both, they must pray that the truth leads them to the blessed union they long for . . .
Savory barbecue chicken . . . golden-crisp potatoes . . . and fresh-picked produce are just a few of the offerings at Lancaster, Pennsylvania’s Green Valley Farmer’s Market—along with surprising opportunities to find forever friendships, comforting advice—and love’s most delicious possibilities . . . Filled with faith, community, and sweet romance, USA Today bestselling author Rachel J. Good’s Surprised by Love novels are perfect for fans of Linda Byler, Amy Clipston, Wanda E. Brunstetter, and Charlotte Hubbard. Hard-working and caring, Anna Mary Zook does her level best to care for her depressed widowed mother and five siblings . . . all while working a new farmer’s market job. And coping with her longtime boyfriend falling for another girl. She couldn’t be more grateful when visitor Abe King helps lighten her load of responsibilities—and is there when she needs a friend. Even more surprising, he understands her better than anyone ever has. But what happens when his family commitments demand that he soon returns home . . . to stay? Abe felt Anna Mary’s gentleness and determination was special from the moment they met. And with his own father needing help tending the King family farm in New York, he well knows the pressure she’s under. He’s more than willing to travel to Lancaster as often as possible to help Anna Mary, but she deserves so much more. Abe wouldn’t feel right asking her to uproot her family and life to marry him. But between faith and hope, can they somehow find a way to do right by their duties and their hearts?
Sometimes love is found in the most unexpected places—as three blessed men will discover in Rachel J. Good’s heartwarming Amish romance series, set in a bustling Pennsylvania community . . . When an organic farm causes rents to skyrocket at the Valley Green Farmer’s Market, Fern Blauch’s family baked goods stand is driven to the edge of eviction. . . . Until a mysterious temporary reprieve. Fern is confused when she discovers the benefactor is barbecued chicken stand owner—and her longtime crush—Gideon Hartzler. She’s grateful, but pridefully tells him she intends to pay him back. If only she can find a new place to sell her wares . . . To stay competitive, and help as many others as he can, Gideon expands his stand to provide full meals—including dessert. That’s where Fern comes in. As the two work long hours, side-by-side, business booms—and so does their attraction. Still, the demands of caring for aging parents and struggling relatives cause them to hide any feelings beyond friendship. But as new challenges emerge and Gideon and Fern turn more deeply to their faith, and to each other, will love find a place at their table?
Escape the helter-skelter of the modern culture and join software creator Annie Friesen, hiding at the home of an Amishman. With her high-tech career in jeopardy, Annie runs from fast-paced Colorado Springs—and straight into the hospitality of San Luis Valley’s Amish community. There she meets cabinetmaker Rufus Beiler, and the more time she spends with him, the more attracted she becomes. When Annie finds she shares a common ancestor with Rufus, she feels both cultures colliding within her. But is her love for Rufus strong enough for her to give up the only life she’s ever known?
Katrina Yoder loves to sing, but her Amish parents view singing as vainglory and a sin. Katrina's best friend, Bekka, is convinced Katrina should try out for American Star, a televised singing competition that Bekka has been secretly watching. Katrina resists the temptation until her father's health worsens. He desperately needs a surgery the family cannot afford. Katrina decides she must go against her parents' wishes to win the money needed to help her father. But how will she handle herself as an Amish teenager out in the world? Teen girls will be swept into the excitement as Katrina ventures out of her quiet Amish world to become a reality television star. Will she be successful? And will she be accepted back into her community when it's over?
It is possible to find true love through dating. In True Love Dates, Debra Fileta encourages singles not to "kiss dating goodbye" but instead to experience a season of dating as a way to find real love. Through powerful, real-life stories and Fileta's personal journey, this book offers profound insights from the expertise of a professional counselor. Christians are looking for answers to finding true love. They are disillusioned with the church that has provided little practical application in the area of love and relationships. They're bombarded by Christian books that shun dating, idolize courting, fixate on spirituality, and in the end, offer little real relationship help. True Love Dates provides honest help for dating by providing a guide into vital relationship essentials. Debra is a professional Christian counselor who reaches millions with her popular blog, Truelovedates.com, and her book offers sound advice grounded in Christian spirituality. She delivers insight, direction, and counsel when it comes to entering the world of dating and learning to do it right the first time around. Drawing on the stories and struggles of hundreds of young men and women who have pursued the search for true love, Fileta helps readers bypass unnecessary pain while focusing on the things that really matter in the world of dating.
Salina is engaged to the “perfect” man—except for the fact that Josiah feels more like a friend than a fiancé. In this second installment of Amy Clipston’s Amish Marketplace series, love begins to grow between Salina and Will, a Mennonite chef—and both must decide if it’s a love worth fighting for. Salina Petersheim runs her own booth at the Amish market, where she’s known for having the freshest and most delicious produce in the area. Her family is very close, yet sometimes she tires of being compared to her older brother, Neil, a deacon who is married with two children. She also feels the pressure of having to be the perfect daughter for her mother and father, who is a bishop. Salina has been dating Josiah for almost a year now, but he feels more like a friend than a boyfriend. Her parents approve of Josiah, who is a hardworking roofer. He’s handsome and easy to talk to, but he just doesn’t warm her heart the way she feels a boyfriend and future husband should. She secretly longs for more. Along comes Will Zimmerman, a Mennonite chef who runs a restaurant located next door to the Amish market. Salina begins supplying the produce for his restaurant, and as they forge a business relationship, they both feel themselves falling in love. Salina tries to deny her feelings for Will since her father wants her to marry within the community. Both Salina and Will feel stuck in their current relationships, but they cannot deny what they feel for each other. Will they follow their hearts or bow to the pressure of family? Or will God provide a surprising new road for them? Sweet, inspirational Amish romance Full-length novel (85,000 words) The second book in Amy Clipston’s Amish Marketplace series Book 1: The Bake Shop Book 2: The Farm Stand Book 3: The Coffee Corner Book 4: The Jam and Jelly Nook Includes discussion questions for book clubs
Rachel Beiler loves her job as the teacher in her Amish community. She’s obedient, humble, and compliant and tries to keep the ordnung to the best of her ability. But Rachel has a secret—something that could get her shunned if she’s found out. She loves knowledge and yearns for a college education. After serving a dozen years in the Army, Rob Lanier has returned from Afghanistan. But now that he’s home again, he’s constantly reminded of his family’s fall from grace. His father—once a highly respected and wealthy community leader—has disgraced the family, and Rob can’t find it in his heart to forgive him. When Rachel and Rob meet, sparks fly. But when a series of frightening events surrounding Rachel’s brother Johnny brings Rachel’s world crashing down around her, this unlikely match between an Amish teacher and an Englischer ex-soldier seems to be God’s perfect answer.
