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Hope #1
A Place Called Hope
When a Quaker pastor unknowingly officiates a wedding between two women, he uses the fallout as an opportunity to shake things up—but can he find a sense of belonging in small-town Indiana?
When Quaker Pastor Sam Gardner is asked by the ill Unitarian minister to oversee a wedding in his place, Sam naturally agrees. It's not until the couple stands before him that he realizes they're two women. In the tempest of strong opinions and misunderstandings that follows the incident, Sam faces potential unemployment. Deeply discouraged, he wonders if his pastoral usefulness has come to an end. Perhaps it's time for a change. After all, his wife has found a new job at the library, his elder son is off to college, and the younger has decided to join the military once he graduates high school. Sam is contemplating a future selling used cars when he receives a call from a woman in the suburban town of Hope, Indiana. It seems Hope Friends Meeting is in desperate need of a pastor. Though they only have twelve members, they also have a beautiful meetinghouse and a pie committee (Sam is fond of pie). But can he really leave his beloved hometown of Harmony?
When Quaker Pastor Sam Gardner is asked by the ill Unitarian minister to oversee a wedding in his place, Sam naturally agrees. It's not until the couple stands before him that he realizes they're two women. In the tempest of strong opinions and misunderstandings that follows the incident, Sam faces potential unemployment. Deeply discouraged, he wonders if his pastoral usefulness has come to an end. Perhaps it's time for a change. After all, his wife has found a new job at the library, his elder son is off to college, and the younger has decided to join the military once he graduates high school. Sam is contemplating a future selling used cars when he receives a call from a woman in the suburban town of Hope, Indiana. It seems Hope Friends Meeting is in desperate need of a pastor. Though they only have twelve members, they also have a beautiful meetinghouse and a pie committee (Sam is fond of pie). But can he really leave his beloved hometown of Harmony?
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First published January 1, 2014
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About the author
Philip Gulley
38 books403 followersPhilip Gulley has become the voice of small-town American life. Along with writing Front Porch Tales, Hometown Tales, and For Everything a Season, Gulley is the author of the Harmony series of novels, as well as If Grace Is True and If God Is Love, which are coauthored with James Mulholland.
He hosts "Porch Talk with Phil Gulley" on the Indiana PBS affiliate WFYI television's flagship show Across Indiana.
Gulley lives in Indiana with his wife, Joan, and their sons, Spencer and Sam—in a rambling old house with Gulley’s eclectic chair collection (64 at last count) and a welcoming back porch.
Gulley is also the Pastor at Fairfield Friends Meeting House in Camby, Indiana. If you find yourself in Camby, you're invited to attend a sermon.
He hosts "Porch Talk with Phil Gulley" on the Indiana PBS affiliate WFYI television's flagship show Across Indiana.
Gulley lives in Indiana with his wife, Joan, and their sons, Spencer and Sam—in a rambling old house with Gulley’s eclectic chair collection (64 at last count) and a welcoming back porch.
Gulley is also the Pastor at Fairfield Friends Meeting House in Camby, Indiana. If you find yourself in Camby, you're invited to attend a sermon.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 199 reviews
February 3, 2017
This is a new series, following Quaker minister Sam Gardner and his family, who are familiar to Gulley’s fans from the Harmony Series. Sam and Barbara’s boys have both graduated high school and moved away (even if only temporarily), and the couple has moved to Hope, a suburb of “the city” where Sam will pastor a new meeting.
I love Gulley’s Harmony series; I welcome a gentle read now and again, where I can visit with old friends. Gulley has a gift for writing humorous stories about small-town life, but instilling a message of tolerance, peace and love. There are times that Sam drives me crazy with his passivity and indecision, but then I don’t have to deal with the likes of Dale Hinshaw. I like that while Gulley gives us a somewhat idyllic situation, it is not without challenges. I love to hear a saxophone … but at 6:30 in the morning?! It’s the way that Sam and Barbara deal with such challenges that endears them to me. Here’s hoping that their adventures in Hope will continue to entertain and inspire for years to come.
I love Gulley’s Harmony series; I welcome a gentle read now and again, where I can visit with old friends. Gulley has a gift for writing humorous stories about small-town life, but instilling a message of tolerance, peace and love. There are times that Sam drives me crazy with his passivity and indecision, but then I don’t have to deal with the likes of Dale Hinshaw. I like that while Gulley gives us a somewhat idyllic situation, it is not without challenges. I love to hear a saxophone … but at 6:30 in the morning?! It’s the way that Sam and Barbara deal with such challenges that endears them to me. Here’s hoping that their adventures in Hope will continue to entertain and inspire for years to come.
