A Promise in Pieces

By: Emily T. Wierenga

Narrated by: Emily Caudwell

Length: 5 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's Summary

After the end of World War II, Clara Kirkpatrick returns from the Women's Army Corp to deliver a dying soldier's last wishes: convey his love to his young widow, Mattie, with apologies for the missed life they had planned to share. Struggling with her own post-war trauma, Clara thinks she's not prepared to handle the grief of this broken family. Yet upon meeting Mattie, and receiving a baby quilt that will never cuddle the soldier's baby, Clara vows to honor the sacrifices that family made.

Now a labor and delivery nurse in her rural hometown, Clara wraps each new babe in the gifted quilt and later stitches the child's name into the cloth. As each new child is welcomed by the quilt, Clara begins to wonder whatever happened to Mattie - and if her own life would ever experience the love of a newborn. Little does she know that she will have the opportunity to re-gift the special quilt - years later and carrying even greater significance than when it was first bestowed.

©2014 Emily T. Wierenga (P)2015 Audible, Inc.

Best Listen This Year

I listen to dozens of audio books every year, and this one ranks at the top . . . for a number of reasons. Its more than historical fiction (which I love). Its more than a story of one person's test of faith and questioning whether or not God is really who He claims to be . . . and I've listened to a good many of those, many of which are very good. Its more that a tale of war and pain and loss, although it is unquestionably one of the best war stories I've heard. I think it is the bare, brutal honesty of this preacher's daughter, turned army nurse, turned midwife that resonated with me over and over. The young girl, the good teenager, the cautious, yet brave young woman who climbed out her bedroom window to enlist in the army nurses corp . . . then the midwife back home who was afraid to love a man because she never wanted to be left alone, didn't want to be like the widows left behind after the war. And finally, most of all the grandmother, Clara, with whom I feel the greatest kinship . . . when most of life's living has been done and the wrestling with God is over . . . and one is finally smart enough to know just how powerful God is and how small and fragile we are. . . and what a gift every single breath is . . . writing like this is so rare . . . and so beautiful . . . Do yourself a favor, don't miss it . . .