by Eva Gibson
Quilts of Love series, Book 18
Christian Fiction / Historical
Available May 2014
Abingdon Press
220 pages
About the Book
A quilt becomes a labor of love for a lonely wife mysteriously separated from her young husband.
After her fiancé returns from the Klondike gold rush in 1897,
Florence Harms sets about building a new life in her new marriage—even
though the lingering effects of illness have left her weak and
vulnerable. She and her young husband, Will, work tirelessly to clear
the land around their Northwest cabin, content with their modest life.
But then a stranger comes knocking and Florence suddenly senses a
restlessness in Will’s spirit that she had never seen before. When he
leaves her with only a note that tells her he will return before their
baby’s birth, she is devastated, and the illness that stiffened her
joints returns. Counting the days until Will walks back through her
door, Florence busies herself with a Tree of Life quilt displaying a map
of the farm they call home. Doubts claw at her heart as Florence
struggles to believe Will’s promise to return to her. Will her labor of
love-and faith in God—sustain her as she waits to see her beloved once
again?
My Thoughts
This is a difficult review to write because, unfortunately, I did not enjoy this book. While I've enjoyed many of the books in this series, this book just didn't resonate with me. It felt scattered, and I was never really sure what the story was supposed to be. There seemed to be a lot of time focusing on daily, ordinary tasks. I also had a hard time discerning when this book was supposed to take place. It was supposedly set in 1899 but the timing seemed off somehow. I also had difficulty connecting with the characters, who both came across as moody and immature. Additionally, the synopsis on the back cover was totally different than the synopsis included above. It made it seem like Will's leaving with only a note to Florence was the "main" event of the book, but it didn't happen until halfway through the book. I was looking for more adventure and just didn't get what I felt like the publisher advertised.
The one positive thing I would like to note is the strong focus on trusting God. Florence constantly went to Scripture when she was feeling overwhelmed, letting the words wash over her and remind her of God's presence. What a wonderful lesson for us all.
Based on the review on Amazon and Goodreads, it seems that some readers enjoyed this book. As always, I would encourage you to read other reviews if you think this book sounds like something you would like to read. [2 star]
I received a free copy of this book from Abingdon Press through Litfuse Publicity in exchange for my fair and honest review.
About the Author
Eva Gibson is the author of twenty books, including "The Gift of
Forgiveness" and "The Three Marys." She currently teaches "writing your
life story" classes for Portland Community College and is an active
member of Oregon Christian Writers. She has lived most of her life on
the family farm in Wilsonville, Oregon, which is the setting for "A
Stitch and a Prayer."
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