A Quilt for Jenna...Review

Amish + Quilts = readers delight! And in this first book in Patrick Craig’s Apple Creek Dreams series, readers will follow Jerusha Springer’s journey out of tragic circumstances to a new life of hope.

Jerusha has spent months making the most beautiful quilt anyone in Apple Creek, Ohio, has ever seen, and she knows it’s going to take first prize at the Quilt Fair in Dalton. The prize will be her ticket out of the Amish way of life—away from the memories of her dead daughter and her tormented husband. But on the way to the Fair, she gets caught in the Storm of The Century and Jerusha’s driver crashes their car. While the driver goes for help, Jerusha is led by someone, or something, to the side of a lost little girl. By the time the storm clears, Jerusha finds there is a greater prize to be won than money and blue ribbons.

A beautiful story of loss….and redemption.

1950 Apple Creek, Ohio.  Jerusha Springer is angry at God for her daughter's death and her husband's desertion.  She wants to walk away from the Amish life and leave it all behind.  After spending months making a beautiful quilt in memory of her daughter, Jerusha makes her way to a quilt fair, intent on winning the prize and leaving Apple Creek.  Along the way, she and her Englisch driver, Henry, are caught in a devastating snow storm.  Alone in the stranded vehicle while Henry goes for help, Jerusha is left alone with her thoughts and memories.

Told in alternating chapters and flash backs, the story surprised me in its depth.  Themes of forgiveness and redemption are strong, as are the blessings of ministering angels as you read the story of Jerusha, her husband Reuben, his best friend Bobby and others.  Jerusha isn't the only person trapped in the snow storm and another little girl figures strongly in her ability to heal and forgive.

I'm happy to know this is part of a series and I am eager for the next book.  A thoughtful, touching story and one that is easily recommended.

Thanks to First Wild Card and Harvest House Publishers for the opportunity to review this book. You can learn more about Patrick E. Craig here. You can read the first chapter here. You can purchase your own copy here.

Read 1/13

* * * *
4/5 Stars

Comments