A Gathering in Hope

Hope #3

by Philip Gulley

Bestselling author Philip Gulley offers humorous, small-town storytelling as he follows the foibles and follies of Pastor Sam Gardner.

Thanks to an unexpected windfall, Sam Gardner's congregation (with the exception of a few malcontents) is eager to expand their meetinghouse. But before building can commence, the County Environmental Board and the Department of Natural Resources put the quietus on the plan.
A colony of endangered Indiana bats have made the tree beside the meetinghouse, and the meetinghouse attic, their place of hanging, mating, and living, which poses a big problem for the congregation. Aside from the fact that their fanged visitors are engaging in sinful acts on church property, until these bats leave for hibernation, Hope Friends Meeting is left without a gathering place. And when an over-zealous Leonard Fink takes matters into his own hands, he may even land himself--and Sam--in jail.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Humor, Fiction, Contemporary

258 pages, Hardcover

Published September 6, 2016

About the author

Philip 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.

Reviews

[Betsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The series, and the writer, seem a little tired. While the new characters were welcome additions, and the development of Sam's parents was well done, most of the book seemed like a frantic accumulation of disasters and crises, almost manic at times. It was an ok diversion, but the character of Sam was wooden and silly, and I missed the warmth of earlier books.

[Mayda · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I miss the reading about the members of Sam’s congregation in Harmony, there are enough unusual members in the congregation at Hope’s meetinghouse to keep us entertained. An unexpected windfall donation has some members wanting to expand the meetinghouse, but their efforts seem stymied, not only by other members of the congregation but also by a colony of protected Indiana bats. The bats may not be in a belfry, but they are in the attic and in the trees by the meetinghouse, and they are mating and cannot be disturbed. The members cannot even meet there! Sam has his hands full, trying to find alternative accommodations, and informing every one of the latest problem. But just when Sam thinks he has the bat crisis sorted out, disaster strikes. It’s a wonder Sam just doesn’t resign from his ministry, grab his wife, and high-tail it out of town. And when an over-zealous agent of the Department of Natural Resources talks about people going to jail, it may just seem like the thing to do. This highly entertaining novel, liberally laced with humor, will have you wondering about the sanity of some of Sam’s congregants. But it’s all in good fun, even if some of their misdeeds range from the daring (Sam’s elderly parents bike riding) to the thoughtless (Sam getting drunk) to the illegal (ridding the meetinghouse of the bats). It’s a slice of life in a small town, and author Philip Gulley, besides giving us a humorous novel from his fertile imagination, has given us some pearls of wisdom to think on, interwoven into the story.

[Trisia · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a hoot!

[Jeff Clausen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pastor Sam continues his stumbling ways, sometimes surviving by his wits, more often by the grace of others. This volume has a slightly ludicrous subplot that involves bats, yet it all holds together well. And if you’re not a fan of the Indiana DNR, you’ll be thrilled.

[Terris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Philip Gulley has done it again -- he has lifted my spirits and made me laugh at the antics of his Quaker congregation! In this "episode"a deceased parishioner has left their Quaker church a million dollars and minister Sam has to try to keep everyone in line as they decide what to do with the money. A few of the group decide that they should build an addition onto the church. But when they apply for a building permit, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) finds that the church attic and surrounding trees are filled with endangered Indiana brown bats. And when someone in the church kills over 100 of the bats and someone else cuts down two of the trees that the bats were living in, the DNR is not happy, and Sam must try to keep his little church together and try to keep them from going to jail!
So funny! And also apropos in the area where I live, as only 30 miles away reconstruction on a fairly large bridge had to be delayed because the endangered Indiana bats cannot be disturbed during their mating season: April 1 - October 1. So work had to be stopped until after October 1st!
This is another good book by Philip Gulley and I highly recommend it! :)

[Donna Simpson · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is the second book in this series that I've read. I believe it will be my last. I get that it probably captures small town life pretty accurately and that it was trying to teach a lot of lessons, but I'm not sure why the main character is a pastor at all. Throughout the book he is judgmental, self-serving and complains about all aspects of his chosen profession. In fact, I can't think of a single time he says anything positive about being a pastor. I think the nail in the coffin was the line that said he became a pastor so he could learn people's secrets. I'm not religious, but I have a respect for religion and I hope this book does not portray how most pastors, ministers, priests, rabbis, etc. feel.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 3 in the Hope series was just delightful! I have been reading this series starting with the
Home to Harmony series through to these wonderful stories of Pastor Sam Gardner, his family and the members of his Quaker meeting. Having to deal with several difficult people who are right wing crazy, a nest of Indiana bats in the meeting house attic, and the local environmental people preventing the group from enlarging their meeting house. Add to this Sam's goofball father spreading rumors about Sam being an alcoholic and Sam's mother being a drug addict. Will that dream of a wonderful roomy meeting house ever come true?

