The Courtship Plan

Amish of Marigold #1

by Kathleen Fuller

Finding a husband is serious business. And serious business requires serious planning.

Charity Raber is one of many single women who came to Birch Creek, Ohio, with one goal in secure a husband from among the desperate bachelors a newspaper advertisement claimed inhabited the town. Even though that claim proved to be nothing more than a cruel prank, Charity is still hopeful that her happy ending might be within reach when she's set up on a date with Jesse Bontrager. That is until Jesse not-so-gently shares that he has no interest in a relationship with anyone--and especially not with her.

One year later, Charity is working as a caretaker for a kind, elderly English woman in the nearby town of Marigold. She's also working hard on a brand-new courtship plan. A plan that absolutely does not involve Jesse Bontrager. But when he moves next door and is made aware of her scheming, Charity vows to prove that her plan is foolproof. Meanwhile, Jesse is sure she'll make a fool of herself. And for some reason he's not willing to let that happen.

This stubborn bachelor and determined bachelorette will soon learn that their plans rarely work out as expected--but God's plans always will.


Sweet Amish romance
The first book in the Amish of Marigold series
Book 87,000 words
Includes discussion questions for book clubs

Genres: Amish, Amish Fiction, Romance, Christian Fiction, Christian, Fiction, Adult Fiction

318 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2023

About the author

Best-selling author of Amish fiction. Also a wife, mother, crafter, coffee addict, football fan, and chocolate aficionado.

Reviews

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very sweet story about Charity and Jesse. Charity is a unusual girl. She is covered in freckles and has red hair and just says whatever is on her mind. She answered an ad in a newspaper and came to town where they were supposed to be a lot of eligible bachelors. Unfortunately when she got there, she realized that the advertisement was a hoax. She tried and tried to get a boyfriend and finally decided to come up with the courtship plan. She tried to get a job and finally got one looking after an elderly English lady in a nearby town. She set her sights on Jesse, but he was not interested, the book is funny and very enjoyable.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charity Raber may drive the reader crazy at first. She wears neon signs, front and back, in bold, blinking letters — “I WANT TO GET MARRIED. NOW!!!!”

She is ditzy, obnoxious, and has the social skills of a two-year-old. Okay, there had been a newspaper ad saying Birch Creek had a lot of desperate bachelors wanting to be married. When Jesse Bontrager tells her he is not interested and especially not interested in her, Charity is hurt. But she doesn’t give up her “plan” — she just changes locations.

My review…
A year later, Charity lives in Marigold and is a caretaker for an elderly English lady. Charity hasn’t given up her Courtship Plan — she just has a new one. This time she won’t make a fool of herself — she does. Again, and again, and again…

Jesse Bontrager ends up in Marigold and oh no, lives next door to Shirley, the woman Charity assists. Both Jesse and Shirley learn about “The Courtship Plan” which mostly comes from a book (with a lot of bad advice in it).

The story certainly had amusing moments. Some were the “advice” from one of the books Charity checked out of the library. But frankly, Charity was just TOO. Too clumsy. Too unaware of her actions. Too everything.

It became very easy to lay the story aside and do something else. In all honesty, had this not been a NetGalley read, I probably would never have finished it. However, at about the 50% mark, Charity started growing up. A lot of credit goes to a character who never utters a word but does issue a well-placed bark here and there. Monroe, a cute little black and white dog, belongs to Shirley but likes Jesse and makes unauthorized visits. [My furry manager makes no-notice neighborly house inspections.] So Charity and Jesse talk even when they really would rather not. And slowly …

There are several sub-plots to “The Courtship Plan” which enrich the story. As well as some great laugh-out-loud moments. I just found that Charity was way too ditzy for way toooooo long for me, thus the 3.5 star rating, routed to four when necessary.

