I received a free ARC from NetGalley for my honest review. I have read all of the books in the Elm Creek Quilt series. It was like taking a trip home to celebrate Christmas with friends after so many years. It can be read as a stand alone novel, however it does help to have background knowledge of each character. The author does provide some information about each character to refresh memories. I enjoy Christmas stories and have a collection from many authors. Indulge yourself and escape back to Elm Creek this holiday season..

I love these type of books. There is something that is magical about Christmastime and this is no exception. The Christmas Boutique is heartwarming and definitely a feel-good book! I highly recommend reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for this ARC.

Another wonderful story of Christmas miracles and friendship. Enemies find they have nothing to fight about as they all work together to make the Christmas Boutique fundraiser a success. A heartwarming story woven with the patterns of quilts and friendship.

ARC provided by NetGalley. I love these characters, the settings, and the stories, but I was a bit disappointed that so much of the story was reminding readers of previous plot lines! Other than that, so fun to be back at Elm Creek Manor...and at Christmastime, no less!

Jennifer Chiaverini has returned to Elm Creek Manor and its talented quilters for her newest novel, THE CHRISTMAS BOUTIQUE. For those of us who devoured the lengthy series, many favorite characters have returned -- Sylvia, Andrew, Agnes, and more-- as they undertake a last minute need to hold the town's holiday boutique at the manor. As everyone hurries to make things ready for the event, readers learn of new hopes, past grudges, and on-going mistakes all connected by a love of quilts and the art of making them. Chiaverini skillfully intertwines headaches, heartaches, and heart warming in an easy to read Christmas tale. Each year I try to read a Christmas novel during the season. Sometimes I am treated to a gem. Often the books, even if written by successful authors, fall short. THE CHRISTMAS BOUTIQUE did not disappoint. I received an ecopy of this novel from Netgalley. All opinions are mine


NOTE: Reviews have been made on both Amazon and BN but I do not have live links yet.

I love this series, so there's no way I was going to skip this one. However, it's a bit difficult to write a positive/glowing review. All the usual elements from an Elm Creek Quilts book are here -- familiar characters, colorful backstories and sweet, touching moments. The focus is on some of the "minor" characters -- Gwen, Diane, Mary Beth -- not on Sylvia and the others who are the heart of ECQ. Some of the content is really just retelling of stories from previous books, so it is a "stand alone" for someone new to ECQ, but there's enough new information to keep faithful readers interested.

Is this the best of the bunch? No. Is there anything startling or new here? Not really. This one feels more like a Hallmark Christmas movie than anything else, but that's OK. For those looking for a Christmas book that doesn't involve Santa or a handsome prince, just close friends and family who try to avert a crisis in a small town, this is the book for you. I enjoyed it, but then again -- I'm a quilter and a fan.

I was so excited to see another book in the Elm Creek Quilts series, this is #21.
We go back to Elm Creek Manor and the town of Waterford in Pennsylvania.
Catching up with past characters between Thanksgiving and Christmas time.
I've missed reading about Sylvia and her quilting .
This reminds me a big fun get together that I really wish I could take part in at the manor especially during Christmas time.

Published October 1st 2019 by William Morrow.
I was given a complimentary copy. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

I'm a big fan of Jennifer Chiaverini and the Elm Creek Quilters novels, but this one did not grab me. There seemed to be very little that was new in The Christmas Boutique. For the most part, it was a rehashing of the backstories of the main characters. I still want to go to quilt camp at Elm Creek, though.

Not Chiaverini's best Elm Creek Quilters story. While we become intimately acquainted with several of the local quilters, I didn't always find the stories compelling. Several times, the same quilts were described more than once. I have enjoyed many of her books, and will continue to hope she will write more.

