"All are invited to celebrate at the Big Knot! An inspiring story of love and faith!"
Reviewed by Audrey Lawrence
Posted December 8, 2015
Romance Contemporary
Young people can be very optimistic by what they can
accomplish in a short period of time, but Dooley Kavanagh
and Lace Harper have gone
whole hog...or at least a whole, huge bull by the name of
Choo-Choo, soon to arrive at their farm they
had recently taken over from Doc Owens.
As if that isn't enough, Dooley is graduating from his
studies in veterinary medicine, opening a new practice,
building fences to secure his recently arrived animals,
fixing up the farmstead and barn and getting married.
Almost all in the same week!
It didn't seem all that many years ago that a bedraggled
freckle faced boy by the name of Dooley was adopted by
Father Tim, an Episcopal priest, now mostly retired in
Mitford, North Carolina. Now, Dooley and Lace, the love
of his life are about the tie The Big Knot. Surely they
can pull all of this off easy as pie... but do they really
know all the logistics involved?
Skillfully written in a deceptively simple, yet realistic
style, bestselling author Jan Karon instantly involves
you in all that is going on with all these preparations
in the Meadowvale Farm not too far from the fictional
town of Mitford, the place of the Mitford series so
beloved by her many fans.
Having loved the first ten books written by Karon that I
read when they came out, I very happily dove into what
was happening to all the characters in COME RAIN OR COME
SHINE and thoroughly loved the reconnection. So, I am
quite sure that COME RAIN OR COME SHINE will be a
heartwarming delight for fans already familiar with
Karon's Mitford series of books featuring the
beloved
Father Tim. It is hard for me to assess how a new
reader to Karon would find this as a stand-alone, but I
can almost guarantee that if you do enjoy the story, you
will definitely be glad to go back and revel in the
earlier books. All the characters are intriguing in their own country
ways, yet, I loved the way Karon had Lace and Dooley
share their thoughts as the countdown gets underway.
Both Dooley and Lace were adopted by kind people who have a
strong faith in God. From those people, they have
developed into wonderful young adults, yet, they still
carry the hidden scars of their sad and sorry start with
their own families. The story is told largely in short
clips from the thoughts and perspectives of various
characters and skips across the pages like pebbles
tossed across a lake , so some key elements get missed in
the between and are up to the reader to fill in how some
things look.
COME RAIN OR COME SHINE is a transitional novel and is
the handing of the torch to the new generation, but the
guidance from Father Tim, Cynthia and others resonate in
their thoughts. This is a stronger change in writing
style from the earlier books and it can be confusing at
times as there are so many characters. Karon has that
special ability to get the folksy language and mannerisms
down that totally nails each character as to who they
are.
My only small quibble with Karon's writing in COME RAIN
OR COME SHINE is in its overwhelming richness of
activities. It was a little like
a cake with too much icing or too many desserts out that
you can't relish each one. Still, I gobbled it up just
the same and wanted to keep turning the pages to follow
all the events. So COME RAIN OR COME SHINE, get a
hold of this aptly named delight and enjoy!
SUMMARY
#1 New York Times–bestselling author Jan Karon
returns—with
the story readers have been waiting for.
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?
What do you think about this review?
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