COME RAIN OR COME SHINE PDF, EPUB, EBOOK

Jan Karon | 290 pages | 05 May 2016 | Putnam Publishing Group,U.S. | 9780425278185 | English | United States Come Rain or Come Shine (Mitford Series #13) by Jan Karon, Paperback | Barnes & Noble®

In , Bette Midler sings the song in her film For the Boys and it is also featured in the movie's soundtrack. King and Eric Clapton recorded it for their collaborative album Riding with the King. In , Etta James included it on her Blue Gardenia album. Retrieved December 18, Retrieved June 2, Retrieved June 1, She would be there for Dooley completely. Dooley stopped and wiped the perspiration pearling on his forehead. You and Cynthia both. Thanks for everything. I want you to know we appreciate it. They were a start-up herd of five heifers with the self-determination of a vestry. It had taken a village to get them off the truck and through the open cattle gate. The hauler had left more room than needed between the trailer doors and the gate and so there went Willie and Harley, racing to head one off from the barn, and there was Lily brandishing her apron like a matador as another trotted toward the corn crib. He had stood by the trailer like a bump on a log, waiting for directions from Dooley. He did know. Knees stiff, harder to keep the weight down, the occasional diabetic flare-up. They worked for a time, silent. The buzzing of flies, a vagrant bee, the scent of grasses they were trampling. Nobody was talking about the honeymoon. That window over the front porch? Dooley laughed. Things were okay. Almost twenty-two, now, with a manager and a hot name on the pro pool circuit. He had loved Sammy as well as he knew how. Aged out? What was the language to be learned for being old? But he was sobered, too—by the big responsibilities that lay ahead. It was no dream anymore, it was the real deal. I look at you—always so patient. I can never be patient like you. Ambrose Bierce called patience a minor form of despair, disguised as a virtue. It was easy now to forget the fights and the tears, but still hard to forget the devastating disappointment that came nearly a year ago and the grieving that followed. A raw, new strength was born from that grief and for the first time they both understood that no matter what, they could do this. So the waiting had been a good thing, like a huge investment sufficient to pay out over a lifetime. Most important, the waiting had been worth it because she had lost the fear of surrendering her heart. For years, she had believed her strong will could be enough to make their relationship work. At one point, she decided her courage could be enough. And during one of her crazier phases she tried to believe that just being pretty, as some said she was, could be enough. But none of that was enough for the great journey they would be taking. She came to know this during his second year at vet school, after a long week of prayer and loneliness and weeping. She had surrendered her heart once before, when she was a kid, when Preacher Greer brought revival to the Creek. She had jumped down from the tree limb and Preacher Greer had prayed for her and she was warm for the first time in her life. To think that she must again surrender the core of her being was too much. Surely it was more than was needed to get by. He had come home to Mitford that last weekend of October—documented in her Dooley book for three long pages—and with an ease unlike any she might imagine, she had at last opened her heart to him completely. She remembered his weekend smell of a burger on the highway and his shampoo and his favorite jacket with the top button missing, all that, and his hands cold from the October wind. She had held him, unguarded and certain, and he looked at her and she knew that he understood. For days she had wanted to write a special word in the Dooley book, but things had been so crazy. She cleaned her brushes and went to the shelf and took down the once-blank book and let it fall open of its own accord. Some days, it fell open to the really good times. Now it fell open to the other times. We are always sorry about something with each other then we have to go back to school before we finish working things out. This is incredibly hard. Drove to the country and had no idea where I was going. Found a farm and climbed over the fence and set up my easel in the field. But people say we are so much alike— both of us with scary childhoods, both adopted by people who gave us everything, both working hard in school to prove whatever. It was our experiences that were alike. Our counselor who has a wood stove says any good fire is both. The counselor Olivia gives us lives near the grounds at school. But unless D comes here we have to do the sessions on the phone like a conference call. D definitely does not like to do this, but we know it is helping. Olivia says crying is good for nearly everything and she should know since she had a heart transplant before she and Hoppy were married. That will be your last name, they said, do you also want it for a middle name? And I said yes. I could not imagine O and H would keep me forever and if anything happened I would always have this special name. They kept loving me but I had a terrible fear of loving them back. I did everything I could to keep from loving them back. It was totally exhausting for all of us. All of it probably caused by regret that they had taken me in. It has felt like home to us for years. But I never tell anyone I would like to stay home. Beth dreams of a big job at Goldman-Sachs and Laurel wants to design cars. She says no way. D and I agree that four would be perfect. He helped raise his four sibs when he was little. He was ten years old and feeding them out of cans and then they all got scattered to the wind and all but Pooh were lost for years. We will never let scattering happen. She let the journal lie open in her lap. But the old stuff was good, too—it was a reminder. She was aware of another reminder—the pain which was so familiar she sometimes forgot it. She reached for the pills which she kept in a box on a shelf with the old Brittanicas, and swallowed one with a glass of water from their well. Meadowgate was a total commune right now. When the Owens moved out a month ago, she and Father Tim and Cynthia and Harley piled their belongings into three vehicles and moved into this rambling old house where everybody immediately went to work making things ready for June fourteenth, for the beginning of another life. Harley had been her true family when she lived at the Creek; he had been the best place to run when she needed to hide from her father. Not only had Harley protected her when he could, he had encouraged her passion for books and learning. She loved having family around, including Willie, who had his own little house on the place. He had been the main hand at Meadowgate for years and was always in and out with his weather predictions. Boiled red potatoes with chives and butter. A salad. And roast chicken with rosemary from the garden. Not two chickens, but three. She paged forward to a blank sheet in the Dooley book, took a deep breath and wrote the word. She returned the book to the shelf and hurried to the north-facing windows of the attic studio. In the far corner of the fence line, she saw them. Dooley and Father Tim were specks as they climbed into the truck. This would be a first. Back in the day, seersucker suits had been de rigueur for Mississippi summer weddings. She did run. All the way to the top of the house to the room Cynthia had called Heaven and claimed as her art studio while living at Meadowgate years ago. Right there! On just this apple at just this spot, this one simple thing. Oct 03, Trish rated it liked it. As a fan of the Mitford series, this book was an advanced purchase for me. That said, as much as I would like to give this book 5 stars, I can't. The story is good, the insight into beloved characters is great, but the total head hopping and frequent changes in point-of-view, left me constantly frustrated with exactly whose thoughts I was reading. It was almost as if this were a book of notes that had never been fully put together. The story is lovely. There are heart-warming moments, combined wi As a fan of the Mitford series, this book was an advanced purchase for me. There are heart-warming moments, combined with laughter, and still some of the angst that comes with broken lives. I just wish such a lovely story could have been told in a more cohesive fashion. Still recommend, it's an easy and quick read since I devoured it. But predict you'll be frustrated at times as well. View 2 comments. Oct 29, Cindy Rollins rated it really liked it Shelves: Escapist literature for the thinking Christian? Nothing truly great going on here but then why did I the tears come to my eyes several times while reading? These books make me feel like I am having a deep conversation with an old friend and they help me learn a little about small talk too. I was greatly moved by Pauline's attempts to apologize to her children. Just "I'm sorry," with no expectation of forgiveness. Very moving without the easy out which would have done us all a disservice. Kudos t Escapist literature for the thinking Christian? Kudos to Karon for avoiding that trap. Jul 03, Susan Snodgrass rated it it was amazing. I surely do wish I could give this book more than 5 stars! I was absolutely blessed to win an ARC of this wonderful book by submitting a recipe. It was such a delight to be able to read this 3 months early, let me tell you! Jan Karon takes us back to Mitford and Farmer in this tale. This book is Dooley and Lace's wedding. And what a wedding it is. Oh, my goodness! I don't have the ability to even begin to describe how much I adored this book. Seeing Father Tim is always a joy, hearing his thought I surely do wish I could give this book more than 5 stars! Seeing Father Tim is always a joy, hearing his thoughts and feelings a certain delight. My copy is now flagged and underlined so much! There are so many things I want to remember here, too. There is also some heartache, but these young folks have found a way to bring joy out of even that. When we first met Dooley as a youngster, he was not much to see. But with Father Tim and the Lord's help, Dooley is a fine and wonderfully upstanding young man. He graduates from vet school in this book and opens his practice which he bought from Hal at Meadowgate. He and Lace are only 2 weeks from their wedding. A potluck wedding! I loved hearing from old friends and new ones. Jan Karon tells a tale like no other. It's pure nourishment for the spirit, is Come Rain or Come Shine. As are all her other books. I am so sad for this book to end, but joyfully look forward I hope! My opinions are honest and my own. And I also loved the introduction of a great new character: Jack Taylor. A beautiful story! Three and a half stars I was so looking forward to getting back with all my friends at Mitford and was thrilled to bits to receive this book for Christmas from family. I knew it was about the wedding of Dooley Kavanagh and Lace Harper. In the aim of keeping it simple and costs down, Dooley and Lace plan to do things a little differently for their wedding. They plan a potluck wedding, with lots of people contributing. But simple can turn complicated when more people Three and a half stars I was so looking forward to getting back with all my friends at Mitford and was thrilled to bits to receive this book for Christmas from family. But simple can turn complicated when more people are involved. The countdown to the big day reveals stress, a few difficulties to be overcome and a few surprises. Add to this Dooley graduating and starting a new business and there was a lot going on in this book. It took me longer than it usually does to slip back into Mitford this time. Then it changes again in the next little bit. Once I got into the swing of the way it was written, it was easier. But initially it was hard to work out and hard to work out why the author had chosen to write it this way. If you are new to Mitford, this is definitely not the book to start with. You need to have read the earlier books to understand the dynamics of this town and its inhabitants. I know the main theme was the wedding but at times too I felt some situations were skimmed over too quickly. I did. Just not as much as the others read over many years and especially the one prior to this. Those of us who have read all the other Mitford books will settle into this one as well. There are moments of laughter and moments of tears as Mitford fan would expect and a sweet story underneath all the changing points of view. A good, heart-warming book though not quite up to the standard of some others about Mitford. But you can depend I will still be keen to read the next one in the series. Sep 08, Readnponder rated it liked it Shelves: first-reads. Everybody loves a wedding and the union of Dooley and Lace is no exception. However, the simple, at home affair -- complete with pot luck reception -- proves to be more complicated than first thought. Nevertheless, many readers will care about the details of me Everybody loves a wedding and the union of Dooley and Lace is no exception. Nevertheless, many readers will care about the details of menu, color scheme and choice of music. After all, they have watched Dooley grow up on the Mitford pages. This is a shorter book than most Mitford installments and focuses on a single event. Consequently, there is not much plot, and what is lacking in character development is made up in quantity. Although the guest list runs about 50 and we learn all their names , many friends from earlier books make a cameo appearance as well. Indeed, this thin volume contains more characters than a Russian novel. Technically, this book falls short of earlier Mitford tales. I found it to be choppy — jumping from scene to scene every few sentences. Particularly annoying were scenes which opened with pronouns. Father Tim? After reading further, I realized I had I. I hope that my confusion was the result of a digital galley and that the final print version will be clear for the reader. Those who have read the earlier books will not want to miss this reunion of old friends. Shelves: ebooks , library-book , read-in As other reviewers have mentioned, there were paragraphs were I had no clue as to who was speaking; there was a big build up to Lace's wedding dress and then nothing about when she finally got it; and Father Tim and Cynthia seemed to have a very small part in this book. I think the author tried to cram too much into this book what with Dooley graduating and taking Although I enjoyed reading about Dooley and Lace's wedding, I think this is the least favorite of the Mitford and Father Tim series. I think the author tried to cram too much into this book what with Dooley graduating and taking over the vet practice and farm, and the wedding and Jack Tyler, the charm of this series just seemed to be missing. I think part of my lack of interest in this book may be due to the fact that I actually read it instead of listening to the audiobook; most of the previous books I listened to John McDonough narrate and he added a whole new dimension to the books. Oct 03, C. This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I even pre-ordered Like all the other books in the series, I practically read it all in one sitting, BUT I just can't give this one 5 stars, or even 4 stars