A Covington Christmas (Ladies of Covington) [Mass Market Paperback]

Joan Medlicott (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 26, 2006 | Series: Ladies of Covington

The new pastor in Covington discovers that the pastor from forty years ago was never ordained, and was therefore not qualified to marry anyone! With five long-standing marriages thrown into crisis, it's decided that the couples absolutely must remarry on Christmas Eve. With the church desperately in need of repairs, though, how can they get it ready in time? Sounds like a job for the ladies of Covington! But when last-minute obstacles threaten to stop the weddings, Grace, Hannah, and Amelia are going to need a miracle to turn Christmas Eve into a wedding day that no one will ever forget.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A pure charmer, a rich Southern tale about love and loyalty."

-- Bookpage on A Covington Christmas

About the Author

Joan Medlicott was born and raised on St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. She lives with her husband in the mountains of North Carolina. Visit her website at www.joanmedlicott.com.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 273 pages
• Publisher: Pocket Star (September 26, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 141652486X
• ISBN-13: 978-1416524861
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #457,918 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Joan Medlicott was born and raised on St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. She lives with her husband in the mountains of North Carolina. Visit her website at www.joanmedlicott.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ah, the Covington ladies return., November 14, 2005

By 

Huntress Reviews (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Covington Christmas (Ladies of Covington) (Hardcover)

Ah! Yes! Our Ladies are back, and just in time for Christmas. To say I was absolutely delighted when I saw this newest book would be to put it lightly. Why? Because, through the years, the adventures of Grace Singleton, Hannah Parrish and Amelia Declose have entertained me more than I can put into words. Their lives are never dull, and, through this book, we have an opportunity to meet even more of their friends and neighbors and have another peek into their warm and creative personalities.

As the story opens, we find Grace hard at work with the Church's new pastor, Denny Ledbetter, in the neglected attic of the Cove Road Church. As they clean away the layers of dust, they find a letter from 1963 that gives away the secret of a former minister and has quite an impact on five couples whom he married in the church many years ago. As it turns out, Richard W. Simms, the former minister, was never really a minister, so the marriages he had performed were invalid. Since these couples were never legally husband and wife, what will be the implications for their grownup children and grandchildren?

Of course these couples must remarry - and quickly. So, they enlist the help of our Covington Ladies and settle on a multiple wedding with a Christmas Eve ceremony in the Cove Road Church. There is much work to be done with the new brides, which our Ladies can certainly handle, but the unexpected extra work in getting the church itself ready was soon almost overwhelming. Here in the middle of November, the church furnace dies and there are no extra funds in the church budget to cover the repairs. Of course, everyone recognizes that there must be heat in the church, not only for the Christmas Eve weddings, but also for the yearly Christmas Eve church service! Then, to add to their problems, it is soon realized that the very walls and windows (which sustained a lot of smoke damage during the fire a couple of years ago) must be scrubbed and then painted. Last of all, there was also the problem of rotting floorboards in several areas of the church, which simply must be replaced.

As you might guess, due to the absence of any church funds our Ladies soon organize a wealth of volunteers to help with the work and supplies - no small task in itself. Then, we add to this mix the accidental finding of a valuable painting in the church, an unexpected snow storm, and a mysterious visitor who delivers beautiful, and very expensive, flowers every day as the work progresses.

***** I was enthralled with this story and with all the brides as they planned their wedding day. Each bride was unique and we got a glimpse into each of their lives up to this point, but I found that the predicament of one of them (May McCorkle) truly tugged at my heart. Regardless of whether you are new to the adventures of Grace, Hannah, and Amelia or a veteran of their antics, you will be mesmerized with this special holiday story. Joan Medlicott has done it again! *****

Reviewed by Ruth Wilson of Huntress Reviews.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Christmas in the Mountains, May 26, 2007

By 

J. E. Stephens "Jeanne" (Florida) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Covington Christmas (Ladies of Covington) (Mass Market Paperback)

This is the first book I have read in the Covington series. I thought it was great. The author makes the mountain ways and saying sound authentic- even though she is from the Virgin Islands.

I have never met anyone who found out their marriage was not valid, but this book definitely explored the topic and left you with lots to think about.

I loved the parts where the mysterious flowers showed up in the church. I also liked Denny, the minister, and the way he was always praying and how God answered his prayers.

This will not be the last Covington series I read. In fact, when I finish writing this review, I intend to buy the rest.

If you like the Appalachain Mountains, you will love this book.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fans of Covington will say I do to this enjoyable Yuletide tale, October 25, 2005

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Covington Christmas (Ladies of Covington) (Hardcover)

In Covington, North Carolina, the new pastor of the Cove Road Church, Denny Ledbetter, is cleaning out the attic when he is stunned to find the letter dated 1963 that states that a former minister never received his seminary degree and thus wasn't allowed to marry people. Richard W. Simms was not authorized to perform baptisms, marriages or other rites; he was not considered a pastor. Five couples were married by Simms (Craines, Herrills, and three named McCorkle), but none were filed with the courts and thus not husband and wife in the eyes of the church or the state.

The Craines and Herrills still live in town and want to renew their vows at the church at Christmas Eve. Denny wants this to occur because he feels a strong need to correct a wrong, but also knows the Cove Road Church is in disrepair and not safe in the winter. The Covington ladies led by Grace Singleton, Hannah Parrish and Amelia Declose plan to make the miracle happen.

This is a fun lighthearted regional family cozy as the three elderly but feisty females take charge to make the Christmas miracle occur while also trying to hide the truth from ailing octogenarian Pastor Johnson. As always the story line entertains the audience due to the fine look at small-town life in the Tarheel state. Fans of Covington will say I do to this enjoyable Yuletide tale.

Harriet Klausner