Member Reviews
Sawyer has a way with setting g and voice that makes a novel.come alive. A passionate love of the past is made evident in her beautiful prose. A pleasure to read.
The Tapestry of Grace is an inspirational tale by Kim Vogel Sawyer. The characters, plot, and dialogue are all excellent. The rich historical background is well-researched. This 5 out 5 star read is revealed through the alternating viewpoints of the major characters, which is handled with the use of appropriate chapter headers. The Tapestry of Grace is a tale of faith, friendship, and family from an author I always consider a must-read. I throughly enjoyed this novel and highly recommend it to anyone looking for an inspirational Christian romance.
My thanks to WaterBrook & Multnomah and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.
I really enjoyed this story. A women's community group wants to take on helping widows and orphans. However, they want to do it on their own instead of listening to God's guidance. What will be the outcome?
Wow. I just binge read the entire book and it was incredible. I read and review books for fun and enjoyment. Anything from the lighthearted romance to serious suspense. Yet sometimes you find these deep, thought provoking books that challenge you. This is one of those books. Yes, it is a historical fiction book with romance, but it is soo much deeper than just the romance. It challenges one to look at their motives, it shows how we can deal with loss and disappointments, and it shows redemption and healing. It seriously is that great of a book. Perhaps historical fiction or romance isn’t your preferred genre, try this one anyway. I give it 5 out of 5 stars.
I was given a copy of this book & all options expressed are entirely my own.
A most enjoyable read. Such a beautiful tale of grace. Loved all the characters and the lessons they learn along the way.
A beautiful story woven together with tragedy, loss and perseverance! The reader is sure to fall in love with the characters especially the young children!
Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.
Tapestry of Grace is a sweet story about a widow and widower who are friends and are trying to help each other, I enjoy reading books set in the early American days, when things were a bit simpler, yet hard at the same time. Sawyer creates a great little town of quirky characters and two beautiful stories of hope. If you enjoy books along the Little House on the Prairie era, you'll want to read this book. I received a copy of from Netgalley. Opinions are my own.
THE TAPESTRY OF GRACE by KIM VOGEL SAWYER is a beautifully written historical romance novel with a great Christian message on grace, restoration of relationships and sacrificial love, based on Hebrews 4:16, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” and Romans 8:28 that says that God can bring good out of all things.
The story takes place in Alexandertol, Kansas, in 1895 with Martina Krahn starting a Frauenverein to help needy members in their Mennonite community. She soon develops an ulterior motive, hoping to draw her husband out of his misery. Augusta Dyck, a widowed school teacher, starts off on the wrong foot when she tells widower, Konrad Rempel, that he needs help with his twin sons, Volker and Walden. He eventually admits to her that his boys need a mother and asks if the Frauenverein ladies can help him find a suitable wife. When the ladies refuse, saying that matchmaking is not part of their agenda, Augusta takes it upon herself to find a suitable wife for him…..
This is a story of broken people gradually forming friendships that lead to the healing of broken relationships.
The Tapestry of Grace is a really good title for the book which I found most enjoyable and inspirational. I cannot recommend the novel highly enough.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from WaterBrook & Multnomah. The opinions in this review are completely my own.
This is an inspirational historical romance that takes place in frontier Kansas. A group of church women come together to form a benevolent society to help the needy in their community, but their plans go astray due to ulterior motives of one of the ladies and request of a widower to find him a husband. It has a good message about accepting God's will and helping others.
The Tapestry of Grace
By Kim Vogel Sawyer
Publisher: WaterBrook & Multnomah
Series: None
Rated: 5
Obtain: Borrow or buy
Back of the Book: “When a group of Kansas women start a Frauenverein, a benevolent society devoted to aiding widows and orphans, life changes for more than just the hurting people they seek to help in this heartwarming romance inspired by historical events—from the bestselling author of Freedom’s Song.
With classes paused for the planting season, Alexandertol’s schoolteacher Augusta Dyck is glad for some meaningful work to occupy her time. She even knows exactly who their town’s benevolence society should help first: quiet, reserved widower Konrad Rempel and his young twin sons.
Konrad Rempel, however, is adamant that he doesn’t want help. His boys are mischievous but good-hearted. And though Konrad may be struggling, he doesn’t want anyone else sticking their nose in and telling him what his sons need. Or what he needs.
For her part, the charity’s founder Martina Krahn is relieved to have a reason to spend time outside her unhappy home. It even occurs to her that she may, through her work, encounter a boy in need of a family and so find a son for her husband since they have no children of their own.
Augusta, Konrad, and Martina each have deep needs and desires, and each imagines how they should be met: by reaching out or by being left alone. But God, indeed, knows best. Will the competing agendas of Alexandertol’s residents prevent them from receiving God’s help? Or will the members of this small Mennonite community find the answers to their prayers in the very last place they expect—in one another?”
Impressions: This was a heartwarming story of love. The characters were beguiling and the relationships in the story were encouraging. The main character's choices were a helpful reminder of how to love patiently and kindly. The author's book questions at the end were insightful and would be enjoyable to use for a book club or personal use. This was an easy book to read and an easy book to recommend.