I like it, BUT I didn't recognize many of the names in this book, and in her writing this time , Karon jumped from person to person so quickly that I often had to go back and figure out whose head I was in now. It felt disjointed, and I missed seeing more of the story from Fr. Tim's point of view. It also seemed like she wrote it in such a way that doors were intentionally left open to write another book not complaining there , but unlike her other books, it made it feel like it wasn't quite a stand-alone story. And by tossing Dooley's mom into the mix at the end and having her be rejected by 2. Why bring it up now? But poor Henry's arrival finally! NOT having Puny at the wedding of Dooley??? What was that about? She wrote her out of the story by sending her to a family reunion! Missing key Mitford folks I had such high hopes, and while I'm hardly giving up on Mitford, I am so sad that this one is only a weak 3-star addition. Maybe next time Dec 22, Craftnut rated it it was ok Shelves: delightful-stories. Very disappointing. Having enjoyed all the previous Mitford series up to this one, I was looking forward to the wedding of Lace and Dooley. However, it seems that Ms Karon has run out of steam for this series, dashing off a disjointed series of thoughts and calling it a novel. The novel is a series of half-page to page-and-a-half views of a small scene leading up to a wedding, most of the time you don't even know who you are reading about. These vignettes start off with 'he' or 'she' did this or Very disappointing. These vignettes start off with 'he' or 'she' did this or that without identifying who it was. Sometimes 'he' was Dooley, sometimes Father Kavanaugh, sometimes someone else. It was too confusing, and slowed down the reading as you'd have to go start over once you realized that 'he' wasn't who you thought it was. The lovely descriptions that the reader has come to expect were missing - most notably the arduous search for a wedding dress yielded no real view of what the final dress was like. Sorry, but I cannot recommend this one, and I am sad about that. Ms Karon should have quit while she was ahead. Dec 16, Meg Ulmes rated it it was ok. Let me preface everything else I am about to say in this review with I have loved the Mitford series. Read each new book as soon as it came out and was sad when each novel ended. So, if you have loved Father Tim, his town, and his family and friends as well you may want to forgo this novel, or at least go into it with this caution--it is not like the rest of the books. I struggled to make myself finish this novel about Dooley and Lace's marriage. It is what I call an "and then" novel. Karon, in m Let me preface everything else I am about to say in this review with I have loved the Mitford series. Karon, in my opinion, spends her whole book telling you what happens--not showing you. There aren't the great stories and the unique conversations among characters-- at least very little. Events drag the first half of the book and then jet-speed to the wedding and conclusion. I did not find both my heart and mind engaged as I usually do with Karon's novels. I was really disappointed. Apr 23, Vannetta Chapman rated it it was amazing. What a lovely, lovely book. Yes, I know. I read the last first. But I will be going to find the others. Loved it. An awesome, clean read. Sep 20, Anne White rated it really liked it. My library already has copies of this, although it's still a couple of days away from official release, and I felt lucky to have gotten it into my book pile so quickly. I'm giving it four stars because I like most of the Mitford books, have reread several of them several times, and I thought Somewhere Safe was awesome. But this one wasn't quite up to the "best of Mitford" level--it's more like the Holly Springs book, has lots of people with small parts to play, but not as strong as some of the o My library already has copies of this, although it's still a couple of days away from official release, and I felt lucky to have gotten it into my book pile so quickly. But this one wasn't quite up to the "best of Mitford" level--it's more like the Holly Springs book, has lots of people with small parts to play, but not as strong as some of the others. I also have to say this: my friends who have fostered and adopted children might say that the ease with which the child in this book joins a new family may be a bit unrealistic. It seems almost ironic, considering how much difficulty other characters in the series have had in learning to trust and forgive after abandonment or abuse; but maybe because of that previous acknowledgment of how long it takes to heal, the presumption this time that the bad is over and there will be nothing but smooth sailing seems like too much of a fairy tale. It feels a bit like giving someone with a disability one of those Victorian novels about a child who's magically able to walk at the end And where's Coot Hendrick gotten to? Still, four stars. Aug 13, Nicki Conroy rated it it was amazing. I felt like I had watched Dooley and Lace grow up so to watch as they finally started their new life together as husband and wife was fantastic. I love having a series of books to read. Each new installment is like a family reunion with characters you only see once in a while. Best, in Mitford, there always seem to be small changes, just like real small town life After having read all the Mitford books and even plenty of Jan Karon's other books, I was so excited to pick up Come Rain or Come Shine. Best, in Mitford, there always seem to be small changes, just like real small town life. Now, Dooley is finally a vet. People have moved and Dooley and Lace are getting ready to become the occupants at Meadowgate. Dooley has bought Hal Owen's vet practice and a wedding is coming up. I laughed at the wedding being called The Big Knot. I actually loved everything about the wedding from it being a pot luck to Dooley's childhood friend Tommy having his band provide the music. Oct 15, Patty rated it it was ok. I never thought I would be disappointed in a Jan Karon book. This one was hard to read, simply because I had to guess who the character was in almost every paragraph. Pronouns were used, instead of the name. Very confusing. I loved this book so much that after I finished reading it the first time and turned back to page 1 and started reading it again. Ella Fitzgerald - Come Rain Or Come Shine Lyrics | MetroLyrics

She stepped away and squinted at the work. Clearly, she was faking it. She could not afford the time required to fake a painting, exercise or not. Somehow, she would make it work. Then maybe she could sell it. They needed money now, not just for the wedding, which would be really, really simple, but also for the upkeep of the property and payroll for Willie and Harley and the clinic employees. Irene had asked the price but she asked Irene to price it instead. She had blurted out the first thing that came to mind. At the same time, four hundred seemed overly modest. She felt awkward and gauche. Irene smiled. Twelve hundred. She had the sensation that she might fall backward, and held on to the chair where she was standing. The blood had beat in her again for the work she loved, the gorgeous work with its resinous smells and silken brushes and the restless play of light. She should stop now. Time was precious. She and Dooley were taking on too much, everyone said that except Father Tim and Cynthia. Father Tim and Cynthia gave them all the liberty they needed, expecting them to do their best. Harley was the biggest objector. Everybody brings food. People should be concentrating on the wedding, on getting the post in the ground for the new sign to be hung. The grand wedding and honeymoon