Love's Surprise

by Karen Ball

In this collection of three whimsical and fresh stories of romance in unusual settings, Karen Ball's writing will delight readers of all ages and in every season. Infused with love, tenderness and humor, the stories are threaded together with common characters and themes. The protagonist in "Valentine's Surprise" has been unlucky in love, so her sisters conspire and set her up with a blind date they're sure will be "The One." The date is surprisingly successful...until she discovers she went out with the wrong man! In "Jericho's Walls," a widow's grown children try to forestall her annual April Fools' Day depression. They trick her into pet-sitting a ferret, and talk her into a major house renovation--to be done by the good-looking but distant Jericho Katz, whose spouse also has died. But can you help someone who doesn't think she wants it? "An Unlikely Angel" is the story of a very successful lawyer who believes he's got everything he wants and needs in life. Then a charming but destructive Siberian Husky turns up. The man comes to learn what is truly valuable, with help from an even more charming and quirky girl-next-door, and the gentle nudge of...an angel?

Genres: Christian Fiction

324 pages, Paperback

First published November 11, 2011

About the author

Karen's latest full-length novel, What Lies Within, has been nominated as the Best Inspirational Novel of the Year. Readers regularly call Karen's writing powerful, uplifting, and fun. She writes from her home in Oregon, where she lives with her husband, Don, and their two "kids": Dasha, a mischievous 4-month-old Siberian husky, and Dakota, an Aussie-Terrier mix that should have been named Psycho.

Next to working with words, Karen's greatest joys are playing with her dogs, laughing, savoring nature and wildlife, and finding wonder in everyday life.

Reviews

[Lauren (IntuitiveReading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book from beginning to end and found myself laughing out loud at several parts!

[Dorothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

the stories were fast moving makes this book a quick read

[Chickadee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love’s Surprise is a compilation of three stories connected by the common themes of holidays and love! Although the stories are different, they seamlessly tie together and the characters continue their journey from one novella right into the next. Animal lovers will be happy to find several furry friends included along the way.


In the first story, readers meet a grieving widow with well-meaning children who want to see her happy again. In the next story, readers meet a successful attorney who makes a living by ruining the lives of others. In the final story a team of sisters set out on a matchmaking experiment in an effort to find the perfect man for their niece. These three stories contain fun, quirky characters that seem to go from one mishap to another and readers get to go along for the ride. If you enjoy light hearted, humorous fiction this would be a great book to get a hold of.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is actually 3 short stories, each featuring a different member from the same family...a family that conspires, manipulates, and schemes, but in a good way. Each of the featured family members is needing a change from their "stuck in a rut" kind of life and it is up to the other family members to step in to help them, well, find love.

Each of the stories is hilarious, not necessarily all that believable, but hilarious with a feel good outcome as the end result. This is a fun, light read and would make a good read for those quiet moments between busy summer days when you want to read something that won't be so involved or so thought provoking that if you put it down, you will lose the thread of the story. I thoroughly enjoyed each one.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

AA trilogy about different members of the same family that are tied together to make up an entertaining read. Everything turned out for the good for all the people involved with a few twist and turns.