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Tales from Grace Chapel Inn #14
The Price of Fame
The winter doldrums are just settling over Acorn Hill when a movie crew comes to scout locations for an upcoming project. The director loves the small-town feel and hopes to film a pivotal scene in Grace Chapel. He leaves behind a crew member to convince the town council to allow the shoot. Will Ore citizens of Acorn Hill make a wise decision?
310 pages, Paperback
First published February 15, 2008
About the author
Carolyne Aarsen
457 books737 followersEven with over 1.5 million copies of my books in print, I still feel like I haven’t written the perfect story. From my office in the woods of Northern Alberta, I’ll keep trying. Inspired by spectacular sunrises, breathtaking Northern Lights and long walks through wooded trails, the stories keep coming. To find out more about my life and my writing, check out my website at www.carolyneaarsen.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
January 22, 2025
Viola: "I didn't think it proper that he make a comment like that."
Louise: "But it was my religion he was slighting, not yours."
Viola: "And you are my friend, so by extension, he slighted me as well."
Page 116
I really love the friendship moments in this book between the three sisters and each of their best friends (Vera & Alice, Viola & Louise, Sylvia & Jane), but Viola and Louise's takes the cake for me. Viola made sure her friend and household were taken care of even though she owns a shop and has a busy life, but as Viola says, "Stop protesting. Friends help each other." So sweet.
So, this book is about 'Snow business like Showbusiness' lol. It's January in Acorn Hill and it's the slow season at the inn for the sisters, but Jane is feeling restless as the youngest of the three and wants to drum up business, but her older sisters appreciate the break. However, it's not quiet for long as a scouting film crew comes to town with an offer to film a movie in Acorn Hill and at the church, local hardware store owner, Fred is going to be on the news for his weather predictions, and Jane is offered to go on a cooking show with an old colleague which would mean leaving her sisters and town behind. All the while a bad cold/flu is sweeping through the residents. The town must decide if they will be seduced by fame or learn to be content with their way of life in a small town.
This was a pretty middle ground book for me as far as this series goes. It wasn't bad, but didn't pull at my heartstrings like some of the others have. I loved the character of Randall and all the family moments in this. Like at different times the sisters would stop what they were doing and look around them at their friends/family and just smile and feel blessed. I do that as well with my friend group and at family get togethers. Just watching everyone in their element and knowing how special they are to you, and you are to them. Heartwarming. And I loved the hockey watching and ice skating. this was such a charming winter book. I would definitely read it again.
Found: Bought used on Amazon (Orphans Treasure Box)
March 4, 2019
Jane has been asked to be the cohost of a TV cooking show and her sisters are afraid she will take the job and move away. A movie crew comes to town and wants to make a movie using the town and Grace chapel. One of their crew gets the flu and so does Jane. Louise tries to take over the cooking with bad results. She also has a piano student who needs to learn there is more to life than fame. The town has mixed feelings deciding if they should allow the movie or not.
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November 8, 2025this was cute. finished in A day.
January 4, 2021
3 star
If the middle of this book didn't just seem to sit and spin it's wheels for several chapters I would have given it 4 star. But there for a while I almost stopped reading because it wasn't going anywhere and seemed to keep repeating things. But once it picked back up the story started making sense and ended very nice. A strong 'building Faith' on what one should do with their life book.
This series is written by several authors and some only mention Faith, Grace, or God and don't use scripture and others flood their stories with it. Ms Aarsen is in the middle she kind of made one of the characters more religious than she is in the other stories so kind of threw me off on her personality; but it was a nice change... just not what I was used to in that character. There is scripture and prayers and talking of God and Faith throughout this story
If the middle of this book didn't just seem to sit and spin it's wheels for several chapters I would have given it 4 star. But there for a while I almost stopped reading because it wasn't going anywhere and seemed to keep repeating things. But once it picked back up the story started making sense and ended very nice. A strong 'building Faith' on what one should do with their life book.
