Member Reviews

Now, I really do want to own a Quilt. The thought and love put into making one is just amazing. That's how a good book makes one feel.
It's the joy in the simple and mundane things of life that endeared this book to me. The joy of family, the excitement and longing with a love interest was the climax of this story.

Highly recommended.

I received a copy of this book and this is my honest opinion.

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One of the Amish traditions that has always fascinated me is the quilting bee. This trio of sweet stories by best selling authors Amy Clipston, Kathleen Fuller, and Shelley Sheperd Gray centers around this tradition as well as finding love. Patchwork Promises: When Colin Zook and his beloved grandmother lose everything in a fire, the most devastating loss by far is a family heirloom quilt that had helped keep her dementia at bay. As soon as Joanne Lapp hears about the loss, she decides to recreate the quilt. It doesn't take long before Colin finds himself developing feelings for Joanne, but he doesn't say anything because he knows that a future with him would include caring for his grandmother and his farm. Will Joanne be willing to look past the list of responsibilities and love him for who he is? Amy has a real knack for writing sweet, relatable, perfectly imperfect characters. I really enjoyed Colin and Joanne's story and thought that she was very sweet for wanting to help Colin and his grandmother. I am glad that Joanne was able to see that Colin's caring for his grandmother is very much a positive trait and says a lot about who he is as a person. A Common Thread by Kathleen Fuller: Susie Glick is returning from a shopping trip having purchased beautiful fabric for her quilting group when Alex Lehman sits down next to her on the bus. She had had a crush on Alex three years ago but he had left Middlefield to explore the country. He's returned now and is ready to join the church. Susie was just a child when Alex left but she's grown up now and has definitely caught Alex's eye. The women in Susie's quilting circle are convinced that Alex will leave again, seeking adventure. Susie is sure that they're wrong, but soon after they start dating, Alex tells her he has to leave. He says he will be back but it's up to Susie to decide if she can trust the man she fears has captured her heart. Shelley writes a sweet story about second chances and how it can be difficult to trust that someone has grown and learned from their past. Stitched Together by Shelley Shepherd Gray: Rosie has been looking forward to her yearly project for the Pinecraft Mennonite Quilt Sale and she dreams of being the top earner. She is a bit worried that she may have bitten off more than she can chew with her latest project. To make her life even more confusing, after she had finally come to terms with being single, she has recently formed a friendship with Tim Christner. He's only in town for a month, but Rosie is wondering if she may have found love. Now all she has to do is figure out how to get her quilt finished so she can concentrate on getting to know Tim. Rosie is forced to reexamine her priorities before she loses both her spot in the quilting show but risks losing everything she's ever wanted. Shelley Shepherd Gray wrote a sweet, easy read about keeping your priorities in line and about making choices in life. I really enjoyed reading Tim and Rosie's story.

I received a copy of An Amish Quilting Bee in exchange for an honest review. This has not affected the content of my review.

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This book contains three different novellas by three different authors. I loved each and every one of them. They are all set around a quilting theme and some romance. I loved the characters and the story lines. Each story was very well written. That I found myself reading faster to find out what was going to happen next. I love it when a book does that to a reader. I would definitely recommend this book to others.

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Fantastic collection of three Amish stories all related to quilting and quilting bees. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found it difficult to put down. I would suggest this book to anyone looking to read clean romance with Amish elements.

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Three Amish couples find love in this heartwarming novella collection.

Patchwork Promises by Amy Clipston
When Joanne learns that Colin's grandmother who lost everything in a recent fire has been having trouble sleeping without her heirloom quilt, she offers to replicate it. A charming novella, Joanne has a big heart for others, and I liked that she was patient with Colin and didn't pass judgment on him too quickly.

A Common Thread by Kathleen Fuller
Alex returns to his hometown and Amish community after years of fulfilling his dreams of travel. He and Susie quickly hit it off, but the rest of the community aren't so sure about him and his intentions. A cute story, I liked the moments of humor woven in, as well as their growing relationship.

Stitched Together by Shelley Shepherd Gray
Rosie has been working hard on her submission for the annual quilt competition and charity, but so many things seem to be working against her, from impromptu babysitting to the handsome missionary who has come to visit. A sweet story about love in the midst of chaos. Tim is a patient and understanding man, I liked how he and Rosie got to know each other, working to keep 4 yo twins out of trouble!

