A Single Thread (Cobbled Quilt Series #1)

written uplifting character study

In Fort Worth, Texas, Evelyn Dixon thought her life was pretty good. That is until she figuratively receives two shotgun blasts into her gut. First her husband informs her he is leaving her second she learns she has breast cancer. Needing to get away, Evelyn moves to New Bern, Connecticut where she opens up a quilting store. As she begins to heal, Abigail Burgess, her niece Liza, and Margot Matthews enter her store. Each has issues with Abigail and Liza struggling with the sudden death of the latter¿s mom and Margot looking for a job hopes quilting will bring her fresh contacts. These four begin to bond one stitch at a time. --- Although the inspiring single thread that runs through this well written uplifting character study is not new as there are a bunch of examples out there, Marie Bostwick provides warn look at starting over while coping with at best a life changing emotional issue. The story line is driven by four women who each are coping with difficult poignant problems that lead to them finding a sisterly bond with one another as the power of friendship helps each of them deal with the deck dealt them. --- Harriet Klausner

6 out of 8 people found this review helpful.

A book that I couldn't put down

A wonderful story of friendship, bonding and how life's upsets can be blessings in disguise. Whether or not these are common experiences, what is uncommon is finding someone who can write well about them. Bostwick does just that. She allows us to experience the very real and true to life feelings of the two storytellers without lapsing into sentimentality or glibness. I was absorbed with her characters, immediately wanting to know their stories. No matter the ending, she always leaves me wanting more.

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

I loved it!

A book to be shared! Wonderful characters. I felt I was right there in that little town and in each locale.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

A Single Thread is Marie Bostwick's best book so far!

This book is a wonderful book - it is not just for quilters - it is for all women. I also know that Marie is a quilter. I also heard this is a book series and the second book will be coming out soon and that she is working on the third right now. I can't wait to read the others.

4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

A wonderful story and my first must read of 2009

In Marie Bostwick's A Single Thread, We find Evelyn devastated by her husbands demand for a divorce after nearly 30 years of marriage. She picks up the remaining pieces of her life and moves from Texas to a small town in Connecticut. In New Berm CT she finds what she's been missing her dream business of a quilting shop and a community that helps rebuild her shattered life, and then just when she thinks she might just make a go of it, she gets hit with an earth shattering blow. And she learns that a single thread keeps them all together, the thread of friendship.<BR/>This book is like comfort food or a fire on a snowy day, it's filling and satisfying, it's warm and sad and funny and encouraging. The characters are so great you want to meet them all in person. And the writing is such that you can close your eyes and see the authors story in your minds eye. It's a brilliant piece of work, but nothing less than I'd expect from a master story teller like Ms. Bostwick.

4 out of 7 people found this review helpful.

Great book

I have read all of this group. Loved everyone. Hope she continus with the quilting books.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

The story of friendship..

This was a very enjoyable book to read. It reminded me a lot of "The Friday Night Knitting Club". Although the story is set in a quilt shop and revolves around a circle of friends that quilt or have connections to the shop, the book touches very little on quilting and instead focuses on the life and times of the friends.

The author has done a wonderful job of creating a cast of characters; each character is unique and the characters intertwine wonderfully.

There are a couple of conversion errors in this Nook book but they were not such as to ruin the overall pleasure of reading this book.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Must read....

This is a wonderful, must read book. She could be any one of us, ....or one of our friends, or family. Made me stop and think about how someone might be going through an ordeal we know nothing about. Its so easy to give a smile, ...and it just might do wonders for someone else even if you never know it.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

A Good Read

I read the book in 2 days. Couldn't put it down. I like contemporary stories and this was one. A real life story.You'll love it and the others in the series too.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Recomend

Beginning of a good series.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Highly recommended

This is a great book for all the quilters and other ladies who love to read a good story that will touch your heart ... and for those of us who have been diagnosed with cancer and treatment, having friends to help us through this This is one in the series and I plan to purchase the rest of the books in the future.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A Single Thread

This book started out really slowly and was uncomfortable because it was written in the first person. After a while, I got into the characters and I really enjoyed the book. Be patient, it's worth it.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great quilting these

Bostwick was recommended to me by someone in my on-line quilting group. I thoroughly enjoyed this book because it combined two of the things I love the most -- quilting and New England. I was quite proud that, even as something of a neophyte to quilting, I knew what many of the patterns and techniques were. The story itself reminded me of me -- moving all alone from Texas to New England and finding that was "home" all along. I look forward to reading more of her work. (And I recommend readers check out her web site.) Hey, it's not "great literature" but it is thoroughly enjoyable and reading it is a great way to spend a weekend -- if you can pull yourself away from quilting. Would a non-quilter enjoy it? I think so and one might even find herself discovering a new love for an old craft.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

I don't know how I've managed to miss Marie Bostwick's books!!  

