‘Lacemakers of Glenmara’ a joy to read

  After the death of her mother, and a gut-wrenching breakup with her boyfriend, Kate Robinson decides the best thing to cure her broken heart is to take the trip she and her mother had planned to Ireland.
  Taking her time exploring the emerald country, Kate stumbles upon the remote village of Glenmara during one of the village’s market days. A seamstress and clothes designer by trade, she is drawn to a booth featuring laces handmade by the village women. Intrigued by the women’s craftsmanship, Kate takes Bernie, one of the ladies, up on her offer of a place to stay and an opportunity to learn how the lace is made.
  The longer she stays and the more Kate learns about the village and its quaint customs and traditions, the more she longs to help the impoverished community. She comes up with a plan for the ladies to use their lace to decorate women’s lingerie, much to the chagrin of the local priest.
  Nonetheless, the women are determined to test the waters of this new venture, and with the help of Sullivan, the local potter who has Internet access and more than a passing interest in Kate, it seems the idea just might take off. But along the way, all the women, Kate included, must face tests of the heart and faith.
  With “The Lacemakers of Glenmara,” author Heather Barbieri has written a warm, fascinating novel that was simply a joy to read. Her characters are people you would want to meet and get to know better and her writing style has an easy-going flow that makes it a pleasure to peruse. Here’s hoping Barbieri has plans for a sequel!