A Stitch in Crime

The latest novel in the Quilts of Love Series, introduces us to Cathy Elliot in A Stitch in Crime. For fans of crime and mystery this one will sure to be a hit for you. This is the 25th book in the series, and doesn't need to be read in any order to enjoy any of the books. Each talented author lends their talent to creating a story utilizing a quilt as their backdrop.

In A Stitch in Crime, Thea James has been named co-chair for the Larkindale's first quilt show. Hoping it will be a success, she is a bit stressed when things begin to unravel the night of the preview for some of the towns invited guests in Mary Alice Wentworth's garden. First, she is critiqued for her fashion style by Renee Fowler, newly married and co-owner of the Heritage Inn where all the guests have found lodging. Then she critiques her contribution to the dessert buffet saying that the crust is poorly constructed in her Blueberry Tartlets and she should have used another fruit instead if she wanted to impress those in attendance.

As Thea masters dodge those comments with holding her tongue and smiling, she ventures off in search of Dr. Cottle who is expected as a guest judge and well-known in his expertise in quilts. No matter where she looks he doesn't seem to be anywhere. When she goes in search of Mary Alice, she almost frightens the woman to death when she comes up behind Thea unannounced. Mary Alice is frustrated while looking for a letter she has misplaced and Thea offers to help. It's when Mary Alice goes upstairs to see if she misplaced it there while getting dressed that a scream is heard. When Thea arrives she finds that Mary Alice is unconscious on the floor and a strange women is standing over her. They will learn that Mary Alice's diamond brooch worth $25,000 is now missing. Is it really or has it simply been misplaced as well?

I received A Stitch in Crime by Cathy Elliot compliments of Abingdon Press and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. This novel reminded me of an Angela Lansbury episode of Murder She Wrote. The elements are all there from the strange woman no one knows who found Mary Alice, to the overly anxious relative Louisa Wentworth Carver who seems to be more interested in the diamond brooch than Mary Alice's condition. The cast of characters is what you would expect in a crime novel to keep the reader from figuring out who did it too soon! While this wasn't one of my favorites, it is bound to appeal to mystery fans who love this genre. I would rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars in my opinion. There is a group discussion guide at the conclusion of this novel as well as a sneak peek into the next novel in the Quilts of Love Series Beyond the Storm.

For more information about A Stitch in Crime, Cathy Elliot or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

A Stitch in Crime by Cathy Elliot 

You can find Cathy Elliot on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on A Stitch in Crime, please visit Litfuse Publicity's Book Tour Page.


Don’t miss the newest Quilts of Love book, A Stitch in Crime by Cathy Elliott. Thea's first quilt show begins to fall apart at the seams. Will she be able to piece the mystery together and save the town’s investment in the quilt show before another attack happens . . . with far worse results.
Enter to win a Kindle HDX! 
 

One winner will receive:

• A Kindle HDX
• A Stitch in Crime by Cathy Elliott
• Masterpiece Marriage by Gina Welborn
• Swept Away by Laura V. Hilton and Cindy Loven

Enter today by clicking the button below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on February 8th. Winner will be announced on the Quilts of Love blog February 9th.

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Enter today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.

Masterpiece Marriage

The Quilts of Love novels are written by a variety of authors that each center around a quilt. While they are all numbered, they can be read in any order, as hey are stand alone novels. I've almost read them all and each inspires a deep desire for me to resume quilting again after finishing one.

In Masterpiece Marriage, author Gina Welborn weaves a romance between a textile mill owner, Zenus Dane and Mary Varrs who is studying tomato seedlings in hopes of gaining a place in a university to further her studies in botany. Most universities are not as accommodating for women as they are for men. Each of them is faced with a need that can only be meet by Priscilla Dane Osbourne, a wealthy widow and Zenus' aunt. Lucky for Mary that she asked for her need first, because knowing how likely it would be for Priscilla to chose to help family over a stranger, she is more than relived. She receives an invitation for lunch in which Priscilla illustrated a beautiful plant and that is what Mary is missing in her research for submission. She must submit illustrations over photos. Priscilla agrees if Mary will agree to spend the next 10 days filling in for her on a quilting bee project with some of the local women.

Zenus Dane has garnered quite the reputation as a ladies man and all the women have fallen for his charms one way or another. The problem being is his inability to properly talk to them once he opens his mouth. Instead he fumbles his words so horribly, he ends up offending them more than swaying them to courtship. His textile mill has suffered a horrible flood and the only way he can think to profit from the deficit his insurance won't cover on the fabrics is to persuade his Aunt to create a quilt pattern he can sell along with the scraps of fabric he has left. She agrees only if he will be at her beck and call and do whatever errands she asks of him including being a host to the ladies at the quilting bee. But Priscilla has more than one set of plans up her sleeves for Mary and Zenus and will work at solving their problems of the heart through their repetitive working together, something that both of them despise.

I received Masterpiece Marriage by Gina Welborn compliments of Abingdon Press and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. Aside from receiving a free copy of the novel, I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review. The opinions contained in this review are strictly my own. I absolutely LOVED this novel and easily read it in a few hours at just 240 pages. It does include a reader's discussion guide at the conclusion as well as a sneak peek into "A Stitch in Crime" by Cathy Elliot coming next in the Quilts of Love Series. This is the 24th novel to find its way into the Quilts of Love series and historical fiction are vast becoming my favorite genre! There is something to be said for the propriety that men and women had back in the 1800's and I believe Gina Welborn captured that perfectly with her interactions between Mary, Priscilla and Zenus. I love the idea of a gentlemen like Zenus being a bit more than tongue tied when he converses with women. It's that unique character flaw that makes him as appealing and Mary's strong will and determination to not be willing to succumb to societies standards that a woman's role was to be married and having children. This one easily gains a 4.5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about Masterpiece Marriage, Gina Welborn, or where to pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Masterpiece Marriage by Gina Welborn

You can find Gina Welborn on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Masterpiece Marriage, please visit Litfuse Publicity's Book Tour Page.


Don’t miss the newest Quilts of Love book, Masterpiece Marriage by Gina Welborn. December’s QOL release celebrates the ebb and flow of marriage. Enter to win a Kindle HDX!

One winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• Masterpiece Marriage by Gina Welborn
• Swept Away by Laura V. Hilton and Cindy Loven
• Quilted by Christmas by Jodie Bailey

Enter today by clicking the button below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on January 18th. Winner will be announced on the Quilts of Love blog January 19th.

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Enter today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.

Swept Away

To say that Sara Jane Morgan's grandmother has lost her mind is an understatement.She just doesn't want to be the one to admit that the diagnosis she received from her doctor reveals that she is in the early stages of Alzheimer's. The fact that she can't remember the most basic things like where she parked the car, to what she wanted on her to do list, or even what she had for dinner, isn't something she is ready to admit.

All she knows is that time is running out to find a suitable man for her grand daughter Sara and while she is at it, she is hoping to finish what is known as a Ballad Quilt. Quilt blocks designed around the lyrics of a song that impart the memories from her own past, the one where she fell in love. She can know hope she can figure out a way to get the handy man she hired at the local crafter's fair to see a future in Sara.

Sara knows that her grandmother is up to something, she just didn't figure it would come out so bold in her words to a man she can hardly find attractive. Looking more like Grizzly Adams, Andrew Stevenson, an artisan who makes handmade brooms, isn't like to sweep her off her feet or anything else for that matter. She just has to figure out a way to let her grandmother know she isn't interested. She can't imagine how her grandmother can hire a man she doesn't know to spend time fixing up her cabin. For all she knows he could be a serial killer. But once grandmother Sari has it in her mind, there is no changing it. She can only hope she simply forget him like she has been forgetting everything else lately. She just isn't ready to deal with losing her grandmother and all the wonderful memories she has of the parents she feels responsible for their deaths.

But Sara isn't the only one hiding things in their past memories. It appears that Andrew or Drew does as well. But like everyone else he has ever met, so many people judge based on appearances and with the way Sara deals with him, just goes to prove his point. If only he didn't feel attracted to her. However he knows once his work with her grandmother as a hired hand is finished, he would be out of their lives forever. But will her grandmother's to do list ever be finished?

I received Swept Away from Laura V. Hilton and Cindy Loven compliments of Abingdon Press and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. In exchange for my free complimentary copy of the book, I am not asked to provide a favorable but honest review and have not received any monetary compensation. This is the 23rd novel in the Quilts of Love Series and each is a stand alone novel that centers around a quilt. These can be read in any order and are written by various authors. Swept Away engages readers to examine their internal feelings and how we often times feel that to hid our pasts is the best way to move forward in life hoping to leave our pain behind us. Too often however, that fails to work well and will rise to the surface when we least expect it. Sometimes when things go wrong in our lives the first person we often blame is God. We wonder why He didn't alter the event the way we like and fail to understand the reasons behind it until much later if we understand it at all this side of heaven. Sometimes the only way we can deal with that pain is to let it go and hand it over to God. In the end, healing can be found. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars. It includes a sneak peek at Masterpiece Marriage and a Reader's Discussion Guide at the conclusion.

For more information about Swept Away, Laura V. Hilton, Cindy Loven or where you can pick up a copy of this novel, please click on the links below:

Swept Away by Laura V. Hilton and Cindy Loven

To read more reviews on Swept Away, please visit Litfuse Publicity's Book Tour Page.

You can find Laura V. Hilton on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To stay up to date with all the latest novels from Cindy Loven, please visit her on Facebook. 

Don’t miss the newest Quilts of Love book, Swept Away by Laura V. Hilton and Cindy Loven. November’s QOL release is a spark of romance and fun just in time for the holidays.

Enter to win a Kindle HDX, and RSVP for the “Merry Quilted” Quilts of Love Facebook party on December 9th. 

One winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• Swept Away by Laura V. Hilton and Cindy Loven
• Hidden in the Stars by Robin Caroll
• Quilted by Christmas by Jodie Bailey

Enter today by clicking the button below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on December 9th. Winner will be announced during the "Merry Quilted" Christmas Facebook party on December 9th. RSVP today and connect with some of the Quilts of Love authors (Jodie Bailey, Laura V. Hilton, Cindy Loven, Cathy Elliott, and Gina Welborn) for a "merry" evening of book chat, Christmas traditions, prizes, and more!

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RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on December 9th!

Quilted by Christmas

Each of the Quilts of Love novels are perfect for a little romance with a quilt as the setting around which the story itself revolves. Any of them can be read in any order even though they all belong in the series. Quilted by Christmas from Jodie Bailey takes an Irish Chain Quilt and weaves a story of high school romance that is given an opportunity for a second chance. After reading this one, it makes me want to break out my quilting supplies again while my daughters are still single.

Taryn McKenna and Justin Callahan grew up as best friends who fell in love before they turned eighteen. Through a series of arguments that dealt with the differences in how each of them were raised, they soon parted ways. Now that Taryn has turned 30, she is wonders if all those secrets from her past will keep them apart when she learns that Justin has come home after serving in the Army. If she can only find a way to tell him the one thing she should have 12 years ago that may or may not have changed where they find themselves today.

Jemma, Taryn's feisty grandmother is in the process of passing down a time honored tradition of hand sewing an Irish Chain quilt for Rachel, her niece since both girls have lost their mothers, Jemma is all they have left to ensure that the family tradition of handing down the quilt as a marriage gift continues on. She also knows how much Taryn has loved Justin and the circumstances that have kept them apart. In fact, she knows just how to make all the necessary arrangements to ensure they spend time together as Christmas nears and she has so much to do.

I received Quilted by Christmas by Jodie Bailey compliments of Litfuse Publicity and Abingdon Press for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This is the story of redemption, forgiveness and second chances which I believe the author expressed beautifully in the characters of Taryn, Justin and Jemma. It outlines in a carefully constructed way the consequences of keeping some secrets that should never be kept. In the conclusion of the novel the author exemplifies the true meaning of unconditional love through Justin's actions towards not only Jemma but also in dealing with Taryn's secret. "It also exposes that love isn't something you earn. It's not something you have to be good enough for. Real love is freely given, not taken away because you don't do what someone else wants." (99). Such a perfect way to spend a cold crisp December evening, curled up by the fire and reading an exceptional romance such as this. A well deserved 5 out of 5 stars. There is a sneak peek of Swept Away by Laura V. Hilton and Cindy Loven  and a Reader's Discussion Guide at the conclusion of this novel as well.

For more information about Quilted by Christmas, Jodie Bailey, or where to pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Quilted by Christmas by Jodie Bailey

You can find Jodie Bailey on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

For more reviews on Quilted for Christmas, please visit Litfuse Publicity's book tour page.

BLOG CODE: Don’t miss the newest Quilts of Love book, Quilted by Christmas by Jodie Bailey. October’s QOL release is a warm Christmas tale of God's steadfast love.

Enter to win a Kindle HDX, and RSVP for the “Merry Quilted” Quilts of Love Facebook party on December 9th.

One winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• Two copies of Quilted by Christmas by Jodie Bailey (One for you and one to give away as a gift!)
• Hidden in the Stars by Robin Caroll
• Swept Away by Laura V. Hilton and Cindy Loven

Enter today by clicking the button below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on November 16th. Winner will be announced November 17th at the Quilts of Love blog.

Wait! There's more! RSVP for the "Merry Quilted" Quilts of Love Christmas Book Chat Party on December 9th and connect with some of the Quilts of Love authors. Jodie Bailey, Laura V. Hilton, Cindy Loven, Cathy Elliott, and Gina Welborn will be hosting a "merry" evening of book chat, Christmas traditions, prizes, and more!

{NOT ON FACEBOOK? ENTER HERE.}

RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on December 9th!

Hidden in the Stars

Robin Caroll's name is synonymous with Christian suspense and if you have ever read any of her novels you know just what I mean. For those of you that haven't and love a great novel that literally will keep you on the edge of your seat waiting for the next proverbial shoe to drop, you might want to check her out. She is also the latest author contributing her writing talents to the Quilts of Love Series, in her addition, Hidden in the Stars. Even though these are all part of an ongoing series, they are truly stand alone novels and can be read in any order, but what a way of introducing readers into the talented writing styles of some great Christian authors.

Hidden in the Stars involves Sophia Montgomery, an upcoming new Olympic gymnast who has finally taken all her hard work and is on her way to the Olympics. At least she was until two men showed up at her home with what looked like a home invasion, and began to assault her and her mother Nina, speaking in Russian. Knowing enough Russian, she had the basic understanding that the men wanted something from her mother and would not leave until they got it. What she didn't plan on, was that they would stop at NOTHING to get it, even torturing her daughter Sophie, first with crushing her hands, and then choking her to the point of dying.

All Sophie knows when she wakes up is she can't talk, her hands are badly damaged and bandaged and she is facing a detective who has a load of questions for her to answer. But how will she be able to convey what she saw if she can't speak or write? Detective Julian Fraiser knows that the person he is looking at in the hospital bed is more than lucky to be alive. He has seen car accident victims look less beat up and still die. He isn't sure just how much time he has, but he knows this, he will do whatever it takes to find out who did this to Sophie and why!

I received Hidden in the Stars by Robin Caroll compliments of Abingdon Press and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. This is such an intense novel because there is that unknown element of wondering just what the men wanted who brutally assaulted Sophie and her mother and what is the meaning behind the Russian language that was spoken. You are turning pages as fast as you can read in an effort to know what will happen. Like all great suspense stories, if you can twist the plotline enough to keep the reader engaged but not so lost they give up, but still leave them surprised at the end, I believe you have succeeded as a suspense author and Robin Caroll clearly has done that in this novel. This is the 21st novel in the Quilts of Love series and includes a Reader Discussion Guide at the conclusion. Well worth 4.5 out of 5 stars in my opinion. You also get a sneak peek at Quilted for Christmas, the next novel in the series coming soon.

For more information about Hidden in the Stars, Robin Caroll, or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Hidden in the Stars by Robin Caroll

You can find Robin Caroll on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Hidden in the Stars, please visit Litfuse Publicity's Book Tour page.


Don't miss the newest Quilts of Love book, Hidden in the Stars by Robin Caroll. September's QOL release is a wonderful combination of mystery, romance, and family love bound together by a quilt and the story it tells.

Enter to win a "Night on the Town" (a $200 Visa cash card!) and RSVP for the "Fall into Fall" Quilts of Love Facebook party on 10/7.
One winner will receive:

• A $200 Visa cash card (The perfect accessory for a "night on the town"!)
• A Grand Design by Amber Stockton
• Hidden in the Stars by Robin Caroll

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 7. Winner will be announced at the October 7th author chat party with Amber Stockton and Robin Caroll! RSVP for an evening of book chat, quilting tips and tricks, prizes, and more!

RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on October 7th!

A Grand Design

I've been a huge fan of the Quilts of Love Series, not just because each novel is based around the story of a quilt, but because you get a chance to meet new authors who are taking up the challenge to add to this amazing growing collection. In A Grand Design, Amber Stockton, takes her turn in the 20th book to join the Quilts of Love Series. The best part about this series is that each novel can be read as a stand alone and not in any order which makes this truly a one of a kind collection and series.

In this one, the storyline involves Alyssa Denham who wins a two week trip for two to the romantic Mackinac Island. Alyssa is more than familiar with the Island, since her grandmother lives in a small cottage on the island, but she hasn't gone to visit her for fifteen years because of something that has kept her away and one that has remained a hidden part of her past. Yet it seems like God has the perfect plan to reunite her with more than just her grandmother. So with no romantic partner in her life at the present time, Alyssa invites her best friend, Libby to join her instead. Nothing could be more fun, than two glorious sun-filled weeks staying at the Grand Hotel, made famous in the movie Somewhere in Time and one she has been drawn to. Libby has vowed that Alyssa will find that special summer romance and the island offers just that opportunity to make that happen.

When Alyssa meets with her grandmother, she is given a task to gather quilt blocks from the friends her grandmother made when they established a quilting bee so many years ago on the island. Now in order to create her own memory quilt, she needs Alyssa and Libby to go around and bring the quilt blocks back to her so she can put them together in a beautiful quilt. Knowing there is no cars on the island, Alyssa's grandmother arranges for a carriage to take them to her friends homes all over the island, and it is owned by Scott Whitman, a young man who is more than enamored with Alyssa. Will this be the makings of something beautiful or will it only be a moment in time for them?

I received A Grand Design by Amber Stockton compliments of Litfuse Publicity and Abingdon Press for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own. I've seen the romantic movie Somewhere in Time with Jane Seymour and Christopher Reeve many years ago and have always been a fan of romance. Placing the setting of this novel right where it was filmed was a definite winner for me. From the beautiful descriptions of the hotel and grounds provides the readers with just the imagination to stir the longings of their romantic heart. It conveys that even though we carry around emotional baggage from things in our lives that have hurt us, we don't have to continue to carry them. We can learn to let go and move forward into the new life that God has been planning for us all along. I think Amber Stockton did just that in showing how that can affect our ability to move forward in the future God has planned for us if we are willing to take that leap of faith. I rate this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars in my opinion and literally inhaled this in a couple of hours. It was that good. There is even a Reader's Discussion Guide included at the conclusion of this novel as well as a sneak peek at Robin Caroll's novel Hidden in the Stars, another addition of the Quilts of Love Series.

For more information about A Grand Design, Amber Stockton or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

A Grand Design by Amber Stockton

You can also find Amber Stockton on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on A Grand Design, please visit Litfuse Publicity's book tour page.