that her parents, Hoppy and Olivia, had hoped to give them would have eclipsed everything, bull included. Olivia had come from a wealthy family. But the day she and Dooley went to tell them the plan, both Hoppy and Olivia had laughed with a kind of childlike delight. That had gone so much better than expected; she felt really grateful and later wrote them a long letter. But she and Dooley still had to tell Father Tim. Everyone knew he had trained the Seven Sisters vines to climb in a really special way on the arch, just for this day. It was the family church. She and Dooley had gone one evening to the yellow house. Cynthia had made spaghetti and later, they all sat by the fire in the study. Dooley jiggled his leg a lot and was finally able to say it. At Meadowgate. With family and a few friends. Father Tim had blinked and there was a long pause as if he were trying to absorb what he heard. She looked at Dooley, who was miserable. They had tried so hard to do everything right. Like taking seriously the statistics of a high divorce rate in vet school and the rigor of the courses. They had gone through four speeding tickets in as many years, two each, not to mention a huge stack of CDs. And now they both wanted to just be at home, please, God—at Meadowgate with family. Father Tim had smiled then, and nodded. So no Vera or Oscar or hair bound up in a chignon. She knew all about those beautiful, seductive things; she had spent years looking at dresses and hair styles and being a bridesmaid at glamorous weddings. Then for some reason she never expected, none of that mattered anymore. She had done it in her head over and over—the shoes, the jewelry, the music; she had walked down the aisle a thousand times and saw heads turning and heard the little gasps of approval. She felt a new kind of joy in knowing that she and Dooley would have something more wonderful than the grand wedding, the awesome honeymoon, the lingerie as ephemeral as mist. She and Dooley had dug deep to wait through the last years of college and vet school. How would she direct herself while he focused on academics? While Dooley was on a totally defined path, she was constantly trying to figure things out in a wandering sort of way. She adored Hoppy and Olivia, who had given her everything including their name and their amazing love, but the answer was no and so there she went again, wandering like an Israelite. What saved her in these final couple of years was teaching art to children at a non-profit in Chapel Hill, where she moved to be near Dooley. She had learned more from them than she could ever teach. It had been, in some ways, the time of her life, and she had loved each of them fiercely. Perhaps she would teach again one day. But what she wanted now was to work with Dooley in the clinic. Though it was an established vet practice of thirty-five years, the changeover would be big and how they handled it would be important. She would be there for Dooley completely. Dooley stopped and wiped the perspiration pearling on his forehead. You and Cynthia both. Thanks for everything. I want you to know we appreciate it. They were a start-up herd of five heifers with the self-determination of a vestry. It had taken a village to get them off the truck and through the open cattle gate. The hauler had left more room than needed between the trailer doors and the gate and so there went Willie and Harley, racing to head one off from the barn, and there was Lily brandishing her apron like a matador as another trotted toward the corn crib. He had stood by the trailer like a bump on a log, waiting for directions from Dooley. He did know. Knees stiff, harder to keep the weight down, the occasional diabetic flare-up. They worked for a time, silent. The buzzing of flies, a vagrant bee, the scent of grasses they were trampling. Nobody was talking about the honeymoon. That window over the front porch? Dooley laughed. Things were okay. Almost twenty-two, now, with a manager and a hot name on the pro pool circuit. He had loved Sammy as well as he knew how. Aged out? What was the language to be learned for being old? But he was sobered, too— by the big responsibilities that lay ahead. It was no dream anymore, it was the real deal. I look at you—always so patient. I can never be patient like you. Ambrose Bierce called patience a minor form of despair, disguised as a virtue. It was easy now to forget the fights and the tears, but still hard to forget the devastating disappointment that came nearly a year ago and the grieving that followed. A raw, new strength was born from that grief and for the first time they both understood that no matter what, they could do this. So the waiting had been a good thing, like a huge investment sufficient to pay out over a lifetime. Most important, the waiting had been worth it because she had lost the fear of surrendering her heart. For years, she had believed her strong will could be enough to make their relationship work. At one point, she decided her courage could be enough. And during one of her crazier phases she tried to believe that just being pretty, as some said she was, could be enough. But none of that was enough for the great journey they would be taking. She came to know this during his second year at vet school, after a long week of prayer and loneliness and weeping. She had surrendered her heart once before, when she was a kid, when Preacher Greer brought revival to the Creek. She had jumped down from the tree limb and Preacher Greer had prayed for her and she was warm for the first time in her life. To think that she must again surrender the core of her being was too much. Surely it was more than was needed to get by. He had come home to Mitford that last weekend of October—documented in her Dooley book for three long pages—and with an ease unlike any she might imagine, she had at last opened her heart to him completely. She remembered his weekend smell of a burger on the highway and his shampoo and his favorite jacket with the top button missing, all that, and his hands cold from the October wind. These books make the perfect escape. I love them dearly. But, her writing is also a joy to read. Her descriptions are unique and folksy, and fit perfectly with each scene and character. She weaves minor story lines through the major plot so well that, like a braided rope, the main story line is stronger, better, because it is the sum of all its parts. Which leads me to wonder, did Ms. Karon really write Come Rain or Come Shine? Although I loved attending the wedding, from the very first page I could not shake the feeling that this was not typical Jan Karon writing. Perhaps it is the transition from Father Tim to Lace and Dooley as the main characters, changing the voice of the narrative, that bothered me. Here, it seemed weak and watered down. A number of stories hinted at here were nothing more than a tease. In the earlier books, the subplots would have been fully realized, satisfying. Here, I was left wanting more. And Lace. There is little remnant there of the girl she used to be. I was waiting for an outburst of Creek-speak from her, something to let us know that she is still Lace. Or some other connection to her past life. Although her history is talked about, it is only that, talked about. There is little evidence of the Lace that we love. He was there, inserted just enough times to perhaps convince the reader he was still there, but he and Cynthia were side stories. I know it is time for him to move on, I know it is time for Dooley and Lace to take over. But Father Tim is not dead yet! I know that because of time — we are all getting older — the story needs to be passed to Dooley and Lace. But I feel cheated. There are 8 years unaccounted for