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

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An Amish Quilting Bee contains three stories that all have a quilt as an important part of the story. Patchwork Promises by Amy Clipston is the story of Colin Zook and Joanne Lapp. Colin and his grandmother are the only family they have left. After a fire destroys their home, Colin is also dealing with his grandmother's advancing dementia. When Joanne hears that she is distraught about the loss of her family heirloom quilt, she recreates it. She also spends time with them to help wherever she can. As they spend time together, they begin to develop feelings for one another, but both of them are sure the other does not share their feelings. 'A Common Thread' by Kathleen Fuller introduces us to Susie Glick and Alex Miller. Susie is on the bus returning from a shopping trip to purchase quilt materials, when she ends up sitting next to Alex. They share a conversation with one another and become friendly. Alex left Middlefield to travel and after three years, he has returned, ready to be baptized and take his place in the Amish Community. As Susie becomes interested in Alex, her family and friends in her quilting circle try to discourage her, sure that he is going to leave once again. Susie is convinced they’re wrong, but just as they start dating, Alex tells Susie he has to leave, but saying he will return. Can Susie trust him to come back to her? Stitched Together by Shelley Shepard Gray is Rosie's story. She is a wonderful quilter who is hoping to create a gorgeous quilt for the Pine Craft Mennonite Quilt Sale. It is a very difficult and complicated quilt that needs a lot of time and attention. When her sister ends up in the hospital, she has to help her family with their two children. At the same time her brother-in-law's brother comes to town and stays to help the family as well. Rosie and Tim begin to develop a relationship with each other, but the quilt and the children get in the way. Rosie gets angry when things happen to the quilt, until she begins to realize what is really important.

I really enjoyed this book and all three stories it contained. The three authors are all very well known in the Amish Fiction/Romance genre and they did not disappoint with this anthology. There were frustrations, anxiety, self-reflection, family love and romance in each story that was sweet and emotional. I often find novellas lack a detailed plot and storyline, but all three of these stories gave me an well-written and plotted story with great character development. If you enjoy Amish Romance, especially with family relationships, then I recommend this one. The quilting storyline is a nice bonus.

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a) Patchwork promises - Amy Clipston
Colin lives with her grandmother. she has dementia and after the fire distroyed their house, she has trouble to sleep. she asks her handmade quilt, unfortunately burned.
Colin has his hands full caring for his grandmother, making chores in the house, running a farm.
He is convinced the community forgot about him and his grandmother, but is it true? Has he ask help?
b) A common thread - Kathleen Fuller
Alex comes home in Middlefield after some years around the world.
"He wasn't confused about joining the church or leaving the Yankee life behind".
c) Stitched together - Shelley Shephard Gray
Rosie lives alone with an hamster, Butch, owns the most successful sewing shop in the area.
I have an hamster too, he's sweet and keep me company, love him! nice story.

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3 Amazing stories of hope, Joy and peace in the lives of the characters. Each Author pulls the reader into the book. I could not put down and you won't either. You will not be disappointed

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An Amish Quilting Bee is such a wonderful and cozy read! I always enjoy reading books by Amy, Kathleen, and Shelley and this one was so good. I loved the stories and the characters and felt like I was right there with them.

Thank you NetGalley and Zondervan for this ARC!

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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.

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I loved An Amish Quilting Bee! Here's my review:

Patchwork Promises

I absolutely loved Patchwork Promises by Amy Clipston! I have been a big fan of Ms. Clipston’s work for years and when I found out she wrote for the anthology, An Amish Quilting Bee, I knew I had to read the book! Patchwork Promises tells the story of Colin and Joanne. Colin has lost his parents during his growing up years and recently lost his house in a fire, all while taking care of his grandmother who has Dementia. After Colin’s house is rebuilt, he feels his Amish Community has abandoned him in his time of need. Most nights, since the fire happened, Colin’s grandmother has cried out for her favorite quilt that was lost in the fire and her Dementia seems to be getting worse. When Joanne finds out about Colin’s situation, she goes on a mission to recreate Colin’s grandmother’s quilt and to be there for Colin, encouraging him and letting him know the Amish community has not abandoned him. In the midst of everything, Colin and Joanne begin falling in love.

