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Sister Circle #1
The Sister Circle
Book 1 in the Sister Circle(TM) When Evelyn Peerbaugh hung the ancient sign in front of her house, she had no idea of how life was about to change. In a matter of days she became the newly widowed owner of a busy boardinghouse, coping with the lives and emotions of a most incompatible group of women. Settling into their roles at Peerbaugh Place, the women discover the true meaning of friendship . . . and the joy of lives truly surrendered to God. Available only in Christian Fiction 6.
352 pages, Paperback
Published December 31, 2002
1837 people are currently reading
1433 people want to read
About the author
Vonette Bright
41 books37 followersVonette Bright Since co founding Campus Crusade for Christ with her husband, Bill Bright, in 1951, Vonette has maintained a rigorous schedule as hostess, speaker, discipler, and author. Founder of Women Today International, she is widely recognized as a spokesperson for Christian women.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 244 reviews
May 16, 2015
This one surprised me. I didn't expect to like it. I find with a lot of Christian literature, it becomes preachy where the dialogue is so stiff and rather than speaking to people, every sentence has to have a moral, so it becomes a sermon about how to be virtuous. I find the characters to be pretty self-righteous in most of them. I got this book from a library book sale and didn't realize until I got it home that it was a Christian novel. But, unlike most of the books I have read in this genre, it didn't seem forced. And I really really really liked the message, because it was one of non-judgement and of inclusion...everyone is welcome to the table and you don't have to do anything to "earn" God's love. My favorite part was the explanation that God is our father...and just like any parent, he loves us and nothing we do or don't do makes him love us more or less. We do good things because it's RIGHT, not because it makes God love us more. He already loves us. And yes, it pleases him when we do good things, but it's not a requirement for his love. He doesn't STOP loving us because we mess up, or even because we push him away. That's a message that we don't hear a lot in these times. I think we get caught up in the "God loves me MORE than he loves you, because I don't do A, B, or C" idea and we marginalize and exclude others as though they don't belong to our elite club of "good" people. It was so refreshing to read a Christian book that didn't do that and that actually had a self-righteous character who came to realize how wrong that behavior was. I really liked Piper and respect her character. She is the kind of woman I aspire to be.
Plot: Evelyn's husband dies, leaving her with next to nothing. Now she has to find a way to generate income to live on. As she is going through some of her husband's family "treasures", she finds a bible that was given to her husband and never opened. She has all but given up her faith because her husband was not a believer, so finding the bible is somewhat of a nudge to her to get back in touch with God. Once she decides to put it in his hands, the answer comes to her. She will take boarders into her home. The new tenants are about as different as can be. A bible thumping grandma, a free spirited hippy, and a young single mother and her 5 year old daughter. Though they all have different ideas of what their ideal home is like, they come to regard each other as sisters and support each other and teach other about themselves and about God. Add in a couple of other friends, and it becomes one big happy family.
Plot: Evelyn's husband dies, leaving her with next to nothing. Now she has to find a way to generate income to live on. As she is going through some of her husband's family "treasures", she finds a bible that was given to her husband and never opened. She has all but given up her faith because her husband was not a believer, so finding the bible is somewhat of a nudge to her to get back in touch with God. Once she decides to put it in his hands, the answer comes to her. She will take boarders into her home. The new tenants are about as different as can be. A bible thumping grandma, a free spirited hippy, and a young single mother and her 5 year old daughter. Though they all have different ideas of what their ideal home is like, they come to regard each other as sisters and support each other and teach other about themselves and about God. Add in a couple of other friends, and it becomes one big happy family.
November 22, 2018
Hmmm... I was intrigued by the concept of this book, but it just didn't quite work for me. It felt like too much trying to happen in too short a space, which left certain plotlines or characters feeling rushed or unnecessary. The popping back and forth through so many different perspectives also felt a bit distracting. And I was confused when certain bit players suddenly took on a major role that didn't quite feel in keeping with the way we had seen them before.
