Her Restless Heart

Stitches in Time #1

by Barbara Cameron

Mary Katherine is caught between the traditions of her faith and the pull of a different life. When Daniel, an Amish man living in Florida, arrives and shares her restlessness, Mary Katherine feels drawn to him and curious about the life he leads away from Lancaster County.  

But her longtime friend Jacob has been in love with her for years. He’s discouraged that she’s never viewed him as anything but a friend and despairs that he is about to lose Mary Katherine to this outsider.  

Will the conflicted Mary Katherine be lost to the Englisch world, or to Daniel, who might take her away to Florida? Or will she embrace her Amish faith and recognize Jacob as the man she should marry and build a life with?

"You'll laugh and cry right alongside the characters in this story that tests a young woman's faith in Gods's plan for her life." - Loree Lough, best-selling author of more than 80 award-winning books, including From Ashes to Honor, #1 in the First Responders series.)

Genres: Amish, Christian Fiction, Romance, Christian, Fiction, Amish Fiction, Christian Romance

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

CBD, CBA, and ECPA bestselling author of 24 books (including new series upcoming for Abingdon Press in 2011/2012) including fiction and non-fiction books for Abingdon Press, Thomas Nelson, Harlequin, and other publishers.

I sold three films to HBO/Cinemax and am the first winner of the Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Award.

My two novellas won the 2nd and 3rd place in the Inspirational Readers Choice Contest from the Faith, Love, and Hope chapter of RWA. Both were finalists for the novella category of the Carol Award of the American Christian Writers Award (ACFW).

Reviews

[Kav · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this deep dive into the life of a young Amish woman who is struggling to find her place in the world.

Mary Katherine is at a crossroads and she's not certain her future lies in her Amish community. There are too many painful memories of her charged relationship with her domineering father. Though she has found a haven working in her grandmother's quilt shop, she's quite envious of her friend Jamie's college art classes and would love the freedom to explore her own love of textile art.

And then there are the two men who are showing a romantic interest in Mary Katherine. Long time friend Jacob, wearing his heart on his sleeve while gently pursuing her with hopes that their friendship can grow into something more. And Daniel who has recently made the move to a Beachy Amish community in Florida, back for a visit but eager to whisk her away to his less restrictive community.

But Mary Katherine's difficult relationship with her dat colours her perception of what it would be like to join the church and eventually marry. I could feel the push and pull of her inner battle and I just ached for her. Because she's left out an important part of the equation -- God.

I enjoyed listening to the audible edition of Her Restless Heart narrated by Coleen Marlo (which is available on Audible Plus right now.)

[Terri · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was not the Amish style story I like…it’s hard to read comments about homosexuality …a closed bedroom door scene but I didn’t like the characters either I won’t continue in this series I’m not sure about the authors other work but I don’t feel I have a need to find out…I read Amish for pure reading material so I’ll try other authors

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Her Restless Heart" by Barbara Cameron gets 5 stars from me. I read this book because it was the book discussion for my online book discussion on Facebook. I haven't had read any books by her before (or if I did I didn't remember) but now I can say I am a fan.
Mary Katherine didn't date because she wasn't sure she was going to stay Amish or join the English world. MaryKatherine doesn't want to take a chance on love because of her father who is not a very nice man and never has a kind word. She makes designs and works in her grandma's shop, Stiches in Time, along with her two cousins. But as the story continues Mary Katherine cannot fight her growing attraction to Jacob. Jacob is in love with Mary Katherine but thinks she is falling for Daniel. This story has moments that makes her sad and moments that makes you laugh. I loved that the cousins are just like cousins in real life and the grandmother is just like my grandmother was. I can't wait to read the other 2 books in this story and other series by this author

[Clwseattle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes we just need to take a break from all the ridiculous and ugliness in our world. This author and this book will give you that break. I think one of the values from these books is the peek into a culture we probably don't understand. The 'Plain' people live differently, more simply than we do but we forget they have the same problems, concerns, humor and desires. I love that the author so skillfully weaves that together into charming stories with characters you come to care about deeply..

