An Unlikely Match (Amish Inn #2) by Beth Wiseman

 

When sparks fly between a good Amish girl and a hunky member of the Hollywood elite, even matchmaking innkeepers Esther and Lizzie know better than to fan the flames. 

Evelyn Schrock has dismissed the attempts of every young man in her small Amish community to court her. She’s willing to wait for a suitor who shares her curiosities about life and faith. 

The only reason Jayce Clarkson is in Amish country hefting equipment for his famous father’s movie production company is for the paycheck. The homestyle cooking at the Peony Inn is a perk though, as is his friendship with Evelyn Schrock. If Jayce can endure his dad’s put-downs for a month, he’ll finally be in a position to make a fresh start—somewhere away from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles and the shadow of his checkered past. 

To matchmakers Esther and Lizzie, the widowed sisters who operate the inn, Jayce seems like a good man stuck in a life he doesn’t want. But the boy isn’t Amish, and that leaves far too much room for broken hearts. Despite that, Jayce and Evelyn start to realize that they can’t deny their growing attraction. Any path forward seems impossible, and they will have to learn what the future will look like when they leave their fate in Gott’s hands. 

My thoughts:

I was super excited to return to the Peony Inn to catch up with the matchmaking Innkeepers, Esther and Lizzie. The storyline is filled with interesting characters and several laugh out loud moments.  Esther and Lizzie are two sisters who have their hands full when a production company arrives at the Inn with their buses and limousines, something the two elderly Amish ladies were surprised to see. Gus is still living on the property, he’s still cantankerous, but I have liked him from the beginning and was glad to get to find out more about him. 

Jayce Clarkson is working with his father’s production company which he really doesn’t want to do, but soon realizes it might not be so bad when he meets, Evelyn Schrock.  I loved how sweet and caring Jayce was with Evelyn, how he understood that having a relationship with the young Amish woman would need to be taken slowly.  They are both level headed, having conversations that showed maturity and a clear understanding of the boundaries of their friendship. There is nothing in this novel that seems rushed, something I really appreciate as a reader.

I have loved both books in the series and cannot wait to read the next one.  Beth Wiseman made me laugh, get a little tearful and provided a lovely escape to Amish country, all from the comfort of my sofa.  I suggest reading the first book before reading this one to get to know Esther, Lizzie and Gus. 

I received a copy from the publisher.  All opinions are completely my own.