Rachel's grew up in New Orleans with a privileged background... until her attorney father is convicted of white collar crime in the attorney general'sRachel's grew up in New Orleans with a privileged background... until her attorney father is convicted of white collar crime in the attorney general's office. She became a roaming photographer for several years, but has now landed in Ministry, Alabama where her sister is married to the mayor, and her mother has found another man. Content with the small town connections she's making, she's not ready for the effect the temporary new doctor has on her equilibrium. Dr. Nicholas Sullivan only wants to fill in the requisite time for him to qualify for a department head in a major Atlanta Hospital. He's not looking for romance either, but the attraction of Ministry (slower pace, friendly people, less stress) and Rachel is making him reconsider his life plans. Throw in some Christmas magic, and HEA's happen....more
MacLaren Yarbrough leaves her church’s national meeting to be with her brother in Montgomery when he has a heart attack. When she substitutes for him MacLaren Yarbrough leaves her church’s national meeting to be with her brother in Montgomery when he has a heart attack. When she substitutes for him at a local teen center the next day, she discovers an envelope in a library book checked out to Harriet Lawson with $3,000 in it. In her attempts to return the money to Harriet, she discovers that Harriet is missing and has been for several weeks, but none of her extended family seems to care. As Mac digs deeper into the mystery, she becomes friends with Josheba Davidson, the librarian and Lewis Henley, the director of the teen center. Together, they discover the plot behind Harriet’s disappearance, bust a drug and burglary ring, uncover a lot of family secrets, and help Josheba recover her faith and fall in love with Lewis. Mac does all this while persuading her brother to have bypass surgery and assisting with his care.
Although not overtly Christian, there are biblical/religious references and virtually no offensive language or situations. Sprinkle incorporates her intimate knowledge of the Montgomery area, southern hospitality, and a touch of race relations into the plot. This is a quick, easy read. ...more
Fourteen year old Lily Owen is living in Sylvan, SC in 1964 with her abusive peach grower father and Rosaleen the black woman her father recruited froFourteen year old Lily Owen is living in Sylvan, SC in 1964 with her abusive peach grower father and Rosaleen the black woman her father recruited from his pickers when Lily's mother, Deborah, is killed, by Lily when she was 4. All Lily can remember is her mother packing her clothes when T-Ray, her dad comes home and they fight. The gun is dropped, Lily picks it up and accidently shoots her. Ten years later, Lily has made up stories of a loving mother to counteract the difficulties in her life. When Rosaleen is arrested and beat up after insulting some white men on her way to register vote, Lily breaks her loose and they hitchhike to Tiburon SC, the name written on the back of a black Madonna picture of Deborah's. She finds August, June & May Boatwright - 3 black beekeepers and makers of the Black Madonna honey. They take Lily and Rosaleen in, teach Lily about beekeeping, life, and her mother. August helped raise Deborah as her housekeeper and teaches Lily about Mary (Virgin) who protects all in their home grown religion. Interesting view of 1964 South and coming to terms/coming of age....more
I don't remember if I read this in my "younger years" but I thoroughly enjoyed it this time - especially the audio. Scout is a bright, engaging child I don't remember if I read this in my "younger years" but I thoroughly enjoyed it this time - especially the audio. Scout is a bright, engaging child whose innocence reflect badly on the adult attitudes....more