The Quilting Circle

by Jennifer Blake, Jo Anne Cassity, Linda Shertzer

Heartwarming stories by New York Times

Four bridesmaids stitch a wedding quilt-and find it's the groom's brother that has the bride snagged-in Jennifer Blake 's novella.

Jo Anne Cassity pits the owners of rival stores in a competition to bid for a handmade quilt-and each other's affections.

Linda Shertzer tells of a man who demands the return of a keepsake quilt from a young widow, and tries not to fall in love.

Christina Cordaire follows a modern career woman who finds herself flung back to the 1840s-who now must work to save the unraveling relationship of wayward lovebirds.

Genres: Anthologies, Romance

345 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1996

About the author

A pseudonym used by Patricia Maxwell.

Jennifer Blake has been called a “pioneer of the romance genre”, and an “icon of the romance industry.” A New York Times and international best selling author since 1977, she is a charter member of Romance Writers of America, member of the RWA Hall of Fame, and recipient of the RWA Lifetime Achievement Rita. She holds numerous other honors, including two “Maggies”, two Holt Medallions, multiple Reviewer’s Choice Awards, the Career Achievement Award from Romantic Times BookReviews Magazine, and the Frank Waters Award for literary excellence. She has written over 60 books with translations in 20 languages and more than 30 million copies in print worldwide.

Jennifer and her husband reside in a lakeside Caribbean-style retreat in North Louisiana where they often entertain family and friends. Always a gardener, she spends much of her time encouraging her garden to bloom with her favorite daylilies and antique roses. She also enjoys walking her two dogs, Buffy and Lucky, and indulging in needlework, painting, and travel.

Reviews

[Queen Bzyb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the idea that a quilting circle binds the stories of the various participants into an object that continues to have life and meaning as it is passed down through time. The 4 stories in those book are bound together with reference to one quilt and attempts to come full circle in the last story. Unfortunately, the connections through the quilt are very loose and the flow doesn't particularly make sense. While I was hoping and expecting some depth and true sentiment, the stories were sadly superficial, predictable and not particularly believable romances.

That said, it was not un-enjoyable and a suitable read while bed-ridden with Covid.

[Luci · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really struggled with the lack of historical accuracy in the details, and the first two stories were not my cup of tea, but the 3rd and 4th saved them. I liked the idea of thesame quilt being in each of the stories.

[Marlene]

Quilts and stories go together. This easy read collection of stories is about four young women and their quilts and romance. Usually quite predictable.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read! Very predictable! A bit of romance and a little heat!

[Jody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Four stories in one book.
1) Pieces of Dreams - Jennifer Blake - opens with Melly and her bridesmaids sewing a friendship quilt for her to hang in her new home to remember all of her friends. She is engaged to Caleb. Well Aunt Doris tries an old wife's tale to predict who would be married next and who the groom would be. I guess I should mention that Caleb's twin brother Conrad has finally made an appearance to attend his brother's wedding. So sweet; Choices, choices!!!
2) Forever Annie - Jo Anne Cassity - Opens in Whiskey, Missouri with a traveling salesman selling Melly's quilt (Roughly 10 yrs from date on quilt). What on Earth happen with that!!!!!!! Anyway a traveling preacher comes to town and really stirs things up. As if things between Annie and Walker were not already complicated enough. I kinda found myself wanting Charlotte to end up leaving with the preacher, but the real ending was much better.
3) Hand-Me-Down Hearts - Linda Shertzer - Cora McGregor (Annie and Walker's child) has died and bequeathed the quilt (Roughly 40 years after the second story) to Elise Baker (who is widowed with two small children). When her brother Ryder finds out, he goes to collect the quilt and furniture ("valuable antique" family heirlooms)from her and gets alot more in the bargain.
4) A Ring for Remembrance - Christina Cordaire - This story starts out in a more modern era (time of CEOs etc) and Sara Blake is working on a quilting exhibit and trying to make up her mind about Josh Conrad (CEO). We have found Caleb's ring! With a knock on the head, Sara ends up in 1843 as Sarah Franks (Melly's second cousin). This was the perfect ending to the book. It answered all my questions from the first story (including the weird look at the picnic).
Always glad for a happy ever after.....even if it does take a couple hundred years to know for sure.

[Dale · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unbeknownst to me when I started this book, it is a 4 parter and the common link is a quilt made by a quilting circle of friends in the early 1800's. I was enjoying the romance, tight friendship of the ladies, and the suspence until that book ended after a quarter of what I thought it should be. Drat! The quilt stays common to the remaining 3 short stories and in the last, short story, which brings us to modern times, some of the mystery is revealed but all in all, I was disappointed. Each story was written by a different author and they did a somewhat good job of staying to a common writing style. I remain annoyed that the book cover has the first author's name in larger print and advertising that she is a best selling author. At closer glancer, the other 3 authors are listed below her name.

[Debby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four novellas by different authors, tied together by a wedding quilt. Jennifer Blake starts the story in 1843 when four bridesmaids meet to stitch the wedding quilt for Amelia Bennington - who doesn't end up with the intended groom. The quilt next appears in 1853 in Whiskey, MO, where it brings two unlikely people together in a story by Jo Anne Cassity. Linda Shertzer takes up the tale in 1893 when the spoiled son of the couple in the 2nd story goes after the quilt when it's been given to someone outside the family. The fourth story by Christina Cordaire, ties the four together with a little time travel and the explanation of how the quilt got from 1 to 2.

All quite well done stories that nicely describe small town midwestern life in the 1800's.

[Anne · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just did not like this book. In fact I only read the first story and didn't care enough to read the rest. I don't know what it was...the characters, the storyline, everything just felt out of place. Conrad annoyed me, I didn't like his personality, and Melly too she seemed such a sweet, innocent girl, but downright cheats on her fiancé. Overall, I just did not like it, I normally love period romance, but I guess it has to be written by masters of the genre for me to like them (like Austen or Heyer). Anyways I'm glad that other people liked the book, but personally , I couldn't recommend it.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is actually four stories written by four different authors about the adventures of one quilt. It is an interesting concept and the book overall was a good read.

The reason why I did not rate it higher is that the first two stories had totally unnecessary sex scenes that were almost identical. Spoiled that section for me.

[Ananya Mandal · Rating 3 out of 5]

ok types

[Angelica Taggart · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had different stories about a quilt as it moved thru time -- I enjoyed all of them.