I don't know how I've managed to miss Marie Bostwick's books!!  Now that
I've read the first book in her quilt shop series, I've become a huge
fan.  The power of community, friendship, and courage is superbly
exemplified in this story about Evelyn and her newfound life and
friendships.   After a painful divorce, Evelyn left Texas and moved to
Connecticut , where she gave all her funds and energy to try living her
dream life.  Having her own quilt shop has been a dream she put on hold
after becoming a wife and mother.  Now the pain of divorce has opened a
door for her to truly take charge of her life.  But her dream is having
many bumps in the road to success.  Refurbishing an old building is
taking so much more time, money and energy than she's anticipated.  When
she gets ill, she almost gives up hope of success or even survival. At
the same time, other women in town are having their own
problems.  Perfect, popular Abigail is finding that money really can't
make for perfect happiness.  Her young niece, whom she's never met, is
picked up for shoplifting and becomes Abigail's charge for the next
thirteen months.  Never mind that they get along like oil and water, and
are finding combining their lives is more than either one can bare.
Through the difficult needs of these three woman and Margot, a women of
great faith who definitely needs a job after losing her present one, a
charming Irish restaurateur , and Abigail's life long  legal advisor,
this story builds on the SINGLE THREAD of friendship.   Just as various
scraps of materials can be color matched , styled and sewn together to
create a beautiful quilt, friendships built on necessity, trust, faith,
courage, and love can create bonds of friendships that are held together
through hardships and successes!  I am definitely planning to read
through the rest of the books in these new found treasures of quilt shop stories!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

It's about time!!

Finally, a comtemporary story without gratuitous sex and violence! You keep it up marie

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Highly Recommended

I greatly enjoyed this book!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

First Book I've Read By This Author, It Won't Be The Last

Newly divorced Evelyn Dixon needed a change. She drove from Forth Worth, TX to the town of New Bern, CT, happened upon an old run down shop for rent and realized that she'd found a new home; a place to make her dream of owning a quilt shop a reality. She loved quilting and she was determined to make this new business work even though people told her it wouldn't last. Abigail Burgess Wynne, the wealthiest woman in New Bern, had many acquaintances but her attorney, Franklin, was her only friend. Her life consisted of cocktail parties and board meetings. She gave money to worthy causes, but only because it helped her public image. She distanced herself from anything hands on and there was no one she'd allow to get too close. Liza Burgess, Abigail's niece, lost her mother (Abigail's sister) to breast cancer and she was hurting. When she acted out and got herself into trouble, her Aunt reluctantly came to her aid. Although they were family, they weren't the least bit close because for years and years Abigail had been holding on to a particular secret that destroyed family bonds. Margot was unemployed and in need of work. She was not happy with her situation but this didn't keep her from caring about the happiness of others. When she saw that Evelyn was in need it didn't matter that she barely knew her; this true Christian woman jumped right in there to lend a hand. When there's a lot of scenic description in a story, I usually don't like that because it doesn't matter to me how many trees there are or what commercial buildings and homes look like, but the author described New Bern in a way that made me feel like I wanted to visit Connecticut. I began to wonder what kind of life Evelyn was going to have in this imaginary place and that's what kept me turning the pages. I like the way the author told the story from Evelyn and Abigail's points of view. I liked both characters but I mostly looked forward to Abigail's take on things. She was funny. I also like how Evelyn, Abigail, Liza and Margot started a quilting circle and became friends. They supported each other in times of crises, worked through issues and helped each other to grow. I learned quite a bit while reading this book. The story has a lot of valuable information about quilting techniques, what it takes to run a business, and, most importantly, the importance of early breast cancer detection and the different treatments. A Single Thread is an enjoyable, thought-provoking read. Bostwick wrote her first contemporary novel with wit and honesty. This is the first book I've read by this author and I look forward to reading more of her stories.

1 out of 9 people found this review helpful.

Recommend!

Really enjoyed not only the story, but the style of writing.

True meaning of friendship

This books shows how the support of friends can bring you through any challenge.

Excellent read!

This is a very good book. Typical Amish but with an excellent story line.