The Widow's Plight

The Quilting Circle #1

by Mary Davis

Washington State, 1893 When Lily Lexington Bremmer arrives in Kamola with her young son, she’s reluctant to join the social center of her new community, the quilting circle, but the friendly ladies pull her in. She begins piecing a sunshine and shadows quilt because it mirrors her life. She has a secret that lurks in the shadows and hopes it doesn’t come out into the light. Dark places in her past are best forgotten, but her new life is full of sunshine. Will her secrets cast shadows on her bright future? Widower Edric Hammond and his father are doing their best to raise his two young daughters. He meets Lily and her son when they arrive in town and helps her find a job and a place to live. Lily resists Edric’s charms at first, but finds herself falling in love with this kind, gentle man and his two darling daughters. Lily has stolen his heart with her first warm smile, but he’s cautious about bringing another woman into his girls’ lives due to the harshness of their own mother. Can Edric forgive Lily her past to take hold of a promising chance at love?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Christian, Historical Romance, Romance, Christian Fiction, Westerns, Fiction

313 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 2018

About the author

Mary originally earned her college degree in elementary education. So where did the passion for inspirational romance books begin? In her head! Her characters would not leave her alone. They kept her from sleeping at night, and focusing on anything else during the day. Over forty titles later, they still keep bothering her to this day - luckily for her readers and fans!

Quiet-natured and creative, Mary also enjoys many crafts such as porcelain doll making, quilting, knitting, and many others!

Neither her dyslexia nor the cat on her laptop has kept her from producing award-winning and bestselling works such as her Quilting Circle series, Mrs. Witherspoon Goes To War, and Newlywed Games. Her published works have been on Publisher’s Weekly bestselling lists several times.

Additionally, she contributes to the writing world as a member of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers).

She currently resides in Washington State with her husband, a black cat named Buffy, and her favorite weather: the rain.

Reviews

[Kellyn Roth · Rating 2 out of 5]

2/5 stars

I have ... very mixed ratings about this book. My initial impression was to rate it 4 stars, briefly mention my problems, and praise the author for her portrayal of recovery from domestic abuse.

Buttttt ... ugh. It wouldn't leave me alone! And the more I thought about it, the madder I got. And I know this is kinda a personal opinion so let me start with:

This is a 4-star book for most people. Just not for Kell. So keep that in mind if you loved the book and are likely to get offended. (Though I think a LOT of people will agree with me!)

Seriously, though, the characters and plot were pretty well developed except toward the end, but it got put together after that pretty well. I also feel like the author was trying to be mysterious even though we already knew All The Stuff so it was confusing what was going on ...

But I was trying to be positive for a minute.

Let me see ...

Positives:
-It kept my interest.
-I liked Aunt Henny. She's stupid cliche, but I don't care. Love her. Perfection.
-The Quilting Circle Gals were very cool. Love that community environment kinda thing.
-Like I said, all the portrayal of domestic abuse PTSD was very well done (based on my research ... I have done way too much research), and I'm glad to see realistic portrayals in fiction.
-Overall, it was a sweet little romance with deeper themes.

But now ... on to the negatives. And I'm going to take this in sections, so I'll start with little things I didn't care for.

Little Things I Didn't Care For:

-EDRIC! OMW! I did appreciate SOME things about him (if I'd really hated him, I would have stopped reading), but ... ugggghhhhh. What a wishy-washy, beaten-in-to-the-ground, undecided, weak, WEAK man masquerading as a dashing hero! Ugggghh! C'mon, man! He can't stand up to anyone, and he acts like a petty teen when he does stand up to anyone (which is just the bad guys, not people in her personal life like his father or children).

I was sooooo mad about the way he constantly pandered to his daughters! GROW A PAIR! GROW A PAIR, EDRIC, AND MAYBE I'LL LIKE YOU. (Except I won't 'cause later when he was decisive he was a decisive boar.)

I'm sorry, but the most annoying thing in the world is someone who doesn't stick up for himself. I know, I know, he was supposed to be in a manipulative relationship, buttttt ... given that it's been 2 years, supposedly he's also the Sheriff (being Sheriff is a very easy job in this town, though, I guess, AS HE NEVER SHERIFFS, AND I AT TIMES FORGOT HE WAS A SHERIFF), and he's supposed to be recovering ...?

It was just underplayed, and his "anxiety" was overdone. I don't know, I just really hated him. He didn't strike me as real. Lily did, he didn't.

I just was waiting for the author to show the girls acting petty or misbehaving or SOMETHING, and Edric going, "Wait, no, being a parent isn't pampering. Love isn't overindulgence." And yet it's "would you like some more candy?" and "I cannot, literally cannot, turn you down if you want to go on a picnic ..." WHAT!? Noooo!

I just really am mad right now at him. Ughhhh. And I'll talk later about his BIGGGESSSTTT fault which my 73% of my reason for the poor rating. I just can't stand this guy.

I guess this wasn't a little thing. But still.

Pa. Remind me of his point again? Is he just there to be super annoying and judgemental and boss Edric around and show how Edric sucks as a man and is basically just a fourteen-year-old boy with a squeaky voice and illusions of manhood? (Having a deep voice and being tall and handsome does not a man make, btw.) But yeah, I didn't like Pa.

The children. Toby, Nancy, and Estella were all too sugar sweet for my taste - except that they constantly manipulate their parents. And their parents ignore this manipulation because their respective spouses were manipulative. (Makes sense. Continue the cycle. Cycles are nice. xD)

Now, I get that at the start it would be realistic for the parents to constantly give into these sugar sweet children AND for the children to be sugar sweet (overly so, goopy distasteful sugar sweet) because of the abuse and all that ...

BUT the author never showed or even addressed the fact that this was going on. Uhhh ... I guess it's okay for children to be manipulative and get away with it? Just not adults? Okay. Fine. Whatever.

Secrets??? I felt that the author was deliberately leaving out details that would simply clarify things and which made it confusing even to the end what exactly was going on. And that's okay, if you ... hadn't already given those details ... and were acting like the reader doesn't know them or at least suspect them ...?

I was just a bit confused throughout about what I was supposed to know, what I wasn't supposed to know, who people were, how their lives worked, etc.

Assumptions...??? This is just one random thing, but Henny randomly is like, "Oh, Lily could be pregnant." And then ... Edric takes this as gospel fact? Like it wasn't just a random supposition which Lily herself has never alluded to? Going as far as to repeatedly be like "oh she can't do that in her condition!" and INCLUDING IT IN HIS PROPOSAL? And that's when she's like, "... dude, I'm not pregnant." I really wanted her to be like, "Do I look pregnant to you???" Or to at least question why he thought she was pregnant. But instead she's like, "Yay proposal!" That was succcchhhh a weird convo?? Completely blew me out of the "romanticness" of the moment.

Has ... Edric not been around a pregnant woman before? Like ... his wife? Remember her? She existed. (Also, I'm so sick of widowers who are like, "Ooh, what's a woman? I have never been acquainted with one before! How strange and unheard of!" Dude ... you were married???)

Anddddd... now the biggies.

The Biggest Problem kinda ties into everything, but it is also a spoiler. But I feel like it just completely unravels the book and my desire to love the book, so I'll post it below.

I'm an author. I know a lot about plot structures, therefore. I even teach writing, so I go over it a million times a year with different students.

So basically, at ~75% of a book, we hit our third plot point, which is a major low point for the protagonists before they head on to the final battle (climax) and defeat the antagonist (noting that an antagonist isn't always a supervillain - in this case it was like ... oh, I don't want to pick this apart, but Lily's ... life ... was the antagonist? Kinda?).

Anywaysss, at that 75% mark (it was about 73% or 76% depending on what you want to count as the exact moment - it's not specific - and yes, I remembered - I'm a writer, give me a break), there is a COMMON romance cliche that I just ... hate. Hate, hate, hate. I can't stand it!

What is it? Well, at 75%, in a romance novel, sometimes something huge and trust-rendering will happen to our lovely couple causing them to split up. And though it's important for something big and bright to happen at the third plot point, I dislike it when the main characters don't trust each other.

My rule for my couples (in my romances) is that if you can't trust each other (even if you struggle to find that trust at first) by the 75% mark, you shouldn't be getting married at the 100% mark. Nope, nope, nope.

Here's how it goes:

Lily's brother-in-law comes into town to get some info out of her. After he leaves, because Lily believes she killed her husband (he was strangling her son, and she hit him, knocking him unconscious, and ran), she is afraid her brother-in-law will call the police on her now that he knows her location (though this was never well-clarified until the end). So she runs.

