Pennsylvania Patchwork (26 page)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Which character do you identify with the most and why?

2. If you were Holly, which man would you pick for a mate and why?

3. How would growing up without a father affect Holly's opinions about relationships with men? What would you have done in Holly's position, if the person you loved were accused of fathering a child?

4. Esther and Holly see themselves as opposites. What characteristics do they have in common and what obstacles do they share?

5. How does harboring unforgiveness affect relationships? What is the best way to rid oneself of the burden of holding on to resentment and bitterness? How is maintaining a grudge hurting you more than the other person, who may not even know you harbor it?

6. Esther continues to blame herself for past mistakes and struggles with bitterness and accepting God's forgiveness. Do you think she and Beth have truly forgiven each other? Has Esther's mother, Anna, forgiven Esther?

7. Would you consider living on an Old Order Amish farm? Do you think Holly could be content without modern conveniences? What are the benefits of being a member of a defined, close-knit community, and what conflicts do you see as inevitable?

8. Do you think people can change the course of others' lives, as Anna and Esther have attempted? Have you had someone try to interfere with a decision you've made? If so, how did you feel?

9. Why are our greatest times of adversity also our best opportunities for growth and reliance on God?

About the Author

Kate Lloyd is a novelist, a mother of two sons, and a passionate observer of human relationships. A native of Baltimore, Kate spends time with family and friends in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the inspiration for
Leaving Lancaster
and
Pennsylvania Patchwork
. She is a member of the Lancaster County Mennonite Historical Society. Kate and her husband live in the Pacific Northwest, the setting for Kate's first novel,
A Portrait of Marguerite
. Kate studied painting and sculpture in college. She has worked a variety of jobs, including car salesman and restaurateur.

Kate loves hearing from readers and can be reached through her website,
www.katelloyd.net
, on FB at
www.facebook.com/katelloydbooks
or followed on Twitter @KateLloydAuthor. Or write her at:

Kate Lloyd

PO Box 204, 4616 25th Ave. NE

Seattle, WA 98105

PENNSYLVANIA PATCHWORK

Published by David C Cook

4050 Lee Vance View

Colorado Springs, CO 80918 U.S.A.

David C Cook Distribution Canada

55 Woodslee Avenue, Paris, Ontario, Canada N3L 3E5

David C Cook U.K., Kingsway Communications

Eastbourne, East Sussex BN23 6NT, England

The graphic circle C logo is a registered trademark of David C Cook.

All rights reserved. No part of this ebook may be reproduced, scanned, resold, or distributed by or through any print or electronic medium without written permission from the publisher. This ebook is licensed solely for the personal and noncommercial use of the original authorized purchaser, subject to the terms of use under which it was purchased. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author's rights.

The website addresses recommended throughout this book are offered as a resource to you. These websites are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement on the part of David C Cook, nor do we vouch for their content.

This story is a work of fiction. Characters and events are the product of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to any person, living or dead, is coincidental.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. (Public Domain.) Scripture quotations marked
NIV
are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com.

LCCN 2013935960

ISBN 978-0-7814-0873-8

eISBN 978-0-7814-0961-2

© 2013 Kate Lloyd

The author is represented by MacGregor Literary, Inc. of Hillsboro, OR.

The Team: Don Pape, Jamie Chavez, Nick Lee, Renada Arens, Karen Athen

Cover Design: Amy Konyndyk

Cover Photos: Steve Gardner, Pixelworks Studios

and Bill Coleman, NoToCo, LLC, www.amishphoto.com

First Edition 2013

Photo by Noel G. Lloyd

A native of Baltimore, KATE LLOYD spends time with family and friends in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the inspiration for
Leaving Lancaster
and
Pennsylvania Patchwork.
She is a member of the Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society and has done extensive research on the Amish. Kate and her husband live in Seattle. Learn more about Kate at katelloyd.net and facebook.com/katelloydbooks and on Twitter @KateLloydAuthor.

If you enjoyed this title, visit
DCCeBooks.com
for more great reads.

What people are saying about …

Pennsylvania Patchwork

“Love is in the air in Kate Lloyd's
Pennsylvania Patchwork
as the tale of three generations under one roof continues. Holly Fisher has been looking for love and suddenly finds herself pursued by multiple suitors. Her very Amish grandmother Anna disapproves of Holly's choice (a Mennonite vet) and takes pains to end the romance. Esther, Holly's mother, has a love story of her own brewing. Then an unexpected delivery forces Holly, Esther, and Anna to face issues long ignored and, surprisingly, brings healing and forgiveness. Lloyd's very enjoyable read has just enough twists, turns, and romance to delight the Amish fiction reader.”

Suzanne Woods Fisher,
bestselling author of The Stoney Ridge Seasons series
and The Lancaster County Secrets series

Praise for …

Leaving Lancaster

“A lovingly written tale of family, forgiveness, and redemption. Readers of Amish fiction will love every moment.”

Hillary Manton Lodge,
author of the Carol Award Finalist
Plain Jayne

“In
Leaving Lancaster
, Kate Lloyd gives us a fascinating glimpse into a tightly knit Amish community—and the terrible impact a daughter's thoughtless rebellion has had on three generations of women. This novel is well crafted and compelling!”

Serena B. Miller,
author of
Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio

“Kate Lloyd explores familial bonds in this warm and moving novel. She deftly captures the complicated relationships between mothers and daughters, exploring both expectations and disappointments. This talented and capable writer will leave you wanting more.”

Suzanne Woods Fisher,
author of the bestselling Lancaster County Secrets series

“In
Leaving Lancaster
, Kate Lloyd has penned an inspirational novel about a long-kept secret that threatens to destroy an entire family. While the truth seems painful at first, Kate's beautiful story demonstrates how forgiveness can heal even the deepest of wounds.”

Melanie Dobson,
award-winning author of
Love Finds You in Amana, Iowa
and
The Silent Order