About the Book
Title: The Shop Down the Lane
Series: Letters from Lancaster County
Author: Leslie Gould
Publisher: Bethany House
Release Date: May 6, 2025
Genre: Amish Romance
Leslie Gould delights in this sweet and humorous Amish romance reminiscent of The Shop Around the Corner and You've Got Mail.
Lois Yoder has always found solace in the quiet life of Paradise, Pennsylvania, where she manages a gift shop that reflects her Amish community's simple values. Her tranquil world is upended when Moses Lantz, a former Amishman turned Mennonite and the man who broke her heart, buys the shop with ambitious plans to transform it into a tourist hub--a move that Lois fiercely opposes.
Seeking a distraction, Lois joins a bird watchers' circle letter under an alias. But unknown to her, Moses does the same at the urging of a friend. While their correspondence blossoms into a tender romance, the enmity between Lois and Moses in real life only intensifies. Can they overcome their animosity and embrace the love they've found through their letters, or will their stubborn hearts keep them apart forever?
This heartwarming Amish romance includes themes of bird watching, correspondence by letters, enemies to lovers, and family secrets for readers of Beverly Lewis, Wanda E. Brunstetter, and Shelley Shepard Gray.
EXCERPT:
As interesting as the circle letter sounded, she forced Amy’s letter and Teresa’s sheet of information back into the envelope and slipped it into her apron pocket. She had no desire to join a circle letter. After she’d moved back to Big Valley, Amy, three other friends from their days as scholars, and Lois started one. By the time the letter traveled from one member, who wrote a page, to the next, who wrote another, to the next, the whole process became painfully slow. How would it work with birding? By the time a letter came around, it would be the next season—or worse, the next year.
When she stepped back into the shop, Scotty and Moses were standing by the birch tree, looking at the birdhouses and birds.
Moses, due to his arrogance and lack of self-awareness, most likely didn’t realize he was an accidental—a bird who showed up where he shouldn’t have. Like a mangrove cuckoo in Pennsylvania.
Scotty turned. “Lois.” He stepped toward her, and she handed him the envelopes. Scotty took them and motioned toward Moses. “Moses, this is Lois Yoder. Lois, Moses Lantz.”
“Hallo,” Lois said, keeping her voice as neutral as possible. She extended her hand.
He stepped forward as if he’d never seen her before in his life. Either he was an excellent actor or a complete jerk. He was definitely a strange bird. His grip was firm and professional, as if they really were meeting for the first time.
In his deep voice, Moses said, “I’m pleased to meet you.” She forced herself not to roll her eyes.
He shifted his gaze past her to the wall and dropped her hand and stepped around her. She turned. He headed toward the bunting collage, perhaps relieved to have a distraction. “I have to have this.” Lois suppressed a groan. Not the painted bunting collage.
Moses took his wallet from the pocket of his jacket. “I’ll buy it now.”
© 2025
by Leslie Gould, Published by
Bethany House Publishers, All rights reserved.
MY REVIEW:
🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
A unique story about finding one's true self as family secrets of the past are revealed . . .
This is a story that will remain with me for a long time. The main characters are multi-dimensional individuals who are attempting to live their authentic lives even though they don't understand just how their family's history has shaped their present lives.
The author has given readers a fine gift by creating a bird watchers' circle letter group where readers can experience an insider's view at the hearts of the participants in the circle through reading their heartfelt letters. I love stories told in the epistolary mode because I believe that handwritten letters are treasures we can revisit many times.
Once she opens her heart, orphan Lois Yoder discovers many people care for her and will support her in her quest to make it on her own. She has a real gift interacting with the customers she serves at the shop down the lane where she works. She is always willing to lend a helping hand to her friends and neighbors.
Moses Lantz is a successful businessman who lost his father in an accident. Now Moses is slowly losing his beloved mother to early-onset dementia and it causes this devoted son much pain to watch his mother disappear. He is a good-hearted man, but he is impulsive and the smallest things seem to set him off.
I enjoyed this book's cover because the lovely photo of the young woman looking into the sky exudes pure joy at observing God's handiwork in nature!
The faith thread woven throughout this book is strong and works in perfect sync for this genre. The book is completely clean in language and content.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through JustRead Publicity Tours. All of my thoughts and opinions shared here are solely my own.
🪺🐦🦅🦉🕊️🦢🪺🐦🦅🦉🕊️🦢🪺
PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Bethany House | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook | Bookshop | BookBub
Also Available
About the Author
Leslie Gould is a Christy Award-winning and #1 bestselling author of more than 48 novels, including four Lancaster County Amish series. She holds a bachelor's degree in history and an MFA in creative writing. She enjoys church history, research trips, and hiking in the Pacific Northwest. She and her husband live in Portland, Oregon, and have four adult children and two grandchildren.
Connect with Leslie by visiting lesliegould.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email updates.
Tour Giveaway
(1) winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card and a print copy of The Shop Down the Lane!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight May 13, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on May 20, 2025. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
