An Unlikely Match

Written by Beth Wiseman

Narrated by Lauren Berst

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. 

“Beth Wiseman’s An Unlikely Match will keep you turning the pages as you are pulled into this heartwarming and unpredictable Amish romance story about Evelyn and Jayce, two interesting and compelling characters. Beth doesn't disappoint keeping you guessing as to how this story will end.” —Molly Jebber, bestselling Amish inspirational historical romance author  

“This was such a sweet story. I cheered on Evelyn and Jayce the whole way. Jayce is having issues with his difficult father, who’s brought a Hollywood crew to Amish country to film a scene in a nearby cave. Evelyn has a strong, supportive family, so she feels for Jayce immediately. As they grow closer and help each other overcome fears and phobias, they know this can’t last. But God, and two persnickety Amish sisters, Lizzie and Esther, have other plans. Can a Hollywood boy fall for an Amish girl and make it work? Find out. Read this delightful, heartwarming story!”  —Lenora Worth, author of Their Amish Reunion  

• Sweet Amish romance
• Part of the The Amish Inn Novels—Book 1: A Picture of Love; Book 2: An Unlikely Match; Book 3: A Season of Change
• Book length: 85,000 words

• Language: English
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Release date: Jun 8, 2021
• ISBN: 9780310357278

Beth Wiseman

Bestselling and award-winning author Beth Wiseman has sold over two million books. She is the recipient of the coveted Holt Medallion, is a two-time Carol Award winner, and has won the Inspirational Reader's Choice Award three times. Her books have been on various bestseller lists, including CBA, ECPA, Christianbook, and Publishers Weekly. Beth and her husband are empty nesters enjoying country life in south-central Texas. Visit her online at BethWiseman.com; Facebook: @AuthorBethWiseman; Twitter: @BethWiseman; Instagram: @bethwisemanauthor

Reviews for An Unlikely Match

[kevin shumway · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book had an incredible storyline which I thoroughly enjoyed!

[eccl-3 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An Unlikely Match by Beth Wiseman is book two in The Amish Inn Novel series. This is a great story that could be read alone, but it does follow up after the first in the series so it is best to read this series in order. This story is well written with caring and sometimes funny characters. I really enjoyed reading this story. I enjoyed Jayce’s character as he follows through with a commitment to his father and he looks towards what his future will be. He is so caring and helps all those around him. His struggle with could he give up everything he has grown up with to pursue a relationship with Evelyn is so real. I also enjoyed the characters of Gus and the Inn’s new employee. The writing is so clear I could almost taste the terrible food she cooked.I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Zondervan publishing. This is my honest review.

[kris_anderson-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An Unlikely Match by Beth Wiseman is the 2nd book in The Amish Inn Novels. Esther and Lizzie have twelve guests descending on The Peony Inn from Los Angeles. Lizzie told Esther that the guests are from a produce company with meetings in the area. It turns out that it is a production company. They will be staying a month while they shoot a movie nearby. The ladies are unprepared for the two limousines as well as two large RVs with their loud generators. It seems that some of the guests are not willing to live without modern conveniences. Jayce Clarkson meets Evelyn Schrock and is smitten with her. Evelyn knows that they cannot be, but she is attracted to Jayce. He is the first man with whom she could envision having a future. What does God have in store for these star-crossed lovers? An Unlikely Match can be read as a standalone, but you will be missing out on a cute Amish novel if you do not read A Picture of Love. I thought An Unlikely Match was well-written with great characters. I love Esther and Lizzie. In addition, there is grumpy Gus who surprises you at times. We get to meet Rose who is Esther and Lizzie’s new helper. They need to keep Rose away from sugar and caffeine. There is one scene with Rose that had me laughing so hard. An Unlikely Match is a character driven book. I enjoyed the witty banter. We get to see the differences between the Englisch and Amish worlds in this story. Jayce is curious about the Amish. He asks Evelyn many questions about the Amish and their beliefs. There are some touching moments in this tale. I like how faith was incorporated into the story. It is present and the point is made without it being preachy. Prayer and the importance of listening for God’s voice are items I gleamed from the story. An Unlikely Match is one of those stories that you do not want to end. I am eager for the next book in The Amish Inn Novels. An Unlikely Match is a delightful Amish tale with septuagenarian matchmakers, a grumpy Gus, an energetic Rose, rain galore, clamorous generators, and mouthwatering meals.

[harley0326 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This series is so much fun to read and the characters seem like family now. I adore Esther and Lizzie so much. These two women are full of life and make me laugh. Their schemes to matchmake always gives readers an adventure to read. Wouldn’t it be nice to stay at their Inn?I loved the plot of this story where a production crew overtakes the Inn and surrounding land. Someone made a mistake when they accepted the booking. Oh I laughed so hard when the motor homes pull up with limos following close behind. The noise of the generators are enough to make you run away. The author does an incredible job of letting us see two characters try to understand each other’s beliefs. Evelyn is a sweet quiet and hard working young woman. She has deep faith and her actions show how much she respects her heritage. The Amish have always fascinated me and this story talked about the differences between the Amish beliefs and other beliefs. Jayce is here with his father to help with the movie but their relationship is strained. His father is very stern and doesn’t seem to want to spend any time repairing his relationship with Jayce. I liked how Evelyn and Jayce became friends. I enjoyed reading how Jayce and Evelyn began to have feelings for each other but Evelyn is not sure she should let her feelings grow for him. They come from different backgrounds and have very deep conversations about God. I thought it was very interesting for them to question each other about what they believed in. There are many religions in the world so I think Jayce was a little confused why Evelyn believed one way when he was never taught that. This part of the story was well written and answered sone questions I have had about the Amish ways.I cannot leave out my favorite character Gus. He is gruff, standoffish and a loner. I do think he may have a crush on one of the sisters who runs the Inn. I hope this gets more attention in the next book. His unhappiness is explained in the story and I wanted to give him a big hug. All these years he has been sad and now I know why. Don’t miss the excitement when Gus gets a part in the movie. There is a nice surprise about him that will have you respecting him even more. I loved this story so much because it shows how two people who are different are willing to listen to each other and follow their heart. Life is too short and they need to live each day in happiness. God is very important to both Evelyn and Jayce. The importance of prayer in the story is prevalent as they each seek God’s wisdom for their future. There is reconciliation, forgiveness and new beginnings that fill the pages of this inspiring story. I received a copy of this book from the author and Zondervan Publishing. The review is my own opinion.

[alekee_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A return visit for me to The Peony Inn, and the delightful widowed sister's Esther and Lizzie who run the Inn along with some matchmaking.Now with the arrival of Hollywood and RV's in their yard the sister's are at their breaking point taking care of meals and the Inn and non-stop laundry, they need help!Grumpy Gus is back, and so is the bickering, but the sisters are so busy. Enter Jayce, who knew a rich Hollywood kid would know how to cook, but that is not all we learn about him and he has a growing friendship with Evelyn Schrock. Jayce likes what he sees about Evelyn's life, but could he forsake two cars, phones, and lots of money for the simple life.This read kept me page turning, we become immersed in these people lives, their ups and downs, and you may need ear plugs when you meet Rose! With her there is another book coming! Yes!I received this book through the Publisher Zondervan, and was not required to give a positive review.