These Tangled Threads: A Novel of Biltmore
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 betrayal 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.
