The Little Ghost Who Was A Quilt

The Little Ghost Who Was A Quilt by Riel Nason. Tundra Books, 2020. 48 pages.

The first time I read this story and saw that people were creating the quilt. I knew I had to join in the fun!

Originally, I planned on using all scraps from my stash, however, we all know how that goes. I saw this charm pack at MSQC as a Daily Deal and the colors were perfect, mixing in a few that I already had.

There are many versions of this quilt in Pinterest and online.

Pinterest - the Little Ghost

Free Pattern and Video 

Pattern Making

I watched a free video to piece the eyes. 

He didn't look very friendly to me. I enlisted my husband to draw ovals (ellipses, according to my engineer) and I liked these much better.

I enlarged the pattern that I saw to 8x10 blocks (5 inches each). Straight line quilting, easy peasy!

I am pleased with the result and it is a very easy child's quilt to make. I ordered the book from Amazon, however, it is readily available at book stores and online quilt stores. 

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First Lie Wins

First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston. New York: Panel Dorman Books/Viking , 340 pages. ****

"The identity comes first: Evie Porter. Once she’s given a name and location by her mysterious boss Mr. Smith, she learns everything there is to know about the town and the people in it. Then the mark: Ryan Sumner. The last piece of the puzzle is the job." There are two big problems in this latest job; Evie Porter doesn't exist and she has just met someone who is impersonating her real identity. "The first lie wins. The one that changes the game. The one that is deliberate." Who is lying and who is telling the truth? Evie is determined to find out. 

This fast-paced novel has many twists and turns and will leave you guessing until the very end. Perfect escape reading for a snowy weekend. I read it in a day and thoroughly enjoyed it. 

This is a  Reese Witherspoon book club choice. 

Ashley Elston worked for many years as a wedding photographer before turning her hand to writing. She lives in Louisiana with her husband and three sons. Elston has written six young adult novels; First Lie Wins is her adult debut. For more information, click here

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What the Wind Knows

 

What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon.  Lake Union Publishing, 2019. 406 pages. *****

Anne Gallagher, raised by her Irish Grandfather, longs to visit Ireland with him. He puts her off by saying it is not time yet. Anne wonders when will the right time be and longingly listens to his stories of his life there. Woven into his tales are words of wisdom to quell her continuing questions.  "The wind you hear is the same wind that has always blown. But the wind and water know all the earth's secrets." Saddened by his death, Anne travels to his hometown to distribute his ashes in Lough Gill. That seemingly innocent act deposits her in another time and conflict. Harmon skillfully weaves in the Irish struggle for Independence by dropping Anne into the thick of it with her mentor, Dr. Thomas Smith, and his friend Michael Collins. Knowing the outcome and recognizing that she is mistaken for her great-grandmother, Anne is hurt, disoriented, shaken, and unsure of her place in this time. 

A childhood friend recommended this book and I am so glad that she did. Told in the alternating voices of Anne and Thomas, it includes all the elements of a successful story - romance, family, friendship, time-travel, and history.  I was held captive from the very beginning and kept reading anticipating the ending and at the same time, not wanting it to end. I am a fan of time travel and  historical fiction. Harmon is skillful in her ability to bring the story full circle and provide the perfect ending.  This one will be on my top ten for 2024 list. 

From the book jacket:

Amy Harmon is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of thirteen novels. Her historical novels, inspirational romances, and young adult fantasy books are now being published internationally. For more information on Amy Harmon and future publications, click here.

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How the Light Gets in

 

How the Light Gets In by Joyce Maynard. New York: Harper Collins, 2024. 432 pages. ***** Publication Date June 25, 2024. 

Maynard's follow-up novel to Count The Ways. Amazon provides an excellent synopsis of the story. This book spans 15 years of fifty-four-year-old Eleanor, her family, and their life experiences. Written against the backdrop of daily life and cultural events, the reader is drawn into a story that spans three generations. 

This story spoke to me on many different levels. Maynard skillfully draws us into Eleanor's family and shows each member with flaws and all. Life may not be perfect or how you expected it to be, but it is beautiful.  Eleanor's life has been difficult and certainly not the experience that she expected, Divorced, estranged from her daughter, and taking care of her son who has some limitations,  since almost drowning, Eleanor takes care of everyone before herself. Finding love in an unexpected place and trying to keep that aspect of her life private brings a new set of challenges and excitement. 

I highly recommend you read Count the Ways before this novel. Both books may be read as stand-alones, however, your experience will be richer reading them both. This is the best book I have read in a long time. Maynard's descriptive style held me captive throughout the book. I experienced every emotion through Eleanor; her love of family at the top of the list. Maynard provides insight into how society perceives those less than perfect and how greed can cause heartache in unexpected ways. An excellent choice for Book Clubs looking for a novel about current issues and how they affect a family. 

Reference

Kintsugi -  Japanese art form, which means joining cracks with gold

Other books by Joyce Maynard:

Count The Ways

The Bird Hotel

From Amazon

Joyce Maynard is the author of twelve previous novels and five books of nonfiction, as well as the syndicated column, “Domestic Affairs.” Her bestselling memoir, At Home in the World, has been translated into sixteen languages. Her novels To Die For and Labor Day were both adapted for film. Maynard divides her time between homes in California, New Hampshire, and Lake Atitlan in Guatemala.

The mother of three grown children, Maynard runs workshops in memoir at her home in Lafayette California. In 2002 she founded The Lake Atitlan Writing Workshop in San Marcos La Laguna, Guatemala, where she hosts a weeklong workshop in personal storytelling every winter.

She is a fellow of The MacDowell Colony and Yaddo.

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