This series is written by several authors and some only mention Faith, Grace, or God and don't use scripture and others flood their stories with it. Ms Aarsen is in the middle she kind of made one of the characters more religious than she is in the other stories so kind of threw me off on her personality; but it was a nice change... just not what I was used to in that character. There is scripture and prayers and talking of God and Faith throughout this story
August 4, 2008
Another enjoyable installment in the Grace Chapel Inn series of books. These books aren't for everyone, but I really like them. They are published by Guideposts Books and are very sweet, very quaint and very old-fashioned. The writing and stories remind me of my grandmother and a very old-fashioned read. Most people won't enjoy them, but I think they are very charming and very comforting. I'm looking forward to reading more as they re-release them. This is the sixth one I've read...
August 8, 2018
14th book in series. (mom's book) a movie production team comes to town to scout it out for an up coming movie. The team is registered at Grace Chapel Inn. Of the 4 team members 1 comes down with the flu going around as does Jane. The 2 head producers leave after a few days leaving Randall to try and convince the town to let them film in their town and Grace Chapel. Randall has become unsatisfied with the path his life is taking. He falls for the town and its people and knows that the company doesn't have their best interests at heart. He struggles with helping the town and sister and doing his job. Even though he does't like his boss or really the work he has been doing. Can the sisters help him make the right choose for his changing life plan?
September 15, 2025
Winter is settling in Acorn Hill and some of the locals are not looking forward to the too peaceful empty streets and shops. The news of the possibility of a movie crew scouting their town to be used in an upcoming film is exciting to some. But others are questioning whether they want their town disrupted, their church taken over, their shops so crowded... the list goes on and on.
At the same time, Jane is offered a spot on a nationally known cooking show in the big city, and Alice and Louise are afraid they might be losing their sister... and their cook at the Grace Chapel Inn.
I always love the Grace Chapel Inn books... I feel like I am visiting old friends.
At the same time, Jane is offered a spot on a nationally known cooking show in the big city, and Alice and Louise are afraid they might be losing their sister... and their cook at the Grace Chapel Inn.
I always love the Grace Chapel Inn books... I feel like I am visiting old friends.
September 25, 2024
Published by Guideposts, the Christian devotional company. Lightweight and Hallmark-ish. A "nice" story in a long series written by numerous authors, I think they can definitely be read in any order. The audiobook suited my need for a couple days, but I won't rush to another.
Audiobook critique: Narrator reading a child's dialogue in "sqeaky" childish voice, gets on my last nerve. There has to be a better way.
Audiobook critique: Narrator reading a child's dialogue in "sqeaky" childish voice, gets on my last nerve. There has to be a better way.
August 10, 2019
Overall I enjoyed the book, but I thought that some areas of the book were drawn out too long. Also thought that the fact that Louise could not cook was made too many times. I loved the gentle way the Christian theme was done in the book.
Would I read the book over again? Yes.
Recommend the book.
Would I read the book over again? Yes.
Recommend the book.
December 7, 2022
Three sisters own a Bed and Breakfast in a small town in Pennsylvania. When a Hollywood executive proposes using the town as the location for a movie, the residents are undecided as to whether this would be beneficial or harmful to them. This small book, published by Guideposts, has an inspirational, Christian theme.
January 22, 2023
There were several mistakes in the audio book but it didn't take away from Aarsen's story. It seems as if she didn't really know the characters very well as Alice IS a nurse and should have noticed the amount of medication that Jane was taking much earlier. Otherwise, I enjoyed this offering from a different author.
August 29, 2020
I really enjoy The Tales from Grace Chapel Inn. They are fun reads and the people who come to the inn are so different. I have read 14 of these stories so far. Looking forward to reading others.
May 13, 2022
Cozy story with predictable predicaments and one-note characters, but with an unusually thin, yet murky, plot line. Not one of the best of this series, which isn't saying much.
May 16, 2022
Fabulous book! I love the Howard sisters, cute story
March 10, 2024
Hoopla audio
October 15, 2024
Solid cozy novel, enjoyable when you want a small-town reading experience.
