Customer Reviews

The Quilter's Daughter (Daughters of Lancaster County, Book 2)

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Abby Miller, a young Amish girl, has bright future ahead in The Quilter's Daughter by Wanda E. Brunstetter. Abby, who runs a local quilt shop, is engaged to her teenage sweetheart, Lester Mast. Her mother sends Abby a letter announcing her pregnancy of twins. Her mother had wed a widower whose son had been kidnapped a few years back.

Wanting to help her mother, Abby leaves Ohio to travel to Pennsylvania. While Abby is in Ohio she leaves the management of her shop to her future mother-in-law. While Abby is away attending to her mother's needs, she receives horrible news: her shop has burned to the ground and caused the death of her fianc?. Abby wonders if she will ever love again.

Along with Abby's loss, we follow another family that is indirectly related. Jimmy is the little boy kidnapped from Abby's step family. Jimmy and his mom Linda live under the assumption that he was adopted, but his father Jim holds the terrible secret to his kidnapping. Jim's guilt is ruining his marriage to Linda.

This story has some strong moments of character interaction, but the author uses inconsistent language in her dialogue (sometimes reverting to dialect, other times not) and descriptions (at times giving scarcely any description and at other times giving far more than is needed). The story's plot is drawn out, not having the serious action fully engage until half way through the book. For the readers, there is not much in-depth understanding of the characters nor deep analysis of their feelings, making the pain Abby suffers hard to empathize with.

The Quilter's Daughter is a story of a family trying to become united with the pain and love each member has experienced. The story is an easy to read, but it's not a page-turner. I would recommend this book for the female reader who likes romance and is not too critical of literary aptitude. - Khrista Beckmann, Christian Book Previews.com

Abby has taken over her mother's quilt shop in Ohio-- but for now she has left to go to PA to assist her mom who is pregnant at 47. In Abby's absence, she leaves her fiance's mother to run her shop in Ohio. We learn much about Abraham and Fannie's family and learn that little Zach is still missing after having been kidnapped 5-6 years ago. However, his adoptive parents have their part in this book as well. The guilt over the kidnapping has turned his daddy into a bitter, angry man who is on the verge of a breakdown. As if things could not become any more complicated, a horrible accident occurs which changes Abby's life completely and she nearly gives up on living. Enter a quiet, shy Amishman to help her recover.

Quilters and quilts play a large role in this second book of the series. I am anxious for book 3.

I loved the first book in this series, it kept my attention and was the reason I read this second one. The Quilter's Daughter though, seemed to drag and even when the action had happened and was over, the story continued on until the best solution seemed to quickly scan just to get to the end. I read it through though and I was disappointed in the somewhat trite story plot and, again, the length of writing that seemed to only be filling up space. And then, after we've agonized with the character, not only because of her pain but because it takes soo long to get to the turning point, and then bam, in a page or two, everything's great again. Timing seems off. Also I believe the second story line of Jimmy-the kidnapped son is slightly extreme with the husband becoming absurbly snappish and the wife taking a cliche-ish turn. All in all, read it if you have a lot of time on your hands and like a drawn out story.

I loved the Quilter's Daughter (as well as the Store Keepers Daughter). I eagerly stayed up late to finish the last page. It has a good conclusion with hints of the sequel. A few places seemed like the rough draft, but all in all, a very lovely story to follow!

This author has the capacity to keep you spellbound until you finish the book. She hasn't disappointed me yet. I used to live in Ohio close to the Amish and visited there on auction day and flea market day. Their quilts were beautiful and I love reading about the lives of the Amish. So much of what this author wrote about I observed and the book brought all to life again. I can't wait until the next in the series is in the market. Pat

I bought this book because I'm a quilter but was disappointed with the story. Since I hadn't read the first book I found myself repeatedly turning back to figure out how the characters (as many as eight names in a few paragraphs) were related to oneanother. I was tempted to put the book down because the story seemed to go nowhere. With nothing else at home to read, I continued and finished the book.

The book moved from tragedy to tragedy and there were few happy joyous times. Count on being sad when you read this boook.

One thing that puzzled me was how Amish women cry, well up with tears, develop misty eyes and lumps in their throats, a constant response to almost anything said or implied. I'm not sure this is a true characterization but as often as it is mentioned it is certainly implied by the author.

If you like romance novels read this book but if that's not your genre of choice skip it. On the other hand, if you've faced a lot of life's difficulties and trials you may find some way to relate.

Wanda has traveled back into Amish country for this book's plot. Abby Miller has alot of her plate and tragedy is just around the corner. Her strong faith that she was taught in her strict Amish community is shaken when things don't go her way. Lucky for her, tragedy helps mend a broken heart.
This is a wonderful book to curl up and read this winter.

Sicily Yoder
Author of, "Amish Cooking with Sicily Yoder", and "Leaving Lancaster County."

Imagine your whole world being tuned upside down within a few minutes. In The Quilter's Daughter, a realistic fiction novel, Wanda E. Brunstetter wrote with vivid words that captivate all the action. As in the author's other book in the series, The Storekeeper's Daughter, included is realistic dialog and visual imagery. This book is fun to read with all of the fun Amish words and information Mrs. Brunstetter incorporated.

After reading this novel you will realize that faith, family, and friends can help you overcome the worst of problems. Abby Miller's, the main character, world comes crashing down when her quilt shop burns to the ground and her fiancé, Lester, perishes along with it. She is always so generous with helping other people and not taking care of herself that everyone who meets her falls in love with her instantly. After her mother gives birth to twins she goes to help, she saves a young boy from drowning, and where ever help is needed she is there. It takes the entire loving atmosphere around Abby to help her cope though the loss. Through this whole experience Abby finds herself and her calling in life. Will her heart ever heal? Will she find her love in quilting ever again? As she learns in the end how to answer these questions she will have faced many emotions, triumphs, and challenges.

I very much enjoyed reading this book in the few weeks it took me to read it. Over the time I read it I felt like I was on an emotional roller coaster. Most of the time I felt sad, but when a happy time came I grasped onto it remembering it throughout the story. Anyone and every one of all ages would enjoy this book of courage and strength. After you start reading this book you can barely put it down. It reminds me of the movie The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. The girls were apart but they still remained in a close friendship that overcame many obstacles. Remember use your faith, friends, and family to get through the worst of times.

I love reading her books. And this one was no different. Awesome story great second book. Great story line. Do read this and enjoy. Also read her other novels.

Another great book in the series, enjoyed it very much. thank you...this was what my wife says about this book, so thank you