About the Book: (from the publisher) An Unlikely Blessing is a heartfelt story about a new pastor and life-long city dweller Alex Armstrong, who reluctantly accepts his first assignment, a two-point parish in the wilds of North Dakota. Hilltop Township, a farming community, blooms from the prairie like a wild pink rose—lovely and prickly all at once, much like the people who live there.
Alex quickly finds that this lovely place is in quiet peril. Farmers are struggling to make ends meet: Jonas Owens, a faithful member of Hilltop parish, is on the brink of losing the farm. Alex believes that part of why God called him to Hilltop was to help turn things around, and steps in with ideas for saving the Owens' land. But can even God's minister help save this rural community?
There are a lot of firsts for the new pastor—the annual Hunter's Breakfast, julebukking (also called Christmas fooling), King Oscar's fish balls, and the melody of the musical saw. And the new, single pastor creates remarkable excitement among the unmarried women in the community. If you could die of hot dish overdose, Alex would be a dead man. Whether performing weddings, counseling his flock, or herding cattle by snowmobile, Alex soon discovers that his new church home has as much to teach him as he will teach them. Day by day, he falls more in love with the people of Hilltop Church. People may leave Hilltop, but Hilltop never leaves them.
My Thoughts:
I think this is the beginning of a wonderful series! It does kind of remind one of Jan Karon's books, but only in that the main character is a pastor, and the story centers around his life among the people of his congregation. (well, congregations, in this case) You get to know a lot of really interesting people along the way, and you get immersed in their daily lives and their pastor's discoveries about how God has already gone before him and prepared a way to make a difference in their lives.
Great book and one I am happy to recommend!!
About the Author:
Judy Baer is the author of over 70 books for adults and teens. She has won the Romance Writers of America Bronze Medallion and has twice been a RITA finalist. She lives in Elk River, Minnesota, with her husband.
Prolific author of over 75 novels, Judy Baer, is launching her new Guideposts series, Forever Hilltop, with a KINDLE giveaway! The first book in the series, An Unlikely Blessing
is available now wherever fine books are sold.Read the reviews here.
In celebration of the release of An Unlikely Blessing, Judy is giving away a KINDLE prize package worth over $175.
One lucky winner will receive:
- Brand New KINDLE with Wi-Fi
- A $25 gift certificate to Amazon.com
To enter just click on one the icons below and then tell your friends! Winner will be announced on February 21st on Judy's blog, http://www.judykbaer.com/wordpress
This sounds really good. I'll keep my eye out for it when next I'm in the bookstore.
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