A Promise in Pieces Book Review

Quilts of Love

SUMMARY:  A small gift, a simple promise, a life forever changed.

     It's been more than fifty years since Clara cared for injured WWII soldiers in the Women's Army Corps.  Fifty years since she promised to deliver a dying soldier's last wish.  And fifty years since that soldier's young widow gave her the baby quilt - a grief-ridden gift that would provide hope to countless newborns in the years to come.

     On her way to the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, Clara decided it's time to share her story.  But when the trip doesn't go as planned, Clara wonders if anyone will learn the great significance of the quilt - and the promise stitched inside it.

REVIEW:  This novel is different from most World War II stories I've read but was interesting in how the story played out.  One of my favorite parts was Clara telling her grandson her story and the story of the quilt and his continued interest.  I like how even though Clara's life wasn't easy, she chose to listen to the Lord's leading and follow Him.  In doing so, she blessed many woman and their babies with the quilt and showed them the love of the Lord.  It covers a lot of history but does it quickly without leaving out important details.  This was an enjoyable book.

This book was provided by Litfuse Publicity Group for review without compensation.

Emily T. Wierenga is an award-winning journalist, columnist, artist, author, and blogger at emilywierenga.com.  She lives in Alberta, Canada, with her husband, Trenton, and their two sons.

Maybelle in Stitches Book Review

Quilts of Love Series

SUMMARY:  A patchwork quilt holds together two hearts separated by miles of ocean and the Second World War.

     Maybelle can't sew.  But when she finds an unfinished quilt in her mother's closet, she gets the crazy idea to complete it.  At first, it's just a way to fill the lonely nights while her husband, Holden Kazinski, is away fighting in World War II.

     Yet when Maybelle discovers that the quilt is made from scraps of material that can be traced back through her family heritage, the project is suddenly much more important.  Then word comes that Holden is missing in action, and with little else to do, Maybelle clings to the quilt as much as to the hope that her husband is still alive.  As neighborhood friends gather around Maybelle to help her through the unknown days and nights ahead, it is the quilt that becomes a symbol of her unflagging belief that Holden will return to her, to their home, and to their quilt-covered bed.

REVIEW:  Maybelle is a beacon of hope of all of us women who are not the domestic type.  She can't cook, sew or keep a house but she loves working at the shipyard as a welder, helping to build ships in hopes one will bring her husband home soon.  Her attempt at making a dress in high school was a complete disaster (sounds so much like mine!).  I like how she still gets in there and tries (with MASSIVE amounts of encouragement and help from her friends) to make something for her husband to have when he returns from the war.  When she gets bad news after bad news, she doesn't go hide and cry but stands firm in her faith that God will get her through.  

     This book shows that the women at home did not sit around waiting for their men to get home from war.  They got to work, inside and outside the home, making ships and planes, living very frugally, to make sure their boys had whatever they needed.  The women banded together to provide support and encouragement, along with whatever else was needed, in tough times.

     One of the endearing parts was, after Maybelle and her friends started working on the quilt, the other girls also provided cloth squares from items that meant something special to them.  It represented all the hopes, dreams and memories of friends and family.

     This was an enjoyable book.

This book was provided by Litfuse Publicity Group for review without compensation.

 

Joyce Magnin is the author of several books, including The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow, named one of the "Top 5 Best Christian Fiction Books of 2009" by Library Journal.  She has three children and one grandson and is mom to a neurotic parakeet.

Scraps of Evidence Book Review

Quilts of Love

Every Quilt Has A Story

SUMMARY:  Could a quilt really hold the secrets of a serial killer?

     Tess struggles to balance her career as a police detective and caring for her Aunt Susan.  Her partner, Logan, wants to help but find it hard to believe the brisk professional officer he works with during the day has a softer side - and a love of quilts.  It's a love Tess shares with Aunt Susan, who cherishes a particular quilt she made when she was younger.

     When some of Susan's cryptic comments about the quilt and its origins spark Tess's curiosity, the detective in her leads Tess to unravel the story behind this heirloom.  As she discovers the origins of the quilt, Tess unexpectedly uncovers clues that may lead her to a serial killer . . . a killer who is quite willing to kill again to keep his secrets hidden.

REVIEW:   After reading the summary of the book, I was intrigued with the idea of a quilt holding the secrets of a serial killer.  The author did not disappoint.  She kept me guessing as to who the killer was, how the quilt was involved and how everything was going to turn out.  Now, while I figured out early on who the killer was, this story did not disappoint.  I liked the twists and turns the story took and how even the most remote item or insignificant event linked up to something bigger.  I also like how she wrapped everything up, even laughing at some of her methods.  It would be delightful to see Tess and Logan turn up in a few more novels of this sort.  This was a good book and look forward to reading more stories from this author. 

