A Patchwork Past is book two of the Plain Patterns trilogy. It is about former Amish girl Sophie Deiner, daughter of a bishop, who left her home in Napanee, Indiana while she was pregnant with her boyfriend's child. Three years later Sophie is suffering from lupus and must rest for two weeks per doctor's orders. She decides to return to her parent's home because she knows that she will be able to get alot of rest as well as eat her mother's fabulous home cooked meals. As Sophie heals, she befriends a group of migrant workers who work in Amish owned farms in Napanee. The farm owners rely on them to work their fields. None of them would survive without the migrants. Sophie is shocked when she learns how bad their living conditions are and begins to advocate on their behalf. However, that ex-boyfriend who got her pregnant opposes her ideas. Lyle is the foreman of a farm in the area and bullies his help as well as Sophie. He wants to know about the baby. Lyle is afraid that one day a kid will land on his doorstep and accuse him of being their father. Sophie has never told anyone about her miscarriage and does not plan to. Friend Jane who runs a local newsletter also runs a quilting bee. During the weekly quiltings Jane relays the history of an Amish couple who rescued survivors of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. This encourages Sophie to become more involved in fighting for the migrants in her region.

As a Chicagoan, I thought it was interesting that members of the Sullivan family met Sophie's ancestors in Chicago before the fire began. They are mentioned in passing. The traditional story concerning the start of the fire is that a cow owned by an immigrant Irish woman, Mrs. O'Leary, knocked over a lantern which resulted in the entire city being burned to the ground. However, as most Chicagoans know, this is a myth. This story began as an anti-immigrant story directed at America's newest immigrants, the Irish. The person who really started the Great Fire was Pegleg Sullivan who was drunk when he tripped over the lantern. It is also interesting how the author was able to create a story based on immigration. Both the 1870s plot and the current era plot deal with the issue of immigrants. This is pretty unusual in Amish fiction but the author pulled it off amazingly. The book had an Amish fiction feel to it, not a political feel. I must admit, though, that at times it seemed that the author was preaching her politics. While my politics appears to match the author's, I prefer not to read about it in fiction.

The main character, Sophie, was presented well. The reader learns how her anguish over deciding to run away and live as an Englisher affected both her and her family. While reading I thought that Sophie might stay in Napanee and return to living the Amish lifestyle. However, there won't be a spoilers here. Most of the book was about the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 which also makes the book historical fiction. I loved this plot. It was a trip down history lane for me but I think everyone will enjoy reading about the Fire, including how the Amish were involved.

All in all, A Patchwork Past was a great read. ( )

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. ( )

This is the second book in this series. I always look forward to reading a book from Author Leslie Gould. Although new to her stories, I enjoyed reading her first from this series. Needless to say I was excited to read this one when I heard it was coming out.

Author Leslie writes this story as a time slip. Having the owner of the quilt shop Jane, recounts things that happened before to the present time. Always with a message that is woven in the stories in each other, as the quilts they come to make at the quilt shop group gatherings.

A young girl who comes back home ill, and hurt she finds herself helping people that she sees being treated different. Quilt shop owner retells her the story of a young Amish girl who helps people as well after the Great Chicago Fire that happened in 1871. Now Sophie listens to the story Jane tells, she feels more in need to help but will this help of hers be of actual help or bring more conflict to her. Will misunderstandings that later clear up, Family unity and Faith help her through it all.

I always enjoy reading Amish stories, and time-slip ones are unique to me. Especially when they hold a part of historical information that I did not know about, or knew a little of. I also enjoy how though there is two stories going on Author Leslie finds a way to stitch them together in a way that they form a beautiful pattern at the end without getting thrown in confusion.

I recommend this book if you enjoy Amish stories, history, standing up for what you think/believe is wrong, this is the story for you. I loved the parts of history, reading about them and learning a little more.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book. All the details here are my own. ( )

I really loved this book. I enjoyed the present and past scenarios that were portrayed as Jane, the quilt shop owner tells Sophie the story of an ancestor who helped many during the time of the Chicago fire. I loved the story and the historical aspects were a highlight for me. I loved Sophie as she also has the goal to help the migrant workers she comes to know. It's a very good book and there are some surprises at the ending. It was a great book and I am so happy that I read it.
I received a copy of this book from BethanyHouse Publishing. All thoughts are my own. ( )

A Patchwork Past is the second book in the Plain Patterns series by Leslie Gould. I enjoy the Amish genre, love Gould's books, and when I realized the book had a timeslip element to it as well, it was a win, win, and win! I'll admit I was up till the wee hours of the morning finishing the book. Gould writes such a great story, making her characters real and likable with strong emotions and convictions as they deal with real-life issues and mend and strengthen relationships. As Sofie returns home after three years of very little contact with her family she is quickly drawn back into the Amish culture. She also becomes immersed in the controversial issues of illegal immigrants and their precarious situation in the community. Shedding light on this issue was thought-provoking for me. Will this time of respite not only be a time of physical restoration but a time to heal relationships and resolve past hurts and misunderstandings? The dual-time story is told by the owner of a local quilt shop and relates the life of Mary, a young Amish girl, who experiences the drama and tragedy of the great Chicago fire. I enjoyed this historical aspect of the book as I was easily drawn into the scenes of the fire and its aftermath. As always with this author's stories, there are strong themes of family, friends, and faith woven throughout. Readers who enjoy stories about family and friends set in the Amish community will not want to miss A Patchwork Past.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a review and the opinions are my own. ( )