October 2, 2014
In the introduction to A Place Called Hope, writer Philip Gulley admits he "lost touch" with his old friend and pastor Sam Gardner. But when the two crossed paths at a recent "Quaker's pastor retreat," the two reconnected and have in contact since. The result is the first Harmony novel in five years.
It was worth the wait.
As his oldest child heads off to college and his youngest son contemplates joining the army, Sam finds himself having issues at home and in his professional life. At home, his wife wants the chance to use the degree she earned in college now that they are facing an empty nest. In his professional life, Sam agrees to do a favor for the Unitarian minister in town and ends up saying a prayer over a same-sex couple's commitment ceremony. And while Sam sees nothing wrong in offering up a prayer for two people who love each other, members of his small Quaker church (especially Dale Hanshaw, who is in fine form for the novel) disagree.
Suddenly Sam is faced with a future of selling cars or working at the coffee show with Deanna while his work supports them on her new part-time salary working for the local library. Offering his resignation rather than tearing his small flock apart, Sam finds himself black-balled by the local church higher ups and in need of a new church home.
Just when it seems as if all hope is lost, Sam gets a call from a once thriving congregation that is down to a dozen members (but they have a really great pie ministry). Sam must consider this calling, all while trying to balance the needs of his wife and family.
As a fan of Gulley's Harmony novels, I was absolutely delighted when I found out he was returning to the Quakers and Sam Gardner. Gulleys novels remind me of the Garrison Keillor, though without as much cynicism. Gulley uses his fiction to help make points about grace, love and how we are called to relate to each other as Christians. And he does all this by keeping his characters grounded and authentic. While Sam may gain a few points for his open mindedness on the same gender couple's commitment ceremony and the role he plays it in it, it's still nice to see he's not exactly a saint in others areas of his life (dealing with Dale and the rest of the crew at his local church, his consistent ability to drive his wife just a little bit crazy, etc.). All of the characters in this book are human, flawed and just as inconsistent as many of the people we know and love (including, if we're honest, ourselves).
Since his last Harmony novel, Gulley has written a couple of books on grace and you can hear echoes of the lessons he conveyed in those books on full display here. It makes for one of the strongest entries in the Harmony series to date and it left me feeling like the fictional exploits of Sam Gardner aren't wrapped up just yet. Thankfully, Gulley appears to agree since the A Place Called Hope includes a chapter from the next novel in the series and a forecast publication date of early next year.
Consider this one reader who will definitely be back for more.
It was worth the wait.
As his oldest child heads off to college and his youngest son contemplates joining the army, Sam finds himself having issues at home and in his professional life. At home, his wife wants the chance to use the degree she earned in college now that they are facing an empty nest. In his professional life, Sam agrees to do a favor for the Unitarian minister in town and ends up saying a prayer over a same-sex couple's commitment ceremony. And while Sam sees nothing wrong in offering up a prayer for two people who love each other, members of his small Quaker church (especially Dale Hanshaw, who is in fine form for the novel) disagree.
Suddenly Sam is faced with a future of selling cars or working at the coffee show with Deanna while his work supports them on her new part-time salary working for the local library. Offering his resignation rather than tearing his small flock apart, Sam finds himself black-balled by the local church higher ups and in need of a new church home.
Just when it seems as if all hope is lost, Sam gets a call from a once thriving congregation that is down to a dozen members (but they have a really great pie ministry). Sam must consider this calling, all while trying to balance the needs of his wife and family.
As a fan of Gulley's Harmony novels, I was absolutely delighted when I found out he was returning to the Quakers and Sam Gardner. Gulleys novels remind me of the Garrison Keillor, though without as much cynicism. Gulley uses his fiction to help make points about grace, love and how we are called to relate to each other as Christians. And he does all this by keeping his characters grounded and authentic. While Sam may gain a few points for his open mindedness on the same gender couple's commitment ceremony and the role he plays it in it, it's still nice to see he's not exactly a saint in others areas of his life (dealing with Dale and the rest of the crew at his local church, his consistent ability to drive his wife just a little bit crazy, etc.). All of the characters in this book are human, flawed and just as inconsistent as many of the people we know and love (including, if we're honest, ourselves).
Since his last Harmony novel, Gulley has written a couple of books on grace and you can hear echoes of the lessons he conveyed in those books on full display here. It makes for one of the strongest entries in the Harmony series to date and it left me feeling like the fictional exploits of Sam Gardner aren't wrapped up just yet. Thankfully, Gulley appears to agree since the A Place Called Hope includes a chapter from the next novel in the series and a forecast publication date of early next year.
Consider this one reader who will definitely be back for more.
December 17, 2015
I enjoyed this book. It was light, quick and funny. This was the best Christian fiction I've read all year. This is the first book I've read by this author and I plan on reading more.
I liked the characters. They were well drawn. I think the author accurately portrayed basic human nature, especially of those who called themselves Christian but their actions said otherwise. That was also useful in developing the humor. They seemed tied to stereotypes, but I think that was also helpful in producing the humor.
I liked the characters. They were well drawn. I think the author accurately portrayed basic human nature, especially of those who called themselves Christian but their actions said otherwise. That was also useful in developing the humor. They seemed tied to stereotypes, but I think that was also helpful in producing the humor.
September 28, 2014
I am struggling over this book. I have read and enjoyed this series but I felt that this one got a tad edgy. Which is disappointing because he is a Quaker Pastor. It is tame compared to much of what is out there but it was sad that he felt he needed to go there.
June 10, 2018
Hope is where you bring your heart
Sam, the Quaker pastor, is tired of dealing with the continuing trials and tribulations of the Harmony Friends Meeting. He and Barbara head off to a very small congregation and, slowly, starts accepting the past and looking forward to the future. There are a few points where he wallows but, overall, it is a book of hope in more ways than one.
Sam, the Quaker pastor, is tired of dealing with the continuing trials and tribulations of the Harmony Friends Meeting. He and Barbara head off to a very small congregation and, slowly, starts accepting the past and looking forward to the future. There are a few points where he wallows but, overall, it is a book of hope in more ways than one.
February 20, 2015
Having never read Philip Gulley’s Harmony series, I had no attachment to this small town when I began reading A Place Called Hope. That’s just as well, as within a few chapters, I was ready to burn the village down, and not to save it. Fortunately, the main character of this book, Quaker minister Sam Gardner, has finally come to see it this way—when he steps in for the ill Unitarian minister to perform a wedding, he realizes too late that it’s a same-sex wedding, and it gives his enemies all the fodder they need to force his resignation, which, after years of dealing with gossip, backstabbing, and intrigue (from Quakers!), Sam is only too happy to give. But what comes next for him? His wife, the long-suffering Barbara, has returned to work, his sons are flying the nest, and he’s out of a job. The times they are a-changin’…An opening in the Friends Meeting in Hope, Indiana appears to offer the chance of a new job and a new start, but Sam will have to accept the fact that he will have to finally move away from his beloved Harmony. (Spoiler alert: the title, along with the fact that this is a NEW series) kind of gives away the ending.
Now I don’t read enough “cozies” or “gentle fiction” to remember this, but I really ought to: a good cozy book doesn’t make you feel bad about yourself, your life, or the world. It makes you feel good about yourself as you are, by focusing on very flawed humans who still come around to making decent life choices. Is that reality? Not usually, no. Could it be? Certainly, I believe so. Is it because I’ve read a few cozies in my day? Most likely. But when I sink my teeth into a good cozy, I’m happy to feel this way. And yay! A Place Called Hope is a solidly good cozy.
The author has a great way of highlighting peoples’ flaws and foibles in a way that’s loving and accepting—gentle mocking is overtly absent, but it’s present nonetheless by the very fact that the author DOES highlight these flaws and foibles. That’s part of what makes this such a fun and funny book, and it doesn’t hurt that there’s no sanctimony or piousness or judging going on. Sam’s wife Barbara is an exceptionally beguiling character, and Sam’s own flaws make him endearing, too. The only reason I can’t give this five stars is that it lacks a distinct sense of place, which I simply MUST have in any book set in Indiana. Can’t wait for the next book in the series!
Now I don’t read enough “cozies” or “gentle fiction” to remember this, but I really ought to: a good cozy book doesn’t make you feel bad about yourself, your life, or the world. It makes you feel good about yourself as you are, by focusing on very flawed humans who still come around to making decent life choices. Is that reality? Not usually, no. Could it be? Certainly, I believe so. Is it because I’ve read a few cozies in my day? Most likely. But when I sink my teeth into a good cozy, I’m happy to feel this way. And yay! A Place Called Hope is a solidly good cozy.
