The County Fair

Dorsetville

by Katherine Valentine

The annual County Fair sparks a flurry of activity and brings some surprising secrets to light in this heartwarming conclusion to Katherine Valentine’s beloved Dorsetville series.

It’s the end of summer and Dorsetville folks are busier than bees. Days are filled from dawn to sunset with last-minute chores, while the women struggle to find time to prepare their special dishes in hopes of winning a coveted blue ribbon at the annual County Fair. As opening day of the fair draws near, folks have plenty to occupy their minds as well. Much to the chagrin of Father James, he has been chosen to help judge the apple pie contest; Matthew Metcalf worries about how to keep his girlfriend and pay for college at the same time; the Petersons welcome a long-awaited and newly adopted baby; and Hudson, Marion Holmes’s butler, hopes to give his beloved employer a new reason to live by researching the parentage of a young boy who has just arrived in town along with the fair. The boy is a carbon copy of Marion’s deceased son, William. Could he be the product of an old love affair between William and a girl whose uncle once owned a carnival? Before this mystery can be solved, however, the sheriff and the FBI must figure out—before it’s too late—that the owner of the fair is planning to risk the lives of the fairgoers in order to hide a major drug deal he is taking part in.

THE COUNTY FAIR is a wonderful continuation of the Dorsetville series, where good friends are never farther away than a handshake and God’s intervention is as close as a prayer.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction, Contemporary

274 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book - 4.5 stars
Narration by John McDonough - 5 stars

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

The narrator made it difficult to follow all of the different story lines (and easy for my mind to wander).

[Gloria]

Didn't listen to. Too slow moving.

[Crystal Toller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story of a town in New England. The story details the County Fair coming to the town of Dorsetville and how everyone in town is involved. Also, a backstory of a carnival operator and the thug who has bought into the Carnival. A very good read. Good editing, good character devlopment and loved the story of the town of Dorsetville. Reminded me very much of the Jan Karon books. New author to me from library book. Highly recommend this book.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the last book in the Dorsetville series. I have read all the books in the series and now sadly I have to say goodbye to all the wonderful residents I've come to know and love. Dorsetville is a small tight knit town filled with people who know everybody's business and are connected by their love for each other, their community and their strong faith in God. You come away wishing you could live in this simpler time and place. Dorsetville, I will miss you.

[Margaret Hardie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Katherine Valentine's books about Dorsetville. You can't be in a hurry for action, because these just don't go there. Intellectually funny, heartwarming, and just quietly lovely. Sometimes I get antsy for something to happen, and then I find myself laughing right out loud, and I wonder why I thought I needed "action". I didn't! I love this book.

[Mary Ann · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just could not finish this book. Just did not hold my attention.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice conclusion to the Dorsetville series. A good bye with many prayers answered.

[Kerry Moberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this story because I liked the Mitford Series narrated by John McDonough and he reads this one too. Christian lit - good story about simple things.

[Doris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good book, an easily flowing read, which wrapped up all parts of the various story lines. That in itself is unusual, but it also flowed in a forward fashion, with enough topics to keep It interesting but not so much that they were hard to keep track of. Even the occasional foray into memory lane was well done and added to the story line without interrupting it.

The only downside in my opinion is that the author needs to be more careful in the use of tenses and phrasing. For example, at one point "he wiped up the cream he spilled with the edge of his sleeve". Sorry - did he wipe it up with his sleeve or spill it with his sleeve??? That's the type of phrasing that can stop me in a reading session, and the only reason this book did not get 5 stars.

Also - I listened to this as a book on tape, and the narrating team did a superb job.

However, if you are not interested in books which deal with religion, or which espouse a Christian viewpoint, you might want to bypass this.

[Kelly Logan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was very charming. There has been a long line of stories before this one. I was told you could pick this book up without having that background. Although this is true (there are many memories revisited) you still felt like a stranger to the town. This became tiresome at times as you began to feel separated from the story. The flow was definitely choppy. I almost quit reading the book until I got to the chapter where Matthew talked to the father about his dreams of MIT being crushed. Ultimately what kept me going was a certain friendship between James and Father Keene. It made me think to those in my life who were cherished mentors. Fun read if you can hang in there.

[Melissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I muddled through and finally finished it. I didn't like it. Also, there was profanity in it. The plot was too easy to figure out and the characters were not well defined I thought. It sounds like it is one of the in between books of a series which explains it. I guess in a book club you get some you like and some you don't. On to the next one :)

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very sad to leave Dorsetville behind. I grew to love the town and it's characters. Katherine Valentine is a very good story teller and draws you into the lives of this small town. Looking forward to reading more book by her.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my favorite of Valentine's series. It comes the closest to being a Catholic Mitford (Jan Karon) or Thrush Green (Miss Read), as I originally hoped these books would be. John MacDonough's narration adds to the charm, since he narrated Jan Karon's series.

[victori Everett · Rating 1 out of 5]

Real good read. Good vs. evil good always wins.

I truly enjoyed this book. A lot of learned consequences to misguided reasons. Great book for a group discussion.
I read it as part of a group discussion

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the characters! I love the way Katherine Valentine writes and the dialogue she writes for her characters.

[Stacy]

Read in 2007

[GrannyLee · Rating 1 out of 5]

For some reason I could not get into this book. It was so wishy washy for me and no real substance. Too many characters ! I listened to it on CD and I quit after the 3rd CD.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened on Audible.

[Elaine]

#6 in the Dorsetville St. Cecilia's Church series
1014
848
931

[Sandra Kent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story!

[Kayla Blair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome!