Nell Fitzgerald is thrilled when she receives a gorgeous handmade quilt in a lover's knot pattern from her grandmother Eleanor as an engagement gift. Her joy is short-lived, however, when her fiance announces he's calling off the wedding. Heartbroken, 25-year-old Nell flees New York City for her grandmother's home in quaint Archers Rest. In this small town Eleanor's life revolves around her quilt shop, Someday Quilts, and the members of the shop's quilting circle." "When the body of a local handyman known for his flirting is found in the quilt shop, murdered with a pair of quilting scissors, Nell finds herself drawn into the case - and drawn to the handsome police chief. As a pattern of clues begins to emerge, one of the prime suspects is Nell's ex-fiance, whose arrival in Archers Rest seems suspicious. The ladies of the quilting circle continue to piece together their quilts as Nell unravels the mystery. For quilters and mystery lovers alike, The Lover's Knot is a delightful and promising debut. ( )

This book is cast with characters you would like to know, though not always in believable situations. A murder.....really? In this idyllic haven of a place, twisty attractions between single and sort-of single adults is contrived and a bit tiring amid the investigation of a murder. Theft maybe, secrets among adults, sure, but a murder? This story is trying to contain too many elements of fiction, but the characters are likable and folksy. Besides, quilters may like to think that drama is possible in a quilt shop! ( )

In The Lover’s Knot, Clare O’Donohue takes the reader on a follow-the-clues journey that puts the reader squarely in the thought process of Nell, a career woman with a wavering fiancé. Nell’s stay with her grandmother in a small New York town is interrupted when the town’s bad boy is found stabbed to death with scissors in her grandmother’s quilt shop. Nell discovers parts of herself – cooking skills, quilting, and true feelings for the fiancé – while racing the town police to solve the mystery. Satisfying read. that shows why and how women quilt. ( )

Nell Fitzgerald is thrilled when she receives a gorgeous handmade quilt in a lover’s knot pattern from her grandmother Eleanor as an engagement gift. Her joy is short-lived, however, when her fiance announces he’s calling off the wedding. Heartbroken, 25-year-old Nell flees New York City for her grandmother’s home in quaint Archers Rest. In this small town Eleanor’s life revolves around her quilt shop, Someday Quilts, and the members of the shop’s quilting circle. When the body of a local handyman known for his flirting is found in the quilt shop, murdered with a pair of quilting scissors, Nell finds herself drawn into the case–and drawn to the handsome police chief. As a pattern of clues begins to emerge, one of the prime suspects is Nell’s ex-fiance, whose arrival in Archers Rest seems suspicious. The ladies of the quilting circle continue to piece together their quilts as Nell unravels the mystery.

I enjoyed the book but didn’t love it. The whole romance thing between Nell, her ex-fiancee Ryan and the police chief, Jesse, was all pretty predictable.

Stop here if you don’t want any spoilers.

Who the killer was surprised me but the way they treat Nancy is so unrealistic. Hello? She murdered a guy. Even if she thought he stole her money he didn’t have the scissors raised upright so it’s hard to imagine that he was going to try and hurt her. Then the other quilting club members act like it’s no big deal that she killed a guy other than oh darn. In addition, a police officer letting a civilian continue with all the things Nell did seems pretty unbelievable as well. Jesse kept threatening to arrest Nell but never did. I would think in real life a cop would because she was seriously intervening in the investigation and might have messed up any evidence that could convict the murderer. Even in small towns would they be this lenient?

I know it doesn’t matter but I also wonder what the deal was between Ryan and Amanda. Did they have a one night stand? An affair? Did they love each other? Anyway, it was a quick fun read as long as you don’t focus on it being realistic. ( )

I am not a quilter but I enjoyed this book very much. I can't wait until the next one. I do hope that Nell and Jesse end up together as a friendship was starting at the end of the book. I know there is something there. Nell left NYC after her fiance Ryan told her was not ready to get married. She went to her grandmother Eleanor's house in Archers Rest. Nell did not plan on staying long but her grandmother broke her leg and a murder accured at Eleanor's quilt shop. Nell wanted to help in the murder investigation and also with her grandmother. It was great to see the closeness of the women in the quilt club and how they stuck together and helped each other. I would love to learn how to make a quilt. ( )