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| GIVEAWAY |
BAILEY, JODIE
QUILTED BY CHRISTMAS
A grandmother's last wish is to communicate God's love through an Irish chain quilt.
Taryn McKenna believes she's easy to forget. Abandoned by her parents and left behind when her high school sweetheart joined the army, she vows to never love again and throws herself into her love for the outdoors and the pursuit of a college degree---something no one else in her family has ever accomplished. Her goal, as a young teacher in the hills of North Carolina, is to leave a legacy in the lives of the middle-schoolers she teaches.
When Taryn's grandmother Jemma, the only other person who ever held her close, has a heart attack that reveals a fatal medical condition, Taryn is corralled into helping Grandma work on a final project---an Irish chain quilt that tells the story of her history and the love Jemma knows is out there for Taryn. As the pieces of the quilt come together, Taryn begins to see her value. Can she learn to believe that God will never leave her behind even though others have?
Taryn McKenna believes she's easy to forget. Abandoned by her parents and left behind when her high school sweetheart joined the army, she vows to never love again and throws herself into her love for the outdoors and the pursuit of a college degree---something no one else in her family has ever accomplished. Her goal, as a young teacher in the hills of North Carolina, is to leave a legacy in the lives of the middle-schoolers she teaches.
When Taryn's grandmother Jemma, the only other person who ever held her close, has a heart attack that reveals a fatal medical condition, Taryn is corralled into helping Grandma work on a final project---an Irish chain quilt that tells the story of her history and the love Jemma knows is out there for Taryn. As the pieces of the quilt come together, Taryn begins to see her value. Can she learn to believe that God will never leave her behind even though others have?
My Review:
An angsty romance that kept me squirming right to the very end. In fact, my tummy was in knots for most of the read. Bailey doesn't play nice with her characters. She ups the tension and twists the plot and stretches the conflict so tight I didn't see how a happily ever after was possible. She should be reported for cruelty to characters. :-) I ached for both Justin and Taryn -- wounded by the past and holding their hurt inside. I wanted to smack them upside the head and tell them to spit it out already. Of course that would have shortened the book and consequently my reading enjoyment so I kept my mouth closed...this time.
Quilted By Christmas isn't all drama though. There are still plenty of sweet and funny and tender moments. A great blend of emotions that swept me away. And great twists on incorporating the quilting theme. Can't say more for fear of spoiling the plot, but it was fun to read!
A solid inspirational thread tie families...and the hero and heroine...together by the grace of God. A reminder that only through Him can the impossible be made possible.
My thanks to Litfuse Publicity Group and the publisher for providing me with a review copy of this book.
GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:
If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of At Bluebonnet Lake please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday November 2 2014. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!
If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of At Bluebonnet Lake please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday November 2 2014. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!
I've enjoyed the ones I have read as well. Great concept for a series. Good luck, Sharon.
ReplyDeleteI love the books I've read in the Quilts of Love series, and this sounds like another wonderful addition! Thanks so much for the chance to win, Kav.
ReplyDeletetexaggs2000 at gmail dot com
You're welcome, Britney. Good luck!
DeleteAh, raw read again! Kav, you could be my personal book shopper! :)
ReplyDeletejanka(dot)halcinova(at)gmail(dot)com
LOL -- wonder if there's a career in that? Good luck, Janka!
DeleteI think this book sounds wonderful! The Quilts Of Love series sounds so comforting and inviting. Thank you for the chance to be a winner!
ReplyDeletemauback55 at gmail dot com
It is a great series. I've really enjoyed the books I've read. Good luck, Melanie.
DeleteI'm a sucker for Christmas books, and Jodie Bailey is one of my online writer friends so count me in, Kav! :)
ReplyDeleteckbarker at gmail dot com
You're counted, Cheryl. Good luck!
Deletethanks for the opportunity to read this novel, kav
ReplyDeletekarenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com
Good luck, Karen.
DeleteThis sounds like a great Christmas read! I love these Quilts books… martha(at)lclink(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI do too -- and love quilts and Christmas together. Good luck, Martha.
DeleteI have not read any of the Quilts of Love series, maybe this book should be the remedy! Sounds great.
ReplyDeletepattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com
It's a great one to start with. Good luck, Patty.
DeleteWhat an interesting review! Most of all though I want to wish you a terrific, God-blessed day
ReplyDeleteChris
granvilleATfrontiernetDOTnet
Good luck, Chris.
Delete"She should be reported for cruelty to characters." -- OK... you had me here! Another must read! lol! You are great with reviews (taking pointers as I read them!!)! Thank you for the giveaway and the chance to win!
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
Kelly Y
kelly AT dkcountryarts DOT com
LOL -- what can I say -- I take my book reading seriously. Good luck, Kelly.
DeleteI'll try this one too ... rrwalter34 ATgmailDOTcom
ReplyDeleteGood luck, Becky.
DeleteI would love to read this book. I love reading Christmas books and I love the Quilts of Love series. I would love to win a copy of this book. I love your reviews. I love that I love...oh, brother, I think it's time to get off the computer.
ReplyDeletekmgervais(at)nycap(dot)rr(dot)com
LOL -- your enthusiasm knows no bounds, Karen. Good luck!
DeleteHi Kav. I love the story behind this book. Thanks for the review. I would love to win this book. I love the Quilt stories. Makes me think of the quilting I used to watch my mother and grandmother do when I was small. Maxie > mac262(at)me(dot)com <
ReplyDeleteI love quilts too -- both wrapped around me and in a book. Good luck, Maxie.
DeleteI love the quilt stories too. I purchased a new sewing machine this summer and hoped to start a project this fall but I've been reading too much and haven't even begun yet!!
Deletepbclark(at)netins(dot)net
Once you start sewing you won't be able to stop, rubynreba. Quilting can be as addictive as reading -- two great 'vices' to have. Good luck!
DeleteI just discovered this series and have read one of the books so far. This book sounds great too! Perfect for the holiday season.
ReplyDeletemarypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com
I haven't read the whole series, but the ones I have read I really love. And this one is pretty special. Good luck, Maryann.
DeleteThanks for the review and thanks to my sister-in-law for introducing me to the Quilts of Love series. It would be great if I could win this book and add it to her collection after I read it. Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy. Have a nice weekend.
ReplyDeletemsbookwormlady(at)aol(dot)com
A friend of mine just won this on another blog and I was sooo happy for her. But at the same time wondering why I didn't enter for this one myself. And at the same time thinking if I had entered and won, she wouldn't have won, and that would have been sad. But at the same time I fell in love with the cover, the storyline, everything! Ok, too much chocolate last night for sure. lol Please do enter me and thank you for the great review as always!
ReplyDeletedianalflowers(at)aol(dot)com