Apart at the Seams (Cobbled Court Quilts)
Bostwick (Between Heaven and Texas, 2013) returns to the idyllic town of New Bern, Connecticut, in the sixth installment in her Cobbled Court Quilts series. Middle-aged Gayla has fled her floundering marriage so she can figure out how to start over. A chance encounter brings Gayla to the local quilting circle, where she meets single-mom Ivy, who has just learned that her abusive ex-husband is about to be released from prison. Inspired by Gayla, the women of the quilting circle decide to spend the summer doing things they’ve always wanted to do but have never been brave enough to try. They also open their hearts to love. Bostwick handles serious issues, such as domestic violence, marital infidelity, and toxic friendships, with care. She doesn’t just put her characters through the wringer, she dramatizes the way they overcome adversity. Readers will identify with Gayla and Ivy, and though the ending is happy, it does affirm that there’s always room for growth. Fans of inspirational and feel-good women’s fiction will enjoy Bostwick’s latest and the entire series. --Nanette Donohue