A beautiful story of three friends from various backgrounds who join together in running a craft store supporting and encouraging each other through the problems they each face. A hearwarming and enjoyable book.

A different twist on love stories. It was a nice way to spend a day.

wonderful book i really enjoyed it

A lot of friendships begin over tragedy, and the premise of this story is just what happens. I enjoyed the way Leah got her job at Roses Knit One Quilt Too Cottage, and that job fell in her lap, along with the new friends, and again with a lot in common, sad in the fact they have lost loved ones.

We also get to enjoy two different cultures that pull together, Amish and the local residents coming together to help one of their own. There is also a bit of romance here, and it comes in different forms to all three of them. Although you dont know if any of these couple will end up together, or should, we get to enjoy the immersion into their everyday lives.

I got to walk in each of these amazing womans shoes, and watch what happened in their daily lives, and cringed at some of the happening. You are going to be chuckling, although I guess it isnt funny, when we have a meal at Lizs and her scrumptious meal is ruined, but that in it self is a blessing in disguise.

I would love to be able to continue with theses sisters of choice, and be in Sugarcreek with the people there, except for the banker.

I received this book through Edelweiss and Tyndale House Publishing, and was not required to give a positive review.

A fire at Faith Community Church reduced the building to ashes, and it has also claimed the lives of two peoplevolunteer firefighter, Henry Gruber, and church member, Rose Holtz, the owner of the Knit One Quilt Two Cottage. Both are sorely missed by the community. Henry Gruber left his wife Lydia, a young Amish woman, who moved with him from Pennsylvania eight years previously. Because of her husbands preference for isolation, she has made few friends even among the members of her church district.

Rose left behind not only the shop, but 27-year-old Jessica, a niece she has raised since the age of eight, and Jessicas six-year-old son Cole. Jessica has now inherited her aunts shop, and she and Cole move into the small apartment above the shop where Jessica grew up. The adjustment is difficult for both of them for many reasons. In addition to missing his Great Aunt Rose, Cole has just started first grade and had to leave many toys and treasures behind. Since his mother is now running the shop, she seems too busy to spend time with him. Besides mourning the woman who raised her when her parents were killed, Jessica is faced with a job she knows virtually nothing about. Even though she grew up around the fabric, yarn and sewing supplies at the Cottage, she never took an interest in learning the crafts. Now she is faced with customers asking for her advice and the task of ordering merchandise shes not familiar with.

Liz Cannon is a frequent visitor to the cottage. She is the type of person who smiles from head to foot with her sparkling eyes, plump rosy cheeks and fun-loving spirit. She buys yarn for her very simple knitting projects and checks on her best friends niece and great-nephew. A widow for the past seven years, Liz has felt adrift ever since the church was destroyed. It was there that she helped the community by cooking good meals for both church fellowship times and community members who need encouragement. Her small kitchen and the absence of the company of other church women, especially her best friend Rose, have left Liz questioning her purpose.

Near the beginning of the story, we see Jessica and Liz driving the back roads around Sugarcreek looking for the farm where Henry Grubers young widow is now living alone. Liz, a local real estate agent, purchased a bundle of shirts from an auction held recently at the Gruber house. Even though both Liz and Jessica have little in quilting, they decide to turn the fabric from the shirts into a Make-in-a-Weekend quilt to comfort Lydia. Their goal is to leave the gift anonymously during the night in keeping with the code of the Secret Stitches Society, a group consisting of Aunt Rose and Liz as an outreach from Faith Community Church. Jessica has only recently learned about the secret project her aunt was involved in. Apparently Liz feels that Jessica is the perfect person to carry on Roses role in the Secret Stitches Society.

When Lydia discovers the origin of the quilt, she also meets the women who made it. This is the beginning of a friendshipor a sisterhoodthat helps each of the three women discover what is important to her and how to look forward rather than back. In addition to sharing the secret of the anonymous gifts they continue to give, they also share a spirit of gratitude and a generosity. Despite the tragedies that have befallen them, they know that God is good and want others to experience that sentiment when troubles come. Rose used to say that the Secret Stitches Society gave more than gifts. They offered a stitch of hope . . . that could get a person through hard times more easily.

The Sisters of Sugarcreek is a novel of friendship, but its real message is one of hope and encouragement. This is the perfect book to read when you need some inspiration or are just craving a good story. It captures the spirit of a small town at its best and of the power of faith.