Book #21 in the Elm Creek Quilts series. This one takes place near the Christmas season as Sylvia Bergstrom Compson reminisces over the many Christmas seasons, as well as the ups and downs of her family, that have occurred at Elm Creek Manor. A spell of extreme cold weather, and the heat being turned off at the church which was to host the annual Christmas Boutique, lead to water leaks at the church, and the fellowship hall floor being ruined. The Waterford committee needs a new place to host their annual Christmas Boutique and they plead with Sylvia at Elm Creek Manor. Of course, she opens the Manor and the decorating commences. As the story progresses, each chapter is devoted to amajor character who has been involved in previous books.

It was a nice review of each character and their backstory as well as bringing us up to date on their lives. A nice read to return to Waterford and Elm Creek.

THE CHRISTMAS BOUTIQUE by Jennifer Chiaverini is the latest Elm Creek Quilts novel. If you are not aware of that series, do be sure to look for it, beginning with The Quilter's Apprentice, first published twenty years ago. And, if you already are familiar with the cozy, comforting tales centered on quilting, you probably have already added this newest title to your "to be read" list. Frankly, it is not the strongest in the series and seems a bit repetitive since it could function as a stand-alone and therefore has to share quite a bit of background on Sylvia Bergstrom and other quilters. The Christmas theme, though, adds an extra dose of "cheer" and fits well with the friendliness and charm of these stories. Chiaverini's many fans (new and old) will enjoy this novel and the time spent with the appealing characters.

The Christmas Boutique by Jennifer Chiaverini is the 21st An Elm Creek Quilts Novel. The Christmas Boutique can be read by those who are new to the series and those who have read each and every book. During the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, we get to catch up with Sylvia, Sarah, Gwen, Diane, Gretchen, Anna, and Mary Beth. Learn all you need to know about Sylvia and how she established the quilting camp with Sarah’s help. Find out how Gretchen and Joe came to live at Elm Creek Manor and why Matt McClure is currently away. Mary Beth Callahan and Diane Sonnenberg are neighbors with a contemptuous history. Mary Beth dearly regrets a terrible incident and how it affected her son. Diane wants to find out who turned off the heat in the church hall at the Good Shepherd Church which led to the pipes bursting and does a little investigating. Diane is the one quilter without a finished Christmas quilt to display at the Christmas Boutique and we get to find out why. There are beautiful quilt descriptions that will have you heading to your local fabric store to sign up for classes (or just drool over the fabrics). Anna is whipping up a feast that will have your mouth watering. While I enjoyed catching up with the Elm Creek Quilters, I would have preferred a completely new full-length story (instead of reminiscing with a little bit of story tossed in). I was so disappointed when the author quit writing this series and I was tickled when I saw a new Christmas story was coming out. The Christmas Boutique is well-written with developed characters and a gorgeous locale. I love how the quilters have become a family who are supportive of one other. It is wonderful how they quickly rallied to help such a good cause. My favorite phrase from The Christmas Boutique is “We must have faith that the Lord who loves us will not abandon us.” I hope that the author will keep writing new tales for this delightful series especially since we do not know the sex of Sarah’s twins. The Christmas Boutique is an upbeat Christmas story with gorgeous quilts, mouthwatering munchies, stacks of snow, faithful friends and Christmas conviviality.

The Christmas Boutique is the newest of the Elm Creek Quilts novels. It features all of the regular characters, plus a few of the new ones. The Elm Creek Quilters are preparing the manor for Christmas so there's a lot about cookies, quilting and tradition. The quilt guild in Waterford is putting on a Christmas Boutique to raise money for the local Food Pantry. Disaster strikes, someone turned the heat off when the meeting was over and the pipes burst during a heavy blizzard. Elm Creek Quilters to the rescue! Of course they will hold the boutique in the beautiful and spacious ballroom. The Quilters pull together to decorate and set up for the boutique. As each person searches their home for a Christmas-themed quilt to hang in the ballroom, they find themselves musing on the circumstances behind each quilt. Each chapter is from a different point of view, yet they all mesh to tell a great holiday story. Jennifer Chiaverini books are always entertaining and often inspirational. Add to that the bountiful Christmas spirit sprinkled throughout the story and you've got a great Christmas read. Its also a great story of family and friendship and doing the right thing that can be read any time by any one looking for a fun, entertaining book.

