Becoming Bea by Leslie Gould

No compensation was received for this review. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family. A complimentary review copy was provided to me.
I recently had the chance to read the latest book from Leslie Gould - Becoming Bea. This book is the 4th in The Courtships of Lancaster County, but the first that I read. Jumping in in the middle of the series was not an issue, as the author did a great job of providing back story as needed.

Bea and Ben had known each other since they were in school and as scholars, there was always a competition between them. They had courted briefly, but something had brought that to an end. This really hit home for me, as there was a guy that I went to school with that I was always competing with and even had a crush on at one point. I never dated the guy from school, but used to wonder what if. I really like how the author developed the lead characters because it made them easy to relate to. Like many young adults, finding herself in a new environment helps Bea learn things that she didn't know about herself and overcome fears that she had. This learning helps her become a more confident and slower to react to things around her. Of course, if you want to find out more about Bea, what she learns and what happens, reading the story is the best way.

As with much of the Amish fiction that I have read, the fact that the characters are Amish seems to be more of a component of the background or scenery, nuances in the story. The story transcends their faith and could be about anyone, anywhere.

I enjoyed reading this book by Leslie Gould and plan to read her other books - perhaps starting with the earlier books in the series, to learn even more about some of the characters that I met in Becoming Bea.

About the book: Can Bea and Ben Turn Rivalry Into Romance?

Beatrice Zook knows God wants her to learn patience toward others. When assisting a family overwhelmed by triplets proves surprisingly successful, her confidence in dealing with others, both young and old, grows.

One person she'll never be able to find peace with though is Ben Rupp. They've known each other forever, and Ben understands precisely how to antagonize her. What neither she nor Ben will admit is that beneath all their bickering, attraction awaits. When friends decide to try and bring the couple together, will the pair be able to find true love? Or will they damage their relationship beyond repair?

Purchase a copy here.

About the author: Leslie Gould is the coauthor, with Mindy Starns Clark, of the #1 CBA bestseller The Amish Midwife, a 2012 Christy Award winner; ECPA bestseller Courting Cate, first in the Courtships of Lancaster County series; and Beyond the Blue, winner of the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice for Best Inspirational Novel, 2006. She holds an MFA in creative writing from Portland State University and has taught fiction writing at Multnomah University as an adjunct professor. She and her familyl live in Portland, Oregon.

Find Leslie online: website, Facebook, and Twitter

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No compensation was received for this review. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family. A complimentary review copy was provided to me.