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American Quilt #1
The Pattern
Johanna Shelby could never have anticipated where that 'fateful encounter' would lead her. She could not have known then how love for the young, rough-hewn, mountain doctor would cause her to turn her back on her privileged lifestyle, threaten to estrange her from her family, and bring her to the wild mountains of Appalachia. If she had known . . . But no! Nothing could hold her back. Not her adoring, worried parents. Not her snooty, so-called 'friends.' Not even her own flashes of doubt and fear. No, this love would not be denied. It was part of a larger pattern -like the pattern of one of the family quilts her aunts and cousins met weekly to stitch. Into those quilts went not just fabric, but meanings and memories; and when they were finished, the were more than just quilts- they were life stories. Johanna did not know what the future held. But she trusted God. . . And she knew that he would cause her own family quilt to be rich and beautiful -a pattern like no other.
240 pages, Paperback
First published November 21, 2009
About the author
Jane Peart
133 books60 followersJane Johnson Peart of Asheville, North Carolina, Humboldt and Marin counties, California, and in recent years, Hawaii, passed away in 2007. She was the author of more than 60 works of suspense, historical fiction and romance, which touched the hearts and minds of thousands of readers whose correspondence she treasured. She wrote for the secular and Christian market, and is best known for the Brides of Montclair series.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 20, 2022
The Pattern is a very quick read, which was nice. It didn't take long for them to meet and flirt. I enjoyed reading it, but as always there are some Qualms!
QUALM #1: I liked Part 1 better than I liked Part 2. Part 1 was about them realizing they love each other and trying to get married even though forces opposed. Part 2 was a little boring seeing as the book is a romance. It was just Johanna being bored in her new home and not knowing how to pass the time. Also she wants to be accepted by the Mountain Folk. I felt the book could of been stretched a little longer in part one and end it with them getting married and riding into the sunset. 😂
QUALM #2: At some points the dialogue was a little bland. At one point Johanna says: "Oh Ross, I am so happy!" There's nothing eloquent about that sentence it's so generic. Since it's a book you want to make the dialogue riveting but also seem plausible. Instead the author could have said, "Oh Ross I didn't know such happiness existed until now!" That sounds more interesting than I'm happy.
QUALM #3: Johanna's mom packs up all her belongings and sends it up to the mountains for her. Then Johanna gets upset and says she feels her mother has erased any memory of her ever living in Hillsboro. Johanna, your mother was just sending along your things give me a break. When someone moves out they take all their belongings. You don't keep a room reserved for them on the off chance they will stay with you. How stupid.
QUALM #4: The mountain preacher comes to greet Johanna and then judges her for not having a good enough Bible. Also says that people around here take the Lord's word in pride and display the Bible for all to see. Then tells her it's her duty as a wife to provide Ross with the word of God. For one he shouldn't just come into her home and berate her like that. How does he know she doesn't read the Bible? She has one but no it's not good enough for the hillbilly Mountain Folk. 🙄 Also I feel like this is Ross' fault for not telling Johanna of Mountain Folks customs. He never told her to have a Bible displayed in every room. How was she supposed to know this?
QUALM #5: After her father dies her mother gives Johanna a letter he wrote to her. But we don't get to read it which I think is a little lazy. Her father was the closest person in her life before Ross I would like to know what he wrote to her at his dying breath.
QUALM #6: At the end Johanna's mother says how she wants to be closer to her. Says how she wants her to stay in Hillsboro but then she realizes that Johanna needs to live her own life. So instead of telling her these things she gives her the cold shoulder. The mother is the worse character. She lets Johanna think she doesn't need her so she will go back home, but it hurts Johanna's heart. All she needed to do was talk to her.
QUALM #1: I liked Part 1 better than I liked Part 2. Part 1 was about them realizing they love each other and trying to get married even though forces opposed. Part 2 was a little boring seeing as the book is a romance. It was just Johanna being bored in her new home and not knowing how to pass the time. Also she wants to be accepted by the Mountain Folk. I felt the book could of been stretched a little longer in part one and end it with them getting married and riding into the sunset. 😂
QUALM #2: At some points the dialogue was a little bland. At one point Johanna says: "Oh Ross, I am so happy!" There's nothing eloquent about that sentence it's so generic. Since it's a book you want to make the dialogue riveting but also seem plausible. Instead the author could have said, "Oh Ross I didn't know such happiness existed until now!" That sounds more interesting than I'm happy.
QUALM #3: Johanna's mom packs up all her belongings and sends it up to the mountains for her. Then Johanna gets upset and says she feels her mother has erased any memory of her ever living in Hillsboro. Johanna, your mother was just sending along your things give me a break. When someone moves out they take all their belongings. You don't keep a room reserved for them on the off chance they will stay with you. How stupid.
QUALM #4: The mountain preacher comes to greet Johanna and then judges her for not having a good enough Bible. Also says that people around here take the Lord's word in pride and display the Bible for all to see. Then tells her it's her duty as a wife to provide Ross with the word of God. For one he shouldn't just come into her home and berate her like that. How does he know she doesn't read the Bible? She has one but no it's not good enough for the hillbilly Mountain Folk. 🙄 Also I feel like this is Ross' fault for not telling Johanna of Mountain Folks customs. He never told her to have a Bible displayed in every room. How was she supposed to know this?