The author has a great way of highlighting peoples’ flaws and foibles in a way that’s loving and accepting—gentle mocking is overtly absent, but it’s present nonetheless by the very fact that the author DOES highlight these flaws and foibles. That’s part of what makes this such a fun and funny book, and it doesn’t hurt that there’s no sanctimony or piousness or judging going on. Sam’s wife Barbara is an exceptionally beguiling character, and Sam’s own flaws make him endearing, too. The only reason I can’t give this five stars is that it lacks a distinct sense of place, which I simply MUST have in any book set in Indiana. Can’t wait for the next book in the series!
October 12, 2014
I had never heard of this series or author before reading this book, and wasn't sure if that would matter or not, but I think it did.
I felt like the beginning of the book was rather fast-paced and choppy, and I never really got to "know" most of the characters that well. There was little depth. The scenes were short, and sometimes felt more like a sit-com than a novel. Perhaps it would have seemed different if I had more background on them, but not having that, I found myself not really caring what happened to any of them, even the main character. I really didn't like Sam Gardner at all. He was petty, whiny, and just not very likeable.
I kept reading, hoping it would get better, but it didn't. There was a good deal of humor in the book, but even that had something of an "edge" to it. I didn't sense that the author had any real respect or compassion for the characters, and that came through in the often-sardonic words coming out of the characters' mouths toward one another. If the bitterness had all been from the perspective of an omniscient narrator, it might have been funnier, but most of it seemed to be from the characters themselves, and that made them all the more unlikeable and petty. It probably doesn't help that I disagreed with some of the major choices characters made, but it's certainly possible for characters to be presented sympathetically to a wide range of belief points. The scenes with Miriam and Ellis on their vacation were actually pretty funny. If those characters had been given more depth, I would have enjoyed reading more about them.
Perhaps I was expecting too much from a book based around church life, but to me it seemed a rather secular view of church, which was unfortunate. Very little reverence or heart. And maybe it was intended to contain large doses of shallow caricature and bite, and to keep a long distance from the spiritual nature of church, but if that's the case then it didn't work for me, and doesn't seem to fit with how the book was presented/marketed. Just my opinion - take it for what it's worth!
In compliance with FTC guidelines, I disclose that I received this book for free through GoodReads' First Reads. I was not required to write a positive review.
I felt like the beginning of the book was rather fast-paced and choppy, and I never really got to "know" most of the characters that well. There was little depth. The scenes were short, and sometimes felt more like a sit-com than a novel. Perhaps it would have seemed different if I had more background on them, but not having that, I found myself not really caring what happened to any of them, even the main character. I really didn't like Sam Gardner at all. He was petty, whiny, and just not very likeable.
I kept reading, hoping it would get better, but it didn't. There was a good deal of humor in the book, but even that had something of an "edge" to it. I didn't sense that the author had any real respect or compassion for the characters, and that came through in the often-sardonic words coming out of the characters' mouths toward one another. If the bitterness had all been from the perspective of an omniscient narrator, it might have been funnier, but most of it seemed to be from the characters themselves, and that made them all the more unlikeable and petty. It probably doesn't help that I disagreed with some of the major choices characters made, but it's certainly possible for characters to be presented sympathetically to a wide range of belief points. The scenes with Miriam and Ellis on their vacation were actually pretty funny. If those characters had been given more depth, I would have enjoyed reading more about them.
Perhaps I was expecting too much from a book based around church life, but to me it seemed a rather secular view of church, which was unfortunate. Very little reverence or heart. And maybe it was intended to contain large doses of shallow caricature and bite, and to keep a long distance from the spiritual nature of church, but if that's the case then it didn't work for me, and doesn't seem to fit with how the book was presented/marketed. Just my opinion - take it for what it's worth!
In compliance with FTC guidelines, I disclose that I received this book for free through GoodReads' First Reads. I was not required to write a positive review.
August 2, 2017
As a public librarian in a small rural town I often read books to determine which patrons I can recommend them to. It is always a nice plus when I truly enjoy the book as well.
I generally like books that take place in small towns where you get to enjoy the quirky characters and how the interact with their community. The Quaker Pastor Sam Gardner is an certainly an interesting character. And watching him relate to his hometown and then later the town and inhabitants of Hope, meet that criteria well.
