The Amish Bachelor's Bride: An Uplifting Inspirational Romance (Love Inspired)

Thank you in advance to the author, Pamela Desmond Wright, for providing a complimentary review copy through her launch team. A positive review was not required nor requested, and all words are my own. This is the author’s third book, and no offense to her previous ones, she keeps getting better with each one. This one definitely had a unique twist and I really wanted to read this. And, the cute cover? So sweet! Despite this being the third book by Wright, it is the second in the Humble Blessings series that takes readers to Wisconsin’s Amish community. Although this can act as a standalone, I do recommend reading the first book – Finding Her Amish Home. Some characters do return from that book (Abram and Maddie). Wright introduces us to: 👨🏻‍🌾 Noem 👒 Lavinia (actually, she returned from book #1) 👨🏻‍🦳 Gabriel 🧒🏻 Sophie 🧒🏻 Penny ⛪ Bishop Graber This will have mentions of a gambling addiction, as well as a miscarriage (both happened prior to the beginning of the story). This begins on a VERY said note – Noem is burying his “shunned” sister Callie while his father and her kids are there. Penny is young and doesn’t understand why her mom can’t come home, Jesse is an infant. Noem takes the kids since their Englisch father doesn’t want them. This doesn’t set well with his father. The bishop has an idea for Noem – a marriage of convenience with Lavinia who is the recent widow of Josiah. Gabriel is against it at first, yet Noem and Lavinia really don’t have many options. Gabriel also thinks the kids belong with their father despite knowing how the man left Callie. Lavinia is still plagued by Josiah’s gambling debts. Lavinia is torn – she is mad at Josiah, but loved him, and doesn’t think she can give her heart to anyone again, let alone Noem. It’s either live with her siblings or with Noem, and Lavinia chooses her dignity – at least she’d have “her” own home. But, what Noem brings her into – it isn’t in the best shape. In addition, there is Gabriel’s cold and distant attitude towards Lavinia. Noem promises Lavinia they will get their own place as soon as he can. Gabriel soon warms up to the idea of Lavinia and Noem, even his “grandkids”. He admits having trouble with his faith after losing his wife and then Callie being shunned. This revelation helps his relationship with Lavinia and even helps Noem in “rearranging” his marriage with her. Noem is offered a sweet deal regarding a repair shop, but it might hamper his and Lavinia’s goal, there’s also a tragedy as well. But, as usual – these stories have a happily ever after ending, and this packed a surprise at the end as well. I sort of saw it coming, but was DELIGHTED to see it. I have to admit – this was one of those “over before I realized” it reads, but I wasn’t disappointed in anywa...