in this novel. Oh, and Barnabas. I wonder if the publisher coerced Ms. Karon to jump ahead to Dooley and Lace's story in order to cultivate a new, a younger, audience. That's what it feels like to this reader. If that's the case, then Ms. Karon's long time readers have been summarily dismissed, along with many of the residents of Mitford. Karon usually wields so deftly, and the plot lacks the depth of the previous novels. I enjoyed being at the wedding, but I felt like a distant relation instead of part of the family. If you love Mitford, you will love this novel anyway. It is worth the read. View all 4 comments. I loved reading them years and years ago, but I liked listening to the first ones on tape, yes tape, because Jan Karon herself actually narrated them. And she read them good, but of course she is the author and knows how each person should sound : In this book Dooley is graduating vet school, taking on Hal's vet and farm, and getting married! I remember when he was just a hooligan of a kid trying to make it through the www. I remember when he was just a hooligan of a kid trying to make it through the days as his home life was not that good. He was a spitfire, but Father Tim took him on. And now look at him! Wow, time surely flies, even in the book world. The story is so sweet with all the characters coming to the farm to help Dooley and Lace get ready for the wedding. Lace and Dooley used to butt heads all of the time growing up because she had troubles too. And now they are getting married, there are some other surprises that happen but I don't want to spoil it. Not only did Dooley take on the vet and farm, which is where they live as well, Dooley bought a bull named Choo-Choo for his cattle he's taking on. I got a good laugh out of ole Choo-Choo through-out he book. He made a surprise appearance at the wedding, that was at the farm anyway, and brought some of his lady friends. The only one that could actually pet him was Lace, she said she understood him, he would eat from her hand. It's just a male thing I think : Anyway, the story was beautiful and I'm glad I got to take a step back to a kinder place for a bit. I also love the cover of the book. View all 10 comments. Jul 07, Debbie rated it it was ok Shelves: net-galley-books , ebooks. This was an okay book for me. It was a little too spiritual for me, but the story, I think, was good. My main complaint about the whole thing was the fact that the author would start a paragraph or a chapter and say he or she. There were about a dozen or so characters in this story. I had no idea which he or she it was. Or it would be Reverend. There were two Reverends. It was pretty frustrating. At one point in the book the groom had two sets of parents there. Then it would be mom or dad, which This was an okay book for me. Then it would be mom or dad, which one? Say a name!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I obviously became VERY frustrated and because of that did not really enjoy the book as much as one typically could. I would be reading, having absolutely no idea who I was reading about, unless the author decided to give me some type of clue in the following paragraphs. I gave this 2. And that surprises me because I know this author has written several other books. I'm not sure if its the editing or what, but as this was my first by her, I was not impressed. May 18, Laura rated it really liked it Shelves: contemporary-christian-fiction , audiobook , read , read I have a confession: I was never a big reader, until I read Jan Karon's first novel in her Mitford series. After that, you could say, " I was hooked. In Karon's latest book, Come Rain or Come Shine, I eagerly wanted to devour it and yell from the rooftops that I loved it, but, for much of the novel, I spent my time feeling more disappointed than pleased. Several reviews have pointed out the lack of fluidit I have a confession: I was never a big reader, until I read Jan Karon's first novel in her Mitford series. Several reviews have pointed out the lack of fluidity between characters point of views, or how many readers would not understand the depth of meaning, as certain scenes took place, unless you had read the previous novels. Although I don't feel giddy happy after reading this novel and even though I too, found the writing style to be lacking in some ways, every so often a glimpse or feeling from the previous books would pop out and make me smile and keep me turning the pages. Many "strings" were tied up with this novel and it truly was a warm and cozy read. I think I just missed the old characters and the story being focused on Father Tim. Now that I have turned the last page though, I am very happy I read it. View all 22 comments. Sep 01, Camie rated it really liked it. I'm always happy to venture back to Jan Karon's bestselling Mitford series where Father Tim Kavananah and his wife Cynthia set about keeping the peace in this small well imagined Southern town of colorful and well loved characters. This is book 13 and everyone's here, reunited to celebrate the long awaited marriage of Dooley and Lace both of whom we've watched grow up at Meadowgate Farm. This is not a great literary work but as always Karon's books are something like comfort food for those of I'm always happy to venture back to Jan Karon's bestselling Mitford series where Father Tim Kavananah and his wife Cynthia set about keeping the peace in this small well imagined Southern town of colorful and well loved characters. This is not a great literary work but as always Karon's books are something like comfort food for those of us who long for a kinder , more gentle life , where the biggest problem of the day may be how to resist Ester Bollick's famously delicious Orange Marmalade cake or if too many folks will decide to bring deviled eggs to the potluck. Aug 28, Julie Durnell rated it liked it. An unfair rating actually because of my own foolish choice when I haven't read any of the Mitford series and was totally lost; although I did finish it. I have read the first of the Father Tim series and thought this was the second one in that series-wrong! View all 5 comments. Oct 03, Trish rated it liked it. As a fan of the Mitford series, this book was an advanced purchase for me. That said, as much as I would like to give this book 5 stars, I can't. The story is good, the insight into beloved characters is great, but the total head hopping and frequent changes in point-of-view, left me constantly frustrated with exactly whose thoughts I was reading. It was almost as if this were a book of notes that had never been fully put together. The story is lovely. There are heart-warming moments, combined wi As a fan of the Mitford series, this book was an advanced purchase for me. There are heart-warming moments, combined with laughter, and still some of the angst that comes with broken lives. I just wish such a lovely story could have been told in a more cohesive fashion. Still recommend, it's an easy and quick read since I devoured it. But predict you'll be frustrated at times as well. View 2 comments. Oct 29, Cindy Rollins rated it really liked it Shelves: Escapist literature for the thinking Christian? Nothing truly great going on here but then why did I the tears come to my eyes several times while reading? These books make me feel like I am having a deep conversation with an old friend and they help me learn a little about small talk too. I was greatly moved by Pauline's attempts to apologize to her children. Just "I'm sorry," with no expectation of forgiveness. Very moving without the easy out which would have done us all a disservice. Kudos t Escapist literature for the thinking Christian? Kudos to Karon for avoiding that trap. Jul 03, Susan Snodgrass