Disguised as a woman's romance story, Susan Wiggs masterfully digs deep into quite another world -- that of domestic abuse. Susan Wiggs uses her star character's ingenious creativity to construct a carefully designed safe zone for women who have been abused. THE OYSTERVILLE SEWING CIRCLE is not a craft group but instead a wondrously conceived design for a place to Mend Your Heart. Susan Wiggs' gift of allegory is nothing short of masterful in THE OYSTERVILLE SEWING CIRCLE. I admit to having put this book aside for a while but not for long. Books by Susan Wiggs don't sit on my shelf for long. They call to me and I am so glad that I listened to my heart and picked THE OYSTERVILLE SEWING CIRCLE to be my next book to read and review. It is that good.
Caroline Shelby reluctantly returns to her hometown of Oysterville. A town basically developed around the chief product of -- you guessed it -- oysters. Her parents have a restaurant that has charmed and attracted customers from all over with their fresh seafood and amazing baked goods and of course charm. Sorry for that redundancy. Caroline is a fashion designer whose latest and largest set of designs was about to gain her entrance into the world of retail fashion. Unfortunately, her work was stolen by the very man who had mentored her. Now, licking her wounds and with two orphaned children at her side, Caroline is back home trying to reinvent herself. Will Jensen is now back home released from military service due to an injury and married to Sierra. Sierra had come along to Oysterville with her preacher father. Sierra and Caroline hit it off immediately. Caroline with her design sense, and Sierra with her fashion sense. One was the fabricator the other was the perfect model. Most important was the relationship that grew from this trio. Sierra joined Caroline in welcoming Will back each summer. But, as time went on, it was apparent that Sierra and Will were a couple. Caroline could have easily stepped aside and removed herself from an uncomfortable situation. But only Caroline knew that she had harbored a little crush of her own. Her secret. The friendship with Will and Sierra was more important. More vital. Caroline had gone to New York and fashion designing. Will had trained to be a SEAL. Sierra followed her dream to become a model. Somehow life stepped in and all three were now back. Will was now living permanently in Oysterville.
Susan Wiggs reminds us of a saying -- life is what happens to you when you're making other plans. It couldn't have been truer with these three friends. Each character in THE OYSTERVILLE SEWING CIRCLE is created with a sense of reality and humanity. Susan Wiggs lets us view each with their flaws right out in the open so that we don't become fanciful. Even the name of Caroline's group has an important historical reference which made me stop and think once again about the message. So if you are looking for a great beach read this book has got to move to the number one position. If you are already a fan of Susan Wiggs than you will not be surprised at how wondrous THE OYSTERVILLE SEWING CIRCLE story is. Caroline is a tremendous character whose story touches your heart and is a joy to follow. The relationship with Will is so well developed it feels real.
The #1 New York Times bestselling author brings us her most ambitious and provocative work yet—a searing and timely novel that explores the most volatile issue of our time—domestic violence. At the break of dawn, Caroline Shelby rolls into Oysterville, Washington, a tiny hamlet at the edge of the raging Pacific. She’s come home. Home to a place she thought she’d left forever, home of her heart and memories, but not her future. Ten years ago, Caroline launched a career in the glamorous fashion world of Manhattan. But her success in New York imploded on a wave of scandal and tragedy, forcing her to flee to the only safe place she knows. And in the backseat of Caroline’s car are two children who were orphaned in a single chilling moment—five-year- old Addie and six-year-old Flick. She’s now their legal guardian—a role she’s not sure she’s ready for. But the Oysterville she left behind has changed. Her siblings have their own complicated lives and her aging parents are hoping to pass on their thriving seafood restaurant to the next generation. And there’s Will Jensen, a decorated Navy SEAL who’s also returned home after being wounded overseas. Will and Caroline were forever friends as children, with the promise of something more . . . until he fell in love with Sierra, Caroline’s best friend and the most beautiful girl in town. With her modeling jobs drying up, Sierra, too, is on the cusp of reinventing herself. Caroline returns to her favorite place: the sewing shop owned by Mrs. Lindy Bloom, the woman who inspired her and taught her to sew. There she discovers that even in an idyllic beach town, there are women living with the deepest of secrets. Thus begins the Oysterville Sewing Circle—where women can join forces to support each other through the troubles they keep hidden. Yet just as Caroline regains her creativity and fighting spirit, and the children begin to heal from their loss, an unexpected challenge tests her courage and her heart. This time, though, Caroline is not going to run away. She’s going to stand and fight for everything—and everyone—she loves.
© 2003-2024 off-the-edge.net
all rights reserved Privacy Policy