I hope that you experience that same sensation when reading The Second Sister, that you feel like you know the characters as friends and, for a few hours at least, consider yourself a temporary resident of Nilson’s Bay, and that, after the story ends, you find yourself wanting to return. If that’s the case, drop me an e-mail or note on my Facebook page and let me know.
As I write this, I cannot honestly say if I’ll write more books about Lucy, Rinda, Daphne, Celia, and the other residents of Nilson’s Bay—there are just so many, many stories in my head, more than I could write in three lifetimes—but I do take reader response into account when choosing future projects, so do feel free to weigh in. I always love hearing from my readers.
You can write to me at . . .
Marie Bostwick
P.O. Box 488
Thomaston, CT 06787
Or “like” my Facebook fan page at www.facebook.com/mariebostwick. (And if you also check the “Get Notifications” item from the pull-down menu, you’ll get all my posts. I’m there every day.)
And remember, if you register on www.mariebostwick.com, you’ll not only be subscribed to my monthly newsletter (which has information on all my doings, as well as book recommendations, recipes, fun links, contests, and other tidbits I know you’ll enjoy), you’ll also be able to download free companion quilt patterns and recipes from many of my books, including The Second Sister.
Usually when I finish a new book, my dear friend Deb Tucker, creative kingpin of Studio 180 Design, and I collaborate to create a new free downloadable quilt pattern as a gift to my lovely readers. However, Deb is extraordinarily busy right now, working on a pattern book to be released in the spring of 2015 with some of her gorgeous Hunter’s Star designs (can’t wait to see it!). So that means that this time I’ll be doing the design for the companion project on my own. I’ve decided to create a pattern for Lucy’s first project—a jazzed-up nine-patch in blue, orange, and white. It’s going to be a fun quilt to make, something even a beginner can handle, so be sure to register on my website so you can download it as well as the other free patterns that are available there.
Even though Deb isn’t available to create a companion quilt with me for this book, you can find full-sized patterns for quilts from my past books available for purchase on her website. Be sure to check them out at www.studio180design.net. (And while you’re at it, take a look at Deb’s fabulous tools and rulers, too—they’ve made me a much better quilter!)
I hope you enjoyed reading The Second Sister as much as I enjoyed writing it. This is my eleventh full-length novel. Every time I think about that, I am amazed, grateful, and mindful that it would never, ever have happened without the loyalty and support of readers like you. Thank you so much.
Blessings,
A READING GROUP GUIDE
THE SECOND SISTER
Marie Bostwick
ABOUT THIS GUIDE
The following questions are intended to
enhance your group’s reading of
The Second Sister.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. When we first meet Lucy and Alice, they are on the phone in the middle of the night. We see Lucy’s patience with and love for Alice and we understand quickly that Alice is childlike in many ways. “But Alice’s voice was so pleading, so plaintive. And so persistent. She’d never let it go. Alice never let anything go.” Can you relate to this relationship? Whom do you feel for in reading their conversation and in Lucy’s reflection of their years together? What are you hoping happens with them?
2. Lucy is driven in her passion for her job and for advancing Tom Ryland’s political career. Her work ethic is strong and her personal life is completely on hold. Do you see this as a credit to the character or do you think she is avoiding something? Does this make you like Lucy or see her as flawed?
3. Lucy seems to have only one friend, Joe Feeney. She says, “I’ve always found it easier to relate to men than to women.” Do you know a woman who feels that same way? Are you like that? Why do you think some women find it difficult to maintain relationships with other women?
4. In the wake of the accident, Alice suffers some degree of cognitive impairment . . . yet after her death, we find from the people of Nilson’s Bay that she had great wisdom (in choosing the right pet for a person and in the terms of the inheritance for the cottage). Do you know someone with a similar kind of wisdom? Share with your group an example of this.
5. Lucy had to go through several life transitions in a short time. She went from a busy career to an eight-week “sabbatical.” She went from being a sister to being the only one left in her immediate family (save for Barney). She faced having to sell her home and deciding on a new future. When have you had to deal with a loss of identity or a major, perhaps unanticipated, life transition? How did you cope?
6. At Alice’s funeral we meet the FOA women, Rinda, Daphne, and Celia. What characters! Are there “characters” in your life who remind you of one of these dear women Alice adopted as her inner circle of friends? Perhaps you have friends in your life you adore, but who are so different from you. What brought you together with those friends?
7. Peter Swenson. Do you like him? Do you “know” him or his type? He changed from the sixteen-year-old Lucy remembers to the lawyer he is now. He made some mistakes and some smart moves. What did you admire about his character? Were there qualities you found less admirable in him? Were you rooting for Peter and Lucy?
8. The women of FOA reach out to Lucy and help her with quilting and teach her to be bold and creative. Lucy is used to doing things by herself, so this is a challenge for her. But the moment she becomes “teachable,” it is a turning point for Lucy in many ways. Can you relate to this? Tell the group about a teachable moment in your life and the effect it had upon you.
