A Change of Heart: A Harmony Novel

Sam Gardner and his delightfully dysfunctional Quaker congregation are back again as this series just seems to get better and better. There are lots of humorous moments with special Harmony events such as the Blessing of the Noodles, the Corn and Sausage Days Festival, and the Progressive Nativity Scene. There are also more serious events and a threat to the lives of two of the members of the Harmony Quaker church. There are family squabbles between Ellis and Ralph Hodge and bumpy places in the new marriage of Dr. Pierce and Deena. Again Philip Gulley makes us laugh, makes us cry, and makes us think which is a surefire recipe for a good read.

Someone picking this book up might think it is another one of those sugar coated nostalgic looks at how we like to view ourselves, or rather what America used to be like. But it's not, or not entirely, because Quaker pastor Gulley avoids romanticizing his little town. He as pastor has a sometimes rocky relationship with his congregation. Early in the book, he says that every Sunday he urges his congregation to become a new creation and every week they refuse to do it. There is plenty of bad behavior in this book, but there's also a wonderful sense of community -- of living somewhere where there are no secrets. The community also manages to come together when there are troubles, however. The theme of this book is forgiveness. Two brothers are at odds, with one brother, Ellis -- the one who stayed home and behaved -- being unwilling to forgive his brother Ralph, an alcoholic who left with his wife 5 years ago, leaving behind their daughter Amanda to be raised by Ellis and his wife. Ralph and his wife have quit drinking and are working hard. But they want to resume their relationship with Amanda, and Ellis doesn't trust them and he can't forgive Ralph. I love these books. Reading Gulley is a lot like wrapping yourself up in a home-made quilt.

Philip Gulley is my favorite author, hands down. His Harmony novels are funny at all the right times and full to overflowing with Christian wisdom and gracious inspiration. "A Change of Heart" is no exception. When I read "A Change of Heart", I devoured each chapter with a sense of eager anticipation as to where Gulley would go with the several stories contained within this one. Later I went back to the book and savored the brilliant writing more slowly. Both times, as with all of Philip Gulley's fine books, I was captured by the consistency of the characters and the truth of the stories therein. Now about "A Change of Heart", I must admit, my dark side cursed dear Sam Gardner when he revived that strangely familiar character, Dale Hinshaw. And then I cursed Dale himself when he left his waitress a creative evangelical "tip" which fit his nature perfectly. I wonder why so many, like Dale, feel they have to be so sneaky about their gospel witnessing? Anyway...the resurrection of Dale in "A Change of Heart" is a tale full of grace and of Sam's honest struggles in dealing with legalism in his midst. This story is a familiar one to me, as I too struggle to love those whom I hold dear...those well-intended souls who, like Dale, are blinded by the all-consuming flame of religious fundamentalism. Anther plot that runs through "A Change of Heart" that was even more thought-provoking, was the story of Amanda Hodge. I found myself obsessing as to whether or not her no-good parents were really going to steal her back. I labored, just like the rest of Harmony, to really believe that her folks had changed. I remember Sam's musing, "I wonder what's harder...to change or to make people believe that you've changed." Good stuff. Rest assured, not all of "A Change of Heart" is so gut-wrenching. You'll be delighted at each turn of events to find many a laugh-out-lound scene. One of my favorites is when Sam slathers tanning lotion on Barbara while they bask under the palm tree...no matter that it's all inside. Ha! This, the long anticipated Wedding, and so much more, awaits the reader in this wonderful sixth Harmony novel. I highly recommend it. And, by the way, it makes for great family read-aloud time.

Get ready for a readable joy-ride in this installment of the Harmony series, A CHANGE OF HEART. Author Philip Gulley sets the drive on cruise control for his fifth offering --- humorous, low-key storytelling full of the characters you've come to love throughout the previous four full-length novels. If you haven't picked up other books in the series, put it in "park," stop reading this review now, and go back and begin with HOME TO HARMONY. You'll acquire the needed context for the characters and an appreciation for just how much has changed in the little town of Harmony --- and how much remains the same. Already up to speed? For those of you fans who have followed the series, this one opens with Pastor Sam Gardner celebrating five years at Harmony Friends Meeting, which is "about four years and eleven months longer than he'd predicted when he became their pastor." Sam prefers funerals to weddings --- "the guest of honor lay quietly, without a word of protest or advice, not worrying for one moment whether he'd forget the vows or she'd trip on her bridal gown." As always, he has his hands full with his quirky congregation. If you're a small-town churchgoer, you'll quickly recognize the personalities in the Harmony Friends meeting --- only the names will be different. There are some small-town sorts of changes in the air. Dale Hinshaw, the curmudgeonly church member and thorn in the flesh for Sam, is threatening to leave the Quakers for the Baptists. Deena Morrison is getting ready to walk down the aisle with a handsome doctor, and Harmony has its first traffic light. But the more things change in a small town, the more other things stay the same. Bob Miles, editor of the Harmony Herald, still pens his column, the "Bobservation Post," and dishes out all the local gossip --- true and untrue. Former Indiana Sausage Queen Nora Nagle continues working the checkout counter of Kivett's Five & Dime, waiting for the right man to come along. Sam's idea of an exotic date with his wife Barbara hasn't improved much --- this time it's sneaking over to the Holidome in Cartersburg to swim at the pool, eat bologna sandwiches and HoHos, and share a coke from the vending machine. It's a laid-back, mellow read. There are a few bumps on the journey but no real controversies or upsets. In some previous novels, Gulley hasn't been afraid to open a few cans of worms (homosexuality and the church, doubt and the clergyman), but in this one there's not much readers could raise an eyebrow over, theology-wise. The major crisis in this novel revolves around Ellis and Miriam Hodge's adopted 16-year-old daughter, Amanda, and Ellis's ne'er-do-well brother, Ralph, and his wife. Ralph had "sold" Amanda to her uncle and aunt while addicted to the bottle, but now he's back, fresh from Alcoholics Anonymous and wanting to start a new life as a family. However, the tension never escalates much past a gentle concern. Gulley writes with plenty of points of view that switch back and

I just LOVE small town books. This series is up there with Mitford. After reading these books I always ponder and think about all the lessons in them. Amanda's parents come back to town. Will Ellis find it in his heart to forgive his brother for abandoning and abusing Amanda? Will Dale live to see another day? Will Harmony ever be harmonious? Read the book and answer these questions and more. Also, don't forget to go to the website to read the Herald!