rated it it was amazing. I surely do wish I could give this book more than 5 stars! I was absolutely blessed to win an ARC of this wonderful book by submitting a recipe. It was such a delight to be able to read this 3 months early, let me tell you! Jan Karon takes us back to Mitford and Farmer in this tale. This book is Dooley and Lace's wedding. And what a wedding it is. Oh, my goodness! I don't have the ability to even begin to describe how much I adored this book. Seeing Father Tim is always a joy, hearing his thought I surely do wish I could give this book more than 5 stars! Seeing Father Tim is always a joy, hearing his thoughts and feelings a certain delight. My copy is now flagged and underlined so much! There are so many things I want to remember here, too. There is also some heartache, but these young folks have found a way to bring joy out of even that. When we first met Dooley as a youngster, he was not much to see. But with Father Tim and the Lord's help, Dooley is a fine and wonderfully upstanding young man. He graduates from vet school in this book and opens his practice which he bought from Hal at Meadowgate. He and Lace are only 2 weeks from their wedding. A potluck wedding! I loved hearing from old friends and new ones. Jan Karon tells a tale like no other. It's pure nourishment for the spirit, is Come Rain or Come Shine. As are all her other books. I am so sad for this book to end, but joyfully look forward I hope! My opinions are honest and my own. And I also loved the introduction of a great new character: Jack Taylor. A beautiful story! Three and a half stars I was so looking forward to getting back with all my friends at Mitford and was thrilled to bits to receive this book for Christmas from family. I knew it was about the wedding of Dooley Kavanagh and Lace Harper. In the aim of keeping it simple and costs down, Dooley and Lace plan to do things a little differently for their wedding. They plan a potluck wedding, with lots of people contributing. But simple can turn complicated when more people Three and a half stars I was so looking forward to getting back with all my friends at Mitford and was thrilled to bits to receive this book for Christmas from family. But simple can turn complicated when more people are involved. The countdown to the big day reveals stress, a few difficulties to be overcome and a few surprises. Add to this Dooley graduating and starting a new business and there was a lot going on in this book. It took me longer than it usually does to slip back into Mitford this time. Then it changes again in the next little bit. Once I got into the swing of the way it was written, it was easier. But initially it was hard to work out and hard to work out why the author had chosen to write it this way. If you are new to Mitford, this is definitely not the book to start with. You need to have read the earlier books to understand the dynamics of this town and its inhabitants. I know the main theme was the wedding but at times too I felt some situations were skimmed over too quickly. I did. Just not as much as the others read over many years and especially the one prior to this. Those of us who have read all the other Mitford books will settle into this one as well. There are moments of laughter and moments of tears as Mitford fan would expect and a sweet story underneath all the changing points of view. A good, heart-warming book though not quite up to the standard of some others about Mitford. But you can depend I will still be keen to read the next one in the series. Sep 08, Readnponder rated it liked it Shelves: first-reads. Everybody loves a wedding and the union of Dooley and Lace is no exception. However, the simple, at home affair -- complete with pot luck reception -- proves to be more complicated than first thought. Nevertheless, many readers will care about the details of me Everybody loves a wedding and the union of Dooley and Lace is no exception. Nevertheless, many readers will care about the details of menu, color scheme and choice of music. After all, they have watched Dooley grow up on the Mitford pages. This is a shorter book than most Mitford installments and focuses on a single event. Consequently, there is not much plot, and what is lacking in character development is made up in quantity. Although the guest list runs about 50 and we learn all their names , many friends from earlier books make a cameo appearance as well. In , Fran Warren included it on her album Mood Indigo. In , Joe Pass included it on his album Virtuoso No. In , Bette Midler sings the song in her film For the Boys and it is also featured in the movie's soundtrack. King and Eric Clapton recorded it for their collaborative album Riding with the King. In , Etta James included it on her Blue Gardenia album. Retrieved December 18, Come Rain or Come Shine - Wikipedia

Namespaces Article Talk. Views Read Edit View history. Help Learn to edit Community portal Recent changes Upload file. Download as PDF Printable version. This s song-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. If you are new to Mitford, this is definitely not the book to start with. You need to have read the earlier books to understand the dynamics of this town and its inhabitants. I know the main theme was the wedding but at times too I felt some situations were skimmed over too quickly. I did. Just not as much as the others read over many years and especially the one prior to this. Those of us who have read all the other Mitford books will settle into this one as well. There are moments of laughter and moments of tears as Mitford fan would expect and a sweet story underneath all the changing points of view. A good, heart-warming book though not quite up to the standard of some others about Mitford. But you can depend I will still be keen to read the next one in the series. Sep 08, Readnponder rated it liked it Shelves: first-reads. Everybody loves a wedding and the union of Dooley and Lace is no exception. However, the simple, at home affair -- complete with pot luck reception -- proves to be more complicated than first thought. Nevertheless, many readers will care about the details of me Everybody loves a wedding and the union of Dooley and Lace is no exception. Nevertheless, many readers will care about the details of menu, color scheme and choice of music. After all, they have watched Dooley grow up on the Mitford pages. This is a shorter book than most Mitford installments and focuses on a single event. Consequently, there is not much plot, and what is lacking in character development is made up in quantity. Although the guest list runs about 50 and we learn all their names , many friends from earlier books make a cameo appearance as well. Indeed, this thin volume contains more characters than a Russian novel. Technically, this book falls short of earlier Mitford tales. I found it to be choppy — jumping from scene to scene every few sentences. Particularly annoying were scenes which opened with pronouns. Father Tim? After reading further, I realized I had I. I hope that my confusion was the result of a digital galley and that the final print version will be clear for the reader. Those who have read the earlier books will not want to miss this reunion of old friends. Shelves: ebooks , library-book , read- in As other reviewers have mentioned, there were paragraphs were I had no clue as to who was speaking; there was a big build up to Lace's wedding dress and then nothing about when she finally got it; and Father Tim and Cynthia seemed to have a very small part in this book. I think the author tried to cram too much into this book what with Dooley graduating and taking Although I enjoyed reading about Dooley and Lace's wedding, I think this is the least favorite of the Mitford and Father Tim series. I think the author tried to cram too much into this book what with Dooley graduating and taking over the vet practice and farm, and the wedding and Jack Tyler, the charm of this series just seemed to be missing. I think part of my lack of interest in this book may be due to the fact that I actually read it instead of listening to the audiobook; most of the previous books I listened to John McDonough narrate and he added a whole new dimension to the books. Oct 03, C. This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I even pre-ordered Like all the other books in the series, I practically read it all in one sitting, BUT I just can't give this one 5 stars, or even 4 stars I like it, BUT I didn't recognize many of the names in this book, and in her writing this time , Karon jumped from person to person so quickly that I often had to go back and figure out whose head I was in now. It felt disjointed, and I missed seeing more of the story from Fr. Tim's point of view. It also seemed like she wrote it in such a way that doors were intentionally left open to write another book not complaining there , but unlike her other books, it made it feel like it wasn't quite a stand-alone story. And by tossing Dooley's mom into the mix at the end and having her be rejected by 2. Why bring it up now? But poor Henry's arrival finally! NOT having Puny at the wedding of Dooley??? What was that about? She wrote her out of the story by sending her to a family reunion! Missing key Mitford folks I had such high hopes, and while I'm hardly giving up on Mitford, I am so sad that this one is only a weak 3-star addition. Maybe next time Dec 22, Craftnut rated it it was ok Shelves: delightful-stories. Very disappointing. Having enjoyed all the previous Mitford series up to this one, I was looking forward to the wedding of Lace and Dooley. However, it seems that Ms Karon has run out of steam for this series, dashing off a disjointed series of thoughts and calling it a novel. The novel is a series of half-page to page-and-a-half views of a small scene leading up to a wedding, most of the time you don't even know who you are reading about. These vignettes start off with 'he' or 'she' did this or Very disappointing. These vignettes start off with 'he' or 'she' did this or that without identifying who it was. Sometimes 'he' was Dooley, sometimes Father Kavanaugh, sometimes someone else. It was too confusing, and slowed down the reading as you'd have to go start over once you realized that 'he' wasn't who you thought it was. The lovely descriptions that the reader has come to expect were missing - most notably the arduous search for a wedding dress yielded no real view of what the final dress was like. Sorry, but I cannot recommend this one, and I am sad about that. Ms Karon should have quit while she was ahead. Dec 16, Meg Ulmes rated it it was ok. Let me preface everything else I am about to say in this review with I have loved the Mitford series. Read each new book as soon as it came out and was sad when each novel ended. So, if you have loved Father Tim, his town, and his family and friends as well you may want to forgo this novel, or at least go into it with this caution--it is not like the rest of the books. I struggled to make myself finish this novel about Dooley and Lace's marriage. It is what I call an "and then" novel. Karon, in m Let me preface everything else I am about to say in this review with I have loved the Mitford series. Karon, in my opinion, spends her whole book telling you what happens--not showing you. There aren't the great stories and the unique conversations among characters--at least very little. Events drag the first half of the book and then jet-speed to the wedding and conclusion. I did not find both my heart and mind engaged as I usually do with Karon's novels. I was really disappointed. Apr 23, Vannetta Chapman rated it it was amazing. What a lovely, lovely book. Yes, I know. I read the last first. But I will be going to find the others. Loved it. An awesome, clean read. Sep 20, Anne White rated it really liked it. My library already has copies of this, although it's still a couple of days away from official release, and I felt lucky to have gotten it into my book pile so quickly. I'm giving it four stars because I like most of the Mitford books, have reread several of them several times, and I thought Somewhere Safe was awesome. But this one wasn't quite up to the "best of Mitford" level--it's more like the Holly Springs book, has lots of people with small parts to play, but not as strong as some of the o My library already has copies of this, although it's still a couple of days away from official release, and I felt lucky to have gotten it into my book pile so quickly. But this one wasn't quite up to the "best of Mitford" level--it's more like the Holly Springs book, has lots of people with small parts to play, but not as strong as some of the others. I also have to say this: my friends who have fostered and adopted children might say that the ease with which the child in this book joins a new family may be a bit unrealistic. It seems almost ironic, considering how much difficulty other characters in the series have had in learning to trust and forgive after abandonment or abuse; but maybe because of that previous acknowledgment of how long it takes to heal, the presumption this time that the bad is over and there will be nothing but smooth sailing seems like too much of a fairy tale. It feels a bit like giving someone with a disability one of those Victorian novels about a child who's magically able to walk at the end And where's Coot Hendrick gotten to? Still, four stars. Aug 13, Nicki Conroy rated it it was amazing. I felt like I had watched Dooley and Lace grow up so to watch as they finally started their new life together as husband and wife was fantastic. I love having a series of books to read. Each new installment is like a family reunion with characters you only see once in a while. Best, in Mitford, there always seem to be small changes, just like real small town life After having read all the Mitford books and even plenty of Jan Karon's other books, I was so excited to pick up Come Rain or Come Shine. Best, in Mitford, there always seem to be small changes, just like real small town life. Now, Dooley is finally a vet. People have moved and Dooley and Lace are getting ready to become the occupants at Meadowgate. Dooley has bought Hal Owen's vet practice and a wedding is coming up. I laughed at the wedding being called The Big Knot. I actually loved everything about the wedding from it being a pot luck to Dooley's childhood friend Tommy having his band provide the music. Oct 15, Patty rated it it was ok. I never thought I would be disappointed in a Jan Karon book. This one was hard to read, simply because I had to guess who the character was in almost every paragraph. Pronouns were used, instead of the name. Very confusing. I loved this book so much that after I finished reading it the first time and turned back to page 1 and started reading it again. Aug 17, Ellen rated it really liked it. I mean, I signed up as an educator to review books for school. I never expected them to let me see pre-released copies of my favorite book series. So, maybe my expectations were too high. Maybe I was too adversely affected by all the errors they let through so people aren't tempted to keep the ARCs instead of buying the real thing. I had a tough time reading this. Don't get me wrong, the story is great. We still get to see Dooley and Lace get married and somehow Karon manages to have every last one of our favorite characters pop in for at least an honorable mention. It's worth it