Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher. Post contains affiliate links; if you make a purchase, I may earn commission. Opinions shared are mine.

It’s been a while since I took the time to read an Amish romance. A Patchwork Past by Leslie Gould is book #2 in the Plain Patterns series, but it’s an easy standalone for those who haven’t read book #1 (I didn’t.) You can get caught up very quickly as the story takes place in the same town as book #1.

Let’s take a moment to appreciate this beautiful book cover. I love everything about it, from the white picket fence to the garden veggies growing on the ground. And take a look at the gorgeous quilt patterns hanging on the clothesline! It’s a work of art.

This is one of those story-within-a-story type books, and there’s an interesting connection to the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. I enjoyed the trip to the past. I liked that the modern-day main character Sophie had an unusual backstory. She had a foot in the Amish world, but was trying to live as an Englisch person. I could relate to her passion for gardening. Though there was a touch of romance in the book, it wasn’t overwhelming at all. I much prefer when romance takes a backseat to a well developed plot.

The only thing I didn’t like about this book was the heavy political agenda it pushed. There was a strong bias about immigration, and a very negative tone about police. I understood the message the author was trying to promote; however, reading is my escape from the world. Unfortunately, I just didn’t get that from this book.