Aprons on a Clothesline

Lake Emily #3

by Traci Depree

Book Three in the Lake Emily series

In Lake Emily, life’s greatest battles
are won by the power of friendship

Virginia Morgan is used to helping others–it’s who she is. A wife. A mother. A grandmother. A friend. But when Virginia suffers a debilitating stroke, she can no longer wear that apron. It is a change that sends her into the depths of hopelessness. Can she find her way to seeing that life is still well worth living? Or will she give up hope and sink deeper into despair?

Meanwhile, the Morgans and Biddles discover that each season of life has its adjustments–for Trudy Biddle marriage and a meddling mother-in-law, for Mae and Peter Morgan the challenges of keeping the family farm afloat as they welcome a new member into their family, and for young Jessie Wise hopes for a new mother.

Filled with the enchantment that makes Lake Emily everyone’s hometown, Aprons on a Clothesline is a lovely reminder that hope can be found even in the tragedies of life and that joy waits in the most unexpected places.

“Traci’s books…call my name and soothe my soul.” – Jane Kirkpatrick, award-winning author of All Together in One Place and A Name of Her Own

Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction, Inspirational, Womens Fiction

324 pages, Paperback

First published May 17, 2005

About the author

Traci DePree is the author of nine books. She loves creating new worlds where readers can escape the demands of everyday life and discover a deeper place of faith where true hope resides. She makes her home in a rural town in Minnesota where she fills her days with books, volunteering, gathering with friends and loved ones, playing a little tennis, riding dirt bike, as well as sewing and knitting! She and her husband of almost 26 years have five kids, ranging in age from twenty-two to six.

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the continuing story of the Biddle, Wise and Morgan families. hard time on the farm, a new baby and Virginia having a bad stroke start this book. Mae and Peter are trying to make a go of the farm, deal with Peter’s mother and a new baby. Mae has quit her job which seems like an odd choice in light of all their troubles. Mae’s sister marries a farmer and things are going well. Peter’s brother who took off when his mother was hurt comes back married after a year expecting the farm. Lots of conflict.

[Pam Herrmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third book in the series. Lots of changes happening in this book. Peter and Mae have a baby boy. Virginia has a stroke and decides to give up on life. Fred comes back with a wife. And they all have to learn to trust God that everything will work out for the best.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this series ages ago, before Goodreads, so reading them is hard. I remember enjoying them, but can't remember which one or one's I liked best. Since I know I liked them I'm guessing I rated them 3.5 to 4 stars🌟.

[Angie Sikkink · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah. Book three is the series ends too quickly. Another round with the folks in Lake Emily has come to an end. Until next… summer?

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

#3 in the series. My favorite book yet of the series. Compelling and realistic, really drew me into the characters’ lives.

[Wendy Caduff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ahhh, so much better than book two, it ranks up there with her first one, which makes me feel wistful to see it come to an end. Lake Emily and its good people will live on in me a long while.

I appreciated the real struggle Virginia had in this book after her stroke, not just physically but mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. The author convincingly showed how life changing a stroke can be.

I loved the introduction of August in this book and how his faithful presence in Virginia’s life absolutely turned things around for her. And that Trudy once again played successful matchmaking there! Along with Virginia getting outside of herself by visiting Violet.

I loved the symbolism of the apron, finally and fully revealed at the end.

I also loved the twist on the Prodigal Son story with Fred’s return home—he is not contrite and does not beg forgiveness or for scraps of food, and thus literally loses his inheritance—and his father’s trust. How differently his story could have ended! And yet Bert holds compassion and dangles both empathy and a future return to the farm.

Mae is a mom! Beautiful.

It was difficult for me to see the continued selfishness and judgement of Peter toward his dad, David, that began in book one carry on here. He acts self righteous, as if he can and should control his grown up father’s choices. Ironically this need to judge and control another was carried on as David displayed similar traits in watching his mom, Virginia, begin to fall in love with August.

It was also difficult for me to see the child Jessie stay away from Virginia so long in this book. They were so close, yet she was practically nonexistent in this book and certainly these two could have/should have found their way back to each other much quicker.

Good humor sprinkled in with scenes of Trudy and Lillian and also Trudy and Svetlana backing up the boat trailer at the landing—oh my!

Thank you Traci DePree for inviting me into Lake Emily and letting me stay so long.

[Lenore Kuipers-Cummins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a 3 part series, and I read the last one first, but it was fine.
It takes place in Lake Emily, Minnesota, and revolves around the Morgans and Biddles. There are several main characters; one being Virginia Morgan. She suffers a debilitating stroke and turns away all of the people that love her and want to help her, especially her young friend, Jessie Wise, who she helps with her schoolwork.
Mae and Peter Morgan are trying to keep the family farm that goes back generations, but are constantly challenged with weather and family pressures.
There are many characters in this book, and sometimes they are hard to keep track of, but I finally found out why the title "Aprons on a Clothesline" was significant, but not until the end of the book.

[Joe Keefhaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third and final book in Traci DePree's well-written and readable Lake Emily series. In reality, it is one book divided into three volumes, so you need to read all three in order to fully appreciate the story. I found the Morgans, the Biddles and the other characters in the books to be quite believable, and the situations they found themselves in to be realistic. (The character Anna and her interaction with Steve was a puzzlement, however.) One might think the third book ties up all loose ends and solves everyone's problems, but that isn't totally the case. This also makes it a good series.

[Dorothy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Superficial and really, really hokey. The first and second books in the series had better plots and more life -like characters. Enough with the " how - cute-babies-are" routine! Over-worked plots and wooden characterizations also didn't help. I particularly disliked the use of God and church ( both named once in awhile) whose only apparent purpose here was to show that these " down-on-the-farm" folk were warm-hearted good people. I much prefer other writers whose characters struggle with life and faith. I could not relate to this book at all.

[odalis ┊͙ ˘͈ᵕ˘͈ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book at a thrift store, I looked for the first two in the series and read those first, but this one right here was the one I was drawn to from the start.

Two chapters in, and you can tell the author has progressed in her talent. There is a difference in this one, I just can’t pinpoint exactly what.


There’s many stories to follow, but the one that tugged at my heart strings the most was Virginia and Jessie.

This here was raw and emotional. I enjoyed it, I just needed more main character and less side stories. But I understand the picture the author is painting.

4.5/5🌟

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was a nice finish to the story but I kind of wish there were more books. I'm going to miss reading about these characters. I wish there were more to the ending. Now I'm going to wonder what happened to various characters. Traci, just write more books please.

[Therese Dotray-Tulloch · Rating 3 out of 5]

This author came to the bookstore and I was so happy to promote her wonderful books. This is her first, set in rural Minnesota, a wonderful local story.

[Mimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, love this series I just think this one ended too soon.

[Katy Cundall · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 ⭐️

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-written book with true to life characters.

[jimtown · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third in a series of feel good family stories centered in Wisconsin farm country, Aprons on a Clothesline started out a little slow. Just as my attention was waning, about a third of the way in the story picked up and grabbed hold. About 2/3's of the way through, I had the feeling I'd read this before, though I couldn't find a previous book review.

I think I did read this one about Virgina's stroke and slow, painful recovery. A lot of other things were happening in the small farming town of Lake Emily in this book. The birth of Peter and Mae's son Christopher occurs on Trudy's wedding day, despite her warning prenatal talk with him. Jessie is scared off by seeing Virginia in the nursing home but she and her father find a much needed friend in Virgina's physical therapist, Anna. Bert goes into full farmer mode immediately after his three day surprise honeymoon with Trudy. It takes Trudy by surprise, this farming life. She starts to see what her sister Mae is talking about with Peter, but there's no time to commiserate since Mae has her hands full with new baby Christopher. Bert's twin brother Fred arrives home with a new bride in tow. His parents had already decided to leave their farm to Bert. They also want Bert and Trudy to move into their farmhouse. Trudy is unsure about all of this. Bert's mother, Lillian Biddle is one hard cookie for anyone to get along with, but Trudy catches a break when Fred's new bride moves in. Trudy, befriends Svetlana despite Fred's objections. Virgina wants to give up hope but she meets someone who changes her mind about a lot of things. Her son, David, Peter's father is doing some serious thinking about what is important and meaningful in his life too. In this series, it's boisterous Trudy who I enjoy most and have an interest in learning more about as I read.

