The Amish Matchmaking Dilemma: An Uplifting Inspirational Romance (Amish Country Matches, 1)

I was blessed with an ARC copy of this by Netgalley and Harlequin romance. In a time when the world is so dark and heavy, novels like this one help recanted my focus on the meaning and value of life. There is joy, love, loss, and happiness within this novel. Patricia Johns does a really good job of ensuring that readers get to know the characters, and builds a beautiful story around them and their Amish values. I am definitely going to seek out more Patricia Johns novels. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for good, clean, Christian fiction.

This is a Clean Amish Romance, and this is the first book in the Amish Country Matches series. This is a slow moving cute romance. I really loved getting to know these characters. I love seeing Mose learn that he has a lot to give even with his issues. I love seeing Naomi open up and learn that she already loves someone. Mose and Naomi have a great connection, and I loved reading their love story. I cannot wait to read that next book in this series. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.

My blurb … Mose Klassen wants to be married; Naomi Peachy wants to be married. But each has something that just tends to discourage potential matches. Mose and Naomi were friends as children before his family moved. He is back to his childhood home to find a wife via Naomi’s matchmaking sister, Adel. But the minute the two meet again, their friendship is as strong as ever. As time goes on, both feel drawn to each other to be more than friends yet … they are SO different. Naomi is a chatterbox, a little “ample”, and a bit too liberal. Mose wishes she was less of the latter but he feels he has a much bigger p-p-p-problem. Oh, and the last matchmaking — arranged — effort for Naomi was a disaster. Never again! My review … Naomi has a few other “flaws” depending on how picky the suitor is. There is her hair which never stays under her capp. It is curly and refuses to stay in a bun. She has a tendency to speak her mind first and think second. (I so identify with her.) She is a great cook and tends to what is nicely called “full-figured”. She has a caring heart and feels that the Amish could give more to the Englishers of what the Amish have. Others do *not* agree. Patricia Johns is a well-known Amish author. The Amish Matchmaking Dilemma is called “An Uplifting Inspirational Romance” and that is exactly what it is. You can help but like the characters. Mose is an intelligent, caring man who can put his thoughts on paper but they are trapped when he tries to speak. You, the reader, will feel for him and admire Naomi because she totally understands. The pacing — some might say it’s a little slow but this reviewer never got bored. Most of the story takes place in a two-week period (that’s how long Mose can be away). If rushed, we as readers wouldn’t really “get” the challenges before both the main characters. This book is such an enjoyable read. It is indeed “an uplifting inspirational romance”. Yes, I recommend it. I received a complimentary e-ARC copy of The Amish Matchmaking Dilemma via NetGalley from the publisher, HARLEQUIN – Romance (U.S. & Canada), Love Inspired. A positive review was not required; the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Rating: 5 stars #TheAmishMatchmakingDilemma #NetGalley #PatriciaJohns Series Amish Country Matches #1 Genre Amish Pub. Date 23 Aug 2022 Pages 209 Publisher HARLEQUIN – Romance (U.S. & Canada), Love Inspired Cover Loved this! The woman on the page *is* Naomi. Rating 5 stars

The Amish Matchmaking Dilemma by Patricia Johns is a sweet story. I enjoyed getting to know Mose and Naomi. They are two people who are opposites, but they enjoy each other’s company. They were friends as children and are getting a chance to reconnect. Mose Klassen is in town to fill in for his uncle who takes tourists on tours of Amish businesses in a buggy. He is also hoping that the matchmaker, Adel can find him a wife. The only problem is that Mose stutters. He has had the problem his whole life. Naomi is the one person he is able to talk to without as much difficulty. Adel is hoping Naomi can help Mose become more comfortable talking to women. Naomi is an outspoken individual with a liberal viewpoint while Mose is quiet and conservative. Despite their differences, they are drawn to each other. I thought the story moved along at a gentle pace. The book takes place over the two weeks that Mose is in town. The Amish Matchmaking Dilemma is the first book in the Amish Country Matches series. I like that we get to catch up with Adel and Jake from The Amish Matchmaker’s Choice (you do not need to read this book first). I enjoyed reading this uplifting story. We get to see that despite a person’s “flaws” there is a match for them. Naomi tends to speak before she thinks, has curly red hair that does not like to be tamed, has liberal views, an excellent cook, and is a full-figured woman. Mose is a smart, quiet man who is conservative. Mose’s stutter makes his difficult for him to voice his thoughts, but he can express them in written form. I like that the story is not rushed. If it moved too quickly, we would not understand the couple’s differences and see the challenges that Naomi and Mose face. There is repetition of details (like Mose’s stutter, Naomi’s red hair). I thought the ending was sweet. The faith element was well-done. We see that Naomi and Mose are people of deep faith. They believe that God will direct or guide them. The author shows us Amish values and how their faith is shown in everything they do. I enjoyed The Amish Matchmaking Dilemma. I am looking forward to reading the next Amish Country Matches novel. The Amish Matchmaking Dilemma is a satisfying story with a stutter snag, a chatty Kathy, a teen trouble, delectable delights, tourist trips, and a matchmaking conundrum. *I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book. I am not required to leave a review. The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

I really liked this book and all the characters in it.