Saturday, April 28, 2018

The Message on the Quilt

GIVEAWAY
WHITSON, STEPHANIE GRACE
THE MESSAGE ON THE QUILT

Unravel the message behind a treasured quilt...

Emilie Rhodes had been taught to think for herself. But thinking for herself soon leads her to want to write 'real news.' Her newspaper editor father won't hear of it and fires her. When Emilie begins writing anonymously for her father's competition, interviewing speakers at the 1890 Chautauqua series, she meets and falls in love with "The Man of Many Voices."

Noah Shaw is unsettled and feels adrift, even though he is a well-respected lecturer and dramatist. He's never felt that he belongs anywhere. His professional life is only one reason he's now in Nebraska. Noah is on a quest to find answers. Everyone always said Grandma's quilt stories were just that -- stories. But Noah's not so sure...and he's anxious to discover a piece of his past.

But will the truth Noah discovers about his heritage and a treasured quilt prove to bear a message of brokeness -- or hope and healing?

My Review:

published in 2013 -- this went out of print fast. I found a copy on the clearance table at my local bookstore so the winner of this giveaway will receive a gently read copy of The Message on the Quilt.

Two heroines, decades apart in age struggle to make their way in an ever changing world.

While largely Emilie's story, the secondary plot involving Grace captivated me. I didn't know what to make of her at first and then, slowly, Whitson peels away layers until an astonishing story comes to light. Loved that unexpected gem in the midst of a 'young' love story.

And I say young because Emilie is eighteen. Full of ambition, with suffragette leanings. This is very much a coming of age story. Emilie strives for independence as she feels increasingly confined by  parental restrictions. And like every mama in the late 1800s, Emilie's mother just wants her to settle down and marry (because, eighteen is on the verge of spinsterhood...snicker.)

A chance meeting with "The Man of Many Voices" may just be the answer to a mother's prayers. Noah's profession totally intrigues me...and has left me yearning for simpler times when people viewed poetry recitations and bible readings as lively entertainment.

And can I just say that the Chatautauqua campground angle totally fascinated me? Acres of parkland on the outskirts of the city with an impressive building called the Tabernacle which was used to host a variety of lecturers and musicians on a summer circuit (our hero Noah and his many voices being one of the most anticipated acts.) Love it when a historical fiction read inspires me to do my own after-story research!

A sweet summer romance is interrupted when family secrets are brought to light, threatening young love's future. A truly captivating read!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a gently read copy of The Message on the Quilt, leave a comment below ore email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday April 29 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck.


24 comments:

  1. This one sounds intriguing! Never heard of stories and new-to-me authors are gems in my book...no pun intended!

    teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I just popped over to my Overdrive digital ebook library and found several novels by her! The three I found in this series (though I don't know the order) are: The Key on the Quilt, The Shadow on the Quilt and this one in your review. She also wrote Messenger by Moonlight which has been on my want-to-read list for a long time :-) It's about a heroine who joins the Pony Express!! Guess what I'm moving up?

      Delete
    2. I read Key on the Quilt and loved it! Very different and thought-provoking. I really enjoyed A Captain for Laura Rose if your library has that one. And the pony express book wasn't on my radar at all. Woot! Good luck, Trixi.

      Delete
  2. Another author on my TBR list. cheetahthecat1986ATgmailDOTcom.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I am intrigued by this one, Kav. I love the title! Thank you for the opportunity. mauback55 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's a really great read! I've only read four of this author's books but I'm hunting down more. Good luck, Melanie.

      Delete
  4. thank you for you review and the give a way.
    oh my goodness, this sounds so fascinating. i love the cover. i have got to put this down. i love historical and i am a quilter. yes yes yes.
    quilting dash lady at comcast dot net

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, yes, this would definitely be the book for you - the whole series has a quilt theme as a matter of fact. Good luck, Lori.

      Delete
  5. I love her books, but I missed this one. Thank you for the chance. Hugs
    leliamae54(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've only read 4 of her books so I need to hunt down more. Good luck, Lucy.

      Delete
  6. It's been awhile since I've read a book by Stephanie Grace Whitson though I've always enjoyed the ones I've read. My favorite book by her is Sixteen Brides. She and Deb Raney and Nancy Moser met with my book club several years ago when they were in town for a writers' retreat. Thanks for the chance to win The Message on the Quilt.
    pmkellogg56[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, wow -- what a powerhouse book club! I'm in awe! It's been awhile since I have read anything by Stephanie Grace Whitson too and then this one practically jumped up and bit me at the bookstore so I had to take it home in self-defense. Good luck, Pam.

      Delete
  7. Great review! It's been quite awhile since I read a Stephanie Grace Whitson book. I used to eagerly search my library shelves for any of her books that I could find. She is actually one of the earlier adult Christian fiction authors that I read when I was a very young teen, I started with Janette Oke when I was 10, and she got me even more hooked on the genre.

    Blessings!
    Jasmine A.
    montanamade(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I checked her website and was surprised at how many books she has written. Sad that they are out of print now. Good luck, Jasmine.

      Delete
  8. THis one also sounds like something I would love to read. Thanks for sharing. Too bad it is out of print. :-(
    amylsmith at Bledsoe DOT net

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know -- that's why I was thrilled to find it at the store. Not sure why it's not available as an ebook though. That's kinda strange. Good luck, Aimee.

      Delete
  9. I love finding gems on the bookstore clearance tables!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's like going on a treasure hunt! Good luck!

      Delete
  10. I do not need to be put in the drawing for this book but I wanted to let your followers know that this is a WONDERFUL book. I fell in love with the first one in the series, "The Key on the Quilt" and loved each of the next two in the series.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for sharing, Wendy. I loved The Key on the Quilt too -- but missed the second one, which is also out of print. Must travel back to that clearance section and see if it is lurking there.

      Delete
  11. This one looks good, in fact I’ll look up the whole series. I have enjoyed Stephanie in the past. Thanks, Kav. paulams49ATsbcglobalDOTnet

    ReplyDelete
  12. Dear Kav,
    We have this series in the church library and our readers love it, especially, the ladies who quilt.
    I'm not entering but the person who wins this book will love it also.
    Janet E.
    von1janet(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete