Justin Callahan left town years ago for the Army, but now he drops back to blend with the crowd; as soon as Taryn spots him he knows this was a mistake. Her stricken eyes haunt him as he departs. Taryn believes that he's on leave but in fact he's coming home for good. To distract herself Taryn concentrates on helping her aged grandmother Jemma with quilt making. Her quilts for sale are sewn on a machine but family gifts are stitched by hand. A half-made wedding quilt in the Irish family tradition has been stored in the attic - Taryn has a sneaking suspicion that it was meant for her. She'd hoped to marry Justin, but she had such a row with him over his enlistment that there is no reconciliation possible.

Strong issues are hidden by the deceptively gentle scenes of women sewing fabric, and by the references to pine tree scent and baking gingerbread. Taryn lost her mother early, and her father was determined that she was not going to tie down a young man the way that he felt he had been trapped and tied. Devoid of support, she saw the young man she cared about leave her life. Times were different then. Now she's got her own mortgage, and doesn't need a man. Grandmother Jemma takes a turn, and she's going to need good care as well as the community's prayers.

Justin turns out to be refreshingly normal and doesn't mind saying that being able to sew hems earned him a lot of favour in the army. He never knew the pressures Taryn was under when he enlisted. Now all his memories of town are of eleven years ago, and recalling them makes him seem younger. I liked Justin a lot and was pleased that he was coming home to help his father, not to do gung-ho black ops or security work.

Jodie Bailey's carefully pieced-together QUILTED BY CHRISTMAS is an inspirational romance with a hard edge of truths underlying the softness. Some readers may find the multilayered story sparks discussions of life choices which are better spoken about than hidden. I consider this writing to savour and will be looking for more from Jodie Bailey.

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