9. We live in a world with such deep ideological divisions and heated political rhetoric that many honest, decent people shy away from the idea of going into a life of public service. Can you think of ways for people to find common ground even when they are on opposite ends of the political spectrum? Peter was content with just being a local public servant, but Lucy saw bigger things for him. Who do you think was right, Peter or Lucy? Would you ever consider running for office? Why or why not?
10. During the Winter Fest activities right before Christmas, Lucy is among throngs of people and families walking around Nilson’s Bay, yet she experiences a loneliness and ache like never before. Have you ever felt this? Utterly alone among a crowd? How did you handle it? Are you still in the midst of it? What will you do?
11. When Lucy reflects on her childhood, she has unhappy memories of her father. She knows he adored and respected Alice, but was always critical of Lucy. What about your family? Were you the favorite? Did you work hard to earn praise? Do you think Lucy’s driven nature in politics and her career stem from trying to overcome feelings of inadequacies from the past?
12. The town of Nilson’s Bay, Wisconsin, is loved by its citizens as well as by those who vacation there. Think about where you live. Are you glad you live there? Where do you long to live? What would your ideal home, town, and views be like?
13. Lucy made a huge career choice at the end of the story. Do you agree with what she chose? Is it what you would have done?
14. Though Alice’s daughter, Jennifer, never had the opportunity to meet her birth mother, the quilts and sketches Alice made for Jennifer help her realize that she was never far from Alice’s heart. So often the handicrafts of those we love are the most cherished items left behind. What will you leave behind for your children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews? Do you have a special, handmade quilt, painting, or other art object that serves as a cherished reminder of someone you loved? Tell the group about it.
For Personal Reflection
After Alice’s unexpected death, Lucy deeply regretted the many missed opportunities she could have had to know Alice better if she’d just taken the time, made space in her schedule for her sister, listened
more intently. Think about your life and the people you have known. Is there someone you should reach out to after reading The Second Sister? A conversation, visit, or area of reconciliation you’ve put off too long? Will you consider taking action in that area now? As Lucy learned, time is fleeting and tomorrow comes with no guarantees.
As Lucy came to understand, sometimes the hardest person to forgive is yourself. Is there some mistake or action that you regret in your own life that is standing in the way of your relationships, has robbed you of happiness, or has kept you from accomplishing all you might? After reading The Second Sister, do you recognize how unproductive and even harmful this can be? Are you ready to let the past be past, let go of your mistakes and regrets, and move on? If so, good for you! If you’re still having trouble forgiving yourself for a past mistake, perhaps it is time for you to share this issue with a minister, spiritual guide, counselor, or wise and trustworthy friend who can help you wipe the slate clean and finally move forward.
© Nicole Askari
Marie Bostwick was born and raised in the Northwest. In the three decades since her marriage, Marie and her family have moved frequently, living in eight different states at eighteen different addresses, three of them in Texas. These experiences have given Marie a unique perspective that enables her to write about people from all walks of life and corners of the country with insight and authenticity. Marie currently resides in Connecticut, where she enjoys writing, spending time with family, helping out at church, gardening, collecting fabric, and stitching quilts.
Please visit her on the Web at:
www.mariebostwick.com
on Twitter, at twitter.com/mariebostwick
and on Facebook, at facebook.com/mariebostwick
A SINGLE THREAD
It’s a long way from Fort Worth, Texas, to New Bern, Connecticut, yet it takes only a day in the charming Yankee town to make Evelyn Dixon realize she’s found her new home. The abrupt end of her marriage was Evelyn’s wake-up call to get busy chasing her dream of opening a quilt shop. Finding a storefront is easy enough; starting a new life isn’t. Little does Evelyn imagine it will bring a trio like Abigail Burgess, her niece Liza, and Margot Matthews through her door. . . .
Troubled and angry after her mother’s death, Liza threatens to embarrass her aunt Abigail all over town unless she joins her for quilting classes. A victim of downsizing at the peak of her career, Margot hopes an event hosted by the quilt shop could be a great chance to network—and keep from dying of boredom....
As they stitch their unique creations, Evelyn, Abigail, Liza, and Margot form a sisterhood they never sought—but one that they’ll be grateful for when the unexpected provides a poignant reminder of the single thread that binds us all....
A THREAD OF TRUTH
At twenty-seven, having fled an abusive marriage with little more than her kids and the clothes on her back, Ivy Peterman figures she has nowhere to go but up. Quaint, historic New Bern, Connecticut, seems as good a place as any to start fresh. With a part-time job at the Cobbled Court Quilt Shop and budding friendships, Ivy feels hopeful for the first time in ages.
But when a popular quilting TV show is taped at the quilt shop, Ivy’s unwitting appearance in an on-air promo alerts her ex-husband to her whereabouts. Suddenly, Ivy is facing the fight of her life—one that forces her to face her deepest fears as a woman and a mother. This time, however, she’s got a sisterhood behind her: companions as complex, strong, and lasting as the quilts they stitch....
