Emily T. Wierenga

What is the book about?

In reading this book you see Emily as a quiet sensitive soul from the very first page. She has a beautiful spirit and a very thoughtful way of writing that draws you into the small quiet moment she is sharing with you. This book is a memoir of how she found what home looks like for her and her family. She has lived some hard things in her short lifetime. She has struggled with an eating disorder, death, miscarriage, foster parenting, moving from place to place and country to country as she grew up and more. She assumes... and rightly so, I feel, that everyone is looking for that idea of "home". Much of her story is told in a diary or journal format and vignettes of moments and pieces of her life. She is very real and personal in this one. Her story is real with all the bumps and bruises and heartaches that come with life, home, and family. I believe most women would be able to relate to her on some level as she tells her story.

What I Thought...

I like a quiet thoughtful book but can only take it in small doses. It took me a little longer to read this one because of that. Her story is beautiful and, as I said earlier, her spirit is open and lovely. The only real issue I had with this book were some questionable theological statements as she moved through her story. Just a few matters that did not line up with scripture. Keep that in mind as you read and find what God says for yourself in His word as you read. I recommend that with any and all books you read that are suppose to be Christian books. That being said, it is still relevant and healing as she shares her tragedies and struggles. It is rare to see an author really open up this way. I did enjoy it very much.

I would give this book a 3 stars out of 5.

This book was sent to me free of charge by Baker Books in return I am to give an honest read and review of the book. You just got that... :)
… (mais)

Kleenex alert! (You might need some near the end of this story).

I loved the quilt idea behind this story. It was precious. Clara is an old woman when this story begins and she looks back on her life as she tells her story to her grandson on a road trip. The story of how she joined the Women's Army Corps as a nurse some 50 years ago and the impact it had on her life. Then how she met and married the love of her life, Oliver. The story ends in the present day again and ties the past with the present in a very heartwarming way. I shed some tears at the end and won't give away why. It was one of my favorite stories in this series about quilts.… (mais)

Emily T. Wierenga's A Promise in Pieces is a lovely story of faith, friendship, healing and love. This heartfelt novel spans several decades as Clara reminisces about how her years as a nurse in World War II helped her recover her lost faith and guided her to a treasured friendship that withstands all of life's triumphs and losses.

A minister's daughter, Clara leaves her sheltered childhood behind when she joins the Army against her parents' wishes. Her experiences as a nurse in Normandy lead her to abandon her already shaky faith but nursing a soldier through his death renews her belief in God. In fulfilling his dying wish, Clara strikes up an unlikely friendship with his widow Mattie. Returning to her small hometown, Clara begins a new career as a midwife but will her worries keep her from accepting the blessings that are within her grasp?

Clara is shocked by the changes in her parents when she returns home. She and her father form a close bond as they struggle to help her mother emerge from deep depression. Clara is surprised by her interest in a young man at her father's church, but her fears cause her to reject him. An unexpected loss gives her the family she never thought she wanted and Clara surprises herself when she finds the courage to risk her heart.


A Promise in Pieces is an engaging and poignant novel with richly drawn characters, vibrant settings and a compelling storyline. Emily T. Wierenga has written a realistic story of love and faith that is sure to resonate with anyone who enjoys Christian fiction.

Although A Promise in Pieces is part of the Quilts of Love series, it can be read as a standalone story.… (mais)

If you are an emotional person… at all, read “A Promise in Pieces” with tissues close!

I’m not sure whether it’s Emily’s experience as a ghost writer or simply her gift that enables her to pull you into the story so deeply.


You WILL feel the deep emotions in this story.

… Especially if you are a deeply emotional person.

I am noticing a bit of a trend as far as the Quilts of Love books go lately and it is an interesting turn.

I have never really been a huge fan of novels written about/around WWII but I am finding myself reading them more and more lately and I have to say this – “A Promise in Pieces” is not typical.

It is written about that time period but it focuses so much more on the family dynamics and the very personal experiences that Clara goes through.

The idea behind the story is not a new one but Emily Wierenga has most definitely found a new way to tell it.

Whether you’re a fan of WWII novels or not, this is a book worth reading!

Disclaimer: I received this book free in exchange for an honest review!… (mais)