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Bellingwood #31

Family is a Gift

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Bellingwood wasn't prepared for hundreds of strangers to descend on the little town because of a video game release. It happened anyway. Downtown Bellingwood was taken over by outsiders - young and old, wearing costumes and carrying fake swords. The festivities for the Sword Lords II release center around Doug Randall's new comic book store, Boomer's Last Stand. The store is also the focus of angry vandals. What began as nasty graffiti got much worse. Is the dead gorilla's curse real? Shops are filled with people ready to spend money and every capable person is put to work. Polly Giller moves from the coffee shop to the comic book store, to Sycamore House, Greene Space, and out to the bed and breakfast to help hold her friends together. Once the game release festivities were past, Polly hoped for rest. Not in Bellingwood. A thief's audacious break-ins disrupt her neighborhood, while accusations are aimed right at her household. To top it off, Polly's fortieth birthday is on the horizon. No one has talked about any grand plans. Maybe they will let her get away with a small celebration. A dinner with a few friends, a party with family. That would be enough. You know better, right? Welcome back to Bellingwood.

308 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 23, 2020

268 people are currently reading
23 people want to read

About the author

Diane Greenwood Muir

117 books270 followers

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5 stars
514 (81%)
4 stars
91 (14%)
3 stars
24 (3%)
2 stars
2 (<1%)
1 star
2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
76 reviews2 followers
September 27, 2020
Another visit to Bellingwood

One of my favorite series, and Diane never disappoints me! This was a wonderful lead-up to Polly's 40th birthday; a wild and crazy event for this little Iowa town, some new characters, some old friends, and of course, the prerequisite body! I missed Beryl, but then she showed up and did not disappoint me, and Agnes is one of my new favorite characters. The birthday party finale made me cry, and I'm already looking forward to Dec.25th, when we will all gladly make the return trip for another visit to Polly, Henry, and their ever-growing circle of family and friends!
79 reviews
July 12, 2021
Sword Lord's released.

Polly 's friends Doug finally opens his comic book store and releases their new game Sword Lord's to the public. The town is so busy everyone is helping out everywhere. The day before the release they have a free concert and the whole town is there. On the way home from the concert Polly and her family go through town to get ice cream sandwiches. Not a good idea. Polly finds a body.
On Sunday while in church their house gets robbed. There have been break in around the neighborhood and a few thing were taken with cash. Find out who Polly "runs down" in these crimes.
69 reviews
September 24, 2020
Diane does it again!

Bought this morning and read it by tonight! Another story of Bellingwood, Polly and all her friends. This book is all about family and the ties that bind them together! As usual once you start reading you can't put it down until you finish. Polly and her adventures keep you wanting more, once you read one you want to read them all! My favourite author!!!
164 reviews1 follower
September 25, 2020
I’d give it 10 stars!

If I could, I would give this book 10 stars instead of five. I love this series and couldn’t wait to get started reading this one. It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me give thanks for my own family. And now I’m about to start reading it for the second time. It’s that good! Start at the beginning of the Bellingwood books and read all of them. You will be glad you did.
70 reviews
September 27, 2020
What a great title for this book

This book was so much about the families in Bellingwood. How the families came together to help others and their own families.
The big family and friends Birthday party for Polly's 40th Birthday and then the family only birthday party and a special gift for Polly from her family. This book really showed you how families came together to help each other.
Profile Image for Laurie Crop.
16 reviews2 followers
September 27, 2020
Family time is the best time!

Diane has a gift for telling the story of the daily life of Polly Giller. The mysterious deaths that she helps solve always end up with her helping someone or adding to her family group. The characters are people you can connect with and the storyline is one that thousands of us Bellingwood fanatics have investor imaginations in. Love this book and HIGHLY recommend the series!
21 reviews
October 19, 2020
Beautiful

I've been feeling down lately so this book was perfect at this time and it was impossible to put down until I finished reading beginning to end. I laughed out loud with Agnes and also cried along with Polly. It takes a wonderful writer to bring their characters to life was MS Muir has done. You make it so easy to love each person and understand what they are feeling. Thank you
Profile Image for Patricia A. Biba.
394 reviews1 follower
June 30, 2021
Busy Time

From finding out that they had a young boy sleeping in the basement to helping Tab arrest a killer Polly sure was busy in this book. Rebecca and Beryle were getting ready for a trip over spring vacation. Polly found a body after a few months of no activity. A friend of Jeff's had an individual he knew get hurt and Polly stood by him as he made a decision about his friend. Lots of interesting things happening. Good reading.
Profile Image for Ellen.
57 reviews1 follower
August 14, 2023
************

Aah, once in a while I read series. Aside from J.D.Robb I have never continued a series with this many books. I’m hooked on Polly’s journey, her love for all whom she adopts & there is always a mystery to solve.
Only 10 more books & I will have finally caught up . I have to know what comes next for all the people described and important.
I wish I was as faithful to my art as Beryl Watson. Oh right, too much time reading the Bellingwood books!
Profile Image for Kim Williams.
17 reviews
September 25, 2020
I love Polly and her family.

