All is Bright

Thomas Kinkade's Cape Light: All is Bright by Katherine Spencer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

At number 15, the Cape Light series is still going strong. In this book, Reverend Ben is doing some reminiscing of days gone by...when he first started preaching at his new church and his daughter Rachel was just a baby. Rachel, now 36 and widowed at 34, is still putting one foot in front of the other, trying to protect her two children from the effects of losing their father. Will she be able to remove the walls she built around them when possible love and hope are peeking in?

These sweet novels remind us of home, faith in humanity and God, and that there is always hope....

View all my reviews

Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good

Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good by Jan Karon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Father Tim is back from Ireland and still trying to get used to retirement. There's a balancing act between being bored and overwhelmed when in an emergency he's asked jump back in the pulpit while also filling in at the Happy Endings bookstore. Sammy, Dooley's brother, is causing havoc and the town seems to be falling apart. How can the good pastor find the contentment he is so desperately seeking?

As in all the wonderful Mitford series I tried to slow down(I really did!)and savor each page, but found myself eagerly wanting to read ahead. Many of our favorite Mitford small town characters are back..Helene Pringle, Dooley and Lace, J.C. and Ester Bolick for another memorable novel.

View all my reviews

The Reason

The Reason by William Sirls
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

During a horrible storm, lightning strikes the huge wooden cross outside of St. Thomas' Church - Pastor Jim Lindy and his almost nonexistent congregation do not have the funds to replace it. When little five year old Alex Thomas and his mother Brooke, who live with Pastor Lindy, his wife Shirley and grown son Charlie, mention it at the hospital where he's having tests done, Dr. Macey Lewis rounds up a few people to lend a hand. They include her co-worker Dr. Zach Norman, NP Kaitlyn Harby , and carpenter and volunteer Kenneth, who keeps oddly repeating, "only believe." Dr. Lewis makes quick friends with Alex and his family and although dismayed when the test conclude Alex has aggressive leukemia - she knows as a oncologist, she is the best at what she does - finding answers and helping children like Alex beat cancer. But, what do you do when leukemia will not respond to the strongest medication and treatments. Kenneth repeats, "only believe."

A compelling look at faith, doubts, and miracles...

View all my reviews

The Scent of Lilacs

Ann Gabhart wrote that this book was her first attempt at inspirational writing and it is the beginning of a series set in a small town in Hollyhill, Kentucky in the 1960s. A much simpler time and way of life but people faced the same distractions, temptations,and problems as now. Jocie, at only 13 and daughter of the local pastor, prays for her sister to return and a pet dog to love. Her father also is a newspaper editor and Jocie hangs out at the shop and helps out by taking pictures of local events and writing stories. They both share their home with Jocie's stern Great Aunt Love, who loves to quote scripture and handout chores. When Jocie was a baby her mother left in the middle of the night, taking with her Jocie's older sister, Tabitha, finally settling in California and never returning. One night at the beginning of summer, the family returns home from church to find someone sitting on the porch in the dark, waiting for them.

The main characters are so well written and your heart will break for sweet Jocie and the secrets that will change her summer and her life.