I found this story delightful, so realistic and a real page-turner. Welcome to Amish country and we meet an Amish Professional Matchmaker. Never knew they had anyone with that job, but makes perfect sense with some of the problems that are present in the children.
When Dorcus takes a job with Sara she is just taking a job, though she knows what Sara does. She meets the current people who are residing at Sara’s and one catches her eye, Gideon, but he is just a hired man.
I kind of shuttered when Dorcus, now know as Addy, compliments of Gideon, comes across as looking for a man with money and land. Gideon will never due, he will always be a hired man, and she has to take care of her parents.
Come and really meet Addy, now almost 30 years old, and really starting to bloom. Meet her over bearing parents; at least I felt they were. Go to singings and gatherings, and even the fair, and live a little dangerously.
Gideon is just following his parent’s wishes and has no desire to find a wife; he is just having a rather good time. Loved his bantering or could be arguing with Addy, they will really make you smile, and laugh. Picture Addy as she has an accident, sad yes, and she could have gotten hurt, but still funny!
Emma Miller has done it again, and I loved this book, and want more! I can see the potential for lots of great stories using a Matchmaker, such a wonderful idea!!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Love Inspired, and was not required to give a positive review. ( )

This was an interesting read. It ends on a very satisfying note. On one hand, we get to see what appears to be an insider’s view of the Amish heritage and learn how they do certain things. This is one of the most interesting aspects of this book. But on the other hand:
Dorcas or as we soon find out, Addy seems to be according to her parents, in desperate need of a husband. Especially one well off enough to take care of them in their old-age. Now Addy is supposed to be a plain, Plain girl and she is almost 30. (Yes, I meant to type the word ‘plain’ twice since the Amish are sometimes called the Plain People). Addy is constantly being reminded by her mother that she needs a husband and that she owes it to her parents to do so as soon as possible, that Addy is being too picky. I suppose the mother means well in her own way, but as I am a non-Plain woman, it struck me as a non-Amish way to be (at least looking at if from the point of view from the other Amish and Mennonite books I have read).

Right off the bat Addy meets up with the handsome Gideon who happens to be the local matchmaker’s hired hand. This was not the best of circumstance in which to meet!

Now Gideon just really rubbed me the wrong way – if this were not a book about the Amish, I think I could have expected him to be a player just strutting his stuff all of the time, waiting for the women to fall down at his feet! This is how he acted. One minute he is preening for Addy, wetting down his shirt and hair and singing – loudly. I was waiting for him to strip out of his shirt and flex his manly muscles at her and then do a dance! He is actually ticked at Addy because she was ignoring him while talking to another man and the next minute he claims that he thinks of her as ‘another sister’. Why does Gideon, who in his 30’s, keep thinking of the men and women he frolics with as boys and girls? I couldn’t seem to wrap my head around that. I understand the Amish are not worldly – but Gideon seems to be more so than most others are and I would have expected him to act more like an adult.

I had to keep reminding myself as I was reading this book, that this was about the Amish or I really would have been annoyed as to how this story spun out. These two thirty-something’s act like schoolyard children and I eventually wanted to give up on the book. However, I did not because I really wanted to see if Gideon finally steps up to bat, so to speak and admits to his true feelings. The last 20% of the book makes everything come together and makes you appreciate the story more.

The writing is good, the romance aspect is a little frustrating and the story is a little repetitive, but the lessons a reader will learn in pride goeth before a fall, makes up for some of the flaws. I ended up enjoying this book more than I thought I would.

ARC supplied by publisher. ( )