This story shows how important family and friends are as life changes. It's a good reminder to hang on to the positive people in life. I do like this author and hope to read more.

[Theresa Lange · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good

[Becki]

The third book in the Lake Emily Series.\nThe focus of this story seems to be more on Virginia although there was definitely a lot of information about the other characters as well. Virginia has a stroke at the beginning of the book (not a spoiler because the back of the book says she has one before you even read the first page). Because of this, she struggles with her faith and who she is and her continued place in the world. I could relate with her some and appreciate the character who came alongside her to help her have hope and see the good in it all. None of us walk this road along.\nI think I enjoyed this book most of all. I don�t know if it�s because I have become somewhat attached to the characters. Or because the book didn�t have as many crises in it�but I enjoyed it.\nAlthough I did still have issues with some of the time frames/jumps. \nMs. DePree did seem to leave herself openings to write a fourth book in the series. What happened with the crops and the money due? Does Jessie find a new normal again? Will David really stay? Does Frank ever get part of the farm?\n

[Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

WARNING: Spoiler



I felt the book started out well with the story of the lady who'd always been the one to take care of everyone and everything and her loss of faith when she's no longer able to be that person. There are back stories involving others in the small town dealing with changes, loss of faith, etc. However, when this woman finds comfort in visits to a friend's unresponsive (comatose?) mother in the nursing/rehab home, it feels like it's building to a ta-da moment with a reason for a person to be a vegetable for months or years on end. It's so that another person with problems can use that person as a sounding board! The person they're talking to is obviously much worse off than the one providing a monologue and they can feel better about their own issues! I found the idea to be repugnant and ruined the book for me....I won't read this author again.

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't like this book nearly as much as the first two. I had a hard time believing the character of Anna. I don't think anyone is that stupid to spend that much time with someone(Steve and Jessie) and not think they were anything other than friends. I found that to be the most ridiculous story line. I don't think the author believes you can find true love after a spouse dies, because we have three widowed characters that the author doesn't allow to find love. I was especially puzzled by Virgina seeming to fall in love with August and then change her mind at the end of the book. Ridiculous! Also, the book doesn't seem finished. Too many loose ends, yet it was written in 2005 and no other book has been written in the series.

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third in a series of small town life in northern Minnesota, this one also chronicles successes and defeats. Virginia, the grandma, has a health problem. She has a stroke and discovers how much her life has changed. She has to deal with changing her identity from the helper to the one who is being helped. Meanwhile Peter is still trying to continue the relationship with his distant father. Her stories sound like the ones I experienced from my grandma who lived in a small town. Definitely not a boring place when you know the people and their backgrounds. Her characterization is excellent.

[Eclectic Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of [Aprons On a Clothesline:] hits very close to home. Without giving the plot away the major event that happens to Virginia Morgan affects not only her, but her family and friends as well. This is a great, thought provoking story that made me realize what my mother was feeling as she went through the same event as Virginia.

This was my first Christian fiction novel and I plan to put this genre on my long list of TBRs.

[Heidi L. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, it wasn't really as intriguing a read as some other books I've read. Sorry. The sisterhood and friendship between the women and the lessons learned through trials was good but the writing style didn't draw me in as much.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book better than the second. Product placement wasn't as overbearing and even though I thought the book was predictable, it wasn't! I was relieved about that. I feel that the stories of the Lake Emily characters are far from being told though...

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous book about life in a midwestern town. What are people's true feelings about family? How badly can a stroke affect the schedule of a family? Would you welcome back a prodigal son with unreal expectations? Read this.

[Courtney Wallace · Rating 2 out of 5]

I gave first 2 books in the series 3 stars, but this one wasn't quite as good. I think some of the characters started getting on my nerves by the last book. I felt like there were unanswered questions about some situations.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I couldn't stop reading them--I kept wanting to know what was going to happen in the lives of these characters! I will continue to read this series if there are more written. Darn it!

[Susan Abbott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like these books. They are not as pastoral as you might think when reading the flyleaf. I enjoy this author - and as you might imagine (Jenn) I plan to read all of her work!

[Lisa]

Lake Emily series / book three

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the series on these books and am going to miss Lake Emily.