Emma Yoder is a recently widowed Amish woman who decides to supplement her income by teaching a quilting class. Imagine her surprise when her students turn out to be such a diverse group of people. There's a young widower who wants to finish the quilt his late wife started, a married couple with marital problems, a young woman who feels abandoned by her father, a preacher's wife dealing with problems in the congregation, and there's even a tough biker! How will this soft-spoken Amish woman ever relate to her students? Can they be taught to quilt, or will Emma offer them something more valuable? Will they learn that there's always a positive in every situation, and the ability to forgive and be forgiven is a gift?

I've heard so many good things about the play that is based on this book, and I now totally understand all of the great reviews for The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club. This book has everything that you want in a good story: engaging characters, emotional conflict, a wonderful ending, and best of all, an uplifting and encouraging faith message!

"We've sure learned some lessons here while gettin' to know and understand each other, and I think we've also learned quite a bit about love."

Author Wanda E. Brunstetter is well-known for her Amish fiction, but this book features wonderful interaction between Amish people and their 'English' neighbors. There are several happy surprises and lots of feel-good moments, but the best thing is that there are two more books in this trilogy. I recommend The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club to all who enjoy Amish and Christian fiction.

This book was my personal purchase from Barbour Publishers, and I am voluntarily sharing this review. ( )

2.5 ( )

Maybe I'm getting spoiled, but I've come to expect that warm-fuzzy-in-the-region-of-my-heart feeling whenever I pick up one of Wanda Brunstetter's Amish-based fiction offerings. The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club was no exception.

I must admit, though, to feeling a bit apprehensive as I picked it up and feasted my eyes on the cover: a mismatched group of would-be quilters surround a serene looking Amish woman -- and if it was any other author but Wanda Brunstetter, I might have put it back down without even reading a page. But in due course, not only did I grow to know, but actually like each of these characters: Star, the tattooed young woman, yearning to be loved and appreciated by her family; burly biker-dude, Jan Sweet (who, but Wanda Brunstetter could come up with a moniker like that for a hard-living, gruff biker (who is really a soft, squish, teddybear in disguise!); tired, disappointed and discouraged marrieds, Pam and Stuart; young, grieving dad, Paul Rodriguez; and disillusioned minister's wife, Ruby Lee; and finally, Emma Yoder, who takes them all under her wing, like a mother bird. Is there anyone Emma doesn't like??? Well, there was Lamar, a nice Amish widower who seems to always find a way under Emma's skin, but even that works out!

Each individual "dilemma" faced by the characters in this book is well thought-out and written. What amazed me, time and time again, is how the author was able to switch gears and effectively write with each character in mind, from their dialogue to their thought processes.

Ms. Brunstetter weaves compassion, understanding and humor into this story, and in the end, you can't help but feel like you've just met a new group of friends. A new group of friends that this reader was sorry to see go. But that's the mark of a good story, ain't so? ( )

Not gonna lie: I picked this book up because the cover made me laugh. But this is a really good, quick read with interesting, unique characters, a good story, and good lessons. ( )

4.5 stars. Wanda E. Brunstetter’s The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club is a heartwarming story about six very different people who learn as much as about themselves as they do about quilting when they sign up for Emma Yoder’s quilting class.To read my review in its entirety, please visit http://www.bookreviewsandmorebykathy.com/2012/04/03/the-half-stitched-amish-quil... ( )