A Single Thread

I loved this book so much. It almost makes me want to learn quilting. Not that I need another hobby.

I laughed, and I cried, and I cheered along with the wonderfully crafted characters. The plotline where a main character is diagnosed with breast cancer struck close to home for me, as I lost my mother to that last year.

The romances grew so organically out of the relationships [a:Marie Bostwick|489648|Marie Bostwick|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1322192911p2/489648.jpg] introduced. I like romance well enough, but I roll my eyes at contrived love stories. No eye-rolling here, though; only smiles from me.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes to read character-driven stories. It's not my usual fare: most of the time, I prefer show more stories full of magic and such, but it doesn't need any of that. It's simply beautiful. Well-crafted, like a handmade quilt. show less

I've read a few books centered around "crafty chicks", whether they are knitters or quilters or booksellers or whatever. While I usually enjoy the insights into the crafts themselves, I've found the plots wrapped around them to be as gossamer thin and full of holes as a fine lace shawl.

So I approached A Single Thread with trepidation, and only after I had exhausted all the library books on my Kobo and was forced to turn to the books I had gotten for free. I was very pleasantly surprised to find that this "crafty chick" story was a cut above. The protagonist had an unusual backstory, and the inevitable romance angle played out against a backdrop of interactions with other people in the town that seemed more complex than average.

I'd show more recommend this book to other "crafty chicks" who like a little meat with their meringue. show less

Review: A Single Thread by Marie Bostwick.

This is an inspiring story and well written. It’s about an up-lifting, warm, sentimental medical based story of women starting over and coping with the best of life changes as emotional issues occur. The characters were well developed and the cozy setting in Connecticut fits as the perfect atmosphere for the story. Four driven women with difficult poignant problems meet connecting a sisterly bond with one another, as the strength of their friendship provides them the courage to deal with hardships and what is in store for them in the future.

First we have Evelyn Dixon newly divorced living in Texas feeling depressed and hurt who decides one day to stop her pity-party and takes off for a drive show more and ends up in New Bern, Connecticut with no luggage. She is memorized by the Fall Season and decides to stay for a few days and enjoy the color changing environment. As Evelyn walked around she was enlighten by the quaint small serenity of the town and thought to herself that she needed a new start, a new life, and when she came to a cobble stone walkway that lead to a small courtyard of a few small businesses and an empty old run down two story building. She stood there looking at the building and pictured herself opening a quilt shop which was something she was always interested in. A once in a life time dream materialized at that moment.

Then Abigail Burgess Wynne came into the story as the wealthiest woman in New Bern. She had many acquaintances but her attorney, Franklin was her only friend. Her life was filled with board meetings, fundraisers, cocktail parties and other events that kept her name in the highlights of New Bern. She gave money to worthy causes but distances herself from everyone and wouldn’t allow anyone to get close. She was strictly business and abrupt with a prude attitude.

Liza Burgess was only eighteen, Abigail’s niece, and one of those characters the reader falls in love with right off. Liza lost her mother, Abigail’s sister, to breast cancer and was still grieving and was acting out and got into trouble and found herself standing before a judge. Her Aunt Abigail reluctantly helped Liza through the court system and was perturbed when the judge made her guardian while Liza was on probation for a year. They both were holding grudges against one another and did not get along. However, the two were going to be living together for the next year, both stubborn, and Abigail had family secrets that where destroying any family bond that could be harbored.

Margot’s character was not happy when she is first introduced into the story but cared about the happiness of others. She was unemployed and in need of work. When she met Evelyn she could tell she was in need of help and it didn’t matter that she didn’t know her well but as a true Christian woman Margot decided right then and there to lead a helping hand.

The story is built on Evelyn’s quilt shop that brings these character together through hardship and issues of a lot of people in need of something, even their little group, and Evelyn’s struggle with a life threatening medical issue that manifested after the opening of her quilt shop. The story is creative and filled with plenty of events, togetherness, kindness, attitude changes, and up and down emotions. A lovely story holding together to the end with a single thread… show less

This is a lovely, inspiring, and very well written story about starting over - in mid-life. Told from the points of view of two of the main characters, the author does an amazing job of revealing the idiosyncrasies of each without ever "telling" - an art form.

The audible version seemed to drag a bit, but I think it was the blame of the narrators. This book made me want to start quilting, and to visit New Bern, CT which I learned is a fictional town. :(

An uplifting, expertly crafted read.

Recently divorced, Evelyn visits New Bern, Connecticut and decides to leave Texas and open a quilt shop in the small town. This book is about quilts, friendship, cancer, faith, and love. I loved the characters and the setting. Although published by a mainstream publisher, it is obvious to me that the author of this book is a Christian. Many of her characters either share their faith when the circumstance arises or they have "old-fashioned values." It also makes me want to grab some fabric scraps and start stitching them together. My only complaint is that the author seems to champion machine quilting because she mentions needing machines at various times. While I'm sure machine quilting is much faster, some of the best quilts are those show more which were done entirely by hand. I will look forward to my future visits with Evelyn, Abigail, Liza, Margot, Charlie, Garrett, Franklin, and all the others in New Bern in future installments of the series. show less

A Single Thread by Marie Bostwick

After divorce, Evelyn moves cross country and opens a Quilting store. On the day of a planned event to support breast cancer, she reveals that she herself has breast cancer. Soon new deep friendships are formed and we learn about the lives of the other women as Evelyn deals with the disease.

A beautiful and moving romance. The highs and lows of cancer, friendships, family and love. And the hidden and bonding connections of a quilting circle.
Absolutely lovely.

I listened to the audio version.

Marie Bostwick has become one of my new favorite authors. She has touched on a subject and brought it into a reality that hopefully some people will never have to experience. It brought out raw emotion in me that made me have to close the book and regroup so that I could stop crying and actually finish a chapter. This book also shows that friends can be created and found in the least likely person.