For readers who love a heartwarming romance and a rich historical setting comes a tale of a young woman with a heavy burden, the International Cotton Exposition, and the pursuit of true love.Eighteen-year-old Laurel Millard, youngest of seven children, is expected to stay home and “take care of Mama” by her older siblings, but Laurel has dreams of starting her own family. Operating a silk loom at … Operating a silk loom at the Atlanta Exposition will give her the chance to capture the heart of a man wealthy enough to take care of Laurel and any children she might bear, as well as her mother.
Langdon Rochester’s parents have given him an ultimatum: settle down with a wife or lose his family inheritance. At the Exposition, Langdon meets Laurel. Marrying her would satisfy his parents’s command, she would look lovely on his arm for social events, and in her besotted state, he believes she would overlook him continuing pursuing rowdy adventures with his unmarried buddies. Langdon decides to woo Laurel. Willie Sharp is not well-off and must take on an extra job at the Atlanta Exposition as a security guard. When mischief-makers cause trouble in the Women’s Building, Willie is put in charge of keeping the building secure. He enjoys visiting with Laurel, who seems like the little sister he never had, but his feelings for Laurel change to something much deeper. Can Willie convince Laurel that he can give her better life–even with so little to offer?
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The story line in “A Silken Thread” takes place in 1895, a few years after the civil war. The four main characters: Laurel, Langdon, Quincy and Willie let us see the different views of love, family and racism in our country at that time. Each character must deal with the issues of the day from a different background. Reading this novel was refreshing and inspiring. I would recommend “A Silken Thread” to anyone looking for a book to read while on vacation! #PRHpartner
Kim Vogel Sawyer has done it once again with A Silken Thread. She knows how to write a story full of grace and this one is no exception. Her vision of what it was like a few decades after the Civil War in Georgia was fascinating. It is a wonderful story of hope and love.
I am giving A Silken Thread a well deserved five stars. I highly recommend this beautiful, well written and inspirational story.
I received this book from the author, but was not required to write a review. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
Willie Sharp is busy working full-time and taking care of his father, who has suffered a stroke. They don’t have much money, just enough to make do. Willie’s best friend is Quincy, a young African American who has a hot temper when riled. They both get jobs at the Atlanta exposition featuring cotton and other textiles. Quincy encounters a great deal of racism, and Willie wonders why everyone is so concerned with the outside of a person instead of what’s on the inside.
Laurel Millard has gotten a job weaving silk at the new exposition. She is the youngest of six children and her older siblings have told her it is her job to take care of their mother before starting a life of her own. Laurel hopes that by being out amongst people she will meet a young bachelor, fall in love and marry as long as he is willing to take care of her mother, too. Langford Rochester is the son of a wealthy businessman, who spends his days playing cards and wasting time. His father wants to train him to take over the business and his mother wants him to marry. Langford wants to keep living the life of a wastrel, but he figures he can pretend interest in both his parents’ objectives for a little while. He wants a wife that is naïve and easily manipulated. He sets his sights on Laurel to fill the bill, and Laurel thinks she has found a man to solve her situation.
I normally enjoy this author’s stories, but this one fell short for me. I couldn’t connect to the characters, the romance between Willie and Laurel didn’t seem realistic in that it came out of nowhere, and the plot was predictable. I did, however, adore Quincy’s mom. She was the strong voice of wisdom and faith. She is a character I would have liked to have heard from more often. The historical setting was interesting too. I had never heard of the exposition put on in Atlanta in 1895, so I learned something new. All-in-all, the book was okay. I look forward to reading this author’s next endeavor and hope for a better outcome.
“My mam, she b’lieves real strong that God don’t waste nothin’. That all things is s’posed to wo’k fo’ good. But I ain’t b’lieved it ‘til right now.”
–Quincy
A story of class, racism, faith, and family! This story set in Atlanta, Georgia in the year 1895 centers around the Cotton states and International Exposition, a huge exhibit with multiple states playing a role over a three month period. The jobs generated by the exhibition offer new opportunities to a variety of individuals and impact their lives in a multitude of ways.
The primary characters in the novel all work at the Exposition in diverse positions, from groundskeeper to silk weaver. Laurel Millard, the youngest sister from a family with modest means, looks to the Exposition for a job as a weaver to broaden her horizons and meet some other young people. Willie Sharp, a polite, handsome young man, gets a job as a security officer in order to pay for rehabilitation care for his father who has had a stroke. Langdon Rochester, wealthy son and heir apparent to the Rochester Steam-Powered Engines, works the Exposition to avoid being in the office under his father’s scrutiny. Quincy Tate, a young man from a large, very poor family, is trying to help his family out and find out about himself. The characters are each in search of something that they hope to find along the way. They are pretty conventional characters for the time period. A few of them are not very likeable. However, they each played a role in the story.
