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Sisterchicks #6
Sisterchicks in Gondolas
Sisterchicks Take the Boot! (and we don’t mean shoe thievery)
Jenna and Sue have been sisters-in-law for nearly thirty years but inseparable friends for only the last five. When Jenna is invited to a week’s stay at a fifteenth century restored palace on a quiet canal in Venice , Sue is her travel companion of choice. The catch? They must cook for a group that is staying at the palace for a retreat. It’s the first time Sue has been this far from home, and both women are coming out of a valley season of life where they operated each day in long shadow s of fear. Entering into the lilting gondola-paced Italian lifestyle and discovering corners of Venice most tourists never see, they welcome a new time of refreshing. And over boiling pots of pasta, they dare each other to dream again.
Ciao bella!
SISTERCHICK n. : a friend who shares the deepest wonders of your heart, loves you like a sister, and provides a reality check when you’re being a brat.
When Jenna is invited to Venice for a week of cooking for a small retreat group, she knows just who to take her sister-in-law Sue. With her Dallas drawl and wild tangle of red hair, Sue desperately needs her own retreat from the pressures of the past two years…and blessedly for their guests, Sue actually knows how to cook (unlike Jenna)!
With about six words of Italian between them, a map, and a keen appetite for gelato, they puzzle out the lovely city together. During their stay, Jenna and Sue become victims of grace in ways they never expected—starting with their a restored fifteenth-century palace on a quiet canal complete with a stairwell perfect for mattress sledding!
Coming out of a time of dark shadows in their lives, these two friends dive into a new season of refreshing and realize that sometimes when serving God, the most important thing to do is just show up…and watch for goodness and mercy to follow close behind. Come join Jenna and Sue over boiling pots of pasta in this lilting gondola-paced adventure!
Discussion guide included
Story Behind the Book
Sisterchicks in Gondolas was birthed after Robin experienced Italy for herself. “In the summer of 2004, I went to Venice with my lifetime fellow Sisterchick from Ireland , Ruby,” she says. “We explored the city with our daughters and discovered the joys of Italian living.” With a splash of humor, grace, and a few zany antics, this latest Sisterchicks release continues to celebrate the unique and timeless bond between women friends. Entertaining and delightful, the story also challenges readers to examine their relationships with one another and with God.
Jenna and Sue have been sisters-in-law for nearly thirty years but inseparable friends for only the last five. When Jenna is invited to a week’s stay at a fifteenth century restored palace on a quiet canal in Venice , Sue is her travel companion of choice. The catch? They must cook for a group that is staying at the palace for a retreat. It’s the first time Sue has been this far from home, and both women are coming out of a valley season of life where they operated each day in long shadow s of fear. Entering into the lilting gondola-paced Italian lifestyle and discovering corners of Venice most tourists never see, they welcome a new time of refreshing. And over boiling pots of pasta, they dare each other to dream again.
Ciao bella!
SISTERCHICK n. : a friend who shares the deepest wonders of your heart, loves you like a sister, and provides a reality check when you’re being a brat.
When Jenna is invited to Venice for a week of cooking for a small retreat group, she knows just who to take her sister-in-law Sue. With her Dallas drawl and wild tangle of red hair, Sue desperately needs her own retreat from the pressures of the past two years…and blessedly for their guests, Sue actually knows how to cook (unlike Jenna)!
With about six words of Italian between them, a map, and a keen appetite for gelato, they puzzle out the lovely city together. During their stay, Jenna and Sue become victims of grace in ways they never expected—starting with their a restored fifteenth-century palace on a quiet canal complete with a stairwell perfect for mattress sledding!
Coming out of a time of dark shadows in their lives, these two friends dive into a new season of refreshing and realize that sometimes when serving God, the most important thing to do is just show up…and watch for goodness and mercy to follow close behind. Come join Jenna and Sue over boiling pots of pasta in this lilting gondola-paced adventure!
Discussion guide included
Story Behind the Book
Sisterchicks in Gondolas was birthed after Robin experienced Italy for herself. “In the summer of 2004, I went to Venice with my lifetime fellow Sisterchick from Ireland , Ruby,” she says. “We explored the city with our daughters and discovered the joys of Italian living.” With a splash of humor, grace, and a few zany antics, this latest Sisterchicks release continues to celebrate the unique and timeless bond between women friends. Entertaining and delightful, the story also challenges readers to examine their relationships with one another and with God.
