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 Review
I love these Amish novella collections! They are perfect for the end of a busy day, when I'd like to read and finish a story quickly before falling asleep. I grew up tying quilts with my grandma, and I've loved admiring Amish quilts when visiting Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
In the first story Patchwork Promises, Joanne helps Colin by recreating his grandmothers beloved quilt, a sweet gesture of service. It took her a long time to do by herself, and I didn't understand why she didn't enlist the help of others during a quilting bee (especially since it's the theme of the collection) in order to get it done as soon as possible so the grandmother didn't have to suffer anguished nights any longer. It seemed like she wanted all the credit, and it didn't even occur to her to allow others the opportunity to serve with her.
The second story by Kathleen Fuller was my favorite. She excels at bringing depth and emotion to her stories and characters. Susie and Alex are sweet together, with an immediate attraction when they are reunited, yet both uncertain of the others' feelings. The conflict comes from Susie's mother, who has abandonment issues from when her husband left their family, and she tries to influence Susie against Alex because of his past as a wandering traveler. An unforeseen separation, letters back and forth, an intervention from the quilting ladies, and a providential reunion bring Susie and Alex together as well as heal the relationship between Susie and her mother.
The final story tests the patience of Rosie as she takes pride in her quilt entry and the admiration of others, yet learns humility through several experiences and mishaps out of her control. It was nice to see her able to let go of her expectations of perfection of herself, and learn to find joy in her relationships.
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.