I wait for new books of Polly and her family and they never disappoint me. I can't say this one is the best I have read because they just keep getting better with ever book. This one made me ugly cry at the end😂. Looking forward to the next book alread.
Profile Image for Michele.
83 reviews3 followers
September 26, 2020
Love Bellingwood

My favorite place to visit! I look forward throughout the year to come home to Bellingwood to see Polly and her ever expanding family. Diane writes the most wonderful stories that I feel as if I'm actually there. It's always a wrench when the book ends and I realize that I have to wait to return.
7 reviews
September 27, 2020
Wonderful book, as always!

I love, love, love this series! Diane is a remarkable author! I’d love to be a member of Polly’s family. Family is who you choose to be with and love. This entire series of books time and time again is built around that theme. We should all take this as a life lesson and live it!
567 reviews
September 28, 2020
A 40th Birthday for Polly

Lots of things happening in Bellingwood and around Polly's house. Of course there is a death, we have stealing going on, the "Storm Lords" being released, friends from far away joining family and friends from near at home to enjoy and celebrate Polly's Birthday.

Read and enjoy!!!
Profile Image for Jenny Clark.
150 reviews1 follower
October 1, 2020
Diane did it again!

I so love this series! Watching Polly’s world grow and love and live thru things that real life brings us just proves that we can too! The characters just come to life! The story lines are fantastic! Book 31 and she continues to come up with new and wonderful ideas! I love Bellingwood!
Profile Image for Peggy.
52 reviews2 followers
October 2, 2020
I cannot believe that is book 31. Beautiful and heartwarming as ever.

One false note for me this time. I just don't get Agnes. Her humor doesn't always work for me. The practical joke with blood was a bad note. A joke is only funny if everyone enjoys it. Polly has such a phobia about blood it just seemed too dark.
Profile Image for sheila.
566 reviews
October 4, 2020
What can be said?

These stories are funny, some mystery, sadness of how some children are raised. But they are more to show that families are a gift. That love gross as you are more family. That love is there whether you are disappointed or mad.

That is what hooked me on this series. Love, family, acceptance and strength. How love makes you strong.

Thank you Diane.
76 reviews
November 5, 2020
Another fabulous installment

So much going on in this book! Murder, a thief, a new family member and Polly has an important birthday! I love how the characters that havent made much of an appearance in the book always show up at some point in some way. I love being reminded of their stories and how they relate to Polly and her life.
Profile Image for Jean.
4 reviews
July 6, 2021
This is such an amazing book series. It has heart, passion, lessons to learn and a positive way of life. I love the way characters interact with each other. The characters know how to work together and have the best fun.
When I finish the next book, I’m going to start over, in case I forgot something. 😀
66 reviews
September 25, 2020
Amazing

Another heartwarming, laugh producing, fun filled, suspension packed story! I literally couldn't put it down, staying up late and getting up early to find out what happened next! #bebellingwood!
24 reviews
September 26, 2020
Once again

I love this series and wait for the quarter to pass. The story never gets old. Diane Muir has a super wonderful writing style and makes u feel like part of the family...
Profile Image for gloria marquardt.
732 reviews7 followers
September 26, 2020
Collingwood is a great little town.

I look forward to these books. This is small town love 4 times a year. I am like Mrs Renaldi, I find it very hard to wait for the next installment in the life of Polly.
Profile Image for Neena Christianson Martin.
1,185 reviews11 followers
September 26, 2020
Video games, murder and robberies.

A huge video game release is coming to town, and it brings hundreds of people, home robberies and murder. Polly is of course caught up in the middle of it all.
Profile Image for ROBERTA CLAYTON.
8 reviews
September 26, 2020
Once again Diane has hit it out of the park. If you haven't already started reading the Bellingwood series you have to start. I can't really afford the $3.99 price tag but a new book comes out every 3 months and that's doable. I find myself wanting to live here. Well done Diane.
4 reviews1 follower
September 26, 2020
Family is a Gift/ Muir

Loved this book!!!! Love all the books about Bellingwood! Wish I lived there with all of them. Read this book straight through no stopping. Now I wait for the next one.
54 reviews2 followers
September 27, 2020
I'm hooked!

Diane Greenwood Muir is a writing machine! How she continues to come up with four storm s about Polly and Bellingwood every year, I'll never know. But I'm not complaining. I look forward to each and every visit to that wonderful.little town.
21 reviews
September 27, 2020
Read in one day

I have read all the Bellingwood books. Like all the others the plot holds your interest. The characters are people. Not flat images on a page. When this book ends you wish you had the next one.
48 reviews2 followers
September 28, 2020
A new book filled with loving memories

It is a beautiful recap of the entire series of Bellingwood books but wrapped around a new mystery. There is so much love within these pages. It felt like a family reunion ❤️
23 reviews
October 2, 2020
Family is definitely a gift!

Another cozy, exciting Polly story. I never want them to end. Thanks, Diane. Keep’em coming! I definitely look forward to the next adventure in Bellingwood.
Profile Image for Kristie Truett .
51 reviews3 followers
October 3, 2020
I just finished this book at 3am. I couldn’t put it down until I finished. I love Polly and her supersized, small town living family. This is my favorite series EVER. I can hardly wait for the December installment of Life with Polly. Keep up the excellent work Diane!
Profile Image for Diana.
1,929 reviews12 followers
November 5, 2020
One of the most forgettable in the series, but I did add another star just because the author cranks out 4 of these a year...so bonus points! The mystery part was just weird and felt like filler. It was nice to catch up with everyone.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews

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