Falling for the Amish Rival by Virginia Wise
Series: Sisters of Stonybrook Farm – Book 2
Publisher: Love Inspired
Publication Date: January 27, 2026
Genres: Amish Romance | Holiday Romance
Pages: 203
Source: author
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On the farm, they’re enemies…
On paper, they’re falling in love.

Amanda Stoltzfus would love to get married, but most Amish men aren’t interested in a woman who prefers farmwork to housework. Good thing her secret pen pal L.D. values her for who she is, unlike Amanda’s snarky rival, the irritating new goat farmer, David Troyer. But when Amanda arranges a long-anticipated meeting with her pen pal, she discovers it’s David! Soon they find themselves locked in a battle that will make or break the future of both their farms. Can they set aside their rivalry and look beyond the surface to find their perfect match?

My Review and Reflections

Oh, my gosh! Oh, my gosh! Oh, my gosh! This is one of those books that sneaks up on you and suddenly has you feeling everything at once. I kept thinking I would read just one more chapter, only to find myself far more invested than planned and wishing my workday would pause so I could keep reading.

What I Loved About These Characters

The fact that Amanda and David were secret pen pals and couldn’t recognize each other is so fun. This makes their first interaction so odd and strange. And it wasn’t that easy for them to figure out because they both signed with initials that were abbreviations for a nickname. And when the family finds out about the whole secret pen pal situation and them not knowing each other, let the laughter begin. That hidden connection adds another layer to what is already an enemies to more romance, letting emotional closeness develop long before either one is willing to admit what is really happening.

The women in this family sure do protest too much! I can’t stop smiling at Amanda’s behavior toward David. The thinly veiled anger isn’t fooling anyone. Amanda’s pride gets the best of her. Sometimes she realizes it and is quick to admonish herself, and other times she just doesn’t see it. It’s a trial for her because her faith calls her to be humble. This self worth was tied up in the fact that she really is an excellent goat farmer and knows much about the animals. However, this puts Amanda in a very nontraditional role in a very traditional community. It makes her feel that she has to prove herself at every turn and, at the same time, like she was pushing herself further and further away from the husband and children she also desired.

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“She so badly wanted to enjoy keeping house. Life would be so much easier if she could. There would be plenty of suitors, then a house full of babies, if she were just willing to swallow her dreams and be someone other than herself.” p. 51

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David sees himself as a failure. He believes this makes him unworthy of love. He’s ashamed of his circumstances and that he struggles to support himself and his family. David’s descriptions of Amanda are sweet and endearing. Well, not all of them. He compared her emotional state to that of a snake more than once. The endearing thoughts make me want to reach out and hug him. You know, since Amanda won’t. He wanted to follow God’s will but also was scared that His will wasn’t his will. I think many of us have been there. Both Amanda and David are wrestling with identity, pride, and worth, making faith and spiritual growth central to their journey rather than something that sits quietly in the background.

Reflections on Amish Life and Faith

I really like all of the sisters and their brother Benjamin. I was happy to see that Amanda was smitten with someone who was strong in the Amish faith because, so far, she is the first one in the family who hasn’t had to reel someone back into the fold. It really fit with Amanda’s feelings about Amish men and her perceived expectations of what they want.

Once again, Virginia really calls me to take a look at how I live my life and what I can learn from the Amish. The discussion about Englischers wanting to stand out and outdo one another really resonated with me. At work, on the internet, it seems like it’s always happening, and all that can do is lead to feelings of inadequacy. Clearly the Amish aren’t perfect in this regard, or Amanda wouldn’t be battling this at every turn, but things like Instagram only intensify those feelings. That is why the Amish do so much to be similar to one another in the way they dress, occupation, and even down to the color of their homes.

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“As she drew closer, the buggy blocked the sun, and his face suddenly came into view. Something slow and terrible registered in her brain. Her chest constricted. She could not quite believe it for a moment.

The man beside the buggy was David. Her rival.” p. 62

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Although some of the Amish details are just plain fun and not necessarily life altering, I especially enjoy seeing how Amish decorate. I know that most people believe that they don’t do that at all, but if they use something that is both practical and has a purpose and that also has a decorative function, it works beautifully. Like quilt racks, gardens, and patchwork quilt placemats.

Why You Might Enjoy This Book

There is so much here for readers who appreciate faith woven naturally into romance. Watching Amanda wrestle with humility and David confront his sense of failure made me think about how easily self worth can become tied to performance rather than faith. The story leans into spiritual growth, healing, and obedience, and by the end, I was left with a renewed reminder that trusting God often means releasing our need to measure up.