Article and Interview by Elise Cooper
An Amish Country Reunion by Patricia Johns centers around two people and one very special dog. The heroine, Trooper Genevieve Austin, arrives at the State Police K9 Training Center. She learns that she’ll be reporting to her former partner, Sergeant Scott Simpson who was not just her partner but her best friend. Gen hasn’t seen Scott since he ghosted her to protect his job. And after her own struggles to climb the ranks, she can sympathize. Scott is on track to move up and a K9 partner won’t be part of that new job. The problem is Benji, his working dog, won’t work with another trainer, and he will be cut from the program. Now with Gen and Scott’s new working relationship there are some bumps in the road as they navigate their relationship, their feelings, their goals, and their unresolved issues. There are Amish in the story, but on the fringes of the mystery.
Her Pretend Amish Beau delves into what it is like for widowed parents to want to be involved with a relationship, but concerned how that would affect their children. Delia Swarey has four sons and a flower farm. But that doesn’t stop her boys from rejecting every potential suitor. And widowed dad Elias Lehman is in the same boat with his daughter Violet. They hope that pretending to court each other will teach their children about opening their hearts and being receptive to their parents having a relationship. Delia and Elias, school mates, get reacquainted and realize they each could use the other’s help regarding their children’s closed hearts. A plan for a fake courtship is hatched. Neither Delia nor Elias is ready for a new relationship yet, so no feelings will take root, or so they think.
Both stories delve into human emotions, needs, wants, and desires.
Elise Cooper: Idea for the story for An Amish Country Reunion?
Patricia Johns: It started with a trope. I wanted the hero to be the boss over the heroine.
EC: How would you describe Genevieve Austin?
PJ: She is wise-cracking, funny, and someone who speaks her mind. Because of her having trouble with her job she is frustrated, feels humiliated, and insubordinate. Overall, she is tough, intuitive, but vulnerable. Having a rich father, she is used to her life being easy. Now her ex-partner is put in a position of authority over her because of her insubordination. She is not a team player.
EC: How about the hero, Scott?
PJ: He is a political animal, seems to put his career first, yet he is caring, protective, and loyal. He is trying to be careful with his feelings because he messed up in the past with a co-worker. Now he is trying to not repeat those mistakes. He has a bit of a control issue.
EC: What about their relationship?
PJ: They are not just starting out and both know what they could lose if they go with their feelings for each other. They do not want to throw their career away for a relationship even though they are both attracted to each other. He respects and admires her. They know each other incredibly well having worked together as partners in the past. They have a close connection and can finish each other’s sentence.
EC: What role does the German Shepherd Benji play?
PJ: He was a symbol for Gen and Scott’s relationship. The dog version of what Gen and Scott are struggling with, the heart wants what the heart wants. Just like Gen, Benji likes to do things his own way, work with Scott, and is talented, smart, with good instincts. I put in this book quote, “Scott has issues with boundaries with a partner in the field,” whether Gen or Benji. In all facets they are each other’s kryptonite.
EC: What about the relationship with her dad?
PJ: He wants to protect her and, in some ways, wants to control her. His heart is in the right place because he wants to keep her safe. He should not meddle in her career. Her father is a powerful man who is used to dictate what should happen. This made her less safe because she does not have the experience to handle situations. Gen does not want to cut off the relationship but is trying to sort things out.
EC: What is the role of the Amish?
PJ: There is a mystery of this local missing expensive watch owned by an Amish man. One of his wife’s Amish best friends took it. The Amish women gave Gen relationship advice as she and Scott try to find the missing watch. In this book the Amish are characters that enhance the mystery.
EC: The next book, Her Pretend Amish Beau, will there be a spin-off?
PJ: I was not planning on writing other books regarding these Amish children. I do not think it will happen.
EC: How would you describe the heroine, Delia?
PJ: She is a protective mother. She is gentle, kind, funny, vulnerable, and insightful.
EC: What about the hero, Elias?
PJ: He is charming, gentle, thoughtful, and a good single dad.
EC: What about the relationship?
PJ: They are both looking for companionship but do not see it with each other. They are part of the “early in life widowed club.” They want their children to be an important part of any relationship. They are honest and direct with each other. They were friends when they were teenagers, but their lives went in different directions. They think they are bonding together to teach each of their children a life lesson.
EC: How would you describe Elias’ daughter, Violet?
PJ: Rebellious, likes to flaunt the rules, and is angry over losing her mother. She is thinking that she will never find a romantic relationship in her Amish community. Remember, with the Amish a lot of the romance is behind closed doors. They are not demonstrative in front of the children. Romance has not played out in front of her, so she concludes romance does not exist.
EC: What about the children of Delia?
PJ: She wants her boys to have adventure but be safe. She never wants to break their spirits but wants a life of her own. The oldest son, Ezekiel, is bossy, someone who wants to take charge, stern, and never wants his mom to get hurt. Thomas is distrusting about his mom able to know someone else’s character and is sensitive. Aaron is direct. Moses thinks and reacts like a child, never hiding his feelings. All her sons want to protect their mom. They will never trust another man to take as good a care of her as they can. She knows they love her. Delia tells them that she is the adult in the room, and they should not worry about protecting her, she needs to worry about protecting them.
EC: What about your next books?
PJ: Amish Sleigh Bells is a Christmas story, wrapping up this mini-series. It comes out in November. Lydia has a matchmaker trying to find her a husband. She is in a Conservative Amish community while there is a vet who is Beachy Amish, a more liberal community. They get to know each other.
Grave Amish Secrets comes out in February 2025 and has suspense. It is a cold case story.
Green Pastures is coming out in March 2025. A woman leaves the Amish faith and becomes a vet. She is a divorced woman who comes back to the Amish faith. It is a women’s fiction/romance story.
EC: THANK YOU!!