I received a complimentary DRC (digital review copy) of “The Courtship Plan” via NetGalley from the publisher, Zondervan Fiction. A positive review was not required; the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Rating: 3.5 stars
#TheCourtshipPlan #NetGalley #KathleenFuller
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Series: “An Amish of Marigold Novel”
Genre: Amish
Pub. Date: 17 Jan 2023
Pages: 318
Publisher: Zondervan Fiction, Zondervan
Cover: Just okay. Says “Amish”.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always I enjoy anything from this author!
This is Charity and Jesse's story and in my opinion of course the best one!
A sweet Amish read that you'll not want to put down until you've devoured this novel!
There were places that I just had to snicker at and some that will make your heart break for Charity and yes even for Jesse.
I can connect with Charity in a lot of ways. I think she tries too hard just like me at times.
I felt bad for her.
Monroe was just the sweetest thing! He knew what was what and whom he liked. He was the best!
I highly recommend this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Heidi Robbins (Heidi Reads...) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think it's hilarious that the author paired up Jesse, the troublemaker who placed the newspaper ad bringing all the marriage-minded women to Birch Creek, with Charity, one of those young women with the prickliest of attitudes. They both have grown up and matured a bit, and even though they can't stand each other, their connection provides ample opportunities to "help" each other and go through more refining. I really liked Shirley, the woman Charity cares for, and her oft-escaping dog, who both play an important role in bringing Jesse and Charity together. I appreciated the life lessons they learned during their time in Marigold, especially Jesse coming to terms with the impact of his prank.

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

[Courtney Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

First one of these may have to check out the others it was sweet and wholesome. Dragged a bit in the middle but was very cute and enjoyed the push and pull of the will they / won’t they? (Kiss, so refreshing to just be like only that.) hang in there it’s worth it.

[Jeanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spending most of her live in her bedroom to escape the rejection, she held on to her emotions, not being able to grieve her loss, she lost her ability to connect.



Charity Raber has answered the want ad of single women that landed her in Birch Creek, Ohio. Along with many other Amish women who seemed to be able to find the match that she seems to miss. After an embarrassing encounter with Jesse Bontrager, she leaves town and lands a job in the nearby town of Marigold. She becomes a live in care taker for Shirley. A lovely older woman who becomes more than an employer but a friend and anchor for Charity. Charity knows she needs to change her life but her past keeps her in awkward social places. She decides that if she reads up on snagging a man and learning to keep him, she will be set. However, God has different plans for her and Jesse. Jesse knew he embarrassed Charity back in Birch Creek and she had been on his mind for weeks. Thinking a new change of place, job, and distance from his family whom he loves, he lands in Marigold working for Amish buggy maker. When Charity makes an appearance at the shop chasing a dog named Monroe, a lovely redemption is blooms.

I loved this story. I cried many times for Charity and I also laughed. At times she had no filter and she was always forthcoming in trying to work out her failings. Sometimes we are our worst enemy. Jesse also had his own failings. He has a great heart and his heart connected to Charity so well. They both had to work out the past to be able to have future. There was healing because of grace and that is the best lesson of all.



A great plot because Charity had taken a courtship plan from a book that each chapter had a quote from how to Snag a Man and Keep him. How fitting that the end of the book ended in scripture.

A special thank you to Zondervan Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Courtship Plan is the first book in the Amish of Marigold trilogy. An ad in an Amish newspaper was calling for single women to move to Birch Creek, Ohio as there were many single men looking for wives. Charity Raber is one of the women who moved there, only to find out that it was a joke. Charity is still hoping to marry one of the Bontrager brothers. A year later, after being embarrassed more than once, she moves to the nearby town of Marigold. She is working as a caretaker for a kind, elderly English woman, Shirley, and working hard on a courtship plan. Using books from the library, she tries to take their advice and use it in her own life, but that doesn't work out as planned. Moving in next door is Jesse Bontrager, the prankster that put the ad in the paper. When he finds out about Charity's courtship plan, he bets her that it will not work. It doesn't, but she had not planned on him embarrassing her with her new friends. Will Charity find her match?

The Courtship Plan is a sweet story, with a slow building romance. Jesse and Charity go from enemies to friends and eventually more. Charity is a bit of a social misfit. She blunders her way through social situations, and is a bit rough around the edges. She has never had girlfriends, so I loved seeing her finally get a friend in Marigold. Shirley was delightful. She encouraged the friendship between Jesse and Charity, and treated her more like a daughter than an employee. One of the best characters in the story was Monroe, a cute little black and white dog belonging to Shirley. Monroe really likes Jesse, and often escapes and heads over to his place. Charity has to go and find him, which often puts her and Jesse together, forcing them to talk and be cordial to one another. It was almost like he was in on Shirley's plan to get them together. Charity also has a personal issue that causes her to be sad and secretive. I liked how it played out late in the story. This is a clean, sweet, Amish romance which I enjoyed, but some found a bit to sweet. If you enjoy a story where there is a predictable, sweet romance, then I recommend you pick this one up.

[Faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charity Raber is excited for a fresh start in a new community, who doesn't know about her past desperate ways. Jesse Bontrager is the last person she expected to see again, will they be able to put their past behind them and give love a chance?

A charming and humorous opposites attract romance, I loved Shirley and how she genuinely cares for her friend Charity, and doesn't want her to be hurt. She is probably my favorite person in the story. I liked how Charity and Jesse get to see a different side of each other and that Jesse wants to be kind to Charity. It was also really cute how the dog helped bring them together along with Shirley.

This was a quick read, with a sweet plot, filled with humor, faith, and romance. I liked how Charity grew since the first time we met her in a previous book, and how she continues to mature in this story as well.

Overall, a wonderful story from probably my favorite author in Amish fiction. A wonderful start to what is sure to be a great series!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Maureen Timerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forgiveness resonates throughout this story, from beginning to end. Harmless jokes? Well, not really, this read picks up where the last series ended when a joke ends up bring many young Amish woman to Birch Creek, including Charity Raber!

What happens to make both Charity and Jesse end up in Marigold, and the journey to healing! As we turn the pages some answers unfold, but then some additional problems rear, and yes, keep reading answers do come, some good life lessons. I was page turning for answers, and did they turn out like I wanted? Well, some yes, but there are surprises, and I love that there are more books to come in this series!

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

[Gabrielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was my first Amish book I’ve read; sweet story but the thrill wasn’t their for me. I was bored throughout most of the book but wanted to wrap up the story and finish it. The most interesting part was to read and hear about the varied family dynamics and how that’s handled in an Amish community (I.e. remarriage etc.)

[Jenna]

DNF 7% Lol how did this end up on my to-read list?

[Purpledances · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.7 big phooeys out of 5

[Terese · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

When I first read ”Love in plain sight” (the preceding book in the series), I kind of hated Charity. She was a nasty character and seemed like a really dislikeable person. Then, somewhere towards the end something clicked in me and suddenly I saw her as this young, misguided, and lonely girl. All I could think about was the stupid things most of us said or did as teenagers and I hoped she would get a redemption story.

This is that redemption story.
And it’s all I wanted and then some.

First of all, Fuller does not gloss over how unlikeable Charity was and how she very much needs to grow as a character. The opening scenes were painful to read… yet also heartwrenching. While acknowledging her flaws, Fuller still manages to make us feel sympathy for Charity.

Then there is Jesse, who, though more likeable, also has a lot of growing up to do and humility to learn. I liked how Nelson especially drove that home.

What I loved most about this book was that it wasn’t a conventional romance plot where two characters dislike each other, get thrown together, then fall in love.

It had more road bumps than that. About half way through I was like, waaait a minute, where is this going? Half the book is left!

Because the book is as much about personal healing as it is about finding love, and there is a stress that healing generally should come first, but also that it is a work in progress. AND that it is about all the relationships in your life, not just romantic ones.

I think I cried about 4-5 times during the reading of this, primarily when Charity struggled and felt isolated and lonely, particularly after her fight with Saloma; or like when she said she needed ”fixing”.

Now, she did need to change and grow, that is true, but it was very painful to read things from her perspective and her need for genuine love and affection. Made me feel guilty, again, for how I initially judged her harshly.

The love story felt very well ”earned” by the time it came to that, and I thought that was well balanced and with plenty of chemistry.

There were plenty of times I laughed too, I should add, like the singing or, (and only once you’ve read it you’ll get it) cringing and screaming ”noooo, girl, nooo!” at the ”hand holding” incident. For all her forwardness, Charity quickly went from annoying to funny (in a secondhand embarrassment kind of way).

I liked the Shirley and Wendy sideplot too, and Saloma, which was impressive since these are all new characters to this series, yet they felt familiar.

In future books I really hope to see more of Charity and Jesse, I know that once ”their” story ends, the couples end up in the background (like Ezra and Katharine in this one), but I would like to see more of Charity and Jesse, and how they tackle their future together! They just had such great chemistry and it would be fun to see as they continue to grow. One can but dream!

TL;DR - you’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll get a convincing romance and personal growth. All the good stuff you could look for in one of these. It filled me with good feelings by the end.


Thank you NetGalley, Zondervan, and Kathleen Fuller for the opportunity to read this in advance.