The novel draws to an end as the exposition nears its completion. The ending felt a bit forced as it seemed that a great deal happened in a short time period. However, it was a satisfying ending with a great many lessons learned by the characters along the way. The historical detail regarding the exposition and the social issues of the time were interesting. Readers of Christian historical fiction should enjoy this novel.
This ARC copy was received from Waterbrook and Netgalley.com. The above thoughts and opinions are wholly my own.
#ASilkenThread #NetGalley
Although I had a hard time getting into this book, I did enjoy it. I think that the author did a great job tackling the tough topic of racism. I enjoyed the 4 different points of view. After reading this, I plan on reading more from this author.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
Prejudice of many kinds occur all the time, with division between races and social status being at the top of the list. I was raised to believe that all men are created equal regardless of their differences, and I know for a fact that I am not the only one.
Willie Sharp is a God-fearing man who is caring for his disabled father and has a heart of gold. Though he is dirt poor, he is thankful for every blessing that God has given him, and tries to live his life to the fullest. Though there is still racial division in the south in Willie’s neighborhood it doesn’t matter what color you are, everyone is poor and doing everything they can to keep their heads above water. Willie looks at his best friend Quincy and doesn’t see his dark skin but instead his companion, a friend that he’s grown up with, and Quincy feels the same way.
Laurel Millard has a sweet and caring spirit and is also helping care for a parent. Her and her mother are weavers, and when a major convention comes to town and needs a weaver, she jumps at the chance. Willie and Quincy are also hired, Willie as a security guard, and Quincy as a groundskeeper, all of them excited about this wonderful, and unique, opportunity.
Langdon Rochester is Willie’s bosses son, a manipulating young man who only cares about his wants and gives little regard to anyone else. Langdon is a wolf in sheeps clothing and when he meets and begins courting dear, sweet Laurel you want to reach through the pages and shake her!
The book is so well written you find yourself transfixed and vested in the characters and what they’re dealing with. The racial and social prejudice is so incredibly frustrating but sadly it’s true to life, as well as the struggle of knowing God’s will in any given situation.
A Silken Thread is a wonderful reminder that we are all connected, if only by a thread. It also reminded me how important it is to stand up for what I believe in, to stand strong in my convictions, and to remember the truth will come out in the end. I absolutely adored this book, despite the sensitive subject matter, and believe it’s a narrative that everyone should read.
*I have reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from WaterBrook through NetGalley. All opinions are completely honest, and are my own.
Prejudice and pride
Willie assumed Laurel was rich because of the manner of her dress and because he saw her travel in a carriage.
Laurel assumed that Langdon could make her happy because he was rich.
Langdon assumed Quincy was lazy because of his skin color.
A Silken Thread is a multi-faceted story of Atlanta at the end of the nineteenth century. Revolving around the International Cotton Exposition, it examines issues of prejudice thirty years after the Civil War through the eyes of four young adults who worked at this event. Each of the four had sections of the story devoted to their perspective and each of those sections had a completely unique voice, almost to the point that you could tell who was being spoken of by the language used.
The hero, Willie, had such sacrificial love for his father. When his father had a stroke, Willie took on the responsibility of working and caring for him. And better still, he didn’t even consider it a sacrifice – it is simply what you do for your family.
Laurel is an interesting woman. Being the youngest by far in a large family, she had grown up with domineering siblings and was used to taking orders and not standing up for herself. She had insecurities and desired to please her family. She was a bit naive, maybe even more than a bit, but I didn’t find her annoying. Yes, I did want to shake some sense into her in a few places but, fortunately, she had a great brother, Eugene, who cared for her enough that I knew she would be okay.
My feelings about Quincy vacillated between liking him and not. His temper, while some would say was justified, was born from a life of feeling insignificant and even demeaned. I loved how his “mam” was such a wise woman and her way of bringing the scriptures to light for him. I did feel that he was written in a way to make him look quite ignorant, though, and that bothered me. I understood that he wouldn’t have been well educated, but the ignorance and almost naivety he displayed felt like a stereotype.
I especially loved the way the author’s heart came through in the story. It is so evident that she loves the Lord and desires her readers to embrace the spiritual truths that she shares here. They were clear and not twisted to fit the story.
