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A Change of Heart: A Harmony Novel
| Our Price |
$ 15.73
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| Retail Value |
$ 18.95 |
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$ 3.22 (17%) |
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| Item Number |
18116 |
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Item Description...
Book Description
Sam Gardner never dreamed he would be thanking God for Harmony's self-appointed general of the religious Right, Dale Hinshaw. God does indeed work in mysterious ways. Amanda Hodge, who has been living with her Uncle Ellis and Aunt Miriam since her parents abandoned her years ago, now faces their return and their desire to be a part of her life again. Dale Hinshaw hovers on the brink of death, in dire need of a heart transplant The whole town is abuzz as the beautiful Deena Morrison marries the town's most eligible bachelor, Dr. Pierce. And in the midst of these triumphs and tragedies, Pastor Sam Gardner helps the people of Harmony negotiate the sometimes rocky road of family life, faith, and forgiveness. Although Harmony's characters develop and grow with each novel, one thing remains constant -- Philip Gulley's ability to capture both the flavor of small-town America and the paradoxical beauty of our own humanity.
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Item Specifications...
Pages 256
Dimensions: Length: 8.3" Width: 5.5" Height: 0.8"
Weight: 0.9 lbs.
Release Date Jun 28, 2005
Publisher Harper Collins Publishers
ISBN 0060006366
EAN 9780060006365
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Availability 3 units.
Availability accurate as of Sep 07, 2010 05:29.
Usually ships within one to two business days from La Vergne, TN.
Orders shipping to an address other than a confirmed Credit Card / Paypal Billing address may incur and additional processing delay. |
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Reviews - What do our customers think?
 | Philip Gulley Oct 23, 2005 |
| Ahhhh, Philip Gulley...what can I say! He's terrific at walking me down memory lane! Sitting in the front porch swing or plunking down a dirt road dragging a fishing pole on a lazy autumn afternoon comes to mind every time I open one of his wonderfully heartwarming books. With his unique style of wit and wisdom, it's a great way to spend an entire day!! | | | | What a delighfully entertaining and thoroughly inspiring read! Oct 3, 2005 |
Philip Gulley is my favorite author, hands down. His Harmony novels are funny at all the right times and full to overflowing with Christian wisdom and gracious inspiration. "A Change of Heart" is no exception.
When I read "A Change of Heart", I devoured each chapter with a sense of eager anticipation as to where Gulley would go with the several stories contained within this one. Later I went back to the book and savored the brilliant writing more slowly. Both times, as with all of Philip Gulley's fine books, I was captured by the consistency of the characters and the truth of the stories therein.
Now about "A Change of Heart", I must admit, my dark side cursed dear Sam Gardner when he revived that strangely familiar character, Dale Hinshaw. And then I cursed Dale himself when he left his waitress a creative evangelical "tip" which fit his nature perfectly. I wonder why so many, like Dale, feel they have to be so sneaky about their gospel witnessing?
Anyway...the resurrection of Dale in "A Change of Heart" is a tale full of grace and of Sam's honest struggles in dealing with legalism in his midst. This story is a familiar one to me, as I too struggle to love those whom I hold dear...those well-intended souls who, like Dale, are blinded by the all-consuming flame of religious fundamentalism.
Anther plot that runs through "A Change of Heart" that was even more thought-provoking, was the story of Amanda Hodge. I found myself obsessing as to whether or not her no-good parents were really going to steal her back. I labored, just like the rest of Harmony, to really believe that her folks had changed. I remember Sam's musing, "I wonder what's harder...to change or to make people believe that you've changed." Good stuff.
Rest assured, not all of "A Change of Heart" is so gut-wrenching. You'll be delighted at each turn of events to find many a laugh-out-lound scene. One of my favorites is when Sam slathers tanning lotion on Barbara while they bask under the palm tree...no matter that it's all inside. Ha!
This, the long anticipated Wedding, and so much more, awaits the reader in this wonderful sixth Harmony novel. I highly recommend it. And, by the way, it makes for great family read-aloud time.
| | |  | Felt like "coming home" Aug 15, 2005 |
I was worried because it had been a while since I read the "Harmony" series but I shouldn't have. It didn't take long to fall into step with the "Harmony Townies". I truly missed them and Gulley didn't disappoint me. I loved the storyline
and was happy to connect again with my favorite characters. It was over far too quick. | | | | A Joy-Ride of a Novel! Aug 11, 2005 |
Get ready for a readable joy-ride in this installment of the Harmony series, A CHANGE OF HEART. Author Philip Gulley sets the drive on cruise control for his fifth offering --- humorous, low-key storytelling full of the characters you've come to love throughout the previous four full-length novels.
If you haven't picked up other books in the series, put it in "park," stop reading this review now, and go back and begin with HOME TO HARMONY. You'll acquire the needed context for the characters and an appreciation for just how much has changed in the little town of Harmony --- and how much remains the same.
Already up to speed? For those of you fans who have followed the series, this one opens with Pastor Sam Gardner celebrating five years at Harmony Friends Meeting, which is "about four years and eleven months longer than he'd predicted when he became their pastor." Sam prefers funerals to weddings --- "the guest of honor lay quietly, without a word of protest or advice, not worrying for one moment whether he'd forget the vows or she'd trip on her bridal gown." As always, he has his hands full with his quirky congregation. If you're a small-town churchgoer, you'll quickly recognize the personalities in the Harmony Friends meeting --- only the names will be different.
There are some small-town sorts of changes in the air. Dale Hinshaw, the curmudgeonly church member and thorn in the flesh for Sam, is threatening to leave the Quakers for the Baptists. Deena Morrison is getting ready to walk down the aisle with a handsome doctor, and Harmony has its first traffic light.
But the more things change in a small town, the more other things stay the same. Bob Miles, editor of the Harmony Herald, still pens his column, the "Bobservation Post," and dishes out all the local gossip --- true and untrue. Former Indiana Sausage Queen Nora Nagle continues working the checkout counter of Kivett's Five & Dime, waiting for the right man to come along. Sam's idea of an exotic date with his wife Barbara hasn't improved much --- this time it's sneaking over to the Holidome in Cartersburg to swim at the pool, eat bologna sandwiches and HoHos, and share a coke from the vending machine.
It's a laid-back, mellow read. There are a few bumps on the journey but no real controversies or upsets. In some previous novels, Gulley hasn't been afraid to open a few cans of worms (homosexuality and the church, doubt and the clergyman), but in this one there's not much readers could raise an eyebrow over, theology-wise. The major crisis in this novel revolves around Ellis and Miriam Hodge's adopted 16-year-old daughter, Amanda, and Ellis's ne'er-do-well brother, Ralph, and his wife. Ralph had "sold" Amanda to her uncle and aunt while addicted to the bottle, but now he's back, fresh from Alcoholics Anonymous and wanting to start a new life as a family. However, the tension never escalates much past a gentle concern. Gulley writes with plenty of points of view that switch back and forth throughout the book, but the transitions are as slick as an automatic transmission.
I've known Phil Gulley for years (in the interests of full disclosure, he used to date my sister, so I consider him "almost" family) and I grew up just a few miles from Danville, his hometown. When I read Gulley's novels, I recognize many of the places he's drawn from. In the tradition of all great storytellers (he's often compared to Garrison Keillor and Jan Karon), Gulley has a knack for drawing from true life and embroidering it to make excellent fiction (there's not much in Cartersburg except a fire station, for example). The ring of authenticity in his novels comes from his knowledge of Indiana small towns and the characters who populate them. If you visit Danville, Indiana --- Gulley's hometown --- you'll even be able to visit the walk-up Dairy Queen, the site of the "sprinkles shortage" that made headlines in his May 4, 2005 Harmony Herald newsletter (sign up for this monthly e-newsletter at www.harmonyherald.com) or see for yourself the town square and coffee shop that provides setting material for the novel.
But you don't need to go to Danville to recognize the setting or the characters. Anyone familiar with small-town Midwestern life and churches will feel an instant comfortable recognition with Harmony and Harmony Friends Meeting. A happy ending will leave Gulley fans satisfied and looking forward to the next installment.
Enjoy the ride!
--- Reviewed by Cindy Crosby | | | | More than you expect Aug 7, 2005 |
| This brings all the previous book together and leaves you open and waiting for the next. A great read. | | | Write your own review about A Change of Heart: A Harmony Novel
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