Don’t miss this month’s Quilts of Love book, A Grand Design by Amber Stockton. Who hasn't struggled to let painful memories go and move into God's healing? You’ll be sure to love this heartfelt and encouraging tale set on historic Mackinac Island.

Celebrate August’s release by entering to win a Kindle from Quilts of Love and RSVPing for the "Fall into Fall" Facebook author chat party.

  One winner will receive:

• A Kindle HDX
• A Grand Design by Amber Stockton
• Hidden in the Stars by Robin Caroll

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on September 16th. Winner will be announced on the Quilts of Love blog. Plus make sure you RSVP to the October 7th author chat party with Amber Stockton and Robin Caroll for an evening of book chat, quilting tips and tricks, prizes, and more!

RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on October 7th!

Rival Hearts

Two successful magazine publishers, one male, one female both with very different magazine profiles, suddenly find themselves competing for the same promotions as Editor-in-Chief for the launch of a new magazine, American Legend. For Molly Henderson, writer for Quilter's Heart, this promotion would be a validation for all the years she has worked for Master's Publishing. She took a novel idea and launched a successful magazine that has highlighted the friendship that women encounter whenever they read it. It not only showcases beautiful quilt designs but also the stories behind the women that create them. However she is not the outdoor type in any sense of the word.

For Ben Weaver, writer for Outdoor Adventures, the true manly man who loves the thrill of adventure in any sport, the more extreme the better. Bouncing back from his television series Extreme Survialist, he has taken Outdoor Adventures to new heights with his reader base. After just being with Master's Publishing for six months, he is running a competitive edge along side Molly's magazine. He knows with his popularity, taking on the challenge of American Legend, will create a permanent place for him instead of constantly being on the road traveling. However the last thing he understands is what fabric types to use and how do you put a quilt together anyway.

But Blake Masterson is always on the look out for a way to drive in more publicity so he decides the only way he can make the right decision on who should get the position is to create a competition between Molly and Ben. They will have thirty days to change places, and Molly will need to lead a kayak expedition and then write about it, while Ben will need to create a quilt all by himself and then write the article about his experience. At the end of the thirty days, whoever has done the most with their task will get the new position. So now instead of being rival colleagues, they are now rival competitors and may the best man or woman win! But it's not going to be an easy task for either of them working outside of their comfort zones. Who will win?

I received Rival Hearts by Tara Randel compliments of Abingdon Press and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are my own. I absolutely love the premise behind this novel. It is a first for me being introduced to the writing of Tara Randel but it definitely won't be the last by a long shot. I love the competitive nature that both Molly and Ben possess with each of them having the drive to do whatever it takes to gain the promotion they both desire. I can't imagine how difficult it would be for a manly man to take on quilting! That is where the humor comes into play and soon the entire office chooses sides between man versus woman and the laughter ensues. What comes out of the novel at the end showcases that the best choice may not always be the best one for the winner. I easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion. This is the nineteenth novel in the Quilts of Love Series and each can be read in any order.

For more information about Rival Hearts, Tara Randel or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Rival Hearts by Tara Randel

You can also find Tara Randel on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Rival Hearts, please visit Litfuse Publicity's Book Tour Page. 


Don’t miss this month’s Quilts of Love book, Rival Hearts, by Tara Randel. Who doesn't like a friendly competition, every now and then? You'll be sure to love this fun tale of unexpected competition between two people forced out of their comfort zone.

Celebrate June's release by entering to win a summer camping kit (grill, tent, and camp chairs) from Quilts of Love.

One winner will receive:

• A Coleman grill, tent, and camp chairs
• 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 July 13. Winner will be announced on the Quilts of Love blog.

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

A Stitch and a Prayer

I find that in order for a novel to be a great one, you have to find a way to connect with the main character in order to have compassion for what they are involved with. With A Stitch and A Prayer, the latest novel to join the Quilts of Love Series, from author Eva Gibson, I was missing that connection point. I don't know where along the line I might have missed it, but it seemed as if the story was simply too broad for me to gain that connection to either of the characters in the novel.

It is set in the late 1800's in Oregon as a frontier family of Florence and Will Nickerson marry and attempt to create a home for the beginning of their new life together. Florence suffers from chronic joint pain and weakness which she fears will prevent her from becoming the perfect wife for Will. Knowing that her husband will need to provide an income for them, she worries about him being gone from home so long. Even though Will reassures Florence he will always return home, she struggles with finding security even in the scriptures of the Bible. When she learns that she is pregnant, her insecurities increase. Thankfully she isn't alone in the wilderness. She has her Aunt Amelia, Tilly and Faye to help her that are staying nearby, as well as the loyalty of a dog named Vaughn.

In her frail state, she is constantly finding herself falling and waking up back in bed, thanks to the kindness of family or strangers that find her and care for her. Even though she promises to not wander off alone from the cabin, she falls off the porch. Knowing that they are recently married and wanting that initial time alone I can understand why she doesn't have someone living with her at first. I do find it interesting that with so many of her family members knowing her of her illness, she wouldn't have someone living with them to take care of her while Will is working. They do happen by from time to time and I feel that is where I find the disconnect in the novel with wanting to care about Florence and Will. It's only after she wakes one morning and finds a note left behind from Will, telling her that he will be back soon, she has her Aunt Amelia move in to help her.

She passes the time working on a quilt of her own that with each stitch sown offers another prayer for Will's safe return before the birth of their child as well as her own health. It also helps with her health issues as she can stay safe in the cabin and create something that she can show him when he returns. Will has a secret he hadn't shared with Florence before they got married and his disappearance is the result of trying to clear up his past.

I received A Stitch and A Prayer by Eva Gibson compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and Abingdon Press for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed are strictly my own. This is the 18th novel in the Quilts of Love Series and for me personally, I just couldn't connect with this one. The story was simply too broad and too fast that you couldn't connect with either Florence or Will. The author did use the account of her grandparent's lives as the background for this novel but I think it missed the intent she might have been trying to achieve. It simply toggles back and forth between daily tasks to quick and doesn't allow time enough for the reader to truly care about the characters. I am a huge fan of historical romances, but this one just didn't work for me. I would rate this one a 3 out of 5 stars.

For more information about A Stitch and A Prayer, Eva Gibson or where to pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

A Stitch and a Prayer by Eva Gibson

You can also find Eva Gibson on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

You can read more reviews on A Stitch and A Prayer by visiting Christian Fiction Blog Alliances Book Tour page.

A Promise in Pieces

Often times we look back on our life by the time we are old and wonder if anything we have done has meant anything. Has our life created a legacy that shows where we have walked and left footprints on the hearts of those around us? Clara Kirkpatrick has always wondered if God was calling her to something more, something greater. She found it on the cusp of World War II when she ran away from home to become a nurse. Her parents didn't want her to go, and she lied to them about signing up. But in her heart, she felt God was pulling her in that direction. To give something more of herself than simply growing up as a preacher's daughter. She never dreamed she would break their hearts.

Yet she found her true calling. Something that would connect her life forever through the threads she would weave in the lives of the people she touched. That was the day she met Gareth, a wounded man she met as a nurse who showed her how you could combine a love for God and still serve in the war. Knowing there was little more she could do for him, than offer to hold his hand, since his injuries were life threatening and being without pain meds, she offered comfort in his final moments. His last request was a letter to his wife, and a promise that Clara would deliver his final declarations of love in person to Mattie. It was a promise she would keep.

It was one of the most difficult times in her life when the war was finally over, giving that letter to Mattie in person. She could understand it if she would refuse to talk to her, but Mattie had a true heart after God. After reading the letter, Mattie gave her a quilt she had made hoping that one day her and Gareth might begin a family. Now that he was dead, she knew in her heart she could never marry and with that the promise of children with Gareth would never be fulfilled. Since Clara was a nurse she asked Mattie if she might stitch the names of the children who had been lost in the war or as a result of childbirth into the quilt to remember them and to also pray for those children who would now grow up without a father.

It would be Clara's legacy and promise that she too, would never marry for fear that death would rob her of love. But God had other plans in store for Clara, one that would take her life farther than she would ever dream and create something that began with a promise and restore all those broken pieces in her life to something of beauty to be passed on to her family. This is Clara's story and one that will impact your life as well as it did hers .

I received A Promise in Pieces by Emily T. Wierenga compliments of Abingdon Press and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions are strictly my own. This was such a beautiful story of a servant's life, Clara's life and how God can use the broken places in our own lives to restore us and create something true beautiful with them. We will be able to look back and see how God took those messes in our life and we make marks by moving forward in those dark times. We might not see it until we turn around and look back, but it's there. For those that love WWII as your backdrop coupled with a beautiful story of love and redemption than this is the perfect book for you. As an addition to the Quilts of Love series, this book doesn't have to be read in order but as a stand alone, but trust me, if you love quilts and the stories they hold, you'll want to pick up all of them.I easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars. It has found a permanent place in my bookshelf with the rest!

For more information about A Promise in Pieces, Emily T. Wierenga, or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

A Promise in Pieces by Emily T. Wierenga

You can also find Emily T. Wierenga on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on A Promise in Pieces, please visit Litfuse Publicity's Book Tour Page.

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

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 & tricks, prizes, and more!

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

A Promise in Pieces

Often times we look back on our life by the time we are old and wonder if anything we have done has meant anything. Has our life created a legacy that shows where we have walked and left footprints on the hearts of those around us? Clara Kirkpatrick has always wondered if God was calling her to something more, something greater. She found it on the cusp of World War II when she ran away from home to become a nurse. Her parents didn't want her to go, and she lied to them about signing up. But in her heart, she felt God was pulling her in that direction. To give something more of herself than simply growing up as a preacher's daughter. She never dreamed she would break their hearts.

Yet she found her true calling. Something that would connect her life forever through the threads she would weave in the lives of the people she touched. That was the day she met Gareth, a wounded man she met as a nurse who showed her how you could combine a love for God and still serve in the war. Knowing there was little more she could do for him, than offer to hold his hand, since his injuries were life threatening and being without pain meds, she offered comfort in his final moments. His last request was a letter to his wife, and a promise that Clara would deliver his final declarations of love in person to Mattie. It was a promise she would keep.

It was one of the most difficult times in her life when the war was finally over, giving that letter to Mattie in person. She could understand it if she would refuse to talk to her, but Mattie had a true heart after God. After reading the letter, Mattie gave her a quilt she had made hoping that one day her and Gareth might begin a family. Now that he was dead, she knew in her heart she could never marry and with that the promise of children with Gareth would never be fulfilled. Since Clara was a nurse she asked Mattie if she might stitch the names of the children who had been lost in the war or as a result of childbirth into the quilt to remember them and to also pray for those children who would now grow up without a father.

It would be Clara's legacy and promise that she too, would never marry for fear that death would rob her of love. But God had other plans in store for Clara, one that would take her life farther than she would ever dream and create something that began with a promise and restore all those broken pieces in her life to something of beauty to be passed on to her family. This is Clara's story and one that will impact your life as well as it did hers .

I received A Promise in Pieces by Emily T. Wierenga compliments of Abingdon Press and Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions are strictly my own. This was such a beautiful story of a servant's life, Clara's life and how God can use the broken places in our own lives to restore us and create something true beautiful with them. We will be able to look back and see how God took those messes in our life and we make marks by moving forward in those dark times. We might not see it until we turn around and look back, but it's there. For those that love WWII as your backdrop coupled with a beautiful story of love and redemption than this is the perfect book for you. As an addition to the Quilts of Love series, this book doesn't have to be read in order but as a stand alone, but trust me, if you love quilts and the stories they hold, you'll want to pick up all of them.I easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars. It has found a permanent place in my bookshelf with the rest!

For more information about A Promise in Pieces, Emily T. Wierenga, or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

A Promise in Pieces by Emily T. Wierenga

You can also find Emily T. Wierenga on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on A Promise in Pieces, please visit Christian Fiction Blog Alliance's book tour page.

Maybelle in Stitches

We all know about women being employed at factories during World War II as an effort to help do whatever they could to enable their men to come home from the war as soon as possible. For Maybelle Kazinski, she is doing her part as a welder in Sun Shipyard, getting ships ready to aid in the war effort. She had only been married for a couple of days to Holden before he was called to report for duty, but it was worth it to know that he would have her waiting for him when he returned, if he returned at all. It seems like the waiting was truly the hardest part and even though working for six days helped to pass the time, she would cringe whenever the doorbell rang expecting the worst.

She just wasn't prepared for that dreaded feeling in the pit of her stomach to take the life of her mother, Francine and leave her alone. She had lost her father earlier and besides Roger, one of her mother's boarders who also worked at Sun Shipyard who she had come to see as a brother of sort, she had no more family left. Her only consolation was her best friend Doris who also had a husband serving overseas. Between the two of them, they did what they could to encourage each other that the war would be over soon and their men would come home.

