Review: A Silken Thread by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Title: A Silken Thread by Kim Vogel Sawyer
Publisher: WaterBrook
Genre: Historical, Christian, Romance
Length: 352 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

For readers who love a heartwarming romance and a rich historical setting comes a tale of a young woman with a heavy burden, the International Cotton Exposition, and the pursuit of true love.

Eighteen-year-old Laurel Millard, youngest of seven children, is expected to stay home and “take care of Mama” by her older siblings, but Laurel has dreams of starting her own family. Operating a silk loom at the Atlanta Exposition will give her the chance to capture the heart of a man wealthy enough to take care of Laurel and any children she might bear, as well as her mother.

Langdon Rochester’s parents have given him an ultimatum: settle down with a wife or lose his family inheritance. At the Exposition, Langdon meets Laurel. Marrying her would satisfy his parents’s command, she would look lovely on his arm for social events, and in her besotted state, he believes she would overlook him continuing pursuing rowdy adventures with his unmarried buddies. Langdon decides to woo Laurel. Willie Sharp is not well-off and must take on an extra job at the Atlanta Exposition as a security guard. When mischief-makers cause trouble in the Women’s Building, Willie is put in charge of keeping the building secure. He enjoys visiting with Laurel, who seems like the little sister he never had, but his feelings for Laurel change to something much deeper. Can Willie convince Laurel that he can give her better life–even with so little to offer?

Review:

With topical themes such as race relations and disparate social classes,  A Silken Thread by Kim Vogel Sawyer is a thought-provoking historical Christian novel.

Eighteen year old Laurel Millard is the youngest of seven children and still lives with her widowed mother. Having been informed by her older siblings it is her duty to care for their mother in her dotage, Laurel is hoping to find a wealthy man who will care for both her and her mama. The Atlanta Cotton Exposition is the perfect place to meet someone new, so she is thrilled when she is hired to weave silk. She unexpectedly finds friendship with her workmates but even more surprisingly, Laurel catches the eye of Langdon  Rochester, the son of a wealthy factory owner.  She also meets security guard Willie Sharp whose lifelong friendship with Quincy Tate hits a difficult patch when faced with other people’s prejudice.  Laurel’s experiences with these very different people are heartwarming and eye-opening, but she still remains a little naive. Will Laurel realize the truth before making a decision she might come to regret?

Laurel is extremely sheltered and she tends to take people at face value. She quickly becomes enamored by Langdon whose smooth manners hide his true nature. Laurel is a bit troubled by some of the things he does and says, but she is easily swayed by his explanations.  She plans to seek advice from Willie but everyone is quickly sidetracked when a legal issue arises.

Willie is an upstanding young man who is devoted to his father. He needs to raise money for medical treatment for his dad who recently suffered a stroke, so he takes a leave of absence from the Rochester factory to work as a security guard at the Exposition. He is delighted when Quincy is hired to work as a groundskeeper, but their friendship is threatened when Willie fails to speak up on Quincy’s behalf.

Quincy is enthralled by Booker T. Washington’s speech at the opening of the Exposition. His parents are former slaves and their family struggles to make ends meet.  Quincy is (rightfully) angered by the racial prejudice he experiences and he is struggling to find a way to make people see him, not his skin color.

Langdon is an entitled man who has no respect for those he considers beneath him.  He enjoys the privileges afforded to him because of his father’s wealth, but Langdon has no desire to actually work.  His search for a wife has nothing to do with love and he is looking for a woman whom he can easily manipulate into obeying his demands. Langdon is exceedingly sly but will Laurel see through his surface charm before it is too late?

Set in 1895, A Silken Thread is a finely crafted novel that with a socially relevant storyline that is truly timeless. Laurel is a lovely young woman but it is rather frustrating to see how gullible and trusting she is. Langdon is completely reprehensible and he finally does the right thing, but it is hard to believe he has truly changed. Willie is deeply principled with a strong faith and a steady moral compass. Quincy’s struggles with racial prejudice are heartbreaking and unfortunately highlights the fact that this is a battle that has yet to be won. Kim Vogel Sawyer’s newest release features a storyline that is informative, timely and inspiring.