All natural. I would've run, too. All the way to the Pacific and on to China. (Although I also would've checked for a pulse. But whatever. Checking for a pulse is unladylike, I guess.) (Note to self: if you ever knock someone unconscious, they might not be dead. Do not assume death.)

But my problem is not with Lily but rather with Edric. Again. Edric, Edric, Edric, man of a thousand mysteries! The most mysterious being ... why are you like you are?

So imagine this: a woman shows up in your town. She has been badly abused and so has her son. Both show serious signs of PTSD. You get to know them. She proves to be a gentle woman who cares for your children, is a great mom, and is always very kind and seems to be working through her PTSD is a pretty healthy manner. You go through a lot together and learn to trust. Then a mysterious man arrives in town, and shortly after, she runs, leaving a note that said she killed her husband, accidentally, and she's very sorry.

What would your reaction be? Knowing her past, seeing her care for her son, knowing that she just was seriously blackmailed by her brother-in-law, and having learned to TRUST her, wouldn't you be like, "Well, there's more to it than that. It was probably self-defense, given that they both have choke-marks among other things ALL OVER THEIR BODIES. I'm going to save her and help sort this out!"

But noooooo, Edric doesn't react like that! He shows the Typical I Don't Trust You At The Third Plot Point reaction and goes the complete opposite direction.

His repetitive, annoying, unbelievably hateful thoughts are along these lines: "I can't believe I let such a wicked woman get close to me. I can't believe she's a cold-blooded murderer. She killed her husband, and she probably planned to kill me and my girls! Actually, her son probably isn't hers because the resemblance isn't striking. He's probably the son of another marriage, and she probably killed her husband and kidnapped him. She was probably planning to do the same to me and my girls."

Wait, WHAT!?!?!?!!?!? I WAS SOOOO FURIOUS! I don't care about his reasoning. I literally DON'T. He is a hateful, suspicious, WRONG man. I was hoping he would just randomly die. DIE DIE DIE EDRIC!

Ughhhh can I even begin to express my disgust and hatred for this man at this point? But no, it gets worse.

I would have had a lot more respect for the author if she had chosen to NOT make Tobias (Lily's husband) die in a different way. Let Lily have killed him in self-defense! Let Edric stand up for her! Let them have to show the courts that it was an act of self-defense with no malicious intent! ANYTHING!

But instead the author shoehorned a thingy in which the brother-in-law shot the husband? What? Okay, if that's true and the law had proof of it and was pursuing him, then why was he just wandering around using his real name and telling everyone what he was doing? Is he stupid? Why would he just wander back into the city where he was known for killing a man? If he's stupid, then how did he come up with the whole plan ...? It makes no sense!

I was mad, all right? I was just plain mad! This all makes no sense!

So basically, EVENTUALLY Edric hears that the brother-in-law killed the husband not her and forgives her. Like ... what? Noooooo noooooooooooo! At this point I was furious. So apparently if a man is killing your son and you hit him over the heat and knock him out (and think you killed him), you are unforgivable?

NO! Lily had no other choice, and whether he dies or not doesn't matter! She did the right thing. SHE DID THE RIGHT THING. Edric, I hate you. I hate you, I hate you, I hate you. What if Lily gets in that situation again somehow? What if she hesitates this time, and her son dies? DO YOU WANT THAT EDRIC???

I don't care if he didn't know the circumstances. He should have trusted her! Knowing her character inside and out as he did, he should have TRUSTED her. And that's why this whole book just fell apart for me. Because at that Third Plot Point, the trust issues were so bad that these characters ... literally should never be together. Ever. (Beside the fact that they make a very poor parenting team, but eh. The trust issues are worse. You can work through the parenting, probably.)

And you know what makes me even madder? Lily is like, "Well, yeah, that's justified."

She should have turned him down for doubting her. I wouldn't be with a dude who believed those things about me! Imagine if you're married and you ... I don't know ... go for a walk ... and he comes home and is like, "She's left us! She's never coming back! She's probably kidnapped our children! She's a serial killer! She's not even a woman!" It's just as outlandish, and it's the kind of whining manipulative people use to manipulate their victims! So they're trapped in a cycle, really. Uggghhh, I hate this so much!

