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Clare Flynn
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Letters From a Patchwork Quilt: A captivating and heart-wrenching historical novel of star-crossed love (The Separation Series) Kindle Edition

by Clare Flynn (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 out of 5 stars 1,391 ratings

Pressured by his family to join the priesthood, a young man escapes to pursue a new life, in this powerful and moving love story.

England 1875, Jack Brennan, runs away from home to take up a teaching job and follow his dreams of becoming a poet.
Arriving in the thriving port city of Bristol, Jack loves his new teaching job. When he falls passionately in love with a fellow teacher, Eliza Hewlett, their future together looks bright. But everything changes when the daughter of Jack's landlord falsely accuses him of fathering the child she is expecting. Unable to convince the parish priest and his powerful landlord, Jack is in an intolerable position.

Desperate, Jack and Eliza decide to risk everything by emigrating to America. As they stand hand-in-hand on the deck of their ship on the Liverpool quayside, the couple are excited about the adventure ahead. But just as the ship is about to weigh anchor, police come on board to arrest Jack, while preventing Eliza from disembarking with him. Eliza is left alone en route to New York with just a few shillings in her pocket, while Jack is taken back to Bristol to face a shotgun wedding.
Will Jack be forced to marry his accuser? Will he fulfil his dream of becoming a poet? How will Eliza cope alone and penniless when she arrives in New York? Will the heartbroken lovers ever be reunited?

A sweeping, heart-wrenching tale of love and sacrifice, separation and courage, perfect for fans of Santa Montefiore and Janet MacLeod Trotter.

"A story of love, loss and tragedy: a heart-breaking and moving tale" Readers' Favorite

Readers are utterly compelled by Letters from A Patchwork Quilt:
“Another brilliant book by Clare Flynn… a beautiful ending and very inspiring”
“Love books by this author and can never put them down.”
“The story is captivating.”
“This was the most engrossing page turner”
“Well written, moving and highly recommended. A great read.”
“I highly recommend to readers of historical fiction, romance and women's books.”

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  1. Part of series
    The Separation Series
  2. Print length
    360 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    September 24, 2015
  5. File size
    921 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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From the Publisher

pink sky and book cover Letters from a Patchwork QUilt
pink sky and Cover for Letters from a Patchwork Quilt
book covers
Letters From a Patchwork Quilt: A captivating and heart-wrenching historical ...
The Gamekeeper's Wife: Joined by love. Separated by lies. (The Separation Ser...
The Green Ribbons: A classic tale of passion, vengeance and redemption (The S...
Kurinji Flowers: A Love Story of India (The Separation Series)
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Customer Reviews
4.2 out of 5 stars 1,391
4.2 out of 5 stars 2,413
4.0 out of 5 stars 828
4.5 out of 5 stars 2,185
Price $5.99 $5.99 $5.99 $5.99
pages 360 318 306 335
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Illustrating the times and locations very well, the novel has some marvellous and interesting supporting characters.... the story is well-written, moving and enjoyable." (Historical Novel Society)

About the Author

Award-winning British author, Clare Flynn is a former global marketing director. She ran a successful strategic management consultancy, although most of her time these days is now spent writing her novels.

Her first novel, A Greater World, is set in the Blue Mountains of Australia in the 1920s and was awarded an Indie BRAG Medallion in 2015. You can download A Greater World free on Amazon and other retailers. Clare's second novel, Kurinji Flowers, is a gripping story of love and loss set in colonial India on a tea plantation in the 1930s and 40s. This was also honored with a BRAG Medallion in September 2015. Letters From a Patchwork Quilt, set in the late nineteenth century in England and the USA has received a Readers' Favorite 5 Star Medallion.

Clare's novels feature places she knows well and she does extensive research to build the period and geographic flavor of her books. She went to live for 2 weeks on a tea plantation while writing Kurinji Flowers and her travels for research have taken her from Sydney to St Louis. Clare lives in Chiswick, London and is a member of the Historical Novel Society and the Alliance of Independent Authors. When not writing she likes to splash about with watercolors and is a frequent visitor to the galleries, theatres and museums of London. 

Get your free copy of Clare's exclusive short story, A Fine Pair of Shoes, about a trip to the Great Exhibition of 1851, by signing up at her website clareflynn.co.uk. You will also get early notification and a special low pre-launch price for Clare's future publications.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B015T8QF38
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Cranbrook Press
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 24, 2015
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 921 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 360 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Part of series ‏ : ‎ The Separation Series
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 1,391 ratings

About the author

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Clare Flynn

Clare Flynn

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Historical novelist Clare Flynn is a former global marketing director and business owner. She now lives in Eastbourne on the south coast of England and most of her time these days is spent writing her novels – when she's not gazing out of her windows at the sea.