The author does a fantastic job of showing that even people who are called to speak God's word are still just human themselves; and as such, have their own failings. While often feeling sympathetic for Sam, I was also fully aware of his wishy-washy, whiney, and often self-centered traits. I was sympathetic to his wife and understood her desire to flick his ear occasionally.
I would recommend this book to anyone who doesn't take their religion too seriously. If you feel that the leader of a church (in this case a meeting) should be viewed as being somehow less flawed than the average person, then you will not appreciate Pastor Sam's foibles.
If you can appreciate that a man of God can sometimes fall prey to base sins such as gossiping, white lies, and the desire to research how to hide a dead body, then you will find Sam endearing and enjoy the novel for what it is.
I would consider this to be in the "inspirational" genre. There is no bad language and even Sam and his wife Barbara's marital relations is described as being "a brief interlude of pleasant activity" as well as other quaint euphemisms.
So overall, a quick and light-hearted read. I'm invested enough in the characters to read the second novel in the Hope series.
I generally like books that take place in small towns where you get to enjoy the quirky characters and how the interact with their community. The Quaker Pastor Sam Gardner is an certainly an interesting character. And watching him relate to his hometown and then later the town and inhabitants of Hope, meet that criteria well.
The author does a fantastic job of showing that even people who are called to speak God's word are still just human themselves; and as such, have their own failings. While often feeling sympathetic for Sam, I was also fully aware of his wishy-washy, whiney, and often self-centered traits. I was sympathetic to his wife and understood her desire to flick his ear occasionally.
I would recommend this book to anyone who doesn't take their religion too seriously. If you feel that the leader of a church (in this case a meeting) should be viewed as being somehow less flawed than the average person, then you will not appreciate Pastor Sam's foibles.
If you can appreciate that a man of God can sometimes fall prey to base sins such as gossiping, white lies, and the desire to research how to hide a dead body, then you will find Sam endearing and enjoy the novel for what it is.
I would consider this to be in the "inspirational" genre. There is no bad language and even Sam and his wife Barbara's marital relations is described as being "a brief interlude of pleasant activity" as well as other quaint euphemisms.
So overall, a quick and light-hearted read. I'm invested enough in the characters to read the second novel in the Hope series.
September 19, 2015
Thank you NetGalley and Center Street Publishing for providing me with an Advanced Readers Copy of A Place Called Hope by Philip Gulley.
Below is my unbiased review.
A Place Called Hope is an enjoyable, lighthearted read centered on Quaker Pastor Sam Gardner. Pastor Sam has been feeling dissatisfied with his parishioners and questioning his calling. When he inadvertently presides over the union of a Lesbian couple, chaos erupts and Sam is forced to resign from his post. Seeking new employment, Sam begins to reevaluate his calling. Told with humor and insightfulness, A Place Called Hope tackles some serious topics such as religion, homophobia and small town stereotypes.
Author Philip Gulley has a gift for storytelling, making this read pleasant and satisfying.
Below is my unbiased review.
A Place Called Hope is an enjoyable, lighthearted read centered on Quaker Pastor Sam Gardner. Pastor Sam has been feeling dissatisfied with his parishioners and questioning his calling. When he inadvertently presides over the union of a Lesbian couple, chaos erupts and Sam is forced to resign from his post. Seeking new employment, Sam begins to reevaluate his calling. Told with humor and insightfulness, A Place Called Hope tackles some serious topics such as religion, homophobia and small town stereotypes.
Author Philip Gulley has a gift for storytelling, making this read pleasant and satisfying.
June 30, 2014
Great book! Surprisingly, this book was the most entertaining novel that I've read in quite some time! While some of the issues covered in the book are intense and emotional, the characters are colorful and fun. The end result is a contemporary, socially-relevant book with a light-hearted feel. Even though I am an avid reader, I cannot recall ever laughing out loud so many times as a read a book as an adult. I had never heard of Philip Gulley before, and I usually an not much of an "author follower." However, I assure you that I will be purchasing more of Mr. Gulley's books before the sun sets another time. Lucky, lucky find!
November 21, 2014
Another great Philip Gulley book - I love all of them!
July 4, 2019
Rather than standing firm in his faith, Sam has reached the limit of the impulsive yo-yo faith of his parishioners. It concerns me that the life altering decisions of the characters are based on self centered whims rather than steeped in prayer and Bible study. This is the epitome of ear tickling false teaching.
March 4, 2020
A funny, entertaining story with quirky characters, actually based on a Quaker minister's experience, and written by his friend, another Quaker minister. As I didn't know anything about the Quakers, I was interested in this book. Am I ever glad I read it! It was hilarious, and I got to know the characters really well. This book is recommended reading for anyone. Don't let the title fool you as it did me.
In fact, I think I'd like to read Philip Gulley's other books!
In fact, I think I'd like to read Philip Gulley's other books!
May 15, 2024
More from my new favorite author. He’s got Midwestern life down pat, and has sent us off on new adventures with Pastor Sam and family, now in a new town. I’m very taken by the mixture of small town living with real-world issues, showing us how everyday folks deal with current trends toward inclusiveness. Tossing in age-old struggles over sexual identities and money problems, Gulley knows what touches us.
September 28, 2014
I feel weird giving 5 stars to this book when I just gave only 4 stars to Henry James's Portrait of a Lady. I guess that means I rate a book based on how well it meets my expectations for the kind of book it is. This one is fairly lightweight, but it is filled with humor, interesting characters of both the likeable and unlikeable kinds, and a deft mixture of a true-to-life depiction of small town life as I remember it spiced with various absurdities. I read the first quarter of the book to pass time, then the rest of the book because I really wanted to find out what the characters would do next and what would happen to them. One of the things I appreciate from a male author is his depiction of the central character's classic male obtuseness, his wife's frustration with him, and how they bumble along pretty well anyway.
July 5, 2016
I've enjoyed Gulley's Christmas Scrapbook and every book in the Harmony series.Loved them!They are laugh out loud funny.This book is part of the new "Hope" series.Sam and Barbara leave Harmony and move to Hope.Still a minister and still some quirky people in the new town,the book is still very funny but a little more reflective in nature.Harmony had chicken noodle dinners and Hope has pies. Unitarians are in Harmony and mix things up a bit for Harmony,a wedding event causes Sam to move to Hope.Delightfully funny.If you like Gulley and the Harmony series you will like this first book of the "Hope" series.
October 15, 2014
Sam Gardner is back and trying to get along in Harmony, even after he inadvertently finds himself at the wedding of two women in the Unitarian church.. this, of course, puts him in a precarious position in his own Quaker church... Gulley just nails the type of people we all deal with each day so well... the grouchy old men, the opinionated, the clueless... and without spoiling too much of the story his wife gets to use her library degree in a job! a beautiful ending.. I'm already looking forward to the next book in this series...
May 30, 2024
Disappointing. The first 3 chapters were delightfully similar to the James Herriot English countryside vet series 'All Creatures Great & Small" written in the 1970s, with chapter stories of common happenings of regular country folks. And then what emerged was petty bitching about nothing from all the Quaker parishioners, the pastor's wife, and even the pastor himself without a whip of Christian Gospel quotes to soothe the pain and elevate the moral compass.
Too bad, as I so enjoyed his first book of Christian spirituality, "If Grace is True."
Too bad, as I so enjoyed his first book of Christian spirituality, "If Grace is True."
December 22, 2014
So glad Gulley resumed the Harmony series after a 5 year hiatus...I missed Sam so much! This series, which follows the adventures of a small town Quaker minister, makes me laugh, cry, and cheer. I love that Sam is imperfect and Gulley relates him with all his humanity and flaws. Sweet, sweet series.
October 24, 2016
Should have stopped with the original Harmony books. The tone of these books is as if written by a different person. Characters are not likable at all any more. It was not a pleasant read. If you truly want light-hearted and funny, read the Harmony books by the same author. Obviously he was at a better place in his life when he wrote them.
April 13, 2015
Oh how I have missed the Harmony stories! I am glad Philip Gulley has decided to start a new series
with Sam and Barbara Gardiner. I will miss Dale, Fern, and the other nut-jobs at the Harmony Friends meeting, but it seems that Hope Friends has a few nut-jobs of it's own. Great fun read!
with Sam and Barbara Gardiner. I will miss Dale, Fern, and the other nut-jobs at the Harmony Friends meeting, but it seems that Hope Friends has a few nut-jobs of it's own. Great fun read!
February 18, 2020
I started this book because my in-laws know the author. This isn't my usual genre and I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but this book was a lot of fun. A lot of great situational humor in here. If you're a fan of Everybody Loves Raymond, you are likely to enjoy this series.
October 5, 2014
Loved this book!! Philip Gulley is a wonderful storyteller . If you like funny, truth and real characters , then start reading the Harmony series and you will appreciate his new series as well!!
