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Dr. Chance Meyers, a widower with two teenagers, decides to convert his wife's sewing room into an office where Ashley and Daniel can do their homework. He doesn't know what to do with the great amount of quilting fabric his wife left behind, though, since his daughter Ashley isn't interested. He decides to offer it to a fabric store.
Mary Grace Caster, owner of The Quilting Hoop, is a Christian with a wild past. She wants to save others from the pain she experienced from wrong decisions. Her young friend, Chrissy, is a single mother with an abusive boyfriend. In spite of Mary Grace's warnings, Chrissy still clings to her lifestyle of drinking and partying.
As Mary Grace and Chance develop a relationship, Mary Grace learns that Ashley is angry, rebellious, and acts out in destructive ways, including sneaking out of the house at night. With much prayer, Mary Grace walks the fine line between helpfulness and interference. She is a "fixer" who finally learns that she can't do it all, but must rely on God to work in her friends' lives.
I enjoyed reading this book and believe that it will be well-received by the young adult audience. It is well-written and the characters, especially Mary Grace, are portrayed convincingly. I felt connected to Mary Grace and wanted to see her succeed in her rescue efforts, although there were times when I felt like saying, "No, Mary Grace, keep out of it." My one criticism of the book is that Chance's turn-around from being overprotective and controlling to becoming understanding and accepting seemed a little quick—and hard to believe—to me. I would like to have seen more of his struggle from his point of view. I look forward to seeing more of Brandt's work.
Reviewed by Marie DisBrow
for The Road to Romance
April 19, 2004
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