Disclosure: I received these books to review. The opinions shared here are 100% mine.
The Quilts of Love series from Abingdon Press have such a wonderful main idea—quilts bind us together. My husband and I have collected many quilts over the years. When we were newlyweds, we frequented the local auction and purchased a few tattered quilts to decorate our living room. Those quilts embody memories for us. We often wondered aloud who had stitched them and for what reason. When my children were born, I chose quilts for both of their nurseries. I’ve tried my hand at putting together a few quilt tops but haven’t actually quilted them. When I had the opportunity to review the Quilts of Love books, I knew they would be my cup of tea.

The Christmas Quilt is a sweet story of sisterhood and family. The quilt is symbolic of the love growing between the families in the book. I enjoyed the characters and their easy rapport with each other. This book will be a great read for anyone who loves Amish stories.   If you are gifting this book to a quilter, why not consider bundling it with some fabric squares or a gift card to Hobby Lobby?

This book deals with the ever-present issue of problems in delivering a baby.  I’ve had my share of setbacks in pregnancy and delivery, although I had never before considered the danger of doing so in an Amish home.  Home birth wasn’t an option for us in either of our babies’ births.  What if my lifestyle choices demanded that I face those risks head-on the way the characters in The Christmas Quilt must do?   The story was food for thought and gave me pause.  Since I read this during the Thanksgiving season, it also reminded me to give thanks for the gift of my two precious children.

I didn’t like Aloha Rose as much as The Christmas Quilt.  Aloha Rose was set in a tropical paradise but wasn’t the sunny climate I expected in the book.  Instead, it was sadly depressing in nature.  Although there were some high points, right now I seem to enjoy mind candy and don’t want to read realistic sad stories.