I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. I was able to find the audio version through my library app and so I listened to the book.
The novel.was okay. I kind of didn't feel a connection to the main female character. I just found her annoying and selfish really. I didn't really like the male character either but I like him better than I did her. I found the whole situation just weird and off. I was raised in a town where we had tons of Amish families living around us and just by talking to them I just don't see them acting like this etc.
The story is a very easy read and if you like the Amish romance stories you will like this book. I also didn't like the age difference with the main female being 5/6/ years older than the male character. Just seemed off and silly.

Esther Zook would be considered an old maid in Amish standards. She had several good reasons. Her mother died and she took care of her father in his illness and because of her younger sister Lily. Lily had jumped the fence when she was 18 and ran away with a boy. Esther was left to clean up the emotional mess that she had left her family. With the death of her father and the money he had left her, she is now moving to a Amish community in Colorado where a well known quiltmaker lives. Nannah Kiem. has invited Esther to live in a Colorado and found a small house for her live. Esther is a quiltmaker herself and with all that she has dealt with the past finds quiltmaking therapeutic and a way to make money for herself. However, everything changes when Lily her long last sister comes to visit her in Colorado and leaves her infant Winnie because she cannot take care of her. Esther is left with the responsibility that should be Lily's. She is not good with babies that it is very comical. It gets better when Levi Kiem doing a bath remodel for Esther steps up to help her. Their friendship over Winnie is very endearing that leads them to connection with complications.

I found this Amish romance to be well rounded in humor, likable characters, and life lessons. One being the relationship Esther had with her sister. She was faced with the truth that her sister was very controlling and Esther had to chose losing herself or a good desire. The hard choices in life can be death to our souls if we are not careful. Highly recommended.

A special thank you to Kensington Books and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review

Most of this book read like a romantic comedy and, even though I don't know if it was supposed to, it was a joy to read.
However, I have one problem with this book that makes me not give it a higher rating. I feel like a very serious question was treated like it was nothing. See, when the baby you want to adopt is going to be put in a dangerous situation, living with possibly an abusive man, deciding to "be yourself fully" is not a good enough reason to let said child be in that place. If you can avoid that situation, even if you live a worse life, you do it for the sake of the baby. You may, of course, try to improve your situation but not at the cost of the little girl well-being. And I can't get over that.
In conclusion, this book was good for the most part but be aware that if you don't deal well with child neglect and possible abuse, this may not be for you.
I'm going to give a chance to the next book in the series because I got an ARC of it ages ago and I don't think it will present the problems this one has.

The Amish Quiltmaker’s Unexpected Baby by Jennifer Beckstrand is book one in her Amish Quiltmaker series.

Jennifer Beckstrand is a master of Amish fiction, and she continues her success here. The plot is different and compelling. I connected with these characters. They are believable. This is a 5 out of 5 star read, and I recommend it to all readers of Christian romance.

My thanks to Kensington Books, Zebra, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.

This was a delightful Amish tale. It is full of surprises, inspiration, mystery, action, romance, and even humor. Author Jennifer Beckstrand’s knowledge of the Amish is apparent by the way she tells stories. I have learned about about their culture from her books.

The characters in this book are wonderful. They are well rounded and so likable that I wanted to be friends. A few were so irritating that I actually spoke to them as I read! (LOL) I enjoyed the unique store of Esther having her sister’s baby and how she received help.

I highly recommend this beautiful Amish tale. It gets 5 stars from me. A copy was provided by Net Galley but these are my honest words.

This was a fun and inspirational Amish romance. I loved that Esther knew very little about how to take care of a baby once her sister left her niece with her. Levi is a great character that is helpful, handy and great with babies. This is a great story. I look forward to reading many more books by this author. This was funny and inspirational. I received a copy of this book from Netgalley for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

Love this book. I love Esther's spunk and humor. She is one who makes think about your own life. Levi is the type of person that I would want as a friend. Always there and finding humor in things Esther says or does. A story about working together, and forgiving past hurts.

