Lose yourself to the magic of The Charm Bracelet.Through an heirloom charm bracelet, three women will rediscover the importance of family and a passion for living as each charm changes their lives.On her birthday each year, Lolly s mother gave her a charm, along with the advice that there is nothing more important than keeping family memories alive, and so Lolly s charm bracelet would be a … charm bracelet would be a constant reminder of that love.
Now seventy and starting to forget things, Lolly knows time is running out to reconnect with a daughter and granddaughter whose lives have become too busy for Lolly or her family stories.
But when Arden, Lolly s daughter, receives an unexpected phone call about her mother, she and granddaughter Lauren rush home. Over the course of their visit, Lolly reveals the story behind each charm on her bracelet, and one by one the family stories help Lolly, Arden, and Lauren reconnect in a way that brings each woman closer to finding joy, love, and faith.
A compelling story of three women and a beautiful reminder of the preciousness of family, Viola Shipman’s The Charm Bracelet is a keepsake you ll cherish long after the final page.
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A charm bracelet. Each charm tells a different story. Each charm is a link to the past and offers hope for the future. A family heirloom that is unique for each wearer. For Lolly, her daughter Arden, and her granddaughter Lauren, each charm has a significance in their lives. Three generations of women reconnect during a Memorial Day weekend at Lolly’s place on the shores of Lost Land Lake in Minnesota. Lolly is getting older and is having troubles remembering, so Arden and Lauren make the trip back home to check on Lolly, while the concerns and stresses in their own lives are never far away. During their visit, Lolly reveals the stories of each charm on her bracelet and gives the girls some hope and guidance for their own troubled lives.
I really love the concept of this story. My own mom had a wonderful charm bracelet that she filled (two actually) as I was growing up. Much like the story, each charm was a beautiful memory for my mom. Once I was married, I started my own charm bracelet, that sadly I’ve not kept adding to in recent years (that’s about to change). As I was reading this book, I would remember my mom’s own bracelet jangling in the wind, much as Lolly’s did. Viola Shipman did a wonderful job of bringing that bracelet to life. This was a heartfelt story with a clear message to remember the past, have faith in what the future holds, and to hold dear the important people in your life.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story! The plans, emotions, dreams, and realities of several generations of these women are told through the lines of this wonderful book. The delightful addition of using the charms on the bracelets to reveal the past memories of the women is very clever.
The author very carefully introduces the condition of MCI, Mild Cognitive Impairment- a prelude to the dreaded Alzheimer’s Disease. It has humor and the truth of what many will face in a way which does not leave the reader in despair or depressed.
I was diagnosed last year with MCI, and finding this condition written in such a respectful and loving way was soothing to my heart and soul.
The setting of the cabin, the fudge shop, and watching for the Aurora Borealis from the lakeside at night are all so scenic while reading.
The Charm Bracelet is a DELIGHT!
Ok, now I’m going to put on my Pandora charm bracelet which was given to me by my sister …. 🙂
3.5/5
I had mixed feelings about this one…probably between a pick and just a so-so for me.
The writing was fine, however I found the story just OK, and I think that had a lot to do with the female lead, Leila. She and the male lead Jake had too many repetitive confrontations/make-ups…and it was mostly due to her immaturity and trigger-hair temper. It became annoying and distracting to the overall story. There’s abandonment issues, trust issues, and forgiveness issues.
So ultimately I found it OK but not great.
Good read to take you away and relax.
I loved this book, my sisters and several friends all read it too. We all had charm bracelets and brought back many memories.
Was at the beach and i couldn’t put it down. read it at 3:00 in the a.m. it was so good. easy read and happy.
grandma carol
My mother had a charm bracelet and I remember has a child sitting with her and her telling the story of the charms, some of my favourite were a cat that winked when you pulled the charm on his collar, a fish that wiggled from Saginaw, a palm tree from Mexico, and yes a Singer sewing machine. And now I own that charm bracelet and it is one of the most precious things to me.
The Charm Bracelet was a treasure, a perfect story of love and family, about living life to thee fullest, being happy. The story is…three women Mother, Daughter and Granddaughter each at different stages of life. Lolly, a lifelong resident of Scoops, Michigan, is 70 and missing her only daughter and grand-daughter. Arden Lindsay escaped Scoops long ago seeking a different life. Now divorced and in an unsatisfying job at a celebrity e-magazine. Lauren is at the end of her junior year in college, regretting her major while feeling pressured by her mother.
Arden and Lauren take a road trip to Scoops for a few weeks around Memorial Day. To Lolly, it’s a chance to reconnect, a time to share her own family history and lessons before they’re lost forever. Arden needs to come to terms with her feelings about her mother, about her former life in Scoops, she needs to learn to have fun. Lauren must find the strength to chase after her greatest dream, to be an artist. All three women have an opportunity to get to know one another in new ways, they open their hearts and minds and see everything anew.
This fun story of three generations of woman and the true meaning of family had me at the first page and couldn’t stop all day til I finished it ! Your beautiful story reminds us to listen to others and let them tell you their stories ! Find what makes you happy And live life !
I liked the story but his first books were better.
I loved this story so much that I started a bracelet for my infant granddaughter and plan to build on it every year. I saved the book and am keeping it with the bracelet so that she’ll have that as well. Beautiful read.
Actually made me want to dig out my charm bracelet from my childhood. Easy read.
This was one of my all time favorite books. The author uses the charms from a bracelet to tell the story of three generations of women. I loved the wonderful character descriptions but especially the whimsical family matriarch, Lolly. The way the women face Lolly’s failing memory with dignity and humor will bring a sense of hope to others facing similar circumstances. I enjoyed The Charm Bracelet so much I immediately purchased two other books by Viola Shipman.
Like this series, all books same format
Read it for a bookclub. Would have stopped reading if not for that. It was like a Hallmark movie. If you are into Hallmark movies then this is for you.
Loved the three generation approach and the joy of simple things.
A wonderful heart warming story.
Great book a good women book
Love this story line.
This was such a lovely book about relationships with mothers, daughters and grand daughters. So many teaching moments through out the book. The charms and their unusual meaning were wonderful. It is so good that I want to read it again.
Loved it!!!