The Healing Quilt

September 1, 2014

Amish couple Emma and Lamar Miller are spending time at their winter home in Sarasota, FL. Emma decides once again to offer quilting lessons in her home with the help of her husband, a quilt historian of sorts. The class draws a motley crew of students: a young girl, wheelchair-bound after a diving accident; a first-time pregnant woman with an unemployed husband; a charter boat owner who worries over the future of his business; a waitress trying to overcome her clumsiness; a newly retired widow; and an artist in the throes of a life-threatening illness. The Millers have six weeks to draw on their wisdom and faith to help these walking wounded. This leisurely paced sequel to The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club and The Tattered Quilt attempts to create a hopeful and at times emotionally charged mood but falls short and flat. The jarring transitions among the individuals' narratives make the overall story line feel disjointed and difficult to follow. The preachy dialog between the Millers and their students is unrealistic and too intrusive. VERDICT This title will likely only entertain fans of previous installments in the series.

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