Saturday, May 3, 2014

Book Review: A Quilter's Holiday

Author: Jennifer Chiaverini
Title: A Quilter's Holiday
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publish Date: Nov 3, 2009
Buy: Amazon
Book Blurb: 
The Elm Creek Quilters are home for the holidays in this heartwarming Christmas story from New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Chiaverini.

For the Elm Creek Quilters, the day after Thanksgiving marks the start of the quilting season, a time to gather at Elm Creek Manor and spend the day stitching holiday gifts for loved ones. This year, in keeping with the season’s spirit of gratitude, Master Quilter Sylvia Bergstrom Compson Cooper is eager to revive a cherished family tradition. A recent remodeling of the manor’s kitchen unearthed a cornucopia that once served as the centerpiece of the Bergstrom family’s holiday table. Into it, each Bergstrom would place an object that symbolized something he or she was especially thankful for that year. On this quilter’s holiday, Sylvia has invited her friends to continue the tradition by sewing quilt blocks that represent their thankfulness and gratitude.

As each quilter explains the significance of her carefully chosen block, stories of love and longing for family and friends emerge—feelings that are also expressed in the gifts they work on throughout the day. An early winter storm blankets Elm Creek Manor in heavy snow as the quilters find new meanings in their best-loved traditions and new reasons to be thankful. A Quilter’s Holiday is a story of holiday spirit, in its truest, most generous sense.

Review:  This is book 15 in the Elm Creek Quilters series, and I really like how Jennifer changed things up from some of the previous books. This one takes the focus away from Sylvia and puts it on the ladies that come to the manor to quilt.

I loved everyone's stories. Gwen, Gretchen, Diane as well as the new cook, Anna, who we met in The Quilter's Kitchen get to shine.  All of these women have something to give and we learn that as we see what brought them to Elm Creek Manor. Oh and we also get more of Sarah and Matt, who are expecting twins now!

Chiaverini lets us see some marital issues, as well as people trying to hold on to traditions and making new ones through past actions. Each woman has a special story and you really will come to love them. I think I loved Gwen and Gretchen the most. Gwen made her mistakes but was able to overcome those and we hear how one woman really influenced her life. Then there's Gretchen who has a wonderful ability to give of herself.

Sylvia also gets some good news in regards to her cousin Elizabeth's family. That really brings a tear to your eye, because Jennifer Chiaverini really drives home how much Sylvia loved this cousin in most of the books.

This book was set on the days following Thanksgiving. Almost all of the Elm Creek books revolve around the year end holidays. I loved the discussions of food for the pot luck lunch that the ladies have for their special get together after the holiday.

This was such a sweet cozy read. I always look forward to reading about the quilting ladies.

Rating: 5 flowers


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