A Gathering of Angels [Paperback]

Katherine Valentine (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 31, 2004

In A Miracle for St. Cecilia's, Katherine Valentine created a charming Connecticut town where ordinary people experience extraordinary things. Now in A Gathering of Angels the citizens of Dorsetville continue to discover the daily wonders of faith.

While Father Flaherty toys with taking up kickboxing to trim his growing waistline, another town expansion proves more ominous: Barry Hornibrook, driven to build a riverfront hotel, turns to questionable sources for desperately needed money. But this is Dorsetville, where anything is possible-and by the time this beguiling tale is over, a tragic fire, a German shepherd, and an influx of dentists will all play a role in changing the community forever.

Full of delightful surprises, A Gathering of Angels proves to be another heart- warming tale of hope.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Welcome back to Dorsetville, Connecticut, the little town that is the setting for Valentine's series of faith-based novels. In this second outing, the sequel to A Miracle for St. Cecilia's, the Daughters of the Immaculate Conception are about to open their retirement home for priests and nuns. Among the characters familiar from the first book, Father James is sidelined by a hit-and-run accident; Mrs. Norris, his redoubtable housekeeper, still runs the rectory with an iron hand; and Harry Clifford, owner of the Country Kettle, pursues his cautious romance with schoolteacher Nellie. Several new characters are brought into the mix--Wendy, a transplanted New Yorker whom Harry takes on as a waitress; developer Barry Hornibrook, who is running out of time to repay a loan; and Molly, the bag lady who camps out on the town green, to name just a few. Valentine displays a surer touch than she did in her first novel, and handles her large cast well. She has plenty of good material to draw on for upcoming installments to please a growing readership. Mary Ellen Quinn
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

What a great gift this book is to anyone who knows of angels in this life and who themselves might be considered angels by others. (Monsignor Tom Hartman, coauthor of Religion for Dummies)

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (August 31, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0142004847
• ISBN-13: 978-0142004845
• Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 0.6 x 7.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,089,303 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Sequel to A Miracle for St. Cecilia's, September 1, 2003

By 

Sandra Mitchell "Sandra Mitchell" (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Gathering of Angels (Hardcover)

A lot of books claim to provide the warm characters and small town comfort of The Mitford Series, but Katherine Valentine's new series truly does.

In her follow up to A Miracle for St. Cecilia's, Katherine Valentine brings us back to the charming New England town of Dorsetville, with her quirky yet lovable characters and a host of new adventures. As the community faces some unexpected turns they come together to get through the tragedies that are thrown their way. You'll get to know the local townsfolk a bit better and appreciate the sense of community as they help one another in trying situations.

Valentine has a very cozy writing style, so if you're looking for a book you can sit back and relax with, this book is for you. Full of small town charm and lovable people, you'll want to return to Dorsetville as soon as you can.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Didn't want to put it down!, May 24, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: A Gathering of Angels (Hardcover)

Katherine Valentine novels of faith and a small New England community make me want to pack my bags and go live there! In "A Gathering of Angels", Dorsetville folks confront a wide range of challenges. A businessman is left with a mountain of debt when his partner runs off with the money; a bag lady is wrongly accused of setting the fire that levels a church and Father James is recovering from a hit and run accident and learning to be the recipient instead of the giver of grace.

Unlike the Mitford series which is mostly fluff, the Dorsetville series digs into the questions that we all ask about the workings of God and faith..Where is God when tragedy strikes? How are we to find the faith that will help us to keep on believing when prayers go unanswered?

Besides being well written, the things that sets Dorsetville aside is that it leaves the ready with some deeply moving answers to some of the most difficult spiritual questions.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A "easy" read***inspirational, August 12, 2006

By 

Mary E. Wright "wrightmar" (Tehachapi CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Gathering of Angels (Paperback)

Karen Valentine's characters in this book are people I know!! Not really...but her book is lively and entertaining and quite inspirational. If you are looking for a book that challenges your spirituality gently this book is for you! I'd recommend it.