This is an Amish Fiction, and this is the first book in the Amish Quiltmaker series. WOW... I have to say I did not think I would love this book as much as I did. I know I would like it, but I cannot put into words how much I loved this book. This book pulled me in from the first page, and I did not want to stop reading it. I loved the characters, and I felt like the characters where real. The storyline was really good. I felt this was a really well written book that had great development. There was hard times, fun times, and sad times in this book. I feel like this book show real life having a newborn, and that it takes a lot of people to take care of a baby. I think this book also shows that you can love and hate family all at the same time. I know this book is not going to be for everyone, and this is not the normal sweet Amish fiction story. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Zebra Books) or author (Jennifer Beckstrand) via NetGalley, so I can give honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

Esther's life is turned upside down when her estranged sister drops off her infant daughter on Esther's doorstep.

At thirty Esther is considered a spinster, and she knows little about caring for a baby. She is determined to make the best out of the situation, I loved how the women of the community befriend her and help her to deal with both Winnie and her sister Ivy. Esther is creative but orderly, she takes pride in her work, and has a stubborn streak that adds to her charm.

Engaging from the very beginning this is a charming romantic comedy with a great plot, and well written characters. I especially liked the banter between Levi and Esther as they work together. Levi is a wonderful friend and he is there for Esther when she needs him, and though things don't always go as planned, his heart is always in the right place.

Overall, a quick read, with characters that you can cheer for all the way through. I liked that Esther is a little older, and how that comes into play throughout the story. A engaging story of faith, friendship, family, and love that will bring a smile to your face!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Esther is starting over after her father's death. She is making a new life with moving from Pennsylvania to Colorado.
A lot of adventure and challenges wait for her. She puts her life into making quilts.
Her wayward sister comes to her house and leaves her baby. It throws all plans for a fresh start out.
She doesn't even know how to diaper a baby.
Levi is making repairs to her house. His dat is planning on sending him to Ohio to find a wife.
Easter is nothing like a wife he would want. She is independent and has got a bad temper.
When the baby starts crying he picked her up. He seams like the fatherly type but didn't have a beard so wasn't married.
He watched the baby and told Esther how to do the repairs on the bathroom.
They end up married and raised the baby.

The Amish Quiltmaker



My Review:
Jennifer Beckstrand has given us a wonderful story that’s filled with humor, faith, and compassion. Esther Zook is a delightful Amish character. She’s strong, spunky, and has quite a temper. She doesn’t hesitate to speak her mind and is determined to find a way to solve every problem. She’s also tender hearted, compassionate, and beloved by her friends. However, she has absolutely no idea how to care for a baby. When her sister abandons her baby at Esther’s home, this would seem to be an insurmountable problem for her. But Levi Kiem takes pity on Esther and offers help based on his experience in caring for his younger siblings. The events that happen next for Esther and Levi are filled with both laughter and heartache. But Esther’s strong faith keeps her moving forward in the right direction and shows that even when things seem impossible, God has a plan. I’m looking forward to more books in this series, and hoping that Esther will continue to be featured in those books.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

I truly enjoyed this start of a new series by Jennifer Beckstrand! I love Ms. Beckstrands outlook direction of The Amish community with some Englishers as part of the main characters. This was a wonderful blend of the two communities, and demonstrated very beautifully how strong relationships can be developed and valued between cultures. I realize that some Amish Communities do separate themselves more completely from their English neighbors. However, friendships do exist between the two communities that can be strong.

This book demonstrated the strength of a group of women who bond and believe in one another. They come to each other's aide when needed, and value the gifts they each have to offer. In this particular storyline, the part I found the most ironic was that two Amish women found each other (sharing a common gift) thru an internet blog! This was so cute! One of the women from The Amish community was an expert quilter (Hannah...aka Nanna), and one of her English friends helped her start a blog to teach others how to quilt. There were no pictures of the woman on the blog...just the quilts. However, she had an enormous following all over the world! This was the start of the storyline, and what the base of the story was about. However, the story quickly evolved into some very deep family struggles with a young Amish woman (Esther) who relocated to the community of The Amish quilter with the blog after communicating thru the blog (email) for many months. This relationship proved to be one of the strongest and deep relationships, and it would quite literally end up saving the young girls life in a multitude of ways.

I will absolutely be seeking more stories in this series! This book was truly fun to read!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kensington Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Amish Quiltmaker’s Unexpected Baby by Jennifer Beckstrand is the delightful beginning of The Amish Quiltmaker series. I was drawn into The Amish Quiltmaker’s Unexpected Baby from the very first page. I found myself staying up late so I could finish it (I did not want to stop reading). I thought it was well-written with engaging, developed characters. Esther Zook is thirty years old and has not been married. Her father recently passed away and left her the family farm. Selling the farm allowed Esther to get a new start in Colorado. Esther has an artistic eye and makes beautiful quilts. When her younger sister, Ivy leaves her infant daughter, Winter with her, it throws Esther into a tizzy. Esther has no experience with babies. Esther is a wonderful character. She likes to keep things behind one ear and you never know what it will be (seam ripper, carrot, chalk). The author shows a realistic view of what it is like to care for an infant (the joys and the frustrations). My favorite line from the book is, “The sound of a baby crying is the most stressful noise in the world.” Levi Kiem is a local handyman in his early twenties. He will be heading to Ohio in a few months to look for a bride since there is a lack of eligible women in their community. Levi puts his foot (and sometimes his whole leg) into his mouth on more than one occasion when chatting with Esther. I laughed often while reading this book. I loved Esther’s keen mind and her interest in learning how to renovate the bathroom. Levi kept trying to keep Esther from using his power tools (it was a losing battle). It sounded like she created a gorgeous bathroom floor. The Amish Quiltmaker’s Unexpected Baby is not all rainbows and sunshine. Esther’s sister, Ivy is a piece of work. She is a manipulative woman. We get to see, though, that there is always two sides to every story. Each person has their own perspective on a situation. Levi’s grandmother, Hannah is another great character. She is a quilter who has a blog with followers all over the world. It was interesting learning about pickleball. I had never heard of it before this book. I liked that the author had the Amish in this story doing things that I have not seen in any other Amish novel. I enjoyed reading this amusing and unique Amish novel. Jennifer Beckstrand did it again with The Amish Quiltmaker’s Unexpected Baby. I was sorry when the story ended. I am eager to read The Amish Quiltmaker’s Unruly In-Law. The Amish Quiltmaker’s Unexpected Baby is a charming Amish tale with quality quilts, a blubbering baby, a scheming sister, power tool turmoil, pickleball play, and a tile tour de force.

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Susan F
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Susan F's Reviews > The Amish Quiltmaker's Unexpected Baby

I absolutely loved this book. There is so much going on in Esther's life when she expected it to be calm and tranquil, an independent old maid existence. Along comes her self-centered sister and Esther's world explodes with diapers, a howling abandoned infant and change to all of her plans. A young man shows up on her doorstep who is able to fix things at least for awhile.
If you love an Amish impossible romance, tension, great and grand humor then you must have already read a Jennifer Beckstrand book. (I've read several and she is an awesome writer, a story teller really.)
The beautiful mess that Esther finds herself in is a believable and endearing plot with the younger man, Levi, who becomes an important part of her life. He can do house repairs like no tomorrow and knows more about caring for a baby than she can dream to.
I am thankful for my treasured copy of this book in the new Amish Quiltmaker series which was provided by the publisher and NetGalley. I love this story! That's my personal opinion. Stop wasting time reading my thoughts, Go read the book!

The Amish Quiltmaker’s Unexpected Baby was a delightful story. I loved every single page. Five plus stars.

How can a sister be so mean? Wow! I was concerned how Esther was going to handle this extremely difficult situation.



