Reviewer: Amy Lignor
Title: The Lace Makers of Glenmara
Author: Heather Barbieri
Publisher: HarperCollins
ISBN-13: 9780061721557
Release Date: June 2009
Genre/Sub-genre: General/Women's Fiction
Year/Setting: Present Day, Glenmara, Ireland
Overall Rating: 5.0
Sexual Content Rating: None/Subtle
Language (Profanity/Slang) Content Rating: None
Violent Content Rating: None/Minimal
Heather's Website: www.heatherbarbieri.com
Dear Readers:
My mother had a friend who went to our church by the name of Madge Dent. We would go into her house to visit when we were kids and on every surface there were piles and piles of clothing, clothing patterns, sewing notions, etc. There was also water whistling in the kettle to make us all tea. Mrs. Dent was British and was absolutely one of the most elegant, humorous, strong women I’ve ever met. This book, even though set in Ireland instead of Britain, reminded me of her, page after glorious page.
This wonderful story centers around Kate Robinson. She’s a young woman who has lost the boyfriend she always thought would turn to "husband." In addition, her mother, who was her companion, has been taken up to God. Her fashion line has been seared by the critics and she’s…done. So she takes off to Ireland. Her ancestors once walked those beautiful green fields and she and her mother were someday going to take a trip there. Kate decides it’s time for a change of scenery, even if her best friend can’t be with her for the ride. But her mother’s spirit follows Kate as she comes, literally, to the end of a long road and finds herself transported to a small town that time forgot – Glenmara.
There she meets up with the Lace Makers; the women who have worked all their lives to keep the old ways and sell their lace to the tourists – who have abandoned their small town for the places in Ireland that are closer to the 21st century. Bernie is the first she meets and rents a room from. Bernie is longing for her husband who was taken from her at a young age. She is joined by her best friend Aileen – who spends most of her time being cynical and worrying about her teenage daughter. Moira, Oona, and Colleen round out the group and they have, by far, some of the worst problems that a female can face in life. Then, of course, we have Sullivan Deane. A man with his own past, Kate finds herself attracted to him with all her heart and soul.
This book is bright, funny, sweet, sensitive, kind, poetic, lovely, gorgeous, sad – any emotion you can think of. Kate finds herself and, in the process, the Lace Makers of Glenmara find the will to change – to allow the bad things to fade away as the new light of hope heals their wounds. My advice? Read this! When you’re done…read it again!
Until Next Time, Amy
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