A Gathering Of Angels

I love this book! In fact I love the whole series and will read it over again and again when I want a feel-good read. The town, the people, the situations are all easy to identify with and to feel emotionally connected to.

I was given this book as a gift. Having not read any of the author's previous works, it was immediately apparent that her series borrows closely from the Mitford books. But my take on this is: Who Cares? Speaking as someone who is tired of reading books on incest, domestic abuse, rape, and other horrors (which we read about daily in our newspapers) just having a new series to read that brings pleasure is most welcome. I could not put this book down. It's a simple story, with simple charactors, but the plotlines were many and knowing that they would all be tied together in a happy bundle at the end of the book was reassuring. The small town charm, the way Ms. Valentine teaches nuggets of the faith by sprinkling learning episodes throughout the book is a nice touch. As a practicing Catholic, it's wonderful to have a series of books that reflects my faith, even if she sometimes makes a mistake or two. Granted, the Rent-a-Nun concept is troubling, but other than that, it's a wonderful read and highly recommended.

Karen Valentine's characters in this book are people I know!! Not really...but her book is lively and entertaining and quite inspirational. If you are looking for a book that challenges your spirituality gently this book is for you! I'd recommend it.

I loved "A Miracle for St. Cecilia's" and couldn't wait for this, her second book. If Katherine Valentine keeps writing so convincingly about miracles, I just might become a believer!

Katherine Valentine novels of faith and a small New England community make me want to pack my bags and go live there! In "A Gathering of Angels", Dorsetville folks confront a wide range of challenges. A businessman is left with a mountain of debt when his partner runs off with the money; a bag lady is wrongly accused of setting the fire that levels a church and Father James is recovering from a hit and run accident and learning to be the recipient instead of the giver of grace.Unlike the Mitford series which is mostly fluff, the Dorsetville series digs into the questions that we all ask about the workings of God and faith..Where is God when tragedy strikes? How are we to find the faith that will help us to keep on believing when prayers go unanswered? Besides being well written, the things that sets Dorsetville aside is that it leaves the ready with some deeply moving answers to some of the most difficult spiritual questions.