But life isn't always sunshine and roses! Fate intervenes when we least expect it and for Maybelle it would be when the doorbell rings and a yellow telegram is delivered. The only good thing about the news it contained was that Holden wasn't killed but simply missing in action. But for Maybelle it seemed to be her undoing. On the heels of her mother's death and Holden's MIA telegram she had to find something to keep time from crawling along. When she discovers a crazy quilt of scraps her mother was making as a surprise for her and Holden for Christmas, Doris decides to convince Maybelle that they should finish it. But Maybelle isn't exactly what you would called skilled at sewing or cooking for that matter. Her high school sewing project involved her sewing the zipper of her dress into the neck area instead. Something that is still laughed about between her and Doris. But at least it will help to pass the time between working and sewing.

I received Maybelle in Stitches by Joyce Magnin compliments of Abingdon Press and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This is the 16th novel in the Quilts of Love Series and one that can be read as a stand alone as each talented author takes their turn at telling a story with the quilt at the centerpiece. Joyce appealed to not only the romance lover in my heart but to WWII lover as well. I loved the background story she researched about women working in the shipyards as welders for Sun Shipyard which she includes at the conclusion of this novel. It makes it so rich to read how difficult it was waiting for men to come home from the war not knowing if they would ever see them again. Hands down this one rates a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about Maybelle in Stitches, Joyce Magnin or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Maybelle in Stitches by Joyce Magnin

You can also find Joyce Magnin on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Maybelle in Stitches, please visit Litfuse Publicity Book Tour Page.

Don’t miss the newest Quilts of Love book, Maybelle in Stitches, by Joyce Magnin. Maybelle can’t sew. But when she finds an unfinished quilt in the attic of her mother’s house, she gets the crazy idea to complete it.

Joyce is celebrating the release with a $200 Modcloth giveaway. Enter today for a chance to spruce up your spring wardrobe!

  One winner will receive:

• A $200 ModCloth.com gift card
• Scraps of Evidence by Barbara Cameron
• A Sky Without Stars by Linda S. Clare
• Maybelle in Stitches by Joyce Magnin

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 19th. Winner will be announced on April 21st on the Quilts of Love blog!

Spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK or TWITTER.

A Sky Without Stars

Pine Ridge, South Dakota
Frankie Chasing Bear


I did not come to quilt-making easily. The urge to piece together shapes and colors wasn't my gift.

But when I was twelve, Grandmother said soon the quilt might be all that was left of what we once were. By the time your children wrap quilts around themselves, she told me, the star and all it stands for may be a dim memory, lit only by the fire of ancestors, clouded by ruddy smoke hanging in the sky.


Just before she died, Grandmother and I sat together one last time. She stopped to smooth a small wrinkle in the quilt top. "Lakota were favored among tribes," she said. "Our people stood at the top of the hills. The buffalo and the deer bowed to our warriors, and we lived together in peace. The peace pipe showed us how to live, and the stars helped us find good hunting grounds. One day, the sun rose on white men. They brought their religion, but they often did not listen to their God's teachings. We were brought low and herded like animals. They had no explanation, except to point to their Book. We were to love their God and love each other."

Grandmother laughed. "Lakota need no instruction on love." Tears glistened in her tired black eyes. She'd seen something terrible in the smoke, she said for the hundredth time. A red rose, unopened. Blood, a river of blood. Another day was coming, she said, when words from the Book would take place: We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.

I dared not remind her she prayed to the God of the Bible. That she stood in two worlds, fully Lakota, fully Christian. I worry it's not possible for me. Indians who go to the church are shunned by their kin and by the whites. Outcasts, their feet in no world at all.

Before we traveled to Arizona, Grandmother made me promise to make this Lakota Star for my son. Sew love into every stitch and remember: a bed without a quilt is like a sky without stars. The quilt will help this child remember who he is, she said. The star will tell him how much he is loved and the light will save him at the last day." (excerpt Prologue).

A Sky Without Stars is the latest novel in the Quilts of Love Series by Linda S. Clare as she takes a Native American turn at storytelling. We meet Frankie Chasing Bear who has begun the task of trying to make it on her own as a single mother leaving her to care for her son, ten-year-old Harold. After growing up among men who drink, first her father and then her husband, Frankie knows that she must do all she can to make sure her son does not follow in his families footsteps. But Harold is facing his own challenges being bullied by a white boy named Orval who finds picking on the Indian child to be his lot in life. No matter how much Frankie tries to help, somethings can only be learned by going through life and enduring the tough trials. Soon Frankie and Harold find an ally in Nick Parker, a Federal Agent who is half Lakota as well and both will find that learning to embrace new challenges and giving up some of the past prejudices are just what is needed for them both to move forward to a new life.

I received A Sky Without Stars by Linda S. Clare compliments of Litfuse Publicity and Abingdon Press for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation and the opinions expressed are strictly my own unless otherwise noted. I love this take on the Quilts of Love series with the Native American twist for the 15th book in the series. I love how they embrace their heritage and the ways that have been passed down from generation to generation much like the quilt that Frankie is creating for her son, Harold. Quilts are like that in that they generally tell a bit about the person who handcrafted it with love and blessings as pieces are stitched together creating a beautiful work of art, much like how God uses our circumstances to create the person He has in mind as we grow and mature. I give this novel a 4 out of 5 stars and it even includes a reader discussion guide at the end.

For more information about A Sky Without Stars, Linda S. Clare or where you can pick up a copy of this novel, please click on the links below:

A Sky Without Stars by Linda S. Clare

You can also find Linda S. Clare on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on A Sky Without Stars, please visit Litfuse Publicity Book Tour's
Page. 

Don't miss this month's Quilts of Love book, A Star Without Stars, by Linda S. Clare. Linda is celebrating the release with a Kindle HDX giveaway and joining her fellow Quilts of Love authors, Barbara Cameron and Joyce Magnin, for a Facebook "Spring Fling" party on April 1st.

  One winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire HDX
• Scraps of Evidence by Barbara Cameron
• A Sky Without Stars by Linda S. Clare
• Maybelle in Stitches by Joyce Magnin

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 1st. Winner will be announced at the "Spring Fling" Facebook Party on April 1st. RSVP today and connect with the authors from the Quilts of Love series, Barbara Cameron, Linda S. Clare, and Joyce Magnin, for an evening of book chat, quilt trivia, prizes, and an exclusive look at the next Quilts of Love book!

So grab your copies of Scraps of Evidence, A Sky Without Stars, and Maybelle in Stitches and join Barbara, Linda, and Joyce on the evening of April 1st for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the books, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today by clicking JOIN at the event page. Spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway and party via FACEBOOK or TWITTER. Hope to see you on April 1st!

