A Quilt for Christmas by Sandra Dallas

Mary Christmas, Historical Fiction, Sandra Dallas, St. Martin's Press
  • A Quilt for Christmas (Oct14)Title:  A Quilt for Christmas
  • Author:  Sandra Dallas
  • Genre:  Historical Fiction; Christmas
  • Published:  October 2014 – St. Martin’s Press
  • Source:  Publisher

Synopsis:  It is 1864, and Eliza Spooner’s husband Will has joined the Kansas volunteers to fight the Confederates, leaving her with their two children and in charge of their home and land.  Eliza is confident that Will will return home, and she helps pass the months making a special quilt to keep her husband warm during his winter months in the army.  When the unthinkable happens, she takes in a woman and child who have been left alone and made vulnerable by the war, and she finds solace and camaraderie amongst the women of her quilting group. But when she is asked to help hide an escaped slave, she must decide for herself what is right and who she can count on to help her.  (publisher)

My take:  If you are a fan of Sandra Dallas’s The Persian Pickle Club you’ll be pleased to know that the characters in Eliza’s quilting group are grandmothers of the Persian Pickle Club ladies. I haven’t read The Persian Pickle Club but I’m certainly tempted to now that I’ve read A Quilt for Christmas.

Sandra Dallas had me riveted to her story. My Great(3x) Grandfather Stephen came to the US from Ireland, settled in Wisconsin and fought for the Union in the Civil War.  More than once while reading A Quilt for Christmas I found myself wondering how Stephen’s wife Ellen (also from Ireland) survived on their farm without her husband. In Dallas’s story Eliza has a tough time in so many ways even though her teenage son and some friends helped out. Eliza had an inner strength that carried her through so many situations.

This book could be read straight through in a day or two or it could be read a chapter a day. I’m really glad I read it and would recommend it to fans of Civil War historical fiction and fans of Sandra Dallas.

11 thoughts on “A Quilt for Christmas by Sandra Dallas”

  2. I became a fan of Sandra’s the day I read “Prayers for Sale” and I hope to crack the spine on this one soon!

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  4. HI Mary- I definitely like the sounds of this. BTW – email me your address and I will be glad to send you my copy of Prayers for Sale that I was about to donate to the library. I’d be glad to pass it on to meet your wish.

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  6. Hi Mary Ann,

    Another new to me author, this book has certainly attracted a multitude of reviews, so she is obviously very popular in the genre.

    One can only imagine the hardships endured and moments of despair for any family where members have gone away to fight in a conflict. However with so many people working the land and struggling to survive in what were indisputably harsh conditions, the American Civil War must have been much more destructive than most.

    Quilting is only just beginning to catch on here in the UK and not being a great needlewoman, doesn’t really appeal to me, although I do love to knit and crochet. Quilting, when it is well executed, is very beautiful and we have a very popular American Museum in Bath, near to where we live, where the exhibitions of the craft are second to none.

    Nice review of this book, thanks for sharing your thoughts.

    Yvonne

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    • Quilts are very much a part of the history of American culture, Yvonne. How interesting that the museum in Bath features quilts. If I ever get to Bath (it’s on my travel bucket list) I’ll be sure to visit the museum.

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