Honestly, I was also a bit jarred by the bluntness with which several issues of immorality in the ladies' pasts (or suspected immorality in the present) was dealt with. Not that it was glorified, but there didn't even seem to be an attempt to use delicacy when discussing it. Phrases like, "we had sex, got married, popped out a couple of kids..." or "what did you do, sleep with him?" really made me flinch. I can appreciate honesty, but we've created less blunt ways of putting things for a reason.
At the beginning, the spiritual messages seemed somewhat vague, which, coupled with Mae's hippie tendencies and Tessa's blatantly judgmental Christianity, made me a bit nervous about the overall message of the book. Thankfully, by the end, we do get a couple of actual conversions, which reassured me a little, even if the spiritual state of a couple of characters was left a little unclear.
Overall, I would say it had some good messages, but it's not one of my favorites.
Honestly, I was also a bit jarred by the bluntness with which several issues of immorality in the ladies' pasts (or suspected immorality in the present) was dealt with. Not that it was glorified, but there didn't even seem to be an attempt to use delicacy when discussing it. Phrases like, "we had sex, got married, popped out a couple of kids..." or "what did you do, sleep with him?" really made me flinch. I can appreciate honesty, but we've created less blunt ways of putting things for a reason.
At the beginning, the spiritual messages seemed somewhat vague, which, coupled with Mae's hippie tendencies and Tessa's blatantly judgmental Christianity, made me a bit nervous about the overall message of the book. Thankfully, by the end, we do get a couple of actual conversions, which reassured me a little, even if the spiritual state of a couple of characters was left a little unclear.
Overall, I would say it had some good messages, but it's not one of my favorites.
January 22, 2013
Have you ever asked yourself,"What makes up a group of Friends?' Are we all the same? Do we have some things in common? Have we been forced together and friendships just evolve from current situations? Many things bring along and open the beautiful doors to friendship.
I found the 4 book set of Venette Bright and Nancy Moser's The Sister Circle at the library. I was delighted in what I found. It all begins with recently widowed Evenly Peebaugh who is mid 50's, never had a job, and is now broke due to situation that her deceed husband left her in. In a moment of inspiration, she hangs out an old sign found in the attic from many generations back and opens a boarding house. Before she knows what has happened, her house is full. We have an aging hippie, a single mom and her daughter, a judgmental elder. Now, we all know that adding that many personalities to one house with no previous knowledge of one another is a learning curve in the making. The ins and outs, ups and downs, are worth reading into. I would recommend the series to any reading group or individual because the back of the book references the verses that are included in the story.
I found the 4 book set of Venette Bright and Nancy Moser's The Sister Circle at the library. I was delighted in what I found. It all begins with recently widowed Evenly Peebaugh who is mid 50's, never had a job, and is now broke due to situation that her deceed husband left her in. In a moment of inspiration, she hangs out an old sign found in the attic from many generations back and opens a boarding house. Before she knows what has happened, her house is full. We have an aging hippie, a single mom and her daughter, a judgmental elder. Now, we all know that adding that many personalities to one house with no previous knowledge of one another is a learning curve in the making. The ins and outs, ups and downs, are worth reading into. I would recommend the series to any reading group or individual because the back of the book references the verses that are included in the story.
June 20, 2018
I started this book with high expectations. I liked that the main character was named Evelyn, my name. She seemed even to share some personality traits with me, namely being afraid to speak up at times and make her opinions known. Not wanting to make waves. But as I progressed through the book, it became too preachy. The last third of the book was like an extended Bible study. I felt turned off. Everybody, and I mean everybody, had an epiphany. It lost its reality then. Though I still liked the characters, especially Evelyn and the little girl, Summer, she was babysitting, they became more two-dimensional. This was a Kindle selection, so at least I didn't pay much for it. I won't be continuing with the other three books in the series.
August 14, 2012
There are four books to this series. HOW I WISH THE WRITERS WOULD NUMBER THEIR BOOKS!!!!! Someone had written the number of the book on the inside (library book)....anyway I loved this series....all about people coming together with all sorts of background and end up being not only friends but true sisters in the Lord. So enjoyed this series!
