Part of Elm Creek Quilts, book 21
First published 2019
Winter storms destroy the church hall just weeks before the Christmas Boutique, threatening the annual fundraiser that supports the county food pantry. Sylvia Bergstrom Compson steps forward with a solution. She opens Elm Creek Manor, her family estate that hosts the summer quilt camp, to rescue the holiday sale. The Elm Creek Quilters transform the manor's ballroom into a marketplace filled with handcrafted gifts and baked goods. They hang their most treasured holiday quilts throughout the halls. Each woman brings her own story to the preparations. Sarah faces her first Christmas as an expectant mother of twins while her husband travels for work. Agnes displays an appliqué quilt that recalls her days as a young bride and a mysterious antique that inspired her work. Gwen and Diane, empty nesters who sometimes clash, prepare for their children's homecoming while reflecting on family heirlooms and unfinished projects. The quilters pour their energy into making the boutique succeed, but their efforts alone may not guarantee the outcome they hope for.
Genres: fiction, christmas, family-life, contemporary, holiday
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, holiday-romance
Setting: Elm Creek Manor, Church Hall
Period: Christmas
291 pages · Hardcover · William Morrow