Book Review: These Tangled Threads by Sarah Loudin Thomas

This is another one I reviewed for the May 2024 issue of Historical Novels Review, the magazine of The Historical Novel Society

Set between 1916 and 1923 on and near the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, this is a story of love, loss, betrayal, and weaving. Lorna is working on the estate as a weaver, training the precocious and unpredictable young Gentry in the trade as well. Their friend Arthur, a woodcarver, also works on the estate, and is silently in love with Lorna. Suddenly, Gentry disappears and Lorna becomes a successful designer of remarkable fabric. Then one day it all falls apart, and Lorna begins to search the surrounding mountain towns in order to find Gentry and set things right.

This is a heart-touching book about deception, false friendship, and forgiveness, set in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains. Life at The Biltmore Estate at that time is so well portrayed that the reader will feel instantly transported there. The tragic 1916 flood at Biltmore Village is part of the events that unfold, and it shapes the life of one of the characters, Lorna. The flood and its tragic aftermath are well described. The beauty of the mountains is woven perfectly throughout the novel. The magic of talent, and the desperation to possess it, lies at the heart of the conflict. There are strong themes of betrayal, guilt, and whether forgiveness is deserved or should be freely given. The love story in this book makes it all the sweeter. The author also does a good job of describing the heart of mountain artistry and how it has been passed down over generations. This novel is a tapestry of art, love, history, and betrayal that will delight the reader.

I received a free copy of this book via The Historical Novel Society. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sarah Loudin Thomas grew up on a 100-acre farm in French Creek, WV, the seventh generation to live there. Her historical fiction is often set in West Virginia and celebrates the people, the land, and the heritage of Appalachia.

Sarah is the director of Jan Karon’s Mitford Museum in Hudson, NC. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Coastal Carolina University and is the author of the acclaimed novels The Right Kind of Fool–winner of the 2021 Selah Book of the Year–and Miracle in a Dry Season–winner of the 2015 Inspy Award. Sarah has also been a finalist for the Christy Award, ACFW Carol Award and the Christian Book of the Year Award. She and her husband live in western North Carolina.

Learn more at The Author’s Website or Instagram

PURCHASE LINK

Click on the cover to buy this novel on Amazon.