Join three of today’s bestselling inspirational fiction authors in a collection of Christmas stories from Victorian-era America that are full of second-chance romances. Jilted by her fiancé, Karla packs away her wedding quilts and her plans for marriage. Widow Jane travels to marry a prosperous man she barely knows in order to give her daughter a better life—then is stranded in a winter storm. Ada, a wealthy ingénue, inadvertently causes grave injury to a poor man she once considered quite a catch. Each must search her heart, change her plans. . .and patch together a tender, unexpected life filled with love.
A lovely collection of historical fiction set against a variety of surroundings. I think that that there is a story in here for everyone!
— Faith Oygard
Sometimes it can be hard to find the time to read a really great Christmas story because so often we are too busy that reading a large novel be difficult. In A Patchwork Christmas by Judith Miller, Nancy Moser, and Stephanie Grace Whitson, the reader will be delighted to find three beautifully written short stories that give the reader the impression of reading a full length novel. Each is different and based in the historical late 1800's. This book is perfect for those of you wanting a taste of truly something amazing and are limited on time to complete a full length novel. Each of these three Christmas romances offer the reader something beautiful to keep the warmth of finding true love at the forefront of the holiday.
Seems Like Love by Judith Miller takes us back to Amana, Iowa to a small Amish town where we find Karla Stuke is working with her family running the town's hotel. Little did she expect to find her childhood friend, Frank Lehner to show up as a guest while working as an apothecary in training before moving to his own shoppe. Karla has found that hiding away working at the hotel keeps her from finding true love, since her own opinion of herself is quite low, considering her finace' left her for another woman. Thinking it's all based on her looks, she doesn't think that every a spark with her old friend can be ignited into anything more, but could Karla be wrong? This one is truly a fun and hopeful romance to enjoy.
A Patchwork Love by Stephanie Grace Whitson takes us back in time to find love between a war-veteran Peter Gruber who becomes a savior and hero at some point when a train finds itself stuck in the snow. Peter and his mother offer a warm food until the train can continue and he finds a young girl, Molly is ill. Since his mother is familiar with healing they offer Molly and her mom, Jane shelter until the train can move again. Jane has also injured herself in a fall and between them both, need more than just physical healing. Like Karla from the first story, Peter feels that since he has been disfigured from his service in the war that his hopes of every finding love is lost forever. Will Jane seem something more in Peter that just his external scars?
Finally in The Bridal Quilt by Nancy Moser, you find the classic love story of two people, Ada and Samuel that should be together but everything in their lives is keeping them apart. While they are dating, they are not yet engaged , and every single opportunity that presents itself, seems to turn out quite differently than what either of them was planning. In one case, she was hoping he was coming to ask her to marry him and finds out he only wants her help with finding gifts for the orphans instead. Even though his family wants Samuel to give up his charity efforts, Ada is all too willing to marry him, but it soon seems Samuel may never be ready to propose until another man appears in Ada's life. Will Samuel soon realize that the gift he's been searching for he been in front of him the whole time?
I received A Patchwork Christmas by these lovely, talent authors compliments of Barbour Publishers and Net Galley for my honest opinion. In each of these stories there is a profound message of hope and acceptance to be found, no matter what the circumstances may be. Included in all of them are discussion questions and wonderful recipes that would be an added bonus to any book club. There are also some quilting patterns for Christmas Ornaments as well for those looking for something a bit more than just a Christmas romance book!!! I rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars and think this is the perfect book for those looking for great short stories with a Christmas theme.
Review:
"A Patchwork Christmas Collection" by Judith Miller, Nancy Moser and Stephanie
Grace Whitson were three wonderful historical Christmas stories. These three authors were able to present stories and in the end the reader is treated with a bonus... with recipes and even a craft pattern that you can make that relates to something in the that particular story.
Seems Like Love was by Judith Miller was of woman who had hope of marriage and children but this was changed...Why?
A Patchwork of Love, by Stephanie Grace Whitson was about a lady and her sick daughter were headed to a better life but was this to go the way she thought it would go?
and last....
The Bridal Quilt, by Nancy Moser was of "where an accident brings two old acquaintances back together with an orphan that they rescued from a near fatal accident. Will they understand their meeting was not a coincidence?" Now, what will happen with this situation?
This is where I where I say you must pick up and read "A Patchwork Christmas Collection" by these three authors and see how amazing each and everyone of these stories are so very uplifting. Each historical story was very well written and showing romance and love even through some difficulties.
This is definitely a holiday read and I would recommend "A Patchwork Christmas Collection" to you as a excellent read.
Karla figures she will never marry after her fiancé breaks up with her but then her childhood friend returns and shows and interest in being more then friends. Can Karla over cover her pain to find a happy ever after?
Jane is a widow and she is out of money and hoping a man she boards a train to visit with her daughter will be an answer to her problems but a snowstorm strands her with a man who may steal her heart instead.
