Historical Fiction Review: Thimbles and Threads: 4 Love Stories Are Quilted into Broken Lives by Mary Davis, Grace Hitchcock, Suzanne Norquist, Liz Tolsma

Book Description:

Enjoy four historical romances that celebrate the arts of sewing and quilting. When four women put needle and thread to fabric, will their talents lead to love?

Bygones by Mary Davis Texas, 1884
Can Tilly figure out how to truly forgive the one who made her childhood unbearable? 

The Bridal Shop by Grace Hitchcock
Charleston, South Carolina, June 1886
Alice Turner, the owner of one of Charleston’s finest bridal shops, is determined never to be dependent on a man for anything after the disgrace of her father’s prison time.  Will the handsome groomsman be able to convince her to open her heart again and finish the quilt once intended for her father?

Mending Sarah’s Heart by Suzanne Norquist
Rockledge, Colorado, 1884
Sarah doesn’t need anyone, especially her dead husband’s partner. When she rejects her husband’s share of the mine, his partner Jack seeks to serve her through other means. But will his efforts only push her further away?

Binding Up Wounds by Liz Tolsma
Regent, Wisconsin, 1865
Melissa Bainbridge is a quirky designer of rag dolls who raises raccoons and never really fit into the small farming town. When Lance Witherspoon arrives in town to thank her for the Sanitary Commission quilt she made that saved his life, she is shocked to learn Lance is a Confederate. Can she and Lance confront the town’s prejudices – along with their own?

My Review:
I enjoyed these gentle stories set in the late 1800s. I'm fascinated with the art of sewing, and love that the women in the stories own businesses. Each author writes a beautiful story, giving the heroin strong faith and determination. The novellas are threaded together by stitches, yet each one is unique. I especially enjoyed Binding Up Wounds. Liz Tolsma did a beautiful job writing about the prejudice that remained after the Civil War and the hurt caused by people who judge. If you enjoy historical fiction, pick up a copy of Thimbles and Threads. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Books via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Joy in the Garden

Psalm 28:7

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.

Flowers bring me joy. If you've checked out my Flower Friday posts, you know botanicals have played a part in my life since childhood. From the flower garden my mom nurtured to the row of irises (we called them flags) my dad planted, I've always enjoyed flowers. The whole process from sowing the seed or placing the baby plant in the ground to the photosynthesis in the leaves is nothing short of amazing.

My granddaughter Dilly and I planted zinnias, snapdragons, geraniums and a few other flowers in my tiny flower bed in May. As I walked by them this hot August morning I noticed how they had spread, like they lifted their arms toward the sun and stretched. The beautiful array of colors fills me with joy.

Jesus calls us to be a joyful people. Not just happy but filled with joy. In sadness, disappointment, distress, or frustration the joy of knowing my Savior loves me fills my heart with hope. Each time I look at the flowers in my little garden, I'm reminded of the everlasting joy of life with God.

At camp and vacation Bible school we sang a song:

I have the joy, joy, joy down in my heart.
Where?
Down in my heart.
Where?
Down in my heart.
I have the joy, joy, joy down in my heart.
Where?
Down in my heart to stay.
-George W. Cooke (Public Domain)

As simple as the words are, they speak volumes. That joy that is a product of loving Jesus is in my heart to stay.

Do you know the joy Jesus gives?

Flower Friday: Coneflower

The purple coneflower stands guard over the garden. A member of the echinacea family, "The genus name, Echinacea, comes from the Greek word ‘chinos,’ meaning hedgehog." The center of the flower stands out like a prickly little hedgehog.
Bees, butterflies and hummingbirds love the coneflower.
They're easy to grow and add lovely color to the garden.

Grant, Bonnie. “History Of Purple Coneflowers.” Gardening Know How, 5 May 2018, blog.gardeningknowhow.com/tbt/history-of-purple-coneflowers/.

Joy and Light!

Children's Book Review: The One & Only Wolfgang: From Pet Rescue to One Big Happy Family by Steve Greig & Mary Rand Hess; Illustrated by Nadja Sarell

Book Description:

What makes a family? Is it sharing favorite foods, cuddling up for snuggle time, loving each other no matter what you look like in the morning?

