Title: The Quilted Heart "Bending Toward the
Sun"
Author: Mona Hodgson
Review: I will start out right off the bat by
saying this is not the type of book I enjoy.
That said, it was a well written if some what boring book, again not my
type, It is a sweet book, along the
lines of a Christian teen romance. It
was clean, without offensive language or behavior. I would hand it to my teen without a qualm to
read and enjoy.
The references to quilting causes me to believe that Mona
has done some quilting in her day. The
old fashioned quilting bees that she describes in detail feel familiar even
though I have never been to one. That I
think is the best way to describe this book, it is comfortable and familiar,
rather like an old worn house slipper, you know you are safe when you are
reading it from any loose nails in the form of "progressive"thinking,
a simple story of love and companionship, friendship and support in the
quilting circle of life.
The story takes place just after the ending of the United
States Civil War. Soldiers are returning
home, but not all of them. Wives, mothers and girlfriends are waiting
and wondering if theirs will come home or will they be receiving a letter from
the war department.
But.... Life goes
on, young people fall in love, get
married, babies are born, the colors in the quilts of life are formed in the
pages of the story. There will be dark spots where sadness and heartache have
been, there will be brightness and color
where the happy days, months and years have been. The color of our lives are varied and the
author tries to show the different fabrics that the lives of her characters are
made of.
There is sturdy Mrs Bratenburg, the mother and friend that
the younger women depend on for love and support. The German girl, Emilie, soft and sweet on
the outside but made of strong fabric on the inside. Emilie's friend Maren, in love and ready for
the brightness of a wedding veil.
Their friend Caroline, not
willing to give up the slender thread of hope she holds that her young husband
is coming home.
The conflict between
the Irish and just about everyone else is also touched upon. Love, in all its beauty and complexity, all
combine to form the fabric and quilt stories of the lives of the folks in this
tight knit community.
I think perhaps the author,
was born with a paint bush of words in her hand as her descriptions of
St Charles, Missouri after the war are vivid and easy to imagine, truly a quilt
of colorful and intricate design.
If you want a book that is fast to read, easy to understand,
clean, free of offensive language, has
light romance, and not much excitement, this is the book for you. The author has left this book open to a
sequel without any problem.
Thanks Eileen for this review.
Published: Published
April 2nd 2013 by WaterBrook Press
ISBN: 9780307731449
Pages: 128
Copyright: 2013
Quick Review: 3
out of 5 stars
Synopsis: Can
the Divine Quilter stitch together the torn pieces of Emilie’s heart?
Divided between the love of her father and the desires of
her heart, Emilie Heinrich must rely on the love and wisdom of the women in her
quilting circle for support. Since Emilie is dedicated to her education and to
helping her father in his general store, she is convinced she doesn't have time
for love. But when a childhood friend returns to St. Charles, Missouri, after
serving in the Civil War, his smile and charm captures Emilie’s eye and her
heart.
Quaid McFarland has a gentleness and humor that causes
Emilie to question her indifference toward romance. But her German father sees
only one thing when he looks at the young man: an Irish teamster. And Johann
Heinrich is not about to let such a man court his beloved daughter.
Her father’s prejudices test Emilie’s faith in God’s ability
to mend the patchwork pieces of her life. Will she be forced to choose between
honoring her father and a future with a husband and family of her own?
About the author: Mona Hodgson is the author of the
Sinclair Sisters of Cripple Creek....her writings credits include hundreds of
articles, poems, and short stories in more than fifty different
periodicals.....Mona speaks at women's retreats, schools and conferences....
Mona and Bob, her husband of forty one years, have two adult
daughters, two sons in law and a gaggle of grandchildren.
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