Now, there's this movie called High Society. It was released in 1956, and is like a comedy romance with a lot of great songs. But anyways, there's one part of it where a fiance believes the worst of the woman he's going to marry (thinking she slept with another man "ON THE VERY EVE OF OUR WEDDING," as he puts it). This proves to be untrue, but she turns him down like so:

Him: Well, since nothing really happened perhaps we just better drop the whole subject.
Her: George, I don't want you to marry me because you think I'm now worthy of you. It would've meant much more if you had married me because I was unworthy.

She says that the only reason she DIDN'T end up sleeping with the guy was because he was honorable (she was drunk) and didn't try anything, so this is a different circumstance, but still.

He goes on to say: In spite of the circumstances, I'm big enough to overlook a single indiscretion. [George is kinda being a jerk here 'cause he's literally just talking about a kiss but you know whatever George you do you.]
Her: No, you're too good for me, George. I couldn't bear a perfect man.

Since he's kind of a pompous jerk, this is semi-sarcastic, but y'know. It reminded me of this because ... like ... just don't hang out with a guy who believes the worst of you like that. Even when he knows you're better than that.

So that was my main problem. *ahem*


And ... that's it. Wow. That got ranty. But you know what? I just ... ugh. I'm sorry. The spoiler tag contains one of my biggest pet peeves, but the other stuff was bad, too. Especially Edric. *growls*

Sooooooo ... yep. I shall leave now. Those are my honest thoughts on this messed-up book!

~Kellyn Roth, Reveries

[Edward Arrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I just figured out why I would not make a very good fiction writer. Authors speak of the characters having a will of their own and often taking the story in a different direction than the author expected. I have no idea if that happened with Mary Davis as she wrote this story but I found myself wanting to explain things to the hero and heroine. The story begins with Lily and her young son, Toby, concluding their cross-country train trip in the small town of Kamola, Washington. She left her home in Philadelphia for good reason. Edric was on the same train for the last two days of the trip as he was making his way home to Kamola. He saw Lily struggling to get off the train with Toby on her hip and two bulky carpetbags that were more than she could handle. From the moment they met, it seems they were constantly jumping to incorrect conclusions about each other and everyone else. We, the readers, would have missed so many exciting episodes in the story if I had been writing it and trying to fill in all the details from the start. Instead the author allows them to set the pace for a very interesting story full of emotion, action, romance, humor, and faith. I received a copy of the book from the publisher. This is my honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Widow's Plight (The Quilting Circle #1) by Mary Davis – Lily’s husband nearly kills her and her young son, so she buys a train ticket west to hide from her past. While she and Toby fight the fears of sustained abuse, they find refuge in a boarding house. With the locals, including the widowed sheriff, to champion their cause they begin to make a home. But drama! A lovely story! Happy Reading!

[Barbara Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book I've read by Author Mary Davis. The Widow's Plight is an outstanding book. It captured my attention from the beginning and I wanted to keep turning the pages to read. The plot is well-written and deals with some emotional places from within. I was impressed with this author's characters, twists and turns within the storyline and kept it well organized throughout the whole novel. The Widow's Plight touched my heart and it's Book One of The Quilting Circle series. I'm looking forward to Book Two.

I received a copy from the publisher, but was not required to review it. This review is one hundred percent my opinion.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first Mary Davis book. Since I am not familiar with her way of writing I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of emotions which run through this book. Her characters grabbed my attention and heart strings from the beginning. Lily, a single mother with a tramatized young son, Toby, bring many emotions with them on their flight west. Edric lives and loves his small town. He is the proverbial hero with a heart. I love how these two lives are brought together. They tend to jump to many conclusions about the other which brings humor to the story. Kamola is the small town that one would hope to run to and disappear within. The people care about one another, however, we find the gossip mill is alive and well. I highly recommend this book to anyone. I look forward to the next book in the series. I received a copy through the publisher. A positive review was not required. This review is completely my own opinions. Mary Davis does a wonderful job bringing her characters to a level that a reader may relate with.

