Title: These Tangled Threads
Author: Sarah Loudin Thomas
Major Themes: Weaving, Biltmore Estate, Friendship
Synopsis: After being commissioned by a wealthy client to come up with an original cloth design, weaver Lorna Blankenship panics, knowing that unless she gets help, her job—and, quite likely, her reputation—will be in danger.
I was excited to see another Sarah Loudin Thomas book coming out. I really appreciated the first story I read from her pen, The Right Kind of Fool, and also enjoyed The Finder of Forgotten Things—although not quite as much as Fool. These Tangled Threads sounded like it should be right down my alley, though. I love working with cloth, and I’ve also hardly ever read anything about Biltmore House or the estate, so I was quite intrigued about that. Add a bit of a mysterious element, and I’m game. I love books like this!
Publisher’s description:
Set in the shadow of Biltmore Estate, a poignant tale of friendship, restoration, and second chances.
Seven years ago, a hidden betrayal scattered three young friends living in the shadow of Biltmore Estate. Now, when Biltmore Industries master weaver Lorna Blankenship is commissioned to create an original design for Cornelia Vanderbilt’s 1924 wedding, she panics knowing she doesn’t have the creativity needed. But there’s an elusive artisan in the Blue Ridge Mountains who could save her—if only she can find her.
To track the mysterious weaver down, Lorna sees no other way but to seek out the relationships she abandoned in shame. As she pulls at each tangled thread from her old life, Lorna is forced to confront the wounds and regrets of long ago. She’ll have to risk the job that shapes her identity as well as the hope of friendship—and love—restored.
My thoughts:
Well, I think I had higher hopes for These Tangled Threads than the book delivered. I did enjoy the story—it was interesting—but in the end, it didn’t work as well for me as I hoped. It took about a third of the story to get all the characters straight (for some reason; I have no idea why, because there aren’t that many!), and I was at about 60% before the timelines started making sense to me. This book jumps between three main points of view, as well as three different timelines—and I think the time part was what was throwing me off the most, because the points of view didn’t strictly keep to their “own” time. That was a disappointment to me because I feel like I may have enjoyed the story more if I’d gotten everyone and the time straight earlier on.
The story itself was fascinating. I find I struggle with main characters who make decisions to deliberately take advantage of others, but I appreciated the way that was handled in this story. I really enjoyed the weaving aspect of the story—that’s something I’ve hardly ever read about, so that was a lot of fun! It was fun, too, to try to imagine what the fabrics may have looked like that were described here.
If you enjoy stories steeped in history, especially the kind of history you rarely read about, These Tangled Threads could be an excellent option for you. With a strong mix of intriguing characters, setting, and a dash of mystery, this was a good story. It wasn’t great; I didn’t find it the most gripping read ever, but I’m not sorry I read it, and I’d like to read other books by Thomas in the future if I get the chance.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion of it.
WARNING: “For heaven’s sake” is used in ch. 1, 3, and 7; blasted is used in ch. 1; “who in the blue blazes” is used in ch. 5; goodness is used in ch. 5, 9, 14, 19, 26, 32, 35, 36, 40, 41, and 43; Lordy is used in ch. 14; shoot is used in ch. 18, 23, and 29; “like the dickens” is used in ch. 25; durn and “holy smokes” are used in ch. 26; darn is used in ch. 29; crap and “go to hell” are used in ch. 30; “what in tarnation” is used in ch. 35; and heckuva is used in ch. 43. There is lying in ch. 1, 2, 3, 9, 12, 13, 20, 22, and 26,
Throughout the story, there are references to a person stealing something. Occasionally, unmarried characters hold hands or hug. Several times, there are references to a verbally abusive man. Someone almost drowns in ch. 14, and there are mentions of people who died in the same chapter. There are kisses in ch. 22, 39, 40, 43, and 48 (none described, just mentioned). Someone finds out about a man drinking and stealing in ch. 23. In ch. 29, and a few subsequent chapters, there are mentions of a man sneaking alcohol and stealing. From ch. 30–36, there are several mentions of a woman working at a brothel (not as a prostitute, but there are fairly vague allusions to what happened there).
Age levels:
Reading Independently—Ages 15 and Above, Adults
Links to buy this book:
Amazon: Paperback | Kindle | Hardcover | Audible Audiobook (unabridged)
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com
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