I have loved every book by Jennifer Beckstrand. This book was a little more serious in nature. I loved how the women in the community surrounded Esther with friendship and support. It is extremely important to have support systems in your life. It has been extremely difficult during Covid to keep in contact with friends and family but make the effort to do so. Reach out and contact your friends and family. You might not have any idea what they are going through and how important reaching out to them can mean to them.

This book is Book 1 of 2 of a new series called The Amish Quilt maker. I will make sure to put this on my must read shelf.



Ephesians 4:32
New International Version
32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Esther is headed to Colorado where a new Amish community was started and adventure is waiting. She is ready for making a new life where she can choose how to run her own household. Things were going along so nicely she was sure that this was where she belonged. Until... her wayward and nonconforming sister suddenly shows up with a baby and even more surprisingly, disappears without the baby! What a "what do I do now" moment! Never having been around babies Esther is totally out of her element. When her handyman sees how distraught she is he steps up and gives her some advise and a few quick lessons. This author always brings up some very unexpected and interesting ideas and I love how she brings it all together! Unexpected baby, unexpected help and yes! An unexpected romance. A favorite author I highly recommend. I requested a copy through the publisher and NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

Jennifer Beckstrand's The Amish Quiltmaker's Unexpected Baby was quite an expected success! Esther's story kept me laughing (as all JB"s books do!) and also gave me much to think about. When Esther's sister Ivy runs off, leaving her three month old child behind. she isn't sure what to do. Thirty and unmarried, she doesn't know the first thing about babies and what to do with them. When Levi comes over to work on her toilet, she begs him for help, thus starting a new friendship. But Levi is young. Too young for Esther, and he is planning to go to Ohio to find a wife. They can only be friends. At least that is what she keeps telling herself. However, they both may find more than friendship as they work together on her bathroom and as he helps her with the baby.
But, when Ivy returns, everything goes crazy. When Ivy wants to take the baby away, Esther is heartbroken. She must learn to forgive, and to love her wayward sister, just as Jesus loves us!
Thanks to #NetGalley for the chance to read this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it, as I knew I would. #Bookstagram #JenniferBeckstrand #all_the_pages

When I started this book, I was not sure what to expect. It was wonderful. I enjoyed each character and watching how their relationships developed. Esther's reaction to Winnie is priceless and also the way she deals with her frustrations. Thank goodness Levi came along when he did!! I loved this book.

First sentence: Esther Zook had four hundred and thirty-five reasons to run screaming from the house and never come back. But she wasn't really a screamer, and she'd certainly never been much of a runner.

When the novel opens, Esther Zook finds herself in a predicament. Her younger sister, Ivy, has stolen her money and left her with a young infant, Winter. Now Esther, despite being Amish, despite being thirty plus, knows absolutely nothing--N-O-T-H-I-N-G--about babies or children. So a knock on the door comes as great relief--whoever it is might know how to change a diaper. Fortunately, the knock on the door turns out to be an Amish man--a plumber--who is very good with babies. He knows what side of a baby the diaper goes on. Levi turns out to be a big part of this one--as you might expect. (Because we all know true and lasting love is just one knock away, right?! Especially when you're an old-maid spinster (by her own reckoning and the reckoning of her Amish community).

Will Esther, Levi, and baby Winter make a happy little family?! Don't expect it to be that easy. That would be like two chapters to get off that easy. No, if Esther wants a happily ever after she'll have to face plenty of obstacles to earn it.

The book is set in Colorado. Esther is newly moved to the area and still making friends. She moved there specifically to be close to her favorite Amish blogger, a fellow quilter.

I will say that while some things feel familiar about this Amish romance, it is an original journey these two go on.

It is also more than just a romance. One major element of the story is the TENSE relationship between estranged sisters Esther and Ivy.

I liked this one I did. At times it felt a little long if I'm being completely honest. I cared about the characters, but some parts of the book seemed to drag just a little.