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Showing posts with label quilting fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label quilting fiction. Show all posts

Thursday, 1 May 2014

BOOK TOUR & GIVEAWAY: A PROMISE IN PIECES by Emily T WIERENGA 1.5.14

Welcome to Faith Hope & Cherrytea's stop on the book tour for talented Canadian author, Emily T Wierenga's debut novel
Quilts of Love #17
                                A PROMISE IN PIECES



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.
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, carrying even greater significance than when it was first bestowed.                          ~publisher
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Series: Quilts of Love #17
Page Count: pb 208 ebook 177
Published: April 15.14Publisher: Abingdon Press
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Here's Emily sharing her journey of writingA PROMISE IN PIECES
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As Emily shares on her release of A PROMISE IN PIECES,
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I’m not unlike Clara, the heroine of A Promise in Pieces, the reverend’s daughter and nurse who traveled across the waters to serve in a war her father didn’t believe in. Who came back, unmarried and lonely, promising to deliver a soldier’s letter to his wife and in turn, she received a quilt—one that would hold the babies she didn’t believe she would ever have, the husband she never thought would propose, the friend whose grace she never thought to find."

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My Thoughts?
I absolutely loved getting to know Emily's writing voice and story.
It adds understanding to both her as author plus
perspective on background and characters.
It adds depth and richness to a poignant journey .
Questions during the opening scene of the story 
were soon resolved and my heart was engaged before I expected.
Clara, an elderly woman, is travelling with husband, son and
grandson, on a family journey of some importance -
undisclosed 'til much later as her memoir unfolds.
The relational innuendos between the generations are beautiful,
setting the stage for the reminiscing to come.
Both car journey and life journey draw an ideal parallel
of distance covered and unexpected disruptions.
A story about a girl coming of age in a religiously strict home, daughter of a non-resistant minister and passive mother,
Clara paints with the colours of her adolescent brush.
Spirited and strong willed, she takes life in hand
and makes her decision to leave home based on her
understanding of her life to date.
True to life, that understanding proves far short of reality,
but we have an entire novel to experience Clara's journey to maturity. . .
The realism of this story captivated me on every level.
Conversations, character nuances, emotional engagement,
generational realities - all so authentically portrayed I
 have a hard time describing its full personal impact.
The story itself is engaging at an unusual level.
Perhaps it's the true to life realities.
The journeys of so many lives exceptionally described.
Misunderstandings disclosed and the ahah moments
when truth and understanding are finally revealed.
Perhaps it's the beauty of Emily's writing gift.
Evocative descriptions of people I cared about.
Heart wrenching losses so deeply felt, 
I sat reading midst heaps of soggy tissues!
And when the final moments draw the journey to its close?
We not only see the light of hope dawn once again
across Clara's horizon.
We feel it dawn within ourselves.
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Your GIFT~READ the first three chapters Here, FREE. 

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With every best wish for your continued success
in this new writing direction, Emily.
I'll be listening closely to hear your resonant voice
across our Canadian writing
 landscape!
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Available from Book Depository with Free Shipping!

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Author Bio:
Emily Wierenga is a former editor, ghostwriter, freelance writer and staff journalist, a monthly columnist for “The Christian Courier,” and the author of “Save My Children,” “Chasing Silhouettes,” and “Mom in the Mirror.” Emily's says, 'I am a broken wife, mother, author, and artist. I am a pastor's daughter and a former anorexic who speaks up for the voiceless. I am a world traveller who is slowly finding her way home. Welcome, friend.'  
Emily and her family reside in Alberta, Canada. This is her first novel. Find Emily Wierenga online site.
On facebook and twitter @emily_wierenga
*Help Emily spread the word about this book.   Here is the link to pre-made tweets and Pins - Thank you!
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Quilts tell stories of love and loss, hope and faith, tradition and new beginnings.  The Quilts of Love series focuses on the women who quilted all of these things into their family history. Featuring contemporary and historical romances as well as women's fiction and the occasional light mystery, you will be drawn into the endearing characters of this series and be touched by their stories.es focuses on the women who quilted all of these things into their family history. Featuring contemporary and historical romances as well as women's fiction and the occasional light mystery, you will be drawn into the endearing characters of this series and be touched by their stories.                     - Quilts of Love
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Visit more stops on the Litfuse Book Tour 
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*Appreciation to Abingdon Press and Litfuse for providing an ecopy to read for review without cost or compensation.
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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.

qol-promisepieces-400-click
One winner will receive:
  • $200 to spend at Emily's favourite shops, Noonday Collection and 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

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 10th. Winner will be announced on the Quilts of Love blog on May 12th. Then be sure to stop by the
Quilts of Love Facebook page on May 29th for the "Quilting Bee" Facebook party with Emily and other Quilts of Love authors.  RSVP for an evening of book chat, quilting tips and tricks, prizes, and more!

*Spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.



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Find and follow FHC online:

@_eHope - Goodreads - Facebook 

Pinterest - GFC  -  bottom of page

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Shared With _
* Fav Things Thursdays *
* Sincerely Paula's NO Rules Party *
* Friendship Friday *

Saturday, 8 June 2013

Dandelions on the Wind : Review - author Mona Hodgson

Dandelions On the Wind
"Tattered relationships and broken hearts, like a quilt,
can be pieced together by God’s love.

                                                                                     
When Maren Jensen took a job on Elsa Brantenberg’s St. Charles, Missouri farm, she never expected to call the place her home. As she grows to love Mrs. Brantenberg and her granddaughter, Gabi, Maren is transformed from a lonely mail-order bride-without-a-groom to a beloved member of the Brantenberg household. 
 
But when Gabi’s father, Rutherford “Wooly” Wainwright, returns to the farm unexpectedly, everything changes for Maren. Despite the failing eyesight that caused her suitor to reject her, she can see that Wooly desperately needs to reconnect with the family he abandoned when his grief sent him running toward the army—and into the Civil War. 
 
Comforted and counseled by the wisdom of the women in her beloved quilting circle, Maren begins to discover the cost decisions demand of her heart.  Is it too late for love to be stitched into the fabric of her life?" - Goodreads

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My thoughts:
Charming novella from author Mona Hodgson, Dandelions on the Wind,
[#1 of the Quilted Heart eNovella series], was pure reading pleasure. 


Characters with distinct personalities, realistic internal and relational conflicts that mattered to me, sensory descriptions, insights into farm and town life of the era; 
all worked together, capturing and keeping my interest.

I cared about the young Danish immigrant, Maren. Rejected by her groom-to-be, losing her eyesight, yet gaining a heart of wisdom,
"She knew what it was like to set off for the unknown... that of a dandelion on the wind."

Darling 4 year old Gabi, who gladly and openly takes first Maren, then her own father to her heart. 
Rutherford Wainwright, who returns from ravages of 2 wars wanting his daughter and a welcome 
yet not daring to believe it possible. 
Elsa Brantenberg, grandmother of Gabi, mother in law of Rutherford, employer of Maren; 
justified in her response to abandonment in her hour of need, 
yet needing now to extend the grace she had once preached to others. 
Authentic and appealing characters.

I loved the sense of community surrounding the Quilting Group gathering each Thursday at Elsa's farm. The inclusion of the children; the break from hard work; colourful personalities; 
faith exemplified and verbalized; care and support of each other. 
Beautifully drawn and descriptively visualized.

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A well paced story, bringing us to a lovely conclusion.
Next in the series ~



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A bit about the lovely author of the series, Mona Hodgson :
Ms Hodgson's writing credits include :
Dandelions On the WInd,  Bending Toward the Sun, and Ripples Along the Shore
 in the Quilted Heart series, 
Sinclair Sisters of Cripple Creek Series



 Prairie Song, Book 1 in the HEARTS SEEKING HOME SERIES, due Aug 6th!



plus, nearly thirty children’s books, contributions to eleven books for adults, and hundreds of short stories, articles, and poems in newspapers and magazines. 
One of Mona’s favourite things to do (besides writing or eating dark chocolate) is to speak at women's retreats, schools, and for women’s groups, librarians, and at writers’ conferences throughout the United States and Canada.
Mona lives in Arizona with her husband, Bob.
Check out 
Mona Hodgson.com to learn more. Follow Mona on her blog Hindsight

@MonaHodgson on twitter, Goodreads , and FB

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*Received with appreciation from Waterbrook Press / Random House for review without obligation.
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