Back Home Again

Tales from Grace Chapel Inn #1

by Melody Carlson

2003 Guideposts HB, BCE, published without DJ. Number 1 in the popular Grace Chapel Inn Series with feisty inn-keepers, the Howard sisters.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction, Christian, Contemporary, Adult Fiction, Adult, Romance

231 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books, several of them Christmas novellas from Revell, including her much-loved and bestselling book, The Christmas Bus.

She also writes many teen books, including the Diary of a Teenage Girl series, the TrueColors series, and the Carter House Girls series.

Melody was nominated for a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her books, including the Notes from a Spinning Planet series and Finding Alice, which is in production as a Lifetime Television movie. She and her husband serve on the Young Life adult committee in central Oregon.

Reviews

[Loraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a charming village of Acorn Hill in rural Pennsylvania, three sisters, Louise a widow, Jane a divorcee, and Alice a spinster, all return home upon the death of their father to learn he has left their huge, old Victorian house to the three of them jointly. None of them are happy with where they are in life; so when Alice suggests that they turn the house into a B & B, they all jump in feet first.

A touch of family memories, a bit of relationship hiccoughs, a smidgen of builder's mayhem and mystery, and the laughter of town squabbles, this introduction to the Tales from the Grace Chapel Inn (which just happens to be next door to Grace Chapel where their dad was pastor for many, many years) was a relaxing, enjoyable read.

Another series published by Guideposts with a strong spiritual base and written by various Christian authors.

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Back Home Again (Tales from Grace Chapel Inn, #1)
by Melody Carlson

I have read other books in the Tales from Grace Chapel Inn series.
This was book 1 in the series. Unfortunately I just didn't make a connection with the characters in this book like I did in the later books. It's a good thing I hadn't read this book first or I may not have read more in this series.

[Carol Preston · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're mad about heritage restoration and interior decorating you'll probably love this story of three sisters come back together in their senior years to renovate their childhood home and turn it into an inn. Old sibling rivalries re-emerge and are dealt with. There are some ups and downs and a few minor conflicts, but there was not enough drama or challenge to really move me or keep me more than minimally engaged. It was a sweet story with a nice ending, but very light.

[Julie Durnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very light read but the biblical lessons learned as the three sisters reunite and renovate their mother's family home are wonderful! The town's cast of characters are so well drawn from a small town-life, quite humorous really.

[ஐ Katya (Book Queen)ஐ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this a very light cozy read. It's christian fiction but very lightly woven in not in your face. It's the first book in the Tales From Grace Chapel Inn. I've heard you can read any of the books in the series out-of-order except the first one. You need to know how the three sisters come together again and start the Inn before you can read about their various adventures. If you get stuck on the series, it's got 32 books in the series. Each book is written by one only author, but the series has 13 authors writing various books. It's published by Guideposts. My library is missing 16 of the 32 listing them as out-of-print so if you intend to read the entire series keep in mind that some may be hard to find.

[Sherry Jolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was simple, sweet, and comforting. Perfect to read with a warm mug of cocoa, your favorite throw, and a comfie chair!

The characters had life-like qualities (no one was perfect), real-life problems and situations, while still having a deep foundation of God, family, and community.

[Joyce (Chloe) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good book. Not her usual YA Christian which I also like to read. There are 25 books in this Tales From Grace Chapel Inn series (not all Kindle), and I would like to read them all :)

Description from Amazon:
The sleepy town of Acorn Hill is in for a surprise when the three Howard sisters reunite after the death of their father. Each has inherited a share of his worn-down Victorian house, and they dream of turning the family home into a bed-and-breakfast.
But these three women are as different as siblings can be-can they survive living together, let alone going into business together? It looks like their dream may be headed for disaster!

Only by learning to work together, trusting in God, and accepting a little help from their friends can the three sisters see Grace Chapel Inn open it doors.

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Quickie Review

The start of a expansive multi-author series, Back Home Again made for an easy, quick, and enjoyable read. Like the series premiere of a TV show, the book sets up characters and relationships for later in the series. Fans of other small-town, Christian series such as Jan Karon's Mitford will definitely enjoy this.

Content Concerns: Nothing in this department; it was completely innocent.

Score: 4/5

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really good story. No language issues, no sex, just a nice story. I'm looking forward to reading on and my library has the entire series.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Minister Daniel Howard has died and his 3 daughters all come back to live in the house. Louise wants a small music conservatory, Alice wants to use it for youth minister’s and Jane wants to open a restaurant so they start squabbling. They decide to open an Inn and use all of their savings to redo the house inside and out. The town isn’t sure they want an inn next to the church, they don’t like the new colors the house is painted and Aunt Ethel doesn’t help matters with her interfering. Since this it the first in a series of over 40 books it will be interesting to see where life leads the sisters and the Inn.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet story. So glad I discovered this series. I needed a light, uplifting read. On the #2.

[Christina · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a nice book if you enjoy simple reads. I found it to be a bit bland for my reading taste. I found myself waiting for the story to really take off, but it never really did. It put me in mind of something I would have been required to read as a fifth grader. I personally wouldn't reccomend this book to anyone over the age of fifteen. That may have very well been the target audience given the fact that the author has written numerous children's books.

[Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls) · Rating 4 out of 5]

About this book:

"The sleepy town of Acorn Hill is in for a surprise when the three Howard sisters reunite after the death of their father. Each has inherited a share of his worn-down Victorian house, and they dream of turning the family home into a bed-and-breakfast. But these three women are as different as siblings can be--can they survive living together, let alone going into business together? It looks like their dream may be headed for disaster! Only by learning to work together, trusting in God, and accepting a little help from their friends can the three sisters see Grace Chapel Inn open its doors."

Series: Yes, ‘Tales from Grace Chapel Inn.‘ Read in order. Book #1.

Spiritual Content: Many different Bible stories; Alice prays; Alice tells herself to be more Christ-like.

Alice Howard, late fifties

Louise Smith, early sixties

Jane Howard, 50

233 pages*

P.O.V. of Alice

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Didn’t grab me ‘till the middle of the book. Once I got there, it I really liked it. :)

*My hardcover copy of this book has a recipe in the back, I think the paperback copies of this book will have it as well. :) Look of the recipe on here soon!

*BFCG recommends this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

By Lindsey @ http://booksforchristiangirls.blogspo...

[Sandy Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Without a doubt, the best book I've read all year. Melody Carlson has a winner! As an adopted child, who didn't discover her biological family until later in life, I often dreamed of having sisters like the Howard sisters. And a Bed and Breakfast is just icing on the cake. From heartache and loss, to hope, family strength and fresh starts, this book has it all. I laughed, I cried, and I fumed as the sisters faced nearly insurmountable odds to achieve their dream. I could read this book a hundred times and never tire of the story. If you've never read it, please do. You'll be forever grateful that you did.

[NancyInWI · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three adult daughters are reunited when their father, a pastor at Grace Chapel, passes away. They meet again at their family home, an old Victorian house that is in disrepair. The sisters, though miles apart in demeanor and station in life, come together to repair and renovate the home and transform it into the Grace Chapel Inn.
A Christian easy readable "feel good" gentle read. While it started out slow, I'm glad I stuck with it. I came to love the sisters and smiled at the end

[Ratforce]

You might want to try the inspirational series Tales from Grace Chapel Inn. The series is made up of warm and heartfelt stories with a focus on faith, and since each title is written by a different author, it may also help you find new favorite writers. This is the first in the series.

[Jane(Janelba) · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say I absolutely adored this book and now am really sad as the other books are so difficult to get a hold of and also so expensive ! So please to have been introduced to the town of Grace Chapel and to meet Alice, Louise and Jane and their adventures turning the family home into an Inn.

[Janie R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the old Victorian house and the small town the story takes place in. I am looking forward to the continuation of the Tales from Grace Chapel Inn series. Thank you, Melody Carlson for a great read!

[L-V · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series. Easy reads with likable characters. There's always an uplifting, spiritual message interwoven into the story.

[Mamey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice quick, easy story. Christian book. Loved the storyline.....

[Marbeth Carmack · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this heartwarming book about three sisters who reunite after the death of their Father, a local minister, and turn the family home into a B&B.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh, kind of boring but I'm going to continue with the series......

[Kath · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very sweet, peaceful book.

[Nancy A. Norman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story

Heart warming story about three sisters coming back together in their family home. Their love for each transcends their difference s☺

[Coralee · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lovely start to the series. I'll certainly be reading the next ones.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was looking for something light and peaceful that wouldn't bother me with a heavy plot. Something I could put down with ease, maybe even something a little bit boring. This book fit the bill perfectly. The chapters were so short you could read one in a matter of minutes.

The only thing that bugged me was that the author used the word "Father" with a capital "F" to refer to the sister's earthly dad who had died. I realize that this may be grammatically correct to capitalize the F, but the Bible teaches us to pray to "Our Father" with a capital "F" so every time I read the word "Father" I had to think about whether it was a reference to God or the earthly father. Since the word "Father" was on every single page in multiples at the beginning, this was extremely distracting. And sometimes when Alice thought something like... She knew Father would be proud.... did she mean, her earthly father or her Heavenly Father? Maybe both. Either way, i eventually adjusted enough to enjoy the story after the author stopped using the word "Father" on every page. Still, in my opinion, the word "Father" with a capital "F" should be reserved to refer to our Heavenly Father.

It looks like there are 47 books in this series which is a bit intimidating. I will probably read a few more. I recommend this book for someone who needs an uplifting book with a little bit of prayer where the catalyst for most of the conflict in the story comes from small town gossip.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

My grandmother passed away a few years ago now and she left some books behind. My family went through her stuff to keep, but no one claimed her books, so I took them all in. Amongst these books was a few books in this series of Grace Chapel Inn. And by reading a few now, I can say that I feel closer to her across time through these pages. My usual books are more horror/mystery/film adaptions, but these are my absolute exception to the usuals. They are my escapism from life. I never thought these kinds of books would be, but here we are.

And it all started with this book, the first in the series. It is such a cozy read and really makes you want to live in a town like this, picturesque. If you've read the description or the book, you will know that what brings these three sisters back together is the death of their father. As someone who has lost their father more recently, this hit me in the feels. I found myself crying whenever he was brought up, especially by Alice (whom I relate to the most).

It's just a nice gentle read with an uplifting spirit. Like others have said, it is a Christian novel, but in a light sense. It really is never super in your face, but the faith is always there in a way that you want it to be. Like a dependable friend who is there for you in good and bad times. I just really want to visit a place like this and walk around the streets of Acorn Hill. Buy flowers from Wild Things, purchase an old novel and pet a cat at Viola's Nine Lives bookstore and then grab a slice of homemade blackberry pie from the coffee shop. I have such BIG love for this smalltown.

Found: My grandmother's

[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three sisters inherit a Victorian home after their pastor father passes. They decide to turn it into a Bed & Breakfast and get started renovating. As often happens in small towns, too many people know their business and have an opinion -- wanted or not. Observing the three sisters lending a hand in the renovation process gives us a chance to get to know them all better. Louise is the oldest, then Alice, and Jane is the baby sister. There are some conflicts and obstacles that are prayed over and the sisters learn to work together well as a team by the end of the book. There are frustrating and heartwarming moments and I do think I will try the second book -- although maybe not on audio. I had hoped this series would fill hole that the end of the Mitford series by Jan Karon has left. Those are big shoes to fill and I am going to give this series one more book to see if it can fit the bill.

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

While some aspects of this tale were sweet and pleasant enough, overall it was kind of boring. I never felt that the sisters, other than Alice really had a realistic feeling grief for the loss of their father, for one thing. Toward the end I thought I might like to see if things pick up a little once the inn is up and running because this one was all about getting the renovation accomplished and sort of dragged on in a way. I thought, maybe some of the upcoming guest might liven things up. Then I looked at the list and noticed there are several different authors who take on different volumes, AND read a review of the second book which said there are 39 books in the series. Sorry to say, I think that's a lot and that different authors would have different styles and takes on the sisters and the way they converse, etc., so I'll just let this series go, I think.

[Barbara Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alice Howard is a middle-aged single woman who has lived with her father in the old family home for years. Now her father has passed away, and her sisters have come home for the funeral. The house has been left to the three of them equally, and as they discuss what to do with it, they hit upon the idea of converting it to a bed-and-breakfast.

Their first obstacle is a meddling aunt and small-town resistance to anything new. Then, the three sisters are so different, and two of them in particular disagree over every little aspect. Alice tries to be a peacemaker between her two sisters and her family and the town.

The sisters, their aunt, and the town learn to come together, forgive, and give each other the benefit of the doubt.

This is the first book in a series of over thirty, authored by various writers. A light, pleasant read.