This book took me a bit longer to get into then the atuhor's other books--having THREE different times periods (particularly ones that were so close in time, only separated by a few years, rather than decades) threw me off a bit initially. I was also a bit wary with the characters--Arthur, I loved from the start, but both Lorna and Gentry had me on my guard and I wasn't sure if I liked them or not! I think both women were realistic characters and their behavoirs were consistent with their life experiences, so they were well-written (definitely realistically flawed), just not always 100% likable! I did enjoy seeing their growth in the book and how things played out for both of them as well as for sweet Arthur.
The setting--both the time period and the location--drew me in right from the start. Having never heard of Biltmore before (I spent the first half of my life in upstate NY and the second half "out west" and I can count the number of times I've been south of the Mason Dixon line on one hand--and none of those trips took me within 100 miles of Biltmore), I was really fascinated by the whole concept of the estate and the work that done there in various industries. It was just really interesting to me and in some ways, that might even have overshadowed the characters a bit for me! I also loved the details of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Thomas is just so good at her settings, bringing places I've never been to life with such skill! (After reading one of her books, I always want to plan a vacation to go see the places she describes for myself, and that was definitely the case again with this book!) I also know absolutely nothing about weaving but was totally drawn in by the descriptions of that as well.
All in all, another wonderful novel by a talented author! 4 stars.

I read a DRC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Although I have enjoyed other books by this author, this one really didn’t hold my interest, but I did finish it in order to write a review.

I live in North Carolina about two hours from the .Biltmore House and have visited there several times. I had not know about Biltmore Industries before reading this book, and I enjoyed learning about that somewhat. But oh my, the time changes throughout, especially at first, were dizzying and somewhat hard to keep up with, IMO..

I received this book from the publisher via net galley in exchange for an honest review. Three stars.

I've enjoyed other books by this author, and I've often wanted to visit Biltmore estates, so the subject matter and author caught my attention. However, it wasn't quite what I expected. I didn't know anything about this part of history (Biltmore industries--weaving, in particular), so that was interesting. I also enjoyed the time swap nature of the story, but it was occasionally confusing to keep things straight. Gentry was spoiled and a know-it-all, and Lorna was a bit over the top. Both characters were hard to connect with, root for, and like. Vivian was my favorite, though she wasn't one of the three lead characters. I did expect a bit more with the faith message, though themes of restoration were included, along with friendship, trust, family, and women's rights.

These Tangled Threads is an interesting novel about the Biltmore Industries, specifically the weaving industry. Lorna Blankenship is the master weaver at the Biltmore, and she has been tasked with weaving a special fabric worthy of a wedding dress for Cornelia Vanderbilt. The problem is that Lorna hasn't made an original weaving ever. She has bought some patterns for weaving her cloth from a young girl, Gentry, who was working under her supervision and passed them off as her own. Because she hadn't had a fresh idea in a while, she was tasked with making one more weaving--suitable for a wedding--and then she was being fired. She heads out into the back country of the Appalachians to find a specific weaver.

Arthur is a friend Lorna has known for years and carves wooden items that the Biltmore sells to tourists who come and tour the mansion. He finds that his parents have died and that he has a brother who has been in and out of trouble almost his whole life. He wants to do his best for his brother and bring him to sobriety. While both Lorna and Arthur travel, their paths cross frequently and Arthur has cared for Lorna for a long time, He's just waiting for her to return his feelings.

This is a time swap type novel but the times are so close together that it is confusing at times to figure out which era things are happening. It might have been a bit more cohesive if Sarah Loudin Thomas had just made the book a narrative instead of jumping back and forth between times. At least it would have been easier to read for me. For this reason alone, I give the book four weak stars. I wish I could do half stars, but the sites where I post won't allow half stars.

Bethany House Publishing provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

These Tangled Threads
A Novel of Biltmore
by Sarah Loudin Thomas
Pub Date 02 Apr 2024
Bethany House,Bethany House Publishers
Christian| Historical Fiction| Romance


Bethany House and Netgalley have provided me with a copy of These Tangled Threads for review:


In the shadow of Vanderbilt mansion, three young friends were scattered seven years ago by a hidden betrayal. Lorna Blankenship fears she lacks the creativity required to create an original design for Cornelia Vanderbilt's 1924 wedding when she is commissioned by Biltmore Industries. If only she knew where to look, an elusive artisan in the Blue Ridge Mountains could save her.


Her only option is to seek out the relationships she abandoned in shame in order to find the mysterious weaver. Lorna is forced to confront her wounds and regrets as she unravels the tangled threads of her past. It will be a risk to lose the job that shapes her identity as well as the chance to regain friendship and love restored.

