Wednesday, 16 April 2014

The Friendship Star Quilt


New Release & Giveaway


Years ago, groups of women gathered to create beautiful quilts. 
Since everything had to be stitched by hand, working in groups helped the quilters to these works of art done faster. And the fellowship developed by working together helped the hard-working pioneer women endure the demands in their lives. 
Today, quilting bees aren’t so common, but women still meet to work together when there’s work to be done.

The Stitching Post Quilt Shop is the setting for the weekly gathering of a group of women who come to sew, but leave with lasting friendships. The first book in the series, The Calico Heart, was nominated for a RONE award for Best Contemporary Book of 2013. 
Patricia Kiyono and Stephanie Michels are pleased to announce the release of the second book in the series, The Friendship Star Quilt.








 Anne Brown loves her job at The Stitching Post Quilt Shop in Grandville, Michigan, but she keeps a suitcase packed so she can leave at a moment's notice. Living under the radar, she longs for a normal life, but settles for listening to family stories told by the friendly ladies of the quilting club who meet at the shop on Tuesday evenings. When she meets Brad, the handsome band director of an area high school and his adorable daughter, Anne begins to hope for a happily ever after of her own. But someone has far different plans.


Brad Carmichael is juggling the demands of his job as band director at Rivertown High School with trying to be a better father to his daughter. When Brad is late picking Jennie up from a birthday party, the pretty young clerk from the local quilt shop comes to his rescue. Kind-hearted and talented, Anne becomes a vital part of Brad and Jennie’s lives. But her past threatens to destroy their relationship.



Patricia Kiyono retired from public school teaching, and is now an adjunct faculty member at Grand Valley State University, where she instructs future teachers. Born in Japan, she lives in southwest Michigan with her husband, not far from their five children and nine grandchildren. In addition to writing, she enjoys sewing, scrapbooking, playing in local bands and orchestras, and taking care of grandchildren. 



Stephanie Michels considers herself a “Jill of All Trades.” During her corporate career, she worked as a computer trainer, advertising copywriter, personnel agent, radio DJ, magazine columnist, and a financial planner among other things.  She recently left those behind in order to focus on writing full time.

Raised in Michigan, she lived in South Carolina, Missouri, and Germany, before returning to the Mitten State to raise her family.  When she isn’t writing, you can usually find her reading or spending time with family, friends, and Beta Sigma Phi sisters.

The Friendship Star Quilt is her second novel with writing partner, Patricia Kiyono.  


GIVEAWAY!

To win a digital copy of The Calico Heart, Book One in the Stitching Post Romance series, please leave a comment telling us about something you like to do with friends.  A random commenter will be chosen on Saturday, April 19.




21 comments:

  1. Welcome Patricia and Stephanie. Congratulations on your latest book, The Friendship Star Quilt.

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    1. Thank you so much for having us here, Christine! This is a lovely blog.

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    2. Christine, thank you for having us here so we can chat with your readers.

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  2. What a charming read! Can't wait to curl up with this one ...

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    1. Thank you so much, Laura! I hope you enjoy it. So what do you like to do with friends?

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    2. Laura, I hope you enjoy it. The Friendship Star Quilt is a bit darker than some of the others in the series, but domestic abuse is a very really issue for many woman, and we wanted to have a story to show there is hope for a better life. This series is all about the possibility for real love no matter what your age, shape, or situation.

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  3. Loved the book The Friendship Star Quilt by Patricia Kiyono and Stephanie Michels. Such a well written story that has lots of emotions.

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    1. So glad you enjoyed the book! Thanks for stopping in.

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    2. Thank you. It's always so gratifying to hear when a reader likes a book. We appreciate you stopping by to tell us.

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  4. These books sound wonderful. I love the idea :-) My aunt passed away two years ago, and she used to make handmade quilts. I had a few of them, but my kids carried them off and lost them. So disheartening. :-( I love to do lots of things with my friends, but the most regular thing we do is meet every Friday evening at the Martini Club for martinis and girl talk/writer talk/sports talk, etc. We are actually writing stories based on our outings, too. We are working on a series called Martini Club 4, and the first books are set in the 20's and sort of centered around a Speakeasy. It's so much fun! Best of luck with your books, ladies.

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    1. Thanks so much for stopping, Alicia! Your martini club sounds like fun, and since you're turning the meetings into a series, that's even better!

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    2. Alicia,
      Be sure to let us know when your Martini Club 4 book comes out. It sounds like a wonderful idea. My email is StephanieMichels@comcast.net and I'd love to read it.

      How sad about losing your quilts. I love the old cozy one my Grandma made even though it is faded and multi-patched. It's pretty much loved into pieces. I also have a few quilts I "rescued" on eBay (at least that's the excuse I use for all of the ones I've bought. :D

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  5. What is it about quilts that is so appealing? I learned to quilt because my MIL's mother left behind several quilt tops--some whole, some in pieces. I've quilted 2 and have more to do. Just have to make time. Love this series Patty and Stephanie.

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    1. Thanks, Diane, I'm so glad you enjoyed the series. Good luck with your quilts. They are such a labor of love. Even when they are machine quilted, they take a lot of time and patience. I think people appreciate the love that goes into them. My grandma said she sewed prayers for the recipients into the stitches she took. Remembering that just made me smile.

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  6. It's amazing how much stuff gets put on the back burner, isn't it? Thank you so much for reading the books, Diane, and thanks for stopping by.

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  7. We like to go fishing with our friends and with our children. It is something we all enjoy.

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    1. Sounds like a great way to spend time together! Thanks so much for stopping, Jessica.

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    2. Wow, Jessica, you're making great memories for your kids. Some day, they'll be together, and one will say "Remember the time when Mom caught..." Hope you land the biggest catch of the day next time you're out fishing.

      Thanks for stopping by today and sharing with us.

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  8. Thank you to everyone who visited with us on this blog tour, and a big thanks to our wonderful blog hostesses. I'll be drawing the name for the gift card winner on Sunday evening.

    As a special thanks, I've decided to do one final surprise drawing that includes all our hosts and everyone who commented at any of the stops on our blog tour. You'll get one entry for each stop you made. I'll post the winner of that gift - a Friendship Star Quilt promo mug filled with M&M's - on Sunday night, too. Thanks for hosting and visiting with us!

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  9. Alicia Dean, congratulations! You have won the $5 gift card prize.

    Please send your email address to me at stephaniemichels@comcast.net and let me know if you prefer an Amazon card or a Barnes & Noble card. Thank You.

    Winner of the special door prize, a chocolate-filled coffee mug is Peg Spoelstra. Peg, I'll make arrangements to get the mug to you.

    Congratulations to both of you, and thank you everyone who visited with us.

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  10. Thank you, Stephanie and Patricia, for guesting on my blog. You are both welcome anytime. Congratulations on your book and to the prize winners. Happy reading everyone!! :)

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