I received a complimentary copy of this book from Amy Clipston, the author and was under no obligation to post a review. No compensation was received for sharing this review and all opinions are my own.
Series: An Amish Heirloom Novel #3
Published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing on November 29th 2016
Source: Amy Clipston, the author
Genres: Amish & Mennonite, Christian, Fiction, Romance
Pages: 320
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?
The Cherished Quilt is the third book in the Amish Heirloom Novel series by Amy Clipston. I don’t know why I love troubled characters so much. Maybe it’s because they’re easier to relate to than perfect people. Christopher is haunted by memories of his brother’s death. Emily wants nothing more than to help ease his pain and be his friend.
Amy is really hitting her stride as an author. Her character development just shines in her recent novels and this one is no exception. I think that this book may be my favorite addition to the Amish Heirloom collection.
There were only two things that I didn’t like about this book.
1: Christopher was able to work through his PTSD because he fell in love with Emily. I would have liked to have seen the normalization of seeking professional help. It is nothing to be ashamed of but I feel like people are afraid to talk about it.
2: The, “She didn’t know how beautiful she was” cliché was dropped once in this book. It’s a personal dislike of mine as it is so overused. This is truly the only reason this book is a 4 star instead of a 5 for me.
Aside from these two issues, this book was a lovely read. The characters are well-developed and easy to relate to. Overall, I think this is one of Amy’s best and I really can’t wait to read the next installment. Although, it is bittersweet that The Beloved Hope Chest will be the last of this series.
About Amy Clipston
Amy Clipston has been writing for as long as she can remember. Her fiction writing “career” began in elementary school when she and a close friend wrote and shared silly stories. She has a degree in communications from Virginia Wesleyan College and is a member of the Authors Guild, American Christian Fiction Writers, and Romance Writers of America. She is the author of the bestselling Kauffman Amish Bakery series with Zondervan, which is part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing. Amy lives in North Carolina with her husband, two sons, mother, and four spoiled rotten cats.
I read the first in this series and enjoyed it….hoping to read this and the other at some point