I loved Patchwork Promises from beginning to end. I loved Colin’s admiration and dedication to his grandmother. I could understand and feel the gravity of the weight he carried and could see how he felt abandoned by the Amish Community. I also loved Joanne’s dedication and perseverance in getting the quilt made as precisely as she could, in hopes to give Colin’s grandmother peace of mind and Colin some much needed rest. I love that Joanne never gave up in helping Colin’s grandmother and how Joanne’s family all pitched in to help Colin where they could. Patchwork Promises is a sweet story of love, dedication, and community.

A Common Thread

I loved A Common Thread by Kathleen Fuller from the first page. A Common Thread tells the story of Susie and Alex. Susie and Alex reunite on a bus home–Susie traveling back home from a trip to buy quilting supplies from the next town over, and Alex from traveling the US for a few years before committing to the Amish Church. As they are traveling home, both realize they are not the same people that they were when they last saw one another. Alex and Susie start to fall for each other (or in Susie’s case, the feelings never left to begin with). Alex and Susie face a lot of obstacles as their feelings start to blossom. Alex struggles with feeling that no one will accept him after taking a break from the Amish Community before committing to it. Susie struggles with her mother preventing Susie’s relationship with Alex.

I love the characters of Susie and Alex and their personalities! Susie and Alex made A Common Thread a sweet read by how they fought in their own way through growth and perseverance to not only have a relationship with each other, but to be the people God meant for them to be. I love how Alex fell for Susie’s sweet and quiet nature and saw Susie for who she is as a person when it seemed that very few did. I loved how Susie’s shyness came across the pages. I sympathized with Susie’s obligation of being a dutiful daughter and not always feeling like you have the freedom to do what you feel in your heart that you should do. I love the ending of the story (no spoilers) and how it matched up with the beginning of the story, bringing the story full circle and giving the story closure. A Common Thread is a sweet story of accepting people for who they are, forgiving their past, and seeing who they are and taking a chance on the future.

Stitched Together

Shelley Shepard Gray is one of my go-to Amish Fiction authors. When I found out that Ms. Gray also wrote a story for An Amish Quilting Bee, I couldn’t wait to read her story! Ms. Gray wrote the story Stitched Together for An Amish Quilting Bee. Stitched Together tells the story of Rosie and Tim in Pinecraft, Florida. (I love Amish stories set in Florida!) Tim is an Amish Missionary who has recently returned to the States, after being out of the country, to help out his brother’s family in Florida. Rosie is a single Amish woman, who runs a quilt shop and teaches quilting classes in the community. Rosie also competes in quilting competitions. Tim’s brother is married to Rosie’s sister. At the time of Tim’s visit, Rosie’s sister, Bethany, is pregnant with her third child. Bethany and her husband often call upon Rosie and Tim to help watch their twin daughters (who can be rowdy at times). If Rosie’s plate isn’t already full enough, she is also tasked with showing Tim around Pinecraft. In between helping with her nieces and showing Tim around town, she is trying her best to complete a quilt for a competition that she hopes to win. During all of life’s craziness, Tim and Rosie fall in love. (Un)fortunately, life comes to a head for Rosie when her quilt for the competition gets ruined, teaching everyone important lessons unique to them.

I love how Rosie and Tim seemed like night and day at times. Tim has an easy-going approach to life while Rosie seems to thrive on structure and organization. It was nice to see Rosie and Tim’s bond flow and strengthen. I loved how Ms. Gray described the nieces because they added a humorous and fun element to the story. I loved how Tim and Rosie went with whatever was put on their plate and the lessons they both learned from it–especially Rosie. Stitched Together is a sweet story of acceptance, being thankful, and finding a contentment about life that only comes from God.

An Amish Quilting Bee (as a whole)

I loved how the theme of quilting is threaded through the entire anthology of An Amish Quilting Bee. I loved how all three stories were a light read that brought out important lessons. I love how I was drawn into each story and how I was able to escape into it. If you are looking for a sweet read to escape into, then I highly recommend An Amish Quilting Bee by Amy Clipston, Kathleen Fuller, and Shelley Shepard Gray!

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read this book! (My review is also on Goodreads and my blog, Leslie's Library Escape.)

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I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed above are entirely my own.

Phew it was down to the deadline with this one!

I think the first of the stories was probably my favourite. The quilt Joanne was making for Colin's granny was described so vividly I felt like I could just see it. It was the story that drew me in the most, and I really enjoyed it.

The second one gosh I felt awful for Susie. I understand her mum had some heartbreaks too but I'm glad they worked things out.

The third, I was expecting to love the most (Shelley is one of my favourite Amish fiction authors) but it felt the weakest to me. Maybe it would have benefitted more from being a longer fleshed out book, letting things develop, instead of a shrot story.

Overall I enjoyed the three stories, and it made me want to actually get to my stash of fabric!

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I love Amish fiction and this book didn’t fail to disappoint. A lot of love, twists, and surprises led to a satisfying end.

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An Amish Quilting Bee is filled with three short stories that are absolutely wonderful! Each author’s story was well-written, had great character development and really hit the sweet spot. I loved all of the stories in this book and would definitely read more by each author.

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An Amish Quilting Bee is a three story novella written by three very talented authors. Each of these authors have written Amish fiction for many years. Their stories always make the reader feel as if they are a part of the story. Each character is well developed and the reader can definitely relate to them. Each of the stories in this book revolved around a quilting theme. I love when authors center stories using typical lifestyle occurrences in the characters communities. Quilting has always interested me so the stories made me keep turning the pages to find out more. I thank Netgalley for an advanced copy. A review was not required.

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An Amish Quilting Bee is a collection of three sweet Amish stories. These stories include:
Patchwork Promises by Amy Clipston
A Common Thread by Kathleen Fuller
Stitched Together by Shelley Shepard Gray
If I had to pick a favorite, it would have to be Kathleen Fuller's A Common Thread. I recommend this book to those who enjoy short, sweet and clean Amish romance. Four stars.

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An enjoyable novella collection. Some of the stories were okay, the one that stood out to me the most was penned by Ms. Gray. Overall, well worth the read.

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Grab your favorite quilt , a mug of tea and snuggle up for these delightful stories by three wonderful Amish story writing authors.
These are perfect for when you don't have time to devote to reading a whole book , there are three novella length stories here that are so enjoyable to read.
These stories have a common thread and it is sewing/quilt making. I enjoyed reading how the characters came together in each story and helped the others through their actions that are faith filled.
There is kindness and understanding when an older woman has dementia in one of the stories. In another a woman has a change of heart when she sees things aren't as she had assumed they would be. In another a second chance at romance is a possibility but romance is always give and take. Faith filled stories I will read again.

Pub Date 07 Dec 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

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Story 1: my thoughts: this was a sweet romance featuring a quilter and a milk farmer who lost everything he owned except for his grandmother dash not that he owns her. Grandma this morning her heirlooms quilt which burned in the fire. She can't sleep and cries all night which keeps our hero like so it's up to Johanna to save the day if she can recreate a quilt that she had never seen. There was no passion in the story and it was rather flat what films of Amy clipston shook love the story.



My thoughts the story was my favorite story in the park Miss gray has the ability to bring the characters to life and I enjoyed getting to know both of the main characters. Pinecraft Florida this a fun place to visit via book. It's nice to read about Amish in a different environment.


I enjoyed all three stories in this book but especially the last one. If you are a fan of romance involving the Amish you will love this book. This book make a great gift for somebody this Christmas. I was given a copy for you and all opinions are my own

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Three stories about Amish women make up the contents of this book. In each story, quilts or quilting play a prominent role. In the first story titled Patchwork Promises, Joanne creates a replacement quilt for an elderly lady, and finds an attraction to her grandson. In the second story, A Common Thread, Susie, a young Amish woman, finds herself in the company of a man for whom she carries a secret crush. Eager to warm the fires of their friendship, past secrets and troubles threaten to mar their relationship. In Stitched Together, the final story, Rosie struggles to finish a quilt for a contest and auction. Although she is a talented quilter, circumstances conspire to stand in her way.

Each story contains a romantic thread, as well as thoughtful details about the Amish culture. The characters are realistic, confronting problems of dementia, grief, and shyness. The fine qualities of each woman are highlighted in the stories. The settings differ,but serve as appropriate backdrops for the action in each story. Readers who enjoy a clean read, without strong language or descriptive intimacy, will empathize with the characters, and will find these stories to be a welcome addition to the repertoire of literature about Amish people.

I received this book from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

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