Bathed in Prayer : Father Tim's Prayers, Sermons, and Reflections from the Mitford Series

KARON, JAN
BATHED N PRAYER

"In Mitford, a reader may find sorrow and disappointment, sickness and loss, but there will always be connection and community, a safe place to run." Jan Karon

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Mitford series comes a must-have collection of prayers and inspiration from Father Tim and from Jan Karon herself.

Millions of readers have fallen in love with the faith and encouragement at the very heart of a universal small town called Mitford. In Bathed in Prayer, the prayers, sermons, and inspirational passages from the fourteen novels are gathered together in one remarkable collection. Here we will walk with Father Tim through favorite Mitford moments -- Christmas sermons, humble prayers, marriage ceremonies, funerals, and everything in between. Thankfully, fans will hear directly from author Jan Karon in a brand new essay about her faith journey, and the ways the Mitford novels have impacted her.

This beautifully designed compilation is a staple for any Mitford reader, and a perfect gift for the ardent Mitford fan.

My Review:

There are fourteen Mitford books and I've only read one -- #13 -- and I remember feeling totally lost because this is definitely a series to read in order. But that's a lot of catch up to do so I haven't gotten around to it yet. Anyway, I've been intrigued by the series for awhile now so when I saw Bathed in Prayer in my public library I scooped it up. And guess what? It's actually the perfect introduction to the series!

Karon sets up each scene from her books perfectly, so it was easy for me to get the most out of them without feeling lost or confused (as I felt when trying to read that 13th book!) I got a real feel for what the series is all about and understand now why Mitford has so many fans! Stunning, touching, sweet and tender and poignant -- this book touched my heart. I can only imagine how much more of an impact it would make on Mitford fans. A revisiting with old friends at pivotal points in their lives.

Inspirational quotes and Karon's new essay on her faith journey bring an extra depth and I could totally see using this book as a daily devotional. An ingenuous celebration of a much-loved series.

Come Rain Or Come Shine

GIVEAWAY

KARON JAN
COME RAIN OR COME SHINE

Over the course of ten Mitford novels, fans have kept a special place in their hearts for Dooley Kavanagh, first seen in At Home in Mitford as a barefoot, freckle-faced boy in filthy overalls.

Now, Father Tim Kavanagh’s adopted son has graduated from vet school and opened his own animal clinic. Since money will be tight for a while, maybe he and Lace Harper, his once and future soul mate, should keep their wedding simple.

So the plan is to eliminate the cost of catering and do potluck. Ought to be fun.

An old friend offers to bring his well-known country band. Gratis.

And once mucked out, the barn works as a perfect venue for seating family and friends.

Piece of cake, right?

In Come Rain or Come Shine, Jan Karon delivers the wedding that millions of Mitford fans have waited for. It’s a June day in the mountains, with more than a few creatures great and small, and you’re invited—because you’re family.

By the way, it’s a pretty casual affair, so come as you are and remember to bring a tissue or two. After all, what’s a good wedding without a good cry?

My Review:

True confession -- I haven't read any of the Mitford series but there are so many that I just decided to leap into the fray with this book. Am I brave or what? LOL Definitely not the way I'd recommend reading this series. There are just so many characters to keep track of. A lot of them are still a mystery to me, but I did enjoy getting to know the key players in Come Rain Or Come Shine. I think Lace was my favourite -- loved  reading her journaling. It revealed so much about her personal and spiritual growth and helped me with her background and how her romance with Dooley developed.

There's a lot happening in this book. Blissful (or maybe not so blissful) wedding preparations take centre stage and are the catalyst for all the action. A clever mix of humour and heartwarming sets the perfect tone for all the shenanigans.

Karon's penchant for beginning scenes without identifying the point of view character proved a real stumbling block for me -- especially since the story is told from multiple viewpoints. The author uses 'he' or 'she' instead of identifying the character by name and it took several paragraphs (sometimes a whole scene) before I could figure out whose thought process I was following. There were some scenes I just skimmed because I didn't have a clue. At first I thought  it was because I didn't know all the characters well enough since I haven't read the previous books but then I read some reviews online from ardent Mitford fans who had the same problem so I didn't feel so bad. :-)

The other thing that threw me was the way the author 'head-hopped' in the middle of a scene -- often abruptly. Ping-ponging between character point of view within a couple of sentences. It jarred me out of the story and left me rereading and trying to sort out whose thoughts belonged to who. Very disconcerting.

So,  overall, I enjoyed the story -- the crazy wedding preparations, how unique the wedding was, Lace and Dooley and Father Tim and Choo-Choo the bull -- I just felt a bit like a long lost cousin on the outside looking in. Definitely do not recommend reading the Mitford books out of order.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Come Rain Or Come Shine please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday November 29 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!