A Family for the Amish Orphans: An Uplifting Inspirational Romance – A Small Town Contemporary Christian Story of Faith and Family

by Jo Ann Brown

An unexpected arrangement
might lead to a forever home…

Daryn Yutzy’s three orphaned nieces are now his responsibility—but the Amish bachelor is clueless when it comes to raising little girls, especially one who refuses to speak. When kindhearted food-trailer owner Carrie Detweiler coaxes smiles from them with french fries, he turns to her for assistance. Carrie agrees to help the grieving children—if Daryn helps out her troubled teenage cousin. Carrie has always been focused on business instead of marriage, and Daryn’s still reeling from a past betrayal. Yet working together stirs something neither expected. Can they open their hearts to a future they never planned for?

Amish of Lost River

Book 1: Healing Her Amish Heart
Book 2: Saving Her Amish Baby
Book 3: Their Amish Courtship Secret
Book 4: A Family for the Amish Orphans

208 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published June 30, 2026

Reviews

[Carla]

It's been awhile since I've read an Amish Fiction book, and this one reminded what I love about this genre. Amish bachelor Daryn Yutzy has recently moved to Lost River, Colorado after many years moving around. When his sister and her husband are killed, along with is nephew, he suddenly becomes the guardian of his three orphaned nieces. He is entirely out of his depth, especially since one of the grieving young girls completely refuses to speak. He meets Carrie Detweiler, a single, kind, local food-trailer owner, who manages to coax a smile out of the girls using some french fries. He sees that the girls seem to have connected with Carrie, he reaches out to her for help. She strikes a bargain with him. She will help with his nieces, if he helps with her cousin, Tyler. Tyler is living with her family with the hopes of trying to turn his life around and keep out of trouble. Daryn sees himself in Tyler and wants to help him out. Spending a lot of time together and with the help of three little girls who fall in love with Carrie, Daryn and Carrie begin to feel more than just friendship for one another.

This was a lovely story that highlights family over everything else in an Amish community. Daryn had a trouble past and was sure that he was not a good fit to raise his nieces. He was a troublemaker and moved around a lot looking for where he belonged. He was betrayed in the past and has no desire to get involved with anyone. Carrie' goal is to support herself and help her family. She wants to be a business woman and isn't looking for a relationship either. Her twin sister "jumped the fence" and she is trying to earn money to hire a P.I. to try and find her. The girls are adorable. My heart broke for the oldest girl who lost her twin. This is a Christian/Amish romance with themes of grief, new beginnings, forgiveness, and family. This is the 4th book in the Lost River series and the first that I've read/listened to. I plan to read the prior stories before the Christmas story comes out. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Catherine Gaffney. This is the first time I have listened to her and enjoyed the performance. Her voices were well done and brought the characters to life.

[January · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Family for the Amish Orphans by Jo Ann Brown (2026)
Amish of Lost River #4
6h 33m narrated by Catherine Gaffney, 205 pages
ALC courtesy of Harlequin Audio and NetGalley

Genre: Christian Fiction > Amish Fiction > Amish Romance

Rating as a movie: PG for innuendos

Featuring: Epigraphs, Bible Verses, German, Southern Colorado, Missouri, Bachelor Uncle, Orphans, Reluctant Guardian Trope, Grief, Grumpy/Sunshine, Friction-to-Lovers, Food Trailer, Irritation-to-Infatuation, Mourning, Traumatic Mute, Survivor's Guilt, Lost Twin, Troubled Past, Bad Reputation, Book Lover, Farm, Prince Edward Island, Canada; Ontario, Canada; Innuendos referencing an Accident Causing Death and Sexual References e.g. Pregnancy out of Wedlock

My rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟💐📚🍟🦬🐎🦙✝️

My thoughts:​ I absolutely adored this story! The audiobook featured some of the most authentic Amish fiction narration I’ve ever heard. The little girls were so adorable that I almost couldn't understand them, and I loved that the German was spoken naturally and left untranslated. I truly enjoyed this book and definitely plan to finish the series. Since Ms. Jo Ann is still writing the next installment, I'll be catching up on the first 3 books in the meantime!

Recommend to others: Yes! This was beautifully written and features a great mix of moral lessons, Bible verses, coziness, and contemporary plots.

Amish of Lost River
1 Healing Her Amish Heart (2024)
2 Saving Her Amish Baby (2025)
3 Their Amish Courtship Secret (2025)
4 A Family for the Amish Orphans (2026)

Books and Authors mentioned: Cinderella by Charles Perrault, Bear and Bird by James Skofield, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, Lassie Come-Home by Eric Knight, Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder, Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery, The Bobbsey Twins by Laura Lee Hope, The Three Little Pigs by Joseph Jacobs, The Unmannerly Tiger, and Other Korean Tales by William Elliot Griffis, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There by Lewis Carroll

[Laurel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Family for the Amish Orphans by Jo Ann Brown is the fourth book in the Amish of Lost River series. Carrie Detweiler, a food trailer owner, as well as a server at the local diner, and Daryn Yutzy, the guardian for his three little nieces, agree to help each other out. Carrie will be helping Daryn out with the care of his three orphaned nieces, and Daryn will be helping Carrie try to straighten out her cousin Perry's wild ways. Will Daryn and Carrie's close proximity to each other and growing friendship lead to something more permanent?

As a whole, I enjoyed this book of forgiveness and second chances. In my opinion, there could've been less graphic romance.

Thank you to the author, Jo Ann Brown, for a complimentary copy of this book . All opinions expressed herein are strictly my own.

#AFamilyfortheAmishOrphans

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tragedy has left Daryn Yutzy, a single Amish man, as the guardian of his three young nieces. His love for the girls knows no bounds, and while he understands how deeply they are grieving, he has no idea where to begin when it comes to being the parent they need. When the girls immediately take to Carrie Detweiler, an Amish woman who runs a local food trailer, Daryn asks if there is any way she might be able to help them.

Carrie’s time is already stretched thin, but she agrees. However, her help will come with one condition. Her teenage cousin lives with her family and is constantly finding trouble. In exchange for helping the girls, she hopes Daryn can become a positive influence in the boy’s life. As they work together, trust slowly grows among everyone involved, and both Daryn and Carrie begin to discover that healing is possible.

This is a warm and emotional story that beautifully shows how faith, forgiveness, and compassion can lead to enduring love. I especially enjoyed the audiobook narration, which captured both the tenderness of the children’s healing journey and the sweet, slow-building romance between Daryn and Carrie. A Family for the Amish Orphans is the fourth book in the Amish of Lost River series, and I have enjoyed every installment. Fans of heartfelt Amish fiction will find this to be another uplifting and satisfying read.

Many thanks to HarperCollins and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

very good book

[Tami Willard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can be read as a standalone but may have characters that overlap with other books.
Single uncle struggling to raise his 3 young nieces.
Opposites attract
Traumatized kids
Troubled teen

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Family for the Amish Orphans by Jo Ann Brown is the 4th book in her Amish of Lost River series. A love inspired sweet Amish romance. 3 young orphans are sent to live with their single Uncle while adjusting to a new life while grieving. Faith , hope and with the help of a special friend can they all find the healing they need to become an unexpected family? Narrated by Catherine Gaffney. Thank you to #NetGalley and #Harlequin Audio for this eArc. This is my honest review. Releases June 30, 2026