Christmas at the Village Sewing Shop by Helen Rolfe

I’ve previously read The Farmhouse of Second Chances and Finding Happiness at Heritage View by Helen Rolfe and really enjoyed them both, so I was keen on read her latest book too – Christmas at the Village Sewing Shop. As sewing is something I love, this gave me an extra reason to read it and who doesn’t love a good Christmas book too?

This book is the story of Loretta (65) and her three daughters Daisy (31), Ginny (37) and Fern (41). The family have owned the Butterbury Sewing Box for over seven decades, it being started by Loretta’s grandmother Eve in 1948. Loretta’s husband (Harry) and her mother (Rebecca) are both deceased, but she still has her father Ivor, who is 88 and a whizz with the knitting needles! We find out early on that Loretta has something she is hiding from her daughters, so we are intrigued to know what is happening.

Daisy helps her mother in the shop, while her other sisters don’t seem interested in the family business and are doing their own thing. Fern is married, has children and works hard as a financial analyst in London. Ginny works in midwifery and likes to travel all over the world. The three sisters rarely meet up these days, but their mother is arranging for them all to come home for Christmas. I loved finding out about each sister, reading the chapters written from their point of view and following their lives.

The novel is set in the village of Butterbury and I love these settings, where you get to know the little shops and the characters who live and work there. I love the quirky independent shops you find here, much nicer than the generic High Streets of cities. I would definitely love to visit Butterbury Sewing Box and join in with its sewing groups, it sounds fabulous!

The book begins in December so has a really festive feeling throughout. Its main theme is family and trying to rebuild one that has scattered somewhat. There is a lot of heart and warmth in the book and Helen Rolfe’s writing style is beautiful. I will definitely be reading more of her work in the future.

Published by Orion Fiction on 27^th October 2022.

Available in Paperback, eBook and audio £7.99

BLURB

Can three sisters stitch their family back together?

Loretta has run the little sewing shop in Butterbury for years, while bringing up her three headstrong daughters. Her own grandmother taught her how to quilt, and Loretta always found time to sit with Daisy, Ginny and Fern, pulling together scraps of material – and their hopes and dreams – into a beautiful whole.

But this Christmas the family is coming apart at the seams: Fern feels like she’s failing at motherhood and marriage; Ginny’s passion for her job as a midwife is fading, Daisy is keeping two very different secrets – and most of all, Loretta seems to be hiding something from her daughters…

As they come together to create a beautiful new festive quilt, memories are stirred, the bonds between sisters healed, and new friendships woven. But when Loretta reveals the real reason she’s gathered them all back to the sewing shop, can the sisters mend the quilt, and their family, in time for Christmas?

Full of kindness, community and festive magic, this is a treat to curl up with this Christmas! Perfect for fans of Cathy Bramley, Jenny Colgan and Ali McNamara

About the author:
Helen Rolfe writes contemporary women’s fiction and enjoys weaving stories about family, friendship, secrets, and community. Characters often face challenges and must fight to overcome them, but above all, Helen’s stories always have a happy ending

To learn more about Helen visit her on Twitter @HJRolfe or at www.helenjrolfe.com