I give These Tangled Threads five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

This is my first book by Sarah Loudin Thomas and I’m now eager to read more of her wonderful work. This novel is a work of historical fiction set mostly in Asheville, NC with visits to West Virginia, and also Johnson City, TN (just 20 minutes down the road from me). The chapters alternate character perspectives and timelines spanning the years 1916-1923.

Tangled secrets, tangled emotions, and tangled family ties all unfurl in this beautiful book. The biblical themes of forgiveness, sacrifice, and redemption are woven throughout. I highly recommend this for lovers of Christian fiction and historical fiction.

Tremendous thanks to Austenprose and Bethany House Fiction for affording me the opportunity to read this ahead of publication. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I received a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes; opinions expressed are honest and mine alone.

Fans of Historical Fiction and homespun arts will be happy readers of THESE TANGLED THREADS, by Sarah Loudin Thomas. Taking place in and around the magnificent Biltmore, located near Ashville, N. C., this story features weaving and woodworking, done by most of the characters, with quite a bit of detail and technique included. The details can get boggy if you’re not in to the minutiae.

Another feature of Thomas’s tale is three POV’s and multiple timelines. The bulk of the story happens over a relatively short time period of 9 years. It’s a rough ride at the start of the book with a change of narrator and time period every few pages. Readers haven’t had much time to understand who the characters are, their motivations, relationships with each other, etc. IMO, it would have been better to have one character tell their story and become well established. Once that happens, it’s easier to bring in other POV’s/characters and nuance them into a fairly complex storyline, such as this one.

I have been to Asheville and the Biltmore numerous times. The town has become a Mecca for art and artists and the Biltmore has tried to maintain its historical identity as an American castle with the British landowner or laird/caretaker feeling. The gardens and grounds are spectacular year ‘round and the architecture is glorious; an obvious full time job to maintain. A full display of American crafts and products crafted and produced by Biltmore Industries is on display, many of which are mentioned in the book Thomas is engaging with the descriptive prose. I’ve no doubt that tourism to this area will tick up because of her efforts!

Themes include: friendship, honesty, trust, alcoholism, family, social class dynamics, women’s roles and rights, handicaps, physical and emotional, and more. None of these issues were presented in a way I found to be particularly triggering but sensitive folks have been advised. There are no issues with language, sexual content or violence.

If you’re looking for a book that won’t assault your senses but will deliver characters with flaws that grow and change, lovely southern locations with historical significance and homespun crafts that might stretch your budget a bit, THESE TANGLED THREADS might be just the read for you📚

Read and Reviewed from a NetGalley eARC, with thanks

Biltmore - the title of a modern-day castle - is the setting for this latest novel by Sarah Loudin Thomas. Secrets, lies and 3 lives intertwined with joy and heartache - capture your attention from the outset. Lorna is a master weaver for Biltmore Industries. One of her apprentices is high-spirited Gentry and they immediately clash and begin a difficult and heart-wrenching relationship. Enter Arthur who is a woodworker who also works at Biltmore Industries. He had a heart of gold and would do anything to help Lorna, Gentry and all those who come in contact with him. With a backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains, this tale of broken friendships, deceit and ultimate forgiveness, is a powerful tale.

I was gifted a copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley. The thoughts and opinions expressed are soley my own.

Lorna Blankenship, an accomplished weaver working for Biltmore Industries, has run out of ideas for new designs. When she is commissioned to design a special fabric as a gift for Cornelia Vanderbilt’s wedding, Lorna panics. Forced to admit to some mistakes she made in the past, taking credit for designs that were not her own, will Lorna’s life and livelihood be ruined? Although the transitions from one time period to another are sometimes confusing, readers get a fascinating glimpse into the workings of the vast Biltmore estate during the early 20th century and the 1930s.

I reviewed this book for the Historical Novel Society, and per their policy, I cannot post it until it is published on their website on the 1st of May. I will update it after that.

I enjoyed this book. I've spent time at Biltmore and envisioned what the community must have been like when the house was being built. This book brought that to life in a beautiful way. Highly recommend!

These Tangled Threads is a beautiful story with themes of redemption woven throughout.

This historical fiction novel is set between 1915 and 1924 and is told through three different perspectives and timelines. It’s initially a bit hard to keep track of. However, once you get everyone sorted, the multiple POVs and timelines really do enrich the story. I loved Arthur, and I really liked Lorna and Gentry by the end. Lorna and Gentry aren’t quite as loveable initially, but they both grew on me more and more as the story unfolded.

