"A Quilt for Christmas" by Melody Carlson

A Quilt for Christmas (Sept. 6, 2022) by Melody Carlson.*

*This is a standalone novella.*

The approaching holiday season doesn’t find Vera Swanson (age 68) full of Christmas cheer. A widow who relocated to Fairview, Oregon, five months before to be near her daughter and her daughter’s family (and they’ve since moved to California), Vera is alone in her condo-for-one, a far cry from her Craftsman home in Western Oregon. With no family in town and no friends made, she isn’t feeling merry and bright, but life takes a turn when four-year-old Fiona Albright knocks on her door. Her mom, Kerry, is sick and needs help getting to the hospital. With the dad, Josh, away during the week for work, Vera helps care for Fiona and her older siblings, Maureen (8) and Nolan (11). When Fiona notices Vera’s Nordic Star patchwork quilt, she is in awe and asks Vera to make “a big patchwork quilt” for her mom in time for Christmas, which is only a few weeks away! Vera knows she can’t make such a large quilt that quickly on her own, so she hangs up flyers and gains volunteers Tasha Ellison (a 35-year-old artist who works in her aunt’s floral shop), Beverly Clark (a delightful 58-year-old woman who loves baking at the holidays) and Eleanor Rasmussen (a 67-year-old newly retired therapist). This colorful group of women are banding together to make Christmas brighter for a family that doesn’t have much. Vera right away likes social Beverly and free-spirited Tasha, but aloof, judgmental Eleanor is a challenge. How will Eleanor handle it when it appears that her son and only child, Evan, hits it off with Tasha, a divorcee who never attended college?

            Jesus is the reason for the season, but Vera’s fallen away from faith since her husband passed. Seeing how He brought Fiona and the Albright family into her life, along with her new friends in the quilt club, readers get to watch as Vera’s faith returns, bringing extra warm fuzzies to a wholesome Christmas novella. The story places emphasis on generosity and connection, showcasing that one can connect with others of any age and a multitude of personalities, knowing that the dynamic will be that much richer for their differences. Young Fiona is energetic, sweet and intelligent, and the quick friendship she forms with Vera is adorable. But for me, what’s most moving is Eleanor’s transformation. This standalone is as delectable as any of Beverly’s treats. For fans of holiday stories and a smidge of burgeoning romance, this cozy tale works well for reading by the fire on a cold night or on the beach on a toasty summer day.

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"A Heart in a Body in the World" by Deb Caletti

A Heart in a Body in the World (Sept. 18, 2018) by Deb Caletti.

Can one run away from trauma, from PTSD? No, but Annabelle Agnelli is going to run cross-country across the U.S. It begins on a whim, but she makes the over 2,700-mile run from Seattle to Washington, D.C. She runs through tunnels in mountain passes and passes through specks-of-towns, suburban areas and major cities. She traverses busy highways and lonely roads surrounded by miles and miles of grain fields. Grandpa Ed (nickname: Capitano) is with her across the country, ready with exclamations in Italian and Italian food. She’s supported by her mom, Gina, and younger brother, Malcolm (logistics) and her best friends Olivia (publicity) and Zach (finances). Annabelle and Grandpa Ed meet Dawn Celeste and her grandson, Luke Messenger, from Portland, OR, and they pop up along the journey, too. And surely, Kat Klein and Will MacEvans would be two of her biggest cheerleaders. As if that isn’t enough, she gains the support of thousands thanks to social media. But all of the support is overwhelming, exacerbated by the guilt and shame that Annabelle carries. It’s The Taker who is at fault. She might’ve/could’ve/should’ve done things differently, but there isn’t an undo button for the past. The Taker is the one who took what he shouldn’t have. Things really aren’t Annabelle’s fault, but she can’t believe the truth of that. Will she be able to complete the journey without falling to shambles? Will her run be cathartic? When will she realize that most everyone has felt some form of grief, confusion and powerlessness, that she isn’t the only one?

            Through much of the story, Annabelle, who turns 18 on her run, is very broken. Her journey isn’t only physical, but psychological. Although this story was published in 2018, the theme of violence is, unfortunately, exceedingly current. The story also confronts readers with a character (The Taker) who exults in toxic masculinity. It is a complex story, and it’s sometimes difficult to read, but the story is all the more remarkable for it. The grief is deep and the rage is intense, but hope uplifts and wisdom sustains this ferocious YA novel. Caletti’s prose doesn’t seem overdone, and she maps out her story well with vivid descriptions of Annabelle’s landscapes as she pounds the pavement and the flashbacks that eventually lead to the harrowing tragedy. Although a work of fiction, this tale feels so authentic. It’s got a lot of heart.

My Grandpa: A Poem

One year has passed since I got the call. I'd been expecting to wake up on a Friday morning and hear that my grandpa's surgery had gone well. Instead, the call that came told me to come in and say my goodbyes. This poem is for my grandpa on the anniversary of his death.

Photo by Jessica Lewis Creative via Pexels

My Grandpa

My grandpa was a farmer, a man of the heartland.

He was a veteran for this nation, on which I stand.

My grandpa was a son, a brother, a husband, a dad,

But to me he was grandpa, the best to be had.

Visiting my grandparents down south was always special to me.

I’ll always associate my grandpa with strawberries.

Stops were a must at Checkers and Orange Blossom.

Eating at Leverock’s, too, rounded out the awesome.

Grandpa was exceptional at working with wood.

Crafting clocks, a cradle and more was a subject he understood.

He was also with the stock market impressively adept,

Gauging the market and fluctuations and financial concepts.

Since I was little, I’ve used his mom’s bedroom set,

And this part of his mom’s history he did not forget.

He was tickled pink when he saw it, from his head to his feet,

A big grin and a bounce in his step was too sweet.

Grandpa always wanted to see us succeed,

To be happy and healthy and thriving, indeed.

One year has passed and you are missed, it’s true.

I am sending infinite hugs up to you!

-LK

September 3, 2022

(Written March 31, 2022)