March 14, 2013
Really good book...Friends make life happy & forfilled,these ladies are good for each other & me.I'm going to look for the rest of the series.
October 7, 2016
Story in itself was good but just a little too preachy for me.
August 8, 2020
This is the first book in the Sister Circle Series, the first book I have read by Nancy Moser, and I'm adding this book to my list of favorites!
The series starts out with a middle aged woman whose husband dies suddenly, and she soon finds out that shortly before his death, her husband pretty much gambled away all of their savings. All she then has is the house she and her husband lived in, a charming old Victorian house that's been passed down in her husband's family for generations. Over the years she had to fight her husband to keep and stay in the house, and now she's glad she did.
After her husband's passing, with their only son grown and living on his own, Evelyn feels her home is too big for her alone, and decides to make the house a sort of extended stay bed and breakfast, renting out the extra bedrooms for a source of income. She soon discovers that her husband's ancestors did the very same thing long ago. Before she even gets the chance to prepare the house or advertise her new business, a variety of female tenants start to show up at Evelyn's front door, quickly move in, and help transition the house. In working through their differences, these women end up developing a unique sisterhood.
It's fascinating to see several women who are so different, who have such different backgrounds, are accustomed to such different lifestyles and have such different interests and personalities, by circumstance, end up living under the same roof, and by the grace of God find a way to become less judgmental and more loving toward one another. These women also slowly grow in their Christian faith because of each other.
Reading this book, I felt as though I got to know its main characters really well, and they became what feels like my own family. Although I wasn’t sure about liking all of these women at first (there is one in particular that was quite judgmental, arrogant, and downright mean at times), I ended up loving all of these women by the end of the book. Their interactions with one another are intriguing and thought-provoking. These characters all become better people just by knowing one another. God definitely had a plan in putting these women together!
Piper is the character I feel I would be most drawn to… Little Summer is a child I would adore and volunteer to babysit often. Mae is someone I would love to have around because, although we don’t share much in common, she can really make me laugh! This book made me laugh and cry, and has taught me so much about relationships/friendships!
The characters of this book came alive in my mind and the story was carried out in such a way that I felt as though I was seeing real people’s lives play out in a very real and touching way… Nancy Moser has excellent character and plot development skills!
I can’t wait to read the books in the rest of this series!
The series starts out with a middle aged woman whose husband dies suddenly, and she soon finds out that shortly before his death, her husband pretty much gambled away all of their savings. All she then has is the house she and her husband lived in, a charming old Victorian house that's been passed down in her husband's family for generations. Over the years she had to fight her husband to keep and stay in the house, and now she's glad she did.
After her husband's passing, with their only son grown and living on his own, Evelyn feels her home is too big for her alone, and decides to make the house a sort of extended stay bed and breakfast, renting out the extra bedrooms for a source of income. She soon discovers that her husband's ancestors did the very same thing long ago. Before she even gets the chance to prepare the house or advertise her new business, a variety of female tenants start to show up at Evelyn's front door, quickly move in, and help transition the house. In working through their differences, these women end up developing a unique sisterhood.
It's fascinating to see several women who are so different, who have such different backgrounds, are accustomed to such different lifestyles and have such different interests and personalities, by circumstance, end up living under the same roof, and by the grace of God find a way to become less judgmental and more loving toward one another. These women also slowly grow in their Christian faith because of each other.
Reading this book, I felt as though I got to know its main characters really well, and they became what feels like my own family. Although I wasn’t sure about liking all of these women at first (there is one in particular that was quite judgmental, arrogant, and downright mean at times), I ended up loving all of these women by the end of the book. Their interactions with one another are intriguing and thought-provoking. These characters all become better people just by knowing one another. God definitely had a plan in putting these women together!
Piper is the character I feel I would be most drawn to… Little Summer is a child I would adore and volunteer to babysit often. Mae is someone I would love to have around because, although we don’t share much in common, she can really make me laugh! This book made me laugh and cry, and has taught me so much about relationships/friendships!
The characters of this book came alive in my mind and the story was carried out in such a way that I felt as though I was seeing real people’s lives play out in a very real and touching way… Nancy Moser has excellent character and plot development skills!
I can’t wait to read the books in the rest of this series!
December 7, 2019
Cute story, but the evangelical Christianity was "over the top".
June 9, 2018
This was a delightful book. It is about "Women's Christian Fellowship" but also about so much more. It speaks to the amazing ability that women have to share with each other, support each other, and the special understanding that women have for each other. I like to think of it as a God given gift we as women possess. This is a story of seven amazing women in their own rights, who come together from different circumstances and places in life and how they form their own "Sister Circle" as a family with each other. Each of us brings different "gifts" to the table and when sharing those gifts with each other, we become more of a "whole" person. I can't wait to read the next book to see where all these women go in life.
November 24, 2018
I will enjoy reading this series of books. Sweet stories with faith at the center.
August 14, 2025
Mostly entertaining, but definitely corny.
November 3, 2025
Sweet story. Likeable characters learning to live a new life with each other and with Jesus.
May 26, 2018
I loved this book and the way the author shows how Jesus takes us as we are and changes us.
October 21, 2018
This book is about relationships between people who become family unexpectedly. Evelyn is widowed and finds that her husband has left with meager funding. How she handles it brings these ladies together. Each of the introspectively ladies examines their faith application in own life.
July 18, 2015
Without having an e-reader, I found myself looking at the shelves in the library for books. Because I haven’t read anything by Bright or Moser prior to this book, I decided to check it out. I liked the idea of a group of women from different backgrounds coming together. I was not disappointed by this book.
I enjoyed how real the characters were. I could see their flaws in me or another person I know. I loved seeing how God was working in each of their lives, and how He used each of them to teach one of the other women. The book seems to answers critics. For example, May talks about how long it takes men to get to know each other versus how long it takes women to get to know each other. The women quickly come to know details of each other’s lives, and they encourage each other to become better. Their lives come together and provide for each other in ways the women didn’t know that they needed. It’s amazing how different the characters are – personalities, behaviors, patterns of speech, and the authors keep true to each character.
Through reading this book, I identified with personality traits of one of the characters, and frankly, I didn’t like it. What I did like is the thought that God loves all people, no matter their flaws. God puts people into our lives to allow iron to sharpen iron and work out those negative personality traits. Thank you Jesus! There is good character development in this book. The women recognize their flaws, and the allow God to change them.
The writing was great. There was a nice mix of background and dialogue. I believe there is some foreshadowing to what the next book in the series may explore, but I could be wrong. Without spoiling a scene, there is one thing I hope is answered. There is acceptance of a situation in this book, yet it is a loose end. It’s something I want to know how it turns out. I wonder about the connection, and it makes me want to read the next book to find out!
I didn’t like how quickly one character went from where she was to being saved. I would have liked to know more about what she was going through. I also don’t know if I liked the romance between Evelyn’s son and another resident. These are minor issues. They aren’t deal breakers.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I want to continue with the other books in the series. I would recommend it for anyone who likes stories about women learning to get along while edifying and encouraging each other. It’s a book that will bring tears to your eyes in places, and make you smile and chuckle in other places.
http://agardenofdelight.blogspot.com
I enjoyed how real the characters were. I could see their flaws in me or another person I know. I loved seeing how God was working in each of their lives, and how He used each of them to teach one of the other women. The book seems to answers critics. For example, May talks about how long it takes men to get to know each other versus how long it takes women to get to know each other. The women quickly come to know details of each other’s lives, and they encourage each other to become better. Their lives come together and provide for each other in ways the women didn’t know that they needed. It’s amazing how different the characters are – personalities, behaviors, patterns of speech, and the authors keep true to each character.
