Monday, May 09, 2016

From Here to Home


From Here to Home by Marie Bostwick. New York: Kensington Books, 2016. 360 pages. Reader Group Guide/Discussion Questions. *****

Mary Dell Tempelton returns to her home at Too Much to continue taping her quilting cable TV show  Quintessential Quilting. Instead of her son Howard, she is partnered with Holly, a young, smart, ambitious co-host.  Howard, who happens to have Down syndrome,  elects to stay in Dallas to attend school and launch his own business. Mary Dell makes the best of the situation until she discovers that the network has sabotaged her show by hiring an obnoxious, publicity seeking editor. With a mother who is having episodes of confusion; her nephew who appears to be suffering from PTSD and guilt over the death of his brother-in-law; a friend who expresses his love for her and a niece who is overwhelmed by the family issues and running the Quilt shop in town, Mary Dell has her work cut out for her upon returning home.

This sequel to Between Heaven and Texas, may be read as a standalone, but why would you want to?  You will want to get to know Mary Dell and Howard from the very beginning. A heartwarming story of courage, love, and family, Bostwick will make you laugh and cry. Her characters come to life and remind us of the goodness in the world. She has a loyal following in the quilting world with the Cobbled Court Quilt series of books and never disappoints. There is a Facebook Page for fans of that series to discuss the books and quilts. I heard Bostwick speak at a Guild meeting and a local bookstore, she is very entertaining as a presenter. You don't need to be a quilter to enjoy her books, just be in the mood for a story that will inspire and entertain you. I can't wait to see what adventures await her characters in future books.

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