Patchwork Hearts

Patchwork Hearts is a delightful romance, told with such skill, compassion, and humor it is difficult to believe that this is Ms Sterling's debut novel. Packed with enough period detail to satisfy any history buff, Patchwork Hearts is set in post-civil war Texas and tells the story of Trace Abernathy, a former Yankee soldier searching for a fresh start, and Lucy O'Connor, a young woman determined not to have to rely on any man. Aside from the rich sense of place, what sets this novel apart is the wonderful cast of secondary characters, who are fully realized. The teasing, loving banter between Trace and Josh, a ten year old former slave, is especially touching. And in Lucy's best friend, Twila, we see the kind of life that Lucy is determined not to have to live. But the heart of the story is the rich romance betwen Trace and Lucy who, in finding each other, find themselves. I look forward with great anticipation to Ms Sterling's next offering!

...stitched flawlessly with the artistic hand of author, Cynthia Sterling. PATCHWORK HEARTS is pure delight. The characters of Lucy and Trace leap off the page in this first novel, full of heart and soul. Lucy's longing for her late mother, coupled with her almost obsessive desire to be an independent woman, wrenches our heart. Even though the reader might want to shake her and tell her to wake up and accept this wonderful man who longs to take care of her, we understand completely why she resists him. The hero, Trace, is believable, too, in his reluctance to fall in love with another strong woman after tragedy takes away his wife. Lucy and Trace are made for each other, and when they finally overcome their obstacles, it leaves readers satisfied and hungry for more from this talented new author.

As an avid romance reader, and a quilter myself, I couldn't put Cynthia Sterling's Patchwork Hearts down. Lucy and Trace are characters who march straight to a reader's heart and pull on all the strings. The way Cynthia wove the quilting aspect into the intricate folds of the story and made it an integral part of the tale was beautifully done. Bravo Cynthia Sterling. I'll be standing in line for anything this author writes!!!!

Ms. Sterling has combined a memorable cast of characters and an engaging plotline, for an incredible, can't-set-it-down novel from page one until its satisfying finish. While I am not normally a fan of romance, Ms. Sterling has convinced me, with Patchwork Hearts, that I must give the genre another shot. Lucy, Trace, and the colorful secondary characters, as well as the well-paced story, make Patchwork Hearts a must-read. Don't take my word for it, though -- run, don't walk, to your nearest bookstore, and find out for yourself. I look forward to many, many more books from this wonderful new author!

From the moment Lucy O'Connor appeared on the pages of PATCHWORK HEARTS, I knew I would adore her. Headstrong and determined--to an endearing fault, at times--Lucy grabs hold of you and threads you right into the fabric of this delightful tale. Trace Abernathy brings scandal, richness, and a wonderful cast of secondary characters into the story. A woman would be hard-pressed not to fall in love with him. The fabulous bits of history and the friendships, hatreds, and secondary romances in PATCHWORK HEARTS add wonderful texture to the compelling love story. These are real people living through a real period in American history. You will care about them from page one. Cynthia Sterling's talent for weaving a fast-paced, exciting plot and showing us that people have always been...well...human, makes this book a definite keeper. Here's my advice. Unplug the phone, roll up in your favorite quilt, and lose yourself in the artfully woven tale that is PATCHWORK HEARTS. Trust me, it won't be hard. Cynthia Sterling's debut novel was a satisfying one-night read for me. She sold me--I'm a fan.