September 29, 2014
I'm not sure why I keep reading books in this series because I always find the main character, Sam, more than a little whiny. I don't know how his wife puts up with him.
February 2, 2015
3-1/2 stars. I had missed Sam! I was happy to find this addition to the series. As always: good clean fun! Not quite as humorous as some of the past books but lovable all the same.
September 8, 2017
Ever read a book, which wasn't the best writing nor the best story, yet you couldn't stop turning the pages? That was this book, for me. I'm faced with a conundrum in my review. This is a book regarding religion; not faith. So, there are no redeeming qualities about this story so far as a treatise on the Christian faith is concerned. However, there is much truth about human nature in the midst of religiosity. Not all persons who claim to follow Christ are authentically His. That said, the characters and circumstance in this book - including the 'pastor' - were real. I think authenticity and character development were the two reasons I could not put it down. I recommend this book to anyone who has experienced the crucible of religion. Most likely, you will find yourself chuckling and thinking of people you know who resemble the characters in the book. That's as far as it goes for me. Just a good book with authentic characters. Not a book for understanding a real relationship with Christ and His followers.
October 5, 2017
I adore his books. His stories are all about thoughts and feelings of every day people. I love Sam's wife, Barbara! No nonsense woman. Sam has been the pastor at Harmony for several years and was fired for "performing" the wedding of 2 women! So he finally finds another church about 2 hours from Harmony and this story is all about starting over. His new congregation has a few quirks that Sam's not entirely comfortable with, but Barbara advises him to not try to change stuff right away. The conversations and thoughts are just what people say and think. Of course, there is a sax playing church member and others in the new congregation (there is always someone) for Sam and family to get used to. I also enjoyed the way the women thought about killing their husbands! Don't know how I missed this series, but plan to read the other books. His stories always make the laugh - very uplifting with a serious message!
March 10, 2020
Absolute favorite part: "Miss Rudy, the former Harmony librarian, had single-handedly held off a siege of the town council bent on cutting her funds. She had locked the library doors and hid the only key in her bra, living on water from the toilet tank after the town had shut off water to the building to drive her out. She ate paste to keep up her strength. Oh, they had underestimated her. On the fourth day, the men of the council had capitulated, apologizing for cutting the funds, begging her to open the doors and come out. But she had stayed in the library an extra day, just to show them one could live on books, then marched out at noon on the fifth day, her head held high, and three pounds heavier. She had gained weight! When word got out, her picture made the cover of American Libraries magazine. Admiring letters poured in from librarians who had drawn strength from her bravery. She answered each one in flowing, Palmer-method, handwritten script" (231).
July 2, 2021
I've read through the Harmony series, and now am glad to be revisiting the Hope series. I have read the three books that make up the Hope trilogy several times over the last few years, and they never get old. I have tried in the past to get into Jan Karon's Mitford series about an Episcopal priest in my own state, but never really got into them. This series, about a Quaker minister in the nearby state of Indiana, suits me better. The characters are very realistic and funny. There are misunderstandings and disputes, and Sam even has some dark thoughts, but all these make him and the other characters more relatable and interesting. Philip Gulley doesn't try to gloss over the difficulties a pastor faces, and to be quick, easy reads, he teaches deep spiritual truths without beating the readers over the head. This series, and this book in particular, is one of my favorites.
December 16, 2022
While I think this Hope series opener technically must stand all right without reading the previous Harmony series, I wouldn't personally recommend it. I'm not sure I would've liked Sam if this book had been my introduction to him. He can be pretty, um...whiny. So it helps having the background of his upbringing and the illustration of his character in the Harmony series before encountering him here.
And I wonder about the appearances of the character Deena Morrison in this book, with no mention of the man she married in the last series. Was that an oversight on the author's part? Or did something happen to Deena's husband late in the previous series and I just forgot?
Anyhow. Yeah, it was kind of sad for me to see Sam leaving Harmony. Yet, I was drawn by the thought of him, in the midst of uncertainty about his future, finding Hope.
And I wonder about the appearances of the character Deena Morrison in this book, with no mention of the man she married in the last series. Was that an oversight on the author's part? Or did something happen to Deena's husband late in the previous series and I just forgot?
Anyhow. Yeah, it was kind of sad for me to see Sam leaving Harmony. Yet, I was drawn by the thought of him, in the midst of uncertainty about his future, finding Hope.
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