304 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2006
38 people are currently reading
637 people want to read
About the author
Robin Jones Gunn
165 books2,656 followersROBIN JONES GUNN has written more than 100 books with over 6.5 million copies sold worldwide. Her Father Christmas books have been made into three Hallmark Christmas movies. The timeless Christy Miller series now continues in Christy & Todd: The College Years, Married Years, Baby Years, and the Haven Maker series. Robin's novels and non-fiction works include Before Your Tween Daughter Becomes a Woman, Victim of Grace, Praying for Your Future Husband, and Before You Meet Your Future Husband co-authored with Tricia Goyer. Her books have received multiple awards and are a favorite with book clubs and study groups. Many of Robin's books are in eBook, audiobook, large print, and foreign editions. Robin does a weekly Podcast called "Women Worth Knowing" with Cheryl Brodersen. Robin and her husband have a grown son and daughter and live in California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
October 11, 2024
We were on vacation so of course I had to bring Robin in with me. This is another lovely Sisterchick adventure where 2 women have an adventure in Venice AND an adventure with Jesus. Precious story + the epilogue was even sweeter.
December 30, 2012
Robin Jones Gunn’s story about a woman who thinks the most important part of her life is over until she is invited to Venice to cook for a small retreat group is enchanting and heart-warming. If you aren’t careful, you might learn something about God and His goodness and mercy.
A one-time single parent it wasn’t hard for me to relate to Jenna, a divorced mother whose daughter had since grown up and moved out on her own. Now Jenna feels useless like a part of her life is over. Having moved back to Dallas to help her sister-in-law, Sue, take care of her brother after an accident which left him paralyzed, she knew that Sue, too, needed a respite and invited her to come along on her trip to Venice.
This is a love story but not the typical love story between a man and a woman. This is a love story between God and two women who desperately need to find Him again. Jenna knows God isn’t finished with her yet, but she has no clue what she should do with the second half of her life. Sue is tired and exhausted from taking care of her husband and needs to know that God still cares about her life.
Between the laughter and the tears, I found myself identifying with the emotions of both women. It was exciting to see how God provided for them and how the romance that drew them in to God’s goodness and mercy is alive and well in my life as well.
Robin Jones Gunn has written more than 85 books, including many Sisterchicks books. She lives in Hawaii with her husband. A reader’s guide is included and makes a perfect read for any book club.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Blogging for Books as part of Waterbrook Multnomah’s Book Review Blogger Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
A one-time single parent it wasn’t hard for me to relate to Jenna, a divorced mother whose daughter had since grown up and moved out on her own. Now Jenna feels useless like a part of her life is over. Having moved back to Dallas to help her sister-in-law, Sue, take care of her brother after an accident which left him paralyzed, she knew that Sue, too, needed a respite and invited her to come along on her trip to Venice.
This is a love story but not the typical love story between a man and a woman. This is a love story between God and two women who desperately need to find Him again. Jenna knows God isn’t finished with her yet, but she has no clue what she should do with the second half of her life. Sue is tired and exhausted from taking care of her husband and needs to know that God still cares about her life.
Between the laughter and the tears, I found myself identifying with the emotions of both women. It was exciting to see how God provided for them and how the romance that drew them in to God’s goodness and mercy is alive and well in my life as well.
Robin Jones Gunn has written more than 85 books, including many Sisterchicks books. She lives in Hawaii with her husband. A reader’s guide is included and makes a perfect read for any book club.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Blogging for Books as part of Waterbrook Multnomah’s Book Review Blogger Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
May 2, 2024
Love this series.
September 9, 2025
What a lovely story! I want to find a Sisterchick to travel with!!
August 9, 2008
Are you a Sisterchick fan? If so, you do not want to miss the sixth book in Robin Jones Gunn’s delightful series. In this installment, sisters-in-law Sue and Jenna take a trip that I’ve always wanted to go on myself – to Venice! Gunn acted as my tour guide while I went along for the ride and saw the incredible sights. When I finished the book, I’d picked up a few words of Italian and a yearning for some gelato and freshly baked Italian bread. And of course I enjoyed the wonderful developing relationship of two women I will add to my list of memorable fictional characters. This book received the Christy Award in 2007 for the ‘lit’ category. Infused with light humor and weighty truth, Sisterchicks in Gondolas! is one you won’t want to miss.
April 15, 2025
I LOVE all of the Sisterchicks books! They are the ultimate comfort read for me. When I am in a reading rut, I reread a Sisterchicks book. Robin Jones Gunn writes so beautifully! She includes many wonderful spiritual nuggets in each book. I had forgotten how amazingly gorgeous this particular book is. Made me tear up several times as spiritual truths hit home through a delightful fictional story. I love the female friendship shared by two middle-aged women in each book, and this one made me long to visit Venice to experience the adventures that Jenna and Sue did. ADORED this book!!!