Clare is the author of fourteen novels and a short story collection. Her books deal with displacement – her characters are wrenched away from their comfortable existences and forced to face new challenges – often in outposts of an empire which largely disappeared after WW2.

Her latest novel, Jasmine in París, is published on 30th November 2021. It is the fourth in her best-selling Penang series and follows the fortunes of Jasmine Barrington in Paris in 1949/50 and her friend Howard Baxter in Johore during the continuing Malayan Emergency.

Clare's novels often feature places she knows well and she does extensive research to build the period and geographic flavour of her books. A Greater World - 1920s Australia; Kurinji Flowers – pre-Independence India; Letters from a Patchwork Quilt – nineteenth century industrial England and the USA; The Green Ribbons – the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth century in rural England, The Chalky Sea - World War II England (and Canada) and its sequels The Alien Corn and The Frozen River - post WW2 Canada. She has also published a collection of short stories - both historical and contemporary, A Fine Pair of Shoes and Other Stories.

Fluent in Italian, she loves spending time in Italy. In her spare time she likes to quilt, paint and travel as often and as widely as possible. She is an active member of the Romantic Novelists Association, The Society of Authors, and the Alliance of Independent Authors.

Get a free copy of Clare's exclusive short story collection, A Fine Pair of Shoes, at www.clareflynn.co.uk.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
1,391 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book to be an amazing read with well-developed characters and amazing unexpected twists. The writing quality receives positive feedback, with one customer noting it's very easy to read. However, the pacing receives mixed reactions, with several customers describing it as very depressing.

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26 customers mention "Readability"26 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging, with one describing it as a page-turner, and several mentioning it's suitable for book group discussions.

"...It was full of on going twists and turns. It would be an interesting read for a book group as I think there would be many opinions expressed about..." Read more

"I really enjoyed the author's other two novels and was looking forward to reading this...." Read more

"This was the most engrossing page turner ,yet. It is a tragic..." Read more

"...So the writing is very repetitive. Good beginning in both books but then straight downhill." Read more

23 customers mention "Story quality"23 positive0 negative

Customers are enthralled by this historical novel, praising its amazing unexpected twists and turns.

"...It kept me guessing and hoping until the end. I feel the author was very attuned to the entire plot the the story...." Read more

"...impact the Catholic church has along the way is educational and interesting. I found it most informative as it related to women...." Read more

"The storyline was good, but would've rather the author didn't go into detail about the sex scenes. That I'm sure is my own personal preference...." Read more

"This book was full of unexpected surprises regarding just everyday life in a different time than now. Extremely well written...." Read more

12 customers mention "Writing quality"12 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, finding it extremely well written, with one customer noting it is very easy to read.

"...It kept me guessing and hoping until the end. I feel the author was very attuned to the entire plot the the story...." Read more

"...Extremely well written...." Read more

"...Suffice it to say, the story and characters were well developed and well written...." Read more

"Incredibly Creative Writing...Amazing unexpected twists and turns in the story-line...." Read more

5 customers mention "Character development"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the well-developed characters in the book.

"...The writing is such that I felt a personal closeness to the characters, two young people in 1875ish who fall in love and are separated by..." Read more

"...Suffice it to say, the story and characters were well developed and well written...." Read more

"Good read. Interesting characters. Satisfying ending." Read more

"Well written. Characters well developed. Jack and Elisa were each very dimensional characters...." Read more

7 customers mention "Pacing"2 positive5 negative

Customers find the pacing of the book depressing, with one customer describing it as dark and another finding it completely unrealistic.

"A very depressing book. It was difficult to get through all of the injustices and deceptions without feeling a heaviness." Read more

"...The story is dark, depressing and focuses more on heartbreaking relationships and angry sex than anything. I wish i had my time back...." Read more

"A fascinating romance with an unpredictable finish. It is page turning and mostly credible! Don't start it, if you are likely to be soon interrupted!!" Read more

"Awful. Almost laugh worthy it was so bad. I truly cannot understand all the good reviews this book has received." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Donna K. Anderson
    5.0 out of 5 stars A book worth reading
    Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    This was one of the most interesting books I’ve read in a while. It kept me guessing and hoping until the end. I feel the author was very attuned to the entire plot the the story. It was full of on going twists and turns. It would be an interesting read for a book group as I think there would be many opinions expressed about religion, honesty, the Victorian era, injustice, love, cruelty and on and on with adjectives. I was taken by the constant turn of events……It was worth the time taken to read.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Jill Derrick
    4.0 out of 5 stars Amazing read
    Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    So enjoyed all the historical facts of how these people lived. Some of their customs were heard to read. The sexual details almost had me put the book down . The pain and corruption in the church was heartbreaking.
    One person found this helpful
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  • C Woods
    5.0 out of 5 stars Soulful
    Reviewed in the United States on August 27, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Once again, Clare Flynn has brought me into the lives of two people. The writing is such that I felt a personal closeness to the characters, two young people in 1875ish who fall in love and are separated by circumstances beyond their control.