[Atm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy of The Widow's Plight by Mary Davis and just finished it. I am now suffering from severe withdrawal. I miss my new friends Lily, Edric, Toby and Aunt Henny. Lily's all-to-common suffering, understandable desperation, fierce (and sometimes irrational) protectiveness, gradual healing, and reluctant hope created a very real, multi-dimensional woman that I related to and grew to care about. As the story progressed I wanted Lily to get better and to rediscover trust, love, and faith. Now that I have finished the book I especially miss her son, Toby. As a long-time youth minister, I believe Ms. Davis's depiction of an innocent, loving, terrified, emotionally scarred, but ultimately resilient abuse survivor was very true to life. In fact, his character was so true to life that I find myself wondering how Toby is adjusting to his new life. I can't wait until the next book in the series to find out.


The other characters in the book were also so well-developed that they occupied my thoughts even when I wasn't reading the book. They wove in and out of the ups and downs of the story easily and naturally. While as a female I did not relate as well to Lily's hero, Edric, I did come to see him as a friend. While he had his flaws, Edric's patience and ability to understand Lily's complex emotions created a bond between them that was genuine. Aunt Henny's wisdom and intuition make me want to know more about her story. I hope that it is told in one of the next books in this series. I suspect there may be a relationship with Edric's father, Saul, in her future.

As with any book I love, The Widow's Plight left me yearning for more. I look forward to rejoining my friends in Kamola. This review is my own, honest opinion of The Widow’s Plight.

[Phyllis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Widow's Plight by Mary Davis

A story of hope and redemption

Aunt Henny, who was no one’s aunt yet everyone’s aunt, had broken her leg and had to turn her boarders out because she couldn’t cook or clean easily enough. So when Lily was looking for a place to stay, Edrich knew exactly where to take the sweet widow and her son, Toby, providing them with a place to stay and a job as well.

I loved Aunt Henny. She is one of those godly women who knows exactly when to meddle and when not to. She was observant enough to see part of Lily’s secret and yet knew enough to not ask questions. Yet. She cared so much for the broken woman that she was always finding ways to help her. Her relationship with the Lord was such that she was willing to challenge the women in her quilting circle when they were quick to judge, exhorting them with appropriate Scripture. Yay!

As I read, I have found that despite the more random way I select my books, there still seems to be a common thread that ties the one to the next. It seems like this was the weekend to read about men who are so in love they are willing to pursue the object of that affection and to patiently wait for them to heal from their scars. Edrich was such a tender and loving man. He had two young daughters that he loved to distraction. And I love seeing a daddy with his little girls!

Lily was a lioness when it came to protecting her son, yet she was broken and perhaps a little naive. Some of the choices she made were ones that would make her appear weak by today’s standards, yet she was still an endearing character. Enough so that once Edrich’s father met her, though he could sense that she had secrets, he wholeheartedly approved of her. Even after the nature of the secret came out. The women rallied around her (well, after some prompting from Aunt Henny) and the things they did for her near the climax of the story made me laugh! Yeah, it would be giving a possible spoiler, so you’ll have to read it to see what I mean.

Despite me thinking I knew what was going to happen, I was only partly right. It was a complete surprise the way some of the events played out. There was just a bit of mystery and suspense mixed into this lovely romance to keep it interesting.

This was a tender and sweet story. Though Lily and her son both bore bruises and emotional scars from her violent husband, it was merely a background detail. The one flashback to that time was tastefully written so that I wouldn’t be concerned with my nieces reading the book. If you have reason to be sensitive to this subject, do be aware it is there.


This review was originally posted on Among the Reads

I would like to thank Mountain Brook Ink for giving me a copy of this book. This gift did not influence my opinion or review.

[Kathy Heare Watts · Rating 5 out of 5]

SUNSHINE AND SHADOW

The stories take place in the town of Kamola in Central Washington State. These are clean, historical westerns with mystery and romance. One key factor in each story is a group of ladies, various social classes, who meet at Aunt Henny’s boarding house for piecing and quilting. As each story progresses, Aunt Henny, who isn’t related to anyone in town but whom everyone calls Aunt, will open her doors to others in need. Henny recognizes that these women, sometimes with children, have come to Kamola, escaping trouble, a past, or maybe even a beginning. Aunty Henny will help them along their journey, and oftentimes, a gentleman and love play a part.

Each story will add new characters, but characters from the previous stories will be mentioned as the saga of Aunt Henny, and the quilting circle continues.