Maybelle in Stitches

We all know about women being employed at factories during World War II as an effort to help do whatever they could to enable their men to come home from the war as soon as possible. For Maybelle Kazinski, she is doing her part as a welder in Sun Shipyard, getting ships ready to aid in the war effort. She had only been married for a couple of days to Holden before he was called to report for duty, but it was worth it to know that he would have her waiting for him when he returned, if he returned at all. It seems like the waiting was truly the hardest part and even though working for six days helped to pass the time, she would cringe whenever the doorbell rang expecting the worst.

She just wasn't prepared for that dreaded feeling in the pit of her stomach to take the life of her mother, Francine and leave her alone. She had lost her father earlier and besides Roger, one of her mother's boarders who also worked at Sun Shipyard who she had come to see as a brother of sort, she had no more family left. Her only consolation was her best friend Doris who also had a husband serving overseas. Between the two of them, they did what they could to encourage each other that the war would be over soon and their men would come home.

But life isn't always sunshine and roses! Fate intervenes when we least expect it and for Maybelle it would be when the doorbell rings and a yellow telegram is delivered. The only good thing about the news it contained was that Holden wasn't killed but simply missing in action. But for Maybelle it seemed to be her undoing. On the heels of her mother's death and Holden's MIA telegram she had to find something to keep time from crawling along. When she discovers a crazy quilt of scraps her mother was making as a surprise for her and Holden for Christmas, Doris decides to convince Maybelle that they should finish it. But Maybelle isn't exactly what you would called skilled at sewing or cooking for that matter. Her high school sewing project involved her sewing the zipper of her dress into the neck area instead. Something that is still laughed about between her and Doris. But at least it will help to pass the time between working and sewing.

I received Maybelle in Stitches by Joyce Magnin compliments of Abingdon Press and Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This is the 16th novel in the Quilts of Love Series and one that can be read as a stand alone as each talented author takes their turn at telling a story with the quilt at the centerpiece. Joyce appealed to not only the romance lover in my heart but to WWII lover as well. I loved the background story she researched about women working in the shipyards as welders for Sun Shipyard which she includes at the conclusion of this novel. It makes it so rich to read how difficult it was waiting for men to come home from the war not knowing if they would ever see them again. Hands down this one rates a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about Maybelle in Stitches, Joyce Magnin or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Maybelle in Stitches by Joyce Magnin

You can also find Joyce Magnin on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Maybelle in Stitches, please visit Christian Fiction Blog Alliance's book tour page.

Scraps of Evidence

Just what does a beautiful sewn blue quilt have to do with the latest serial murders running rampant in Florida? Just another mystery waiting to be discovered by best-selling author Barbara Cameron in her latest novel Scraps of Evidence that joins the Quilts of Love Series as book 14. The readers of this novel are bound to a true treat if you have read any of Barbara Cameron's novels. There is always an element of mystery and suspense to keep you reading long past it's time to head for bed because of your compelling urge to know who did it.

Join Detective Tess Villanova as she teams up with her new partner who just happens to be amazingly good-looking as well as single, Detective Logan McMillian from Chicago. Now they must work together when the latest case reopens the serial murder case when Tess lost her best friend as the first murder victim. Working hard to try and find the killer, when the latest body turns up, Logan gives the case a whole new perspective and a fresh set of eyes.

Like most colleagues that work together and spend so much time together, you get to know someone in ways you never would if you had met in a bar, and this gives Tess and Logan time to unwind and compare notes over lunches and dinners working their case. What they find is that they have more in common than simply being partners working together and the more time they spend with one another the more things begin to heat up and not just in the romance department.

I received Scraps of Evidence by Barbara Cameron compliments of Abingdon Press and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own unless otherwise noted. The best thing about any of the novels you find in the Quilts of Love series is why they do have a common thread running through them, you can pick up any of them and read them. They are not linked in any way other than having a quilt at the central theme. I've been a huge fan of Barbara Cameron's novels and was thrilled to read and review this one. I love the romantic tension that builds up between Logan and Tess and you just hope by the time you get to the end, they both come around to realize love is in the air. I easily give this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars in my opinion. Included in this novel at the conclusion are some excellent discussion questions just perfect for book clubs as well as sneak peek into the next book in the series A Sky Without Stars.

For more information about Scraps of Evidence, Barbara Cameron or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Scraps of Evidence by Barbara Cameron 

You can also find Barbara Cameron on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

For more reviews on Scraps of Evidence, please visit Litfuse Publicity Book Tours.

• Series: Quilts of Love (Book 14)
• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Abingdon Press (January 21, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1426752784
• ISBN-13: 978-1426752780
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 0.7 inches 

Barbara Cameron's Scraps of Evidence is the newest book in the Quilts of Love line, and Barbara is celebrating with an "intriguing" Kindle HDX giveaway!

One winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire HDX
• Scraps of Evidence by Barbara Cameron
• Tempest's Course by Lynette Sowell
• Aloha Rose by Lisa Carter

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on March 8th. Winner will be announced on the Quilts of Love blog on March 10th.

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

A Sky Without Stars

Pine Ridge, South Dakota
Frankie Chasing Bear


I did not come to quilt-making easily. The urge to piece together shapes and colors wasn't my gift.

But when I was twelve, Grandmother said soon the quilt might be all that was left of what we once were. By the time your children wrap quilts around themselves, she told me, the star and all it stands for may be a dim memory, lit only by the fire of ancestors, clouded by ruddy smoke hanging in the sky.


Just before she died, Grandmother and I sat together one last time. She stopped to smooth a small wrinkle in the quilt top. "Lakota were favored among tribes," she said. "Our people stood at the top of the hills. The buffalo and the deer bowed to our warriors, and we lived together in peace. The peace pipe showed us how to live, and the stars helped us find good hunting grounds. One day, the sun rose on white men. They brought their religion, but they often did not listen to their God's teachings. We were brought low and herded like animals. They had no explanation, except to point to their Book. We were to love their God and love each other."

Grandmother laughed. "Lakota need no instruction on love." Tears glistened in her tired black eyes. She'd seen something terrible in the smoke, she said for the hundredth time. A red rose, unopened. Blood, a river of blood. Another day was coming, she said, when words from the Book would take place: We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.

I dared not remind her she prayed to the God of the Bible. That she stood in two worlds, fully Lakota, fully Christian. I worry it's not possible for me. Indians who go to the church are shunned by their kin and by the whites. Outcasts, their feet in no world at all.

Before we traveled to Arizona, Grandmother made me promise to make this Lakota Star for my son. Sew love into every stitch and remember: a bed without a quilt is like a sky without stars. The quilt will help this child remember who he is, she said. The star will tell him how much he is loved and the light will save him at the last day." (excerpt Prologue).

A Sky Without Stars is the latest novel in the Quilts of Love Series by Linda S. Clare as she takes a Native American turn at storytelling. We meet Frankie Chasing Bear who has begun the task of trying to make it on her own as a single mother leaving her to care for her son, ten-year-old Harold. After growing up among men who drink, first her father and then her husband, Frankie knows that she must do all she can to make sure her son does not follow in his families footsteps. But Harold is facing his own challenges being bullied by a white boy named Orval who finds picking on the Indian child to be his lot in life. No matter how much Frankie tries to help, somethings can only be learned by going through life and enduring the tough trials. Soon Frankie and Harold find an ally in Nick Parker, a Federal Agent who is half Lakota as well and both will find that learning to embrace new challenges and giving up some of the past prejudices are just what is needed for them both to move forward to a new life.

I received A Sky Without Stars by Linda S. Clare compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and Abingdon Press for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation and the opinions expressed are strictly my own unless otherwise noted. I love this take on the Quilts of Love series with the Native American twist for the 15th book in the series. I love how they embrace their heritage and the ways that have been passed down from generation to generation much like the quilt that Frankie is creating for her son, Harold. Quilts are like that in that they generally tell a bit about the person who handcrafted it with love and blessings as pieces are stitched together creating a beautiful work of art, much like how God uses our circumstances to create the person He has in mind as we grow and mature. I give this novel a 4 out of 5 stars and it even includes a reader discussion guide at the end.

For more information about A Sky Without Stars, Linda S. Clare or where you can pick up a copy of this novel, please click on the links below:

A Sky Without Stars by Linda S. Clare

You can also find Linda S. Clare on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on A Sky Without Stars, please visit Christian Fiction Blog Alliance Book Tours Page. 

Scraps of Evidence

Just what does a beautiful sewn blue quilt have to do with the latest serial murders running rampant in Florida? Just another mystery waiting to be discovered by best-selling author Barbara Cameron in her latest novel Scraps of Evidence that joins the Quilts of Love Series as book 14. The readers of this novel are bound to a true treat if you have read any of Barbara Cameron's novels. There is always an element of mystery and suspense to keep you reading long past it's time to head for bed because of your compelling urge to know who did it.

Join Detective Tess Villanova as she teams up with her new partner who just happens to be amazingly good-looking as well as single, Detective Logan McMillian from Chicago. Now they must work together when the latest case reopens the serial murder case when Tess lost her best friend as the first murder victim. Working hard to try and find the killer, when the latest body turns up, Logan gives the case a whole new perspective and a fresh set of eyes.

Like most colleagues that work together and spend so much time together, you get to know someone in ways you never would if you had met in a bar, and this gives Tess and Logan time to unwind and compare notes over lunches and dinners working their case. What they find is that they have more in common than simply being partners working together and the more time they spend with one another the more things begin to heat up and not just in the romance department.

I received Scraps of Evidence by Barbara Cameron compliments of Abingdon Press and Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own unless otherwise noted. The best thing about any of the novels you find in the Quilts of Love series is why they do have a common thread running through them, you can pick up any of them and read them. They are not linked in any way other than having a quilt at the central theme. I've been a huge fan of Barbara Cameron's novels and was thrilled to read and review this one. I love the romantic tension that builds up between Logan and Tess and you just hope by the time you get to the end, they both come around to realize love is in the air. I easily give this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars in my opinion. Included in this novel at the conclusion are some excellent discussion questions just perfect for book clubs as well as sneak peek into the next book in the series A Sky Without Stars.

For more information about Scraps of Evidence, Barbara Cameron or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Scraps of Evidence by Barbara Cameron 

You can also find Barbara Cameron on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

For more reviews on Scraps of Evidence, please visit Christian Fiction Blog Alliance Book Tours.

• Series: Quilts of Love (Book 14)
• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Abingdon Press (January 21, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1426752784
• ISBN-13: 978-1426752780
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 0.7 inches

Tempest's Course

Kelly Frost is hoping to find the one job that will be enough to pay for her expenses and keep her head above water. When she finds herself in New Bedford at the Gray House, she begins the close examination of the vintage mariner's compass quilt that is in desperate need of restoration. Kelly is hoping that she will be able to make the bid on the restoration high enough to compensate her for the time and energy she will need to repair this quilt but also low enough not to outbid her chances. Fortunately for her she gets confirmation that she has won the right to this project. The only criteria she didn't plan on was the proprietor wants to quilt to remain in the house while the restoration is completed. They will allow her to move in and use the home for the length of the project.

Now if Kelly can only put her past behind her and continue to work on building her business after her failure with her recent breakup of a curator of a large museum. Turns out while he was romancing her, he failed to let on that he was married. Now placed in a precarious situation, she is in competition with his ex-wife in the very same industry of textile restoration. It seems that sometimes in life, you can't escape your past no matter how much you try to begin again.

Tom Pereira is the groundskeeper for the Gray House and has been asked by the foundation Firstborn Holdings, LLC,  to keep an eye on Kelly Frost. Even though she has passed the background, something in her character references if off and causes the owner concern. But Tom has his own demons that are haunting him about his past. He never can seem to measure up to the standards his father had wanted for him. giving up attending college and instead enlisting in the service was Tom's choice, his father felt the choice was the wrong one to make. Now plagued with seizures, Tom only hopes to get through this project and find a way to keep his own head above water. But with the downsizing in the economy, it seems like all his contacts are coming up short. Hopefully his job at Gray House will be enough.

I received Tempest's Course by Lynette Sowell compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and Abingdon Press for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed are strictly my own. Being a huge lover of quilts and occassionally trying my own hand at quilting, I know that most carry a story locked away in the fibers much like the Mariner's Compass Quilt does that Kelly Frost works on. Toggling back between an old journal she discovers from the quilts owner, she discovers that some secrets carry a great sacrifice and will one day shine the light on what the meaning of redemption really means. This is the 13th book in the Quilts of Love series and one I rate a 4.5 out of 5 stars. I've had the pleasure of reading almost all of them and each is truly their own work of art between the pages of the authors that have written them.

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Tempest's Course by Lynette Sowell

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• Series: Quilts of Love (Book 13)
• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Abingdon Press (December 17, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1426752768
• ISBN-13: 978-1426752766
• Product Dimensions: 0.2 x 7.3 x 9.5 inches