(As it is an ARC I hope someone else also noticed that a ’was’ had dropped out of the sentence: ”And she so very grateful” on p.300)

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

After living in Birch Creek for over a year Charity thought her day had come Nelson Bolivia said his brother Jesse wanted to go on a date with her at the local café. Charity was so excited, Jesse was the cutest of the Bolivia Brothers with his cork screw curls in his to die for smile. Unfortunately this was just a joke Nelson was playing on his brother Jesse and to say it backfired terribly would be an understatement. Charity was so embarrassed that she packed up and moved out of Birch Creek. Year later Jesse got a new job in Marigold and he was excited to not only finally be on his own but to have a new job where he would learn how to make buggies. On his first day in Merigold, while settling in he hears a noise at his front door and when he opens it an adorable black and white dog runs in. It looks like Jesse has made a new friend but soon after he hears a familiar voice and it’s surprised to see Charity at his door. Turns out Charity is living in Marigold taking care of an elderly lady in Monroe is her dog and oh yes they’re also his new neighbors. He on his first new glance of charity sees she’s a little bit different although still awkward and still boyish she seems more confident. Charity is blown away to see Jesse in Merigold but little does charity know due to Miss Shirley’s snooping her and Jesse will see a lot more of each other. It’s because since charity has moved to marigold she started studying on how to get a man and has written down a courtship plan, this worries Miss Shirley. so one day when Jesse goes to bring the roaming Rover back home again she shows it to him and although he feels a little uncomfortable about it he still is more worried about charity. He is taking it upon himself to look out for her and at his first sing in with other local Amish teens, what an angelic voice charity has and then when Clarence mentions how pretty charity is Jesse can’t help but agree. Eventually they both notice their thoughts about each other or changing because they both cannot stop doing it. Will these two unlikely people get together or will just is denial and not wanting to date be ag permanent thing? I was so excited when I got this book and was so excited to read it! I put this book top of the list I couldn’t wait and was not disappointed. I love Amish and mail order bride stories and this is sort of both an absolutely love Kathleen Fuller‘s books. She’s the author who got me in to amish stories, so thanks for that if you are looking for a truly fun book where you really don’t know if they’ll end up together you should read the courtship plan by Kathleen Fuller you will not be disappointed. There’s a lot to be said for a book where do you know pretty much how it’s going to end yet you still want to read it that’s because the journey is so worth it I love this book and can’t say enough about it a true five star read! I received this book from NetGalley and Zanderfin press but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

[Lghiggins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Things aren’t going well for Charity Raber as she looks for a job and a husband in Birch Creek. She was one of many young ladies responding to an ad that said there were a lot of young Amish men in Birch Creek looking for wives. Charity is thin with bright red hair and more freckles than can be counted. Because of a difficult family background, she comes across as…odd. She is too eager, her speech is unfiltered, and she just doesn’t know how to act around her peers. She was even set up with a date as a prank by one brother fooling another. She escapes more embarrassment by moving to Marigold where she is hired as a caregiver to Shirley, a kind English woman. To her dismay, just as she is adjusting well, one of the brothers moves in next door.

Charity wants love and sets out to get a husband with the aid of library books that hold some pretty bad advice and lead Charity into some situations that are very funny. The interactions between Shirley and Charity with their neighbor Jesse are the basis of a good story that is mostly not a fairy tale romance. A fun addition is Shirley’s escape artist dog Monroe. A serious complication is Charity’s relationship with her father and stepmother.

Love and forgiveness are strong themes that move forward an interesting story. Charity is a complicated character with a complicated background. She is the underdog protagonist that you will root for, but a happy ending seems difficult to achieve.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Nicki Rhode keck · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very light, heartwarming, feel-good boo with some comic relief thrown in. I loved Charity, her quirkiness, and I loved Jesse's forthrightness. I can relate to Charity. She feels like no one cares about her and that she is worthless. Only to find that there are people that really do, but either don't know it yet or don't know how to show it. It makes her doubt it at first when people do genuinely care and genuinely show it.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are there a lot of people out there who read books about the Amish but who are not Amish (or religious for that matter)? It is so refreshing to read a book featuring characters who are pure of heart if not actions. Charity and Jesse are characters that will linger in my soul long after the last page is read. They are adorable and relatable as is the story line - somehow.

[Cheri Swalwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love, love, love Amish fiction and I love Kathleen Fuller as an author of Amish fiction. This book was wonderful. I was hooked from the beginning and fell in love with the characters almost immediately. Great topics and great ending. I'm still smiling. Definitely will be telling my friends about this book!