A THREAD SO THIN
While New Bern, Connecticut, lies under a blanket of snow, the Cobbled Court Quilt Shop remains a cozy haven for its owner, Evelyn Dixon, and her friends. Evelyn relishes winter’s slower pace—besides, Internet sales are hopping, thanks to her son Garrett’s efforts. In addition to helping out at the shop, Garrett has also been patiently waiting for his girlfriend, Liza, to finish art school in New York City. But as much as Evelyn loves Liza, she wonders if it’s a good idea for her son to be so serious, so soon, with a young woman who’s just getting ready to spread her wings....
Liza’s wondering the same thing—especially after Garrett rolls out the red carpet for a super-romantic New Year’s Eve—complete with marriage proposal. Garrett’s the closest thing to perfect she’s ever known, but what about her own imperfections? The only happy marriage Liza’s ever seen is her aunt Abigail’s, and it took her decades to tie the knot. Soon, Liza is struggling not only with her own fears, but with the mixed reactions of her friends and family. And when she finds herself torn between a rare career opportunity and her love for Garrett, Liza must grasp at the thinnest of threads—and pray it holds....
THREADING THE NEEDLE
The economic downturn has hit New Bern, Connecticut, and Tessa Woodruff’s herbal apothecary shop, For the Love of Lavender, is suffering. So is her once-happy thirty-four-year marriage to Lee. They’d given up everything to come back to New Bern from Boston and start their business, but now they’re wondering if they made the right decision. To relieve the strain, Tessa signs up for a quilting class at the Cobbled Court Quilt Shop and, to her surprise, rediscovers the power of sisterhood—along with the childhood friend she thought she’d lost forever. . . .
Madelyn Beecher left New Bern twenty years ago and never looked back. But when her husband is convicted of running a Ponzi scheme and she’s left with nothing but her late grandmother’s cottage, she is forced to return to the town she fled. Unfortunately, the cottage is in terrible shape. Madelyn’s only hope is to transform it into an inn. But to succeed, she’ll need the help of her fellow quilters, including the one friend she never thought she’d see again—or forgive. Now Madelyn and Tessa will have to relive old memories, forge new ones, and realize it’s possible to start over, one stitch at a time—as long as you’re surrounded by friends....
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’s friend Abigail is trying to matchmake 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.
It’s a shock to the entire town when Philip A. Clarkson turns out to be Philippa. Truth be told, not everyone is happy about having a female pastor. Yet despite a rocky start, Philippa begins to settle in—finding ways to ease the townspeople’s burdens, joining the quilting circle, and forging a fast friendship with Margot. When tragedy threatens to tear Margot’s family apart, that bond—and the help of her quilting sisterhood—will prove a saving grace. And as she untangles her feelings for another new arrival in town, Margot begins to realize that it is the surprising detours woven into life’s fabric that provide its richest hues and deepest meaning....
BETWEEN HEAVEN AND TEXAS
In this luminous prequel to her beloved Cobbled Court Quilts series, New York Times bestselling author Marie Bostwick takes readers into the heart of a small Texas town and the soul of a woman who discovers her destiny there....
Welcome to Too Much—where the women are strong willed and the men are handsome yet shiftless. Ever since Mary Dell Templeton and her twin sister, Lydia Dale, were children, their aunt Velvet has warned them away from local boys. But it’s well-known that the females in Mary Dell’s family have two traits in common—superior sewing skills and a fatal weakness for men.
While Lydia Dale grows up petite and pretty, Mary Dell just keeps growing. Tall, smart, and sassy, she is determined to one day turn her love of sewing into a business. Meanwhile, she’ll settle for raising babies with her new husband, Donny. But that dream proves elusive, too, until finally, Mary Dell gets the son she always wanted—a child as different as he is wonderful. And as Mary Dell is forced to reconsider what truly matters in her family and her marriage, she begins to piece together a life that, like t
he colorful quilts she creates, will prove vibrant, rich, and absolutely unforgettable....
APART AT THE SEAMS
New York Times bestselling author Marie Bostwick welcomes readers back to picturesque New Bern, Connecticut—a perfect place for a woman whose marriage is in turmoil to discover a new pattern for living....
Twice in her life, college counselor Gayla Oliver fell in love at first sight. The first time was with Brian—a lean, long-haired, British bass player. Marriage followed quickly, then twins, and gradually their bohemian lifestyle gave way to busy careers in New York. Gayla’s second love affair is with New Bern, Connecticut. Like Brian, the laid-back town is charming without trying too hard. It’s the ideal place to buy a second home and reignite the spark in their twenty-six-year marriage. Not that Gayla is worried. At least, not until she finds a discarded memo in which Brian admits to a past affair and suggests an amicable divorce.
Devastated, Gayla flees to New Bern. Though Brian insists he’s since recommitted to his family, Gayla’s feelings of betrayal may go too deep for forgiveness. Besides, her solo sabbatical is a chance to explore the creative impulses she sidelined long ago—quilting, gardening, and striking up new friendships with the women of the Cobbled Court circle—particularly Ivy, a single mother confronting fresh starts and past hurts of her own. With all of their support, Gayla just might find the courage to look ahead and decide which fragments of her old life she wants to keep, which are beyond repair—and how to knot the fraying ends until a bold new design reveals itself....
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