A bit far fetched but I enjoyed it very much. ( )

Good book. It just went a little long. ( )

Interesting premise, I figured it out early, but still enjoyed the character development and story. ( )

Not since reading "A Fall of Marigolds" by Susan Meissner has my heart been so touched as a story of the past dovetails with the present into one very meaningful novel. In "A Fall of Marigolds" the link in both time periods being a beautiful scarf and in "The Forgotten Seamstress" there is an exquisite quilt.

I am not a seamstress by any stretch of the imagination but over the course of my lifetime I have been blessed to have received lovely hand-sewn quilted pieces from dear and talented friends. One is a quilted patchwork lap throw and one suggested as a centerpiece table covering that I instead use as a wall hanging from Christmas to spring due to the snowman theme. In knowing the seamstresses of the two (2) treasures I have received it was easy for me to imagine the extraordinary giftedness of Maria Romano (Queenie).

“I stitched my love into this quilt, sewn it neatly, proud and true. Though you have gone, I must live on, and this will hold me close to you.”

At the point in the novel that I as a reader learned of Maria's message hidden in her quilt I knew who she had in her heart when she wrote the words but I never imagined the true poignancy for the character in the novel that would discover the message.

An extraordinary read especially after reading "A Conversation with the Author" at the end of the novel and learning Liz Trenow's inspiration for the novel. A breathtaking experience. ( )

The Forgotten Seamstress revolves around a patchwork quilt found by Caroline in her mother's cottage. It was left by her Grandma Jean for her. She takes it home and tries to find out more about it. The story goes back and forth between Caroline and Maria, the girl/woman who made the quilt. Maria's story begins in 1910 when, as an orphan, she is taken to live in the home of a Duchess to sew for the household. The Duchess becomes Queen Mary. Maria meets young Prince Edward and a friendship of sorts springs up. Meanwhile the quilt is stolen from Caroline and while trying to find it and more about it, she meets a reporter that she develops a friendship with. When Maria becomes pregnant, she is committed to a Mental Hospital and her baby dies shortly after birth, or does he. A love story from 2 generations as interesting as the patchwork quilt in the story. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will now look for her debut novel to read. ( )