This book was provided by Litfuse Publicity Group for review without compensation.

Barbara Cameron is the author of more than 35 fiction and nonfiction books and three nationally televised movies and is the winner of the first Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Award.  She currently resides in Edgewater, Florida.  Find out more about Barbara at BarbaraCameron.com and AmishLiving.com.

A Marriage in Middlebury Book Review

SUMMARY:  One decision changed both their lives... but will love win in the end?
     Charlotte Rose Hill enjoys a comfortable life serving up country delicacies, uniquely blended teas, and matchmaking advice for her quirky, devoted customers.  The only thing lacking is someone to share it with.
     At eighteen she denied Sam Wilder's marriage proposal after his family convinced her to walk away from their relationship.  They both moved on...or so she thought.  When Sam walks back into her life more than a decade later, Charlotte is surprised that her heart still quickens.  But is it because of his presence?  Or because of the presence of Sam's new fiancee?
     A second chance at love doesn't happen often, but their past may keep them apart.  Is it too late for Sam and Charlotte?

REVIEW:  This was an interesting story with lots of quirky characters who move in and out of the novel.  Sometimes it was hard remember who each person was, their role and relevance to the main story, and their relationships to the other members.  There are also at least three different tales woven together around Sam and Charlotte's characters and stories that worked together pretty easily that make this book work.  It was an easy read that will tug at your heartstrings.  My 12-year-old daughter even liked it.

This book was provided by Litfuse for review without compensation.

Award-winning author, Anita Higman, has written more than twenty books for adults and children, including Winter in Full Bloom, A Merry Little Christmas, and Love Finds You in Humble, Texas.  She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and lives in the Houston area.  Learn more about the author at www.anitahigman.com.

Aloha Rose Book Review

Quilts of Love

Every Quilt Has A Story

SUMMARY:  Will conflict with one man keep Laney from her dream of a loving family?

     When Laney Carrigan sets out to find her birth family, her only clue is the Hawai'ian quilt - a red rose snowflake applique on a white background - in which she was found wrapped as an infant.  Centering her search on the Big Island and battling fears of rejection, Laney begins a painstaking journey toward her true heritage.

     Kai Barnes, however, is determined to protect the people he loves.  He thinks Laney is nothing more than a gold-digger and blocks every move she makes.  As their conflict escalates, it puts at risk the one thing that Kai and Laney both want most - a family.

REVIEW:  This was an interesting book.  Laney has always felt a little out of place because of many different things:  her darker coloring, being adopted, moving a lot as an Army brat, and now with her dad's remarriage after her mother's passing some years earlier.  Something that stood out to me was the sacrifices made by both Laney's birth mom and adopted mom.  Her birth mother, Rose, knew she could not care for her child like she needed so she finds a family to take the baby, even though the family is unsuspecting.  Laney's adopted mom, Gisela, gives up her family in Germany because they would not accept Laney as hers because of her dark coloring.  She often heard rude comments that the child was the product of an affair her husband had while serving in Asia. 
     As Laney struggles to feel like she fits in with her birth family, I like how her grandmother, in the early stages of dementia, loves and accepts her without any hesitation or reservation.  I also like how Aunt Teah, who has a huge heart, adopted Kai, a young boy who came from a very difficult home life, and loved him just like he was her own.
     This is a good book that has enough twists to keep you guessing on how things will work out in the end.

This book was provided by Litfuse for review without compensation.

Lisa Carter has taught at the university, high school, and middle school levels and currently teaches music at a preschool.  She is a member of the ACFW, RWA and several online writers' forums and has been published in MomSense and Christian Parenting Today.  Lisa and her husband, David, live in North Carolina and have two beautiful daughters.

The Christmas Quilt Book Review

Quilts of Love

Every Quilt Has A Story

SUMMARY:  Babies have their own schedule.  But so does God.  Annie's life is deliciously full as the Christmas season approaches. She helps her husband, Samuel, attend to the community's minor medical needs.  She occasionally assists Belinda, the local midwife.  And most days, she finds herself taking the buggy to her brother Adam's home.
     When her friend Leah is due to deliver her first child before Christmas, Annie becomes determined to finish a crib quilt before the boppli arrives.  But God's plans are different from Annie's, and she may not finish the quilt in time.  As each piece of the quilt comes together, Annie discovers the quilt holds far greater significance than she ever imagined.