[Chelsea · Rating 2 out of 5]

meh. It was ok, but not the best of this genre that I have read. Will not continue the series.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

**contains spoilers** This was my first experience with an Amish romance. In fact I think the only other Amish fiction I've read was Jodi Picoult's plain truth. My book club and I all picked one Amish romance to read as a light summer break from regular literature. I don't see myself becoming a long-term fan of the genre, but this was a quick enjoyable read. The story centers around Mary Katherine, an artistic young woman who is unsure if she wants to join the church or find a husband because of her strict and cruel father. There's a lot of Over the Top drama about the way her dad treats her and its effect on her psyche. She wants to fall in love with the boy next door, but is very scared that he'll be like her father and is scared to join the church because she doesn't want to be confined the way she was at home. When her father does appear, he's very stereotypical as a Gruff man until the very end. We also meet her cousins and grandmother where they all work together in a quilting shop. They're kind of the Renegades of the Amish community because they don't just make traditional patterns and this really upsets the bishop. The bishop is a curmudgeonly old man who really doesn't like Mary Katherine. We also have the drama of an Amish guy from another community in Florida who is supposed to be the metaphor for Mary Katherine picking the life she's familiar with or branching out. Her English friend is also supposed to make us see that she's being wooed by the quote-unquote normal world, but eventually that person helped her see that she belongs in the Amish community. I think they may also be setting up for a sequel where the English friend becomes Amish as well. Not a lot of depth and if you're not familiar with the genre some of it seems super cheesy. Predictable and ended just as the two main characters got together, which I think is probably a pretty typical romance novel trope. I'm not rushing out to buy the rest of the series, which appears to focus around the cousins and their courting as well. I will have fun however discussing some of the Ridiculousness with my friends. For instance, there's a scandalous scene where the neighbor sees them sitting in a buggy alone, the main male character/love interest decides he's going to learn to cook for himself and become what I guess is a modern Amish man, and Mary Katherine spends two Pages helping her English friend with a possible pregnancy scare!

[Connie Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Restless???

Barbara Cameron blessed readers with a lovely story of Faith and Trusting our God and the fact that He has a plan. Mary Katherine and Jacob have a wonderful story of learning to love and trust. Mary Katherine has a father who is strict, gruff, and really has a soft heart, Isaac teaches us you are never to old to listen and learn. I truly enjoyed each character in this book and look forward to reading book #2. Thank you Barbara Cameron for hours of joy.

[Loraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this book a 4 because it was well written, had interesting characters, and a believable plot line. It was an enjoyable read, and anyone who likes Amish fiction would find it good. But with that being said, I read so much Amish fiction when it first became popular that I find most of them very formulaic; so they just don't wow me.

[Susie · Rating 5 out of 5]

First time reader of this author and it won’t be my last book I will read of hers! Enjoyed it immensely. Ready for book two of the series. Amish life has always been very interesting to me. Glad to see this author has written a lot of books!!

[Lorraine Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read.

[Vanessa Verhagen · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good!!

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Typical Amish romance set in Lancaster County, but with a number of happenstances and terminologies that don't accurately fit what I've come to understand about current Amish....

[Melyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first Hamish novel and I totally enjoyed it. It gave me a brief look into Hamish life. Definitely continuing the series.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did like this book, but I get tired quickly of obnoxious characters. Anna was so immature and annoying, that I wanted to just slap her!

I guess I wouldn't be a good Amish woman.

[Flo Morrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in a trilogy and I could not stop reading till the very last page of the last book and than I was still hungry for more.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

very good book

[Linda Advena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good

I loved this book. Story so sweet yet tackle hard topics. If you like Amish romance, this book is perfect for you.

[Kathleen (Kat) Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes the words we speak can hurt people worse than any physical pain we can inflict on them. That's just what is happening to Mary Katherine. Finding solace and a place to heal her emotions and her heart and find the love she needs from family, she works for her Grandmother Leah at her store, Stitches in Time, along with her cousins Naomi and Anna. Her father is more than just mean and abrasive to her, he's also been that way to her mother. No longer able to tolerate his unkind words, and avoiding speaking out against her father, she leaves. She's the only child of her parents and finds it difficult that her father can treat her so cruel.

Perhaps that's why Mary Katherine has been avoiding falling in love with those Amish boys who seem to gather around her, most recently Jacob, a young man she grew up with and went to school with. However, Mary Katherine can only see him as the friend she grew up with even though it's obvious to everyone else that Jacob has more than friendly feelings for her. Yet with Mary Katherine still undecided on whether she wants to commit to the church just yet, she spends some time getting to know what she really wants out of life.

Her best friend is an English girl named Jamie, whose outrageous hair and clothing styles, have most of the Amish church community frowning. Thinking that this will only encourage Mary Katherine to leave the Amish community, more and more of the elders and bishop continue to pressure her to make a decision and soon. They are even going so far as to criticize her weaving creations and quilts for sale at Stitches In Time saying she is moving away from the Amish traditions.

In her latest series of Amish books, Stitches in Time, Barbara Cameron is introducing the readers to a new cast of characters in the first book, Her Restless Heart. In this book, all three girls are seeking the love and attention of men in their lives and it seems like only Grandmother Leah has just the right advice to dispense over a cup of hot tea. Ah how we all wish we had a grandmother like her. Unwilling to push and pressure to make the woman face their difficult choices ahead, Leah merely provides a willing ear to listen while they pour out their feelings. Deep down inside she can only pray they will come to make the right decision in the end.

I received Her Restless Heart compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and I can see why so many readers are now her fans of her Amish series. She writes them so well readers can not only relate to the characters but more importantly to the story and issues the characters are dealing with. I, myself, can completely relate to Mary Katherine, having an emotionally abusive father growing up. I can relate to her feeling less than worthy and dealing with a lifetime of self esteem issues never seeing herself as good enough, even in God's eyes. I found healing in hearing not only the advice from Leah but also in Jacob's kindness as her friend. This book does provide needed healing to restless hearts everywhere and I highly recommend this one with a 5 out of 5 stars!

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary Katherine lives with her Grandmother, actually she feels like she was given a new lease on life when her Grandmother asked her Father if she could live with her and help in her shop in town. Mary Katherine's Daed never treated her right and ridiculed her about everything. There was no physical abuse but there was emotional abuse, not only to Mary Katherine but toward her Mother also. Weaving was Mary Katherine's favorite thing to do and since moving in with her Grandmother she was free to weave whenever she felt like it.

Jacob has known Mary Katherine since they attended school together. What she didn't know was that he loved her quietly, he never said or did anything to let her know. Love and marriage was the farthest thing from her mind though, she wanted nothing to do with any man, she thought all men were like her Daed. She was confused as to where she belonged in this world, she has an Englisch friend, Jamie, and sometimes feels like the Englisch world would be a lot better than being Amish.

When Daniel, another schoolmate, returns from Florida to sell the family farm, he shows an interest in Mary Katherine. Jacob doesn't like what he see's and starts to show an interest also. Mary Katherine doesn't realize that they are both vying for her attention.

When Mary Katherine's Mother has a heart attack she returns home to take care of her because she knows her Daed won't do anything for himself and her Mother will be doing the daily chores before she's completely recovered. She was right too! Her Daed had not changed at all during the time she'd been staying at her Grandmothers house, IF he ever talked to her, it was to cut her down. She finally had enough of his treatment and leaves, taking off walking to town on a rainy day.

