The Recommended Reading Order for East Perry County
Written by certified quilt appraiser and author Ann Hazelwood, the East Perry County series is a delightful blend of cozy mystery, clean small-town romance, and rich quilting history. Because the series follows a single continuous storyline tracking the life, romantic options, and spooky encounters of protagonist Kate Meyr, readers should follow the series in its publication order.
Here is the recommended reading path for the East Perry County books:
- The Forgiving Quilt (2015/2016)
- Josephine's Guest House Quilt (2016)
- Quilt the Town Christmas (2016)
- Everlasting Quilts (2017)
- Church Ladies' Quilts (2017)
Breaking Down the East Perry County Series
Each book in the series centers on a specific quilt that drives the plot and connects to the town's history or local folklore. Here is what to expect from each installment:
1. The Forgiving Quilt
The series begins with The Forgiving Quilt. Following the death of her husband, South Haven, Michigan widow Kate Meyr discovers painful secrets about his past. Seeking a fresh start, she travels to the historic, quiet town of Borna in East Perry County, Missouri, to renovate and sell a family property. There, she encounters a mysterious quilt and strange, ghostly events that force her to confront her grief, learn the art of forgiveness, and decide whether she belongs in this tight-knit community.
2. Josephine's Guest House Quilt
In the second book, Kate decides to stay in Borna permanently and converts her historic home into a boutique guesthouse. She names the inn after Josephine Palisch, the deceased wife of the home's original owner, Dr. Palisch, whose spirit seems to linger in the house. When Kate hangs a signature quilt in the guesthouse, names on it begin to mysteriously vanish and reappear, hinting at a supernatural puzzle she must unravel.
3. Quilt the Town Christmas
Set during the festive holiday season, the third novel brings both winter charm and mounting tension to Borna. While Kate attempts to organize a town-wide Christmas celebration, she faces sabotage at her guesthouse and complicated romantic dilemmas. Kate must navigate the competing attentions of local suitors Clark and John while keeping her business afloat and protecting the town's holiday spirit.
4. Everlasting Quilts
In the fourth book, Kate is drawn into the research of her neighbor, John Baker, a writer working on an article about local quilt histories. This research uncovers beautiful, forgotten stories behind several quilts, including some from Kate's own family. However, the warmth of these discoveries is shattered when an intruder threatens Kate in her own home, leading to a desperate struggle for survival where she must rely on the protective spirit of Josephine.
5. Church Ladies' Quilts
The final book concludes Kate’s journey. Now an active member of the community, Kate joins the quilting group at Borna's Concordia Lutheran Church. When a highly valuable church quilt goes missing, the local pastor tries to quiet the scandal, and Kate is drawn in to help locate it. By the end of this final installment, Kate's relationship status is resolved, and she finally uncovers the long-running mystery of who has been leaving yellow roses on Josephine's grave.
Chronological vs. Publication Order
Since the series was written and published in a tight timeframe between late 2015 and 2017, the publication order matches the internal chronology of the story. Reading the books out of order is highly discouraged. Kate's emotional recovery, her developing relationships with the townspeople, the resolution of her love triangle, and the unfolding mystery of Josephine's ghostly presence are serialized across all five novels.
What to Know Before You Start
A Real-World Setting
While the town of Borna is fictional, it is deeply rooted in reality. Ann Hazelwood drew inspiration from the actual East Perry County in Missouri—specifically the historic town of Frohna and the real-life Wine Country Inn. The ghostly character of Josephine and her husband Dr. Palisch are based on real historical figures from the region, adding a rich layer of local color to the stories.
Quilting as a Narrative Device
As a certified quilt appraiser, Hazelwood integrates authentic quilting terminology, patterns, and historical lore into every book. The quilts in East Perry County are not just cozy background details; they function as clues, historical records, and sometimes channels for supernatural elements.
Other Series by Ann Hazelwood
If you finish the East Perry County series and want to read more of Hazelwood's cozy quilting universes, she has written several other multi-book series. While they do not share characters or plot continuity with East Perry County, they feature the same signature warmth, small-town settings, and craft focus:
- Colebridge Community Series: A 7-book series starting with The Basement Quilt that follows florist and quilter Anne Brown.
- Wine Country Quilts Series: A 5-book series set in Missouri's wine country, beginning with For the Love of Quilts.
- Door County Quilts Series: A 5-book series set in Wisconsin, starting with Quilters of the Door.