I was so excited to see this book, I loved this series, and a new book after all this time, awesome!
You will not be lost if you pick this one up for the first time, there is a lot of information offered from the past books to update you, but you will be missing out on some great addicting reads if you pass up the previous books.
We are back with some dear friends, and updated on the lives we have come to love, and now we are back at Elm Creek!
These characters come alive to me through this author, and I would love to go on a quilter’s retreat at the manor, and spend time with Sylvia, seeing as that is not possible, this is the next best thing!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher William Morrow, and was not required to give a positive review.

Days before Waterford's Christmas Boutique is scheduled to open, severe winter weather damages the church hall that was to host the fundraiser. So it won't be cancelled, Sylvia offers to host the event at Elm Creek Manor, and she and the rest of the Elm Creek Quilters pitch in to set up booths for the sale and decorate the Manor in a unique way – with quilts that have been made by the members of the group.

It has been quite a few years since the last Elm Creek Quilters book, so I was excited to see a new installment of the series was being released. Maybe it was because of that long gap, but I found large portions of this book to be repetitious of some of the previous books in the series, telling stories that had already been told. Most of the book is told in flashbacks, with a section devoted to each of the Elm Creek Quilters and the story behind the quilt/s she selected to help decorate the Manor.

Thank goodness there were new stories in addition to the past history we have already read, or I would have been very disappointed by this book. I'm a sucker for feel-good stories set around Christmas time, and even though it's still a little early to be thinking about Christmas, this book hit the spot and was just what I needed on a day when I wasn't feeling well and couldn't focus on much of anything else. I hope there will be more books in this series, and that we won't have to wait another seven years for its release!

Reading Jennifer Chiaverini is like taking a breath of fresh air. Her books are filled with love and joy, and even when the characters do unsavory acts, she allows the light of redemption to shine through. This book, The Christmas Boutique, is no exception. A careless act in the town hall where the Christmas Boutique is normally held forces the planning committee to ask Elm Creek Manor to allow the boutique to take place there. The story is told from the point of view of several members of the town and the quilting community, and as each story unfolds, a new detail is discovered of the history of the manor, of the quilts being hung as decoration, and gives insight and meaning to the story being stitched together.

I don't know much about quilting, but the author's descriptions of quilting blocks, their meaning and history are an intriguing glance into a treasure trove of a beloved handcraft painstakingly passed down throughout American history. This is a feel-good book and a welcome break away from the fast pace life in our modern times.

I received an electronic ARC from Harper Collins Publishing through NetGalley.
The latest Chiaverini book about Elm Creek Manor and the quilters. Each chapter is told from a different character's perspective - Sylvia, Mary Beth, Gretchen, Sarah, Gwen, Diane - until the final chapter brings everyone together at the Christmas Boutique. Each woman shares her strengths and weaknesses as they move through the days leading up to the annual event. Readers see their joys, fears, sadness and inner pains as they cope with the situations in their lives. Most of the women interact and nurture each other. Even those who have been enemies in the past are striving to find ways to relate with each other (Mary Beth & Diane). Past hurts and griefs are mentioned and readers see where these women currently are. Quilting is the intertwining thread that connects all of the characters in this series of books. Chiaverini uses them as visuals and plot points throughout.
Even if you have not read the previous titles, you can follow this story and appreciate the strength in these women.

A welcome return to Elm Creek. Although it has been a while since a new book has been added to this series, the characters come to life again. while offering their services after a tragedy has struck the community church. Even those who can hardy thread a needle will enjoy this book and just maybe get the urge to try quilting!

I’m sorry, but I read almost half of this book before I just could not continue. Normally I enjoy Christmas stories but this one just never grabbed my interest. Maybe not enough conflict? Seemed boring to me.

The Christmas Boutique is a feel good book about how friends and family can come together for the good of the community. Jennifer Chiaverini delves into problems that friends and family may have and how they solve them. Uplifting and positive.