What will happen to Mary Katherine? You'll have to read for yourself, no hint from me. I really did enjoy this book, I think it's the first book I've read that Barbara has written and I must say that I'm looking forward to finding some more by her. You will not be sorry if you purchase this one.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the NetGalley book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Abbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary Katherine has grown up with a father who she feels will never be proud of her and a mother that never stands up for her. A year ago she left her parents house and went to live with her grandma Leah who runs a store called stiches in time she works at the store with her cousins Naomi and Anna who are more like sisters. Mary Katherine loves to weave and spends hours at her craft. Mary has no plans to find a man and settle down as she fears marring a man like her father or being like her mom and never standing up for herself. So when Jacob asks to get to know her better she tells him no. He offer to just be friends and slowly she finds him breaking her defenses and causing her heart to stir.

Jacob has been fond of Mary Katherine for years and deep down knows she is the woman for him but he has to first convince her he is the man she needs. When an old friend Daniel returns and shows interest in Mary, Jacob may need to work fast to keep Mary from falling for the wrong man.

Barbara Cameron has become one of my favorite Amish fiction authors. This new book the first in a series was a great read.

What I liked: Barbara Cameron tends to write novels with complex storylines that deal with a lot of emotions. She does a wonderful job of pulling the reader into the story and can make it very hard to put her books down. I really liked Mary Katherine and Jacob. We also meet the main characters for the next two books as well, Naomi and Anna. Even though this is Mary’s story we get enough of a back ground on them that when it comes time to read their stories your going to feel like you know them pretty well already and I can’t wait to read their stories as well.

What I did not like: Mary is very hurt by her father and towards the end of the book things change but I was left feeling like it was unfinished and I wish there had been a little more to that story line.

Over all this was a great book. Mary Katherine also had a English friend who she was close and it was neat to see the relationship between them and how some in the community reacted to it. I also liked how the characters from the last series made a small appearance and gave some details on how they where doing which was fun to read. I am really looking forward to the next book in this series!

http://abbiesreadingcorner.com/2012/0...

[Victor Gentile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barbara Cameron in her new book, “Her Restless Heart” Book One in the Stitches in Time Series published by Abingdon Press takes us into the life of Mary Katherine in the Amish community in Lancaster County.

From the back cover: Looking outward, searching inward

Mary Katherine is caught between the traditions of her faith and the pull of a different life. When Daniel, an Amish man from Florida, arrives, Mary Katherine feels drawn to him and curious about the life he leads away from Lancaster County.

But her longtime friend Jacob has fallen in love with her, and he’s afraid of losing Mary Katherine to this outsider.

Will the conflicted Mary Katherine be lost to the Englisch world, or to Daniel, who may take her away to Florida? Or will she embrace her Amish faith and recognize Jacob as the man she should marry and build a life with?

In ”Her Restless Heart” worlds collide; Lancaster County, Florida and the Englisch world. For Mary Katherine each has something to offer that she needs and she is torn between them all. This is a story of self-esteem and the things we do as human beings to build our self-esteem when our parents have not given it to us. We build our relationships on who is helping to support our self-esteem whether they are good or bad. On top of everything Ms. Cameron manages to weave a romance into this story that just captivates you. She makes you care for all the characters and their journey. This is also just plain fun and exciting as well. Don’t start this book late at night because it will cost you sleep. I look forward to the next book in the series.

If you would like to listen to interviews with other authors and professionals please go to www.kingdomhighlights.org where they are available On Demand.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Abingdon Press. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Her Restless Heart – Mary Katherine’s Decision!

Mary Katherine was fed up living at home with her controlling Father; besides being controlling her Father was never satisfied with anything Mary Katherine did. There wasn’t any way of pleasing her unbearable Father. When she couldn’t stand it at home any longer she moved in with her Grandmother Leah and works in her Grandmother’s shop called Stitches in Time. Mary Katherine loves her life working in her Grandmother’s shop. She also loves to weave and enjoys coming up with her own designs using textures of cotton, wool, and silk.

Mary Katherine’s cousins Naomi and Anna works in her Grandmother’s shop too. It seems like one happy family. She feels the love from her Grandmother and cousins that she doesn’t feel at home.

Jacob has been a friend of Mary Katherine’s for a long time. Jacob wants more than friendship and hopes to court her. Mary Katherine has told Jacob she isn’t interested in being anything but friends.

Daniel, a long time school friend of Mary Katherine’s and Jacob’s, has come back to Paradise to sell the family farm. Daniel’s family decided to move to Pinecraft, Florida several years ago. Daniel too shows an interest in Mary Katherine and urges her to come visit him in Florida.

To the dismay of her parents and grandmother Mary Katherine hasn’t joined the church yet. Her heart is restless and she doesn’t know where she belongs. Does she have enough faith in God to trust Him?

Will Mary Katherine leave her Amish upbringing and move toward the English world? Will she go visit Daniel and his family in Florida and end up staying there? Will she fall in love with Jacob and join the church? What will Mary Katherine do to calm her restless heart?

The author takes us through the private life of Mary Katherine and her parents. She shows us a side to Amish families that other Amish fiction authors might not. We are taken into the real life of what happens and does happen in some relationships. I really liked that about this book. We can compare it to our way of living also. Are we really so much different?

This was another great read of Barbara Cameron’s and I loved it from beginning to end. I can’t wait for book 2, Journey of the Heart, to be released. This will be Naomi’s story. I get the feeling there’s a lot going on in Naomi’s life!

[Paula Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

Growing up in the Amish faith for many holds an easy future, one that many accept gracefully and happy. To be raised in the Amish world , work and then be married to a fellow Amish and attend faithfully the church and follow their ways of life. However, not all are convinced that this is the right way and are often swayed by the views and opinions of those living the worldly life in what the Amish call the "Englischer" way.
One thing that is quite common in many Amish novels is that the main character is swayed by decisions that need to be made and will feel torn between the two worlds. What makes the great ones stand out though is the author's writing style and whether they are able to capture the author in a way that other Amish fiction and similar stories may have failed.
One of my favourite Amish fiction writers is Barbara Cameron as her stories are easy to read and they are set at a pace that keeps the reader entertained and contain characters that are easy to relate to,
Her Restless Heart focuses on Mary-Katherine , she is stuck in a rut and in what way of life to choose - does she continue to follow the Amish way of life or as the tourists come in each week from the Englischer world , does her heart belong with them.
Mary-Katherine, unlike all the other girls too does not yet want to date but she can't get away from the commitments as local Amish follower Jacob has his sights set on Mary-Katherine and will do everything he can to get her to be his one true love. When a surprise visit from an old family and school friend Daniel - a now turned Englischer turns up in Lancaster County, Mary Katherine can't help but be drawn to him. As the story goes on we read as Mary-Katherine's heart becomes torn further apart, till the time comes when she needs to make a decision. Will Mary Katherine follow her Restless heart and be with Daniel in the Englischer world or will she realise that her heart is at home with Jacob in Lancaster County following the Amish way of life ?

[Patty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mary Katherine was doing what she loved - weaving items to sell at her grandmother Leah's shop, Stitches In Time. A year ago, Mary Katherine left her mother and controlling father's farm to live with Leah and help run Stitches In Time with her cousins Naomi and Anna. She should have been happy but she was feeling restless. She was attracted to her English friend Jamie's lifestyle. Mary Katherine was 22 years old and not yet baptized into the Amish faith. She wasn't ready for that commitment yet. Nor was she ready to commit to dating a young man, even though Jacob Miller had an interest in her. Does Mary Katherine ever get baptised? Will she ever be ready to date? Read Her Restless Heart to find out.

This story didn't seem well thought out at times. Mary Katherine was 22 years old and her grandmother was in her late forties. What age does that leave Mary Katherine's mother? Mary Katherine lived with her grandmother yet the only time they had heart to heart talks was at the shop. The Amish in this story used a lot of English phrases, like dating instead of courting. It got to be annoying how many times it was said that Mary Katherine was restless. Every week-end Mary Katherine went out to dinner with Jamie and spent the night at her house to watch movies. I thought this kind of friendship was discouraged among the Amish. Daniel Kurtz was not a main character like the book description makes it appear.

