The Tapestry of Love

tapestrylove.jpg“…the return of the flocks to the valley heralded the coming of winter. It was impossible to avoid the observation that she was travelling the other way, leaving behind the comfort and security of home and heading up to the mountains; maybe she should take it as an omen. But Catherine was not a woman to believe in any such nonsense. She pulled her arm, wound up the window and focused on the road ahead.”

The Tapestry of Love by Rosy Thornton

Catherine has an exciting adventure ahead of her as she sells her house in England and moves to a tiny hamlet in the Cévennes mountains. She wants a fresh start in France now that her marriage is over and her children are grown. Now it’s time for her to focus on her wants and needs.

Part of her new plan also involves setting up her business as a seamstress and making curtains and other home furnishings and selling them in the market. As she settles in her home she makes friends with the neighbors and starts to learn about her surroundings.

There are some things to get used to, such as business licenses and how does one keep a swarm of bees, but through it all Catherine forges ahead because she is not an outsider. She feels like she belongs. The serenity Catherine has found though is soon to be disrupted by the arrival of her sister, Briony. While Catherine is looking forward to having her sister see her new home, she didn’t account for the upheaval she’d feel as Bryony starts to get close to Catherine’s new friend, Patrick Castagnol.

How I enjoyed reading about Catherine’s caring of her new home and making herself part of the community. I found her relationship with her other neighbors, the Bouschets, so touching because they went from neighbors, to business partners, to true friends there for one another in times of need. Just like the other novels by Rosy Thornton that I’ve read what stands out the most for me is that the people feel real. Relationships can be messy but here the characters grow and move on.

It was a delight to spend time with this book. I particularly enjoyed reading about Catherine’s sewing as I could imagine the beautiful creations she came up with and of course I loved reading about such a beautiful place. This was the first book I read this year and it was a balm during the crazy holiday season. So settle down with a cup of tea and enjoy this one.

Source: Review copy

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