Lily Lexington Bremmer and her young son, Toby, arrive in Kamola by train. The town sheriff, Edric ‘Rix’ Hammond, will take them to Aunt Henny’s Boarding House, Home to the Weary Traveler. Aunt Henny sees bruises on both Lily and Toby, but is polite enough not to ask questions. Lily is a widow looking for a new beginning—but is hiding secrets. Edric is a widower raising two young daughters, Estella and Nancy, with the help of his father, Saul.

The story is a page-turning tale of secrets, lies of omission, life and death danger, and second chances. Lily fears she has been the one to kill her husband, Tobias Bremmer, but it was only to protect Toby from his father when he was strangling him. How far will a mother go to protect her child? Gathering a few items, she leaves her family’s home and heads by train to Washington state—but is it far enough away? What happens when trouble comes her way, and what will become of her and Toby? What about the friendship Lily has made with Edric and his daughters?

[Kathy Heare Watts · Rating 5 out of 5]

SUNSHINE AND SHADOW

The stories take place in the town of Kamola in Central Washington State. These are clean, historical westerns with mystery and romance. One key factor in each story is a group of ladies, various social classes, who meet at Aunt Henny’s boarding house for piecing and quilting. As each story progresses, Aunt Henny, who isn’t related to anyone in town but whom everyone calls Aunt, will open her doors to others in need. Henny recognizes that these women, sometimes with children, have come to Kamola, escaping trouble, a past, or maybe even a beginning. Aunty Henny will help them along their journey, and oftentimes, a gentleman and love play a part.

Each story will add new characters, but characters from the previous stories will be mentioned as the saga of Aunt Henny, and the quilting circle continues.

Lily Lexington Bremmer and her young son, Toby, arrive in Kamola by train. The town sheriff, Edric ‘Rix’ Hammond, will take them to Aunt Henny’s Boarding House, Home to the Weary Traveler. Aunt Henny sees bruises on both Lily and Toby, but is polite enough not to ask questions. Lily is a widow looking for a new beginning—but is hiding secrets. Edric is a widower raising two young daughters, Estella and Nancy, with the help of his father, Saul.

The story is a page-turning tale of secrets, lies of omission, life and death danger, and second chances. Lily fears she has been the one to kill her husband, Tobias Bremmer, but it was only to protect Toby from his father when he was strangling him. How far will a mother go to protect her child? Gathering a few items, she leaves her family’s home and heads by train to Washington state—but is it far enough away? What happens when trouble comes her way, and what will become of her and Toby? What about the friendship Lily has made with Edric and his daughters?

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down

Unless you have no feelings for others -- that's ridiculous because if that were the case, you'd never consider this book. Oh boy, this book tugs at your heart strings. The widow and her son have been physically and terribly abused. She has taken her son and gone from the East Coast almost to the West. Her little boy is so frightened and she would do ANYTHING to keep him safe.

They arrive by train in a small Western town and are befriended by a very tall man who takes them to Aunt Henny's, a boarding house. having lived in fear and pain for six years, she trusts no one and truly suspects every word, every move.

The big tall man is Edric who has a father and two little girls at home and he too is protective and suspicious of all women after what his wife did to him, his parents and their little girls. Yet he feel feels drawn to The Widow and her son.

You will smile while reading. Maybe even have a tear in your eye as you learn what physical AND emotional abuse can do to a child. To anyone. Yet, this is a beautiful story, extremely well written. This book is special and I will read it again someday. I've not read anything by Mary Davis before The Widow's Plight, but after submitting this review, I am off to find the second book in this series.

[Brenda- · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Widow's Plight (The Quilting Circle Series, #1) author Mary Davis

I was given a copy of this book by the publisher. I enjoyed reading it as I have all of Mary Davis's books that I have read.

The plot was full of surprises. After the death of Lily's parents, bad guys plotted against her because of her parents wealth. She struggled with an abusive husband and eventually ran away.

Miracles did happen for her! The right people crossed her path, she found a job as soon as she arrived in the new town way across the country. It was love at first sight for the guy who wanted to marry her and he was patient with her as she got past her abuse.

The ending was very amazing--bad guys paid for what they did, her father was proven to be a very smart man, people forgave each other and there was a marriage planned.

