From Here to Home

March 1, 2016

Mary Dell Templeton returns to her hometown of Too Much, TX (following the events of Between Heaven and Texas), almost 30 years after her attempts to make a life there as a single mother while opening a quilt shop. She and her son, Howard, have been living in Dallas, filming their quilting show, but new management wants to oust Howard, who has Down syndrome, and bring in a pretty young woman, hoping the reworked show will fail. This all occurs when Mary Dell is summoned home to support her niece, who is running the quilt shop, as well as her aging mother, and her PTSD-afflicted nephew. Then Howard insists he's ready to live on his own, attend college, and spend time with his girlfriend. Mary Dell doesn't need a marriage proposal from an old friend right now, since she never divorced Howard's father, who disappeared soon after their son was born. VERDICT Bostwick succeeds in handling tough subjects with a light hand, here updating faithful readers who wanted more about sassy, determined Mary Dell and her beloved son. Recommended for Bostwick's fans, and those who appreciate family novels featuring strong women.--Lesa Holstine, Evansville Vanderburgh P.L., IN

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2016
Mary Dell Templeton, host of the popular cable show Quintessential Quilting, knows that the show's ratings have been declining. When the new network executive threatens cancellation and brings in a younger cohost to drive up ratings, Mary Dell is stunned. But you can't keep a sassy Texan like Mary Dell down for long. Holly Whittaker, the new cohost, doesn't know a bobbin from a bias, but she is determined to be known as more than a pretty face and tries to learn how to quilt. Holly and Mary Dell form an unlikely friendship and try to wrest control of the show from the smarmy network executive. One of Mary Dell's first rebellious acts is to move the show to her hometown, where most of her family still resides. This close-knit family provides ample opportunity for Bostwick to showcase her gift for writing with warmth and humor, putting her fully formed characters in realistic situations. Too Much, Texas is a place any reader would love to visit, but give this especially to fans of Robyn Carr and Emilie Richards.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)