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suekinaz's review against another edition
4.0
(Waffling between four and five stars here...) As much as I love Barbara O'Neal's books, I almost didn't read this one. Seeing the first line or two of everyone else's descriptions being that the book is about a reverend and a priest (but no rabbis, ducks, or "go into a bar"), and then the next line being about a crisis of faith, I was a little concerned. I needn't have worried. This isn't a pompous religious book, there are no easy solutions, and it contains real, real, real people.
I am always grateful for books with detail - scents, texture, color - and I always find them in a Barbara O'Neal book, without a lot of excessive verbiage. I like happy endings, with a necessary dose of conflict, and - I've said it before - I like recipes.
As a child of the 60s, raised "half Catholic, half weird," I found the crisis of faith portion of the story believable, and the resolution satisfying. Though I didn't give this one five stars, it may be my favorite O'Neal book so far.
I am always grateful for books with detail - scents, texture, color - and I always find them in a Barbara O'Neal book, without a lot of excessive verbiage. I like happy endings, with a necessary dose of conflict, and - I've said it before - I like recipes.
As a child of the 60s, raised "half Catholic, half weird," I found the crisis of faith portion of the story believable, and the resolution satisfying. Though I didn't give this one five stars, it may be my favorite O'Neal book so far.
meghan_b's review against another edition
4.0
I always enjoy Barbara O'Neal's novels. Elsa is a great flawed character.
lilyelayne's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars - I enjoyed this one, but it was exceedingly strange.
momruncraft's review against another edition
2.0
A story that explores the different ways people react in crisis and how one faces a major life crossroad. How does one decide which way to go next?
Reverend Elsa Montgomery has just come face to face with unimaginable tragedy and finds herself facing her own crisis of faith. She returns home to seek comfort and guidance from her sister, Tamsin, who finds herself experiencing a rather public crisis. Coming home for Elsa also meant seeing the man who broke her heart, yet still held its fragile remains with him.
Somehow, surrounded by turmoil and hurt, the sisters find answers within a communal garden started to bring hope back to a suffering neighborhood.
I loved Barbara O'Neal's first novel, but this one just didn't do it for me...it was a chore to finish. Just a "meh" read for me. Disappointing.
Reverend Elsa Montgomery has just come face to face with unimaginable tragedy and finds herself facing her own crisis of faith. She returns home to seek comfort and guidance from her sister, Tamsin, who finds herself experiencing a rather public crisis. Coming home for Elsa also meant seeing the man who broke her heart, yet still held its fragile remains with him.
Somehow, surrounded by turmoil and hurt, the sisters find answers within a communal garden started to bring hope back to a suffering neighborhood.
I loved Barbara O'Neal's first novel, but this one just didn't do it for me...it was a chore to finish. Just a "meh" read for me. Disappointing.
tiger_of_mu's review against another edition
5.0
Barbara O'Neal has a way of writing write into your soul. She makes you physically, mentally and emotionally a part of every single thing she writes. I would read her grocery list!
writerbeverly's review against another edition
4.0
This features a minister, Elsa, her former fiancé, now a priest, and her sister, Tamsin, abandoned wife of a much-wanted embezzler. Elsa is a character to root for, who suffers from a crisis of faith following the brutal murder of a teenager in her Seattle community. Tamsin, a quilter, has to literally piece something of a life together after her husband skips the US, having pulled a Ponzi scheme and getting caught, leaving her with frozen bank accounts and a house she's barred from entering.
Joaquin, the priest, still has mixed feelings towards Elsa, his best friend, now that she is on sabbatical in their hometown of Pueblo, Colorado. But she has another love interest, Deacon, someone who is helping with the community garden they are building. And there are cute kids and sweet dogs and lots of food cooking. It was a fun read and ends in a HFN.
Joaquin, the priest, still has mixed feelings towards Elsa, his best friend, now that she is on sabbatical in their hometown of Pueblo, Colorado. But she has another love interest, Deacon, someone who is helping with the community garden they are building. And there are cute kids and sweet dogs and lots of food cooking. It was a fun read and ends in a HFN.
b_evans's review against another edition
3.0
I liked it but as not as much as the other books I read by her. I read it fairly quickly however because it definitely kept my interest. I had moments when I wasn't sure I liked all the characters. There were moments I knew I didn't like some of the characters but overall I enjoyed the book.
winemakerssister's review against another edition
3.0
I really like Barbara O'Neal's books but this one was more religious/spiritual than I'm comfortable with.
lauragessert's review against another edition
4.0
Just reading this author’s books makes me feel at peace .
Her characters are wonderful . Loved the fact a Unity minister played a central role as this is the church I grew up in .
Dog lovers , community gardeners, cooking hobbyists , quilters and spiritually minded folk will all love this writer’s book .
Her characters are wonderful . Loved the fact a Unity minister played a central role as this is the church I grew up in .
Dog lovers , community gardeners, cooking hobbyists , quilters and spiritually minded folk will all love this writer’s book .