A Patchwork Past by Leslie Gould

 A Patchwork Past

Book Summary

A Patchwork Past by Leslie Gould has Sophie Deiner dealing with a Lupus flare-up.  Her doctor tells her that she needs two weeks of rest, quiet, and good food.  With her roommate’s noisy late nights, Sophie takes a chance and returns to her family farm in Nappanee, Indiana.  She is thankful that her father, the local bishop, agrees to let her stay, but Sophie can tell that her mother is not pleased.  Sophie begins helping Jane, the owner of Plain Patterns, with her bountiful garden where she reconnects with Derek.  It is through Derek that Sophie meets a local migrant family who begins having legal problems.  Sophie wants to help them with their plight, but she is unsure what she can do for them.  While weeding with Jane one day, Jane begins telling Sophie the story of Mary who got caught up in the Great Chicago Fire.  Sophie finds herself inspired by Mary.  Sophie knows she needs to tread carefully.  While she wants to help the migrant family she has come to know and care about, Sophie worries that she could make the situation worse for them.  Sophie also needs to make decisions about her own future.  What choices will Sophie make?

My Thoughts

A Patchwork Past by Leslie Gould is the second novel in the Plain Patterns series.  A Patchwork Past can be read as a standalone.  I found A Patchwork Past to be a unique Amish novel.  It is not like other Amish novels.  I like how it tells two stories and ties them together.  Sophie Deiner needs rest from a Lupus flare-up and returns home to the family farm.  She never felt that she fit into her Amish community.  Jane, the owner of Plain Patterns, is kind to Sophie.  While working on Jane’s garden and quilting, Jane tells her the story about Mary, a woman who traveled to Chicago with her father and ends up in the middle of the Great Chicago Fire in 1871.  While at home, Sophie becomes involved in the lives of migrant family who work on the farm next to her family.  I was quickly drawn into the historical part of the tale.  I wanted these sections to be longer.  I thought A Patchwork Past was well-written with developed characters.  The story moved along at a good pace.  I could tell the author did her research for this book.  I like how she incorporated the information into the story and wove parallels to Mary’s story.  Both Sophie and Mary want to help people and do the right thing.  Faith, friends, and family are woven throughout the story.  I thought Sophie’s story will give people a better understanding of autoimmune diseases like Lupus and Fibromyalgia.  Many people do not understand these diseases and, unfortunately, believe the person is faking it.  I appreciated that we are given an epilogue that nicely wraps up the story.  The author blended the various storylines together into one inspiring tale.  

A Patchwork Past by Leslie Gould can be purchased from Amazon*.  Piecing it  All Together is the first book in the Plain Patterns series and it is a Kindle Unlimited book.  You can find Leslie Gould's other novels here.  Thank you for stopping by today.  I will be sharing Blackberry Beach by Irene Hannon next time. I hope that you have a joyful day.  Take care, be kind, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

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