I love visiting the Biltmore and so fiction set at the Biltmore is always a treat. I loved the role that Cornelia Vanderbuilt’s 1924 wedding played in the story, and the author did a wonderful job writing the setting. I’ve never thought much about weaving, but am now so interested in it and the history of different cloth and patterns!

If you’re looking for a clean historical fiction with a beautiful setting and wholesome themes, I would highly recommend this one!

These Tangled Threads
by Sarah Loudin Thomas
Pub Date: April 2, 2024
Bethany
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
In this seamlessly woven historical tale, award-winning Appalachian author Sarah Loudin Thomas delivers a poignant novel of friendship, artistry, restoration, and second chances.
If you are a lover of Historical Fiction I recommend this book to you.
These Tangled Threads focuses on the industries of Biltmore--specifically the weaving community of the Biltmore. I didn't even know they had one. There are three characters in the book: Gentry--an orphaned teenager, Lorna--an early 20s master weaver, and the woodcutter that I cannot remember the name of. LOL. Each of the characters had flaws that rubbed me the wrong way.
I loved the way this story came together and the POV is outstanding as soon as I understood the flow of the characters.
5 stars

These Tangled Threads follows the stories of Lorna, Arthur, and Gentry who develop a friendship while working near the Biltmore Estate. A betrayal separates the friends and sends them on their own journeys to find hope and redemption.

I loved the settings of this book so much! I’m a West Virginia girl, so I always appreciate little snapshots of my state in books. (The characters take a few trips to WV throughout the book.) Learning more about Biltmore Estate in NC also added a lot to the book for me.

Although there were some heartbreaking tragedies for each of the characters, I appreciated their resilient hope.

I have always enjoyed Sarah Loudin Thomas' Appalachian inspired novels. These Tangled Threads is no different. I loved getting to know the main characters, seeing the author's vision with the history of the place I have dreamed of visiting one day, and story of hope, redemption and faith. I thought it was a great read. Five star.s

These Tangled Threads was such a fun read. It told the delightful story of several characters but especially two, Arthur & Lorna. Their story is one of my forgiveness and redemption. It is not a fast paced novel, but Thomas' story leaves you eager to know what what happens next. I was drawn to the book because of the Biltmore storyline but the novel did not disappoint! I look forward to reading another by her!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.

The story was about self discovery, forgiveness, and love.

I enjoyed the descriptions of landmarks from the past. The shifting points of view and the references to events of the time period

The story was fast moving and a relatively easy read once I sorted everything out I my mind.

Recommend.

Historically set between 1915 and 1924 in the shadows of Biltmore Estate, These Tangled Threads is told through three different POVs and timelines that at first were confusing, but once I connected each character to their own timeline, the story flowed seamlessly and came together nicely at the end.

And though I enjoyed the rich themes of friendship, grace, forgiveness, and love, I most enjoyed and appreciated the author’s attention to detail and captivating descriptions that made me feel present in the story—as if I, too, were looking out the window at the Blue Ridge Mountains, walking along Approach Road, and mesmerized by the sheer beauty and ornateness of a master weaver’s fabric.

Star Rating: 4.25

Thank you, NetGalley and Bethany House, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

These Tangled Threads – Sarah Loudin Thomas
Sarah L Thomas is a talented at creating complex characters that are both flawed, and relatable. This story is based on a history that I had never read about. Years ago I visited the Biltmore Estate in Ashville, NC. I saw the spectacular massive house, but I knew little about the connection between the ordinary NC hill people and the artisan industry that grew out of the extraordinary estate. The story dealt more with the local people, their talents, their personalities and their need for family connections. Today we have so many ways to stay connected with family. During that time there was a lack of means of staying connected with families who left their homes for various reasons. This novel deals well with reconnecting, forgiveness and weaving the threads of our lives into beauty from ashes. I enjoyed learning about the weavers and woodworkers that apparently are still connected to this area. Now I want to go visit the Grove Park Inn. I love long detailed author’s notes at the end of a story. My only disappointment was there were no notes, explaining where history and imagination meet. But it was a lovely story.

This evocative tale set against the majestic backdrop of the Biltmore Estate weaves together themes of friendship, redemption, and the power of second chances. Through master weaver Lorna Blankenship's journey to create a design for Cornelia Vanderbilt's wedding, readers are drawn into a narrative rich with hidden betrayals, lost connections, and the healing power of confronting the past. As Lorna seeks out the mysterious artisan who could save her, she must also confront the relationships she left behind in shame. With meticulous attention to historical detail and deeply drawn characters, this novel captivates not only with its fascinating history but also with its poignant exploration of love, forgiveness, and the pursuit of one's true self. Ann H. Gabhart aptly sums it up: "The history is fascinating, but the characters and the challenges they face are what make this story one to remember."