    The book almost serves as an indictment, in my mind, against the practices of religion, in this case the Catholic church at the time. The sad part is the devotion of so many to a self-serving doctrine of blind obedience and untouchable Ecclesiastes wielding their power. I personally have nothing against religious worship, but reading this story is a great example of why I choose not to be a part of any organized religion. My faith in God is my own.

    This rather sad story detailing the lives of these young lovers and the various impact the Catholic church has along the way is educational and interesting. I found it most informative as it related to women. I became angry as I read the stupidity of so many espousing rote doctrine.

    I highly recommend to readers of historical fiction, romance and women's books.
    13 people found this helpful
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  • 1roomschool
    3.0 out of 5 stars Story was pretty good, wished it bad been more "G" rated...
    Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    The storyline was good, but would've rather the author didn't go into detail about the sex scenes. That I'm sure is my own personal preference. Otherwise an interesting tale.
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  • MrTownsend. 😁
    4.0 out of 5 stars Was so much more than I expected.
    Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    This book was full of unexpected surprises regarding just everyday life in a different time than now.
    Extremely well written. This story of 2 people that loves just wasn't enough to get them through and this story takes you back to a time when there were so many challenges and not many opportunities or solutions for the poor or middle class or women of that era. You can actually feel their small amount of joy, their pain, confusion & frustrations.
    Thank you Clare Flynn for a job well done & taking me on a great journey.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • SensoryMama
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Sad Tale
    Reviewed in the United States on September 30, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I really enjoyed the author's other two novels and was looking forward to reading this.

    I'm having a hard time writing a review without giving away a bunch of spoilers! Suffice it to say, the story and characters were well developed and well written. The story was well paced and there were some unexpected turns to it. When I finished, I really had to think hard about how the story would have turned out if it had gone the way I'd wanted it to at the beginning. An interesting question to ponder upon completion as Jack turned out much differently than I had initially expected.

    All in all, a very well written book, well edited, and I really recommend it.
    13 people found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Unfulfilled love
    Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    This was the most engrossing page turner ,yet. It is a tragic
    life driven by poverty and made worse by betrayal of the powerful over the innocent and kindhearted. A story of lost love and and forgiveness.
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  • Pam
    4.0 out of 5 stars SAD SITUATION
    Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    How sad Jack’s life was! So much was done against him. He was a good man, but very weak. I believe that Gertrude’s assessment of him although harsh was true…..but I could forgive him his weaknesses as the author made me understand that his difficulties weighed him down so much that he could not see a way out…..he just sank further into his depression. While Eliza fought to rise above her tragedies. When Jack and Eliza were together they were strong, but Eliza was stronger. Interesting subject material; alcoholism, rape, spousal abuse, sexual deviance, depression, perseverance, forgiveness…..
    3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Rhonda
    5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it 😍
    Reviewed in Australia on May 27, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Well written and no bad language
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  • Susie Williams
    5.0 out of 5 stars A dose of realism and a beautiful ending.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 20, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Another brilliant boook by Clare Flynn. Quite sad and as another reviewer had mentioned that Jack had died I thought it was going to end as a great disappointment. But not at all, a beautiful ending and very inspiring for anyone interested in genealogy. Clare Flynn doesn’t shy away from writing about the harsh realities and disappointments that life can throw at you.
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  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting read
    Reviewed in Canada on July 17, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Good book
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  • Mrs Jane M Featherstone
    4.0 out of 5 stars Tragically realistic historical story
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 23, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Not every story is going to be happy and this is an unflinching realistic portrayal of the stark differences between poverty and privilege going back a few centuries. It also demonstrates the power of the Catholic Church over particular areas and communities. Well written and believable.
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  • Lesley Wilson
    4.0 out of 5 stars I believe this book will appeal to many readers, who enjoy this kind of narrative.
    Reviewed in Australia on May 15, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I found this book unbelievably depressing. Hard to believe that one man could score so much bad luck in a lifetime! Handwritten notes sewn into a patchwork quilt standing the test of time over 100 years of wear and washing, stretches poetic licence a little far. However, the book is well written, and contains some excellent character and place descriptions. It wasn’t my cup of tea, but I believe it will appeal to many other readers who enjoy this kind of narrative; thus, I feel it deserves a 4* rating.
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