While there was romance, A Silken Thread has an element of mystery and danger. The romance appeared to be secondary to the story itself and while the friendship was established well, how it blossomed into romance was not expounded on and almost felt like it was tacked on at the end. The themes of integrity, surrendering to God, and seeking the Lord for wisdom were paramount.
In addition to liking the main characters, I especially loved Langdon’s dad and respected him so much! And loved the pastor of Willie’s church. Rusty the cat and the relationship he had with Willie’s pa was so very sweet!
There were some matters that lacked resolution. Without giving anything away, I’ll just say the heightened danger Willie was concerned about seemed to just be forgotten after the frame-up and it was never revealed who was responsible for the incident that resulted in said frame-up.
Readers who enjoy seeing a slice of life from another time and being challenged spiritually should consider this story.
Read with a Preview at AmongTheReads.net
I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.
I began reading A Silken Thread alone, but before I hit chapter 2 my ten yr old daughter joined me. Every night she would beg to snuggle up and read “our book” together. I loved to watch her face as I acted out the characters and gave each of their distinct dialects a voice. Every time we would come to Langdon she would get so upset with his antics. We enjoyed the friendship of Willie and Quincy and the lessons portrayed throughout this book of the value of friendship and protecting those we love at the expense of ourselves. Kim Vogel Sawyer is one of my favorite authors, so I knew from the first page it would be an enjoyable read. I’m grateful for authors like Mrs. Sawyer who speak the truth through their character voice and that I can trust to be safe for my daughter to enjoy. I would recommend this book.
The story centers around the Atlanta Cotton Exposition of 1895. Three of the characters, Laurel, Willie, and Quincy, find well paying temporary jobs for the three months the exposition will be held.
Laurel works in the Silk Room weaving silk threads on a loom. Willie works as a security guard and Quincy as a groundskeeper. Differences in financial situations, social class, race and eduction all come into play in the story. Willie and Quincy have been best friends since childhood but many look on them disdainfully because of the race issue. It was heartbreaking to see how the treatment of the races was so horrible at that time. In my lifetime things have changed drastically but still far from perfect. An overnight incident in the silk room causes problems that questions who, how and why.
The author did a great job with the telling of each of their lifestyles and how it affected the way they lived and thought and carried on with their everyday lives. This is an eye opening book that should be read by all.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher but was not required to write a review positive or otherwise.
Kim Vogel Sawyer has done a remarkable job of setting her story in Atlanta in the year 1895 and making it relevant to our world today. She’s tackled the difficult subject of racism during that period of time and kept the story both readable and relatable. Through the characters of Quincy, Willie, and Laurel, we see the problems of being viewed through the prejudices of race, economic status, or family. This book is very well written and the storyline is quite interesting. All three of the main characters face decisions and difficulties that make them take a close look at what they believe about race, social standing, and friendship.
I found the story of Willie and Quincy’s friendship to be compelling. They must decide if their being of different races will affect their life-long friendship as they are now young adults.
Willie turns to the Bible for some answers, but Quincy is not quite sure he can put bitterness aside and turn to God. Laurel is experiencing prejudice through the lens of social/economic standing. I found myself wondering how I would handle some of the situations they face, and to me, that’s one of the marks of a great author: Writing a story that’s both compelling and convicting.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
A SILKEN THREAD. by Kim Vogal Sawyer
Setting : Cotton States and International Exhibition.1895,Atlanta, Georgia.
This touches on decisions made, as we see with Laurel, she was the youngest, and it was for her to stay at home, and care for her Mother. What of her needs she was passed eighteen, wanted a home. The older siblings telling her she was obligated, and needed to show gratitude for her mother having given her life. They had their own families. She was not willing, but had no say.
A Father telling his son, Langdon he was sorely disappointed in him. Twenty three and spent his time being lazy and reading. He had tolerated him repeating classes, but he needed to grow up. Expectation after expectations is all Langdon.has known from childhood, and never to please his Father,
These are two of the four whose lives cross during the Exhibition, the conflicts as their lives grow and change. The author. gave us a good story
showing us the lives during this time period in history.
Given ARC by Net Galley and Water Brook for my voluntary review and my
honest opinion.
A book that takes place 30 years after the Civil War, and we see prejudice up close and personal. I really have never heard to the Atlanta World’s Fair, mostly the famous Chicago, so was intrigued!
The author gives us so many aspects in this read, and how they all mesh together makes for a great story.
Love and respect for your fellow man, whether a parent, or a dear friend, and then we see the faces of evil, those that don’t care how they get what they want or whom they hurt as they achieve disgusting acts.
