Sonoma Rose

It was a few years ago when I jumped into book reviewing and reading all the time and at the same time I became a quilter. So when I came a cross a book entitled An Elm Creek Quilts Album, a three-in-one of books #4-6 of her on going Elm Creek Quilts Novels I knew I had found a brilliant match. Now while I'm not sure that this book would be labeled as Christian Historical Fiction, it is inspirational as well as Historical and her Elm Creek Quilts Novels are sold by ChristianBook.com and that's good enough for me to label it as such.

I was delighted to see her newest title, Sonoma Rose to be coming out at the end of February. Immediately from the beginning of the novel I was intrigued and captivated by the characters and the story. Through out with the flashbacks and to current day watching the personalities change and grow as well as corrupt and fade for others was something that kept my interest. Dealing with topics that provide such personal controversy for so many people such as divorce in an abusive marriage, prohibition from vineyards that have been active for years and even medical break-throughs really makes a reader think. Watching some of our main protagonist's children suffer an illness that is just now becoming really well-known about is heart breaking. One of my sister's has an intolerance for gluten and while I had never heard of the Haas diet with bananas, it's fascinating to see the beginnings of such research that benefits her was started back in a time while so much other turmoil went on.

The forbidden romance and the circumstances of their lives makes it uncomfortable reading about Rosa and Lars. My romantic reader heart wants it to work out for them, although I do not condone their past, I admire their present and possible future. Just one more thing that keeps the pages turning, wondering how in the world it can work out for them. As a quilter, I love reading the descriptions of quilts and how they were lovingly made. Being able to visualize and connect with a character really brings them even more to life out of the page and Jennifer does that so well. After reading Sonoma Rose, I'm quite certain that I will want to return for more and more Elm Creek Quilt Novels.


Thanks to TLC Book Tours for providing an ARC for review.
Jennifer Chiaverini's Sonoma Rose Book Tour officially began on February 13th and will end on March 15th. You can visit the blog stops to find out more about this intriguing book.

Read Chapter One »

Originally posted: http://creativemadnessmama.com/blog/2012/02/16/sonoma-rose-by-jennifer-chiaverini/

I've been reading this author's Elm Creek Quilts series since the beginning and have enjoyed the historical research combined with authentic, fascinating characters the majority of her books have highlighted. However, this last one just didn't measure up to her previous work. While the information about Prohibition and wine making in Northern California during the 1920s was pretty interesting, the characters were flat and the plot predictable and rushed. The whole idea of having quilts and quiltmaking as a thread binding the series together was broken with this one. I think quilts were mentioned once or twice, and there are references to quilts from other books, but it definitely wasn't strong enough to feel part of the theme.

I'd suggest people who have already been engaged with this series to read it, just for continuity, but skip it if this is might be your first acquaintance with the author's books.