Guest Review of Carla Olson Gade's Pattern for Romance by Teresa S. Mathews

Pattern for Romance by Carla Olson Gade

Pattern for Romance; Quilts of Love Series  

by Carla Olson Gade

Publisher; Abingdon Press

Reviewed by Teresa S. Mathews 

A Very Sweet Romance.

Carla Olson Gade has crafted a beautiful story set in Boston, Massachusetts in 1769. Amid the beginnings of murmurs and complaints of the tightfisted British rule of the colonies we are introduced to a courageous young woman, Honour Metcalf.

After their parents and siblings were killed during a pirate attack on their ship, Honour and her younger sister Temperance lose everything and are left orphans. The one possession Honour misses the most is the beautiful white quilt she and her mother were working on before that fateful day. Arriving in Boston, Honour finds employment at Wadsworth Mantua Shop as a quilter. Having been taught by her mother, Honour became quite adept at quilting. 

One afternoon when Honour is headed to pick up Tempe from school, she is caught in a horrific hailstorm. Just as she is about to succumb to the hail fiercely pounding on her head she is rescued by Joshua Sutton son of the local tailor and rushed into a nearby church. During the short time they spend together before Honour passes out from her injuries, Joshua's heart is touched and intrigued by this beautiful, young woman.

One mishap after another seems to follow this dear sweet girl, and each time she handles it with grace and each time it seems Joshua is right there to rescue her.  Just when Honour starts to fall for Joshua she sees a man who she believes to be him in an alley with his former fiancé proclaiming his love her even though she is now a married woman. Will she figure out the mystery behind that encounter? Imagine Honour's horror when that same woman shows up later with a request for Honour to finish the work on a beautiful wedding quilt that turns out to be the very beloved quilt that she thought was lost at sea! Will Honour be able to keep the secret that the quilt was hers? 

I enjoyed this story immensely, the characters found their way into my heart. Especially Honour's younger sister Tempe, she is a delightful child. The story line was great with some surprising twists and turns, of course the exciting ending was superb! Great job Ms. Gade!! 

This book can be found at DeeperShopping, Amazon, CBD and other stores.

Bio: Teresa S. Mathews is a poet and also a reviewer on Overcoming With God, an international group blog. She home schooled her two sons, who are now both attending college. 

GIVEAWAY: We are giving away one copy of this wonderful book. Winners choice of Paperback or E-book, International Winners E-book Only. All you have to do to be entered is make sure to leave your email address in case you are the winner. If you would like to  subscribe to Carla's newsletter here; Carla Olson Gade's Newsletter you will get five (5) extra entries. Please put "NEWSLETTER" in your comments to let me know you subscribed. 

Colonial Fiction Tea Party for August Releases - Debut for LORI BENTON, New Novel for CARLA GADE!!!

Celebrating Lori Benton's Debut Novel and
Carla Olson Gade's first colonial novel!

Town crier at Old Fort Western.
Jim Phelan, Kennebec Journal.

 We are holding our virtual celebration at Old Fort Western in Augusta, Maine.

Please have a seat in the parlour of the great house and partake of some liberty tea.

And now, our featured books and authors!

Burning Sky by Lori Benton

The 18th century New York frontier bred courage in those who survived its perils. Willa Obenchain has courage to spare. Returning to her white parents' abandoned homestead after twelve years of Indian captivity, Willa believes a solitary life is the only way she'll never lose again what's twice been lost: her family, and her heart. As she begins the backbreaking work of reviving her farm, Willa's determined isolation is threatened. First by injured botanist Neil MacGregor, found unconscious on her land, and also by her Mohawk clan brother Joseph Tames-His-Horse, a man who cannot give up the woman he calls Burning Sky. Willa is a woman caught between two worlds and the residents of the nearby frontier village, still reeling from a bloody revolutionary war, are reluctant to welcome her home. As tensions rise, challenging her shielded heart, Willa must find a new courage--the courage to again risk embracing the blessings the Almighty wants to bestow, and answer the question, "am I brave enough to love again?" 