For Steve Greig’s oddly wonderful, real-life family of senior dogs, chickens, rabbits, and a pig named Bikini, family is all those things and then some! And this lovable bunch is now starring in their very first children’s book that showcases the importance of family.

Meet the Wolfgang, a loveable bunch of animals belonging to Steve and each other. Greig looked for the most “unadoptable” animals and gave them a home … his home! Strange and unique, The One and Only Wolfgang will remind readers that no matter how old or how odd, everyone has a place where they belong.

My Review:
The One & Only Wolfgang is a delightful story based on a real-life family. I checked out Steve Greig's Instagram and looked through the fun pictures of his menagerie. His book encourages kids and adults to consider how much each person or in this case pet brings to the family. I like the colorful illustrations mixed with the photos of all the animals. Steve's animals are also seniors. I find this a wonderful way to show kids that seniors, whether animals or people, should be valued and respected. This would be a great gift for anyone who loves animals. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Zondervan. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Fiction Review: A Glitter of Gold by Liz Johnson

Book Description:

Anne Norris moved to Savannah, Georgia, for a fresh start. Now her pirate-tour business is flagging, and paying the rent requires more than wishful thinking. When she discovers evidence of a shipwreck off the coast of Tybee Island, she knows it could be just the boon she needs to stay afloat. She takes her findings to local museum director Carter Hale for confirmation, but she runs after a disastrous first meeting.

Carter has been searching for the location of the wreck detailed in the worn pages of an 18th-century diary, the discovery of which could open the door to his dream job at a prestigious museum. But convincing Anne to help him fill in the missing pieces of the puzzle is no easy task. And working with Carter means that Anne will have to do the one thing she swore she'd never do again: trust a man.

Finding a monetary backer and sticking with a search that's turning up nothing will take all their dedication--and every secret they've tried to hide. If they can find the lost ship, they may discover a treasure worth more than all the pirate gold in the world--love.

My Review:
I've read most of Liz Johnson's books, this one is my favorite. The character Anne is plucky and real, a pixie of a girl. She's paving her way after a terrible experience in her past. Carter is a sweetheart. Imagine cute guy, a bit of a nerd with black glasses. He's not your typical hero. The setting is gorgeous and the history of the lost ship is fascinating. In the story, Anne and Carter share a diary from a young woman who risked everything for her brother. I found the diary excerpts as wonderful as Anne's story. If you want to sink yourself into an enjoyable story filled with mystery and adventure, pick up A Glitter of Gold. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Bucket List

Ephesians 6:19-20

Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

The bucket list.

Do you have one? For years I didn't think I did. But then I reached an age of looking back. I had to consider whether I'd accomplished the things I'd set as goals (aka bucket list.) Yes, some of the ideas I conjured came to fruition.

• I'd finally completed my bachelors degree at age 48.
• We'd raised the kids to be adults who care about others and give back.
• I gave myself the freedom to let my hair grow into its natural color.
• I had a few of my writings published.  
• Tim and I moved into a condo and see it as our home for the rest of our days.
• At 60 I finally got to journey to Maine.
• And I retired.

Yes, some of my bucket list is complete. But what about the opportunities Jesus offers me now. Or the nudges I receive from the Holy Spirit.

Sometimes when God calls me to check off or accomplish an item on His list, I react with fear. That's not new to me. I've been fearful of failure most of my life. My anxiety shoots up and leaves me frozen.

I completed my degree, but not without hesitation. We reared the kids, but not without doubts, then there's my writing. That draws out the fear like nothing else. Yet, each time God calls me and adds an item to my list, He fills me with his confidence and equips me to complete the work.

The apostle Paul requested prayer for his ministry. He asked his friends to pray that in spite of fear, he would accomplish his calling. You know what? God answered his prayer. The Holy Spirit worked through Paul and gave him courage to live for Jesus and to share the gospel with everyone. And he'll do that for us, too.

"Life is filled with bucket lists. When God nudges us, step out on faith and check off the bucket opportunities that God gives us." -Tim McGinnis