A Patchwork Past (Plain Patterns)

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.