Up to this point, all of the books I've read in this series have been fairly light, easy reads. A mystery, some historical fiction, some thought-provoking ideas, but mostly nice stories that feel good.
A Promise in Pieces stands out a bit. It is a message of hope, and enduring friendship, but with sadness and grief along the way.
From the publisher:
A baby quilt touches many hearts as it travels from family-to-family and through generations.
After the end of World War II, Clara Kirkpatrick returns from the Women's Army Corp to deliver a dying soldier's last wishes: convey his love to his young widow, Mattie, with apologies for the missed life they had planned to share.
Struggling with her own post-war trauma, Clara thinks she's not prepared to handle the grief of this broken family. Yet upon meeting Mattie, and receiving a baby quilt that will never cuddle the soldier's baby, Clara vows to honor the sacrifices that family made.Clara, in the year 2000 and on a road trip with her husband, children and grandchildren, is telling the story of her life, beginning as a 21-year old nursing school graduate in 1943. She defies her parents, enlists as an Army nurse, and serves in France. This is grueling, exhausting, and overwhelming.
Now a labor and delivery nurse in her rural hometown, Clara wraps each new babe in the gifted quilt and later stitches the child's name into the cloth. As each new child is welcomed by the quilt, Clara begins to wonder whatever happened to Mattie---and if her own life would ever experience the love of a newborn. Little does she know that she will have the opportunity to re-gift the special quilt---years later and carrying even greater significance than when it was first bestowed.
One of her dying patients, a young pastor, dictates a letter and makes Clara promise to deliver it to his widow. Once the war ends and she does head back to the US, Clara makes good on that promise, and is given the baby quilt. Clara reconciles with her parents, becomes a midwife, and begins using that quilt to wrap the babies she delivers.
The story alternates between moving through her young life and this road trip that she is on, until the stories "come together" beautifully.
It is a great book, but it isn't all sweetness and light. Dying soldiers, dying husbands, miscarriages, dying mothers... and that makes it sound far more depressing than it is! The book has a solid message, but it is not the "escape" literature that I've seen in the rest of the Quilts of Love series.
It is probably my favorite so far too.
You can see what other LitFuse reviewers had to say about this book as well!
The latest Quilts of Love release, A Promise in Pieces by Emily Wierenga is receiving glowing reviews.
Emily is celebrating the release of her debut novel with a "Women Helping Women" shopping spree giveaway.
One winner will receive:
- $200 to spend at Emily's favorite shops, Noonday Collection & Vibella (Click through to learn more about how these companies exist to make a difference in the lives of women!)
- A Promise in Pieces by Emily Wierenga
- A Stitch and a Prayer by Eva Gibson
- Rival Hearts by Tara Randel
Spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.
Disclaimer: I received this book through LitFuse Blog Tour. No other compensation was received. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
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