A note from Lori:

I have a tendency to write from the point of view of characters who hail from cultures, backgrounds, nationalities and races other than my own. I’m not Mohawk, or Scottish, or a botanist, slave, warrior, farmer, mother or man, yet to tell the story of Burning Sky I had to get inside the hearts and minds of each of these sorts of people—these sorts of people who lived over two hundred years ago. It’s a good thing God granted us empathy, imagination, and the ability to educate ourselves about what we don’t know, or haven’t directly experienced. In my case, I relied on primary sources (journals and letters of the time), dozens of secondary sources by historians, and people I know who’ve lived some of those experiences and have insights I lacked. Being tenacious in research is a challenge. It’s also one of the joys of writing historical fiction. The more I discover about the fascinating 18^th century, the more I’m convinced there are stories enough left to tell to keep me busy for decades to come. Read the first two chapters of Burning Sky, visit the book’s Pinterest Board, listen to a podcast interview about the story, and more at my website. 


Lori is giving away a copy of Burning Sky and, inspired by character Neil MacGregor (physician, botanist, and member of the American Philosophical Society), a set of Nature’s Pharmacy Deck, History and Uses of 50 Healing Plants from The New York Botanical Gardens (both to one commenter).

Pattern for Romance by Carla Olson Gade

Honour Metcalf’s quilting needlework is admired by a wealthy customer of the Boston Mantua-maker for whom she works. In need of increasing her earnings, she agrees to create an elaborate white work bridal quilt for the dowager’s niece. A beautiful design emerges as she carefully stitches the intricate patterns and she begins to dream of fashioning a wedding quilt of her own.

When Honour is falsely accused of thievery and finds herself in a perilous position, merchant tailor Joshua Sutton comes to her aid. As he risks his relationships, reputation, and livelihood to prove her innocence, the two discover a grander plan. 

A note from Carla:

A few years ago, when I visited CACW/Colonial Quills founder, Carrie Fancett Pagels, I was waiting to hear back on my submission for Pattern for Romance. I enjoyed a fantastic trip to Colonial Williamsburg where I saw some quilts, similar to the ones featured in my novel and learned about the trades of mantua-making and tailoring. How exciting it was to come home and learn I had a contract for this novel in Abingdon's Quilts of Love series. The colonial setting is the earliest of all the Quilts of Love books as is the whole-cloth quilt I featured which I based on an extant 18th century New England quilt. I lived near Boston most of my life and worked there, too, so it was a pleasure writing about this historic setting. You can learn more about my research at carlagade.com and Pinterest story board. 

Carla is giving away a copy of Pattern for Romance along with a thimble such as the tailors and mantua-makers from my novel would have used in colonial times.

Giveaways:  Please leave a comment responding to the question below along with your email address to be eligible for our giveaways of Lori's book "Burning Sky" and beautiful Nature's Pharmacy deck or Carla's book "A Pattern for Romance" and thimble. We're also giving away a package of heritage loose tea from Colonial Williamsburg so one lucky reader can brew a cuppa ye olde fashioned way! (USA winners only this time!)


If you could go back in time and relive one historical moment (famously documented or not) during the 18^th century Colonial, Revolutionary, or Early Federal period, what would it be? And if you’d like to, please tell us why. 

Rebecca DeMorina's Review of Jennifer Hudson Taylor's "Path of Freedom"

Path of Freedom by Jennifer Hudson Taylor

PATH OF FREEDOM, by Jennifer Hudson Taylor

Abingdon Press, 2013

Reviewed by, Rebecca DeMarino

5 Stars!*****

INTRIGUING LOVE STORY

When Bruce Millikan returns home, memories of childhood taunts invade Flora Saferight’s thoughts as guilt over her lack of forgiveness leads her to prefer to avoid him. But when circumstance leads them on a journey together, they are forced to examine who they were and who they’ve grown to be. As I began the novel, I had to smile because my mother always told me (and I shared the same with my three daughters), it’s the boys who tug at your pigtails that will be the ones that someday tug at your heart.

