Do you love to take a trip to Amish country and get lost in a sweet romance?
Sometimes, it’s just the thing I need to brighten my day or give me a little faith.
If you like clean, wholesome romance with religious themes and inspirational messages, then you’ll love our picks for the best Amish romance novels below…
Amish Cooking Class - The Celebration
Heidi Troyer hosts cooking classes from her home every other weekend to share her Amish recipes. But what Heidi could never expect is the variety of people she’ll meet at her class that need guidance, love, and a little bit of hope.
The class becomes a place for a troubled veteran, a widower, a single mother, a widow, and a young teacher to all come together in attempts to heal and find comfort.
Read if you’re a fan of
- inspirational romance
- and scripture reference.
Every character in this story is unique and make a delightful group that comes together beautifully and unexpectedly.
The story delves into very realistic human experiences, and teaches important lessons throughout about forgiveness and faith.
The Imposter (The Bishop's Family Book #1): A Novel
Katrina Stoltzfus is depressed after she’s dumped by the love of her life. Her father David moves her and her siblings to Stoney Ridge, where he’ll be involved with the church.
Katrina agrees to help a widow run her small business where she meets farm hand Andy Miller. There’s an undeniable attraction between them but Katrina is not willing to get her heart broken again.
Meanwhile, there’s secrets that threaten to rock the peaceful community of Stoney Ridge.
If you like
- multiple characters and storylines
- twists and turns
- and stories about community
then look no further!
The book is completely captivating, with a story not just about one person but about an entire community and how they react when they found out they’ve been deceived.
There’s romance, laugh out loud moments, and endearing characters that’ll keep you flipping pages rapidly.
A Love Made New (An Amish of Birch Creek Novel Book 3)
Abigail Shrock wants to find love just like her sisters and everyone else in Birch Creek, but a recent heartbreak has her feeling hopeless and insecure.
Asa Bontrager has his fair share of women to pick from in town, so when God tells him to pursue Abigail, who shows absolutely no interest in said pursuit, he’s confused.
Will Abigail open her heart up to Asa and allow God to guide her towards a life of love and comfort?
Read to find out, especially if you like
- pious heroes
- curvy heroines
- and stories about family.
The chemistry between Asa and Abigail is wonderful and sweet. Abigail is a relatable heroine who is grieving the loss of her love and uses food as a coping mechanism.
Watching her learn to love herself with Asa is beautiful!
A Plain Leaving (The Sisters of Lancaster County Book #1)
When Jessica Bachman was twenty years old, she left the Amish community due to conflict with the new bishop. She left behind her two sisters, and Silas Kemp who had been courting her for years.
Three years later, Jessica returns home for her father’s funeral. Many feelings from the past come flooding back, especially when she sees Silas again.
Learning about her ancestor in the Revolutionary War, Jessica reflects on her life and her choices, wondering what her next steps should be towards finding peace and happiness.
Read if you like
- Revolutionary War period pieces
- emotional stories
- and strong heroines.
An unexpected blend of settings works wonderfully in this book, as the author focuses on Jessica in Amish country and her ancestor Ruby from the Revolutionary War.
Both timelines are compelling and the story overall does a great job with themes including grief, sorrow, healing, and love.
Home All Along (The Amish Secrets Novels Book 3)
Charlotte, an Englisher, is in love with Daniel, an Amish man. They’ve made a life for themselves in Amish country, but Charlotte is seen as a threat by the community for being an Englisher in Amish country.
Daniel wants to be with Charlotte, even if that means abandoning his Amish way of life.
But when life deals both Daniel and Charlotte a bad hand, including a death, unexpected visitors, and a sick family member, it seems their relationship may not outlast the trials and tribulations.
Read to find out what happens, especially if you like
- Inspirational romance
- twists and turns
- and Christian family values.
This beautiful love story is provoking and enchanting. There are real life situations that are touched upon with authenticity and heart.
Phoebe's Light (Nantucket Legacy Book #1)
Phoebe Starbuck has decided to live for herself and not for her father, prompting her decision to sail away from Nantucket with her future-husband Captain Phineas Foulger.
Her father sends her on her journey with two things- a journal from her great grandmother and a cooper Matthew Macy to watch over her and the ship.
When Phoebe finds life at sea to be lonely, she opens to journal to find there are family secrets that could rock the boat for her, the Captain, and even the cooper. Phoebe begins to see her life from a totally new perspective.
If you like
- colonial-era romance
- Quaker romance
- and stories within stories
then get your copy of this book today!
If you’re ready to be completely captivated by masterful storytelling, then this is the book you need to read.
The author does a fantastic job writing historical fiction, believable characters, surprising plot twists, and thought-provoking themes.
The Amish Twins: Amish Romance (The Amish of Pride Book 1)
Sarah Martin is a widowed Amish woman with a baby who has an unrequited love for Eli Yoder. Sarah grieves the tragic deaths of her family yet still yearns for Eli, who has just returned to Pride, Ohio after the death of his wife.
When two infant twins are abandoned and taken in by Sarah and Miriam Martin, Eli lends a helping hand. Sarah finally has Eli in her life, but will romance surface under the weight of all their grief and pain?
Read to find out, especially if you like
- wholesome romance
- slow burn romance
- and stories about widows and widowers.
This book was a page-turner, as you can’t help but read quickly to find out the fate of both Sarah and Eli and the abandoned twins Sarah has become guardian for.
The story is thought-provoking, heartfelt, and does a great job covering topics like grief, guilt, and healing.
What You Need to Know about Amish Romance
Not everyone is familiar with the Amish romance genre. Thus, we have compiled essential details for those new to it.
1. What is Amish romance?
Amish romance is a subgenre of literature, particularly Christian fiction. Given the term, the main characters involve one of the Amish, known for their traditional Christian faith and conservative living.
Most protagonists of Amish romance titles are Amish women, and most Amish authors are also women. Writers often characterize people of the Amish faith as slow to adapt to the advancements of modern times, such as technology.
2. Does this genre have a lot of readers?
You may be surprised if you’ve only heard of Amish romance today, but yes, publishers, particularly Christian publishing houses, find the genre lucrative.
The first of these Christian romance novels saw publication in 1997, which attracted a lot of Amish romance readers. The genre has more than 100 titles, with a sales record of over 24 million books. The most successful Amish Romance writers include Cindy Woodsmall, Beverly Lewis, and Wandra Brunstetter.
3. What expectations should I have about this genre or trope?
It’s okay to expect the usual romance plotlines in Amish fiction. However, note that despite the presence of tender heroes, there are no sexual encounters as it is part of Christian fiction.
A usual storyline involves an Amish character from an average family meeting a non-Amish person. The conflict consists in pursuing the relationship and seeking the approval of the Amish community, even Church leaders.
Amish Romance readers love these inspired plot lines dubbing them “inspirationals” or “bonnet rippers.” Note that most writers of this genre are not Amish, though they have spent time with Amish people.
Moreover, Valerie Zercher, a scholar of this genre, notes that there are three main elements of Amish romance stories:
- Precise details about rural life and setting
- Heterosexual relationships, usually chaste romance
- Piousness towards the evangelical
No wonder many see and call Amish novels “clean romance books.”
4. Since they’re considered “clean” romance books, what are some examples of situations?
These situations include characters having an adorable baby girl (or lots of babies) but no sex details. It is also not uncommon to see plotlines that say there should be no physical contact between two people yet to have a wedding.
Also, because most Amish novels happen in rural settings, female characters often tend to be unsteady around buggies (a.k.a. buggy accident) on farms, with the male suitor often steadying the woman. Such situations already create romantic tension.
Amish readers also note that they enjoy reading these books because they miss details about everyday life. Details we often overlook, such as cooking meals, turning off mobile phones, or hanging clothes outside. These readers also enjoy reading about relationships without the sexual aspect.
Try It Out
We hope these FAQs have piqued your interest if you are not yet an Amish fiction reader.
Even if it can be amusing at times to follow a character’s journey in asking out a crush only after more than 300 pages of prayer time and eating desserts together, perhaps there lies the magic and appeal of the genre. It is refreshing to see that not everything in this world, including relationships, is already fast-paced.