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June 26, 2009When Jenna is invited to Venice for a week of cooking for a small retreat group, she knows just who to take along:her sister-in-law,Sue.With about six words of Italian between them, a map, and a appetite for gelato, they puzzle put the lovely city together. During their stay, Jenna and Sue become victims of grace in ways they never expected. Come and join Jenna and Sue in their gondolapaced adventure.
September 29, 2015
This was a fun book in the Sisterchicks series. I loved reading about Venice and all the cute little places that the characters visited while staying there. One of the many things I love about books in this series is that they focus on friendship and deepening your relationship with the Lord, and this book definitely fits right in. The little reveal towards the end was both sweet and surprising. This was a pretty good book and I would recommend it to fans of contemporary Christian fiction.
March 16, 2010
Once again Robin Jones Gunn has written a delightfully captivating story of "sisters in Christ" who uphold one another through tears and laughter.
October 26, 2018
If you like Venice, a good relationship with God and your sister-in-law, you will like this book. I found it a bit slow, in fact I didn't really getting into this book until almost 200 pages in. It was pretty much just a travelogue of Italy until then. The characters were good women, there was no swearing or illicit sexual content, (which I like) but there was also not much else to really keep me turning pages. I am a Christian so the scriptural references were fine as were the tenets of hope and love. I just was a little bored. If you like self help books, or are looking to find something that is missing in your life, I think you would enjoy this.
January 2, 2025
This was a fun sisters adventure. Jenna is invited on a service-tourist trip to take care of a group of pastors. She is allowed to take a friend, and invites her sister-in-law, Sue. The two of them make a good duo, whose skills make up for areas where the other struggles. I loved the idea of two sisters going on adventures together, growing together and helping each other through some of their big questions.
March 23, 2019
With Christian-based undertones, this book was a pleasant listen (books on CD) throughout my week of driving for work. There wasn't a ton of action but plenty of silly escapades as the two main characters found themselves in situations while exploring Venice. Will be recommending this book to friends.
October 29, 2020
I loved this book. It gave the reader a mini-tour of Venice and told about some great places to visit. The main character’s life is interesting and delves into a significant mission she did much earlier in her life. I love how she and her sister-in-law found new purpose in their lives after going to Venice to cook for 7 men that would meet up to encourage each other in their faith every year.
May 16, 2024
You always know what you are going to get with a Robin Jones Gunn book, and I think that’s part of the appeal: A relatable story, full of faith and friendship. Sure it may have a more simplistic writing style, but the story will leave you closer to God and feeling like you’ve spent time with a friend.
November 12, 2024
I am loving this series. Oh, the adventures these ladies have traveling to various locations!
I learned a lot of historical information about the area, especially those who keep the tradition of being a gondolier!
I learned a lot of historical information about the area, especially those who keep the tradition of being a gondolier!
July 22, 2025
Refreshed! That is the theme of the book, and it is how I feel after reading it. Invigorated and energized too. This book stirs the soul in so many ways. JUST READ IT, Christian sisters, is all I’ll say. Grace on you!!!!!
July 7, 2018
This might be my favorite in the series. I really enjoyed this glimpse of Venice and the message of this book.
August 25, 2018
Robin Jones Gunn has done it again! Amazing as always! I can’t wait to read the rest of this series! Just read it, ASAP, right now!
September 2, 2018
I loved this one. I loved how it came full circle. I loved all the emotions. It's truly one of my favorites in the series. This one was more solemn than the others.
March 3, 2019
My favorite in the Sisterchicks series.
July 12, 2019
One of my favourite Sisterchicks 💞
November 5, 2019
I finally finished not that I wasn’t interested in the book, but other books grabbed my attention more. Fun story, but at times it was a bit boring to me.
December 19, 2019
I always enjoy the Sisterchick novels. They make me yearn for the places I have visited and seen and drive me to want to see the places that I have not been to that she writes about.
June 11, 2020
Extremely boring feel-good religious balarny required Book Club book almost nauseating to read. Such a waste when there are so many good books waiting to be read!
August 8, 2020
Probably my favorite Sisterchicks book so far
February 17, 2022
Wonderful book!
July 28, 2022
I just can't get through this book. To me, it is boring and has no movement to keep me interested. I'm giving up on this one and finding something else to read.
August 25, 2022
loved this book! the adventure to Venice was amazing with details I was googling a lot! I wish there were more books in this series I've read all 8 and I'm wanting for more
March 26, 2023
Some parts were confusing to me with all the Italian references, but maybe that’s just me.
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April 23, 2023italy
Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews