NOTE: I received this book free from WaterBrook Multnomah for this review. This is my honest opinion and has not been influenced by WaterBrook or the author.
Book Description: Tattered relationships and broken hearts, like a quilt, can be pieced together by God’s love.
When Maren Jensen took a job on Elsa Brantenberg’s St. Charles, Missouri farm, she never expected to call the place her home. As she grows to love Mrs. Brantenberg and her granddaughter, Gabi, Maren is transformed from a lonely mail-order bride-without-a-groom to a beloved member of the Brantenberg household.
But when Gabi’s father, Rutherford “Wooly” Wainwright, returns to the farm unexpectedly, everything changes for Maren. Despite the failing eyesight that caused her suitor to reject her, she can see that Wooly desperately needs to reconnect with the family he abandoned when his grief sent him running toward the army—and into the Civil War. She also senses there could be something more between the widower and herself, if either can move beyond their past hurts.
Comforted and counseled by the wisdom of the women in her beloved quilting circle, Maren begins to discover the cost such decisions demand of her heart. Are her choices in obedience to God, or is she running from His plan? Is it too late for love to be stitched into the fabric of her life?
Review: I find novellas to be a refreshing change of pace from longer novels. They're perfect for instances when you don't have the time to read a full-length book, as well as when you're looking for a quick, entertaining read on the weekend. Dandelions on the Wind, the first novella in Mona Hodgson's The Quilted Heart series is good; short and sweet. I enjoyed the historic setting of wartime St. Charles, Missouri, as well as the quaint imagery of life on the farm. The only thing I disliked about this novella was the lack of character development. This is, unfortunately, a problem that plagues many novellas. Don't get me wrong though, I liked the characters well enough, but I didn't feel as close to them as I would have liked. I would have enjoyed seeing more of their personalities, hearing more of their inner thoughts, and most of all, I would have liked to see more interactions between characters (especially those involving the budding romance within this novella's pages!). In sum, it's a good book, but had the potential to be so much more. It definitely would have greatly benefited from being written as a full-length novel. I look forward to reading the second novel in the series to find out what happens and to gain insight into these characters' inner workings.
Jessa's Rating: 3 stars out of 5
To learn more about the author and get the latest news, check out Mona Hodgson's website HERE. Can't wait to read Dandelions on the Wind? Get your copy HERE.
Note: This post originally appeared on Once Upon A Book HERE on May 7th, 2013.
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