Beth Pattillo - The Sweetgum Ladies Knit for Love

Praise for
The Sweetgum Ladies Knit for Love

Youll fall in love with the ladies of Sweetgum! Beth Pattillo knits an engaging novel where so many lives are woven together seamlessly.

L EANNA E LLIS , award-winning author of Rubys Slippers

I love the ladies of the Sweetgum Knit Lit Society! Beth Pattillo has created characters so real I want to join their group and a setting so charming I want to visit on my next vacation. Thankfully I can get away and do that without leaving my cozy reading corner just by opening the pages of The Sweetgum Ladies Knit for Love. Warm and sweetly southern, Pattillo delivers everything you want in a story and then some.

A NNIE J ONES , award-winning southern author

Praise for
The Sweetgum Knit Lit Society

Jan Karon meets Jodi Piccoult. The Sweetgum Knit Lit Society is an intriguing look into the minds and hearts of a diverse group of women. This is a compelling and heartwarming story full of love and grace you dont want to miss!

J ULIE L. C ANNON , author of The Romance Readers Book Club

Like Debbie Macomber, Beth Pattillo spins warm, compelling stories out of the lives of everyday people. Five women and a girl gather regularly at the Sweetgum Christian Church to knit, read, and talk, and in the process they confront their own secrets, dreams, and challenges. I hope this is the first of a series so I can revisit the Knit Lit Society again and again!

M ARY JO P UTNEY , author of A Distant Magic

Thank you, Beth Pattillo, for casting on characters who so vividly reveal our human failing to render and receive love, which, as you so artfully depict, we too often withhold, delay, rush, misdirect, or hide from. But thank you most of all for showing us how the smallest of tentative steps we take toward each other can help us to find our true selves, and therefore lead us closer to Gods perfect love.

C HARLENE A NN B AUMBICH , speaker, humorist, author of the Welcome to Partonville series

I could almost hear the clack of knitting needles as I read through the pages of The Sweetgum Knit Lit Society. Beth Pattillos motley group of true-to-life characters deal with lifes struggles and share a camaraderie that few take the time to discover in this heartwarming yarn of true friendship. A must read!

D IANN H UNT , author of For Better or For Worse

For the ladies of Pursuit
You know who you are, and I know how fabulous you are.
Thank you for the love and support, but most of all,
thank you for the bling.

Every Tuesday at eleven oclock in the morning, Eugenie Carson descended the steps of the Sweetgum Public Library and made her way to Tallulahs Caf on the town square. In the past, she would have eaten the diet platecottage cheese and a peach halfin solitary splendor. Then she would have returned to her job running the library, just as shed done for the last forty years.

On this humid September morning, though, Eugenie was meeting someone for lunchher new husband, Rev. Paul Carson, pastor of the Sweetgum Christian Church. Eugenie smiled at the thought of Paul waiting for her at the caf. They might both be gray haired and near retirement, but happiness was happiness, no matter what age you found it.

Eugenie entered the square from the southeast corner. The antebellum courthouse anchored the middle, while Kendalls Department Store occupied the east side to her right. She walked along the south side of the square, past Callahans Hardware, the drugstore, and the movie theater, and crossed the street to the caf. The good citizens of Sweetgum were already arriving at Tallulahs for lunch. But Eugenie passed the caf, heading up the western side of the square. She had a brief errand to do before she met her husband. Two doors down, she could see the sign for Mundens Five-and-Dime. Her business there shouldnt take long.

Before she reached Mundens, a familiar figure emerged from one of the shops and blocked the sidewalk.

Hazel Emerson. President of the womens auxiliary at the Sweetgum Christian Church and self-appointed judge and jury of her fellow parishioners.

Eugenie. Hazel smiled, but the expression, coupled with her rather prominent eyeteeth, gave her a wolfish look. Hazel was on the heavy side, a bit younger than Eugenies own sixty-five years, and her hair was dyed an unbecoming shade of mink. Hazel smiled, but there was no pleasantness in it. Just the person I wanted to see.

Eugenie knew better than to let her distaste for the woman show. Good morning, Hazel, she replied. How are you?

Distressed, Eugenie. Thoroughly distressed.

Im sorry to hear that. Eugenie truly was dismayed, but not from worry over Hazels discomfort.

Yes, well, you have the power to calm the waters, Hazel said with the same false smile. In a manner of speaking, at least.

Since Eugenies marriage to Paul only a few weeks before, shed learned how demanding Hazel could be. The other woman called the parsonage at all hours and appeared in Pauls office at least once a day. Although Eugenie had known Hazel casually for years, shed never had to bother with her much. Eugenie couldnt remember Hazel ever having entered the library.

How can I help you? Eugenie said in her best librarians voice. She had uttered the phrase countless times over the last forty years and had it down to an art form. Interested but not enmeshed. Solicitous but not overly involved.

Well, Eugenie, you must know that many people in the church are distressed by your marriage to Paul.

Really? Eugenie kept the pleasant smile on her face and continued to breathe evenly. Im sorry to hear that.

Oh, not me, of course, Hazel said and pressed a hand to her ample chest. Im perfectly delighted. But some people Well, they have concerns.

What concerns would those be? Eugenie asked with measured calm.

Hazel glanced to the right and to the left, then leaned forward to whisper in a conspiratorial fashion. Some of them arent sure youre a Christian, she said. Then she straightened and resumed her normal tone of voice. As I said, Im not one of them, but I thought I should tell you. For your own good, but also for Rev. Carsons.

I see. And Eugenie certainly did, far more than Hazel would guess. Eugenie wasnt new to small-town gossip. Heaven knew shed heard her share, and even been the target of some, over the last forty years. Shed known that her marriage to Paul would cause some comments, but she hadnt expected this blatant response.

Im mentioning it because I dont think it would be difficult to put peoples fears to rest, Hazel said. Her smug expression needled Eugenie. I know youve been attending worship, and thats a wonderful start. Hazel quickly moved from interfering to patronizing. The womens auxiliary meets on Tuesday mornings. If you joined us

Im afraid thats not possible, Eugenie answered. She was determined to keep a civil tongue in her head if it killed her. I have to work.