Three charming stories of cozy quilting circles and budding romance
Patchwork Promises by Amy Clipston
When Colin Zook and his beloved grandmother lose everything in a fire, their greatest loss is a beloved family heirloom quilt that helped keep her dementia at bay. When Joanne Lapp hears about the loss, she decides to re-create the quilt. Colin soon feels himself developing feelings for her, but he’s held back by the knowledge that a future with him would involve care of his grandmother and his farm. Will Joanne look past his list of responsibilities and see him for who he truly is?
A Common Thread by Kathleen Fuller
Susie Glick returns from a shopping trip laden with beautiful fabric for her quilting group. On the bus ride, Alex Lehman—her crush from three years ago—sits next to her. Alex left Middlefield to explore the country, and now he’s back and ready to join the church. Susie was just a kid when he left, but now she’s a woman—and she definitely has his interest. The women in her quilting circle aren’t as excited about Alex’s return, assuming that he’ll leave again in search of adventure. Susie is convinced they’re wrong, but just as they start dating, Alex tells Susie he has to leave. He says he’ll return, but Susie must decide whether or not she can trust the man she fears has captured her heart.
Stitched Together by Shelley Shepard Gray
Rosie’s joy is her yearly project for the Pinecraft Mennonite Quilt Sale, and she dreams of being the top earner. But she’s worried that she’s bitten off more than she can chew with her latest entry. To make things even more confusing, after coming to terms with her single state, she’s recently formed a friendship with Tim Christner. He’s only in town for a month, but he has Rosie wondering if she’s found love at last. Now all she has to do is figure out how to get the quilt done so she can concentrate on him. But with her once very organized life in total disarray, everything comes to a head just before the sale. Rosie is forced to reexamine her priorities before she loses not only her place in the quilt show but everything else she’s ever wanted.
Amy Clipston is the award-winning and bestselling author of the Kauffman Amish Bakery, Hearts of Lancaster Grand Hotel, Amish Heirloom, Amish Homestead, and Amish Marketplace series. Her novels have hit multiple bestseller lists including CBD, CBA, and ECPA. Amy holds a degree in communication from Virginia Wesleyan University and works full-time for the City of Charlotte, NC. Amy lives in North Carolina with her husband, two sons, and four spoiled rotten cats.
With over a million copies sold, Kathleen Fuller is the USA TODAY bestselling author of several bestselling novels, including the Hearts of Middlefield novels, the Middlefield Family novels, the Amish of Birch Creek series, and the Amish Letters series as well as a middle-grade Amish series, the Mysteries of Middlefield.
Shelley Shepard Gray is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time HOLT Medallion winner. She lives in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town's bike trail.
View all my reviews
Patchwork Promises by Amy Clipston
When Colin Zook and his beloved grandmother lose everything in a fire, their greatest loss is a beloved family heirloom quilt that helped keep her dementia at bay. When Joanne Lapp hears about the loss, she decides to re-create the quilt. Colin soon feels himself developing feelings for her, but he’s held back by the knowledge that a future with him would involve care of his grandmother and his farm. Will Joanne look past his list of responsibilities and see him for who he truly is?
A Common Thread by Kathleen Fuller
Susie Glick returns from a shopping trip laden with beautiful fabric for her quilting group. On the bus ride, Alex Lehman—her crush from three years ago—sits next to her. Alex left Middlefield to explore the country, and now he’s back and ready to join the church. Susie was just a kid when he left, but now she’s a woman—and she definitely has his interest. The women in her quilting circle aren’t as excited about Alex’s return, assuming that he’ll leave again in search of adventure. Susie is convinced they’re wrong, but just as they start dating, Alex tells Susie he has to leave. He says he’ll return, but Susie must decide whether or not she can trust the man she fears has captured her heart.
Stitched Together by Shelley Shepard Gray
Rosie’s joy is her yearly project for the Pinecraft Mennonite Quilt Sale, and she dreams of being the top earner. But she’s worried that she’s bitten off more than she can chew with her latest entry. To make things even more confusing, after coming to terms with her single state, she’s recently formed a friendship with Tim Christner. He’s only in town for a month, but he has Rosie wondering if she’s found love at last. Now all she has to do is figure out how to get the quilt done so she can concentrate on him. But with her once very organized life in total disarray, everything comes to a head just before the sale. Rosie is forced to reexamine her priorities before she loses not only her place in the quilt show but everything else she’s ever wanted.
MY THOUGHTS.....
An Amish Quilting Bee is a collection of three novellas by Amy Clipston, Kathleen Fuller, and Shelley Shepard Gray, and reading each story is a delightful way to end the holiday season. All three stories center around quilts and Amish life, but above all, they are a testament to the power of love!
The first novella is Patchwork Promises, and Clipston proves her ability to place readers right there in the story! I loved Colin Zook's love and dedication as he cared for his grandmother who is suffering dementia, and I admired that Joanne Lapp wanted to help him in his efforts. Will Joanne succeed in making a quilt that will help soothe his Mammi? Better yet, will the friendship between Joanne and Colin turn into something even more precious?
Author Kathleen Fuller explores all of the emotions associated with losing your first love and then having that person turn up out of the blue. Will Susie's romantic feelings resurface, or will her family's doubts about Alex overrule those emotions? A Common Thread is a sweet, second-chance story that focuses on trust, hope, and forgiveness.
Stitched Together is the final novella, and Shelley Shepard Gray raises some thought-provoking questions. Rosie Raber finds herself overextended, as she tries to complete a special quilt, care for her pregnant sister's family, and perhaps find time to spend with a young man who is visiting Pinecraft for a short period. Gray made me feel all of the frustration and guilt that Rosie experienced as she yearned for 'me time'. I know that we are taught to serve our fellow man, but when is it okay to draw the line, and finally say "No"?
Yes, these novellas are fiction, but they share so many truths, and pose so many questions about faith, family, and friendship. Having these three exceptional authors together in one collection is a treat, and I recommend An Amish Quilting Bee to all who enjoy Amish fiction and Christian romance.
I received a complimentary copy of this book, but there was no obligation for a favorable review. I am voluntarily sharing my own thoughts.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The first novella is Patchwork Promises, and Clipston proves her ability to place readers right there in the story! I loved Colin Zook's love and dedication as he cared for his grandmother who is suffering dementia, and I admired that Joanne Lapp wanted to help him in his efforts. Will Joanne succeed in making a quilt that will help soothe his Mammi? Better yet, will the friendship between Joanne and Colin turn into something even more precious?
Author Kathleen Fuller explores all of the emotions associated with losing your first love and then having that person turn up out of the blue. Will Susie's romantic feelings resurface, or will her family's doubts about Alex overrule those emotions? A Common Thread is a sweet, second-chance story that focuses on trust, hope, and forgiveness.
Stitched Together is the final novella, and Shelley Shepard Gray raises some thought-provoking questions. Rosie Raber finds herself overextended, as she tries to complete a special quilt, care for her pregnant sister's family, and perhaps find time to spend with a young man who is visiting Pinecraft for a short period. Gray made me feel all of the frustration and guilt that Rosie experienced as she yearned for 'me time'. I know that we are taught to serve our fellow man, but when is it okay to draw the line, and finally say "No"?
Yes, these novellas are fiction, but they share so many truths, and pose so many questions about faith, family, and friendship. Having these three exceptional authors together in one collection is a treat, and I recommend An Amish Quilting Bee to all who enjoy Amish fiction and Christian romance.
I received a complimentary copy of this book, but there was no obligation for a favorable review. I am voluntarily sharing my own thoughts.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Amy Clipston is the award-winning and bestselling author of the Kauffman Amish Bakery, Hearts of Lancaster Grand Hotel, Amish Heirloom, Amish Homestead, and Amish Marketplace series. Her novels have hit multiple bestseller lists including CBD, CBA, and ECPA. Amy holds a degree in communication from Virginia Wesleyan University and works full-time for the City of Charlotte, NC. Amy lives in North Carolina with her husband, two sons, and four spoiled rotten cats.
With over a million copies sold, Kathleen Fuller is the USA TODAY bestselling author of several bestselling novels, including the Hearts of Middlefield novels, the Middlefield Family novels, the Amish of Birch Creek series, and the Amish Letters series as well as a middle-grade Amish series, the Mysteries of Middlefield.
Shelley Shepard Gray is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time HOLT Medallion winner. She lives in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town's bike trail.
No comments:
Post a Comment