Book Review of 'The Shop Down the Lane' by Leslie Gould

Happy Thursday Bookworms!

There is nothing better than a good Amish fiction in my book. There is something that's innocent, refreshing, and makes me dream of a simpler life than the citified life that I currently reside in, and I love it!

I hope you enjoy my thoughts on this Amish Romance and don't forget to scroll to the bottom of this post and enter the amazing giveaway from JustRead Tours.

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for The Shop Down the Lane by Leslie Gould, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

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.

My Review

I always gain a nugget of inspiration when I read Amish fiction, and this one is no exception. In The Shop Down the Lane, I found hope and that things aren’t always what they seem. Lois leads a simple life, one I greatly admire, but sadly, that simplistic existence is due to her parents being gone and her having to figure out life on her own. Luckily, the Amish community flocks together, so she has a lot of support, but her loneliness is felt through the pages. Moses is driven, ambitious, and has a heart of gold, wanting to do right by himself and others. It’s crazy how much Lois and Moses have in common, but the hurts of the past and misunderstandings keep them both at arm’s length.

There are some sweet moments in this story, and it is very reminiscent of You’ve Got Mail, one of my all-time favorite movies. Though Moses and Lois are prickly towards one another, it’s clear, especially through their correspondence, that they are meant to be together, and it was so sweet to see their bumpy travels to happily ever after.

The birding letters were a favorite aspect of mine as I love when characters put pen to paper and express their thoughts through words. It’s truly poetic and something that makes my heart sing. Writing letters is truly a dying art that I wish would make a resurgence. Plus, I got to gain some knowledge on birds and birding in general.

Though there are some scenes that dragged a bit overall, I enjoyed this novel. With likable characters, picturesque imagery, and remnants of one of my favorite stories, The Shop Down the Lane is a great start to the new Letters from Lancaster County series and a read that was a sweet escape.

My Rating: ★★★★

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.

Enter Giveaway

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!