Review: The Unlikely Yarn of the Dragon Lady

Today I’m reviewing The Unlikely Yarn of the Dragon Lady by Sharon J. Mondragon.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher as part of Read with Audra blog tours.

My Review

If you’re in the market for a fun and inspiring fall read, The Unlikely Yarn of the Dragon Lady might be just what you’re looking for. I mean, what could be cozier than a story about a group of women who meet weekly to knit prayer shawls?

As a knitter and crocheter I have heard of prayer shawls, but I hadn’t heard of a church having an organized prayer shawl ministry. If I had the opportunity to join the one in this book I think I’d make an effort to fit that into my schedule. Provided they continue to meet at the mall rather than the prayer chapel at the church.

I loved the story of how the pastor kicked the knitting group out of the church (for good reason!) and how they began to reach more people with their ministry than they could have imagined. I enjoyed the varying personalities and the unlikely people they were able to help with their prayer shawls.

As to the “dragon lady” is, you’ll have to let me know who you think it is once you’ve read the book. I couldn’t decide.

From the Publisher

Margaret, Rose, Jane, and Fran had a good thing going: meet every week in the quiet of their peaceful chapel and knit prayer shawls. No muss, just ministry. That is, until their pastor boots them out of the church in his last-ditch effort to revive the dwindling congregation.

Uptight Margaret isn’t having it. Knitting prayer shawls where people can watch is the most ridiculous idea she’s ever heard of, and she’s heard plenty. Prayer belongs in the church, not out among the heathen masses. How are they supposed to knit holiness into these shawls if they’re constantly distracted by the public? But with no choice, the others embrace the challenge. They pack their knitting bags and drag Margaret—grumbling the whole way—to the mall with them. She can’t wait to prove them all wrong when it fails miserably, and show the pastor that she always knows best.

Without the familiar mold the group has been stuck in, their own losses, pain, and struggles rise to the surface. And the people and situations they encounter every time they try to sit quietly and knit are taking them a lot further out of their comfort zone than they ever imagined. Can they find the courage to tackle the increasing number of knotty issues they learn about in the community–or will the tangle be too much to unravel?

Sharon J. Mondragon’s debut is warm and delightful, full of real laughter, grief, and personality. It beautifully illustrates the power of women across generations to reach people for Christ.

To read an excerpt of The Unlikely Yarn of the Dragon Lady click here. 

Enter to Win a Copy

For more great books for fall check out my list of 10 Cozy Reads for November.