I’m a crazy crazy avid reader (some say a little insane) – and so one of my hopes was to throw some of my book reviews on here that I post on Goodreads.
So, relatively quilt related is the Shenandoah Album series by Emilie Richards – I had NO idea this was a series when I grabbed the first one. This first book is the relationship between Grandmother, Mother and daughter – all of which are wrestling with issues – some really serious and heart-wrenching. The rest of the series isn’t all female related, but usually female centered. Some spirituality and good characterization.
What I love about the entire series is how it interacts with quilting and handwork and how that interaction doesn’t seem forced. With the popularity of Jennifer Chiaverini and Marie Bostwick, there seem to be some books that have come out that sort of “shove” creative arts into the plot, hoping to rope people in with free patterns and cheap tricks (ok a bit harsh, but still!). I really love a good writer and Emilie Richards does a great job of characterization, weaving in current and controversial events, spirituality and “women’s arts” or Quilting.
I just finished “Touching Stars” which includes a character who owns a local bed and breakfast that is mentioned briefly and glossed over in at least one other book and now we meet her and her issues head on.
Each of these books really stands alone, and yet you get a kick out of the little glimmers from past characters as you go through the new stories – just a hint of what’s going on with them currently and without the complexities of The Cedar Cove series by Debbie Macomber!
In further news, I just finished “Wuthering Heights” and hated it! But that’s an entirely different story! Ha ha!