Can the Divine Quilter stitch together the torn pieces of Emilie’s heart?
Divided between the love of her father and the desires of her heart, Emilie Heinrich must rely on the love and wisdom of the women in her quilting circle for support. Since Emilie is dedicated to her education and to helping her father in his general store, she is convinced she doesn't have time for love. But when a childhood friend returns to St. Charles, Missouri, after serving in the Civil War, his smile and charm captures Emilie’s eye and her heart.
Quaid McFarland has a gentleness and humor that causes Emilie to question her indifference toward romance. But her German father sees only one thing when he looks at the young man: an Irish teamster. And Johann Heinrich is not about to let such a man court his beloved daughter.
Her father’s prejudices test Emilie’s faith in God’s ability to mend the patchwork pieces of her life. Will she be forced to choose between honoring her father and a future with a husband and family of her own?
~*~*~*~
This is my first encounter with Mona Hodgson. I had the choice between this book or the third book in the series so I chose this one. I hoped that I had not missed much from the first book, with regards to the introduction of characters. I found that each Novella in the series is primarily about one female character; however, there is mention of several of the other female characters throughout the story (an update of sorts). The connecting thread is that each female character is a member of a quilting circle lead by Mrs. Brantenberg who is a godly woman who consistently gives encouragement and prayer to the younger women who join her to sew. I found her character very encouraging. She is the heart and soul of the quilting group and through her, the younger women learn who they are as daughters of Christ. She is compared to a "careful mother hen...who cared for her chicks, even the newest ones." She reminds the girls that "God, the Divine Quilter, has the perfect patchwork pattern for our lives." What a perfect analogy. As a new quilter I understand this analogy a little better and I always need to be reminded of it.
Bending Toward the Sun is primarily about Emilie Heinrich and her growing affections towards Quaid McFarland. The Novella is set soon after the Civil War in a community rich in diverse heritages.
The downside of Christian Fiction Novellas is often that the author spins the tale too quickly. Events that need more time happen in a day, the characters are often underdeveloped, and there is sometimes too much dialogue. Mona Hodgson's characters are perfectly developed. Even the characters that were only mentioned once or twice in the story were described well. I found that there was not too much dialogue. Hodgson's use of description of setting helped me visualize what the characters were seeing and when there was dialogue it was meaningful. I do feel that some of the events were sped up due to the lack of "time." Although Emilie and Quaid knew each other as children it is a little hard to believe that they would realize they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together in such a short time. From the beginning of the Novella to the end it seemed like merely weeks. As a single young woman, I find this hard to believe and a little disappointing. I like reading love stories that are realistic and inspiring...something I would like to experience. Emilie and Quaid's relationship, though sweet, is a little too good to be true.
After reading Bending Toward the Sun I would like to read the third in the series and I would like to read one of Hodgson's Novels to see the difference in timing. Hodgson's writing style is not one I would discount. I did like how the characters constantly went back to God's love and God's will for their life. Too often in Christian fiction, there is too little faith and too much physical affection. With this Novella that is not the case; although, I would have rethought the placement of the Novella's one kiss. I think it would have been better placed near the end. The idea that a male character has to prove his affection through a passionate kiss unnerves me a little. Why can't the leading man and leading lady just talk it out?? I guess that will always be a conundrum for me.
Thank you to Ms. Hodgson's for a sweet Novella and to the publisher for giving me this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
No comments:
Post a Comment