PATH OF FREEDOM is a captivating tale of romance, set in the South during the period of the Underground Railroad. I love reading historical romance and losing myself in a love story with interesting tidbits of history woven in, and Jennifer Hudson Taylor delivered on both! I enjoyed learning about the role the Quaker people played in providing safe houses and transportation to slaves seeking freedom, and felt immersed in that time period and with Flora, Bruce, and the people they cared about.

Ms. Taylor doesn’t dodge any issues and her thoughtful prose on love, truth and forgiveness gave me not only an enjoyable read, but time well spent! PATH OF FREEDOM is part of the Quilts of Love Series and I loved the story thread of the quilt in her novel. I look forward to reading more from this author!

Giveaway: Jennifer is giving away a copy of "Path of Freedom" to one commenter.  "Like" Jennifer's Facebook page and put JHT on your comment to count twice!  

Thanks, Rebecca, our new CQ contributor. This is Rebecca's first post on CQ!   

Purchase and download Path of Freedom!

Tea Party Book Launch for Rita Gerlach and "Beside Two Rivers"

Beside Two Rivers

Welcome to our Colonial Quills party today, held in honor of author Rita Gerlach and her just-released book, Beside Two Rivers, second in the three-part Daughters of the Potomac series.

Rita Gerlach

BESIDE TWO RIVERS 

Book 2 in the ‘Daughters of the Potomac Series’ published by Abingdon Press, October 2012.

From the banks of the Potomac to the misty moors of England comes a tale of love won and love lost, and the faith to find it again.

Vaguely can Darcy Morgan recall the day her father returned home from fighting in the American Revolution.  When he discovers his unfaithful wife had borne a child in his absence, the marriage is broken, and Darcy’s quiet childhood along the two rivers was changed forever. 

She grows up believing her mother is dead and that her father journeyed west to the lands beyond the Blue Ridge. Her indulging Uncle Will, excitable Aunt Mari, and her five female cousins, cannot shield her from thinking of the mother she loved and the father she barely knew, nor can she escape the fleeting images in her memory of the babe Ilene and Ilene’s surrogate mother, Sarah, or the grandmotherly servant, Fiona Goodall.

Before the Scarlet Dawn

In this dramatic saga that began with 'Before the Scarlet Dawn', Darcy seeks to unravel a lifetime of memories unaware that the young Englishman who loves her holds the answers. Her search takes her far from her beloved home along the Potomac, to a manor house in faraway England. Soon the secrets of the past slowly rise to the surface. 

Will she be reunited with the most important people in her life? Will Hayward and Eliza find peace and reconciliation? Will Darcy's faith sustain her to make the difficult choices, and will the love she and Ethan share endure?

Beyond the Valley

Rita's next book in the series is "Beyond the Valley" all three books published by Abingdon Press.

("photo-shopped" picture of Rita Gerlach as our hostess today on CQ courtesy of  Face in Hole.com)


So glad you could all come to discuss my latest book and various and sundry other topics! Please feel welcome to enjoy a cup of tea brewed to your liking, hot apple cider or coffee and fresh blueberry scones, chocolate cake, lemon squares and other lovely desserts offered up by many of our guests. Thanks to you all!  

Enjoy our repast as we dine al fresco with our lovely hostess, Mistress Rita, overlooking the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers near the historic Hilltop Inn of West Virginia. 

*  *  * 

From Rita:  These books are not your typical formula romances. You will find romance, but you will also find stories about relationships between people. The stories are about forgiveness, redemption, loyalty, and the power of love. Each character has good points, but they are also flawed human beings that make mistakes and fall hard, and at some point struggle through the adversity, dust themselves off and move on. So the sugary sweet romances they are not. My agent called my writing 'romances with more meat on the bones'.


Read 'Evolution of a Novel Series', the story of how the Daughters of the Potomac Series came about.  http://ritagerlach.blogspot.com/p/evolution-of-novel-series.html

One reader that posts a comment with their email address, will win a copy of one of Rita's books. Paperbacks will be signed. (Format of your choice) You can preview them on her website at http://ritagerlach.blogspot.com/ 

In paperback:
Surrender the Wind (Colonial Romance)
Before the Scarlet Dawn (book 1, Daughters of the Potomac)
Beside Two Rivers (book 2, Daughters of the Potomac)

Only in Kindle:
The Rebel's Pledge (Colonial Romance) 

Book Launch Tea Party - Kelly Long, Jennifer Hudson Taylor and Debut Author Carla Gade

Welcome to our Colonial Tea and Book Launch for Kelly Long's Amish Colonial Arms of Love!!!


We are discussing MULTI-Culturalism in Colonial America. Kelly has Dutch/German Amish and Carla's hero is Navajo-English while her heroine is half-Jewish from Germany. Jennifer's characters are Quakers.

This is Colonial American Christian Writers member and Colonial Quills' Webmaster, Carla Gade's debut.  She is contracted for two more colonials - one with Barbour in October 2012 and the other with Abingdon in 2013(see the link on CBD.)  Although this debut book is not colonial fiction, Carla does have one coming out soon.  CONGRATULATIONS, Carla!!!

Jennifer Hudson Taylor is giving away a copy of "The Quakers of New Garden" her new release April 2012, a collection of four novellas in one.

Join four Quaker women on a journey through the trials of faith and love. Ruth Payne’s bridegroom has cold feet. . .for the second time. Will their third try be the charm? Things get complicated for Underground Railroad worker Deborah Wall when she meets a bounty hunter head-on. Will love have them seeing eye-to-eye? Leah hopes to turn a marriage of convenience into a marriage of love. But will letters be a firm enough foundation? Christian Jaidon Taylor wants to win the heart of Quaker Catherine Wall. But will religion make them as incompatible as night and day?

Kelly Long is giving away some Amish treats!  CQ is also giving away a copy of her new release.


Carla Gade is giving away a paperback copy of her debut book "The Shadow Catcher's Daughter" which released through Heartsong Presents, though their book club in 2012.


We also have a colonial doll giveaway from Carrie Fancett Pagels.

We have Whoopie pie cookies and spiced hot tea, as well as coffee, hot chocolate, and other foods our visitors bring from different story world countries!


Please leave a comment and your email address for a chance to win.

Tea Party for Washington's Birthday & Book Launch - Before the Scarlet Dawn

In honor of Rita Gerlach's new release, Before the Scarlet Dawn we are having a book launch. And we are doing it at George Washington's 280th birthday tea party, served by his wife, Martha.

Pull up a chair, specify your tea preference, and have a slice of Martha's cherry pye, George's favorite, and we'll introduce ourselves.  You do the same!

Click here for our colonial cherry pie recipe!

GIVEAWAYS: For the young or the young-at-heat we have a large bag of revolutionary war soldiers!  A copy of Rita's new book.  And a few other colonial goodies, one being a finger vase from Berkeley Plantation that looks quite similar to the one below.

Colonial American Christian Fiction: Rita Gerlach's Before the Scarlet Dawn

Before the Scarlet Dawn 

by Rita Gerlach

(Abingdon Press, 2012)

5 stars *****




Guest Reviewer: Diana L. Flowers

Colonial Fiction At Its Finest!

In Before the Scarlet Dawn (available through Christian Book Distributors), Rita Gerlach has penned an emotionally gripping saga of the harsh realities of Colonial life; replete with the constant threat of Indians, terrifying blizzards, ravages of war, forbidden passion, and sin.

The beautiful and spirited Eliza Bloome of England, finds herself alone save for her servant and lifelong friend, Fiona, after the death of her father. Told she must vacate her home quickly, Eliza comes up with a daring plan...to become the wife of the wealthy Hayward Morgan and travel to the colonies with him. Eliza has been in love with the handsome Hayward since childhood, but he makes it clear to her that he does not return her affections, and that she is beneath his station in life. After a stinging rejection, however, from the lady Hayward has proposed to, he agrees to Eliza's plan, and together, with Fiona, they travel to the colonies.

Eliza falls in love with the beautiful Maryland, but is not prepared for the harshness of colonial life, and the isolation and loneliness that comes after Hayward goes to fight for the Patriot cause. Together, she and Fiona, fight for survival in this savage, but beautiful land, and when Hayward doesn't return for two long, lonely years, she must also fight off temptations of the flesh. Her handsome neighbor, Halston, makes it no secret as to his feelings towards the beautiful Eliza. Is her love and devotion to Hayward enough to withstand the temptation of a man who, unlike Hayward, is not afraid to declare his love for her? Will Hayward return from the war or become a casualty like so many others before him?

One of my favorite things about Rita Gerlach's novels is her use of imagery which is second to none, and I could actually see the beauty of the Potomac River, the green fields and lush forests, and smell the honeysuckle in the air. This story was heartbreakingly realistic as well, with the devastation of war, and characters who were not infallable, and filled with sin and selfishness. With as many twists and turns as the Potomac, and a VERY unexpected conclusion, I found myself not wanting to let go of this story even after I was done reading. I simply cannot wait for the next book in this series, and next time I will have the tissues handy! Very nicely done, Rita Gerlach!

* I received an ARC of this novel and was not required to write a positive review! The opinions expressed are solely my own.


Guest Reviewer's Bio: Diana L. Flowers is the Senior Reviewer on Overcoming Through Time - With God's Help. She is a mother and grandmother and loves to read Christian historical fiction!


Before the Scarlet Dawn is also available through Amazon.
Information for other reviewers is available at the "Daughters of the Potomac" series website, including a download of the first chapter of "Before the Scarlet Dawn".


GIVEAWAY:  Leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of Rita Gerlach's new release!

Interview with Jennifer Hudson Taylor

Jennifer Hudson Taylor is a member of Colonial American Christian Writers and a contributor on Colonial Quills.  She has just released her newest book - Highland Sanctuary.

Published by: Abingdon Press

Date: Oct 2011

Jennifer Hudson Taylor is also the author of Highland Blessings (Abingdon Press, 2010).  Her website is http://www.jenniferhudsontaylor.com

Jennifer, what got you interested in the colonial time period?

I grew up in Greensboro, North Carolina where one of the great battles of the Revolutionary War occurred between the British and the colonials. (http://www.nps.gov/guco/index.htm) As a result, my hometown is actually named after the colonial General in that battle, Nathanael Greene who fought Lord Cornwallis. For as long as I can remember, my dad took us out to the Guilford Battleground Park for their annual re-enactments. Imagine my excitement when as an adult I began researching my family history and discovered we had ancestors who fought in the Revolutionary War, as well as Quaker ancestors who lived right there where they were fighting on their land and they cared for both the British and the colonials and buried them together. Yes, there will be another story from my family history coming—I can feel it!

When my dad talked about the history of our country, his voice was so animated it became contagious for me. He spoke about it in a way that brought patriotism to my heart and a spirit of pride for my country and how much our ancestors must of sacrificed for us to have what we have today. I’m very grateful to my dad for that.

You have some upcoming releases set during colonial times, besides this new release set in the 15^th century. Can you tell us about them?

I have some colonial works coming out -  a novella entitled “Highland Crossings” in the spring and another 3-book series I’m working on which won’t release until 2013.

Note: Jennifer is also an author in this 19th century Spring 2012 release:

Do you have a favorite colonial place you like to visit and why?

Yes, so many! In my home state of North Carolina, I love to visit Old Salem, (www.oldsalem.org) the Moravian colonial village that is a living re-enactment year round. My favorite time of the year to visit is in the fall when all the leaves are changing and they have lots of activities going on. I enjoy their colonial shops, museums, their tavern, their book store, and especially their bakery, which still bakes things in their old-fashioned colonial oven. You can watch them do this and buy what they make. Everything tastes so good, their breads, cookies, cakes. Their tavern has excellent food as well.


What other colonial places are there in your state?

I live in North Carolina so as one of the original 13 colonies, our state abounds in colonial history. In addition to Old Salem and Guilford Battleground Park, we have New Bern with the Tryon Palace in New Bern, the first capital of our state and where the governor lived. (http://www.newbern.com/tryon/)  We have several surviving plantations. If you’re interested in some of these plantations, I’ve written about them here: http://jenniferswriting.blogspot.com/p/historical-research-tidbits.html

Giveaway: Leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of Jennifer’s new release Highland Sanctuary, which I am reading and really enjoying!  You can choose Kindle or paperback.