Want to Read
July 21, 2025A
July 12, 2024
I love taking time out of a busy day to curl up with one of the many heartwarming titles that compose the multi author Tales From Grace Chapel Inn series. Sisters Louise, Alice and Jane have come to feel like old friends, and Acorn Hill is a wonderful place that takes care of its own, and whose idyllic scenery attracts many a visitor, especially to the breathtakingly, beautiful Grace Chapel Inn.
The Price of Fame has Hollywood descending on the small town, and all three of the sisters are a little leery about the unwanted attention coming their way. While the movie sounds like a positive thing, Alice especially has a feeling that the residents aren't being told the truth. However, Hollywood's call doesn't seem to just be focused on the movie itself, as Jane has been offered a wonderful opportunity on a friend's cooking show, and Alice and Louise are left wondering how they'll manage without her at their beloved inn. With all of this already on their plate, the flu hitting the town also has disastrous results, and maybe this time the sisters will have bitten off a bit more than they're capable of chewing.
While this title still had many of the elements I've come to love from this series, I have to be honest that it's my least favorite so far. I found a lot of the Hollywood elements to be over the top and slightly ridiculous, and I often find that to be the case where this kind of trope is used in a storyline. The first bit of the book also seemed to drag considerably, and I personally found the guests at the inn in this title to have a lot less interesting story than many of them have had in previous titles.
I also noticed that some of the happenings in this book seemed out of character for Alice, Louise and Jane, and I'm wondering if that happens to be because it was this author's first contribution to the series. Nothing major, but definitely some things stood out if you've read any of the previous titles.
Still an enjoyable read with a wonderful emphasis on faith and choosing Jesus over the temptations of this world, but not my favorite from the series and probably not one I would reread in the future.
Final Rating: 3/5.
The Price of Fame has Hollywood descending on the small town, and all three of the sisters are a little leery about the unwanted attention coming their way. While the movie sounds like a positive thing, Alice especially has a feeling that the residents aren't being told the truth. However, Hollywood's call doesn't seem to just be focused on the movie itself, as Jane has been offered a wonderful opportunity on a friend's cooking show, and Alice and Louise are left wondering how they'll manage without her at their beloved inn. With all of this already on their plate, the flu hitting the town also has disastrous results, and maybe this time the sisters will have bitten off a bit more than they're capable of chewing.
While this title still had many of the elements I've come to love from this series, I have to be honest that it's my least favorite so far. I found a lot of the Hollywood elements to be over the top and slightly ridiculous, and I often find that to be the case where this kind of trope is used in a storyline. The first bit of the book also seemed to drag considerably, and I personally found the guests at the inn in this title to have a lot less interesting story than many of them have had in previous titles.
I also noticed that some of the happenings in this book seemed out of character for Alice, Louise and Jane, and I'm wondering if that happens to be because it was this author's first contribution to the series. Nothing major, but definitely some things stood out if you've read any of the previous titles.
Still an enjoyable read with a wonderful emphasis on faith and choosing Jesus over the temptations of this world, but not my favorite from the series and probably not one I would reread in the future.
Final Rating: 3/5.
August 16, 2015
Grace Chapel wisdom:
Viola, the book shop owner says she thought Christians weren't supposed to have struggles. Louise responds, "Christians are always struggling. We work through the tension of God's grace being offered and our inability to accept it."
Tabitha, a young pianist, asks her teacher - "If God gave me this gift, does that mean I can only play in church?" Louise laughs and answers, "No. I think it is very important that you use your gift for God wherever He places you."
Plot briefs:
Acorn Hill is being scouted as a location for a movie that will mostly be filmed at Grace Chapel. The church board and the town have divided opinions on the subject.
Fred goes to Punxsutawney to be interviewed about weather forecasting and learns about truth vs. media bias/spin .
Louise gets a new student, Tabitha, who is talented and has dreams of becoming a concert pianist.
Jane struggles overcoming the flu so her sisters must step up and fulfill her kitchen duties including the meal preparation.
Randall, a guest from the film crew, is struggling with his job, his dream to become a writer, and a desire to reconnect with facility and community.
The primary theme of this novel is expressed in Matthew 6: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and were thieves break in and steal, but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Louise explains to Randall that 'what Jesus is saying is that your heart follows your treasure, what you think of as most important, what you value and esteem. And if you put all your happiness in things that are going to decay and lose value, then your happiness must lose its value as well."
Viola, the book shop owner says she thought Christians weren't supposed to have struggles. Louise responds, "Christians are always struggling. We work through the tension of God's grace being offered and our inability to accept it."
Tabitha, a young pianist, asks her teacher - "If God gave me this gift, does that mean I can only play in church?" Louise laughs and answers, "No. I think it is very important that you use your gift for God wherever He places you."
Plot briefs:
Acorn Hill is being scouted as a location for a movie that will mostly be filmed at Grace Chapel. The church board and the town have divided opinions on the subject.
Fred goes to Punxsutawney to be interviewed about weather forecasting and learns about truth vs. media bias/spin .
Louise gets a new student, Tabitha, who is talented and has dreams of becoming a concert pianist.
Jane struggles overcoming the flu so her sisters must step up and fulfill her kitchen duties including the meal preparation.
Randall, a guest from the film crew, is struggling with his job, his dream to become a writer, and a desire to reconnect with facility and community.
The primary theme of this novel is expressed in Matthew 6: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and were thieves break in and steal, but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Louise explains to Randall that 'what Jesus is saying is that your heart follows your treasure, what you think of as most important, what you value and esteem. And if you put all your happiness in things that are going to decay and lose value, then your happiness must lose its value as well."
July 12, 2016
Sisters Alice, Louise and Jane have lovingly transformed their childhood home into the Grace Chapel Inn Bed and Breakfast in the quaint little town of Acorn Hill. The sisters enjoy their peaceful, quiet lives, although Jane, the youngest of the sisters, is restless at times. When a Hollywood crew shows up in Acorn Hill and stays at Grace Chapel the residents have mixed feelings. Will the price of fame be worth it for everyone?
This is a sweet and charming book about a close-knit family and community, with good old-fashioned values. I found it a tiny bit slow at times, but that’s just the type of book this is. Life is simple and easy in Acorn Hill and the book reflects this.
The author’s writing style is lovely and thoughtful. Her faith comes across subtly and never preachy. The Christian values within the book are refreshing and heartfelt.
I came into this series late, since this is Book 14, but I’d definitely be willing to go back and read the others. I was fortunate to have borrowed The Price of Fame from my local Little Free Library and am happy to have had the opportunity to read it!
5 of 5 Stars, Review by Susan Barton, http://ebookreviewgal.com
This is a sweet and charming book about a close-knit family and community, with good old-fashioned values. I found it a tiny bit slow at times, but that’s just the type of book this is. Life is simple and easy in Acorn Hill and the book reflects this.
The author’s writing style is lovely and thoughtful. Her faith comes across subtly and never preachy. The Christian values within the book are refreshing and heartfelt.
I came into this series late, since this is Book 14, but I’d definitely be willing to go back and read the others. I was fortunate to have borrowed The Price of Fame from my local Little Free Library and am happy to have had the opportunity to read it!
5 of 5 Stars, Review by Susan Barton, http://ebookreviewgal.com
July 31, 2012
I just love these books. In this "episode" a movie company wants to make a movie in Acorn Hill. Should the town allow this. Is is a good thing or a bad thing for the town in the long run. Is Randall here for another reason? The Howard sisters strive to reach out to this young man. Did God bring him to their inn for a larger purpose, something personal in Randall's life that needs attention? What will fame bring the people and the town? Extra business? A chance to be in a movie? Or are there secrets no one is telling them that make this a bad idea? Read the book and find out. This series was recommended to my by the Holman family when they purchased the first book in the series for me as a gift when they visited us last summer.
August 25, 2014
Another great book in this series about 3 sisters who turn their old family home into a Bed & Breakfast in a small town in Pennsylvania. In each book the reader not only gets to know the sisters better but also meets a new cast of characters as guests come and go at the B&B.
In this book, a movie crew moves in wanting to film a movie in Acorn Hill. Some residents are thrilled while others are skeptical. The movie crew is a bit secretive, which adds a bit of suspense to the story.
As in all the books, goodness of people shows through and triumphs over the bad. A very uplifting and enjoyable book in a delightful series.
In this book, a movie crew moves in wanting to film a movie in Acorn Hill. Some residents are thrilled while others are skeptical. The movie crew is a bit secretive, which adds a bit of suspense to the story.
As in all the books, goodness of people shows through and triumphs over the bad. A very uplifting and enjoyable book in a delightful series.
Read
July 15, 2010Funny. I love the small town lionization of Hollywood. Oh Hollywood and the movie makers who are, to them, holy animals. What a group of termites, those Hollywood types. This coming from a movie maker herself. :)
This is entertaining. I liken it, for those who know tv, to a story seen on the Hallmark Channel. If you like "Touched By an Angel," then you might enjoy "The Price of Fame."
Notable Discussion points:
Religion vs. Entertainment (tv & movies). Which one is the opiate of the people?
This is entertaining. I liken it, for those who know tv, to a story seen on the Hallmark Channel. If you like "Touched By an Angel," then you might enjoy "The Price of Fame."
Notable Discussion points:
Religion vs. Entertainment (tv & movies). Which one is the opiate of the people?
August 5, 2014
I just happened to pull this off the shelf in the library. What a delightful story and just a change of pace to read something with Christian undertones without being sappy. The characters were so enjoyable and I found myself smiling and wishing I lived in this village and these people were my friends. This was so wonderful that I had trouble putting it down because I wanted to see what would happen next in their lives! This was in the YA section of our library but I thoroughly enjoyed every page.
September 28, 2015
I enjoyed this book By Carolyne Aarsen although it was a bit of quick read.. This book seemed to drag on at times. The characters were somewhat "wishy washy". Three "spinsterly" sisters have turned their former home into a bed and breakfast and a movie theater comes through looking at the town as a possible setting for their next movie. The sisters and other members of the community discuss the value of putting their little town on the map against the movie and production just might be too much superficial publicity for their town.
April 12, 2012
Welcome back to grace chapel, I love this series. It is so simple, yet has such a powerful message. I love how the characters have true to life relationships with true to life circumstances they must deal with. Family, friendship, community, the spirit of giving and helping all in the name of being good Christians is always a message I come away with when I read a Book from this series. I always want to read another as soon as I finish one from this series.
May 28, 2010
Another Grace Chapel Inn story.
In this "episode", Hollywood comes to town--what will be the effect on Acorn Hill and the residents of the town? Will Jane leave the inn to be on a cooking show? One of Louise's students learns lessons about life as well as piano. Someone else finds their way back to faith and family.
In this "episode", Hollywood comes to town--what will be the effect on Acorn Hill and the residents of the town? Will Jane leave the inn to be on a cooking show? One of Louise's students learns lessons about life as well as piano. Someone else finds their way back to faith and family.
October 13, 2010
Jane was sick most of the book so no recipes. The town was considering letting a movie crew come and shoot a film in town. The town was divided about this. The movie crew stayed at the inn and the sisters got to the bottom of the empty promises and the half truths that were being told. In the end no movie was made and the town was happy.
March 15, 2015
It was ok I didn't hate the story but I didn't feel like I was getting anything from it either. the series is good but sometimes a book or two will just be dull. not bad but not good, that's how this one was for me.
October 5, 2009
Enjoyed the younger character in this slightly cheesy Christian fiction series. Three sisters run a B&B and are part of a town-wide decision about whether a movie will be filmed there.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews