The Sweetgum Ladies Knit for Love, Beth Patillo (Waterbrook)

(Click cover for more information)

(My wife, Jeannie, is the guest reviewer for this book. I've captured her thoughts as well as the story synopsis below. At least, I hope I have...)

Six lives in Sweetgum, Tennessee, are in for changes in ways none of them anticipated.
..

Once a month, the women of the Sweetgum Knit Lit Society gather to discuss books and share their knitting projects. Inspired by her recent, and unexpected marriage, group leader Eugenie chooses “Great Love Stories in Literature” as the theme for the year’s reading list–a daring selection for a group whose members span the spectrum of age and relationship status.
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As the Knit Lit ladies read and discuss classic romances like Romeo and Juliet, Wuthering Heights, and Pride and Prejudice, each member is confronted with her own perception about love. Camille’s unexpected reunion with an old crush forces her to confront conflicting desires. Newly widowed Esther finds her role in Sweetgum changing and is surprised by two unlikely friends. Hannah isn’t sure she’s ready for the trials of first love. Newcomer Maria finds her life turned upside-down by increasing family obligations and a handsome, arrogant lawyer, and Eugenie and Merry are both asked to make sacrifices for their husbands that challenge their principles.

Even in a sleepy, southern town like Sweetgum, Tennessee, love isn’t easy. The Knit Lit ladies learn they can find strength and guidance in the novels they read, the love of their family, their community–and especially in each other.

The interaction between the Knit Lit ladies, and the reactions they have to the selections of their book club from their own life perspectives, provide a rich filling for a cozy story of evolving lives. Interwoven with metaphorical allusions to knitting, this is a tribute to love and all its complexities.

If you enjoyed Jan Karon's Mitford series, this is a good bet for you.

Yup, Jeannie like it–and she's a hard sell. :-)