Customer Reviews

A Covington Christmas (Ladies of Covington)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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

I am hooked on the happenings in Covington. It is always fun to read the next installment of the saga of Hannah, Amelia and Grace and their community of friends. I think the title should have been Winter Weddings. There just wasn't too much Christmas. It was an enjoyable

read nevertheless. The mystery woman from Paris; the love revealed and renewed and some unresolved relationships leave the door open for more stories from Covington.

A pleasant read. The characters are developed so that they are easily visualized. It's nice to get away from murder and mayhem occasionally.

I just don't have much to say about this one. I have so enjoyed the previous books in this series, but was quite disappointed with this one. Everything from the story line to the writing style was terrible. I wanted to read about the ladies that I have grown to love, but this story was about the other residents of Covington with hardly a word about Grace, Hannah and Amelia.

The only reason I finished it was because I actually spent money to purchase the book instead of checking it out at the library. Otherwise, I would have put it down and never picked it up again.

I hope the next book lives up to the quality of the others before this one!

I have read every book that Medlicott has written to date. She is an easy reading writer and enjoy her story contents very much. Recommend to older women.

This book is reflective and refreshing book that could have taken place

in any small town USA. The characters were very believeable and follow

human pyschic. Enjoyed and was glad when everything turned out okay.

This book is part of a series of books. Excellent reading about life and friendship among quilters. The whole series has been great.

I believe I've read all the books by Joan Medlicott, except for the one coming out in September. My daughter gave me the first of the series for last Christmas, and I read a couple of pages, and said, "I won't read this book, it's about old ladies and

(I was looking at my 75th birthday coming up, and feeling pretty rotten about it.) Finally, last spring I started the book and fell in kove with it. Then, I had to read them all, and my husband is reading them and he enjoys them, too. THANK YOU, JOAN!