The Christmas Boutique
- Author Jennifer Chiaverini
- Release Date October 1, 2019
- Publisher William Morrow
- ISBN/ASIN 9780062841131
- Our Rating
- Reviewed by Jo
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Our Review
It was wonderful to be back in Waterford, Pennsylvania with the ELM CREEK QUILT series. THE CHRISTMAS BOUTIQUE is the twenty-first story in the series, and it didn’t disappoint. The book held my interest from the first page to the last.
The characters we’ve grown to love and who feel like family are back front and center along with all things related to quilting. The story embraces Christmas as well as the characters’ pasts. Events that have happened in previous books are interwoven as we catch up with their lives. The author cleverly brings new and old readers up to speed about past events and how they relate to the current story.
The book has a nice flow and a lot of different stories going on. Each chapter is told from a different character’s view. They come together seamlessly and kept me wanting to find out what would happen next. There is a richness to the author’s words, especially the colorful descriptions of the fabrics and finished quilt pieces.
THE CHRISTMAS BOUTIQUE is heartwarming and filled with small town dynamics. The holiday spirit is in abundance with charitable deeds and a lot of love filling the pages. The ideas that flow between the Elm Creek Quilters along with the amount of work they share to lighten the load is inspiring.
The book ends abruptly, which surprised me. I hope we return to this series again since there are definitely more stories to be told. We definitely need to have Sara and Matt’s twins born and find out their names and genders (hint, hint). The cover is beautiful and so peaceful.
Ms. Chiaverini writes from the heart with friends and family, and friends who become family. There are always teachable moments between the characters, and they come to life as a result. None of the characters are more beloved to me than Sylvia and Sarah, but all hold a special place in my heart.
