“The Quilter’s Apprentice” is the first volume in the Elm Creek Quilts series by Jennifer Chiaverini, and is in fact Jennifer’s first novel.
Sarah McClure and her husband Matt have come to Waterford, Pennsylvania, searching for a new life. Matt is starting up his own landscaping business, but Sarah can’t find anything that matches her skill set. Out of desperation, she takes a job as a housekeeper at Elm Creek Manor, a stately old place on the edge of town that’s full of history. The owner, Sylvia Compson, is an elderly and ornery woman, and a master quilter.
When Sarah expresses interest in the craft, Sylvia agrees to teach her, but it’s not an easy undertaking. There is so much to learn, and Sarah fears that she doesn’t have what it takes to do it right. Under the watchful eye of a perfectionist like Sylvia, she just knows she’s going to ruin the whole thing. But as the two women work together, Sylvia begins to tell Sarah her story, and Sarah realizes that she and the older woman could probably manage to get along.
The house carries a story of wealth and prestige, all which was lost through a family tragedy. Sylvia has returned to it after a long absence just to ready it for sale. As she talks to Sarah about everything the house once meant, she gets an idea: to turn the house into a quilting retreat for women from all over the country. Brought together by a common goal, they put aside their differences and become fast friends and business partners, while Matt and Sarah are able to find a way out of the problems that seem to have taken over their lives.
I liked this book because it was very down to earth and restful. No villains with guns chasing anyone, no dead bodies to be found in crates – just women sharing their stories and connecting with each other. Now, don’t get me wrong; I love chases with villains and finding dead bodies, but every so often, you just want a peaceful story, and this is a great place to start.
(This book was published by Plume in 2000.)
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Author Review — Jennifer Chiaverini