New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Chiaverini returns with a delightful Christmas-themed installment in her beloved Elm Creek Quilts series—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 … 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.
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The Christmas Boutique by Jennifer Chiaverini is the 21st An Elm Creek Quilts Novel. The Christmas Boutique can be read by those who are new to the series and those who have read each and every book. During the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, we get to catch up with Sylvia, Sarah, Gwen, Diane, Gretchen, Anna, and Mary Beth. Learn all you need to know about Sylvia and how she established the quilting camp with Sarah’s help. Find out how Gretchen and Joe came to live at Elm Creek Manor and why Matt McClure is currently away. Mary Beth Callahan and Diane Sonnenberg are neighbors with a contemptuous history. Mary Beth dearly regrets a terrible incident and how it affected her son. Diane wants to find out who turned off the heat in the church hall at the Good Shepherd Church which led to the pipes bursting and does a little investigating. Diane is the one quilter without a finished Christmas quilt to display at the Christmas Boutique and we get to find out why. There are beautiful quilt descriptions that will have you heading to your local fabric store to sign up for classes (or just drool over the fabrics). Anna is whipping up a feast that will have your mouth watering. While I enjoyed catching up with the Elm Creek Quilters, I would have preferred a completely new full-length story (instead of reminiscing with a little bit of story tossed in). I was so disappointed when the author quit writing this series and I was tickled when I saw a new Christmas story was coming out. The Christmas Boutique is well-written with developed characters and a gorgeous locale. I love how the quilters have become a family who are supportive of one other. It is wonderful how they quickly rallied to help such a good cause. My favorite phrase from The Christmas Boutique is “We must have faith that the Lord who loves us will not abandon us.” I hope that the author will keep writing new tales for this delightful series especially since we do not know the sex of Sarah’s twins. The Christmas Boutique is an upbeat Christmas story with gorgeous quilts, mouthwatering munchies, stacks of snow, faithful friends and Christmas conviviality.
Jennifer Chiaverini’s newest Christmas book takes us back to Elm Creek Manor and the town of Waterford. A reintroduction of all the true-to-life characters that filled the Elm Creek Manor books in the past refreshes readers both familiar and new to the stories. The Elm Creek quilters begin their holiday season with a distress call from some local women from Waterford after their church floods and their Christmas boutique no longer has a home.
Sylvia and the quilters rise to the challenge and offer to host the annual fundraising event at the manor. As a variety of trials and personal tribulations come their way, the ladies pull together in true holiday spirit. Read this light, quick holiday story to find out how the women solve their challenges and what new adventures await them in the future! This story will appeal to anyone who loves a feel good Christmas story and to those who have long enjoyed the Elm Creek Quilt series.
I received this book from William Morrow and Netgalley. The above thoughts and opinions I have expressed are wholly my own.
#TheChristmasBoutique #NetGalley
Basically retold the story already covered in previous books.
The story itself was interesting, but since I’m not a quilter I got bogged down and frankly bored with the tedious description of making the quilts.
Loved this book and the opportunity to revisit many of the characters that I enjoyed in the previous books about the Elm Creek Quilters. Easy to read and I felt like I was catching up with “old” friends. This is the perfect book for all who enjoyed the previous books and … also for those who are reading about these ladies for the first time.
I have an interest in quilting . I find the people who do it are unique and interesting people. I have read this whole series found the stories very entertaining. The historical stories were my favorite.
I’ve read the entire series, and this is a continuing story at the Elm Creek Quilts retreat. Nice friendships and interesting relationships.
Especially interesting if you love sewing quilts
A rehash of her previous Elm Creek books. Very disappointed.
I liked reading this book and being able to return to our favorite characters from the Elm Creek Quilts series but I was a bit disappointed in this book. There was lots of storytelling and background for each major character and the book gave a glimpse into the lives of the quilters but the story didn’t draw me in. It was scattered and divided too much amongst all the characters to go much anywhere in depth. I was a bit let down. Yes there was drama and yes there was healing and solving of problems but I didn’t feel as personally invested in the characters as in prior books. Just when I felt invested in their character and what was currently going on in their lives, it was the next chapter and on to another character. It felt disjointed without great resolution.
The Christmas Boutique is the latest book in the Elm Creek Quilts series. I have read and loved every book and The Christmas Boutique was beautifully written. It’s a story of women, of the bonds of friendship, and quilting. A heartwarming and wonderful book that I enjoyed with a cup of tea. It’s a book everyone needs to read. I highly recommend the series and this book!
If you have read any of the Elm Creek Quilt stories from Jennifer, you will love this one. All the characters are back and it is a touching story of friendship love and quilting.
I haven’t read any of Jennifer Chiaverini’s books in years. So this one was a delight to come back to. This is more like a refresher course in the characters that make up the Elm Creek Quilters. It is a delightful step back in time with a current story line woven in. The author’s style is a comfortable one that makes this book a good one to curl up with a warm cup of tea or cocoa on a cold winter’s day.
Loved how the other books were covered in this story.
Sylvia, the beloved co-owner of Elm Creek Manor, and her friends return in the latest installment of the Elm Creek Quilt series. This time, they are asked to host the local Christmas boutique fundraiser event and, of course, they do it with much enthusiasm and aplomb!
After seven years, the Elm Creek Quilt series has returned, and I could not be happier. I’ve read and loved the entire series and revisiting each of the beloved characters did not disappoint. It’s difficult to believe that it’s been twenty years (and 21 books) since the first in the series was published. Dare I liken the Elm Creek Manor and its inhabitants to Downton Abbey and its beloved characters? Yes I shall! If you love this series as much as I do, then this is a must read! Character recaps are included and I was surprised by how much I remembered about each and every one of them. If you haven’t read this series yet, then what are you waiting for? A whole new world of likable characters and heartwarming stories awaits!
4.5 stars and definitely one of my favorites!
Location: Waterford, Pennsylvania
I received an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
This was an enjoyable holiday read with a quilt theme and preparations for an annual holiday boutique at a local manor in Elm Creek. The characters were new to me, not having read any previous books in the series. Some were more interesting than others. There was the drama between neighbors, the tension between sisters-in-law, the close mother-daughter relationship, and my favorite part was setting up the manor and hosting the holiday sale, which had a nice wrap-up.
A good expose’ on human nature and our need to take stock of our attitudes.
I was so excited to see this book, I loved this series, and a new book after all this time, awesome!
You will not be lost if you pick this one up for the first time, there is a lot of information offered from the past books to update you, but you will be missing out on some great addicting reads if you pass up the previous books.
We are back with some dear friends, and updated on the lives we have come to love, and now we are back at Elm Creek!
These characters come alive to me through this author, and I would love to go on a quilter’s retreat at the manor, and spend time with Sylvia, seeing as that is not possible, this is the next best thing!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher William Morrow, and was not required to give a positive review.