REVIEW:  This is a sweet novel about best friends and sisters-in-law who go through their first pregnancies together.  I like how the girls used the quilt for one of Leah's twins to change their outlook during difficult circumstances. Using Galatians 5:22-23 regarding the fruit of the Spirit and the nine squares of the crib quilt, they told a story that matched each fruit and started focusing on positive things instead of negative.  Doing this not only changes their outlooks but their husbands and the people around them.  This book is a great way to start off the Christmas season.
    The author mentions that this book returns to visit Annie, Samuel and their friends from her novel, A Simple Amish Christmas.  This book does not seem like a follow-up (it's not quite a sequel) and the extra characters and their relationship to Annie and Samuel are explained very well.

This book was provided by Litfuse for review without compensation.

Vannetta Chapman is the author of five books about the Amish and has published more than one hundred articles in Christian family magazines.  She discovered her love for the Amish while researching her grandfather's birthplace in Albion, Pennsylvania.  Vannetta lives in Texas hill country with her husband.

The Dog That Talked to God Book Review

SUMMARY:  Sometimes the least expected can be the most amazing.
     Recently widowed Mary Fassler buys a Miniature Schnauzer, Rufus, and her world is turned sideways in the midst of her grief.  It seems that Rufus speaks.  And not just to her.  He also talks to God.
     When Rufus begins sharing advice that could result in major life changes, Mary gets the feeling the pooch might not be steering her in the right direction.  Or is she just afraid to take a leap and discover something she desperately needs?  Only Rufus - and God - knows.

REVIEW:  This book was okay but not what I expected. Having read The Cat God Sent, I had an idea what Rufus might be like.  But he was nothing like Petey's character.  Where Petey seemed educated regarding people and social events and issues, Rufus was completely clueless and had to have Mary explain a lot of things which he still couldn't comprehend.
     The book was written in first person narrative, which was interesting but that may have been the most interesting part.  Rufus didn't seem to give advice as much as suggested in the Summary.  He often had questions for Mary but did make some suggestions when asked questions.  For example, after a friend of Mary's suggested she go out on a date (Mary has been widowed for about three years), Rufus agrees with the friend when Mary asked his thoughts.  He did help Mary from making a mistake when things started getting serious between Mary and her date one evening.
     This was an okay book and might be good for summertime or vacation reading.

This book was provided by Litfuse Publicity Group for review without compensation.

Jim Kraus is a longtime writer and editor who has authored or coauthored 20 books, both fiction and nonfiction.  His best-selling humor book, Bloopers, Blunders, Jokes, Quips, and Quotes, was published by Tyndale, sold more than 40,000 copies, inspired several spin-off books.  Jim and his wife, novelist Terri Kraus, have one son and live in the Chicago area.

The Cat That God Sent Book Review

SUMMARY:  Meet Petey, your not-so-average cat - on a mission from God.
     Disillusioned young pastor, Jake Wilkerson, has just arrived at his new assignment in the small rural church of Coudersport, Pensylvania.  Also new on the scene is Petey, a cat of unknown origins and breed - but of great perception.
     As Jake sets about doing the business of ministry, Petey's continued interference brings chaos to the community of curiously off and eccentric people - residents like the faith-avoiding veterinarian Emma Grainger and Tassy, a young runaway with a secret.  An expert at hiding his fears, Jake wonders if all this - and the cat to boot - is more than he can handle.  What is Petey's real "mission"?  Perhaps something larger than Jake - or even Petey - can possibly know.

REVIEW:  This was an interesting book.  Being that I'm not much of a cat person, I wasn't sure what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised.  The main human characters of the book - Jake, Tassy and Emma - were each hiding a secret that they did not want anyone to know about it.  Once the secrets are revealed, healing was able to finally take place.  I like how Petey bring about change in the small church Jake pastored, change that was desperately needed.  This change helped Jake discover his true calling and brought needed healing to many lives.  Petey's character was well written.  He did not speak directly to God but the Holy Spirit helped guide Petey in doing what needed to be done.  While he also did not speak directly to Jake with human words, Petey communicated in meows, growls, and purrs to make his ideas and wishes known and made it seemed totally believable. 
    This is a good book that is great for some summertime and vacation reading.  I highly recommend it.  A discussion guide is included for anyone reading this in a book club or just on their own.

This book was provided by Litfuse Publicity Group for review without compensation.

Jim Kraus grew up in Western Pennsylvania and has spent the last twenty years as a vice president of a major Christian publishing house.  He has written more than twenty books and novels, including the best-selling The Dog That Talked to God. He and his family live outside of Chicago with a sweet miniature Schnauzer and an ill-tempered Siberian cat named (of course) Petey.