We return to Colorado for the update on a rather special quilt. The Yoder sisters have been hand-sewing pieces in each book of the Amish Quiltmaker series. I have enjoyed the romance stories to date. Ada Yoder takes her turn in THE AMISH QUILTMAKER’S UNATTACHED NEIGHBOR.

New neighbour Enos Hoover takes on a semi-derelict farmhouse and neglected acres. However, he believes that according to the deeds, six acres and water rights should be his, which are used by the Yoder farm. The sturdy wooden fence was built by the Yoders over a decade ago, and Ada, a capable farm worker and housekeeper in her thirties, has no intention of ceding land or water to the newcomer. 

Enos has sunk his money into the property, and he’s also supporting his aged mother, Tabitha Hoover. This lady keeps insisting she would be happier if she’d stayed in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, as the altitude and company in Byler, Colorado, don’t suit her. For an Amish lady, she is remarkably ungracious to everyone. Talk about someone being hard to please, but Enos just nods his head and keeps working. 

Ada’s Dad, Mervin Yoder, is sure of his claim to the six acres of their land, but he doesn’t want to start a fight, and the Amish don’t like going to lawyers. Enos wants their fence moved so he can plough and sow potatoes. Amusingly, Ada decides to camp out in the field. The Amish ladies get together over quilting as a way to share news since gossip is frowned upon, and to meet others in the wider community, such as Cathy Larsen who obliges with driving and phoning. The wise quiltmaker Esther Kiem organises them to get work done, and they chatter happily. Only Ada and her younger sister Beth are still unmarried in the group. Ada is critical of Tabitha’s behaviour, but gradually she sees that she should be looking nearer to home.

I love the humour in Jennifer Beckstrand’s books, and it’s not the first time she’s shown us Amish women camping out in a protest. This is quite an unusual situation, especially as everyone respects that farming work has to get done no matter what. Some straight talking by Cathy and growing up by Beth feature, with Beth set to be the next sister to get her story. THE AMISH QUILTMAKER’S UNATTACHED NEIGHBOR will resonate with farming families everywhere, as land is life when it comes to farming food.