The Christmas Boutique (Elm Creek Quilts #21)

I was so excited when I saw there was a new Elm Creek Quilters book. I loved the series and couldnt wait to read this new volume. Im utterly disappointed. Except for about a chapter and a half, most of this volume contains recycled back stories on the individual quilters. You already know these stories if youre a fan of the series. I also must say, the way they were retold did not make the characters seem as endearing as in previous volumes. The previous conflicts were described but without enough context to feel empathy for the ladies involved. I read the whole book wondering when the new story was going to start, so if youre a fan of the series, prepare to be bored.

I almost cried when the book ended. I love everyone at Elm Creek and felt like I had been away from friends for so long. I know its fiction but in my heart these characters are alive and well. I cant think of any books that I have gotten into this deep. I have just began to reread them all when this new one came out. I so hope there will be more. Thank you so much Jennifer Chiaverini. I attended a talk you did many years ago in Louisville Kentucky and your a beautiful talented lady.

I have read almost all of Jennifer Chiaverini\’s books, and without hesitation, I consider this one not worth reading. I purchased it for a friend as a gift without reading it beforehand. I am so sorry I bought it. Jennifer Chiaverini is a very good author, and I have looked forward to her new releases each year. This one, however, falls so far short of her potential that I\’m incredulous she allowed it to be published. It consists of a rehash of the main characters in the Elm Creek novels, most of which is the retelling of their stories. There is really nothing new here. There is no flow, no finesse of the language, nothing to inspire the turning of the pages. Very badly written. I finished it, hoping there was something redeeming at the end, but there was not. I would not recommend reading this, let alone purchasing it.

For many years, I read the Elm Creek Quilters books and really enjoyed them. Then they seemed to disappear and I stopped looking for them. It seemed as if the series was over. It was very exciting to learn about the Christmas Boutique book and I mostly enjoyed it. But it was so disappointing to have the book end with lots of unanswered questions. Since the books have been released so infrequently, I have to assume that we will have to wait a really long time to find out about the twins\’ birth etc Not to sound too glum, but I have pancreatic cancer so I doubt I\’ll ever hear the rest of the story. Also, I don\’t remember the other books having so many people who were so hard-hearted and ugly to each other. Are all quilters and quilting groups like this?

Ive been reading the Elm Creek Quilters series and have noticed that the author has taken stories from previous books and used them in the later books in the series. But this book is pretty much cut and paste from the previous books! I was reading on my a Kindle and kept checking that I was reading The Christmas Boutique, rather than an earlier book. I just kept skipping ahead because certain chapters were almost verbatim from earlier books. I was really looking forward to this book, but I may stop reading this series because I am paying $11.99 for repackaged stories from the earlier books.

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