Taryn McKenna is a high school teacher in the small town of Hollings, where she spends as much quality time as possible with her Grandma, Jemma, and her cousin Rachel. Jemma is everything to her as her mother passed away when she was young, and her father had never really cared for her, resenting the fact that she existed at all. Jemma is known for her wonderful quilts and it is a tradition that has been in her family for generations. Taryn agrees to help Jemma quilt an Irish Chain quilt for Rachel and her fiancé Mark, for their upcoming wedding.

However when Justin Callahan leaves the army and returns to town, Taryn's life is turned upside down. Not only is he the only man she has ever loved, Taryn blames herself deeply for chasing him away twelve years ago. She has never forgotten what happened between them and has never forgiven herself for what she did. Now he arrives back in time for Christmas and Taryn is so conflicted about her feelings and what she should do. As fate would have it, Justin is back when Taryn needs him the most.

Jemma becomes ill with a heart condition and her house floods, ruining Rachel's wedding quilt in the process, so Justin steps in to help Taryn in any way he can. Discovering a section of an unused quilt hidden in the attic, Taryn and Justin decide to make it themselves. Soon the couple are spending a lot of time together and it becomes obvious that they still have strong feelings for each other, but Taryn is terrified of admitting this because she has a secret that would destroy Justin and the new friendship that they are embarking on. Living with this guilt, Taryn believes she is unloveable, and that even God could not love her.

When Jemma returns home from hospital she is so shocked by the quilt they have made, that she blurts out Taryn's secret in front of Justin. Jemma also alludes to another secret that she has been hiding from Taryn for the last twelve years. With so many hurt feelings, will Justin be able to forgive Taryn, but more importantly will Taryn be able to forgive herself for decisions made when she was eighteen? This is a moving tale of love, loss, realising your faith and forgiveness.

QUILTED BY CHRISTMAS by Jodie Bailey is a heartwarming journey of love and forgiveness. I connected with the character of Taryn immediately and really hoped that she would realise her own self-worth and forgive herself for what happened when she was a teenager. I enjoyed the relationship between Jemma and Taryn immensely, which had moments that were truly touching. All in all, this novel is a poignant tale of youthful mistakes, faith, and hope for the future, set against a beautiful Christmas backdrop.

Book Summary

Taryn McKenna believes she’s easy to forget. Abandoned by her parents and left behind when her high school sweetheart joined the army, she vows to never love again and throws herself into her love for the outdoors and the pursuit of a college degree—something no one else in her family has ever accomplished. Her goal, as a young teacher in the hills of North Carolina, is to leave a legacy in the lives of the middle-schoolers she teaches.

When Taryn’s grandmother Jemma, the only other person who ever held her close, has a heart attack that reveals a fatal medical condition, Taryn is corralled into helping Grandma work on a final project—an Irish chain quilt that tells the story of her history and the love Jemma knows is out there for Taryn. As the pieces of the quilt come together, Taryn begins to see her value. Can she learn to believe that God will never leave her behind even though others have?