The Patchwork Bride by Sandra Dallas

June 19, 2018

Over the course of fifteen books, Sandra Dallas has placed women’s relationships and quilting at the heart of her novels. Historically, quilting was a way for women to gather and tell their stories. In The Patchwork Bride, quilting is the tool a grandmother...

The Persian Pickle Club by Sandra Dallas

June 18, 2018

Ten years ago, for “Friday’s Forgotten Books”, I discussed Sandra Dallas’ novel, The Persian Pickle Club. I have it on Facebook today for a listing of seven books I’ve loved. I still love that book. Why am I talking about it again?...

The Lemonade Year by Amy Willoughby-Burle

March 28, 2018

Sometimes, it’s the voice. Amy Willoughby-Burle’s novel, The Lemonade Year, introduces Nina Griffin, a narrator with a philosopher’s voice, a poet’s voice, the voice of a woman struggling to find her place in the world.  It’s just...

The Mother’s Promise by Sally Hepworth

February 18, 2017

If you’re a fan of the issue-oriented novels of Jodi Picoult or Lisa Genova, you might want to try Sally Hepworth’s The Mother’s Promise. I’ll admit, it was a difficult book for me to get through. But, I’m a wimp who likes even my...

Root, Petal, Thorn by Ella Joy Olsen

August 31, 2016

It’s always a joy to discover a debut author who brings characters to life on the page. Ella Joy Olsen, in a style that reminds me of Sandra Dallas, brings five women and a house to life in Root, Petal, Thorn. Five women, one house, one century. Ivy Baygren had...