The Christmas Boutique

An Elm Creek Quilts Novel

By: Jennifer Chiaverini

Narrated by: Christina Moore

Length: 9 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

Twenty years after the publication of The Quilter’s Apprentice, the novel that launched the beloved Elm Creek Quilts series, New York Times best-selling author Jennifer Chiaverini returns with another delightful chapter featuring Master Quilter Sylvia Bergstom Compson and friends, a captivating, heartwarming tale sure to become a holiday favorite.

Just weeks before Christmas, severe wintry weather damages the church hall hosting the Christmas Boutique - an annual sale of handcrafted gifts and baked goods that supports the county food pantry. Determined to save the fundraiser, Sylvia Bergstrom Compson offers to hold the event at Elm Creek Manor, her ancestral family estate and summertime home to Elm Creek Quilt Camp.

In the spirit of the season, Sylvia and the Elm Creek Quilters begin setting up market booths in the ballroom and decking the halls with beautiful hand-made holiday quilts. Each of the quilters chooses a favorite quilt to display, a special creation evoking memories of holidays past and dreams of Christmases yet to come. Sarah, a first-time mother expecting twins, worries if she can handle raising two babies, especially with her husband so often away on business. Cheerful, white-haired Agnes reflects upon a beautiful appliqué quilt she made as a young bride and the mysterious, long-lost antique quilt that inspired it. Empty nesters and occasional rivals Gwen and Diane contemplate family heirlooms and unfinished projects as they look forward to having their children home again for the holidays.

But while the Elm Creek Quilters work tirelessly to make sure the Christmas Boutique happens, it may take a holiday miracle or two to make it the smashing success they want it to be.

Praised for her ability to craft “a wonderful holiday mix of family legacy, reconciliation and shared experiences” (Tucson Citizen), Jennifer Chiaverini once again rings in the festive season with this eagerly awaited addition in her beloved series.

©2019 Jennifer Chiaverini (P)2019 HarperAudio

Fabulous heart warming story

This series about elm creek quilters gets better and better. A must read! Read it this Christmas.

Great complexity of characters

I read this book out of order because I wanted a treat during the holiday season. I liked that this book gave the history or back story on each of the characters. Performance and editing were perfect.

Oh the quilting!!

I love the Elm Creek Quilts series and this one did not disappoint. These books are super well written and heartwarming without being too sappy.

Excellent.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I have listened to all the Elm Creek Quilts books and didn't find this one to be a repeat of the others, as some reviewers have mentioned. Very happy to hear more about all the Elm Creek Quilters.

Elm Creek Quilters Lives On

Loved the story, hope there is another in the works. There certainly is more story line left for us. I have listened to every single book in the Elm Creek series. Jennifer Chiaverini never disappoints. Love how the craft interweaves with the lives of the people of Elm Creek and weaves in the history of their lives.

Good story but some disappointing aspects

I love Jennifer Chiaverini’s stories. I especially enjoy the attention to detail which draws me in and makes me feel I’m “there.”
However, to the author, I will not purchase anymore stories as about half of the book (as seems to be your new way of writing books) is merely copied from other books in the series. If you want to allude to another book/story, then do so. But I purchase books to get stories I haven’t read before.

cute story

cute book club pick. entertaining to listen to. a nice simple read for the holiday season!

I loved it!!!

though there is a good deal of repetition for people who have listened to all the books it also goes a step further and feels in pieces of some of the characters backstories that made it especially enjoyable to me ... fills in some blanks so to speak. I love learning more about Diane and Mary Beth's problems and more about what happened with Agnes during the time Sylvia was away., and more.. I also believe that the repetition would make it this a book that anyone who has not read any of the Elm Creek quilt stories could listen to and fully enjoy as it gives the Main details from many of the books along with the new details I talked about.

Fun holiday read

I have loved all of the Elm Creek Quilts stories, and this was no different! There was a lot of review and back story on the characters and their history, which was fine for me, as the refresher was helpful. I imagine it could’ve been a bit dull or tedious had I read this one immediately after the other books, though. I enjoyed visualizing the manor all decked out for Christmas, and the ideas for festive quilts!

Outstanding performance!

loved it. I felt like i was there among all the characters. l could not put the book down