Laurie Stroup Smith

Pockets of Peace by Laurie Stroup Smith is a heartwarming Amish tale. It is the third book in The Pocket Quilt series. Each book in this charming series can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading each book in this engaging series. We travel to Pinecraft, Florida where Lydia Byler is hoping for a fresh start. She gave up a baby boy for adoption five years ago and the memories still haunt her. Lydia gets to reconnect with Wesley Hockstetler to whom she has been attracted for many years. Wesley, though, is not aware of her situation. Lydia learns that her son’s adoptive parents are coming to Pinecraft and that he has been asking questions about her. She is inspired to create a pocket quilt for him using material from her maternity dresses. Lydia includes notes for the boy that she hopes will answer any questions he asks. Lydia worries what will happen with Wesley when her secret is exposed. I thought Pockets of Peace was well-written with realistic characters and situations. I liked getting to know Lydia, Wesley, Birdie, Noelle, Luke, Roxie, and the other characters. I enjoyed the authors beautiful descriptions of Pinecraft. Her vivid word imagery brought the area alive for me. Pinecraft to be a unique community where Amish and Mennonite live and work. Bicycles are the main mode of transportation (no place to keep horses in Pinecraft). Adoption and the pocket quilt are two of the themes in the story. There are touching scenes with Lydia writing the notes and making the quilt. I liked how Lydia helped out at the local women’s shelter and the way the author handled the topic of domestic abuse. I loved little Roxie. I liked seeing Lydia get to know Roxie and help her plus her mother. Pockets of Peace is a poignant Amish tale that provided a special conclusion to the series. I am sorry to see The Pocket Quilt series come to an end. Pockets of Peace is a special Amish tale with an unplanned pregnancy, beautiful beaches, a shameful secret, indulgent ice cream, a beloved boy, a precious pocket quilt, and powerful prayers.… (meer)

Pockets of Peace by Laurie Stroup Smith is a heartwarming Amish tale. It is the third book in The Pocket Quilt series. Each book in this charming series can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading each book in this engaging series. We travel to Pinecraft, Florida where Lydia Byler is hoping for a fresh start. She gave up a baby boy for adoption five years ago and the memories still haunt her. Lydia gets to reconnect with Wesley Hockstetler to whom she has been attracted for many years. Wesley, though, is not aware of her situation. Lydia learns that her son’s adoptive parents are coming to Pinecraft and that he has been asking questions about her. She is inspired to create a pocket quilt for him using material from her maternity dresses. Lydia includes notes for the boy that she hopes will answer any questions he asks. Lydia worries what will happen with Wesley when her secret is exposed. I thought Pockets of Peace was well-written with realistic characters and situations. I liked getting to know Lydia, Wesley, Birdie, Noelle, Luke, Roxie, and the other characters. I enjoyed the authors beautiful descriptions of Pinecraft. Her vivid word imagery brought the area alive for me. Pinecraft to be a unique community where Amish and Mennonite live and work. Bicycles are the main mode of transportation (no place to keep horses in Pinecraft). Adoption and the pocket quilt are two of the themes in the story. There are touching scenes with Lydia writing the notes and making the quilt. I liked how Lydia helped out at the local women’s shelter and the way the author handled the topic of domestic abuse. I loved little Roxie. I liked seeing Lydia get to know Roxie and help her plus her mother. Pockets of Peace is a poignant Amish tale that provided a special conclusion to the series. I am sorry to see The Pocket Quilt series come to an end. Pockets of Peace is a special Amish tale with an unplanned pregnancy, beautiful beaches, a shameful secret, indulgent ice cream, a beloved boy, a precious pocket quilt, and powerful prayers.… (meer)

I enjoyed this book, and once I started reading, I had to read to the end.
While the book starts with such heartbreak, and an Amish Community that shuns her, Lydia Byler, there are also people that are there for this hurting young woman.
I loved that previous characters, that you already cared for reappear in this story. Aunt Birdie for one open her arms and home and takes in Lydia, and she lives in Pinecraft Florida, and that is where Wesley lives!
Then there is the pocket quilt Lydia makes, and we get to read the letters that she writes and places in the quilts pockets, and a precious object she places in one pocket.
There are secrets that Lydia needs to share with Wesley, but will she? As these two grow closer, you wonder will they be able to succeed in having a permanent relationship, or will secrets keep them apart?
What a great conclusion to a wonderful series!
I received a complimentary copy of this book, and was not required to give a positive review.… (meer)

Pockets of Purpose by Laurie Stroup Smith is a charming Amish novel. Dixie Yoder has been corresponding with Gideon Petersheim since he visited Pinecraft, Florida two years prior. Dixie gets a chance to visit Holmes County thanks to an invitation from her friend, Mariah. When Dixie learns that Gideon will be having surgery on a cyst in his throat, she arranges to leave early so she can care for him. Unfortunately, Gideon’s surgery is not a success and his career as an auctioneer is in tatters. Gideon pushes away the caring Dixie which has her pondering her future. What does God have in store for Dixie and Gideon? I enjoyed reading this heartwarming Amish tale. Pockets of Purpose is well-written with engaging characters. I love Dixie’s outlook on life. The author provided beautiful descriptions of Holmes County and the characters. That is important to me because it allows me to envision the scenes in my mind. I found myself quickly turning the pages so I could find out how this story would end. Pockets of Purpose is the second book in The Pocket Quilt Series, but it can be read as a standalone. Personally, I feel it is better to have read Pockets of Promise first (it was a delightful story). I am glad we get to catch up with Mariah and Josiah. I appreciated the epilogue at the end which wrapped up the story plus a glimpse at a new couple (maybe they will be in the next book). This is a sweet wholesome Christian story (kissing only). My favorite phrase from Pockets of Purpose is, “Try not to dwell on what isn’t going to be or what might not happen. Tomorrow will have enough worries of its own.” There are good life lessons in Pockets of Purpose including that when one door closes, you need to trust that God will open another one for you. You just have to be brave enough plus have faith in God to walk through that newly opened door. Pockets of Purpose is an uplifting Amish tale with an anxious auctioneer, precious pockets, lengthy letters, a caring community, a serious surgery, and a compassionate maedel.… (meer)