Review: The Amish Quiltmaker's Unexpected Baby by Jennifer Beckstrand

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

In the first in an engaging new series, an Amish quiltmaker moves from Pennsylvania to a new settlement in Colorado, where adventure, challenges, and love are waiting . . .

Esther Zook is starting over after her father’s death, piecing together a new life with as much as care as she puts into her intricate quilts. When her wayward sister abandons her baby, it throws all those plans for a fresh start asunder. Esther had accepted her status as an old maid—but a mother? And a single one, at that? Not that she hasn’t noticed Levi Kiem, the eligible young man who’s making repairs in her house. Yet he surely has no interest in Esther as anything other than a friend . . .

It’s true that Levi has plenty of marriage prospects. His dat has even offered to send him to Ohio to find a wife. Yet the more time he spends with Esther, the more intrigued he becomes. Feisty and independent, he’s nothing like the wife he once imagined for himself. Yet just as a quilt is crafted from contrasting cloth, they might find that together, they can create a family to cherish . . .

My Review

I love how absolutely vibrant this author's characters are! Esther is strong and independent, but the new challenge of caring for her sister's baby brings all her frustrations and insecurities to the surface. Levi was in the right place at the right time to come to her aid, and I loved seeing his friendship with Esther develop and how his opinion of her shifted. I think my favorite mannerism of Esther's was her tendency to throw and attack things in order to work out her rage and anger. It's definitely not what a person thinks a typical Amish reaction would be! The situation she finds herself in is very realistic, with conflicting emotions of love and resentment for her sister. Her quilting friends are full of personality and an important source of support for Esther. I was glued to the pages as Esther's life and future takes a complete 180 and Levi get taken along for the ride. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series!

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

 

The next book in The Amish Quiltmaker series releases June 29th and is available for preorder!