Quotes: “To constantly grow in God’s grace was the most important thing Juliana could learn.”
“When a person is tired and grumpy, he doesn’t always act like he should.”
“‘Ja, you are right. Weeds will prevent the good plants from growing strong and producing fruit...We must chop sin from our lives the way we chop weeds from the garden rows. Sin keeps us from growing strong in faith and producing fruit for God’s kingdom. One weed left to flourish can take over the entire garden. One sin can grow into many that overtake the soul.’” -I liked this simple analogy of sin.
“’ The most important thing on the list is loves the LORD. He shines in you Gussie...’” -What a compliment! I hope this is something people can say of me.
“’ Home is where the people you love reside, so home is with you now.’”
I received an ARC of this book via the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review shared here. For more book reviews go to: https://thebluestockingbooknook.wordpress.com
Just a little different than I expected from this author but I really enjoyed it. Trying to come to terms with past loves while embracing a new one was very well presented. Also I felt the subject of not judging people when you don’t what they are truly going through.
I liked the introduction of the orphan train children at the end and hope it will be further explored.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book.
Such a heartwarming, touching story filled with compassion by those seeking to help others who are less fortunate. The book is inspiring and shows just how much people may often need help, but the true help comes in having faith and trust in God. Kim Vogel Sawyer did an amazing job with the writing of this book. I highly recommend it.
All words and opinions are my own. I was given a copy of this book from NetGalley for my honest review.
A wonderful book that has reminded me of God's rich grace towards me. The characters are so very real in their emotions and lifestyle, it is easy to get drawn into their lives.
I have read several of Kim Vogel Sawyer's books and for the most part, I truly enjoy them. The Tapestry of Grace is Kim's newest novel and I must say it's my favorite of her novels so far. This novel is a slice of life in historical Kansas.
Some of the main players are: Augusta and her daughter Juliana, Konrad and his twin boys, Martina and Gerhard, There is a full cast of minor players who add to the richness of the tapestry of the novel.
Augusta is enjoying her time off from teaching school for the summer and getting ready to plant her garden for the coming year's food. Konrad is trying to balance being father and wage-earner to two rambunctious twins who lost their mother when they were younger. Martina hides the fact that her husband, Gerhard, drinks himself into oblivion every night and believes she is at fault because of her inability to carry a child to term.
Martina decides to start a women's group at church to reach out to fill the needs of widows and orphans within the church. Augusta feels that Konrad's situation fits the purpose of the group, but Martina objects to helping a man, until she realizes there are multiple solutions to Konrad's situation. One of the solutions was for Gerhard to take one of the twins as an apprentice. Martina gets it in her mind that the boy will become their son.
Konrad enlists Augusta's help in finding him a new wife for his boys. He has quite the list of qualifications and requirements for his new wife, but in his mind, all of them are for the good of his boys.
This is a book of awakenings, of realizing God may have something better for His children than they can even imagine, or reconciliations, and of forgiveness. There is so much to digest within this book that makes it a more contemplative read. It is hard to put down, because the way the plot presents itself keeps the reader involved from the very first page all the way through to the very end of the book.
Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and a women's group that really wants to help those in need.
Waterbrook and Multnomah provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
The Tapestry of Grace delivers a strong five-star rating! I highly recommend this book to everyone! Yes, everyone! The masterful and unique German-Russian Mennonite community story set in the mid-1890s weaves principles of love, forgiveness, communication, acceptance, and spiritual and emotional panoramas of walking daily with Jesus.
The author’s passion for creating stories with rich, lovable, yet completely flawed characters, and satisfying plot comes through excellently in The Tapestry of Grace. The needs of the characters are met in several ways: (1) by having a relationship with Jesus, (2) answered prayers, and (3) by the fruit of obedience.
From the beautiful cover to the introductions of the charming characters to the interwoven storylines, this novel is a spiritually uplifting and emotionally engaging masterpiece with a beautiful, heart-captivating twist near the end.
I so greatly appreciate how Scriptural references are interlaced with explanations, and how the Gospel is presented in a beautiful and succinct sentence. There is nothing missing from this inspiring, God-honoring historical fiction work of art.
Life can be difficult, heartbreaking, and complicated. Loving God, obeying Him, and focusing on His will can eliminate chaos as He saturates our lives with peace, contentment, and blessings. The Tapestry of Grace is the perfect title for this book!
Surrendering all to God, loving Jesus, and obeying Him are the first steps in seeing beauty in ashes, contentment, and peace that passes all understanding.
The Tapestry of Grace inspires me to continually lean on God, moment-by-moment communicate with Him, and strive to obey Him as I serve Him and others with my whole heart.
I received an eArc of The Tapestry of Grace from WaterBrook & Multnomah through NetGalley.com. I was not required to write a review or paid to do so. The words above are my honest review of this terrific book. When The Tapestry of Grace is released (04.18.23), I will post this review to Goodreads, my blog, and all social media platforms that I have at that time.
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