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-structured plot and characters who gripped my heart and hung on. Widow Lily Lexington is on the run, fleeing from Philadelphia to protect the life of her five-year-old son, Toby, as well as her own. She disembarks from the long train-ride in Kamola, Washington, finding employment as cook at Aunt Henny's Boarding House. But why are both Lily and Toby covered in ugly bruises? And why does Toby look nothing like his mother?

Widower Edric Hammond is taken by Lily from the start, but senses she has buried secrets. Why is she holding herself apart from the rest of the Kamola community? And why is her son so terrified of men?

This engaging story, with all its twists and turns, kept me turning the pages, long into the night. I think it will do the same to you. I received a complimentary copy of The Widow's Plight, and this review is my own opinion.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 Stars.

The characters are well-developed and the story flows fairly well until three-quarters of the way through. I liked Lily , her son Toby, and Aunt Henney.

The story is set in 1893, when a woman was considered the property of either her husband or her father. The story is about a woman who escapes domestic abuse and tries to move on.

Lily runs away when she thinks she accidentally killed her husband by hitting him over the head with a lamp when he was choking Toby.

Parts of the story are a little evasive to keep the audience guessing . As a result; I thought Lily's husband, Tobias,was actually still alive because Lily didn't check for a pulse to see if he was dead.

I also thought it was weird that Lily thought she would go to jail for defending herself and her son. I didn't really like the male lead, Edric.

[Aud · Rating 5 out of 5]

" The Widow's Plight" {The Quilting Circle, Book 1} By: Mary Davis; Narrated by: Pamela Gregory
I truly enjoyed my time with Lily as she finds her way through the "DARK" fearfulness that encompassed her life, and into the "LIGHT" that can fill one's life with hope and purpose. Of course, I loved Edric, a truly sweet special person, someone most all of us would love to have in our lives. It is an 1890's Western American sweet Romance with a mix of suspense and a dash of humor. Well, maybe the humor was my warped sense of humor, but it is a light easy long read.
I appreciated the vocabulary and the pace of the story, and, really liked the voice(s) of the narrator Pamela Gregory.

note: I received a download code from the author with the hope I would write a review; thus this honest review.

[Dana Redding · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Widows Plight

Lily has a son named Toby, they have escaped an abusing man who was father and husband. He took advantage of Lily when her parents were killed and married her saying he was going to help her with things. He is a violent man. He returned home after gambling and loosing, and takes it out on his wife. His son yells to stop hurting his mother. He grabs the young boy and starts to strangle him after he wets his pants. Lily grabs a large bowl and smashes it on his head. She thinks he is dead. She runs away.

Edric is the towns law man he has two daughters and his Papa lives with them and takes care of the children when Eric is working.

Good story I enjoyed reading this. Personally I don’t like the abuse the two suffered but after they flee its better.

[Becky Dempsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Widow's Plight is Mary Davis's debut book. It kind of had the feel of a mail order bride book with her arriving on the train and not knowing anyone, but wasn't exactly like it since she wasn't expecting to marry anyone once she arrived. I liked the characters. The kids, especially, added sweet moments and things to giggle about. Aunt Henny standing up for Lily and not jumping to conclusions about her was encouraging. There was growth in the characters' lives. I look forward to reading the other books in the series.


I got a free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and given voluntarily. No compensation was received for my review.

[Ellen White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Year was 1893 Lily caresses her sleeping son, as he hugs a train, the first toy for this five year old. The bruises evident, and the fear that is gripping her, getting as far from her past as she could. Boarding house to clean and cook without extra cost would help what little she had. The sorrow to see her son not wanting to take or eat a cookie. Because of the sharp discipline of his father. A story that unfolds, as she finally lets others in, to soft her heart and to start anew. The kindness of Edric was not easy to except, to learn to trust, and trust in God’s plan for a new life and family.. A good heartwarming story to enjoy.

[Darlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loving the Law

This was my first book by this author and I loved it. Cowboy, westerns, and ranchers are some of my favorite stories. Edric is the sheriff, a widower, living with his father and two girls. When Li!y and her son Toby come to town, Edric is immediately drawn to her but something is not right in her actions and her son's fear and timidity. This book addresses fear, anxiety, abuse, cruelty, and outlaws. Although the story has negative issues, it shows justice and love in the townspeople. I look forward to reading the series. I received a complimentary copy of this book and have chosen on my own to write an honest review.

