Sunday, November 9, 2014

Book Review: "An Amish Christmas Quilt" by Charlotte Hubbard, Kelly Long, and Jennifer Beckstrand

Netgalley gave me an eBook Advance Reader Copy of "An Amish Quilt" in order for me to be able to review it.

"An Amish Christmas Quilt" is made up of three novellas all set in Amish communities at Christmas time with each having a quilt worked into the story.

Novella #1: "A Willow Ridge Christmas Pageant" by Charlotte Hubbard.  Mary Kauffman comes to Willow Ridge to spend time with her Aunt Miriam and Uncle Ben after the death of her husband.   When she passes out along side the road in front of Seth Brenneman's woodworking shop, he rushes to help.  Afterwards, he plans on getting back to life as it was, but finds himself drawn to the young mother, her newborn son, and two step children.  Will they find the light while performing in a live Nativity?

I really liked "A Willow Ridge Christmas Pageant" and wanted Seth and Mary to get together as much as the people in Willow Ridge did.  I liked the pacing of the story and it flowed together nicely.

Novella #2: "A Christmas on Ice Mountain" by Kelly Long.  Laurel Lapp and Matthew Beider have been secretly courting and wish to be married, but their fathers have a long standing grudge and aren't talking to each other.  How can they bring their families together so that they can finally be together?

"A Christmas on Ice Mountain" shows how a small misunderstanding can grow into a big chasm that is nearly impossible to repair and how God can do the impossible.  This story has some "fade to black" type scenes like on their wedding night.  It shows the lead up and then it "fades to black" and doesn't describe what they are doing, but you know.

Novella #3: "A Perfect Amish Christmas" by Jennifer Beckstrand.  Anna Helmuth decides that Dottie Schrock would be the perfect match for their grandson Gideon Stutzman and writes a letter to get him to spend Christmas in Bonduel near them instead of in Mexico with his parents.   Dottie Schrock is trying to make this Christmas perfect for her Mamm who missed Christmas due to being diagnosed with cancer starting with a party.  She feels the only one able to pull it off is herself, so when Gid shows up the day of the party, she sees him as the cocky, adventuresome teen from the last time she saw him.  Can she learn to rely on others for the perfect Christmas?

I have also read "Huckleberry Summer" by Jennifer Beckstrand and enjoyed that one as well.  I have "Huckleberry Christmas" to read and "A Perfect Amish Christmas" takes place during the same time as it does.  "A Perfect Amish Christmas" mentions the couple Anna is trying to match in "Huckleberry Christmas" and the outcome.  It doesn't tell how they got to the outcome, but it isn't really much of a spoiler, because Anna always makes her match!

  • File Size: 905 KB
  • Print Length: 288 pages
  • Publisher: Kensington Books (October 28, 2014)
  • Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B00JVW6H5U

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