Prayers and Pawprints

Tales from Grace Chapel Inn #16

by Diann Hunt

When two very special dogs descend on Acorn Hill, Alice wonders, Could a dog be an answer to prayer? Alice's prayer is for Paula Middleton, a new resident who lives alone and suffers from seizures. After Paula is injured in a fall, Alice determines the town must do something for the young woman--and a service dog may be just the thing. But will the church board approve the expense? In the meantime, who owns the mysterious black dog that's been watching over the citizens of Acorn Hill like a guardian angel?

Genres: Christian, Christian Fiction, Fiction, Chick Lit

304 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2009

About the author

Diann Hunt wrote romantic comedy and humorous women's fiction targeted to Christian women of the Baby Boomer generation. She'd lived in Indiana forever, had been happily married forever, loved her family, chocolate, her friends, her dog, and, well, chocolate. Her book "For Better or For Worse" is being made into a Hallmark movie, with production beginning in November, 2013.

After a four-year battle with ovarian cancer, Diann went home to be with her Lord and Saviour just after Thanksgiving, 2013. She leaves behind a legacy of words of blessing, love for her Lord, her family, her close friends, and fans the world over who have come to know and love her and call her their friend.

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alice finds a dog on her doorstep and feeds it, later she notices that several close calls around town have been avoided because the dog has protected people. She wonders if this will help a young woman who is almost housebound because of seizures and sets her up with an organization that has working dogs. Alice has to convince the church board to fund the dog and deal with a visitor to town that doesn’t want dogs in cafes and stores. Louise is excited by a famous piano player but gives up seeing his concert to step up and help the minister.

[Mary Simmons-hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great inspirational read

[Abbie W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book once again. Absolutely loving this series.

[Kathie D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book IC

[Kirby · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Tales From Grace Chapel Inn is such a refreshing break from the horrors in our world right now, and I love getting to take a step away from everything when ever I pick up one of these titles.

Once again, readers follow sisters Alice, Louise and Jane as they welcome visitors to the bed and breakfast they've turned their historic family home into. Each visitor brings their own unique set of challenges, and the main message behind this title is that if God can use a donkey to accomplish His purposes, there's no telling how He can use each of us if we're only willing to trust Him no matter what.

A good portion of the story focuses around service dogs; including their training and development, and I found that extremely interesting. I'm not usually much of a dog person personally, but this story was sweet and heartwarming, and I loved both of the beautiful dogs that play a big portion of the story.

I continue to enjoy working my way through the titles in the series, and I'd recommend it for anyone who enjoys cozy, faith based reads that focus more on family and friendship than on romance.

Final Rating: 4/5.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great read in this wonderful series about 3 sisters who return home after their father's death to turn their old family home into a B&B. In each book, we see a bit more about the sisters & the interesting town residents but then the reader is introduced to new characters as they come for a stay at Grace Chapel Inn.

In this book, Alice (who is a nurse) becomes very involved in helping a young woman with seizures who lives by herself. Through this relationship, the reader learns about dogs who are employed to help people with medical conditions. Other guests include an older woman who is on her own after losing her husband & sister as well as a young couple with a baby who make an unexpected stop due to bad weather. The husband is a work-a-holic lawyer and the stay at the inn may just be able to teach him some new lessons.

The reader always knows what to expect (a quick read with fun characters, interesting stories, lessons from God) and what not to expect (profanity, sex scenes) when they pick up one of the books from this series.

[Bonnie McHenry · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading 16 Grace chapel books, I have finally realized that I identify so much with the Howard sisters because I am a great mix of the 3 personalities all rolled into one! Each sister is unique in her own way and I really seem to relate to the trials and triumphs they go through both individually and as sisters. I love the scripture passages woven into the story as it relates to the plot. This story was especially special because it dealt a lot with animals, particularly dogs and Wendall their cat, and how they touch our lives on a daily basis! I always feel uplifted after leaving Acorn Hill and love revisiting with old friends in the next book.

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Grace Chapel Inn books have a simple charm for anyone who has enjoyed the bed and breakfast experience - or dream of having their own B&B. Or lived in a small town. The GCI books have different authors but seem to flow seamlessly between various authors.

I loved how Prayers and Pawprints started with interaction between Alice and a stray dog and expected more throughout the book, but I was disappointed. Dogs were talked about from time to time, but it fell flat; very detached. Wellington the cat had more personality. Except for that little disappointment, this is a nice little get-away, almost as good as being at a B&B. Well, I can pretend it was.

[Ruth Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just can't help myself . . . this book is dog-gone good! Alice becomes acquainted with a young woman named Paula who struggles with a seizure disorder. Alice uses her connections with her vet friend Mark and her friends at Grace Chapel Inn to acquire a seizure dog, Paws, to support Paula.
The main theme of this book is that if God can use a donkey named Baaam, then God can use whomever He wishes to do whatever He deems best. That might mean a lost black lab named Parakaleo (Encourager), a difficult Aunt, three sisters and an inn, or even YOU.

I also have to admit that I got a kick out of Jane trying to teach Wendell, the cat, a trick.

[sandra sprenger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prayers answered. A fantastic read.

Prayers answered. A fantastic read.

I've become a great fan for this series. no matter what one you start the story pulls you in and warps a warm hug around you. we get so busy with our daily lives it's nice to sit down and enjoy a heartwarming story. we also need to be reminded that our Father uses different means to answer prayer or solve problems. a stray dog, and a new friend open the door for the Howard sisters in this story. recommend for anyone wanting a great relaxing afternoon read.

[Janie R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this series of Tales from Grace Chapel Inn, this story was very enjoyable. There were a lot of things that were happening that needed the prayers of the Howard sisters and others. I really enjoyed the "mystery dog", I wanted to take him home! The info on how disability dogs are trained,etc. was very interesting. I thought this sentence from the book,sums up the main theme in this book, "God can use whatever means He chooses to get the job done".

[Debbie Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great story in the Grace Chapel Inn series. This book about community and reaching out to help others. Also about how God uses us in unexpected ways in other peoples lives and how he can even use animals to intervene in human lives, like Balaam and the donkey.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you just want a straightforward, enjoyable book that doesn't tackle big issues, that doesn't scare or thrill you, but just quietly keeps you company, this is it. I guess I should go back and start at the beginning of the series, but I enjoyed this book as a stand-alone.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Grace Chapel Inn book with the Howard sisters helping visitors to their inn and town to know God's love and acceptance.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The discussion about assistance dogs was very interesting

[Colette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read, enjoy the Howard sisters and their bed and breakfast

[Donna]

Another good Grace Chapel Inn book, enjoy them all.

[Jasmin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read from The Grace Chapel Inn series. I cannot wait for the next one!

[Terri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good edition to the grace chapel hill series, enough going on in the book but not a lot. wish there could of been more to louise filling in for Pastor Ken.

[Susan Moxley · Rating 5 out of 5]

An awesome story of how god can use anyone or anything to give us a message or help us when we are in need.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love animals and loves that this story was about a service dog, and Jane trying to teach her cat to do tricks.