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dunnadam's review
3.0
I love the author's Myrtle Clover stories and I had tried to read this one before and failed. I got through it this time, there were elements I liked. The small town South, Miss Sissy. Overall I thought it was just okay, middle of the road. I didn't like Beatrice as much as Myrtle, I don't know or care much about quilting and you kind of have to in order to continue the series. So middle of the road for me.
ewil6681's review
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
git_r_read's review
5.0
I wasn't sure how much I was going to enjoy this book when I first met the main character, Beatrice. She is an older woman, retired from her career as a folk art museum curator, moved to a small town to be closer to her daughter. She liked her alone time and was a little standoffish when her neighbors came to call and interrupted her retirement solitude.
I then realized how much she was like me. Not in all things...I am not retired nor as older as Beatrice, but I could see myself in other aspects...I love my solitude and get a bit cranky when someone interrupts...but I do love it when I come out of my shell and someone helps me out by pushing me along.
So after that realization, I got over myself and I became enamored of the story, the characters and the mystery.
The victim was truly horrid and I could see why someone or everyone would want her gone. No one deserves murder, but can see how it occurred and how the different suspects were viable.
I enjoyed this so much, I pretty much immediately hit the bookstore and bought the next in the series, KNOT WHAT IT SEEMS.
Highly enjoyable!!
I then realized how much she was like me. Not in all things...I am not retired nor as older as Beatrice, but I could see myself in other aspects...I love my solitude and get a bit cranky when someone interrupts...but I do love it when I come out of my shell and someone helps me out by pushing me along.
So after that realization, I got over myself and I became enamored of the story, the characters and the mystery.
The victim was truly horrid and I could see why someone or everyone would want her gone. No one deserves murder, but can see how it occurred and how the different suspects were viable.
I enjoyed this so much, I pretty much immediately hit the bookstore and bought the next in the series, KNOT WHAT IT SEEMS.
Highly enjoyable!!
kimscozyreads's review
3.0
2.5
The cover is 5 stars and I love the corgi, but some of the characters in this one stretch what I'd consider to be reasonable behavior.
It's also weird seeing a hippie married to a dim witted cop.
I really liked the MC though, and the way it was written kept me flipping pages. I think a quilting guild is an interesting foundation for a cozy, and I love that it comes with quilting tips AND recipes!
I have 2 more from the series on my shelf already and in spite of the issues I see, I still can't wait to get to them.
The cover is 5 stars and I love the corgi, but some of the characters in this one stretch what I'd consider to be reasonable behavior.
It's also weird seeing a hippie married to a dim witted cop.
I really liked the MC though, and the way it was written kept me flipping pages. I think a quilting guild is an interesting foundation for a cozy, and I love that it comes with quilting tips AND recipes!
I have 2 more from the series on my shelf already and in spite of the issues I see, I still can't wait to get to them.
plaidpladd's review
2.0
I like quilting, but I can only suspend my disbelief so far. Everyone in this town is completely obsessed with it
peacefrog's review
3.0
A slightly different spin on your typical cozy. The first in the series did keep me guessing until the end. Still not sold on the supporting characters. I feel my blood pressure rise every time Meadow appears.
dollycas's review
4.0
Beatrice Coleman has retired and moved to Dappled Hills, North Carolina to be close to her daughter. She had worked as a folk art curator and knows everything there is to know about valuing and displaying quilts. But she has never made a quilt herself and never really planned on ever making one.
Quilting is a big thing in Dappled Hills, in fact Beatrice's new home is right next to the Village Quilters guild president Meadow Downey. Meadow insists Beatrice join the guild. She doesn't even have time to get settled before Meadow is dragging her to a guild meeting. It is there that she meets Posy, the owner of Posy's Patchwork Cottage and learns about Judith, the landlord everyone loves to hate. She wants to raise Posy's rent and if Posy does want to pay she will just find a new tenant.
