Maybelle in Stitches by Joyce Magnin

Quilts of Love, Book 16

Maybelle can’t sew. But when she finds an unfinished quilt in the attic of her mother’s house, she gets the crazy idea to complete it. At first, it’s just a way to fill the lonely nights while her husband, Holden Kanzinzki, is away fighting in World War II.

Yet when Maybelle discovers that the quilt is made from scraps of material that can be traced back through her family heritage, the project is suddenly much more important. Then word comes that Holden is missing in action, and with little else to do, Maybelle clings to the quilt as much as to the hope that her husband is still alive. As neighborhood friends gather around Maybelle to help her through the unknown days and nights ahead, it is the quilt that becomes a symbol of her unflagging belief that Holden will return—to her, to their home, and to their quilt-covered bed.

My Review:
The premise of the story is a good one. Maybelle is a woman without many talents; however, her best friend, Doris, seems to be able to do most anything. There is a good bit about quilting, and a small group of women comprise a quilting bee. The quilt fills the long hours while the ladies wait for their husbands to return from the war.

I did not enjoy this one. The slow pace of the novel frustrated me. It is repetitious. For example, the phrase, "Loose lips sink ships" is mentioned five times! In addition, better editing would weed out grammatical errors like, "... Logan approach Maybelle" (173).

Discussion questions are included.

Thank you to Bonnie at Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and Abingdon Press for my copy.

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Harriet Beamer Strikes Gold by Joyce Magnin

This story of a senior citizen daring to stand up for herself will resonate with Christian fiction readers everywhere.

In Harriet Beamer Strikes Gold by Joyce Magnin, Harriet settles into a new life in Grass Valley, California, and gets caught up in another adventure when she decides to lease a gold mine. After listening to the pleas of a desperate teen whose daddy needs money right away—and happens to have a gold mine to lease—Harriet falls hook, line, and sinker into the venture. Although she is nervous about her investment, Harriet chooses to keep it a secret from her son, Henry, and his wife who have just learned they are expecting a baby. And besides, this just may be the ticket to a golden windfall.

But when Harriet’s friend Martha comes for a visit, she convinces Harriet to come clean because she is suspicious and just doesn’t buy that the operation is legit.

Harriet may never see an ounce of gold, but it is the fate of the young teen that really begins to matter. And it takes an emergency with her daughter-in-law, Prudence, for Harriet to learn where her true treasure lies.

My Review:
Harriet, a delightful seventy-two year-old lady lives with her son, his wife, their cat, and Humphrey, a basset hound. I easily connected with her. I found myself chuckling at various passages. The novel is written in a light-hearted style that's easy to follow.

Food is one theme of this story. In one day, three people consume a dozen glazed doughnuts, a blueberry pie, and a peach cobbler! (I wonder at the size of these characters.) I love sweets, but this seems to be way too much. I wonder if the author is using meals and food as padding for the storyline.

Some mistakes in editing are hard to ignore. At the bottom of page174, Harriet is talking to Harriet. (She should have been talking to Martha.) On page 258, Pru and Henry park; however, on page 259, they get "ready to leave the house." (Sections are misplaced.) A reader is easily distracted with errors like these.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson Publisher for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book through BookSneeze®.

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