My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it
Synopsis
Tragedy tore
Christopher’s world apart. But Emily believes there are enough pieces
left behind to stitch together a beautiful new beginning.
Emily
Fisher is eager to meet the new employee at her father’s shop in
Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania. But when Christopher Hochstetler arrives,
his cold demeanor freezes her attempts at building a friendship.
Longing
for a fresh start, Christopher travels from Ohio to Bird-in-Hand to
work at his uncle’s shop. Christopher’s heart is still wounded from
memories of home, and making new friends is the last thing on his
mind—he knows the pain that comes with losing those you love. When Emily
is kind to him, he tries to remain distant, but he soon finds himself
stealing glances at her throughout the day.
When Christopher
shares his tragic reasons for leaving home, Emily decides to make a
quilt for him as a gesture of their friendship. Even though he is not a
member of the church, she’s found someone with whom she can imagine a
future. The two are quickly falling in love when a family emergency
calls Christopher back to Ohio without warning.
Emily finishes the quilt, in spite of her pain. But when Christopher receives it, will he have the courage to follow his heart?
My Review
One
of the things I love about this series is how the sisters in this Amish
family help men who are hurting and vulnerable. And then fall in love
with them, of course ;) There is great chemistry between Emily and
Chris, and even though their friendship developed quickly, it seems they
have known each other longer since they understand and support each
other so well. Emily is a compassionate and service-minded person, and her natural instincts are to reach out and befriend Chris even when he is stand-offish. Her special care for him is balm to his wounded spirit and she gets him to open up when nobody else could, which helps start the healing process for him. I loved the strong sense of family and acceptance from the Fishers and how they envelop Chris in their circle and home. I was taken off guard by the conflict that comes between Emily and Chris, and their friendship and budding romance is put to the test as Chris must finally face important issues on his own to resolve them. I appreciated the theme that turning to God for relief from the trials we face blesses us with peace and the feeling that all will be well.
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
Don't miss the other books in the Amish Heirloom series!
Synopsis
Veronica Fisher knows
how lucky she is to be marrying her best friend. Seth Lapp is kind,
hardworking, and handsome—but most importantly, he loves Veronica.
When
an accident on the job steals Seth away from her, a heartbroken
Veronica is certain she will never love—or be loved—again. Yet when she
discovers a batch of forgotten recipes and opens a bake stand to sell
her Mammi’s raspberry pies, Veronica picks up a regular customer who gives her heart pause.
Jason
Huyard was with Seth when he lost his life—a memory that haunts him
still. So when he seeks out the grieving fiancée to convey his
condolences, the last thing he expects—or wants—is to fall in love.
Nonetheless, Jason soon finds himself visiting Veronica’s bake stand
every week . . . and it’s for more than the raspberry pies.
Now,
as Veronica’s heart thaws, Jason can’t bring himself to tell her he was
there when Seth died. Can he ever reveal where he was on the day her
life derailed? Or will his secret rob them of the second chance at love
they both want?
Synopsis
Years ago, a picnic basket brought two hearts together. For Rachel and Mike, history may be about to repeat itself.
Rachel
Fisher is devastated when the young man she’s loved for years leaves
her to date her best friend. Her heart is broken, and she has all but
given up on love. Determined to keep her mind off the pain, she starts
teaching at an Amish school for children with learning disabilities.
Since
his father became ill, Mike Lantz has been overwhelmed with the
responsibility of providing for his family and caring for his
six-year-old brother, John. When John joins Rachel’s class and she
learns that his mother is deceased and his father sick, she desperately
wants to help the family, even with something as simple as a meal.
With
her parents’ old picnic basket, Rachel begins sending food to the Lantz
family. As the weeks go by, John’s grades start to improve, and the
attraction grows between Rachel and Mike. They can’t deny that their
friendship is growing toward something more, but both of them are
hesitant to risk a more serious relationship.
The last thing
Rachel wants is another heartbreak, and Mike is worried about providing
for his loved ones. Will the two be able to reconcile their past hurts
with new hope for the future?
Synopsis
In the final
installment of the Amish Heirloom series, the Fisher sisters learn the
mystery behind their parents’ marriage—and about the sibling who has
never been spoken of.
Mattie Fisher’s three
daughters know that she’s been keeping a secret from them. With each
item pulled from the beloved family hope chest, they’ve discovered a new
clue about their mother’s past.
But there’s a reason Mattie
has been keeping her history hidden, and she’s not sure she’s ready to
reopen old wounds. Will dredging up the past change the way her children
view her? Or her marriage to their father? And can she handle the pain
of revisiting the memories that preceded the last few happy decades?
Mattie’s
story is one of grief and learning to love again. But like the best
things preserved in a hope chest, it's a story of love and redemption
born out of heartache—and it's past time to share it.