Come and have a wonderful look around this fair and buildings through the words of this author, I felt like I was there, listening to those wondrous speeches, entering the buildings, or riding on the new lake, you will feel like you are there!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Waterbrook Press, and was not required to give a positive review.
A Silken Thread by Kim Vogel Sawyer
I received an advance reader copy of A Silken Thread from Waterbrook, a division of Penguin Random House, LLC, in exchange for an honest review.
A Silken Thread was about Laurel Millard and her plans to capture a wealthy suitor who can afford care for her mother and give Laurel the life she dreams about. She gets hired as a silk weaver at the Atlanta Cotton Exposition of 1895, and works at a loom most of the day, making lengths of silk for display and educational purposes aimed at the visitors to the Silk Room at the Exposition.
Laurel meets Willie Sharp, a security guard at the exposition, Langdon Rochester, the son of the owner of Rochester Steam Engines company, and a few young women who work with her in the Silk Room, giving guided tours of that area. She also meets Quincy, a friend of Willie’s, who is hired as a groundskeeper at the exposition.
The book is well written, and the characters all connect nicely with each other. Mrs. Sawyer is skilled in blending the stories of each person into a good, solid historical fiction tale, which keeps the reader interested and engaged. I thoroughly appreciated her use of the King James bible when she wrote Scriptures into the stories, and she placed them appropriately. They added so much value to the whole book. I also liked the information about the Cotton Exposition, how the grounds were described in detail, which gave me a good picture of what they must have looked like.
Mrs. Sawyer dealt with racism in the book, too. In my opinion, she portrayed one character in particular well, and gave him insightful thought processing, which helped him overcome some things. Each character, really, matured and became more experienced in their views of life, and how people act. I liked the book, and do recommend it to anyone wanting a clean historical fiction story, with very little romance in it, and a LOT of substance
Another one hit out of the ballpark by my favorite go to author. Ms. Sawyer never disappoints with her complex characters and woven tapestries of Faith into her stories. You always want more as the story is thought provoking and the historical aspects , mild suspense, family dynamics, and romance keep you on your toes. I loved the friendship between Willie and Quincy and how when tested and put through the fire ….well you have to read to find out how differences in race, education, and social standing in 1895 affected them and the people around them. I think this book just won the World Series.
I received a complimentary copy from the author/publisher. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.
I have no idea how to review this. So many things jump out at me to write down, and then when I physically sit to do so, those thoughts go right out of my head! Kim Vogel Sawyer is one of my top favorite historical authors and she brings whatever time period she’s writing to life and fleshes out characters so real you could touch them. At the end of each novel, I feel like I’ve made new friends and celebrated each high and low with them. I cared deeply about Laurel and her extended family, Willie and his Pa Otto, and Quincy.
Laurel has dreams of becoming someone’s wife and doting on children she could provide the right man, also giving her Mama grandchildren to adore. She’s young and naïve and has been given an unfair missive by her older siblings. Willie is a hard working man taking care of his Pa after he’s struck with a physical ailment that renders him helpless. Taking the security job at the Expo guarantees he can afford the help for his Pa in a convalescence hospital. Quincy was a character that really stood out to me. He faced so much prejudice being a black man and society looking down on him. Treated with indifference and tolerated nowhere, my heart hurt for all he went through. Langdon was a character I didn’t like one bit, he was our “villain” if you will. Rich, spoiled, privileged and looks down on those beneath him in social status. I think every good story needs one of these, and at the end, even he has some redeeming qualities!
In a time of social unrest and unbalance, four lives mesh and mold a story that had me thoroughly hooked! Hot topic areas are covered such as racism, bigotry, social status chasms (rich vs. poor), and slavery. I appreciated Sawyers’ gentle handling of each topic without losing how real those affected each character in times past. I also loved learning about silk production and weaving, a fascinating topic I’d love to delve more into. Oh, and the authors descriptions of the Expo definitely made me wished I could have jumped into the pages and explore for myself. A thoroughly engaging historical that brings to light the struggles of humanity and a gentle love story to stir the heart.
*I received a complimentary copy from Bethany House via Netgalley and was under no obligation to leave a favorable review. All opinions expressed here are my own. *
Kim Vogel Sawyer’s latest historical novel takes place in 1895 in Atlanta, Georgia, where feelings of racism and classism still run rampant following the War Between the States. Four young people’s lives intertwine during their time at the Atlanta Exposition and their experiences have a huge effect on each of their lives. This was a novel that really made you think about what society was like during the late 1800s and how it relates to the issues of race that are still relevant in today’s society. This was an enjoyable book. I recommend it to fans of historical fiction.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from WaterBrook Multnomah through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.