I like Barbara Cameron as a writer from her previous books I read. I thought A Time For Peace: Quilts of Lancaster County Book 3 was a well written story. You can read my book review here. I also read An Amish Christmas: December In Lancaster County and liked that book. I didn't enjoy Her Restless Heart as much as I hoped I would. I do plan on reading Journey Of The Heart: Stitches in Time Book 2.

I received a free copy of this eBook from NetGalley and Abingdon Press for my honest review.

[Danica is Booked · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a condensed review. To see my extended review, please click here.

My Overall Thoughts/Impressions: I'd like to start out by thanking the publisher and netgalley for allowing me to review this book.

I absolutely love Christian fiction and Amish fiction as well. I've read many books from this genre. However, this was the first book by Barbara Cameron that I've read. It certainly won't be the last one I read by her.

I was sucked into this book from the very beginning. I loved the characters. Jacob and Mary Katherine were characters that I absolutely loved.

Mary Katherine feels like she doesn't belong in the Amish world and wonders if she belongs to the Amish world. I feel like that we have all had that moment where we wonder if we belong. Mary Katherine was a character that just seemed so realistic. She had her flaws, but she was trying to be the best person she could. She didn't come from the best background, but she rose above it. I really liked her.

And then Jacob, he was so patient, understanding, and just the best friend a person could ask for. Yet, he too had his flaws. That was one thing that I loved. Nobody in this novel was perfect, but they were trying to be better people.

I also loved the writing style. It was fresh and inviting. I felt like I could easily get inside the characters' heads and understand them. Cameron's writing was great. Apparently, there were characters in this novel from her other books; however, I never felt lost. It did, however, make me want to read her other series. This was a great book that I enjoyed reading and will definitely continue to keep my eye on this author.

In Summary: A wonderfully written book about discovering where you belong, faith, and just maybe even love. Cameron's writing was fresh and inviting. I will definitely be keeping my eye on this author and this series.

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

How many of us have questioned the existence we've known since birth? how many of us have wondered where we belong? where we fit in? Mary Katherine has grown up in the Amish faith and culture, but she has an Englisch friend, Jaime, and a young man from Pinecroft, Florida, who are giving her pause to question. She feels restless and unsure of where she belongs. The bishop is constantly asking her when she is going to join the church and she does not have the answer yet. Her grandmother knows of her grand-daughter's restless heart and asks her to come and live with her and work in the shop she runs, Stitches in Time. Things are not so great at home with Mary Katherine's father and this gives her a chance to focus on the weaving and designing that she loves. Her long-time friend, Jacob, is interested in her and wants answers from her as well, but he is willing to give her time to figure things out.
You will want to read this book to find out what decisions Mary Katherine makes and how she satisfies her restless heart. I enjoyed this book of Barbara's immensely. I love reading about the weaving that Mary Katherine engages in and her designing of patterns. I also love that the cousins are busy knitting baby caps and quilting. There is always a good cup of tea with grandmother along with a chat from the heart. Barbara shows the very human side of the Amish in her book. Many of us have wrongly assumed that all Amish simply join the church without an inner struggle and it is refreshing to see the decision-making here.
So grab a nice cup of tea and have a seat and enjoy Her Restless Heart. Barbara Cameron

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Her Restless Heart: Stitches in Time Series by Barbara Cameron*****

Mary Katherine is a young Amish woman living in Paradise Pennsylvania with her parents. Her father is unkind and verbally abusive, not just to Mary Katherine but to her mother as well. She struggles with respecting her father but finds that she can no longer stay and live with the abuse so she leaves home and goes to live with her grandmother Leah and help in her store, Stitches in Time. She enjoys working with her grandmother and her cousins, Naomi and Anna, who make her feel welcomed, capable, accepted and loved.

