The Sister Circle (The Sister Circle Series #1) [Paperback]

Vonette Bright (Author), Nancy Moser (Author)

Book Description

The Sister Circle, book one of this charming contemporary series, introduces Peerbaugh Place, the quaint Victorian house that becomes a refuge to seven women of vastly different ages, personalities, and backgrounds. Through struggles and triumphs, the women forge a special bond of sisterhood. Readers will find their own place in the circle, gaining insight into their own spiritual gifts, as they laugh and cry with each of these women.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Sisterhood provides endless fodder for fiction, and when you combine this timeworn topic with the CBA market's current inclination to bring a nonfiction author and an up-and-coming novelist together to pen a series, some healthy skepticism is in order. In the first installment of the Sister Circle series, newly widowed 56-year-old Evelyn Peerbaugh must take in boarders to make ends meet. Her rooms fill up with a motley crew-Mae Fitzpatrick, an aging hippie who drives a old VW bug and runs a jewelry business called Silver-Wear; single mom Audra Taylor and her precocious five-year-old daughter, Summer; and the elderly Tessa Klein, a harsh Christian widow-described by Evelyn's horrified son Russell as "an overaged floozy, an unwed mother, an illegitimate child, and a judgmental grandma." Throw in her frequent visitors, and Evelyn is soon popping antacids like candy. Unfortunately, the plot is fairly hackneyed-there's the mandatory evangelical Christian conversion scene, and readers can see the groundwork being laid for predictable developments in future installments. The novel's strength is in its multifaceted and sometimes unexpected characterizations: Tessa, for example, though the only practicing Christian residing in the household, is also the least lovable character. Moser, as she did in The Seat Beside Me, showcases her ability to pull off multiple characters and points of view without losing the pacing of the story. However, like her previous book, this one suffers from some preachy passages in places where a more subtle touch might have proven more effective.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Bright and Moser's Sister Circle is the upbeat tale of widow Evelyn Peerbaugh, whose husband has left her only enough money for burial. Evelyn's conservative son points out that his mother isn't qualified to do much, and what's more, she's 55. Evelyn decides to open her house to boarders, who not very convincingly all turn out to be women of similar persuasions. These sisters in the Lord pray, share secrets, and cry together as in a hundred similar novels, many of which have been published by Tyndale; but certainly this one is unexceptionable, and slick. John Mort
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers (December 31, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0842371893
• ISBN-13: 978-0842371896
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 6.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,655,298 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Sisters Circle, July 30, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Sister Circle (The Sister Circle Series #1) (Paperback)

Again, the characters of this novel jump right off the page. The brillance of Nancy Moser being paired with the delightful Vonette Bright is just the RIGHT pairing for this series. God's hand is evident even there, just as it is in the story of these women who are brought together in extraordinary circumstances to meet unconventional expectations and situations. God-incidences indeed! Finishing the last page is a disappointment only because the next book in the series is not yet in my hands. Forget what the critics have to say about things being "too preachy"! Nancy and Vonette wrote what God has laid upon their hearts, and what women need to read/hear in order to be encouraged in their walk with the Lord. No one character in the book is 'perfect'; do you really know anyone who is? Other than the Lord Jesus, himself.

I, personally, look forward to every other book in this series and I hope there will be a lot. These gals (Moser & Bright) need to spend lots of time together in order to feed those of us out here who are hungry for every word. The idea of Sisters Circles being formed around the world, and linked by these books and the discussions that they breed is a delightful venture. I challenge anyone who reads this book not to WANT to be a part of a Sisters Circle herself/himself. Oops, maybe that's the next way Moser & Bright will go, bringing about a Brotherhood of Guys....who knows, but I know I want to be able to read it!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sister Circle Series, August 30, 2004

By 

Briony (United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Sister Circle (The Sister Circle Series #1) (Paperback)

I bought these books on a list recommendation - sometimes these are not to my taste but I got a winner here - I loved the entire series, they're well written, the characters are real and I found my own faith challenged in the process - I didn't want any of the books to end. Please can we have more!!!!

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Face Off With Some Real Women!, February 14, 2003

By 

Doug Raymond "Doug Raymond" (Belton, MO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Sister Circle (The Sister Circle Series #1) (Paperback)

Poor Evelyn Peerbaugh's ne'er-do-well husband has died and left her with nothing but a paid-off house and a few empty bedrooms--and just enough cash to bury him. I was a little angry at Evelyn when the story opened, for being so dumb as to let him get away with such a stunt. Cashing in all their life insurance and investing in one of his hair-brained schemes without her knowing about it? How could she be so trusting of the crum?

I got over her weakness soon enough, though, as she pulls her act together and opens a rooming house, taking in women with hardly a shred of evidence that they'll work out--but with a new-found confidence in her ability to make her own way in the world.
It's not long before each of eight females are forced to confront their own foibles--and each others--and learn to connect with each other in honest and challenging ways. In the end, Evelyn isn't the only one who's stretched and has reached new heights--every one of them is a changed person.

If you like stories about real women with unique, quirky personalities, assorted talents, and a propensity for good-hearted meddling in each other's lives, you'll enjoy The Sister Circle. I've read all of Moser's novels, and this one stands out for its finely tuned character development. None of these characters is even close to "perfect"--but we end up loving them all.