Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes!

When Summer Finley receives the news that her biopsy is "abnormal," her first instinct is to run to the person who has always been there for her, even though they've never met. Summer books a flight to the Netherlands to spend a week "in denial" with her pen pal, Noelle Van Zandt. The two share the sights, sounds and tastes of Holland as their friendship evolves to a deeper level. Getting to know one another in person, they develop insights into each other that transcend their years of letters and emails. The week begins with the sites for which Holland is most famous: fields of brilliantly colored spring tulips and a windmill to complete the scene. "Such vivid colors! The sunlight highlighted the blooms so all the colors were sharply focused. For one heart-tugging, breath-taking moment, I closed my eyes. It seemed impossible to take in so much glory all at once." Summer and Noelle laugh, talk and photograph everything as they kick off their week. The following day, Noelle takes Summer on an early morning trip to a surprise destination. After a breakfast of apricot pastries fresh from the bakery, they take a train to a rural area of Holland where they visit a farm run by Noelle's sister-in-law. But this is no ordinary farm. It is what Noelle describes as a "spiritual community" for Christian women, many of whom arrived from other countries after having been persecuted or abused in some way. Summer is amazed by the peace she finds at the farm and the unabashed way in which the women worship straight from their hearts. At Summer's request, Day Three brings a visit to the hiding place of Corrie Ten Boom in Haarlem, Holland. Summer explains to Noelle that the Ten Booms were Christians who risked their lives to provide a refuge for people hiding from the Nazis during World War II. The friends marvel at the hiding area behind a secret wall, but even more so, they are amazed by the faith and courage of this family. Each day's outing leads Noelle to face challenges, often reluctantly, and brings her face to face with others who have sought strength from God to rise above thorny circumstances. Through various adventures and heart-to-hearts with Noelle, Summer comes to realize she can trust God with anything...even the unknown outcome of her upcoming medical tests. There is something fun and breezy about the Sisterchicks books. Mixing friendship, faith and travel just works, especially when you are guaranteed a happy ending. Robin Jones Gunn always produces believable characters, plots and subplots to which women can relate. And if you like traveling or just learning about other countries, her novels are a great way to experience distant lands. Read SISTERCHICKS IN WOODEN SHOES! and you'll want to book a trip to the Netherlands immediately after turning the last page. The Sisterchicks series always involves a couple of friends heading out for an international adventure (except for SISTERCHICKS DO THE HULA!, in which they head to Hawaii). It is not a

I could totally relate to the premise of this book. When Noelle says to Summer, take my hand and I'll show you the sites of my town. I thought back to when I visited Lea, my high school BFF, for the first time in Toronto, Canada. We had gone to school together and after graduation she moved to Canada. We didn't have the speed of email, back then but I really enjoyed her letters. When it was time for me to visit her she took me by the hand and showed me the lovely sites of her new home. Lea showed me amazing Castles, lovely flowers, took me on my first subway ride ever, had me eat special treats only found in Canada and had my face splashed by the breath taking waters of Niagara Falls. Toronto was strikingly clean for such a big city. We shopped through the Eaton Center which is the biggest mall I'd ever seen, and found time to talk about how the Lord was moving in our lives. I envisioned myself standing with Summer as she looked out the window and thought this," It was as if God had invited the shy new day to come and spread her beauty over this corner of His world, and she was being obedient but at the same time was embarrassed to be put in the spotlight of the rising sun." My husband and I met while working on the stage version of "The Hiding Place." I was cast in the part of Betsy, Corrie ten Boom's sister. When Robin Jones Gunn took me to the very place where Corrie ten Boom's family hid the Jews, it was an extremely special part of the book for me. I loved the way Robin Jones Gunn described how to look at art. Robin tells of all the art museums they explored, and the art inside, like that of Rembrandt, Vermeer and Van Gogh, Noelle says, "Appreciation of beauty isn't work. All you have to do is look. Open your eyes, your mind, and your heart. Take in whatever it is you see. Let the painting do all the work. Just listen with your eyes, and the painting will tell you its story." Wow, I'm going to try that! I totally agreed with the author when she said this," God somehow touched people, places and moments, and the everyday became glimpses of heaven here on earth." I've experienced this! I felt like I was viewing the sites along with the character Summer as Robin took my hand and said follow me through the pages of her book. That's why I love the Sisterchick series. What I especially love about this series is that every now and then Robin tosses out treasures from heaven for me to ponder and get a hold of in my heart. Just when everything in the book is full of fun, friendship and exploration, the author has one of the characters in her book discover a truth from the word that would pierce my heart and make me think along with the character. Robin has a special gift for doing this in her writing, which makes her stories so rich. I totally enjoyed the pictures at the end of this book where Robin shares her real life trip to visit her friend in Holland. That was the icing on the cake for me. I don't know how Robin does thi

Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes! by Robin Jones Gunn is a sweet story of friendship and spiritual introspection. The main character, Summer, finds out her mammogram was "abnormal" and she needs a biopsy. She decides to enter a "week of denial" and put off the biopsy in favor of a spur-of-the-moment trip to the Netherlands to meet her best friend and pen pal since elementary school, Noelle. Summer and Noelle have a wonderful time building their friendship face to face for the first time as they explore the Netherlands. In the process, they both find themselves exploring their hearts regarding unresolved spiritual issues as Noelle sees things in Summer that Summer has not recognized in herself, and vice versa. Every woman needs a friend with whom she can bear her soul - and who can speak the truth to her in return; such a friendship is a restorative gift of God. The women's friendship is beautiful, as is the countryside of the Netherlands. Robin Jones Gunn does an amazing job of describing sights, sounds, culture and food of the Netherlands - you'll feel as if you've gone there yourself!

Why deal with stranded flights, overcrowded airports and lost luggage when you can visit the Netherlands and never leave your comfy La-Z-Boy? I loved Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes! I felt like I could smell the tulips and fresh strudel because Gunn's writing is so detailed and paints a vivid picture. The plot is satisfying and realistic with characters that gave me a sense of deja vu because I felt like I really knew them. All in all, a great read.

Summer Finley takes every grenade life tosses at her with calmness, a requirement of a mother of six, until she receives the results of a medical test. Upset she informs her pen pal since fourth grade Noelle Van Zandt that it is time for them to meet in person; Noelle ecstatically agrees. Summer comes to Amsterdam and the buddies via letters and email hit it off in person. Noelle takes her American friend around the country as she shows her the canals and the chocolate. Both become BFFs as Summer informs Noelle of her medical results and Noelle confides her own heartache to her pal. The latest Sisterchicks tale is a strong entry that focuses on the importance of friendship to humans, regardless of the original source of how the pals meet. The two women come across as real while touring Holland, but especially when each tells the other their personal woe. Fans will enjoy seeing the Netherlands along side of Summer as her BFF Noelle guides the trip that heals both their souls. Harriet Klausner