When Judith is found dead there certainly isn't a shortage of suspects. Beatrice may be able to use her fine attention to detail to help figure out who killed Judith. Hopefully before someone else gets pinned permanently.
Dollycas Thoughts
Quilters are passionate people, extremely passionate about quilting and they want to share their joys with everyone. I know because before my accident I was a very passionate quilter. I loved going shopping for fabric. I love the smell of a fabric store and rubbing the material between my fingers. Finding the perfect combination of fabrics and deciding on the pattern. The creative part, the construction, the quilting and completing the project can give you a personal high. It's addictive. I understand completely.
That's why I actually felt sorry for Beatrice. She was ambushed by a group of crazy quilters who expected just because she knew about quilts she would want to make not just one but many quilts. They pushed and pushed, trying to get her to be just like them. They expected her to make a block for a group quilt when she had never picked up a needle. They thought she would be bored unless she was involved in everything happening around town. I found myself really not liking these characters through most of the story. I wanted to jump into the pages and defend Beatrice. Slow down, she hasn't even finished unpacking.
As the story evolved there was one character that saved the entire story for me. Yes, she is quirky, opinionated and she will definitely keep you guessing whether she is all there or not, but circumstances threw her and Beatrice together and she took the time to get to know Beatrice and let Beatrice do things in her own time frame.
The who-dun-it played out really well as Beatrice used her analytical skills to see things in strangers that long time residents completely missed. It's always those little things that trip a criminal up. Beatrice was on the spot to blow the whistle on the murderer.
I am looking forward to the next book in the series and getting to know the characters and Dappled Hills better. Hopefully Beatrice will be more settled before the next tragedy strikes and she has had a little time to adjust to her new life. Dappled Hills may be small but with this cast of characters I am sure it will never be boring.
Quilting is a big thing in Dappled Hills, in fact Beatrice's new home is right next to the Village Quilters guild president Meadow Downey. Meadow insists Beatrice join the guild. She doesn't even have time to get settled before Meadow is dragging her to a guild meeting. It is there that she meets Posy, the owner of Posy's Patchwork Cottage and learns about Judith, the landlord everyone loves to hate. She wants to raise Posy's rent and if Posy does want to pay she will just find a new tenant.
When Judith is found dead there certainly isn't a shortage of suspects. Beatrice may be able to use her fine attention to detail to help figure out who killed Judith. Hopefully before someone else gets pinned permanently.
Dollycas Thoughts
Quilters are passionate people, extremely passionate about quilting and they want to share their joys with everyone. I know because before my accident I was a very passionate quilter. I loved going shopping for fabric. I love the smell of a fabric store and rubbing the material between my fingers. Finding the perfect combination of fabrics and deciding on the pattern. The creative part, the construction, the quilting and completing the project can give you a personal high. It's addictive. I understand completely.
That's why I actually felt sorry for Beatrice. She was ambushed by a group of crazy quilters who expected just because she knew about quilts she would want to make not just one but many quilts. They pushed and pushed, trying to get her to be just like them. They expected her to make a block for a group quilt when she had never picked up a needle. They thought she would be bored unless she was involved in everything happening around town. I found myself really not liking these characters through most of the story. I wanted to jump into the pages and defend Beatrice. Slow down, she hasn't even finished unpacking.
As the story evolved there was one character that saved the entire story for me. Yes, she is quirky, opinionated and she will definitely keep you guessing whether she is all there or not, but circumstances threw her and Beatrice together and she took the time to get to know Beatrice and let Beatrice do things in her own time frame.
The who-dun-it played out really well as Beatrice used her analytical skills to see things in strangers that long time residents completely missed. It's always those little things that trip a criminal up. Beatrice was on the spot to blow the whistle on the murderer.
I am looking forward to the next book in the series and getting to know the characters and Dappled Hills better. Hopefully Beatrice will be more settled before the next tragedy strikes and she has had a little time to adjust to her new life. Dappled Hills may be small but with this cast of characters I am sure it will never be boring.
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