[Katie Brohard · Rating 5 out of 5]

She took two characters I didn't even like and had me cracking up for 8 whole hours. It was just as good the second read through!

[Pam Graber · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Courtship Plan is book one in Kathleen Fuller's "Amish of Marigold" series, but it brings back characters that were introduced in her Amish Mail-Order Brides series, and in her Birch Creek series, so it feels like visiting old friends!

Charity Raber is nearly desperate to marry, unfortunately, her desperation scares almost every man she encounters. She arrived in Birch Creek a few years back after seeing a newspaper advertisement stating that the bachelors of the town were looking for brides. She had no idea that she would be one of MANY who showed up, and that the number of bachelors in the town was extremely exaggerated. Her one and only date at the time, was set up by one of the Bontrager brothers as a joke on their brother, Jesse. Deciding she needs to implement a courtship plan if she ever hopes to land a husband, she checks out a stack of relationship books from the library and begins writing out her plan. She didn't count on the first bachelor she meets in Marigold being Jesse Bontrager.

Jesse Bontrager never met a practical joke he wouldn't pull, until the biggest one he pulled succeeded far beyond his wildest imaginings. All he wanted was to get his brothers off his back by getting them brides. He had no idea his one little ad would end up with women swarming his little town, hungry for husbands, and making him fair game as well. It seems fortuitous then when he lands a job apprenticing in a buggy shop in Marigold, until he learns that his new next-door neighbor is Charity Raber. He remembers (with some shame) the way he treated her the last time they met - on a date his brother tricked him into - and doesn't want to get involved with her again. Too bad her employer's dog won't stop visiting Jesse, making Charity chase him, and too bad Charity can't seem to stop making embarrassing blunders that Jesse needs to extract her from.

I loved this story! I remembered Charity from Love in Plain Sight, and remembered thinking, "She is scary desperate to get married!" Her back story, told in this book, makes her a whole lot more sympathetic as a character. Her desperation is more about love and acceptance than it is about finding a husband, and it's when she finally gives up her single-minded focus that she begins to see her errors.

Readers who love a hefty dose of humor in their romance stories will love The Courtship Plan. I giggled often, but my heart also broke for Charity's life experiences. I absolutely recommend this one!

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Courtship Plan by Kathleen Fuller is a cute story. Charity Raber arrives in Birth Creek, Ohio with one goal in mind—to find a husband. Charity’s critical stepmother showed her an ad stating that bachelor’s in the town were looking for wives and then she pushed her out the door. Unfortunately, Charity has no success in finding a suitor. Her hopes rise when she is set up on a lunch date with Jesse Bontrager. It turned out to be nothing more than a cruel prank. A year later, Charity is serving as a companion to a kind English woman near Marigold. Charity still wishes to marry and has come up with a courtship plan. Jesse takes a new job and moves in next door to Charity. Jesse learns of Charity’s plan. He is afraid that Charity will end up making a fool of herself. Jesse has gotten to know Charity and he does not want to see her feelings hurt. I laughed often while reading The Courtship Plan. The author created great characters. I enjoyed getting to know Jesse, Charity, and Shirley Pearson. Shirley is the older woman who is Charity’s employer. I loved Monroe, Shirley’s dog. I believe Monroe was Houdini in a previous life. Monroe’s antics had me chuckling. Charity is quirky character. Her mouth had no filter. Charity has a big heart. She is aware of her failings thanks to her disparaging stepmother. Jesse is a kindhearted man. He is looking forward to peace and quiet in his new home (he comes from a large, noisy family). Jesse did not count on the gregarious Charity or an escape artist dog. The romance moved along at a gentle pace which suited the story and characters. The faith elements include forgiveness, prayer, God’s plan for our lives, and God’s timing. There is a good life lesson in this story. The importance of taking responsibility for our actions and making things right (no matter how much time has passed). I enjoyed the first An Amish of Marigold Novel, and I am looking forward to the next book in the series. The Courtship Plan is an entertaining tale with an upsetting prank, a foolproof plan, an escapee pooch, a convivial family, and a gentle God.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Someone (Jesse Bontrager) put an ad in the newspaper in Birch Creek, Ohio that bachelors were looking for wives. He thought it was funny. Well...many single women came expecting to find husbands. A few did. Some did not, and left quite disappointed. Charity Raber was one of those women who came in hopes of finding a husband.
Charity is red headed, tons of freckles and speaks before thinking. She desperately needed to find someone to love her. Her mother passed away when she was very young. Then, her grandmother passed away. Her father remarried soon after to a woman that seems to detest Charity. Her father is distant.
She was to have a date with Jesse Bontrager, which did not work out at all.
Charity did not find love or a husband in Birch Creek. She went back home to her father's house very upset.
A year later, Charity has found work in Marigold as the caretaker for an elderly English woma, Shirley. Charity is quite happy there. But...she soon realizes that Jesse is also now in Marigold working not far from where Charity lives. Due to circumstances, they continue to meet.
Charity is prepared this time to find a husband. She has gone to the library and checked out books and is faithfully following the advice. The things she says and does is quite humorous! Shirley is unable to talk her out of her plan.
I always enjoy Kathleen Fuller's books and I just loved this story! It is the sweetest love story every!
I was given an advanced ecopy by the publisher, Zondervan, through Net Galley. I was not required to leave a positive review.

[Kati · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best Kathleen Fuller books I have read.

Charity has been always considered the odd one. With her boyish figure, freckles, and carrot-red hair, she looks unique, and her blunt, clumsy, often rude and unpredictable behavior leaves people speechless. But Charity is used to being different and feeling unwanted by her family and her community. A prank date with Jesse Bontrager ends horribly before it even has a chance to begin, and, ashamed, Charity flees to live and work in another community away from people who know her.

But not for long. Jesse ends up living and working right next door to Charity who is putting together a rather ludicrous step-by-step plan to snag a husband. Although it is none of Jesse's business, he cannot just watch Charity make a fool of herself with her plan. As he is trying to help her, their on and off friendship leads them to realize a lot of truths about themselves, their past, and present. A story that starts out as humorous turns serious, sad, and then beautiful.

Among many things that I liked in this story, I believe my favorite was the maturing process both Jesse and Charity went through. Both young people had a lot of soul searching, apologizing, forgiving, and trusting to do. In this book, I was super happy to encounter Micha and Priscilla again - my favorite couple I met in Fuller's novella A Lesson on Love.

This book is without a doubt one of my best-loved Amish stories - clean, funny, and romantic with likable and memorable characters.

[Dali Castillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved It!

Kathleen Fuller has such a way with her story telling that immediately draws you in. She also has characters that you connect with right from the start. You either love them, dislike them or go on a love/dislike roller coaster ride with how you feel about them. Such was the case with The Courtship Plan.

When I first met Charity Raber, she had me riding the roller coaster of like and dislike. However, her quirkiness and sincerity pulled me over to the like side, as did her courtship plan. When she began putting her plan in motion I found myself laughing out loud more than once. Charity was quite sure her plan was foolproof, but Jesse Bontrager thought otherwise. It was a good thing that he was there to save her from herself and her plan. And that's when things got even more interesting and drew me deeper into Charity and Jesse's story.

I absolutely loved this story! It made me laugh and it made me cry. It also had an element that touched me deeply because of how applicable it is to every day life. It has to do with taking responsibility, making things right no matter how much time has passed and forgiveness. That along with the romance, humor, great characters and the twists and turns of Charity and Jesse's journey made this amazing story a definite must read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book. All comments and opinions are strictly my own.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I read: The Courtship Plan by Kathleen Fuller

Why I picked it up: I’ve read and loved Kathleen Fuller before, so I requested this on NetGalley. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

How I read it: On e-arc from NetGally in less than 24 hours.

What it’s about: Charity moved to a town because she saw an ad in the paper advertising lots of single men who were looking for Brides. Turns out it was actually a prank of a teenager for his brothers. Now she’s trying to navigate life as an adult (she’s just 18 or 19) and turns out the guy who snubbed her last is her new neighbor. There’s a lot of learning on both of their parts as they navigate what a relationship could look like together.

What I liked: There are a lot of couples and families introduced. This seems like it’s going to be a series, so I’ll be delighted to return back to those characters.

What I disliked: They are so young – some of their drama is just teen angst, and it got old. I don’t know that this is a YA book, but I’m classifying it there.

Genre: Chaste love story, amish fiction, small town, young adult.

Rating & Recommendation: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and sure – amish fiction is a delight and this falls right into that category.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charity moved to Birch Creek with high hopes of finding her happily-ever-after after reading an ad claiming that the town needed wives for their abundance of single men. After taking an aggressive approach to finding a husband that failed, a disappointed Charity moved to another town and began formulating a new plan for catching a man. Jesse feels bad for his secret joke of advertising that his hometown was in need of brides for its single men. Even though the joke made several marriages possible, there have been a lot of disappointed women and ironically, Jesse has no desire to get married anytime soon. When Jesse takes a new job and moves next door to Charity, he remembers Charity with her over-the-top efforts to snag a husband, feels partially responsible, and wants to save her from further humiliation. The Courtship Plan was such a pleasure to read. I laughed and cried and learned to care for and have empathy for a character whose actions were offensive initially. And the unexpected romance made the story even better. Highly recommend! I received an advance copy from NetGalley and the publisher and this voluntary review contains my honest opinions.

[Victoria (hotcocoaandbooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I seem to have a habit of reading books out of order. I read the 3rd book, which worked as a stand-alone anyway, but this is the first book. Here I am backtracking to read the rest of the series in the correct order.

This book was about a very outspoken and daring Amish woman named Charity who is ready to just go out and get a man. She wants to get married and fast. She knows that Jesse is very popular, and she wants to ask him out on a date on the spot when he enters a diner. She instead gets humiliated and moves away, only for Jesse to show up and being involved in her life more than ever. She really doesn't want to have to see him and he doesn't really want to see her either, but he starts to enjoy her company. You know how that can go. Charity is in a mindset to make up a plan in order to gain dates and she even tries to tell Jesse about her plan, while making herself look a little more embarrassed when they go to singings and such. I actually loved the honesty, but the stubborn attitudes in this drive me crazy. These head games people play is insane haha. It was fun. I liked the third book a lot more, but maybe the second book is even better than that. It was cute.

[Michelle Rhoden · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading Charity and Jesse’s story. Follow along as Charity comes up with a plan to snag a husband, but unfortunately, it keeps backfiring. Jesse, on the other hand, begins to see Charity trying hard to snag a “husband prospects” and will usually stop her before she does something foolish. It was interesting to see how this plan plays out and Kathleen Fuller did an excellent job in keeping my attention with her book.

All words and opinions are my own. I was given a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher for my honest review. I enjoyed reading about how a young woman is determined to defy the odds and follow her dream of becoming a veterinary surgeon despite all the obstacles that were in her way. Very encouraging book that showed even the most unique dreams can come true if you are persistent especially during the late 1800’s and early 1900’s and how much time has changed since then.

All words and opinions are my own. I was given a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher for my honest review.

[DianeLikesToRead · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Kathleen Fuller did it again! Another heartwarming novel that shows us that God’s plan may not always be our plan.
We first meet Charity Raber in Birch Creek, in An Amish Mail Order Bride series. Charity went to Birch Creek to find a husband and she was a little desperate. She was also downright mean to the other prospective brides, especially Katherine, from “Love in Plain Sight”.
Charity decides to get a new start so she moves to Marigold. She moves next door to Priscilla and Micah, who we met in “An Amish Schoolroom”. Charity and Jesse both go on self discoveries. You can’t give your love to anyone until you love yourself.
I love how Kathleen Fuller weaves in characters from Birch Creek. I know Jesse, Charity and Monroe will pop up again in her books!!
I’m looking forward to the next installment in this series. Many thanks to the author, Zondervan and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

READ THIS IF YOU
Like Amish fiction
Enjoy dating mayhem
Believe God is in control

[Sherry Greene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another delightful book by Kathleen Fuller. I enjoyed this because we see some of the characters from her former books that take place in Birch Creek.

Charity Raber moves to Birch Creek as many other Amish women have done to answer an advertisement to find a husband among many Amish men who are looking for wives. Charity is desperate to find a husband. So desperate that she tends to scare everyone away. Deciding she needs a new start, she moves to Marigold. She is a now works for an English woman and has decided she will concoct a plan to get a husband. She is horrified when a former young man she knew in Birch Creek moves next door. They both want nothing to do with each other, but circumstances seem to keep bringing them together.

The is a lot of laughter, yet empathy for Charity’s situation. Truly, only God knows how this will work out as they find out that His ways are not always our ways. You will definitely want to read this book.

Thanks to Zondervan and NetGalley for the complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed are my own.