Part of Elm Creek Quilts, book 16
First published 2010
Bonnie Markham watches another season of Elm Creek Quilt Camp end as her world crumbles around her. Her quilt shop has failed, her divorce papers wait for signatures, and winter stretches ahead like an empty room. Then Claire, her old college friend, calls with an unexpected lifeline. Come to Maui, Claire says. Help me start a quilting retreat at my new bed and breakfast. Bonnie trades Pennsylvania snow for Hawaiian sun, banyan trees, and the intricate art of island quilting. She throws herself into planning courses and learning traditional patterns while Claire manages the inn. But her cheating husband refuses to let go quietly. He wants her share of Elm Creek Quilts, threatening both her finances and her closest friendships back home. Between legal battles, Bonnie discovers the challenge of creating her own Hawaiian quilt design. She meets Hinano Paoa, who owns the local music shop and opens doors to island culture Bonnie never knew existed. As trade winds carry the scent of plumeria and her hands learn new stitching techniques, Bonnie realizes that sometimes the best discoveries happen when you stop looking for them.
Genres: fiction, romance, contemporary
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, second-chance
Setting: Elm Creek, Maui, Pennsylvania
Period: Contemporary
324 pages · Hardcover · Simon & Schuster