Book Review (and a Giveaway!): Pockets of Purpose by Laurie Stroup Smith

POCKETS OF PURPOSE
SERIES: The Pocket Quilt #2
GENRE: Inspirational Amish Romance
PUBLISHER: Vinspire Publishing
RELEASE DATE: June 30, 2021
PAGES: 216

Two years after exchanging her first love letters with Gideon Petersheim, Dixie Yoder tucks his notes into her pocket quilt and travels from Pinecraft to Holmes County, hopeful for a future together

Their relationship blossoms until the auctioneer has surgery to remove a cyst from his vocal cords. Complications from the procedure interfere with his healing, leaving him searching for his passions and purpose. Instead of leaning on Dixie through this tough time, Gideon pushes her away and turns his back on God..

Frustrated and heartbroken, Dixie is torn between staying in Ohio with the new friends she has grown to love or returning to Pinecraft to nurse a broken heart. Knowing what he’s losing, Gideon must fight through the anger to find his way back to her. But is he too late?

Other Books In This Series

Pockets of Purpose is a sweet follow-up to Smith’s debut, Pockets of Promise. Readers who enjoyed her first Pocket Quilt novel will definitely love this second book in the series, too! The author’s engaging writing style draws you into the story, and the characters will take up residence in your heart. Especially sweet little Ruby King and her adorable lisp!

Gideon & Dixie met two years ago when Gideon was on vacation in Pinecraft, the popular Amish beach destination & Dixie’s home. Since then, their romance has been mainly carried out long distance, via affectionate letters that Dixie lovingly stores in her pocket quilt. (A side note: I love reading about Pinecraft, something about it just fascinates me. Even though I’m not a huge fan of beaches or Florida, books like those in this series make me want to visit some day.) Dixie is thrilled at the opportunity to visit Gideon (and her friend Mariah from book one) in Ohio for the summer and carries with her the hope that a ‘forever’ with Gideon is in her near future. However, as is wont to happen, things don’t turn out quite as either of them planned, and Smith weaves a gentle path through their journey that keeps readers invested in the outcome.

While most readers will likely take Dixie’s side and want to purse whomp Gideon (and I get that, totally. I did, too, a couple of times.), I also very much sympathized with Gideon and his feelings. I know the swirl of emotions and doubt that you experience when something is wrong with your body & you are powerless to change it, particularly when – like Gideon – that something wrong means your dreams, your passions, your purposes may suddenly look different than they did when you were healthy. Been there. Done that. And the author authentically captures this struggle, as well as the lessons God teaches him in the process. I loved Dixie’s personality, her warm heart, her giggles … her reaction to a conversation with Gideon near the end of the story still has me grinning when I think about it. She’s just really cute, and she’s a great match for Gideon’s more serious side.

Bottom Line: Pockets of Purpose by Laurie Stroup Smith is a light romance with a sweet message and characters you’ll fully embrace. Readers who enjoyed the first book in Smith’s Pocket Quilt series will love visiting with familiar characters again and catching up on their lives. Dixie and Gideon are engaging characters you’ll be rooting for, and their journey to trusting God’s plan for their lives (even when it’s different from their own) is heartwarming and tender. A great choice for fans of Wanda E. Brunstetter and Beverly Lewis!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.)

My Rating: 4 stars / loved it!

KissingBook Level: 3 / may forget to breathe on occasion

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Also available to read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

While writing Amish fiction and contemporary romance, Laurie Stroup Smith strives to inspire readers to serve others. She was named a Finalist in the 2017 ACFW First Impressions Contest and a Semi-Finalist in the 2018 and 2019 ACFW Genesis Contests. She has been interviewed by Loveland Magazine and has been a guest on the Buggy Talk and Fierce Calling podcasts.

Before writing, Laurie earned a bachelor’s degree in both athletic training and exercise science and later obtained her master’s degree in health promotion and education. She now writes full time and lives with her husband and their two daughters in Cincinnati.

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(1) Winner will receive a signed paperback copy of Pockets of Purpose and a felt bird ornament.

For additional chances to win, please visit each tour stop. The tour schedule and associated links are listed HERE. Giveaway begins at 12:01am (ET) on July 6, 2021, and concludes at 11:59pm (ET) on July 9, 2021. US mailing addresses only.

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