The Tangled Tale of the Woolgathering Castoffs ~ Purls and Prayers #2 (by Sharon Mondragón)

I was swept away by the beautiful words on the pages of The Tangled Tale of the Woolgathering Castoffs. The relationships that exist between the members of the Woolgatherers as well as those that develop as you travel through the pages of this beautiful and moving story will touch you deeply. This is the sequel to The Unlikely Yarn of the Dragon Lady, which I continue to say is one of the best books I have EVER read. So when the opportunity arose to read the second book in the Purls and Prayers series, I was excited to get lost in the pages.This book focuses on the effects dementia has on family members of those afflicted with this horrible disease ... from spouses to children to grandchildren. The thought of making prayer shawls appeals to me. The fact that the people who are making the shawls are praying as they begin each knitting/crocheting session, while they are creating these beautiful gifts, and then when they are taken to the church and are prayed over by the minister makes them even more precious. From Sam to Edna to Rose to Jenny to Tara and Samantha ... you will fall in love with the delightful personalities as well as some of the crotchety ones. Plus if you read the first book in the series, you will recognize a few returning characters. But as you dig deeper into the story and the lives of the characters, your heart will swell and the tears will flow. The focus on faith and prayer is what makes a difference in the lives of so many people. Friendship, caring, love, support, and prayer are the things that touch the lives of those who spend time together as Woolgatherers. There are also threads of conflict and disagreements. But woven together, the positive moments of kindness and love will blossom and grow into deep and touching relationships which will have you smiling with tear-filled eyes.

I am so happy this is one of the first books I’ve read in 2024 and know that it will be one of the best I’ll have the pleasure of reading this year. What a great way to start a new year in my book reading excursion! (You don’t need to read the first one to appreciate this second book, but I can’t encourage you enough to rush out and buy it!).

Thank you to NetGalley and Kregel Publications for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

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