Ada is hoping to marry her beau but he suddenly changes his mind and disappears. A year later she is involved in an accident that he is injured in. Can they find their way back to each other?
This book has three short stories. They are not connected in any way other then being around the Christmas season.
What I liked: The first and third stories where my favorite and the first one about Karla was the one I liked the best. All three stories where well written.
What I did not like: Was not a big fan of the story with Jane. I just felt it seemed way to much happened in a very short period of time. Also parts of the story about Ada felt kind of unbelievable as well.
Over all this was a enjoyable short story collection and if you like historical fiction you will like these stories. It’s a easy read but each story has enough depth to keep it interesting.
rhonda1111
Posted August 24, 2012
4 STARS This three complete stories that draw your emotions. One thing I
like are at the end of the novels have reciepes,patterns and bookclub
questions. Those extras are a nice bonus to the books. Seams Like Love
by Judith Miller is about a religion I have never heard about called
Inspirationists. Karla Stuke was working at her family business the
hotel in Iowa when a new quest comes into register. It's Frank Lehner a
old child friend of hers. He has been away to become a pharmacist. Frank
is glad to be at home in the colonies again. Frank asks how her and her
husband are? He had heard she was engaged but not that her fiance broke
the engagement and married someone else. Karla has a hard time trusting
men. Frank is glad that she is still single and asks her out that night
to the ice skating like they used to. A Patchwork Love by Stephanie
Grace Whitson Jame McClure is a widow with a young girl traveling by
train to see a prosperous businessman to marry. She wants to give her
daughter a future. She has sold her house and things to pay her husband
debts that he left. She used the last of her money to pay for the ride
to the train station because her 10 year old daughter Molly was not
feeling to well. On the way into the station she fell on the ice and
hurt her knee. As the train ride goes her daughter starts coughing. A
porter gives a lot of kindness to her. He knows she can't afford to buy
anything. He gets a blanket for her daughter. When a man decided he did
not want the tea he had ordered brought it to her. When she was only one
left in car he moved her up to a better car so her daughter would be
more comfortable. Then the train got snuck in the snow. A man Peter
Gruber saw the train stuck. So Peter and his mother brought hot food to
help. When she saw Molly not feeling well said they must come home with
them and when the whistle blew Peter would bring her back. Molly got
worse but Mrs. Gruber has had some knowledge of healing and takes care
of her and they stay awhile so Molly can heal and Jane's knee can too.
Peter has so many scars on one side of his face and neck. He hides away
from them as much as possible. He got wounded in the civil war saving
others. His fiance left him because of how he looks now. Molly calls him
a good monster and makes him feel better of himself they both do. The
Bridal Quilt by Nancy Moser New York city 1889 Samuel is going out with
his friends instead of staying with his girlfriend. Ada wants him to
spend the time with him and hopes he will ask her to marry him soon.
Samuel goes with his friends want to leave thier high society roots and
go into the slums. He feels so out of place with his friends. He hears a
little girl scream and cry he rushes to see if he can help sees her
getting beat up and steps in. His friends tell him to come. Samuel
brings the little girl with him. His grandfather is apalled that he
brought her to his home. She only speaks german and plans to find her
parents next day. He tells Ada because he breaks his date. Her
grandmother speaks german. The little girl is a orphan and she was
getting beaten because she would not rob anyone. She stays at a
orphange. Samuel spends the next few weeks spending all his time and
money to help out the home once he sees the need. Ada is stuck in her
house because of quaratine. When Samuel's grandfather realizes where he
is spending his time and money they have a big fight and he looses his
inhertance, bank job and home. Samuel goes to Ada and breaks up with her
because of his choices that she would not fit in thier. A year later her
mother is hoping that Ada will be engaged this Christmas season. Ada and
her brother end up in the bad part of town Samuel lives and Ada gets out
and a little boy is going to get run over and a man rushes out and saves
him but gets hurt. Ada's brother who is studying to be a doc. goes to
help and Ada tells him to put him in the carrage and its Samuel. She is
happy to see him but he does not wake up. Her mother is furious that
Samuel is in her house. When she wants her daughter to marry Owen now.
These are good Christmas romances and just wish they were longer. Anyone
can read them they don't preach but thier not afraid to say prayers or
read scriptures and do good. I was given this ebook to read in exchange
of honest review from Netgalley. 09/01/2012 PUB Barbour Publishing, Inc
Anonymous
Posted October 20, 2012
No text was provided for this review.
Overview
Join three of today’s bestselling inspirational fiction authors in a collection of Christmas stories from Victorian-era America that are full of second-chance romances. Jilted by her fiancé, Karla packs away her wedding quilts and her plans for marriage. Widow Jane travels to marry a prosperous man she barely knows in order to give her daughter a better life—then is stranded in a winter storm. Ada, a wealthy ingénue, inadvertently causes grave injury to a poor man she once considered quite a catch. Each must ...