Through reading this book, I identified with personality traits of one of the characters, and frankly, I didn’t like it. What I did like is the thought that God loves all people, no matter their flaws. God puts people into our lives to allow iron to sharpen iron and work out those negative personality traits. Thank you Jesus! There is good character development in this book. The women recognize their flaws, and the allow God to change them.
The writing was great. There was a nice mix of background and dialogue. I believe there is some foreshadowing to what the next book in the series may explore, but I could be wrong. Without spoiling a scene, there is one thing I hope is answered. There is acceptance of a situation in this book, yet it is a loose end. It’s something I want to know how it turns out. I wonder about the connection, and it makes me want to read the next book to find out!
I didn’t like how quickly one character went from where she was to being saved. I would have liked to know more about what she was going through. I also don’t know if I liked the romance between Evelyn’s son and another resident. These are minor issues. They aren’t deal breakers.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I want to continue with the other books in the series. I would recommend it for anyone who likes stories about women learning to get along while edifying and encouraging each other. It’s a book that will bring tears to your eyes in places, and make you smile and chuckle in other places.
http://agardenofdelight.blogspot.com
March 27, 2013
Loved it.
The Sister Circle, book one of this charming contemporary series, introduces Peerbaugh Place, the quaint Victorian house that becomes a refuge to seven women of vastly different ages, personalities, and backgrounds. When Evelyn Peerbaugh hung the ancient sign in front of her house, she had no idea how life was about to change. In a matter of days, she became the newly widowed owner of a busy boardinghouse, trying to cope with the lives and emotions of the most incompatible group of women ever gathered under one roof. Through struggles and triumphs, the women forge a special bond of sisterhood. Readers will find their own place in the circle, gaining insight into their own spiritual gifts, as they laugh and cry with each of these women.
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The Sister Circle, book one of this charming contemporary series, introduces Peerbaugh Place, the quaint Victorian house that becomes a refuge to seven women of vastly different ages, personalities, and backgrounds. When Evelyn Peerbaugh hung the ancient sign in front of her house, she had no idea how life was about to change. In a matter of days, she became the newly widowed owner of a busy boardinghouse, trying to cope with the lives and emotions of the most incompatible group of women ever gathered under one roof. Through struggles and triumphs, the women forge a special bond of sisterhood. Readers will find their own place in the circle, gaining insight into their own spiritual gifts, as they laugh and cry with each of these women.
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October 17, 2012
I love, love, loved this book. It was awesome. I especially enjoyed the discussion questions at the end of the book. It's the first time I've seen this format. One or two points are taken from the chapter, with questions asked of the reader, followed by "Faith Issues." I enjoyed watching the transformation of the ladies, Mae, Tessa, Evelyn, Audra & Summer, along with Piper, Gillie (is it Gil-lie or Jil-lie?), Russell & Collier. But, we're left hanging. Obviously the next book is a whole new cast of characters as Evelyn has 3 rooms to rent out again. I hope the next book gives us a back story. I can guess on Mae & Audra, but Tessa?
May 28, 2011
I really enjoyed this book! It's a nice, fun read with some emotional depth. Watching a group of very different women come together in God's love and form strong bonds of friendship was truly enjoyable. It was nice to see people working out their differences instead of letting their differences spoil potential relationships. I enjoyed the focus on Christian values and trying to maintain those Christian values as a part of every day life. I recommend this book for anyone looking for an easy, enjoyable Christian read.
August 17, 2013
Evelyn Peerbaugh, a recent widow, needs a source of income, so she decides to take in boarders, and this book is about the way God works in the lives of seven women and weaves them into a "sister circle." I love the way each of the women are so different, and their personalities are very well fleshed out by the author. The friendships that develop are amazing, and remind me of the very close friends I would include in my own "sister circle." I just marked the other three volumes in this series "to read" because I want to find out more about what happens to these wonderful women.
November 7, 2012
This has been a fun, christian-fiction, typically american story. I have whizzed through it and, although its definitely not a life-changer, it has definitely been an enjoyable read. Its the story of 50-something Evelyn who, after the early death of her husband, opens up her home as a boarding house, to a rather eclectic mix of women who learn, gradually, to live together, not withstanding a few hurdles along the way! It was a freebie for the Kindle on Amazon as well, so no complaining there!!
November 7, 2012
Loved this book. I managed to snag it for free from Amazon for my Kindle. Now I want to read the rest of the series. It may get preachy for some readers but I enjoyed the spirituality that was in the storylines. Each character has issues or flaws, but as we all know no one is perfect. I loved how the women managed to work through their differences and come to love one another as "sisters". Very good story. I felt the emotions of anger, sadness, and love while reading this book. Any book that has me feeling the emotional roller coaster with the characters gets 5 stars.
January 12, 2014
I love this book. I almost feel like Evelyn is really me. So much about her is my story after my husband died. No I did open a boarding house but how smart is that. Seem like God just took over for her and started working on her life. Just as he did for me. The other women in the book are so good. You will love them. Maybe not at first but just keep reading and you will find their good points. I can't wait to read the second,third, and forth book. You just have to love what these author have done with these books. Look for the next one as soon as I get it.
August 1, 2014
Interesting, isn't it, how books influence us? I have enjoyed watching Evelyn as she comes to terms with the changes that becoming a widow has brought into her life. I am inspired by how she presses on and takes care of herself when she could have just started looking to her adult son to pick up the slack left by the death of his father. Getting to know the variety of characters in this book has also been good. I am now actually well into the third, of four, books in this set and fully intend to finish all four.
August 5, 2016
This was a very entertaining read. Loved the characters and became very attached to them by the time the book was finished, would like to read more about them too. I laughed and cried as the story moved forward, and enjoyed the fact that this was a book about being a Christian, and how as humans we are not perfect and never will be. I liked the story showing the shortcomings of each character and how they learned to accept flaws, and supported each other in their growth. Will be checking other titles by these authors.
January 19, 2010
Very enjoyable book about a woman whose husband dies and leaves her practically penniless (that's not why it's good:)) and she decides to open up her home as a boardinghouse for women to make ends meet.
The characters ring true to life and we watch them through their journey as they come to know Jesus Christ as their personal saviour and realize that their lives are truly better off trusting their lives to the One who made them and knows all about them.
The characters ring true to life and we watch them through their journey as they come to know Jesus Christ as their personal saviour and realize that their lives are truly better off trusting their lives to the One who made them and knows all about them.
September 23, 2014
A recently widowed woman finds herself financially strapped, and decides to open her Victorian family home to boarders. The story centers around the dynamics of 4 different women of different ages and backgrounds coming together to become a 'sisterhood'. The characters are very well developed, and the authors really capture the female voice in each one. I really enjoyed this book, and will probably go on to read the others in the series.
November 24, 2008
Welcome to The Sister Circle. It's been a few years since reading this series but I loved each book, wishing them to continue, even writing to one of the authors.
Evelyn whose husband has recently died decides to open up her home as a rooming house to other females as a means for her to make ends meet.
This series is definitely worth a repeat read.
Evelyn whose husband has recently died decides to open up her home as a rooming house to other females as a means for her to make ends meet.
This series is definitely worth a repeat read.
September 8, 2010
I love the idea of this story: 7 women that come together in various stages of their lives and form a family. I am only half way through and I cannot wait to read the rest in the series. Not sure how many so if anyone know please let me know. Thank you.
This was a wonderful story of how women should be with one another. I highly recommend it to every one.
This was a wonderful story of how women should be with one another. I highly recommend it to every one.
June 19, 2011
How do seven women become sisters? Evelyn, recently widowed, decides to open her home and rents three rooms to Mae, Tessa and Audra with little Summer. Friends Piper and Gillie complete the 7. Each person learns from their mistakes and get personal relationship with God. Study guides and a complete bible reference supplements the series.
322 pages
322 pages
Displaying 1 - 30 of 244 reviews