QUALM #5: After her father dies her mother gives Johanna a letter he wrote to her. But we don't get to read it which I think is a little lazy. Her father was the closest person in her life before Ross I would like to know what he wrote to her at his dying breath.
QUALM #6: At the end Johanna's mother says how she wants to be closer to her. Says how she wants her to stay in Hillsboro but then she realizes that Johanna needs to live her own life. So instead of telling her these things she gives her the cold shoulder. The mother is the worse character. She lets Johanna think she doesn't need her so she will go back home, but it hurts Johanna's heart. All she needed to do was talk to her.
October 8, 2017
Another Good Story from a Popular Author
I bought and read this book years ago, recently re-discovered it on my Kindle and decided it was past time for a re-read. As the book blurb says Johanna falls in love with a mountain doctor, far removed from her social class and upbringing. She first meets him at the opening party of the holiday season and they feel a connection as their eyes meet, even before they have been properly introduced. Johanna and Ross Davison meet several times at different events and some “chance” meetings around town, and it takes no time at all for them to fall in love. When Johanna tells her parents that she and Ross love each other she is unprepared for their united disapproval, especially her father’s.
There are some very interesting concepts in this story, ones that caused me to stop and really think. I will mention two or three but I will not explain my own thoughts and conclusions. They will be familiar to most people, but two in particular will resonate with Christians. The first is, how do you reconcile obeying (or honouring) your parents with being true to yourself and the man you love? Or, does it come down to merely getting your own way? Secondly, the idea of free will and how to exercise it, and thirdly, self-imposed feelings of guilt.
This is a book with Christian characters so there are no vulgarities, violence, or sex scenes. It is a rather simple tale well-told, and with likeable characters who draw the reader in as their stories unfold. There are some wonderful poetically descriptive passages that always enhance reading pleasure for me and I enjoyed it very much. My only complaint is that I would have preferred the story to be longer, especially Part Two, so the relationships and character development were explored in more depth. I like the instructions for the quilt pattern at the end, although sketches would be helpful.
I bought and read this book years ago, recently re-discovered it on my Kindle and decided it was past time for a re-read. As the book blurb says Johanna falls in love with a mountain doctor, far removed from her social class and upbringing. She first meets him at the opening party of the holiday season and they feel a connection as their eyes meet, even before they have been properly introduced. Johanna and Ross Davison meet several times at different events and some “chance” meetings around town, and it takes no time at all for them to fall in love. When Johanna tells her parents that she and Ross love each other she is unprepared for their united disapproval, especially her father’s.
There are some very interesting concepts in this story, ones that caused me to stop and really think. I will mention two or three but I will not explain my own thoughts and conclusions. They will be familiar to most people, but two in particular will resonate with Christians. The first is, how do you reconcile obeying (or honouring) your parents with being true to yourself and the man you love? Or, does it come down to merely getting your own way? Secondly, the idea of free will and how to exercise it, and thirdly, self-imposed feelings of guilt.
This is a book with Christian characters so there are no vulgarities, violence, or sex scenes. It is a rather simple tale well-told, and with likeable characters who draw the reader in as their stories unfold. There are some wonderful poetically descriptive passages that always enhance reading pleasure for me and I enjoyed it very much. My only complaint is that I would have preferred the story to be longer, especially Part Two, so the relationships and character development were explored in more depth. I like the instructions for the quilt pattern at the end, although sketches would be helpful.
August 7, 2017
Dawn, Central patron, August 2017, 4 stars:
Enjoyed The Pattern...interesting historical facts interspersed in realistic history...some hard times but some wonderful things too...great story!
Enjoyed The Pattern...interesting historical facts interspersed in realistic history...some hard times but some wonderful things too...great story!
December 27, 2013
A sweet story of young love... a pampered, rich girl meets a mountain doctor, and is determined to become his wife because of her love for him. Family and friends alike are aghast at Joanna's choice, and try to discourage her, telling her that a primitive life, even with the man she loves, will be terrible. But even as Joanna's stubbornness fades away, her love remains strong, and her knowledge grows. For what is riches and ease without her soul-mate?
Cute story. Of falling in love, devotion to one's husband, and discovering the joys of motherhood. Looking forward to reading the sequel of The Pattern.
Cute story. Of falling in love, devotion to one's husband, and discovering the joys of motherhood. Looking forward to reading the sequel of The Pattern.
February 21, 2011
This was a sweet book. It takes place pre-Civil War and shows a young lady's transformation from being a wealthy, affluent young girl to a strong, loving wife of a mountain doctor.--Not an easy road! I look forward to reading the next books.
March 20, 2013
I don't usually go for historical romances, but I got this book for my birthday so I read it. It was very sweet, Christian fiction. The characters were likeable and the plot believable. I am now reading the next in this trilogy, The Pledge.
December 20, 2007
again, "sappy"
September 9, 2010
I really loved the romance and the story of this book. It is an interesting and exciting read and I highly recommend this book and the 2 other books in this series!
March 1, 2012
Liked this book more than I thought I would. The first in a series of three. A city girl meets mountain boy..
January 17, 2014
Wonderful. A delightful tale of how love helps to overcome all hardships - including moving to a remote backwoods town far from your family.
October 15, 2012
Good, Interesting
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews