This is my first Sarah Loudin Thomas book. Thanks to THESE TANGLED THREADS, it won't be my last! Rich with beautiful prose, suspense, and reflective characters that develop in powerfully unique ways, it ticked all my boxes for a profound read.

THE STORY: Set in the early 1900s, a hidden betrayal divides three young friends working for the Vanderbilt conglomerate. Before them is the gorgeous Biltmore estate, but their lives are far from spectacular as they seek to find the beauty in the life God has given them.

These three young people, Lorna, Arthur, and Gentry were trained by the Vanderbilt's artisans in traditional Appalachian crafts such as weaving and woodworking.

This story begins gradually with three POVs at different time periods. At first it felt disjointed and uncomfortable. Then, I looked at the title again--THESE TANGLED THREADS--and I got it! Sarah's writing technique gave me that sense of tangled life choices, making the journey all the more poignant! It also created a sense of suspense and mystery. The ending was surprising and--well--you'll see.

Readers who love historical fiction with strong emphasis on characters flawed by life experiences and choices thrust upon them, will love this book. Yes, there is romance, but the true journey is one of overcoming and restoration. This story has depth and meaning that readers will chew on long after the book is finished. Highly recommended.

I received an ARC from the publisher for my honest review.

Biltmore Industries and the Biltmore Estate are the backgrounds for this story which takes place in Asheville, North Carolina during a nine-year span in the early 1900s. Author Sarah Loudin Thomas weaves the themes of friendship, second chances, and forgiveness into a mesmerizing tale that hints at the tangles that can be created by doubts, secrecy, and guilt.

I'm a fan of Thomas's Appalachian stories but this book offers a glimpse of the wealth and influence enjoyed by the Biltmore family during the time known as the Gilded Age of America. Much of the drama centers around the preparations for Cornelia Biltmore's wedding and a commission to create an original design. Master weaver Lorna Blankenship knows that she has the weaving ability but does she possess the artistic vision needed to create the masterpiece that they're looking for? She knows that there is one who can and thus begins her search for the elusive weaver. Her friend Arthur is willing to help her, but will her desire to fulfill this commission result in lies, deception, and the loss of something more valuable than fame and recognition?

I enjoyed the peek inside the lives of the Vanderbilts and their employees, and I loved learning about the anticipation of Cornelia's wedding, but my heart was captured by the romance that blossomed between Lorna and Arthur. Fallible but endearing characters, a beautiful setting with both a mansion and the Blue Ridge Mountains, and a captivating story of love and redemption made this a book that I couldn't put down. I recommend These Tangled Threads to all who enjoy historical fiction.

I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher. There was no obligation for a positive review. These are my own thoughts.

Lorna, a master weaver, must find a new pattern, or she will lose her job at the Vanderbilt's Biltmore Industries. She was expected to create another beautiful pattern like the ones she had done in the past. But she couldn't do that again because those designs had been done by someone else, although Lorna had taken credit for them.

She couldn't do that again because those designs had been done by someone else, but Lorna had taken credit for them.

Now, she must find the person who really made them. Without the help of Arthur, the man whose love Lorna has spurned for years, she doesn't have a chance. Ultimately, she will also need help from Gentry, the person Lorna got the designs from that she claimed as her own.

This story had a lot of facets. An unfair boss, double-crossing, deceit, forgiveness, faith, change of heart, surprising friendships, rejection of parents, along with backwoods people that shoot first, and ask questions later. All this excitement will keep the pages turning to find out how it resolves.

This clean, five-star story is recommended to fans of history, the Biltmore Estate, and convoluted tales that can't possibly work out, but do!

Thank you, Bethany House Books, for providing Tickmenot with a book to review. Opinions are my own.

I only had previously read one novella by this author but because this book was set in North Carolina at Biltmore Estates I just had to read it. This novel was set during the time of Cornelia Vanderbilt. Part of the plot occurred in Biltmore Village as well as a few other places. I thoroughly enjoyed this book from beginning to end. It held so much human emotion within the pages. You will find an amazing story of forgiveness of others and self. It is also a story of second chances. You will not regret getting this book to read.

These Tangled Threads, by Sarah Loudin Thomas, is a very interesting Christian historical story that focuses on the craft of fabric weaving and the weavers that make the fabric. I enjoyed reading this story and tried to imagine how the thread could make up the designs within the fabrics. This is a well written story with interesting characters. However, I did struggle in the beginning with how the story changed from one date to another, but quickly adjusted and enjoyed the story a lot. Not only do we read of the art of fabric weaving, the story touches on wood working.

There are points in the story that touched on sensitive topics such as child neglect, family issues, prostitution, and alcoholism. I appreciate how the author has included these topics in the story to show the strength the characters have and why they do some of the things they do. I so appreciate the way Gentry thought of her music helping the women where she played. I appreciate how the story also focuses on how Gentry and her mother were separated and how Gentry parted with the one thing she had left of her mother's to fin her. This is just a really good story to read.

I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book, this is my honest review.