The Shop on Blossom Street

A couple years ago I was introduced to the writing of Debbie Macomber and surprised by how much I enjoyed it with a new-at-the-time novel, [b:Hannah's List|7556334|Hannah's List (Blossom Street, #7)|Debbie Macomber|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388206968l/7556334.SY75.jpg|9862760]. What I didn't discover until recently is that it was the seventh book in a series. As the ninth book just released and my mom reviewed it I became interested in the rest of the series and sought it out. The series starts with this book, The Shop on Blossom Street.

I've been blessed with a copy of this from a publicist and have enjoyed reading it. Today I discovered it was available as an audiobook from the Overdrive system and I've needed to be crafty so I borrowed the e-audio and quilted. ALL DAY LONG. I listened to the entire book today and I snickered. I laughed. I cried, more than once. There is an interesting cast of characters and to see the way they are all brought together is interesting as well as amusing.

Before we moved across state lines I had a pretty nifty neat of quilting friends, and since moving it has been very difficult to meet other quilters. Most of the stores here and personalities are vastly different from what I was used to and the friendly community just wasn't here. Until recently with two fairly new stores opening up just minutes away. Reading about these four women and the way they connected with each other and worked out there own issues over a project or two was cathartic. It also brings hope.

I think that Debbie Macomber has a great ministry. She entertains, but she also provides just enough seeds and reassurance that those with faith and those without can gain from reading her stories. I remember enjoying Hannah's List so much and my mother assures me that [b:Starting Now|12681611|Starting Now (Blossom Street, #9)|Debbie Macomber|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388193941l/12681611.SY75.jpg|17810179] is just as good to read.

Oooooh! The mail just brought me a new ARC of [b:Starry Night: A Christmas Novel|17910542|Starry Night|Debbie Macomber|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1368680109l/17910542.SX50.jpg|24574896] to read! I cannot wait! I'm also hoping to jump into book two from the Blossom Street series in [b:A Good Yarn|143761|A Good Yarn (Blossom Street, #2)|Debbie Macomber|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1408849879l/143761.SY75.jpg|4083744].

Thanks to the publicist for providing a copy for review.
To be posted to CreativeMadnessMama.com.

Yes, this is the book you think of when you think about a knitter's group. While I'm not always into the adult woman problems and warm fuzzies type of books, I enjoyed this book. The womens' stories kept my attention. The book certainly made me wish I had a knitting/crochet group to join. I will be keeping my eye out to read the rest in the series.

I love this story. This is the fourth time I've read it but I guess I'm old enough now that stories will always be new each time. I love to knit myself and so I was drawn to this story because each book has a knitting pattern in the front. Lydia is a 2-time cancer survivor that opens a yarn store as an affirmation of life. She offers a knitting class and three women sign up. These women couldn't be more different in personality and even though they bump heads in the beginning they end up forging some close friendships. The characters in this story are all wonderful and I find myself wanting to know more about them. Each chapter has the name of the person it will be about instead of a title and I always find myself wanting to jump forward to read more about a certain person or situation. I especially like Alix but I also really feel a connection with Lydia. I may not have cancer but I do battle with chronic pain/Fibromyalgia and many of the things she says really resonated with me.

My first attempt at reading this book was in 2014, and I only gave it 1 star. Going on a knitting-themed kick with reading, I tried reading this book again 9 years later with more age and patience under my belt...I didn't finish it this time either but I added another star because, well, this book isn't bad...it's just not my genre of preference. I understand Carol pining for a baby, but every page has her weeping; I can't read that constantly. Actually every character's problems were repeated over and over, causing me to eyeroll through the chapters, which is not any way to enjoy a book. So, Macomber is not a fave, i will not be reading her again, but that's ok. I think I've given her enough chances to move on.