The Cherished Quilt by Amy Clipston
Also by this author: The Forgotten Recipe
Published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing on November 29th 2016
Genres: Amish & Mennonite, Christian, Fiction, Romance
Pages: 320
Format: Paperback
Goodreads
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?
As part of the Fiction Guild Elite Reader program, I’m often given some pretty amazing books to read and share with my readers. Because my mother,, Gloria, LOVES books about the Amish culture, I knew she’d be excited to read The Cherished Quilt by Amy Clipston, so I asked her to read it and share her review with you.
Here’s what Gloria had to say:
The Cherished Quilt by Amy Clipston is the third book in the Amish Heirloom Series. It can be read as a stand-alone. I had the opportunity to read the first book in this series The Forgotten Recipe but I enjoyed The Cherished Quilt more. All of the characters carry over and you feel that you know them already.
The thread that runs through Emily and Christopher’s story is handling grief and dealing with guilt. Amy Clipston brings these two characters to life and you are right there with them living in their community. You are their friend and want to give them hope that their romance will grow and blossom.
Emily is the youngest daughter in the Fisher family. She has watched her two older sisters Rachel and Veronica find their loves and now Emily wants the same for herself.
Looking for a fresh start, Christopher Hochstetler leaves his home in Sugarcreek, Ohio and comes to Bird-In-Hand, PA to stay with his Uncle Hank and Aunt Tillie to work for his Uncle Hank and Emily’s father in their leather working shop. Chris is dealing with guilt, grief and low self-esteem. He is not guilty but is blamed by his father for his younger brother Gabriel’s death. He feels that his older brother Paul is the good one and he has always been a disappointment to his Dad. Chris has nightmares always dreaming of Gabriel.
Emily is working at her father’s leather working shop when Christopher comes into work. He is so rude. Emily feels that he is in need of a friend. As she sets out to become his friend, she loses her heart to him. Emily wants to help Chris deal with his pain, hurt and to overcome his feelings that he is a failure. She wants to show him that he is a kind and gentle man. Chris admired a buggy quilt and Emily decided to make him a friendship quilt. As their friendship grows they realize that they are quickly falling in love. What are they to do—Chris has not been baptized and he cannot date Emily. Where is their relationship going? Christopher receives a call from his Mom in Ohio that there has been an emergency in the family. Chris must go home to help his only brother Paul and his family rebuild their home after a fire.
Christopher did not tell Emily he was going back to his family. She is hurt and very sad. The quilt is not quite finished, she wonders if she should finish it and mail it to him. Will Christopher come back to Bird-In-Hand, PA or stay with his family in Ohio?
This was such a beautiful story and helped me learn that we must hold on to God in our hard times. It also taught us about forgiveness. Amy’s books are excellent. I think she has a wonderful way of wrapping up the end of the story with you waiting for the beginning of the next one. I sure am waiting for The Beloved Hope Chest which is coming out soon.”
I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Elite Reader book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions expressed in this post are my own, or in this case, my mother, Gloria’s.
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