Customer Reviews

The County Fair (Thorndike Clean Reads)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have been a fan of the writing of Katherine Valentine since I discovered A Miracle for St. Cecilia's, the first in her Dorsetville series. So I was excited to read The Country Fair and become reacquainted with the lovable characters that fill the pages of Valentine's stories. I must say that The County Fair exceeded all of my hopes and expectations. Not only was the plot line wonderful, but the message of faith and hope that fills this novel is completely uplifting.

You need not have read the other Dorsetville books to enjoy The Country Fair, but after having read it you may want to treat yourself to the entire series. The book stands on its own merit, relating brief vignettes from previous installments like great memories in a scrapbook for Valentine fans. As always, the characters of Dorsetville are both human and very lovable. The book features not one, but three, faith-filled priests who are spot-on in their devotion to their vocations and their shepherding of their flocks. Valentine writes these characters so truthfully, showing their own personal struggles as they minister to their community.

The County Fair features a crime mystery, a family's deep hidden secret, a relationship on the rocks and lots of good, plain fun. Like the novels of Jan Karon, Valentine's work centers around the relationships of the inhabitants of a small town as they interrelate with one another. The storyline moves quickly and gracefully to a totally uplifting conclusion.

My favorite aspect of The Country Fair is the theme of resurrection and new life that permeates the book. Valentine is able to gently remind her readers that in this life, the end is really only the beginning of what is truly wonderful. As a fan of her writing, I hope the end of our Dorsetville adventure will be the beginning of many new plots and characters in future books.

For its tremendous message of hope and faith and for the wonderful way in which she continues to bring Dorsetville to life, I give Katherine Valentine's The Country Fair my highest recommendation.

I loved this book, it had everything to make it a good book, characters, setting, excitment and drama, happiness and sadness. Three cheers to good clean story telling.

This is a great book to curl up with rather than watching the cheesy stuff they put on TV these days. The story makes one want to find where this great town is and look for real estate. I love this author's work, particularly the series of which this newest title is a part. The Catholic Church, as most other churches, is made up of a variety of members. Kate Valentine includes many of the types, including the ones for which heaven most rejoices--those who claim their faith after many years of indifference. Jesus said it is harder for the rich to attain Heaven, and I especially love the storyline that illustrates this struggle. There isn't any heavy theology in this book. It is a nice story, full of hope, which the world needs terribly these days. You will like it, and want to read the early novels in the series. Get them and encourage Ms. Valentine to continue to write.

I hate that this is the last in the Dorsetville series. I loved reading the books in this series and felt close to the characters and as comfortable as if I were a citizen of the town. It left me hungry for more episodes!

Like all of Kate's books, I enjoyed The Country Fair as a very readable novel that allows her characters to bring you to a deeper sense of faith. The story line is a story of life with its sorrows and joys. Kate makes it easier to relate to God as we find God working in the charcters' lives and then recognize God present in our lives as well. A good read for the beach this summer or on a cold winter day by the fire.

The County Fair: A Novel The County Fair is a wonderful ending to Karen Valentine's Dorsetville Series.

Unfortunately this is the last of this series. You must read her other books in this series. I have never laughed so much or enjoyed a series more than this set. She is a wonderful writer and I look forward to anything she writes.