Altar Call [Paperback]

Hope Lyda (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2006

In this fun and clever sequel to Hip to Be Square, heroine Mari Hamilton is enjoying her satisfying work, an eight–month relationship to her perfect Beau, and the role of attentive bridesmaid as her friend Sadie plans the wedding of the year. But as Sadie steps closer to the altar, her single friends—Mari, Caitlin, and Angelica—must face their emotions about tying the knot.

Altar Call is an engaging and entertaining look at how a wedding...even someone else’s...can turn rational women into irrational creatures. And how sometimes a woman’s path is about finding Mr. Right—and sometimes it is about having enough faith to do the right thing.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Sometimes life is about finding Mr. Right— and sometimes...it’s about doing the right thing.

As her friend Sadie moves closer to the altar, Mari Hamilton makes a U-turn to help her family’s youth shelter back in Washington, DC, leaving behind boyfriend, Beau, and gal pals Caitlin and Angelica (who predict this decision is socially courageous or crazy). But with frequent flyer miles and determination, Mari keeps her long-distance relationship and friendships alive and is certain she has pulled off the impossible—made the status of "single woman living with parents" advantageous.

But when her past and present collide, this maid of honor must discover what she is made of. Will Mari take her own trip down the aisle, or will she risk it all? As she moves forward in faith, will she finally trust the heart God gives her?

About the Author

Hope Lyda has worked in publishing for ten years and is the author of Hip to Be Square in addition to several nonfiction titles, including the One-Minute Prayers series (more than 200,000 copies sold). When not journaling or aspiring to write and travel, Hope enjoys her work as an editor and living life in Oregon with her husband.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (March 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0736915907
• ISBN-13: 978-0736915908
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,960,463 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I have always written...since gradeschool when I would draft the longest novel I could, I think I made it to page 120. I wrote plays and poems and strange stories about midget aliens. My readership was zero, but that didn't matter. The desire to write was there and set upon my heart.

Always an observer, maybe I wanted to write in order to be the ultimate observer...the one perched outside the page watching the story or situation unfold. I find comfort there...on the perimeter.

College was a great place for me to explore my love of story and expression. With a double major in Journalism and Film I had the ultimate opportunity to feed my imagination and quest for story, words, and meaning behind those words. My favorite movies list includes Broadcast News and All the Presidents Men. Even though I didn't go the way of hard journalism, I am always thrilled by the task of uncovering a story or a situation to find the meaning and more universal lesson.

Currently I try to uncover that meaning through fiction. But I think the pursuit will end up taking many shapes.

Hopefully, through it all, I keep the quest for meaning, compassion, understanding, faith, and discovery at the forefront of my writing. I hope others connect with it. I think we all can learn great lessons from one another...that is what the exchanges between writer and story, reader and story, and writer and reader can do.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Not Just A Chick Lit, September 26, 2008

By 

Sally "SmilingSally" (Tampa, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Altar Call (Paperback)

I had not read the first book of this series, Hip to Be Square, but that did not hinder me from jumping into this chick-lit. I particularly enjoyed the snappy dialogue and the way the author played with words. Mari, the protagonist, keeps a list of "least-favorite words." That's something that I might want to begin! There's "poetry pizza night" and a "phone closet." Mari mentions the "disease to please" that I have--as do most women.

I appreciate a nice romance like this one, as a change of pace. I recommend it.

4.0 out of 5 stars Another good read from Hope Lyda, August 20, 2007

By 

Stacey (Las Vegas, NV USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Altar Call (Paperback)

Mari and her friends are back in this fun, witty and easily readable sequel to "Hip To Be Square". Sophie is getting married and experiencing all of the jitters that go along with that. It doesn't help that Mari feels distanced from her beau, Beau, and her mother still likes the idea of "Mari and Marcus".

Although entertaining, this novel really impacted me emotionally. I've come to really love these characters, so I became rather upset when the conflict arose and swelled throughout the book. I loved the happy ending and would love it if Hope Lyda would continue this story since it is begging for a sequel!

5.0 out of 5 stars Another hit!, June 19, 2007

By 

Kristy P. - See all my reviews

This review is from: Altar Call (Paperback)

Altar Call is a perfect sequel to Hip to Be Square! Being a single woman in my 30's, I thought this book did a great job giving a glimpse into what we all go through: dating, marriage, balancing family & friends vs. career. Again, author Hope Lyda does a fabulous job with the chick lit genre. She gives us fast paced, light fun woven all around meaningful characters and experiences. It is chick lit with substance, definately worth reading!