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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful Story, March 14, 2007
This review is from: The Fortune Quilt (Paperback)
The Fortune Quilt, when I first heard the title, didn't appeal to me because I thought there was a quilting theme, which really doesn't interest me. But, I had always heard great things about Lani's books, so I did a bit more investigation when it came closer to release date. I'm so glad I didn't just pass this one by based on a misconception of the story.
The Fortune Quilt had everthing I'm looking for in a chic lit/women's fiction book. It had great characters who, in spite of the length of the story, had depth and were well developed. It had humor, romance, angst, strong family connections, and a fantasy/paranormal element that didn't seem unrealistic. I laughed hysterically and cried all within a couple of pages of each other.
I did have only one real issue with the story, although not enough to rate it only 4 stars. It was not long enough, and I only say this because I loved the story and the characters and just wanted more. I gravitate towards series books because If I love the characters I don't like to let them go. I was also worried that Carly working in the art supply store was just going to be an obvious plot device to get her and Will together, but it turned out that it wasn't used in that way, which I was glad of.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves reading women's fiction books that invoke many different emotions. I can't wait to start reading Lani's other books!
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Another gem by a great author, November 5, 2007
This review is from: The Fortune Quilt (Paperback)
Skeptical Carly McKay grew up far too quickly when her post-partum depressed mother fled the family 17 ears earlier and at 12, was left in the caretaker role of her younger siblings. Now a Tucson news magazine producer, Carly arrives in the artist commune of Bilby to do a human interest story on Brandy Seaver, a woman who creates elaborate quilts while also providing the owner with a glimpse of their future. Ever the cynic, she balks when Brandy offers her a quilt and vision of her own, mostly since it doesn't make sense. Then odd things start to happen - her best friends and cameraman professes his unrequited love; the station owner flees the country and takes all the assets with him, leaving her out of a job; and most shocking of all, her mother returns and her family seems to embrace this return much to Carly's shock. Giving her family an ultimatum, she packs up her possessions and roams around not sure what to do, then lands on Brandy's doorstep to have it out with the medium. Instead she stays awhile to recharge her batteries and re-imagine her future with the quirky and very inclusive residents of Bilby. A future that might include a certain artist she met at her sister's wedding...
One thing you can always count on with a book written by Lani Diane Rich is to be thoroughly entertained, whether it is chick lit or spicy romance. Carly's self-deprecating humor stands out - I just loved her "Godfather" comments during her reading. I was resistant to reading this since I don't care for books that are leveled in fantasy, magic, and all that jazz. But I'm sure glad I took the chance, because once again, I found myself mesmerized by Rich's witty storytelling.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A nice surprise, September 29, 2007
This review is from: The Fortune Quilt (Paperback)
Normally, I dislike chick lit. Actually, that's not true. I usually can't finish a chick lit novel to save myself so I don't really dislike the genre, I just don't "get" it enough to stay interested.
So "The Fortune Quilt" was, for me, a pleasant surprise. For one, I liked the heroine, Carly McKay and I could empathize with her problems. I really enjoyed that her problems had a sense of reality to them, but they were not overdone either. More importantly, her actions make sense. She also gets points from me because she's not full of charming quirkiness. She gets irritated and blows up and feels overwhelmed and confused and it is in a way that doesn't seem outside the pale given the circumstances.
And that's the plus of the novel. Carly (and her sisters) behave in ways that don't seem overly dramatic.
I really liked the relationship of Carly and her sisters. I wish there had been more scenes of them. I did like Brandywine very much and that was a surprise. I do wish there had been a little more with the mother but at the same time, maybe not. I did want just a little more of Carly and her father though, but that's a personal quibble.
If there was a weakness to the novel, it might have been the romance angle. I almost wished it hadn't been in the story because Carly had enough on her plate to deal with that the romance seemed unnecessary, but that's just me.
Still, even with the minor quibbles (and they are very minor), I was very pleased and satisfied with the novel when I turned that last page.
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