Patchwork Dreams (Amish of Seymour) [Kindle Edition]

"Whew! Not boring!" Those were the words I used when I emailed Laura Hilton about her latest book, Patchwork Dreams. Mrs. Hilton is a personal friend, and I had actually had some trepidation about reading her book, since I had promised to write a review.
I've read quite a few Amish-based novels, and other than those by the "Masters" like Beverly Lewis and Wanda Brunstetter, most have cookie-cutter story lines and fluffy dialogue and description. Not so with this author's latest.
In so many Christian novels, even non-Amish based, relationships are almost fairy-tale. Lives are perfectly devoted to God and people never falter in their walk with Him and in their sickeningly unrealistic dealings with each other.
Mrs. Hilton's story, on the other hand, features complex and realistic characters as well as an intriguing storyline that kept me from closing the book and turning off my bed-time lights.
I particularly appreciated Mrs. Hilton's well-researched description of the Black-Smiths' profession, adding interest to these multi-faceted characters.
I look forward to the next in this series.

Ever since the TV series - Aaron's Way - I have loved Amish stories. Patchwork Dreams by Laura V. Hilton tops them all. There were definitely no `fillers' in this book. (What I mean by a filler is - scenes thrown in that add no real quality to the story and are only used to raise the word count.) In, Patchwork Dreams, each scene propels the story forward at a fast pace. And Jacob Miller, the hero, well that boy just doesn't give up. Wait, did I say boy? I meant man. That man refuses to give up. If I was Jacob Miller, I would have given up a long time ago and would have taken the next horse and buggy out of town. (Bet the heroine Becky Troyer is glad I'm not him. heehee) The man must be made of steal or something. Or to quote Aaron Miller from Aaron's Way, "That boy comes from fine stock." Jacob sure does. But poor Becky. What is it that Jacob isn't giving up on? Finding a man who will marry Becky, or what? After all, Jacob already has a gal back home. Hmmm.

Oh, and Becky Troyer, well, she's a real sweetheart who made a huge mistake. Or did she? What really happened to her? What am I talking about? And what secret is she harboring? Do the two have anything to do with one another? AS IF! I'll never tell. *smiling*

If you want to know the answers to these questions, and you want to read a really, really sweet story filled with romantic tension, then Patchwork Dreams is for you.

This is a story of hope for two young people who had assumed their futures were all figured out for them, whether they liked it or not. But when they met each other, hope rekindled when each realized they didn't have to be confined to what they had assumed their future might be.

Becky has a fondness for McDonald's "fancy" coffee, a.k.a. cappuccino. She and Jacob looked for any opportunity to take the buggy to McDonald's for a coffee. The plot has a few twists and turns, misunderstandings that almost lead to ruined relationships and a sweet love story that will capture the hearts of many readers. It's a quick, light read for those who enjoy Amish fiction.

What I liked: I liked that this wasn't just another Amish book. Unlike some, where the main character meets "an Englischer" and struggles with the decision to leave the order or stay, this book takes a refreshing break from that story line. It also shows a less idealized and more raw side of Amish life in that it depicts a young woman who has had a child out of wedlock. Readers will discover more about this circumstance as the story unfolds. The family has a warm and loving relationship that's endearing.

What I didn't like: I though that Becky and Jacob fell in love unrealistically quick and Jacob acted way too familiar with her. It was only a day or two after they met that he was calling her Bex, and not too many more when he reached across the table for her hand. He often did things like wink at her. I would think that since she was an unwed mother, her parents would have protected her more from instant male attention, even if it was from an Amish man (one whom they barely knew).

I was also disappointed that most Englischers in the story were evil and worldly. The story felt a little imbalance in that so few were trustworthy. It also seemed like Becky's annoying former Englisch beau had a habit of showing up at McDonalds every time she was there. Incidents similar to that made the story a little too predictable.

I received a copy of this book from the author's publicist, KCW Communications, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.