[Alicia Whittle · Rating 5 out of 5]

My complimentary copy of The Widow's Plight was a true page-turner. The author has captured two wonderful characters and brought them to life. The way Mary Davis handled a very real emotional and traumatic fear during a historical time was amazing. She wove a wonderful tale of blended families and other outstanding characters to keep the reader's attention. I highly recommend this book be read by both women and men. The author took a tough situation and devised an excellent twist with her plot. I look forward to more of her books in The Quilting Circle Series.

[Tracy Sylvester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lily Bremmer was a tormented and abused wife and mother. When she catches her husband choking their son she decides to do what a Mother would do and protect her child. She strikes her husband and believes she's killed him. She flee's town with Toby and ends up in Kamola where she meets Edric the town sheriff as she tries to get off the train. He helps her and becomes interested in her. Lily and Toby need a new start. This is a sweet, clean, historical romance that will keep you rooting for Lily, Toby and Edric!

[kristen sniadowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audible edition of this book. This was my first exposure to Mary Davis. I absolutely loved this book! The writing was well done, the characters were well developed, and the narration was absolutely amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the narrator as she did a great job with reading, inflection, and various accents and voices. I applaud Ms. Davis for her excellence in writing. Definitely recommend both the audible and written copy of this book.
*I received a free audible copy in exchange for an honest review

[Sydnee Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a heartbreaking story to read. To have abuse is a real thing but to read about it being done to a child is another. It happens a lot I know but Toby is so little and to see the end result even with his young age. Heartbreaking. Yes I let a bit out there. Lily is a strong woman of this time period. She has the strength a loving mother should always have toward any child. Hers of anyone else’s. Edric is a great father. Even with the help from his own father his two small girls are good. You can tell a loving home when you see it.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet Romance

It seems that the Western Romance is all sweethearts, lace,and a strong man to the rescue or at least one willing to come to the rescue. This one however shows how the wilting circle was very important to woman of the old west. I really enjoyed the innocence of this novel even if the characters did Mitt portray themselves to each other as that really were until the end.

[HiDesert Granny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was enjoying this story despite the annoyance I had with Edric. I had already figured out the big ending but I do not think Edric was good enough for Lily. I question his integrity as he thought the very worst of her instead of giving her the benefit of the doubt until he had more information.

Loved the quilting circle and cosy little town, although it was a little too perfect. Hoping a few characters are added to spice up the town

[Carolyn Overcash · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes, trouble always follows.

Lily takes her son and runs as fast and as far as she can from her dead abusive husband. Imagine her horror when she finds out that the man courting her is the law.

Of course, when trouble comes to town, Lily runs again. If she goes to jail, her son will have no one to take care of him.

Can she face her past to secure her future?

Warning, domestic violence and abuse are a constant theme in this tale; it is central to the plot.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down. I loved the characters, and I could feel the emotion all the way through the book. I could understand the fear and distrust that Lily, Edric, the children had. It was wonderful to see when they started to trust in God and each other. I would recommend this book.
I received a PDF copy of this book from the publisher and was not obligated to write a positive review.

[C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE WIDOW’S PLIGHT By Mary Davis
5 stars
April 11, 2019
A sensitive book about spouse and child abuse.  You get to watch this fearful mother and son find, peace, joy and love in the new town, but will it last?  Mary stitches together a sweet story just as the quilting group stiches the quilt together.  Piece by piece, with kindness and love, this young mother, Lily truly blossoms!  Beautiful!

[G Wolfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great reading

I loved this book. Lilly is such a great character in this sad but wonderful love story. The sheriff is a gem but a little lame when it comes to insight, but finally gets his head on right. It’s sad to think that things like what happened to Lilly and Toby were more common in those days but I’m happy it all works out!

[JackEllena · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heart warming romantic western!

A strong, kind and gentle but brave when needed is the best kind of hero. A woman that is also strong but soft, kind, very thoughtful especially with children. You have a match and the chemistry for true love. A splendid story set in western style. I very much enjoyed reading this novel, thank you, Jack.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story!

This story is so touching! The emotions ring true and Lily’s responses and feeling are those of an abused woman. Edric is a wonderful father and his faith is heartwarming. The threads of the quilting are woven in the theme and work marvelously in the story. I could not put this book down and read it in one sitting!