[Kris Sheets · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the first book in the series. I liked the second book ok. The third book...not so much. My objections are two fold. 1) baby bunnies ran over by a lawnmower and 2) endangered bats being bashed to death with a board. I just found it incredibly distasteful. Definitely not what I expect from "Christian" fiction.

[Melanie Byrnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Enjoyable Read

I am a real fan of everything Philip Gulley writes. This book did NOT disappoint! People who enjoy simple, warm-hearted novels would enjoy this book.

[Lghiggins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pastor and author Philip Gulley captured my heart in the 1990’s with his Front Porch Tales. Later he drew in many readers with his series about a small town in Indiana called Harmony where pastor Sam Gardner leads a Quaker congregation. Quite the storyteller, Gulley takes Pastor Sam to a new quirky Quaker group in the little town of Hope where the members of the fellowship are in conflict with each other as they discover that money bestowed on the group by a member who has passed away can be a burden as well as a blessing.

As Pastor Sam tries to mediate at committee meetings and deal with local endangered species issues, we find that he is anything but perfect. He is trying to lead by following in Jesus’ footsteps, but he is human. He wishes he could “fire” certain members of his congregation. He would prefer to be at home with his wife rather than attend yet another interminable committee meeting. Like every other human, he sometimes regrets things he has said.

In A Gathering in Hope, Gulley has created another fun tale with eccentric characters, an interesting plot, and lots of good humor. Come for a visit with Paster Sam in Hope and you’re guaranteed a great time.

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Center Street for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Nadine Keels · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, this was an exhausting read for me, what with all of the mischief and misunderstandings and huge jumps to outrageous conclusions. Even knowing the comedic intentionality of making some of the characters over the top, I still got rather fed up with them.

And after two series, having a feel for the particular kinds of characters this author creates, I can see how there likely wouldn't have been much more to do with the characters after this book. I mean, the technical details of next events in their lives could be different, but I suspect the overall tone and quality to them would feel redundant, with the author sending the same basic messages through them, probably. Illustrations that have already been drawn in both series.

Yet...I was still quite entertained reading this novel. Exhausted and entertained simultaneously. I had a nice share of laughs, including a few big ones, and I'm not sorry I at least satisfied my curiosity to get a look at Sam's life after Harmony.

While I'd personally have little reason to reread the Hope series, I may return to the Harmony series sometime. Even with its own share of frustrating characters and scenarios, I got something warmer out of it on the whole.

[Bella · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm trying, but I just don't like any of the characters, or find them believable.

The innuendo around Herb giving cheerleaders physicals is icky (the innuendo is from the characters - the text says they stay fully dressed, and Herb just checks their blood pressure etc.).
The doctor assuming Gloria has a long term pain killer addiction because she accidentally took extra pain meds after her bike crash is even more ridiculous that Gloria deciding her son is an alcoholic after he got drunk on a small amount if wine.
The DHS woman's dedication to jumping to unfounded conclusions is almost as strong as her dedication to finding the bat killers.
The assumptions about gender roles - like needing a woman on the building committee for the sole purpose of designing the kitchen - are severely uninspired.
In fact ALL the characters jump to unfounded conclusions (satanists anyone?). Also, they all seem to be hypochondriacs. One character, sure, but all of them?

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, I'm not sure if this was the last book in the Hope series? If so, I kinda wish it ended on a different note, but still a wonderful read. Sam's congregation is looking to add on to their meeting hall due to the money it just came into via one of the members deaths. But they find out that not only the trees outside the church, but also the church's attic, harbors an endangered bat species and the building is put on hold. It wouldn't be a Sam Gardner book if the whacky people of Hope didn't do something stupid, and then continue to domino effect stupid things. Bats end up dead and Sam is the first to be blamed. And then it's just all downhill after that. These books are inspirational, spiritual, but also extremely funny. I love laughing hysterically over an off the wall comment or thought by a character that is so un- church like in every way. Great read!

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

More excitement in the small town of Hope. Why is it always the peace loving Friends who seem to stir up the trouble?

It’s always a pleasure to visit pastor Sam Gardner and his lovely wife, but someone has bats in the belfry. That can be a mess.

Especially if bat poop, an evangelist, a tandem bike, parents moving in, a huge inheritance and a DNR woman are in the mix.

Don’t ask. Just read.

I’m already looking forward to the next Hope book. Thank you, Mr. Gulley. This former small town Hoosier wishes she lived in Hope at the same time as Sam’s congregation.

***A special thank you to Caanan Byrd for providing a copy.***

[Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

With the world going to hell in the proverbial hand basket, this book was just the right dish of hilarity...a whole string of things going wrong...and people being kind to each other (in a manner of speaking).

The usual characters inhabit the Quaker church that Sam Gardner pastors...including himself. Bats in the belfry (attic) and trees set the plot...and characters so eagerly act out and act up.

All's well that ends well...

[Debdanz]

I hated this book; I have liked all of his others despite the fact that he portrays all of his male characters as idiots (with the exception of maybe the hardware store owners); the only characters with a modicum of sense are Barbara and Ruby. But this one was worse than usual- Gulley needs to read every single one of Hiaasen's books to learn how to handle environmental abuse with decency. This book needs a number of trigger warnings. Might be the last one I'm willing to read.

[Marti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rounding out this delightful series when rare bats bring issues to the Hope Friends.

Quakers are prone to getting worked up.
Facebook has been taken over by whiners, kooks and clods.
A list of evildoers: fornicators, pornographers, adulterers, Masons, Democrats.

Sam dreams of visiting a pocketknife factory and museum. Will volunteering at a food pantry get in the way of his plans to attend a pocketknife convention?

A $20,000 trust fund for a dog named Precious.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun, light-hearted series about a Quaker pastor and his zany flock. In this installment, the meeting discovers they have bats in the church attic that are protected by the endangered species act and have to put their building project on hold. Well written with humor and some profound observations about Christianity.

[Michell Karnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sam Gardner is such a insecure and muddling pastor of Hope Friends Meeting. A former member has left the meeting house a million dollars and they want to build an addition. Then a protected species of bats are discovered in their attic and their plans are derailed until one bad event after another occurs. I love how this series accentuates the human side of us all.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sam Gardner is the pastor of the Hope Friends Meeting. Seems like it might be a peaceful job, but no, trouble brews when their meeting house is infested with bats! Sam is accused of killing an endangered species and being an alcoholic. His mother may be drug addicted. His most hilarious dilemmas yet.

[Heidi Burkhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gulley's small town easy writing is so enjoyable. It reminds many of us of the '50's when small town life was easy and pleasant. He also does a good job of portraying small town squabbles, specifically in the Friends Church, with humor. Most of us know at least one person who fits those funny descriptions! I'm enjoying this new series.

[JLS10 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bat-gate is the focus of this story from Hope. When someone kills 107 protected bats in the church attic, the DNR lady is bound and determined to figure out who it was that did it. In his characteristic styles, Gulley gives another glimpse into small town life and the life and the relationships among those that live in the town and attend Hope meeting.

[Betsy Fisher · Rating 3 out of 5]

What I like about Gulley’s books is that most chapters read almost like a short story with a little nugget of wisdom at the end of each one. This book read more like a regular novel with a main theme along with some offshoot stories. Always a comfortable story even when he includes some touchy societal issues.

[Kyrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's been a long while since I read a Philip Gulley book. I remember them as being funny, but Sam being more sensible. In this one everyone seems to take off on an illogical tangent with the possible exception of Barbara.

It was cute, light,and frustrating.

[Cathy Van · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book, gift from a friend, to be screamingly funny. It was my bedtime reading, a chapter at a time for several weeks, and I often laughed so much I had to read a paragraph or two to my husband.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Iffy on 4 but some parts are so crazy and funny it fits.
Once again Sam gas problems at church, some are sad and some just a comedy of errors. It works out in its own eventual way. I wish there had been more with his sons but we did get a decent amount with his parents.
Fun enough read.

[Marilyn Secco · Rating 5 out of 5]

A feel good kind of book to restore your soul.

Philip Gulley’s writing style employs mild hyperbole, self effacement , and just enough truth about human nature to be believable, humorous, and totally entertaining. Leaves me wanting more of his books!

[Krysta Elizabeth clausen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

I loved it. I have always enjoyed Philip Gulley stories. A Gathering in Hope did not disappoint. I feel like I've known the characters for long time.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love Philip Gulley's writing and was once again delighted and very entertained to spend time with Sam Gardner, his family and his congregation.

[Gena DeBardelaben · Rating 4 out of 5]

eARC: Netgalley

Philip Gulley never fails to take me to my happy place! I have loved every single one of his books and look forward to many, many more!