Books for Christian Girls: "The Pattern Artist" by Nancy Moser

About this book:

“Can a lowly housemaid realize her own American dream?

Born into a life of hard work, English housemaid Annie Wood arrives in New York City in 1911 with her wealthy mistress. Wide-eyed with the possibilities America has to offer, Annie wonders if there’s more for her than a life of service.

Annie chooses to risk everything, taps into courage she never knew she had, and goes off on her own, finding employment in the sewing department at Macy’s. While at Macy’s Annie catches the eye of a salesman at the Butterick Pattern Company. Through determination, hard work, and God’s leading, Annie discovers a hidden gift: she is a talented fashion designer—a pattern artist of the highest degree.

As she runs from ghosts of the past and focuses on the future, Annie enters a creative world that takes her to the fashion houses of Paris and into a life of adventure, purpose, and love.”

Series: As of now, no.

Spiritual Content- Many prayers, thanking God, blessings over food & a peaceful voice; A few Scriptures are read, mentioned & talked about; Church going, hymns, sermons & thinking about God; Christmas, services & songs (along with mentions of them); Many talks about God, servants, gifts, free will, peace, & praise; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Annie believes in God and prayers, but has a hard time fathers are loving, but *Spoiler* at the end, Annie gives her life to God at the end. *End of Spoiler*; Many mentions of God; Many mentions of prayers & blessings over food; Mentions of bibles; Mentions of churches & a vicar; Mentions of blessings; Mentions of a cross necklace; A few mentions of Heaven; A couple mentions of those in the Bible; A couple mentions of Christians; A couple mentions of Jews; A couple mentions of sins; A mention of being a godsend; A mention of crossing;

*Note: A mention of the bowls of Hades; A mention of hellions; A couple mentions of superstitions; Mentions of spirits.

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘blast them’, a ‘drat’, two ‘dumb’s, and five ‘stupid’s; Many mentions of the Titanic, deaths & drownings; Mentions of murder, a body, blood, and a beaten & stabbed to death child (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of a body, suicide, & blood (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of deaths & how they happened (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of fighting, punching & a knife; Mentions of jail & a criminal; Mentions of drunks, drinking, beer & pubs; Mentions of cigarettes, cigars & smoking; Mentions of chambers pots, privies, waste & the stench; Mentions of bullies, a mean girl, thieves & stealing; Mentions of lying & lies; Mentions of gossip; Mentions of sarcasm & eye rolling; A mention of a war.

Sexual Content- a hand kiss, a head kiss, three cheek kisses, an almost kiss, two not-detailed kisses, and two barely-above-not-detailed; Touches, Embraces & Nearness (barely-above-not-detailed); A bit of noticing; A man swats Annie’s behind; The same man corners Annie, grabs her and bites her ear; A brute assaults Annie & tries to force himself on her, but is stopped before anything happens (barely-above-not-detailed); Another woman shares her story of when she was raped, left for the dead and being physically damaged from it all (no true details, but mentions and hints of the pain and such); Mentions of a man grabbing and rubbing against a maid; Mentions of unwanted attention, grabby men, ruination & temptations; Mentions of men winking & whistling at women; Mentions of a man’s inappropriate behavior against Annie & Iris; Mentions of a man standing too close & making rude comments to Annie; Mentions of labor & a birth (barley-above-not-detailed); Mentions of kissing & scandals; Mentions of flirting, blushes, flattery & liking someone; A mention of a married couple kissing; Love, falling in love & the emotions;

*Note: A mention of a young woman being mistaken for a 12 year old because of her flat chest; A mention of bustles that made women’s bottoms look enormous; A mention of a sign just saying ‘butt’; A couple (teasing) mentions of nakedness; Mentions of undressing, unmentionables & modesty; Mentions of a young lady who delights in eating & others making comments about her weight.

-Annie Wood, age 19
P.O.V. of Annie

Set in 1911-1912
317 pages

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Pre Teens-

New Teens-

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

Well. That was historically interesting. It was very fascinating with all the history the author put in it. The cover is a great fit for this book. There was a lot of Spiritual Content and I so enjoyed that fact. I liked Annie, she was fun. Sean seemed too-good-to-be-true, but he and Annie weren’t bad together. ~~(And then I realized that he would most likely have to go to war in a few years after this book.)~~ At first I was overwhelmed by all the characters, but after some left (or died) it was easier. Writing wise, it felt like everything happening at once, but I liked the ending.

I would truly like to give this book a higher rating, but I simply cannot because of the grabby jerk and the murder of a 13 year old. I have read the cad cliché so many times in Christian historical fiction, and frankly, I’m tired of it. Can there be action and a bit of drama that’s not sexually related?

See y’all on Friday with a new review!