The Cherished Quilt

The Cherished Quilt by Amy Clipston is the third book in the Amish Heirloom series. Christopher “Chris” Hochstetler is reeling from the loss of his brother, Gabriel. His father, Wilmer blames Chris for Gabriel’s death. Chris needs to get away. He decides to visit his Uncle Hank in Bird-in-the-Hand, Pennsylvania (in Lancaster County). Chris will be working in his Uncle Hank’s and his partner, Leroy Fisher’s leatherworking shop. Emily Fisher, Leroy’s youngest daughter, can tell that something is bothering Chris and that he needs a friend. Emily goes out of her way to be friendly to Chris and get him to come out of his shell. Chris lacks confidence after years of criticism from his father. Emily slowly works with Chris and helps him gain confidence and overcome his grief (and guilt). As Chris’ birthday approaches, Emily wants to make him something special. After hearing the story of the quilt, he left behind at home, Emily wants to make him a replacement. Emily’s mother lets her have fabric from her Mammi’s (grandmothers) trunk. As Emily and Chris spend more time together, Emily starts to fall in love with him. Chris cares for Emily, but there is something that he has not told her. Will they be able to overcome Chris’ secret (an obstacle in their path) to have a happy ending or will Emily be left with a broken heart? Open The Cherished Quilt and step into the world of Emily, Chris, and their families in Lancaster County. The Cherished Quilt is a well-written (as are all of Amy Clipston’s novels) and easy to read. It is the third book in An Amish Heirloom Novel series, but you can read it alone. I do, though, recommend reading The Forgotten Recipe and The Courtship Basket. We do get updates on the characters from the previous novels. It was nice to see how they are faring in their new lives. I found the characters are likeable as well as relatable. They are the type of people you want to have as neighbors. I give The Cherished Quilt 4.5 out of 5 stars (I liked it). It was good to see how Chris changed over the course of the novel thanks to friendship, love, and rediscovering his beliefs. The Cherished Quilt deals with grief, forgiveness, friendship, love, and so much more. The ending is expected, but it will leave you with a smile on your face. We are left with a question unanswered at the end of The Cherished Quilt, and we must wait until the next novel to get the answer.