by Wanda E. Brunstetter, Jean Brunstetter, Richelle Brunstetter

Hope and Wildflowers was provided a complimentary copy of The Beloved Christmas Quilt from the publisher through NetGalley for us to review.

Description
One Quilt Binds Three Generations of Amish Women
Enjoy the gift of a brand new romance from New York Times bestselling author Wanda E. Brunstetter, along with stories by her daughter-in-law, Jean, and granddaughter, Richelle.  “For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me and guide me. Psalm 31:3” The scripture embroidered on the back of a beloved quilt brings hope to three generations of Pennsylvania Amish women at Christmastime.

Luella’s Promise
By Wanda E. Brunstetter
Luella Ebersol has been a caregiver for a dying woman and her young son. When Dena Lapp gives Luella her favorite quilt, she makes Luella promise to pass it down to her daughter. But Luella isn’t sure she will ever marry if she can’t find someone with maturity and faith like Dena’s husband Atlee Zook.

Karen’s Gift
By Jean Brunstetter
Karen Allgyer and her husband moved to a slow-paced village to raise their children, but Karen longs for the closeness of family to help her through the challenges of managing three girls with one on the way. When life’s pressures rise, will Karen cave to her fears?

Roseanna’s Groom
By Richelle Lynn Brunstetter
When the unexpected happens on the day of her wedding, Roseanna Allgyer can’t help blaming herself, despite not understanding why. Then an old friend returns to town, and she battles feelings for him—afraid of being hurt again.

My Review

Luella’ Promise
By:  Wanda E. Brunstetter

Luella Ebersol has been the caregiver for her very ill friend Dena Lapp. Dena is the mother of her son Daryl and wife Atlee Zook. After having a heart-to-heart conversation with her friend, Dena gives Luella a Christmas Quilt with a Country Patch pattern on it that was given to her by her mother. Dena called it “my beloved Christmas quilt.” Having no daughters or sisters, Dena asks Luella to keep the quilt and pass it along to her future daughter.  But Luella isn’t sure she will ever marry let alone have a daughter of her own one day. Holding the quilt, Luella feels comforted as she reads the scripture embroidered in the quilt “For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me. Psalm 31:3.” Not knowing what her future would hold,  Luella continues to keep a promise to her friend that will change her life forever. Will she ever find true love or have a daughter of her own? Despite all the negativity from her parents and the townspeople “wagging their tongues,” Luella continues to press forward with the Lord being her rock and her guidance. With love, hard work, prayer, and the wisdom found in God’s word Luella found her place where God was leading her all along.

Karens Gift
By Jean Brunstetter

Karen Allgyer and her husband Seth live in a cozy home in Lykens, Pennsylvania with their three wonderful daughters. This story seemed to capture the importance and closeness of family. Karen and Seth live far from both their families and friends, while Seth is very pleased with living in Lykens, Karen begins to miss her family all the more as new challenges arise between her and Seth. Seth begins to have some issues at work while Karen discovers devastating news about their youngest daughter. As stress starts to build up and the family keeps growing, Karen finds her strength in the embroidered scripture sewn into the quilt given to her by her mother. As she fills the quilt with many tears from missing her family and news about her daughter, Karen learns an important lesson about her family with Seth.  This story is so well written that you can almost smell the coffee and meals cooking on the stove. From the sound of children laughing and cooing to the sound of dishes and milk spilling on the floor. You will feel like part of this wonderful family as you turn each page.

Roseanna’s Groom
By Richelle Brunstetter

This is the last story of the generational saga. Roseanna is about to get married to her groom John when things suddenly change. A sleepless night before her special day has Roseanna questioning whether this marriage would work out between the two of them. The morning seemed to be all nerves and heavy eyes as Roseanna held Johns’s clammy hands as they prepared for counseling by the ministers. Just as the service began John rushed out leaving Roseanna at the altar.  She rushed after him but he had no answer as to why he ran out. Roseanna was devastated and unsure about everything while trying to keep her focus as she kept busy with her small business sewing dresses and being around her family. With the guidance of her mother’s favorite scripture, Roseanna found the peace she needed to overcome this obstacle in her life. Will Roseanna ever be able to move on from John and remarry again?

The Beloved Christmas Quilt brings us stories of three women who overcome many uncertainties in their lives. It wasn’t so much the quilt that brought each of them through,  but rather the words from Psalms 31:3  that were embroidered on this quilt “For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me.”  This scripture gave each of the women the assurance to overcome their trials and to know God is our rock and strength in our times of trouble or uncertainty.  Our life may never go as we hoped or planned but through it, all God is still helping us because he knows what is best for us even if we don’t understand it.

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