Mary Katherine has an Englisher friend, Jamie, who the Bishop is not impressed with and feels she will influence Mary Katherine away from her Amish community to the Englisher world. Jacob is a childhood friend who has been in love with Mary Katherine for a long time. But Mary Katherine is not sure if she could trust him, or any man, to treat her any differently than what her father does. Jacob is very patient with her and continues to offer his friendship and hopefully more once she sees how much he loves her. Another childhood friend, Daniel, returns from Florida to sell the family farm and Jacob is fearful that Daniel may win Mary Katherine's heart and take her from Pennsylvania.

As she works in her grandmother's store, she takes this time to consider her life and what options she has. Should she comment to the church and Amish way of life as her parents and the Bishop constantly pressure her about? Or should she leave the Amish community for the Englisher world? What about Jacob, can she trust her heart and life to this man in hopes that he will cherish her and not be like her father?

The characters are faced with real-to-life problems and challenges, trust problems, lack of self-esteem, patience, compassion, healing, love and faith. It is a well written story that captures your heart from the first page to the last.

[Veronica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story of a young Amish woman trying to find her place in the world. Mary Katherine has still not been baptized in the church because she doesn't feel as if she really belongs. She does love her work weaving in the shop she shares with her two cousins and grandmother. She has always been creative and that is just one more way her father finds fault with her.

When two young men she's known for years start to show interest in her, will one of them convince her to join the church? Will she choose the man who has settled in her community, the one visiting from exotic Florida, or leave and join the Englisch world?

This is book one in the Stitches in Time series and I actually read book two first and really liked it. Here's a link to my review: The Heart's Journey. I just had to find out the story behind Mary Katherine, so requested this one. It's helpful to read them in order because there was some information revealed in this one that led into book two, but it's not necessary. I like the coziness of this family and their shop and would love to hang out with them and learn how to quilt or knit. The characters and dialogue are realistic and the romance sweet. I like getting the perspectives of the main characters and had a hard time putting this one down! I'm definitely looking forward to reading about the last cousin in Heart in Hand, the third book that just came out in February!

I received this book free from Abingdon Press in exchange for an honest review.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the nook edition, which happened to be a free download when I got it last week; however, it is currently listed at $10. I found that this book needed some serious editing... I'm not sure if the same is true of the print edition, but if I had paid money for this, I would have been upset. There were several times when, in the midst of a scene that was obviously not over, it jumped directly to a new scene already in progress... with no page break, leaving me confused and wondering what I had missed. There were also annoying continuity errors, such as when Mary Katherine ran out of the house angry, neglecting to grab a shawl, only to wind up a page or two later drawing her shawl tighter around her as she was caught in a rainstorm. My other beef has to do with the item description, which I felt was a bit misleading. It has Mary Katherine choosing between two Amish men in different communities, or possibly leaving the Amish faith altogether. I was expecting some conflict over the two young men (at least in her own heart, if not actual fighting between the two men,) but in reality, one of the men was hardly in the book at all, and she clearly didn't think of him as a romantic possibility for long (I won't spoil which one, but you'll likely know within the first 20 pages.) For all that, I did enjoy the story.

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is written with great sympathy and empathy for the Amish people, and from the first page the reader has no trouble fitting right in with them. Cozy up with Leah and her three granddaughters as they sit around the quilting frame and chat, or scurry around the store helping customers. Feel the fabric beneath your fingers, smell the delicious pastries they are famous for, see their interest in the simple things.
I found this Amish novel to be of a different variety than most I have seen or read. How so? Although most books in this genre do not sugar coat the life of the group of people that have set themselves apart in most every way of life except that they still live among the Englisch, this one goes perhaps a step further in making them human. A father and daughter who have trouble relating to each other? A grandmother who starts a quilting shop so that her granddaughters may learn to know what is right and wrong without their parents telling them? Actually, both of these and more. I was blessed to read this novel as it shows how a young girl, sheltered from many of the aspects of life that we consider common, deal with the romance and excitement of life in another area, away from all she has known.
I received this book and its sequel from Barbara Cameron, and though she didn't ask for a review, I am thrilled to give this one 5 out of 5 stars.