Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Quilts of Love #1

Beyond the Storm

Rate this book
After a tornado rips through her town, store owner Abigail comes across a piece of fabric from a wedding dress among the devastation. Abigail is moved to start collecting other swatches of fabric she finds - her neighbor's kitchen curtains, a man's necktie, a dog's bed - which she stashes in shopping bags. As she pursues her seemingly absurd quest, horrible realities spark the question, What kind of a God would allow such tragedy As she struggles to reconcile her right to happiness amidst the destruction, Abigail begins piecing together a patchwork quilt from the salvaged fabric in hopes it will bring some peace. But a new relationship with Justin, a contractor, may require too much of her fragile heart. Will her pain and questions of faith give way to the courage to love?

First published October 1, 2012

114 people are currently reading
1334 people want to read

About the author

Carolyn Zane

76 books32 followers
Carolyn was born and raised in Southern California. When she was five, her family moved to Oregon. Carolyn graduated from high school in 1976 in Silverton, Oregon and enrolled at Oregon State University, where she majored in broadcast/speech communications. In 1978, she married her college sweetheart, Matt, and, in 1981, she graduated from OSU and moved to Portland. Carolyn worked as a producer for local television commercials.[1]

On their sixteenth wedding anniversary, Carolyn and her husband welcomed their first daughter, Madeline Alexa. A second daughter, Olivia RoseAnne, followed four years later. While her daughters were small, Zane wanted to find a career that she could follow from home. In March 1993 she finished her first romance novel, The Wife Next Door,which was soon purchased by Silhouette.[1] Since then, Carolyn has had almost 30 novels published in the Silhouette category lines, with over one million copies in print worldwide.[1][2] Her work has been reviewed multiple time in Romantic Times, which describes her work as "diverting," although sometimes "light on conflict."[3] Her books are "strong on humor, snappy repartee and passionate moments."[3]

Two of her novels have been inspirational romances, written under the pen name Suzy Pizzuti. These were released in 1998 and 1999

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
368 (40%)
4 stars
309 (34%)
3 stars
173 (19%)
2 stars
38 (4%)
1 star
13 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 139 reviews
3,915 reviews1,763 followers
April 7, 2022
I feel like this book slapped me upside the head and my ears are still ringing! LOL I was not prepared in any way, shape or form for what unfolded within these pages (er...in the recording...I listened to the audible edition.) How have I not heard more about Beyond the Storm?! It's been out for ten years! That's a decade of me not knowing about this book or this author!!! I'm gobsmacked.

So, basically this story is about storms. The kind Mother Nature can throw down on us as well as the kind we humans churn up all on our own. Zane creates beautiful, heart-rending imagery that still haunts me. It's brilliantly told in three parts -- before the storm, during the storm and after the storm. And the author gives us multiple points of view from a diverse group of small town residents.

I thought going into the read that it was going to be a sweet romance...and, while that is definitely part of the story, it's so much more than that. I was moved by so many nuances in plot and character but I'm stymied over how to express what I'm feeling without giving spoilers. Definitely a book I'd love to chat about in a book group forum. Because there is so much depth and emotion and stark truths. Things to lift you up and stretch your heart...and your faith.
Profile Image for Loraine.
3,447 reviews
November 6, 2014
WOW what a page turner! This book takes place in a small mid-western town. The storyline focuses on a cast of characters before, during, and after a major tornado. The emphasis of the storyline is on why do bad things happen to good people and second chances. The author weaves each of the character's stage and change in faith throughout the storyline. I found this a really remarkable piece of Christian writing sprinkled with "faith gems" that will stay in my mind for a long time. This is part of the Quilts of Love line and I look forward to reading more of this series.
Profile Image for Asheley T..
1,566 reviews124 followers
November 2, 2020
4.5/5

I wasn't expecting to get so attached to the characters in this book. It's a wonderful story about a small community that is hit by a huge tornado. The story takes place before, during, and after the big storm, and we watch the characters struggle with putting themselves and their town back together after losing so much. The scenes during the storm were vivid and gripping. I felt like I was right there in the middle of it all. There were several scenes that really pulled at my heartstrings and it was all I could do not to cry several times. I enjoyed all of the characters and their relationships with one another. There is a lot of hope and love and lifting one another up in this "rebuilding after disaster" story.

This is the first in a long series of standalone stories. The series is called "Quilts of Love."


Audiobook Notes: Audible recommended this book to me, so I listened to it as part of their new Plus program. It was great and I think I'll work my way through this entire series since all of the books are available in the Plus catalog. Stephanie Willis narrated the story and she did a great job!

Title: Beyond The Storm by Carolyn Zane
Series: Quilts of Love #1
Narrator: Stephanie Willis
Length: 7 hours 33 minutes, Unabridged
Publisher: Audible Studios
Profile Image for Emily.
230 reviews37 followers
November 15, 2020
This book got two stars because I was curious enough to finish it.

If you’re looking for a cheesy Christian feel-good story about a tragedy, look no further! If you’re looking for a book about a girl making a quilt, keep searching. The quilt does make a small appearance.

I would be remiss if my review didn’t mention how interestingly diverse the small Midwestern town of Rawston is. The book opens with Isuzu, the Japanese nail tech who speaks broken English. Later we meet Guadalupe, whose husband was deported to Mexico last year. Even the convenience store, Quick In Go, is managed by a bearded man in a turban, Desh Pradesh. Oh, and let’s not forget Kaylee, the African American woman who will be running the tanning salon, because it will give the place a “fun advertising angle,” because she likes to joke that this is where she got her tan.

This book had me doing a lot of groaning, and wishing I’d skipped it.
Profile Image for Stacey.
446 reviews
June 6, 2021
The storm in this story is a destructive and deadly tornado, but it also the storm that rolls inside of us as we make choices, navigate relationships, and struggle with faith. Through community, faith, and a very special quilt the characters of Beyond the Storm find healing,forgiveness and God’s love.

I struggled with how diversity was portrayed in the story. In many ways it felt like the author was checking off community groups and using stereotypes. However, I do appreciate her inclusion of diverse characters in this rural community, not as outsiders, but as integral members.
Profile Image for Barbara.
154 reviews17 followers
November 11, 2012
I've never experienced the weather and destruction that Carolyn Zane wrote about in Beyond the Storm but I felt like I was there with Abigail, Justin, Bob Ray, Jen, and others. I really enjoyed reading this one and look forward to book #2 in the series.
Profile Image for Elizabeth Meadows.
1,983 reviews301 followers
January 26, 2021
I found this on Audible Plus and since the series has been on my radar, I decided to try it out. I thought is was really great! The tornado scenes were very intense. There was a good range of characters, with a great mix of emotions throughout. When one character got mad at God for allowing the tornado to create such devastation, another character gave her the best advice I think I've ever heard in such a situation.
I will definitely continue with the series, although it's written by multiple authors and may the style may differ from book to book.
Profile Image for Tonya.
85 reviews2 followers
November 13, 2020
I listened to this on audible. Wasn’t what I was expecting. Powerful heart wrenching story. Definitely got caught up in the characters experiences through the tornado. Expect not to be able put it down.
Profile Image for Heather Costa.
611 reviews2 followers
April 9, 2022
This was a gripping story. Intense. Faith based good read!
Profile Image for Dawn.
781 reviews86 followers
January 26, 2014
I've read several of Carolyn Zane's books in the past and enjoyed them. When the cover of QUILT was called for book cover bingo, I jumped at the chance to read this one as it was already on my kindle. It's really a 4.5 star rating.

When a massive tornado strikes the heart of the small town of Rawston, the people are left to pick up the pieces of their lives. Hair stlyist Abigail begins gathering scraps of fabric and holding them close. Construction worker Justin not only delivers a baby but he also begins to develop a relationship with Abby. When Abby's aunt offers all who have been misplaced a place to stay at her house, this makeshift family of Abby, Justin, Abby's aunt, a teenager, a young mom, a young dad, their toddler son, and one of Abby's aunt's employees are all shown how to make a quilt. Using the scraps that Abby gathered along with other pieces that show how important one man was to them, they, along with the rest of the town, make a quilt that shows just how much influence one man can have on the world. The quilt was used to bring healing to their broken hearts.

This is a very gripping story of how tragedy can transform into redemption. Because of one man, who lost his life in the storm, the lives of so many were touched by him and his faith. And those lives are forever changed.
Profile Image for Connie N..
2,790 reviews
October 12, 2013
My overall rating on this is really 3.5 stars, but I'll round up because of the warm feeling I felt when it was done. This is a story about hardship, followed by hope. We get to know a community at the beginning, then learn to love them as they go through a devastating tornado and its aftermath. Each person deals with the storm in his/her own way, growing in faith and learning to overcome doubts. Several people come together to piece together a loving quilt in honor of one of their friends--picking up the pieces after devastation and putting things back together again, in a new and more beautiful way. I liked the way Zane built the tension before the storm by providing little excerpts of increasingly dire weather reports and tornado warnings on the radio. Very nice and the first in a series of stories from several authors about quilts and the love that is sewn into them.

Favorite quote about life, "Sometimes, it takes everything turning upside down to show you what is right-side-up."

And about faith, "When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don't throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer. And so now...when everything seems a mess, I can rest. He's on the job."
Profile Image for Kara.
688 reviews75 followers
January 30, 2018
I unearthed this little story from the back of my TBR shelf recently, while sorting my books. I'd actually forgotten I had it and upon reading the blurb again, was intrigued enough to read it all in one sitting right then! It's a sweet story that delves into the harshness of tornadoes and the resilience of those devastated by their effects. Kudos to Ms. Zane for making me feel like I was right there huddled with these residents as they endured the tornado and its aftermath! I cannot imagine going through such a horrible experience, and my heart was in my throat during those scenes.

My favorite part was the new surrogate family that the tornado brought together. These people are all so very different and under ordinary circumstances, they probably would never have even said much more than hello to one another. But needs must bring them all under one roof and I loved seeing them help each other through! The romance bits were sweet as well, but as they weren't the overall focus of the story, there's not a lot of time spent there. Ultimately an enjoyable read!
Profile Image for Megan.
1,736 reviews199 followers
August 29, 2012
Being from the Midwest, this book touched me deeply. Though I've never had anything like this happen to me, there have been watches and warnings near where I live and it is always a possibility that it could happen. Everything is described in such a way that I felt like I was in the storm and it was frightening!

Even though I had an inkling what was going to happen, the story was still so powerful and moving that it had me tearing up several times throughout the book. And I'm not a person who cries easily.

I love how instead of the story being about just one couple it is about several different families. Families that come together and become close friends after the storm.

This is my first book by this author, but I'm looking forward to reading more of her work.

I highly recommend Beyond the Storm.

***I received a complimentary copy of this book to review. I was asked to give my honest opinion of the book - which I have done.***
Profile Image for Lori Henrich.
1,084 reviews81 followers
May 12, 2014
Loved this so much. Didn't like what happened to one of the characters, but still good. This is a beautifully pieced together story of survival and weathering a storm that will either destroy you or make you stronger.

Abby is kind of content where she is, but thoughts of moving to L.A. and the spotlight of another job is causing her to think about moving on. When a terrible tornado rips through her hometown and destroys her business and home and wreaks havoc with the lives of family and friends; Abby begins to realize that there is only one thing that can really sustain someone during the storms of life.

Great story hoping the others in the series are just as well done. Not sure if I have read a series where the other installments are done by other authors. This should be interesting.
Profile Image for Teresa Snyder.
709 reviews30 followers
September 27, 2013
This is the second book that I've read in the Quilts of Love series. Impressed. Great books. This is the first Carolyn Zane book that I've read, hopefully it will not be my last.

Admittedly, this book has a lot of characters and it was difficult to keep them all straight in the beginning. By the end, I was in love with all of them! Especially Bob Ray. He did a complete 360. I could not stand him in the beginning. Found myself hoping he would get his comeuppance. He did. God jerked a knot in his tail.

Justin, one of the main characters, was equally adorable. Between him and Bob Ray, I sighed my way through the book.

Good happily-ever-after ending. Kinda odd to say, considering the book centers around a EF5 tornado, but it was a feel good kind of book.
Profile Image for Lisa Carter.
Author 52 books246 followers
November 8, 2012
An inspirational read when you find yourself facing a storm, in the midst of a storm or dealing with a storm's aftermath. A novel of triumph and hope. I'm a new Carolyn Zane fan. Great novel to debut Abingdon's Quilts of Love series.
Profile Image for Janet Friesner.
940 reviews13 followers
September 24, 2018
A lovely book about a town nearly totaled by a tornado and the people who banded together in a wonderful way with the help of a faithful, wonderful God, who was with them in a truly wonderful way. Love Christian Fiction.
Profile Image for Vannetta Chapman.
Author 128 books1,450 followers
March 26, 2013
A captivating story of tragedy and healing.
Carolyn Zane writes with compassion and humor.
This book was one I couldn't put down.

Profile Image for Carolyn.
97 reviews1 follower
April 25, 2013
Though the storm progress and aftermath were well described, I found this story way too faith based for me.
Profile Image for Laura.
132 reviews1 follower
March 30, 2018
Unfortunately, I just did not like this book. I thought it would be more about quilting than it was. Pretty disappointed. Won’t be reading more of these..
Profile Image for Sandra Stiles.
Author 1 book81 followers
March 20, 2022
The idea of this story was great from the beginning. It is the story of a tornado that ripped a town apart. But, it is much more than that. The storm could also be seen to represent the storms or trials in our lives. Through the making of a quilt made from scraps of fabric found by the local hairdresser after the storm. We see how each piece of fabric helps make sense of the tragedy and the part the person played in the lives of those in the town. Creating the quilt, putting it together piece by piece is the way we have to put our lives back together after we weather our own life storms. The center patch belonged to a man who made Jesus a part of his daily life. It is the interconnectedness of those he touched along with the interconnectedness of the quilt pieces that make this such a wonderful book. The book doesn’t come off as preachy. It is a demonstration of a life lived the way Christ would want us to live life. Just another reminder that in life’s storms we need to turn to and rely on God. He is truly the only one who has control. This is the first book in this series and was by an author I was not familiar with. I am looking forward to reading the others in the series.
1,360 reviews17 followers
January 3, 2021
Not too heavy handed in the Christianity arena, I needed an easy read after all the holiday planning and preparing, low key though it was this year. One comment I liked was that we take credit for all our accomplishments, but blame God for all the bad things that happen--like this category 5 tornado that wipes out the town center. A perspective I hadn't thought of.

I did like this story, especially the character of Aunt Selma who is wise and loving and a talented quilter. Piecing a quilt is a way for everyone to put back the pieces of their lives, so thoroughly disrupted by the disaster. Justin was a little too perfect. Actually, everyone was a bit too perfectly nice, but that was what I needed with all the political craziness 2020 has been. Never having been through a tornado, I am wondering if an earthquake is worse...at least you get some warning with a tornado.

This is from my TBR pile and fits Wendy's TBR challenge of a comfort read. #TBRChallenge
Profile Image for Lisa Beckelhimer.
359 reviews7 followers
May 4, 2022
Spoiler alert: I left the world of evangelical Christianity before I read this book, and my departure certainly must have influenced my negative view of the story and the writing. This book was borderline terrible. Two stars only for the vivid and accurate tornado scenes, familiar to me because I grew up in Missouri and experienced several tornadoes. The rest of the story is forgettable at least, and at most alienating and preachy. I wish I had counted the times the author used cliched "Christian-ese" language. Oh wait, no I don't, because I wasted too much time reaching this book, let alone taking time to critique its use of cliches. If you want a story about a tornado and a community that comes together afterward, I'm sure there are MUCH better books out there. If you want a sappy, preachy "inspirational" story, this one is for you. Books like this helped to "inspire" me to leave that part of the church entirely.
Profile Image for Lindsay.
135 reviews
November 27, 2023
An E5 tornado tips through a midwestern town, destroying livelihoods and stealing lives. We meet Abigail and several other community members as the storm approaches. Then we go through the tornado with them and discover the resulting devastation alongside them. We see how each person is changed by the tragedy, how their faith is challenged, and how their relationships with each other grow. We grieve the loss of life and dreams and celebrate their triumphs as they regroup and rebuild.
This book is amazing. I'd be shocked if the author didn't actually go through a tornado. Everything is so realistic, and the devastation is not sugar-coated. The characters processing and growth is so beautiful. I love how the community banded together and a found family was created. Seriously, read this book. Or listen. The narrator is one if my favorites. And I almost choked on a throat lozenge laughing at one of Isuzu's dialogues.
Profile Image for Beverly.
3,858 reviews27 followers
April 2, 2022
The story of a small town that is going about a normal day. We are introduced to a number of characters. As the day progresses, we get hourly updates from the radio station and/or stories of what's going on with the varied cast of characters. All the while, a major weather disturbance is heading directly towards their small town. When it finally materializes, it's a devastating tornado. The story then continues with the after effects, who lives, who doesn't, who provides unexpected help and who begins to look at life just a little bit differently. I thought the book would be a little more about quilting so it took me a bit to get into it but I have to say that even though I'm not a huge reader of Christian fiction, I became strangely attached to this group and even shed a few tears. By the way, the reader does finally get a quilting "event" before the end of the book.
Profile Image for Kathleen.
249 reviews1 follower
October 2, 2017
While it is true, I read a lot, I rarely read a book in a day. It certainly won't appeal to everyone, but for me, this book had just the right blend of words, ideas and characters to speak to me, with a message I needed to hear.

I chose the book because of it's theme of quilting, and was surprised to see a label on it that it is Christian Fiction. It reinforced my love of quilting and stitching meaning into the quilts I make, but more importantly it was a sermon of living faith, why bad things happen, how to be secure in a life of prayer, the release of forgiveness and the gift of grace. A beautiful and bold message of the priceless value of relationships with others and with God being more valuable than any other earthly thing. Quite a book for only 270 pages.
Profile Image for Julie McComas.
97 reviews14 followers
March 27, 2021
Living in Tornado Alley and being a quilter is what brought me to this book. If you are looking for a touching, page turner, then this book is for you. There are several characters, and at first, I had to turn back to keep them straight. By the last chapter, I was in love with the characters. Some of my favorite parts of the book were when you could see how God was working in their lives. The center of the story is the “why do bad things happen to good people” question. While there really isn’t an answer to this question, you are left with several pieces to take to heart. I’ve read some kind of hokey Christian Fiction, and this one didn’t fall into that category for me. It was funny, touching, and relatable.
Profile Image for J.
1,547 reviews
April 13, 2019
This was a pretty pleasant discovery after I signed up for Audible’s Romance package. I’ve had my eye on this series for a while. I didn’t think it would be classified as “romance”. This first book is definitely clean Christian romance. I thought it was well-written and the narration was enjoyable. If goodreads had a 3.5 star rating, that would probably be how I’d rate this one. But they don’t. This book left me with a smile on my face, so I rounded up for that. I think I’ll like this series very much.
Profile Image for Cindy.
2,280 reviews83 followers
September 14, 2022
Christian Contemporary Romance

This is such a powerful story! Encouraging, supportive, emotional and it really focuses on a lot of reasons people are confused by terrible circumstances and blame God! The author brilliantly offers insight and answers that I found truly Biblical! I hope you'll take the time to read or listen to this wonderful story that swept a town off its feet, but gave them a more firm foundation than they ever had!
The narration was really good, and at the time I listened it, it was available from Audible for no additional charges with an Audible subscription.
Profile Image for Mandy Helfer.
266 reviews
February 1, 2019
Intense but enjoyable

I really enjoyed this story, especially all of the characters. Parts of the story were a bit intense - descriptions of the storm devastation. I didn’t emotionally prepare myself for that. I was going to give it a lower rating due to my own personal preference on that. However, it is a really memorable book that held my attention and kept me reading. That deserves a higher rating.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 139 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.