What do you think?
The Unlikely Yarn of the Dragon Lady: A Novel
A simple change of scenery can change lives in powerful ways
Margaret, Rose, Jane, and Fran had a good thing meet every week in the quiet of their peaceful chapel and knit prayer shawls. No muss, just ministry. That is, until their pastor boots them out of the church in his last-ditch effort to revive the dwindling congregation.
Uptight Margaret isn't having it. Knitting prayer shawls where people can watch is the most ridiculous idea she's ever heard of, and she's heard plenty. Prayer belongs in the church, not out among the heathen masses. How are they supposed to knit holiness into these shawls if they're constantly distracted by the public? But with no choice, the others embrace the challenge. They pack their knitting bags and drag Margaret--grumbling the whole way--to the mall with them. She can't wait to prove them all wrong when it fails miserably, and show the pastor that she always knows best.
Without the familiar mold the group has been stuck in, their own losses, pain, and struggles rise to the surface. And the people and situations they encounter every time they try to sit quietly and knit are taking them a lot further out of their comfort zone than they ever imagined. Can they find the courage to tackle the increasing number of knotty issues they learn about in the community--or will the tangle be too much to unravel?
Sharon Mondragon's debut is warm and delightful, full of real laughter, grief, and personality. It beautifully illustrates the power of women across generations to reach people for Christ.
Margaret, Rose, Jane, and Fran had a good thing meet every week in the quiet of their peaceful chapel and knit prayer shawls. No muss, just ministry. That is, until their pastor boots them out of the church in his last-ditch effort to revive the dwindling congregation.
Uptight Margaret isn't having it. Knitting prayer shawls where people can watch is the most ridiculous idea she's ever heard of, and she's heard plenty. Prayer belongs in the church, not out among the heathen masses. How are they supposed to knit holiness into these shawls if they're constantly distracted by the public? But with no choice, the others embrace the challenge. They pack their knitting bags and drag Margaret--grumbling the whole way--to the mall with them. She can't wait to prove them all wrong when it fails miserably, and show the pastor that she always knows best.
Without the familiar mold the group has been stuck in, their own losses, pain, and struggles rise to the surface. And the people and situations they encounter every time they try to sit quietly and knit are taking them a lot further out of their comfort zone than they ever imagined. Can they find the courage to tackle the increasing number of knotty issues they learn about in the community--or will the tangle be too much to unravel?
Sharon Mondragon's debut is warm and delightful, full of real laughter, grief, and personality. It beautifully illustrates the power of women across generations to reach people for Christ.
319 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 21, 2021
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 6, 2026
This book came highly recommended by my mother and sister, and after reading it, I can understand why it touched them so deeply. In fact, they were so moved by the story that they started their own prayer shawl ministry. Knowing how much it impacted them made reading it even more meaningful for me.
Aura, known around town as the "Dragon Lady," isn't someone people easily warm up to at first. She has built walls around herself and keeps others at a distance. As her story unfolds, little by little, the reasons behind her behavior become clearer, and I found myself looking at her very differently.
The friendships that develop throughout the book felt genuine. The knitting group brings together people from different backgrounds who support one another through life's challenges, joys, losses, and new beginnings. The sense of community was one of the things I enjoyed most about the story.
There were several moments that tugged at my heart. The book reminds us that kindness matters, that people often carry burdens we cannot see, and that friendship can appear when we least expect it.
The pacing was a little slow in places, but the characters made up for it. By the end, I was glad I had spent time with them and could easily see why this story inspired my mother and sister to take action in their own community.
This is a touching story about friendship, compassion, healing, and finding purpose. I would happily recommend it to anyone who enjoys books centered on relationships and community.
https://pinkstinx.blogspot.com/
Aura, known around town as the "Dragon Lady," isn't someone people easily warm up to at first. She has built walls around herself and keeps others at a distance. As her story unfolds, little by little, the reasons behind her behavior become clearer, and I found myself looking at her very differently.
The friendships that develop throughout the book felt genuine. The knitting group brings together people from different backgrounds who support one another through life's challenges, joys, losses, and new beginnings. The sense of community was one of the things I enjoyed most about the story.
There were several moments that tugged at my heart. The book reminds us that kindness matters, that people often carry burdens we cannot see, and that friendship can appear when we least expect it.
The pacing was a little slow in places, but the characters made up for it. By the end, I was glad I had spent time with them and could easily see why this story inspired my mother and sister to take action in their own community.
This is a touching story about friendship, compassion, healing, and finding purpose. I would happily recommend it to anyone who enjoys books centered on relationships and community.
https://pinkstinx.blogspot.com/
August 3, 2026
3.5 ⭐
A heartwarming and beautiful story about faith, friendship and family.
I would have given it a higher rating if Margaret had had more of a growth. I was just hoping for so much more from her as a person. Would have loved to know what happened with Kenny and what name Rose and her group chose to call themselves.
A heartwarming and beautiful story about faith, friendship and family.
I would have given it a higher rating if Margaret had had more of a growth. I was just hoping for so much more from her as a person. Would have loved to know what happened with Kenny and what name Rose and her group chose to call themselves.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews