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Quilts of Love #15
A Sky Without Stars
Frankie Chasing Bear is caught between cultures. She wants to raise her son Harold to revere his Lakota heritage, but she knows he will need to learn the white man’s ways to succeed. After the untimely death of her husband, Frankie joins the U.S. Government’s Relocation Program and moves to Arizona. There she begins sewing a Lakota Star pattern quilt for Harold with tribal wisdom
sung, sewn, and prayed into it.A bed without a quilt is like a sky without stars, but neither the quilt—nor her new life—comes easily to Frankie. Nick Vandergriff, for instance, is the last man Frankie wants to trust. He’s half-Lakota but Christian, and Frankie can see no good coming from that faith after her own parents were forced to convert at an Indian
school. Can Nick convince Frankie that white men and Christians aren’t all bad? And will Frankie learn that love is the most important ingredient—for her son’s quilt and life itself?
sung, sewn, and prayed into it.A bed without a quilt is like a sky without stars, but neither the quilt—nor her new life—comes easily to Frankie. Nick Vandergriff, for instance, is the last man Frankie wants to trust. He’s half-Lakota but Christian, and Frankie can see no good coming from that faith after her own parents were forced to convert at an Indian
school. Can Nick convince Frankie that white men and Christians aren’t all bad? And will Frankie learn that love is the most important ingredient—for her son’s quilt and life itself?
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2014
18 people are currently reading
410 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
December 4, 2022
3.5 stars
An interesting story in which I learned quite a bit. My reason for the rating is the story got stale around the halfway mark and drug until the end.
I’m appalled to learn how our fellow Americans were treated in the 1950s.
An interesting story in which I learned quite a bit. My reason for the rating is the story got stale around the halfway mark and drug until the end.
I’m appalled to learn how our fellow Americans were treated in the 1950s.
March 20, 2014
I found parts of this story interesting, but felt like the story fizzled out about halfway through. I liked learning more about what was happening during the 1950's with the Lakota and Navajo being forced to go to Indian schools and being made to act more white. I had heard about this, but this story really brought the whole horrible situation to life. I also felt really sorry for Nick, who couldn't seem to make anyone happy. There's some romance, which I liked. It felt like the story focused on her son running off all the time, though, and it didn't feel like much was happening in the story overall, so I found myself losing interest. If you like quilts or historical fiction, especially about Native American history, you might want to check it out.
I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review.
June 19, 2020
Recently widowed Frankie Chasing Bear and her son Harold are on the way to California to join the Indian Relocation program when their truck breaks down in Phoenix, Arizona. They stay in Phoenix to save money. They can either go to California or go to the Lakota Reservation in South Dakota. Frankie decides to make a quilt to give to Harold so he can continue the Lakota tradition. She also enrolls Harold and herself in the local Indian school.
She meets Nick Parker, a half Indian who struggling with alcoholism, his job with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the local Navajo tribal chiefs. He helps Frankie and Harold with their truck food and gives Harold a male influence. A crime involving stealing food complicates Frankie and Harold's chances of improving their lives. Harold is accused of stealing and both are kicked out of the school. Nick introduces her to other Lakota women, one of whom Frankie went to school with and they start a business. Frankie enjoys what she is doing but is worried about Harold. Harold keeps running away to escape the morning for his father. The last time Harold ran away Frankie, Nick and the community banded together to pray and to help each other.
I received this book for free from Fresh Fiction for an honest review. Nick and Frankie's romance was very sweet. Nick is attracted to her while maintaining boundaries. Both have demons from previous relationships. Their friendships first drew them together, then their reluctance but eventually faith in God.
She meets Nick Parker, a half Indian who struggling with alcoholism, his job with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the local Navajo tribal chiefs. He helps Frankie and Harold with their truck food and gives Harold a male influence. A crime involving stealing food complicates Frankie and Harold's chances of improving their lives. Harold is accused of stealing and both are kicked out of the school. Nick introduces her to other Lakota women, one of whom Frankie went to school with and they start a business. Frankie enjoys what she is doing but is worried about Harold. Harold keeps running away to escape the morning for his father. The last time Harold ran away Frankie, Nick and the community banded together to pray and to help each other.
I received this book for free from Fresh Fiction for an honest review. Nick and Frankie's romance was very sweet. Nick is attracted to her while maintaining boundaries. Both have demons from previous relationships. Their friendships first drew them together, then their reluctance but eventually faith in God.
October 30, 2022
Sweet Contemporary Romance
This is an odd story in that it's so foreign to me. It's set in modern times between Native Americans and Americans. While is claims to be a Christian story, the Natives have a blend of Christianity that seems to believe the Ancestors give them insight and answer prayers. it's very confusing.
Outside that aspect, it was an interesting story. I appreciate the forgiveness near the end, and her acceptance of faith in the One True God.
The narration was very good!
This is an odd story in that it's so foreign to me. It's set in modern times between Native Americans and Americans. While is claims to be a Christian story, the Natives have a blend of Christianity that seems to believe the Ancestors give them insight and answer prayers. it's very confusing.
Outside that aspect, it was an interesting story. I appreciate the forgiveness near the end, and her acceptance of faith in the One True God.
The narration was very good!
February 1, 2021
The 15th book in the Quilts of Love series. Christian fiction. Light read.
February 12, 2021
Easy read, interesting Lakota quilt information
September 15, 2022
I'm really enjoying this series. Each is a stand alone story about the quilt and those creating it and their story.
January 18, 2023
Listened on Audible (Included).
July 1, 2025
A historical novel set in the time of Indian Schools. It involves quilting, love and faith. Good read.
March 23, 2022
A mother caught between two cultures. She wants her son to know his Native American heritage but comes up against opposition around every corner. In order for her and her son to live in peace society says they must leave their heritage behind. Why must everyone live the white man's way?
March 4, 2014
A Sky Without Stars
Linda S. Clare
After her husband is killed on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, Frankie Chasing Bear wants a fresh start. But in 1951, relocating through the US government’s Relocation Program didn’t just mean a new town; it meant a new way of life. Frankie quickly learns that raising her son, Harold, to revere his Lakota heritage will be a challenge in the white man’s world. Searching for a way for her son to respect his ancestors but also embrace a future of opportunity, she begins a Lakota Star-pattern quilt with tribal wisdom sung, sewn, and prayed into it—something that will not let him forget where he came from. A bed without a quilt is like a sky without stars, but neither the quilt nor her new life come easily to Frankie. Federal Agent Nick Parker is the last man Frankie wants to trust. She’s already struggling to understand Nick’s culture, how can she embrace his Christian faith?
Frankie and Harold are trying to rebuild their lives in an alternate location when she starts quilting to make her feel better.But when I was twelve, Grandmother said soon the quilt might be all that was left of what we once were. By the time your children wrap quilts around themselves, she told me, the star and all it stands for may be a dim memory, lit only by the fire of ancestors, clouded by ruddy smoke hanging in the sky.
Just before she died, Grandmother and I sat together one last time. She stopped to smooth a small wrinkle in the quilt top. "Lakota were favored among tribes," she said. "Our people stood at the top of the hills. The buffalo and the deer bowed to our warriors, and we lived together in peace. The peace pipe showed us how to live, and the stars helped us find good hunting grounds. One day, the sun rose on white men. They brought their religion, but they often did not listen to their God's teachings. We were brought low and herded like animals. They had no explanation, except to point to their Book. We were to love their God and love each other."
Grandmother laughed. "Lakota need no instruction on love." Tears glistened in her tired black eyes.
I dared not remind her she prayed to the God of the Bible. That she stood in two worlds, fully Lakota, fully Christian. I worry it's not possible for me. Indians who go to the church are shunned by their kin and by the whites. Outcasts, their feet in no world at all.
Before we traveled to Arizona, Grandmother made me promise to make this Lakota Star for my son. Sew love into every stitch and remember: a bed without a quilt is like a sky without stars. The quilt will help this child remember who he is, she said. The star will tell him how much he is loved and the light will save him at the last day." (excerpt Prologue).
"A bed without a quilt is like a sky without stars," is a quote from Frankie Chasing Bear's wise grandmother. She learned to quilt from her grandmother and is determined to make a quilt for her son Harold. But life is hard for this Lakota mother in the 1950's. Frankie and Harold join the US Government's relocation program and move to Arizona, hoping for a better life.
In Arizona they are met with more hardships and problems. Frankie enrolls Harold in the Indian school, and attends herself to complete her high school diploma. But there are others in town who just want the Indians gone. Through it all, Frankie keeps her eye on the goal of making a better life for Harold. She finds peace and comfort in the process of making Harold's quilt.
Frankie works on the Lakota Star though the relocation is not smooth with car trouble and Harold being bullied. When Bureau of Indian Affairs agent Nick Vandergriff meets Frankie, he knows he has found his love. the BIA operative is half-Lakota, he has his work cut out convincing Frankie they belong together raising her son as his Christian beliefs are a non-starter.
Frankie Chasing Bear is caught between cultures. She wants to raise her son Harold to revere his Lakota heritage, but she knows he will need to learn the white man’s ways to succeed. After the untimely death of her husband, Frankie joins the U.S. Government’s Relocation Program and moves to Arizona. There she begins sewing a Lakota Star pattern quilt for Harold with tribal wisdom.
Nick Vandergriff is the last man Frankie wants to trust. He’s half-Lakota but Christian, and Frankie can see no good coming from that faith after her own parents were forced to convert at an Indian
school. Can Nick convince Frankie that white men and Christians aren’t all bad? And will Frankie learn that love is the most important ingredient? Life in the 1950's shouldn't be this hard for Native Americans,
I highly recommend reading this book.A Sky Without Stars is a wonderful well written 4 stars book.
I am looking forward to reading the next books in this series.
I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for my honest review.
Linda S. Clare
After her husband is killed on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, Frankie Chasing Bear wants a fresh start. But in 1951, relocating through the US government’s Relocation Program didn’t just mean a new town; it meant a new way of life. Frankie quickly learns that raising her son, Harold, to revere his Lakota heritage will be a challenge in the white man’s world. Searching for a way for her son to respect his ancestors but also embrace a future of opportunity, she begins a Lakota Star-pattern quilt with tribal wisdom sung, sewn, and prayed into it—something that will not let him forget where he came from. A bed without a quilt is like a sky without stars, but neither the quilt nor her new life come easily to Frankie. Federal Agent Nick Parker is the last man Frankie wants to trust. She’s already struggling to understand Nick’s culture, how can she embrace his Christian faith?
Frankie and Harold are trying to rebuild their lives in an alternate location when she starts quilting to make her feel better.But when I was twelve, Grandmother said soon the quilt might be all that was left of what we once were. By the time your children wrap quilts around themselves, she told me, the star and all it stands for may be a dim memory, lit only by the fire of ancestors, clouded by ruddy smoke hanging in the sky.
Just before she died, Grandmother and I sat together one last time. She stopped to smooth a small wrinkle in the quilt top. "Lakota were favored among tribes," she said. "Our people stood at the top of the hills. The buffalo and the deer bowed to our warriors, and we lived together in peace. The peace pipe showed us how to live, and the stars helped us find good hunting grounds. One day, the sun rose on white men. They brought their religion, but they often did not listen to their God's teachings. We were brought low and herded like animals. They had no explanation, except to point to their Book. We were to love their God and love each other."
Grandmother laughed. "Lakota need no instruction on love." Tears glistened in her tired black eyes.
I dared not remind her she prayed to the God of the Bible. That she stood in two worlds, fully Lakota, fully Christian. I worry it's not possible for me. Indians who go to the church are shunned by their kin and by the whites. Outcasts, their feet in no world at all.
Before we traveled to Arizona, Grandmother made me promise to make this Lakota Star for my son. Sew love into every stitch and remember: a bed without a quilt is like a sky without stars. The quilt will help this child remember who he is, she said. The star will tell him how much he is loved and the light will save him at the last day." (excerpt Prologue).
"A bed without a quilt is like a sky without stars," is a quote from Frankie Chasing Bear's wise grandmother. She learned to quilt from her grandmother and is determined to make a quilt for her son Harold. But life is hard for this Lakota mother in the 1950's. Frankie and Harold join the US Government's relocation program and move to Arizona, hoping for a better life.
In Arizona they are met with more hardships and problems. Frankie enrolls Harold in the Indian school, and attends herself to complete her high school diploma. But there are others in town who just want the Indians gone. Through it all, Frankie keeps her eye on the goal of making a better life for Harold. She finds peace and comfort in the process of making Harold's quilt.
Frankie works on the Lakota Star though the relocation is not smooth with car trouble and Harold being bullied. When Bureau of Indian Affairs agent Nick Vandergriff meets Frankie, he knows he has found his love. the BIA operative is half-Lakota, he has his work cut out convincing Frankie they belong together raising her son as his Christian beliefs are a non-starter.
Frankie Chasing Bear is caught between cultures. She wants to raise her son Harold to revere his Lakota heritage, but she knows he will need to learn the white man’s ways to succeed. After the untimely death of her husband, Frankie joins the U.S. Government’s Relocation Program and moves to Arizona. There she begins sewing a Lakota Star pattern quilt for Harold with tribal wisdom.
Nick Vandergriff is the last man Frankie wants to trust. He’s half-Lakota but Christian, and Frankie can see no good coming from that faith after her own parents were forced to convert at an Indian
school. Can Nick convince Frankie that white men and Christians aren’t all bad? And will Frankie learn that love is the most important ingredient? Life in the 1950's shouldn't be this hard for Native Americans,
I highly recommend reading this book.A Sky Without Stars is a wonderful well written 4 stars book.
I am looking forward to reading the next books in this series.
I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for my honest review.
February 16, 2014
Pine Ridge, South Dakota
Frankie Chasing Bear
I did not come to quilt-making easily. The urge to piece together shapes and colors wasn't my gift.
But when I was twelve, Grandmother said soon the quilt might be all that was left of what we once were. By the time your children wrap quilts around themselves, she told me, the star and all it stands for may be a dim memory, lit only by the fire of ancestors, clouded by ruddy smoke hanging in the sky.
Just before she died, Grandmother and I sat together one last time. She stopped to smooth a small wrinkle in the quilt top. "Lakota were favored among tribes," she said. "Our people stood at the top of the hills. The buffalo and the deer bowed to our warriors, and we lived together in peace. The peace pipe showed us how to live, and the stars helped us find good hunting grounds. One day, the sun rose on white men. They brought their religion, but they often did not listen to their God's teachings. We were brought low and herded like animals. They had no explanation, except to point to their Book. We were to love their God and love each other."
Grandmother laughed. "Lakota need no instruction on love." Tears glistened in her tired black eyes. She'd seen something terrible in the smoke, she said for the hundredth time. A red rose, unopened. Blood, a river of blood. Another day was coming, she said, when words from the Book would take place: We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.
I dared not remind her she prayed to the God of the Bible. That she stood in two worlds, fully Lakota, fully Christian. I worry it's not possible for me. Indians who go to the church are shunned by their kin and by the whites. Outcasts, their feet in no world at all.
Before we traveled to Arizona, Grandmother made me promise to make this Lakota Star for my son. Sew love into every stitch and remember: a bed without a quilt is like a sky without stars. The quilt will help this child remember who he is, she said. The star will tell him how much he is loved and the light will save him at the last day." (excerpt Prologue).
A Sky Without Stars is the latest novel in the Quilts of Love Series by Linda S. Clare as she takes a Native American turn at storytelling. We meet Frankie Chasing Bear who has begun the task of trying to make it on her own as a single mother leaving her to care for her son, ten-year-old Harold. After growing up among men who drink, first her father and then her husband, Frankie knows that she must do all she can to make sure her son does not follow in his families footsteps. But Harold is facing his own challenges being bullied by a white boy named Orval who finds picking on the Indian child to be his lot in life. No matter how much Frankie tries to help, somethings can only be learned by going through life and enduring the tough trials. Soon Frankie and Harold find an ally in Nick Parker, a Federal Agent who is half Lakota as well and both will find that learning to embrace new challenges and giving up some of the past prejudices are just what is needed for them both to move forward to a new life.
I received A Sky Without Stars by Linda S. Clare compliments of Litfuse Publicity and Abingdon Press for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation and the opinions expressed are strictly my own unless otherwise noted. I love this take on the Quilts of Love series with the Native American twist for the 15th book in the series. I love how they embrace their heritage and the ways that have been passed down from generation to generation much like the quilt that Frankie is creating for her son, Harold. Quilts are like that in that they generally tell a bit about the person who handcrafted it with love and blessings as pieces are stitched together creating a beautiful work of art, much like how God uses our circumstances to create the person He has in mind as we grow and mature. I give this novel a 4 out of 5 stars and it even includes a reader discussion guide at the end.
Frankie Chasing Bear
I did not come to quilt-making easily. The urge to piece together shapes and colors wasn't my gift.
But when I was twelve, Grandmother said soon the quilt might be all that was left of what we once were. By the time your children wrap quilts around themselves, she told me, the star and all it stands for may be a dim memory, lit only by the fire of ancestors, clouded by ruddy smoke hanging in the sky.
Just before she died, Grandmother and I sat together one last time. She stopped to smooth a small wrinkle in the quilt top. "Lakota were favored among tribes," she said. "Our people stood at the top of the hills. The buffalo and the deer bowed to our warriors, and we lived together in peace. The peace pipe showed us how to live, and the stars helped us find good hunting grounds. One day, the sun rose on white men. They brought their religion, but they often did not listen to their God's teachings. We were brought low and herded like animals. They had no explanation, except to point to their Book. We were to love their God and love each other."
Grandmother laughed. "Lakota need no instruction on love." Tears glistened in her tired black eyes. She'd seen something terrible in the smoke, she said for the hundredth time. A red rose, unopened. Blood, a river of blood. Another day was coming, she said, when words from the Book would take place: We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.
I dared not remind her she prayed to the God of the Bible. That she stood in two worlds, fully Lakota, fully Christian. I worry it's not possible for me. Indians who go to the church are shunned by their kin and by the whites. Outcasts, their feet in no world at all.
Before we traveled to Arizona, Grandmother made me promise to make this Lakota Star for my son. Sew love into every stitch and remember: a bed without a quilt is like a sky without stars. The quilt will help this child remember who he is, she said. The star will tell him how much he is loved and the light will save him at the last day." (excerpt Prologue).
A Sky Without Stars is the latest novel in the Quilts of Love Series by Linda S. Clare as she takes a Native American turn at storytelling. We meet Frankie Chasing Bear who has begun the task of trying to make it on her own as a single mother leaving her to care for her son, ten-year-old Harold. After growing up among men who drink, first her father and then her husband, Frankie knows that she must do all she can to make sure her son does not follow in his families footsteps. But Harold is facing his own challenges being bullied by a white boy named Orval who finds picking on the Indian child to be his lot in life. No matter how much Frankie tries to help, somethings can only be learned by going through life and enduring the tough trials. Soon Frankie and Harold find an ally in Nick Parker, a Federal Agent who is half Lakota as well and both will find that learning to embrace new challenges and giving up some of the past prejudices are just what is needed for them both to move forward to a new life.
I received A Sky Without Stars by Linda S. Clare compliments of Litfuse Publicity and Abingdon Press for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation and the opinions expressed are strictly my own unless otherwise noted. I love this take on the Quilts of Love series with the Native American twist for the 15th book in the series. I love how they embrace their heritage and the ways that have been passed down from generation to generation much like the quilt that Frankie is creating for her son, Harold. Quilts are like that in that they generally tell a bit about the person who handcrafted it with love and blessings as pieces are stitched together creating a beautiful work of art, much like how God uses our circumstances to create the person He has in mind as we grow and mature. I give this novel a 4 out of 5 stars and it even includes a reader discussion guide at the end.
March 31, 2014
"Sew love into every stitch and remember: a bed without a quilt is like a sky without stars."
Frankie Chasing Bear is Lakota and raising her son, Harold, alone. Frankie lived with drunken men her entire life, her father and then her husband Hank, so she was very leery of men in general. She had a determination rarely seen. She wanted her son and herself to get an education and would do whatever it took to make it happen. She was a proud woman that embraced her heritage and wanted her son to embrace their heritage just as much. She wanted to do things on her own without help and she was very brave. She listened for her grandmother's wisdom in every situation and she had a habit of covering her mouth when she laughed or smiled because the Lakota women were taught that from early on. I admired Frankie. She was determined to finish the Lakota star quilt for her son because she knew in her heart it was an important aspect in her son's future. I loved Frankie's character and I would love to meet the real Frankie Chasing Bear.
Nick Parker is part Lakota and part white. In both worlds he is referred to as a "half breed". He works for the Bureau of Indian Affairs trying to convince the Navajo to become farmers and give up their sheep herds. Nick has ten years of sobriety but the urge to drink continues to hit him hard when tensions run high and he's frustrated over the beautiful Frankie Chasing Bear. I could feel Nick's battle raging inside of him when the urge to drink came and I smiled each time he won the battle. I loved Nick and the way he wanted to take care of Frankie and Harold. He had a protective nature and a great love of God where Frankie had a very hard time believing in the white man's God.
There were several aspects of this story I loved. First, God and Christianity were woven throughout the story in such a way as to get you thinking but it doesn't overtake the story. Second, the characters. Frankie and her son Harold, Nick and his friends, Monny and Reverend Honest Abe, Netty and Lucie. Third, I loved the storyline. The entire story was intriguing and engaging and I couldn't stop reading until I found out what would happen with Frankie, Harold and Nick. Finally, I loved the way quilting was such a big part of the story. For centuries quilting has been a huge part of some families and cultures. Quilting represents traditions, family and love and I think all three are very important. Frankie really struggled with trusting men because of her past but she struggled with trusting God even more. It was so great when she finally realized she needed to trust God for her son to come home safely but she also had to accept the fact that she needed help. Help from others because she couldn't do everything on her own. He character really blossomed by the end of the book. I really enjoyed this book. I have read a few other books in the Quilts of Love series and I enjoyed each of them immensely. If you love stories of faith and love, you'll love A Sky Without Stars. If you love quilting, you'll love this book. If you just love an entertaining story that keeps you turning the page, you'll love it also. I highly recommend this book!
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review. The opinions expressed are mine alone. I received no monetary compensation for this review.
Frankie Chasing Bear is Lakota and raising her son, Harold, alone. Frankie lived with drunken men her entire life, her father and then her husband Hank, so she was very leery of men in general. She had a determination rarely seen. She wanted her son and herself to get an education and would do whatever it took to make it happen. She was a proud woman that embraced her heritage and wanted her son to embrace their heritage just as much. She wanted to do things on her own without help and she was very brave. She listened for her grandmother's wisdom in every situation and she had a habit of covering her mouth when she laughed or smiled because the Lakota women were taught that from early on. I admired Frankie. She was determined to finish the Lakota star quilt for her son because she knew in her heart it was an important aspect in her son's future. I loved Frankie's character and I would love to meet the real Frankie Chasing Bear.
Nick Parker is part Lakota and part white. In both worlds he is referred to as a "half breed". He works for the Bureau of Indian Affairs trying to convince the Navajo to become farmers and give up their sheep herds. Nick has ten years of sobriety but the urge to drink continues to hit him hard when tensions run high and he's frustrated over the beautiful Frankie Chasing Bear. I could feel Nick's battle raging inside of him when the urge to drink came and I smiled each time he won the battle. I loved Nick and the way he wanted to take care of Frankie and Harold. He had a protective nature and a great love of God where Frankie had a very hard time believing in the white man's God.
There were several aspects of this story I loved. First, God and Christianity were woven throughout the story in such a way as to get you thinking but it doesn't overtake the story. Second, the characters. Frankie and her son Harold, Nick and his friends, Monny and Reverend Honest Abe, Netty and Lucie. Third, I loved the storyline. The entire story was intriguing and engaging and I couldn't stop reading until I found out what would happen with Frankie, Harold and Nick. Finally, I loved the way quilting was such a big part of the story. For centuries quilting has been a huge part of some families and cultures. Quilting represents traditions, family and love and I think all three are very important. Frankie really struggled with trusting men because of her past but she struggled with trusting God even more. It was so great when she finally realized she needed to trust God for her son to come home safely but she also had to accept the fact that she needed help. Help from others because she couldn't do everything on her own. He character really blossomed by the end of the book. I really enjoyed this book. I have read a few other books in the Quilts of Love series and I enjoyed each of them immensely. If you love stories of faith and love, you'll love A Sky Without Stars. If you love quilting, you'll love this book. If you just love an entertaining story that keeps you turning the page, you'll love it also. I highly recommend this book!
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review. The opinions expressed are mine alone. I received no monetary compensation for this review.
March 24, 2014
Monday, March 24, 2014
A Sky Without Stars by Linda S. Clare, ©2014
Quilts of Love series ~ every quilt has a story
Frankie Chasing Bear and her ten-year-old son, Harold, have left their Lakota home in Pine Ridge, South Dakota. It is 1951 and they are relocating to Los Angeles following the death of her husband, but make it as far as Phoenix in her old truck. Frankie begins a Lakota Star quilt to teach her son the Lakota ways by the story in the quilt. Wanting to finish up her high school diploma, Frankie and Harold attend the Phoenix Indian School together. That is until some trouble comes along and they are both asked to leave. Harold wants to go back to Pine Ridge.
Nick Parker is a Federal Agent for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and has just transferred from Nebraska to Arizona. Nick is half-Lakota and half-white. He is sent to talk to the Navajo people to thin their sheep herds to preserve the government forests. He and Frankie meet as she and her son are at the gas station getting water for her overheated truck.
In needing a source of income, Frankie is directed to two quilters and she joins them at their shop. The Navajo Reservation with its tribal headquarters in Window Rock, Arizona, holds a Fair every year. Frankie and her two friends take quilts there to sell. While at the weekend Navajo Fair, Harold makes friends with Blackfeet boys his age from Montana who include him in their ball games ~ as quarterback! Excited to have friends, Harold stays close to them.
A Sky without Stars tells the story of a crash of cultures. I admire Frankie as she comes up against obstacles and continues on striving for betterment and living each day to the fullest. She loves her son and struggles with letting go. He is convinced she is trying to baby him, and Frankie wants to keep him close and away from harm. A growing time for each of them, Frankie looks to the wisdom of her grandmother in seeking her next step. She could not understand how her grandmother could be Lakota and a Christian. As Nick and Frankie become friends, he continues to want to help her in any way he can. As a single mother in a new environment, she tries to do it on her own. Assurance comes as both of them find God has been with them in their struggles. A growing story of hope, forgiveness, and acceptance of grace and mercy extended. Finding the love of the Lakota Star, star of Bethlehem.
Author Linda S. Clare ~ a bed without a quilt is like a sky without stars ~
***Thank you to Litfuse Publicity Group for inviting me to be part of the blog tour for this Quilts of Love story ~ A Sky Without Stars by Linda S. Clare. This review was written in my own words. No other compensation was received.***
A Sky Without Stars by Linda S. Clare, ©2014
Quilts of Love series ~ every quilt has a story
Frankie Chasing Bear and her ten-year-old son, Harold, have left their Lakota home in Pine Ridge, South Dakota. It is 1951 and they are relocating to Los Angeles following the death of her husband, but make it as far as Phoenix in her old truck. Frankie begins a Lakota Star quilt to teach her son the Lakota ways by the story in the quilt. Wanting to finish up her high school diploma, Frankie and Harold attend the Phoenix Indian School together. That is until some trouble comes along and they are both asked to leave. Harold wants to go back to Pine Ridge.
Nick Parker is a Federal Agent for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and has just transferred from Nebraska to Arizona. Nick is half-Lakota and half-white. He is sent to talk to the Navajo people to thin their sheep herds to preserve the government forests. He and Frankie meet as she and her son are at the gas station getting water for her overheated truck.
In needing a source of income, Frankie is directed to two quilters and she joins them at their shop. The Navajo Reservation with its tribal headquarters in Window Rock, Arizona, holds a Fair every year. Frankie and her two friends take quilts there to sell. While at the weekend Navajo Fair, Harold makes friends with Blackfeet boys his age from Montana who include him in their ball games ~ as quarterback! Excited to have friends, Harold stays close to them.
A Sky without Stars tells the story of a crash of cultures. I admire Frankie as she comes up against obstacles and continues on striving for betterment and living each day to the fullest. She loves her son and struggles with letting go. He is convinced she is trying to baby him, and Frankie wants to keep him close and away from harm. A growing time for each of them, Frankie looks to the wisdom of her grandmother in seeking her next step. She could not understand how her grandmother could be Lakota and a Christian. As Nick and Frankie become friends, he continues to want to help her in any way he can. As a single mother in a new environment, she tries to do it on her own. Assurance comes as both of them find God has been with them in their struggles. A growing story of hope, forgiveness, and acceptance of grace and mercy extended. Finding the love of the Lakota Star, star of Bethlehem.
Author Linda S. Clare ~ a bed without a quilt is like a sky without stars ~
***Thank you to Litfuse Publicity Group for inviting me to be part of the blog tour for this Quilts of Love story ~ A Sky Without Stars by Linda S. Clare. This review was written in my own words. No other compensation was received.***
March 23, 2014
Why I Read this Book: When I first read the synopsis for this story, I realized that it focused on Native American culture and the maltreatment of the various tribes that continues to this day. I wanted to learn more about their struggles and the significance of the Lakota star Frankie was creating in her quilt.
What I Liked: We first meet Frankie and her son, Harold, broken down on the side of the road with no help in sight, but the last gas station they passed. Making their way back to the gas station to get water for their radiator, we get a glimpse of the harsh life Frankie has had to endure, and even more of a look when she has a run-in with the station's owner and his son.
The realistic portrayal of the prejudice against the Native Americans by the "white men (and women)" grabbed me from the start. I grew up in New Mexico and remember visiting one of the Reservations so we could "see how the Indians lived." I remember playing on the monkey bars with the other students and listening to their stories, but I also remember the comments made between our teachers and theirs--let's just say there was not a lot of love between them. The tension was high and I don't remember us ever going back on a field trip.
Reading about Frankie's distrust of all men, including the alcoholism that was rampant among the men in her tribe, really opened my eyes to the issues she faced in trying to raise her son as a single Native American parent. I loved that she had to learn to trust and lean on other people for help since she was unable to provide and make ends meet on her own. It showed her strength, as well as her helplessness, which eventually led her to rely on "the white man's God."
Overall, it was a great story about struggles and the power of hope and love.
What I Didn't Like: I would have liked to learn more about the various tribal cultures-especially since several different ones were represented among the characters. I think it would have brought a richer depth to the story, but then I love to learn about different cultures, so it's probably just me.
Overall Impression: If you're looking for a cozy read with a touch of romance and a heartwarming story, then A Sky without Stars is the book for you! What are you waiting for? Go get this book!
What I Liked: We first meet Frankie and her son, Harold, broken down on the side of the road with no help in sight, but the last gas station they passed. Making their way back to the gas station to get water for their radiator, we get a glimpse of the harsh life Frankie has had to endure, and even more of a look when she has a run-in with the station's owner and his son.
The realistic portrayal of the prejudice against the Native Americans by the "white men (and women)" grabbed me from the start. I grew up in New Mexico and remember visiting one of the Reservations so we could "see how the Indians lived." I remember playing on the monkey bars with the other students and listening to their stories, but I also remember the comments made between our teachers and theirs--let's just say there was not a lot of love between them. The tension was high and I don't remember us ever going back on a field trip.
Reading about Frankie's distrust of all men, including the alcoholism that was rampant among the men in her tribe, really opened my eyes to the issues she faced in trying to raise her son as a single Native American parent. I loved that she had to learn to trust and lean on other people for help since she was unable to provide and make ends meet on her own. It showed her strength, as well as her helplessness, which eventually led her to rely on "the white man's God."
Overall, it was a great story about struggles and the power of hope and love.
What I Didn't Like: I would have liked to learn more about the various tribal cultures-especially since several different ones were represented among the characters. I think it would have brought a richer depth to the story, but then I love to learn about different cultures, so it's probably just me.
Overall Impression: If you're looking for a cozy read with a touch of romance and a heartwarming story, then A Sky without Stars is the book for you! What are you waiting for? Go get this book!
March 25, 2014
Linda S. Clare in her new book, “A Sky Without Stars” Book Fifteen in the Quilts of Love Series published by Abingdon Press brings us into the life of Frankie Chasing Bear.
From the back cover: Can a quilt bridge the gap between the two cultures?
After her husband is killed on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, Frankie Chasing Bear wants a fresh start. But in 1951, relocating through the US government’s Relocation Program didn’t just mean a new town; it meant a new way of life. Frankie quickly learns that raising her son, Harold, to revere his Lakota heritage will be a challenge in the white man’s world.
Searching for a way for her son to respect his ancestors but also embrace a future of opportunity, she begins a Lakota Star-pattern quilt with tribal wisdom sung, sewn, and prayed into it—something that will not let him forget where he came from. A bed without a quilt is like a sky without stars, but neither the quilt nor her new life come easily to Frankie.
Federal Agent Nick Parker, for instance, is the last man Frankie wants to trust. She’s already struggling to understand Nick’s culture, how can she embrace his Christian faith? Will Frankie learn that love is the most important ingredient for her son’s quilt—and life itself?
This is a story about race: The Lakota Indian, The Whites, Bi-Racial and all the wonder and value there is in them. It is also a story about racial prejudice. Harold has his problems at school, Nick seemingly gets away with it because he is a Federal Agent but does he? There is so much to embrace, all the rich heritage that is brought to the table and the poison that is discrimination. Ms. Clare has done an outstanding job of bringing history to the table, the time is 1951. She very deftly handles all the cultures and their values. And at no time does she ever drag the story down to either heavy or soapy. On top of everything Ms. Clare even packed in a romance. There is a lot in this book, much to think about and it just interesting and exciting as well.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
From the back cover: Can a quilt bridge the gap between the two cultures?
After her husband is killed on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, Frankie Chasing Bear wants a fresh start. But in 1951, relocating through the US government’s Relocation Program didn’t just mean a new town; it meant a new way of life. Frankie quickly learns that raising her son, Harold, to revere his Lakota heritage will be a challenge in the white man’s world.
Searching for a way for her son to respect his ancestors but also embrace a future of opportunity, she begins a Lakota Star-pattern quilt with tribal wisdom sung, sewn, and prayed into it—something that will not let him forget where he came from. A bed without a quilt is like a sky without stars, but neither the quilt nor her new life come easily to Frankie.
Federal Agent Nick Parker, for instance, is the last man Frankie wants to trust. She’s already struggling to understand Nick’s culture, how can she embrace his Christian faith? Will Frankie learn that love is the most important ingredient for her son’s quilt—and life itself?
This is a story about race: The Lakota Indian, The Whites, Bi-Racial and all the wonder and value there is in them. It is also a story about racial prejudice. Harold has his problems at school, Nick seemingly gets away with it because he is a Federal Agent but does he? There is so much to embrace, all the rich heritage that is brought to the table and the poison that is discrimination. Ms. Clare has done an outstanding job of bringing history to the table, the time is 1951. She very deftly handles all the cultures and their values. And at no time does she ever drag the story down to either heavy or soapy. On top of everything Ms. Clare even packed in a romance. There is a lot in this book, much to think about and it just interesting and exciting as well.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
March 11, 2014
A young Lakota Indian woman and her 10-year-old son moved from a painful past in Pine Ridge, South Dakota to a different type of volatile situation just outside Phoenix, Arizona. Frankie had dreams that she and her son could receive an education and a chance to better themselves. The Indians living in the "white" world were scorned and looked down upon, oftentimes with a despairing outcome. Having no family or friends, and being bullied by the community, they were suspicious of anyone and everyone. Taught to quilt by her grandmother, Frankie spent her free time constructing a Lakota Star quilt for her son, a tradition in the Lakota community for a boy's coming of age. As she quilted she spoke to her grandmother, her spiritual connection. Although her grandmother was Lakota, she also believed in God which Frankie found impossible to understand. She saw no need for God in her life.
Nick Parker from the Bureau of Land Management was light-skinned with dark hair, wearing a belt buckle with an agate, representing Lakota heritage. He offered help to Frankie and her son, although Frankie wouldn't trust a halfbreed who also happened to be a Christian. She kept up barriers to any type of relationship with the man, having no trust for men due to her past experiences.
Detailed and authentic, this is an accurate accounting of the Indian community versus the white community, and the misconceptions that each presumed about the other. The story of the Lakota Star quilt, otherwise known as the Bethlehem Star in the Christian context, is pivotal in this representation of the differences and adversities between the Indian and the Christian community. Pictorial and well documented, I found this to be an interesting story in the Quilts of Love series. Linda Clare has done her research and presented a detailed and personal account of two separate worlds attempting to coexist. Learning to forgive and rely on others is a valuable lesson to be learned in this story of suspicion, apprehension and mistrust.
Disclaimer: I received copies of this book from LitFuse Publicity and Wynn-Wynn Media in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.
Nick Parker from the Bureau of Land Management was light-skinned with dark hair, wearing a belt buckle with an agate, representing Lakota heritage. He offered help to Frankie and her son, although Frankie wouldn't trust a halfbreed who also happened to be a Christian. She kept up barriers to any type of relationship with the man, having no trust for men due to her past experiences.
Detailed and authentic, this is an accurate accounting of the Indian community versus the white community, and the misconceptions that each presumed about the other. The story of the Lakota Star quilt, otherwise known as the Bethlehem Star in the Christian context, is pivotal in this representation of the differences and adversities between the Indian and the Christian community. Pictorial and well documented, I found this to be an interesting story in the Quilts of Love series. Linda Clare has done her research and presented a detailed and personal account of two separate worlds attempting to coexist. Learning to forgive and rely on others is a valuable lesson to be learned in this story of suspicion, apprehension and mistrust.
Disclaimer: I received copies of this book from LitFuse Publicity and Wynn-Wynn Media in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.
December 19, 2014
I may have given this one and a half stars if I could have because it was just okay, but since I can't... ;)
I'm torn with this one. I have come to love and enjoy the Quilts of Love series from Abingdon Press but this one just didn't satisfy me, sadly. In my personal opinion (which is all my reviews are) it fell flat. Let me begin by telling you the things I liked about this book. I really like the Lakota people, they are one of my favorite tribes, and I was very intrigued to learn that they quilted! I also enjoyed some of the characters and scenes. The Navajo Fair is mentioned and that part was enjoyable. And one of the characters Mrs. Green really comes around and turns out to be a pretty good character! Even though I didn't like some of the things she did and the way she treated others I really started to like her by the end. And finally I really liked the message of forgiveness tied in the end. But from the beginning it felt like the characters "loved" each other too soon. There isn't any big revelation when Frankie comes to Christ. She comes to understand forgiveness, but if she accepts Jesus as her Lord and Savior I missed it. :/ Which really disappointed me because I was looking forward to that scene! There is a mystery slipped in here that I enjoyed up until the thief is found out. I didn't like that at all because it was one of the best Christian witnesses in the book! And while I understand that we are all humans with a sinful nature and we slip up it still bothered me that he almost became a stumbling block for the characters he had witnessed to. Finally the end didn't seem like the end. I kinda felt like someone somewhere cut out the end of my book and left me hanging! Some very important questions weren't answered about character's decisions and it ended abruptly... Overall I am happy I read it for the new things I learned I just wished there were more...
Songs: "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)" by Chris Tomlin, "God-Shaped Hole" by Plumb, and "That's How You Forgive" by Shane & Shane
John 3:16
~ASC
*I received this book for the purpose of reviewing it this in no way affected my opinion and the above are my true thoughts and feellings about A Sky Without Stars. ~ASC
I'm torn with this one. I have come to love and enjoy the Quilts of Love series from Abingdon Press but this one just didn't satisfy me, sadly. In my personal opinion (which is all my reviews are) it fell flat. Let me begin by telling you the things I liked about this book. I really like the Lakota people, they are one of my favorite tribes, and I was very intrigued to learn that they quilted! I also enjoyed some of the characters and scenes. The Navajo Fair is mentioned and that part was enjoyable. And one of the characters Mrs. Green really comes around and turns out to be a pretty good character! Even though I didn't like some of the things she did and the way she treated others I really started to like her by the end. And finally I really liked the message of forgiveness tied in the end. But from the beginning it felt like the characters "loved" each other too soon. There isn't any big revelation when Frankie comes to Christ. She comes to understand forgiveness, but if she accepts Jesus as her Lord and Savior I missed it. :/ Which really disappointed me because I was looking forward to that scene! There is a mystery slipped in here that I enjoyed up until the thief is found out. I didn't like that at all because it was one of the best Christian witnesses in the book! And while I understand that we are all humans with a sinful nature and we slip up it still bothered me that he almost became a stumbling block for the characters he had witnessed to. Finally the end didn't seem like the end. I kinda felt like someone somewhere cut out the end of my book and left me hanging! Some very important questions weren't answered about character's decisions and it ended abruptly... Overall I am happy I read it for the new things I learned I just wished there were more...
Songs: "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)" by Chris Tomlin, "God-Shaped Hole" by Plumb, and "That's How You Forgive" by Shane & Shane
John 3:16
~ASC
*I received this book for the purpose of reviewing it this in no way affected my opinion and the above are my true thoughts and feellings about A Sky Without Stars. ~ASC
March 13, 2014
Linda S. Clare takes her readers back to a dry, hot Arizona of the 1950s when Native Americans and white people were still distrustful of each other and uncomfortable with each other’s culture. Filled with characters yearning for a place to belong, A Sky without Stars is a love story and so much more. Another volume in the Quilts of Love series, it will take you back to a world that existed not that long ago.
Frankie Chasing Bear is a Lakota Indian of the high plains stuck in Phoenix, Arizona. Following the dreams of her deceased husband, Frankie loaded her son, Harold, into a broken down truck headed for California and a new life. But the truck gave out, and now they are trying to get by in a world controlled by the white man’s decisions. The local BIA man (Bureau of Indian Affairs) and half-breed, Nick Parker, is drawn to Frankie, but with his feet in two worlds, her distrust is hard to overcome. Frankie also struggles with reconciling the ways of her people with the faith her grandmother lived out in front of her. Through her piecing of a Lakota Star quilt for her son, Frankie learns the lessons her grandmother sought to teach.
A Sky without Stars is the love story between Nick and Frankie, but it is also a candid look at the state of government interference in the lives of Native Americans. The desire to assimilate Indian children, along with relocation strategies, led to intense distrust of white men and their God. This novel is a look at the white world versus Native American world complete with cultural clashes and bigotry on both sides. It is also a good lesson on the obstacles believers face when presenting the gospel to people hurt or betrayed by other Christians. Clare’s novel spurred me to learn more about our government’s assimilation programs and the Lakota Sioux tribe. It is great when an historical novel makes you dig a little deeper. It also presents problems that Native Americans still face today — alcoholism and unemployment.
A good addition to the Quilts of Love series, check out A Sky without Stars.
Recommended.
(Thanks to LitFuse and Abingdon Press for my review copy. The opinions expressed are mine alone.)
Frankie Chasing Bear is a Lakota Indian of the high plains stuck in Phoenix, Arizona. Following the dreams of her deceased husband, Frankie loaded her son, Harold, into a broken down truck headed for California and a new life. But the truck gave out, and now they are trying to get by in a world controlled by the white man’s decisions. The local BIA man (Bureau of Indian Affairs) and half-breed, Nick Parker, is drawn to Frankie, but with his feet in two worlds, her distrust is hard to overcome. Frankie also struggles with reconciling the ways of her people with the faith her grandmother lived out in front of her. Through her piecing of a Lakota Star quilt for her son, Frankie learns the lessons her grandmother sought to teach.
A Sky without Stars is the love story between Nick and Frankie, but it is also a candid look at the state of government interference in the lives of Native Americans. The desire to assimilate Indian children, along with relocation strategies, led to intense distrust of white men and their God. This novel is a look at the white world versus Native American world complete with cultural clashes and bigotry on both sides. It is also a good lesson on the obstacles believers face when presenting the gospel to people hurt or betrayed by other Christians. Clare’s novel spurred me to learn more about our government’s assimilation programs and the Lakota Sioux tribe. It is great when an historical novel makes you dig a little deeper. It also presents problems that Native Americans still face today — alcoholism and unemployment.
A good addition to the Quilts of Love series, check out A Sky without Stars.
Recommended.
(Thanks to LitFuse and Abingdon Press for my review copy. The opinions expressed are mine alone.)
May 16, 2014
In 1951, Frankie Chasing Bear is determined to give her son Harold a better chance at life. Frankie convinces the Navajo School Board to allow her to earn her school diploma. Her son is also enrolled in the same school to continue his education. She becomes aware of prejudice against the Indians especially from Mrs.Green. Then school is robbed and Frankie is not comfortable at all the finger pointing.
Harold at age ten becomes restless about their move and is anxious about his Lakota heritage needing to be near his deceased father and wanting to seek his rights to manhood. Frankie is very aware of her son's desire to go back to his Lakota home.
On several occasions when she was having problems with her son a Federal Agent Nick Parker for the reservation comes to their rescue. His shadowing her is appreciated but she will never trust another man especial not one that is only part Lakota and a Christian.
Frankie Chasing Bear even refuses to trust the white man'sGod her grandmother so wanted Frankie to know was her only hope. Frankie had promised her grandmother she would make her son a Lakota Star pattern quilt which would reveal a great secret for life. As she worked on the quilt she could feel the wisdom of her Grandmother coming through to her.
I read this book in one. I did not want to put it down. This was a new look into the lives of American Indians in the nineteen-fifties. I was very aware of my anger at the prejudice they were faced with in the guise of their best interest.
Then there was the misplaced and misunderstood person that was not full blood Indian. They were often looked down upon causing them not to know which world they belonged.
The author created some unforgettable characters which I would love to revisit their lives.
I highly recommend this book.
I rated this book a 5+ out of 5.
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from Litfuse Publicity Group/Abingdon Press for review. I was in no way compensated for this review. This review is my honest opinion.
Harold at age ten becomes restless about their move and is anxious about his Lakota heritage needing to be near his deceased father and wanting to seek his rights to manhood. Frankie is very aware of her son's desire to go back to his Lakota home.
On several occasions when she was having problems with her son a Federal Agent Nick Parker for the reservation comes to their rescue. His shadowing her is appreciated but she will never trust another man especial not one that is only part Lakota and a Christian.
Frankie Chasing Bear even refuses to trust the white man'sGod her grandmother so wanted Frankie to know was her only hope. Frankie had promised her grandmother she would make her son a Lakota Star pattern quilt which would reveal a great secret for life. As she worked on the quilt she could feel the wisdom of her Grandmother coming through to her.
I read this book in one. I did not want to put it down. This was a new look into the lives of American Indians in the nineteen-fifties. I was very aware of my anger at the prejudice they were faced with in the guise of their best interest.
Then there was the misplaced and misunderstood person that was not full blood Indian. They were often looked down upon causing them not to know which world they belonged.
The author created some unforgettable characters which I would love to revisit their lives.
I highly recommend this book.
I rated this book a 5+ out of 5.
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from Litfuse Publicity Group/Abingdon Press for review. I was in no way compensated for this review. This review is my honest opinion.
March 24, 2014
A Sky without Stars written by Linda S Clare takes her readers to Arizona back to the 1950's where Native Americans and white people where uncomfortable with each other. This was a culture where one another did not trust each other, nor care for each other. If you have read other books by Quilts of Love, you will not be disappointed by this one. I really enjoyed this book because of the historical period of time it took me to and the fact that I did not grow up in a time period where Native Americans were so distrustful of white people. I learned a lot through reading this book and gained a new found respect.
After Frankie Chasing Bears husband is killed, she wants a new start to life, but that isn't as easy in the time period she lives in. She decides that she and her son, Harold are going to get in the car and head to California in hopes of a fresh start and a new life. Of course, things never goes as planned and Frankie finds herself controlled and life determined by the white mans rules. Of course, Frankie meets Federal Agent Nick Parker, who is attracted to her, but naturally Frankie is skeptical. Nick Parker works for the Indian Affairs Bureaur and he is a Christian. Frankie is struggling with her faith, her feels towards Nick and her desire to raise Harold with Native American values without completely assimilating to the white mans culture. I also love the character of Nick who steps up to be a man of dignity, character and respect for Harold. You can see he wants to be a good example to Harold.
Overall, this book makes the reader aware the struggles that Native Americans faced during this time period and how Native Americans continue to face many challenges today. Of course the story has a romance twist and has a great historical premise, but it helps the reader think about their faith. I really enjoyed this book and think you will too.
Thank you to Litefuse and Abingdon Press for providing me a complimentary copy of review. I was not compensated for a positive review.
After Frankie Chasing Bears husband is killed, she wants a new start to life, but that isn't as easy in the time period she lives in. She decides that she and her son, Harold are going to get in the car and head to California in hopes of a fresh start and a new life. Of course, things never goes as planned and Frankie finds herself controlled and life determined by the white mans rules. Of course, Frankie meets Federal Agent Nick Parker, who is attracted to her, but naturally Frankie is skeptical. Nick Parker works for the Indian Affairs Bureaur and he is a Christian. Frankie is struggling with her faith, her feels towards Nick and her desire to raise Harold with Native American values without completely assimilating to the white mans culture. I also love the character of Nick who steps up to be a man of dignity, character and respect for Harold. You can see he wants to be a good example to Harold.
Overall, this book makes the reader aware the struggles that Native Americans faced during this time period and how Native Americans continue to face many challenges today. Of course the story has a romance twist and has a great historical premise, but it helps the reader think about their faith. I really enjoyed this book and think you will too.
Thank you to Litefuse and Abingdon Press for providing me a complimentary copy of review. I was not compensated for a positive review.
April 3, 2014
Mix a little mystery, quilting, story of trusting in God, being caught between cultures and romance, "A Sky Without Stars" is a beautiful story set in 1951.
What really makes this a powerful story is the main character, Frankie, a Lakota Native American and her son, Harold, as they battle the prejudices and the misplaced "attempts" to help Native Americans, only to have a policy of trying to strip them of the beauty of their culture and their world.
Linda Clare brilliantly captures the trials that are faced by the Native Americans, along with the undertones of trying to discover and keep hold of who they are, but that is not the total sum of "A Sky Without Stars" but rather weave perfectly as Frankie, learns to trust not only God, but Nick Parker, a man who tries to do good and yet finds himself caught in a cultural conflict himself.
The characters are strong.
This is not a book that you find yourself skimming through and forget,but rather, even after finishing the book, the characters have a strong hold on the reader that even after the story has been wrapped up, the reader is still caught up with memories of the characters long after the book is done.
Throughout, "A Sky without Stars", for the quilting aficionado, mixed within, the reader is reminded how quilting is more than just a "pretty blanket" but works of art that tells a story and serves to help tale a tale through generations. I found it interesting how Frankies Grandmother uses quilting as a way to connect with future generations but also as a way to pass down the cultural tales of the Lakota people, in order to help not just Frankie but Harold remember his heritage and the important roles it plays in his life.
I completely enjoyed reading, "A Sky Without Stars" and felt it was a powerful tale that captures not only the plights of the Native American and all the more the prejudices and trials that they endure, but the enduring struggle and inner strength to pass on the cultural heritage of their people to future generations.
What really makes this a powerful story is the main character, Frankie, a Lakota Native American and her son, Harold, as they battle the prejudices and the misplaced "attempts" to help Native Americans, only to have a policy of trying to strip them of the beauty of their culture and their world.
Linda Clare brilliantly captures the trials that are faced by the Native Americans, along with the undertones of trying to discover and keep hold of who they are, but that is not the total sum of "A Sky Without Stars" but rather weave perfectly as Frankie, learns to trust not only God, but Nick Parker, a man who tries to do good and yet finds himself caught in a cultural conflict himself.
The characters are strong.
This is not a book that you find yourself skimming through and forget,but rather, even after finishing the book, the characters have a strong hold on the reader that even after the story has been wrapped up, the reader is still caught up with memories of the characters long after the book is done.
Throughout, "A Sky without Stars", for the quilting aficionado, mixed within, the reader is reminded how quilting is more than just a "pretty blanket" but works of art that tells a story and serves to help tale a tale through generations. I found it interesting how Frankies Grandmother uses quilting as a way to connect with future generations but also as a way to pass down the cultural tales of the Lakota people, in order to help not just Frankie but Harold remember his heritage and the important roles it plays in his life.
I completely enjoyed reading, "A Sky Without Stars" and felt it was a powerful tale that captures not only the plights of the Native American and all the more the prejudices and trials that they endure, but the enduring struggle and inner strength to pass on the cultural heritage of their people to future generations.
March 18, 2014
The year is 1951. Frankie Chasing Bear and her son, Harold, left the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota following the death of her husband. Her luck doesn’t get any better when they find themselves stranded in Phoenix after their rattletrap pickup breaks down. Her plan was to go to Los Angeles as part of an Indian relocation program. Instead, she battles heat, poverty, and prejudice in a town that has little sympathy for Indians.
She’s determined to help her son survive the bullying he receives by sewing a Lakota Star pattern quilt to remind him to be proud of his heritage. But Harold is having none of it. He decides he wants to return to Pine Ridge, where at least he had friends.
Nick Parker is a federal agent assigned to the Bureau of Indian Affairs. He’s attracted to Frankie’s determination to survive in her hostile environment. For her part, Frankie believes Nick already has two strikes against him—by her definition he’s a half-breed (part Lakota, part white) and he works for a Bureau that has never had the Indians’ best interests at heart. She wants to trust Nick, but can she?
Sky Without Stars really grabbed my attention. Linda Clare has done a wonderful job of reminding us how poorly Indians have been treated, while at the same time she’s crafted a suspenseful story of a mother’s love for her son.
Readers will feel the heat, dust, and fear that Frankie experiences as she tries to make a life for herself and Harold. Her determination had me cheering her on as I read.
I recommend Sky Without Stars highly.
She’s determined to help her son survive the bullying he receives by sewing a Lakota Star pattern quilt to remind him to be proud of his heritage. But Harold is having none of it. He decides he wants to return to Pine Ridge, where at least he had friends.
Nick Parker is a federal agent assigned to the Bureau of Indian Affairs. He’s attracted to Frankie’s determination to survive in her hostile environment. For her part, Frankie believes Nick already has two strikes against him—by her definition he’s a half-breed (part Lakota, part white) and he works for a Bureau that has never had the Indians’ best interests at heart. She wants to trust Nick, but can she?
Sky Without Stars really grabbed my attention. Linda Clare has done a wonderful job of reminding us how poorly Indians have been treated, while at the same time she’s crafted a suspenseful story of a mother’s love for her son.
Readers will feel the heat, dust, and fear that Frankie experiences as she tries to make a life for herself and Harold. Her determination had me cheering her on as I read.
I recommend Sky Without Stars highly.
April 9, 2014
Frankie Chasing Bear isn’t the kind of girl who is naturally drawn to the art of quilt-making. But, Frankie is the type of girl who keeps the promises she makes!
So – when Frankie is twelve and her grandmother makes her promise to create a Lakota Star quilt for son during their last visit together, Frankie is determined to keep that promise, remembering her grandmother’s last words to her…
Sew love into every stitch and remember: a bed without a quilt is like a sky without stars…
A Sky Without Stars tells the rich story of Frankie Chasing Bear – a Lakota woman living in the 1950s who relocates with her son from Pine Ridge, South Dakota to Arizona after her husband’s untimely death.
Like any mother, she only wants what is best for her son – but will life for them be any easier in new surroundings?
Frankie finds herself torn between cultures… and between raising her son to honor his Lakota heritage while living out his Christian faith!
A Sky Without Stars is the 15th book in the Quilts Of Love Series from Abingdon Press – and a must-read for fans of historical fiction, particularly those revolving around Native American themes!
Linda has done a wonderful job of weaving together a beautiful story filled with family, faith and drama.
To read my review in its entirety, please visit Create With Joy.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes. However, the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
So – when Frankie is twelve and her grandmother makes her promise to create a Lakota Star quilt for son during their last visit together, Frankie is determined to keep that promise, remembering her grandmother’s last words to her…
Sew love into every stitch and remember: a bed without a quilt is like a sky without stars…
A Sky Without Stars tells the rich story of Frankie Chasing Bear – a Lakota woman living in the 1950s who relocates with her son from Pine Ridge, South Dakota to Arizona after her husband’s untimely death.
Like any mother, she only wants what is best for her son – but will life for them be any easier in new surroundings?
Frankie finds herself torn between cultures… and between raising her son to honor his Lakota heritage while living out his Christian faith!
A Sky Without Stars is the 15th book in the Quilts Of Love Series from Abingdon Press – and a must-read for fans of historical fiction, particularly those revolving around Native American themes!
Linda has done a wonderful job of weaving together a beautiful story filled with family, faith and drama.
To read my review in its entirety, please visit Create With Joy.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes. However, the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
May 5, 2014
A Sky Without Stars by Linda S. Clare
Love this series and learning all the patterns and what they really stand for. This one is exceptional as it's about the Indians and God and how they came to trust the stars. Love the saying : a bed without a quilt is like a sky without stars, and so the book begins.
This book follows Frankie and her son Harold. They have left SD and landed in Arizona that was as far as the truck would get them. They had plans to head to LA and the government was gonna relocate them, get them a place to stay and jobs.
The story also follows Nick who works for the bureau of Indian affairs and is a Lakota himself-same as Frankie and Harold. Harold wants to get back to Pine Ridge because that's where his father's spirit is. Nick had to intervene when Harold showed up at his place trying to hotwire his truck, all beat up.
He dreams of Frankie sewing his grandmother's Lakota quilt that his ex wife gave to him during the divorce.
Their paths cross often, Harold is always in trouble with fighting, and Nick is around to help sort things out, get them through it.
The Navajo fair sounds very much like the one we attended in Ohio several years ago. They each see things that make them realize change is upon them.
Different decisions for each one as they try to stay true to God and their Indian heritage... excerpt from Maybelle in Stitches, the next in the series is included at the end.
I received this book from Abingdon Press in exchange for my honest review.
Love this series and learning all the patterns and what they really stand for. This one is exceptional as it's about the Indians and God and how they came to trust the stars. Love the saying : a bed without a quilt is like a sky without stars, and so the book begins.
This book follows Frankie and her son Harold. They have left SD and landed in Arizona that was as far as the truck would get them. They had plans to head to LA and the government was gonna relocate them, get them a place to stay and jobs.
The story also follows Nick who works for the bureau of Indian affairs and is a Lakota himself-same as Frankie and Harold. Harold wants to get back to Pine Ridge because that's where his father's spirit is. Nick had to intervene when Harold showed up at his place trying to hotwire his truck, all beat up.
He dreams of Frankie sewing his grandmother's Lakota quilt that his ex wife gave to him during the divorce.
Their paths cross often, Harold is always in trouble with fighting, and Nick is around to help sort things out, get them through it.
The Navajo fair sounds very much like the one we attended in Ohio several years ago. They each see things that make them realize change is upon them.
Different decisions for each one as they try to stay true to God and their Indian heritage... excerpt from Maybelle in Stitches, the next in the series is included at the end.
I received this book from Abingdon Press in exchange for my honest review.
November 30, 2014
Deb’s Dozen: 12-Word Summaries – Transplanted Lakota Indian mom and son. Hard times, new family, God’s love.
Frankie Chasing Bear and her son, Harold, have come to Arizona from their home in South Dakota hoping to find a new life after the death of her husband. Eking out a bare existence by working in the kitchen at the Indian School is hardly sufficient to make them successful. Enter Nick Parker, the Federal Indian Agent for the area (and half Lakota). He wants to help Frankie, but she is leery of Indian men – many of the ones she knows are alcoholics like her husband was. What keeps Frankie going and gives her hope is a quilt her grandmother taught her to make – a Lakota Star pattern. Her grandmother had often told her; “A bed without a quilt is like a sky without stars.”
How Frankie and Harold scrape their way to a better life, and how Nick fits into the picture, as well as learning how Indians are sometimes treated by the white folk in the area, makes an interesting and informative read. You’ll be fascinated by the discussions of Indian life.
Linda S. Clare has written many books, essays, short stories, and poems. An award-winning author, she edits and mentors other writers and frequently speaks at conferences and church retreats. She and her husband live in Eugene, Oregon with their “three wayward cats.”
I was given a copy of A Sky Without Stars by Abingdon Press for my unbiased review.
Frankie Chasing Bear and her son, Harold, have come to Arizona from their home in South Dakota hoping to find a new life after the death of her husband. Eking out a bare existence by working in the kitchen at the Indian School is hardly sufficient to make them successful. Enter Nick Parker, the Federal Indian Agent for the area (and half Lakota). He wants to help Frankie, but she is leery of Indian men – many of the ones she knows are alcoholics like her husband was. What keeps Frankie going and gives her hope is a quilt her grandmother taught her to make – a Lakota Star pattern. Her grandmother had often told her; “A bed without a quilt is like a sky without stars.”
How Frankie and Harold scrape their way to a better life, and how Nick fits into the picture, as well as learning how Indians are sometimes treated by the white folk in the area, makes an interesting and informative read. You’ll be fascinated by the discussions of Indian life.
Linda S. Clare has written many books, essays, short stories, and poems. An award-winning author, she edits and mentors other writers and frequently speaks at conferences and church retreats. She and her husband live in Eugene, Oregon with their “three wayward cats.”
I was given a copy of A Sky Without Stars by Abingdon Press for my unbiased review.
March 12, 2014
If you want to know about the difficulties that Native Americans experienced in recent times, this is definitely the book to read. I knew that life has not been easy for the natives of our land, but I didn't realize that we have made it that hard that recently - but according to Clare, we have.
Clare is an excellent writer who uses the harsh situations that her characters face to spring to life the impossible choices faced by our Native people only 60 years ago. With authentic descriptions, smooth writing, and colorful, emotional portrayals of difficult situations, she has certainly won my attention to this issue.
The assimilation issue is the clearest issue in the story. It's definitely a love story on several levels, just as it's also a story of morality, honesty, and faith, but the inequality of the main characters due to race stands up and jumps out at the reader. The love story was sweet; the mystery, unknown, and as for faith, it grows gradually throughout the story. Those elements are all there and are an inherent part of each character - but this story would fall apart like Nick's quilt without the racial tension.
A Sky Without Stars is a historical fiction novel with a twist rarely seen in stories today. It's well worth the read.
I received a free copy of this book from LitFuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review.
Clare is an excellent writer who uses the harsh situations that her characters face to spring to life the impossible choices faced by our Native people only 60 years ago. With authentic descriptions, smooth writing, and colorful, emotional portrayals of difficult situations, she has certainly won my attention to this issue.
The assimilation issue is the clearest issue in the story. It's definitely a love story on several levels, just as it's also a story of morality, honesty, and faith, but the inequality of the main characters due to race stands up and jumps out at the reader. The love story was sweet; the mystery, unknown, and as for faith, it grows gradually throughout the story. Those elements are all there and are an inherent part of each character - but this story would fall apart like Nick's quilt without the racial tension.
A Sky Without Stars is a historical fiction novel with a twist rarely seen in stories today. It's well worth the read.
I received a free copy of this book from LitFuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review.
July 10, 2014
I think I should have read the synopsis a bit better before I started reading this book. LOL!
It took me about three chapters to really get into it but confusion was a big part of that. I will tell you I was intrigued by the time I read through the second paragraph.
Not having been alive during that time myself, I can’t say with absolute certainty that the writing is accurate but it certainly rings true.
It was a bit of a difficult read for me actually – I am part Cherokee but that was never a problem for me. My problem was being poor.
My mother was determined to live in the best part of town that we could possibly afford and so we went to school with children who were firmly seated in upper middle class or lower upper class at the very most. And you can guess there were plenty of young girls who were happy to torment a big-boned girl who cared nothing for makeup or fashion and would rather bury her nose in a book while sitting high in a tree – than just about anything else.
And that is why I can say that the parts of this book that talk about bullying are very true to life. I sincerely hope that Linda S. Clare does not write from experience but you wouldn’t be able to tell if she didn’t. It’s very realistic.
Disclaimer: I received this book free in exchange for an honest review.
It took me about three chapters to really get into it but confusion was a big part of that. I will tell you I was intrigued by the time I read through the second paragraph.
Not having been alive during that time myself, I can’t say with absolute certainty that the writing is accurate but it certainly rings true.
It was a bit of a difficult read for me actually – I am part Cherokee but that was never a problem for me. My problem was being poor.
My mother was determined to live in the best part of town that we could possibly afford and so we went to school with children who were firmly seated in upper middle class or lower upper class at the very most. And you can guess there were plenty of young girls who were happy to torment a big-boned girl who cared nothing for makeup or fashion and would rather bury her nose in a book while sitting high in a tree – than just about anything else.
And that is why I can say that the parts of this book that talk about bullying are very true to life. I sincerely hope that Linda S. Clare does not write from experience but you wouldn’t be able to tell if she didn’t. It’s very realistic.
Disclaimer: I received this book free in exchange for an honest review.
May 23, 2014
Where I got the book: ARC provided by publisher. This review first appeared on the Historical Novel Society website and in the February 2014 issue of the Historical Novels Review.
I felt that a much bigger novel was struggling to get out of the pages of this inspirational romance from the Quilts of Love series. It’s 1951, and Frankie Chasing Bear is a Lakota widow with a young son, Harold, trying to forge a new life near Phoenix, Arizona. The odds are stacked against them: poverty, prejudice, an Indian School system designed to stamp out tradition, and the heavy hand of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. When chance brings a meeting with Nick Parker, Frankie is wary; he is a half-breed, a BIA agent, and a Christian, all reasons for Frankie and Harold not to trust him.
With all these threads and elements in the novel, there is much to interest the reader beside the romance and the quilting theme, which centers around the Lakota Star quilt Frankie is making for her son. The main subplot wraps up a little too quickly, and the spiritual thread is perhaps insufficiently explored, but overall this is an interesting and unusual variation on the themes of love and spiritual growth.
I felt that a much bigger novel was struggling to get out of the pages of this inspirational romance from the Quilts of Love series. It’s 1951, and Frankie Chasing Bear is a Lakota widow with a young son, Harold, trying to forge a new life near Phoenix, Arizona. The odds are stacked against them: poverty, prejudice, an Indian School system designed to stamp out tradition, and the heavy hand of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. When chance brings a meeting with Nick Parker, Frankie is wary; he is a half-breed, a BIA agent, and a Christian, all reasons for Frankie and Harold not to trust him.
With all these threads and elements in the novel, there is much to interest the reader beside the romance and the quilting theme, which centers around the Lakota Star quilt Frankie is making for her son. The main subplot wraps up a little too quickly, and the spiritual thread is perhaps insufficiently explored, but overall this is an interesting and unusual variation on the themes of love and spiritual growth.
April 18, 2014
This is another new author for me. I had never heard of her or read any of her works. I really d enjoy this book. Her writing style is unique. I have not read a lot of fiction is this type where we are bringing in different native Tribes and learning about their cultures along with Christianity. I enjoyed learning some of their unique things and how they differ amongst themselves. The quilt in this book sounds gorgeous and the one on the cover is definitely gorgeous. I now want to go back into history books and try to find a picture of such a quilt and make one myself. Oh? What was that? You wanted to hear about the book too? Oh okay. Well.. . . . Nick sounds like he is gorgeous. Frankie definitely thinks he is but she has problems with trust and problems with men(both understandable). And then you have Harold(what a name, poor kid) who only wants to get back to their old Reservation to be closer to his dad’s spirit. When Harold disappears, what will Frankie do? And who has been stealing from the Indian School? Great read. Get yourself a copy and get to reading! A Sky Without Stars is a great book and will definitely give you a bit of a history lesson as well as a glimpse of romance and what it’s like to parent a boy.
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