Confessions from the Quilting Circle: A Novel

Confessions from the Quilting Circle by Maisey Yates is an amazing, moving, emotional tale of the Ashwood women and their strong and nurturing connections. When Lark Ashwood’s beloved grandmother dies, she and her sisters discover an unfinished quilt. Finishing it just might be the reason she needs to stop running from the past and share her biggest secret with those closest to her. Hannah can’t believe she’s back in Bear Creek, the small town where she sacrificed everything in order to escape. Her plan is to help her sisters renovate their grandmother’s house and return to her life in Boston, as quickly as she can. At least that was the plan until she is faced with a man from her past. Hannah fears re-connecting with him might have her confessing the real reason she fled home; and him. Avery is a stay-at-home mom who has the perfect life, or is it all a façade. Avery will need her strength and the support of her family as she decides if the price of her perfection is worth the price she’s been paying. Though on the surface these sisters have little in common, other their ability to keep secrets, this summer, along with their mother, they will learn how to rely on each other, like never before. Especially if they are to stitch their family, and themselves, back together, one truth at a time. Ms. Yates wrote a story that reaches the soul; the soul of her characters as well the soul of her readers. I loved how the stories of these four women are woven together so beautifully; including the diaries each woman discovered. Utilizing alternating POVs in order to tell this wonderful and amazing, multi-generational story; a tale that was emotional, moving, tear inducing, filled with wonderful dialogue, and endearing characters is a must read. I highly recommend Confessions from the Quilting Circle to other readers. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

Confessions from the Quilting Circle by Maisey Yates has Mary Ashwood and her three daughters reuniting in Bear Creek after the death of Addie, Mary’s mother. The four women jointly inherited two properties along with the contents from Addie and now they need to decide what to do with the homes. While in the attic of one of the homes, Lark Ashwood finds a quilt swatch book along with the pattern for a special quilt. Lark suggests that the four women finish Addie’s creation. The four women go on a journey of self-discovery that will bring long buried emotions and secrets out in the open. These ladies can bring their family back together one stitch and revelation at a time. I thought Confessions from the Quilting Circle was well-written with developed, realistic characters. The story it told from Mary, Hannah, Avery, and Lark’s point-of-view plus there are diary entries from two of their ancestors. It did take me a little while to get into the story with the changing viewpoints. This book touches on some difficult topics. The author handles them very well. We see what happens when emotions and secrets are kept suppressed. It is important for each person to discover their own path and follow it--To be your own person. It was interesting learning about a craft café. I thought it was a clever idea. Confessions from the Quilting Circle has family, relationships, misunderstandings, secrets, communication issues, love, depression, and so much more. Confessions from the Quilting Circle is an emotional novel with sister squabbles, creative crafts, surprising secrets, unfinished issues, teenage to-do’s, and a gregarious grandma.

Thoroughly engrossing story Sisters Lark, Hannah, and Avery, along with their mother, Mary, are back in their hometown to sort through the home and business left to the four of them when Mary's mother passed. There has been a lot of secrets and heartbreak throughout the decades in this family, and completing their grandmother's quilting project proves to be the perfect opportunity for all the secrets to come spilling out. More women's fiction than romance, a couple of the women are able to rekindle romances with their lost loves. We're treated to flashbacks in the form of diary entries from the women who have gone before, leading to tremendous healing for all concerned as they learn the reasons behind some of the decisions that shaped their lives. I love this author's writing style. The characters are beautifully developed, so much that you really feel as if you knew these women by the time you're done. It was a joy to watch the mending of their lives as the quilt comes together. By the end, everyone's lives are richer, fuller, and more peaceful than at the beginning, which is as close to an HEA as one can expect from women's fiction. The featured romances are given a satisfying, HEA conclusion for both couples. If you like small town stories that unpack a plethora of family history, you don't want to miss this one. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.