Ties That Bind

Christmas is fast approaching, and New Bern, Connecticut, is about to receive the gift of a new pastor, hired sight unseen to fill in while Reverend Tucker is on sabbatical. Meanwhile, Margot Matthews’ friend, Abigail, is trying to match-make even though Margot has all but given up on romance. She loves her job at the Cobbled Court Quilt Shop and the life and friendships she’s made in New Bern, she just never thought she’d still be single on her fortieth birthday. Everyone is shocked when Phillip A. Clarkson turns out to be Philippa, and not everyone is happy about having a female pastor. Still, Philippa begins to settle in—helping the townspeople, joining the quilting circle, and forging a fast friendship with Margot. When tragedy strikes, that bond—and the help of her quilting sisterhood—will be a saving grace. And as Margot untangles her feelings for another new arrival, she realizes that it is the surprising detours woven into life’s fabric that provide its richest hues and deepest meaning.