THE AMISH MATCHMAKERS BY BETH WISEMAN 

Widowed sisters Esther and Lizzie are the town innkeepers—and the town matchmakers. But when a new tenant moves into a guest cottage at their Peony Inn, the sisters are shocked to discover that maybe this time, one of them might finally find a match of her own. Retired dentist Dr. Benjamin Stoltzfus has signed a six-month lease at the cottage—and gentle Esther and spirited Lizzie are in a surprising competition for the kind doctor’s affections. Dr. Stoltzfus doesn’t appear to be Amish, but his last name and his mysterious background have the sisters guessing—and open to the possibility of finding love again.

Things really heat up when Benjamin’s granddaughter, Mindy, comes to visit. Escaping her big-city life in Texas, Mindy has moved to Amish country to be closer to her grandfather and to embrace the simpler life she has longed for. But she’s unprepared for what happens when an attractive young Amish man, who spends time at the inn helping out the widows, runs his lawnmower right into her little red sports car. Sure, Gabriel is cute and funny and nice—but can a romance between an Englisch girl and an Amish boy end well?

As Mindy and Gabriel find themselves thrown together time after time, they forge a friendship and start making matchmaking plans of their own. Which sister would be better for Mindy’s grandfather—Esther or Lizzie? And as the two young people put their energy into playing Cupid, it looks like love and the life they’ve both dreamed of might also be finding them.

• Charming Amish romance featuring a later-in-life love triangle
• Stand-alone novel, but returning to the world of The Amish Inn series
• Includes discussion questions for book clubs

MY REVIEW

What a wonderful story with  laughs, adventure and a sweet look at romance from young adults to older  adults. I was so happy to read about my new friends Esther and Lizzie again. It is not a secret that  they love to play matchmaker. The sisters are so different but they have one thing in common. They love the idea of romance and enjoy matching couples together. I loved how we get to see a bit more of their personalities and how much they look out for each other.

When a retired dentist moves in to the cottage near their Bed and Breakfast he causes quite a stir among the sisters. I laughed at one moment in the story when Lizzie  thinks that Ben is dead. What she does to see if he is alive is almost like a I Love Lucy moment. The author brings humor to the story as both sisters seem to like Ben . They each are trying to play matchmaker for the  other which leads to misunderstandings and a tinge of jealousy. I would love to be their neighbors because they are sweet , caring and full of life. 

There is another little romance brewing between Ben’s  granddaughter and an Amish young man. How they meet is a series of accidents that find Mindy and Gabriel pushed together. Oh it is so nice to see these young people get acquainted. They are from different backgrounds but that doesn’t stop them from having feelings for each other. It was nice to discover  where the author would take the characters as she illustrates the importance  of family, faith and love. 

Lizzie and Esther have a close bond and are always looking out for each other. Ben does the same for his granddaughter. The family relationships are well defined in the story and I loved how this was used to show that families are to love each other unconditionally. They prefer each other and are an example of how God loves us. 

There are some very emotional moments in the book as the author addresses a sensitive subject. My heart began to beat a little faster as I was so worried where the story would go. I loved the journey with these wonderful characters as I laughed and cried throughout the book. It is evident that God played a big part in this story and brought happiness and hope to many. This story will always be my favorite from this author. It touches on finding love again as we become older and to never give hope no matter what doctors say . My review will never give this book the recognition it deserves. I can’t express into words how much this story has touched me. Thank  you Beth for giving me peace as I grow older and go through challenges that older people face. I will always remember Lizzy and Esther and their unconditional love for each other. Their hearts to help others find love is humbling and remind me of the  scripture, “ No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for a friend.” 

I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher. The review is my own opinion.