just for that. Here's where I had trouble though. First, I'm a little too used to Father Tim being the first voice of the story. It took some getting used to for Lace to be the voice I was hearing. Second, I really dislike the use of "dear diary" as a literary device. The pre-wedding stuff dragged on with it. I missed dialog. Please let me hear the characters talk to each other. So much of the story was one person thinking, then another, then another Finally, and this was probably the most irksome, as the story goes on and we pop in and out of people's heads hearing their thoughts, I often didn't know who it was I was listening to until well into the page. Then, upon discovering who it was that was "talking," I had to go back and read that section over again. This stop-and-start reading makes it hard to lose oneself in the story. I truly hope that this was a result of the ARC reading experience. I've already pre-ordered the real thing on audio so I can hear if John McDonough helps me make more sense of all the character's voices with the final edits. I don't want to dissuade anyone from reading this most excellent series. Once I've listened to the published version, I will be sure to update my review. Nevertheless, the moments are unforgettable and adds more precious memories in Mitford. I will visit again. Oct 04, Lesa rated it really liked it Shelves: women-s-fiction , family-relationships , inspiration , fiction. Anyone who read the early books in the series will remember Dooley. Now, after all these years, Dooley is finishing vet school and getting married. Dooley and Lacey want a small, simple country wedding, but in a community where everyone knows them, t It's been a while since I read one of Jan Karon's Mitford novels, but when I read the summary of her latest, Come Rain or Come Shine, I was eager to pick it up. Dooley and Lacey want a small, simple country wedding, but in a community where everyone knows them, that's difficult. And, the schedule is formidable. First Dooley must graduate. Then, he's moving home, taking over the local veterinarian practice. Dooley's first bull for his small herd is arriving. The barn must be cleaned out, grass grown, food prepared. Lacey doesn't have a wedding dress. And, of course, there will be unexpected guests and surprises. A simple country wedding. The writing style in Come Rain or Come Shine does not make it an easy book to read. It takes a little bit of time as Karon switches viewpoints from Father Tim to Lacey to Dooley without revealing who is speaking or thinking. Once the reader falls into the rhythm of the book and the storytelling, it flows through the days leading up to the wedding or the "Big Knot" as it's called. Come Rain or Come Shine is a heartwarming, homespun story. Fans of the earlier books will be pleased to see the characters come together at the wedding. They'll rejoice with Dooley and Lacey on the joyous day. There's humor throughout the book, even during the wedding. But, there's also time for reflection and introspection for Father Tim, Dooley and Lacey. Fans of the Mitford series will find themselves crying and laughing over the latest episodes in this beloved saga. Who knows whether this is the last in the series? It could end on this hopeful note, or there are characters whose stories could continue. No matter what, Come Rain or Come Shine is a triumphant culmination for a long-running, well-loved series. Aug 14, Deb Stern rated it it was amazing. I was so lucky to win an advanced copy from Penquin First to Read. I had just started the one prior in the series, Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good. I loved that one and was so happy to be able to move on to this one. I am not a religious person and do not typically read religious based books. I go more for the gritty WWII historical fiction. However, Jan Karon has created the most endearing characters. I want to move to Mitford and meet these wonderfully flawed, but most lovable people. I list I was so lucky to win an advanced copy from Penquin First to Read. Irene had asked the price but she asked Irene to price it instead. She had blurted out the first thing that came to mind. At the same time, four hundred seemed overly modest. She felt awkward and gauche. Irene smiled. Twelve hundred. She had the sensation that she might fall backward, and held on to the chair where she was standing. The blood had beat in her again for the work she loved, the gorgeous work with its resinous smells and silken brushes and the restless play of light. She should stop now. Time was precious. She and Dooley were taking on too much, everyone said that except Father Tim and Cynthia. Father Tim and Cynthia gave them all the liberty they needed, expecting them to do their best. Harley was the biggest objector. Everybody brings food. People should be concentrating on the wedding, on getting the post in the ground for the new sign to be hung. The grand wedding and honeymoon that her parents, Hoppy and Olivia, had hoped to give them would have eclipsed everything, bull included. Olivia had come from a wealthy family. But the day she and Dooley went to tell them the plan, both Hoppy and Olivia had laughed with a kind of childlike delight. That had gone so much better than expected; she felt really grateful and later wrote them a long letter. But she and Dooley still had to tell Father Tim. Everyone knew he had trained the Seven Sisters vines to climb in a really special way on the arch, just for this day. It was the family church. She and Dooley had gone one evening to the yellow house. Cynthia had made spaghetti and later, they all sat by the fire in the study. Dooley jiggled his leg a lot and was finally able to say it. At Meadowgate. With family and a few friends. Father Tim had blinked and there was a long pause as if he were trying to absorb what he heard. She looked at Dooley, who was miserable. They had tried so hard to do everything right. Like taking seriously the statistics of a high divorce rate in vet school and the rigor of the courses. They had gone through four speeding tickets in as many years, two each, not to mention a huge stack of CDs. And now they both wanted to just be at home, please, God—at Meadowgate with family. Father Tim had smiled then, and nodded. So no Vera or Oscar or hair bound up in a chignon. She knew all about those beautiful, seductive things; she had spent years looking at dresses and hair styles and being a bridesmaid at glamorous weddings. Then for some reason she never expected, none of that mattered anymore. She had done it in her head over and over—the shoes, the jewelry, the music; she had walked down the aisle a thousand times and saw heads turning and heard the little gasps of approval. She felt a new kind of joy in knowing that she and Dooley would have something more wonderful than the grand wedding, the awesome honeymoon, the lingerie as ephemeral as mist. She and Dooley had dug deep to wait through the last years of college and vet school. How would she direct herself while he focused on academics? While Dooley was on a totally defined path, she was constantly trying to figure things out in a wandering sort of way. She adored Hoppy and Olivia, who had given her everything including their name and their amazing love, but the answer was no and so there she went again, wandering like an Israelite. What saved her in these final couple of years was teaching art to children at a non-profit in Chapel Hill, where she moved to be near Dooley. She had learned more from them than she could ever teach. It had been, in some ways, the time of her life, and she had loved each of them fiercely. Perhaps she would teach again one day. But what she wanted now was to work with Dooley in the clinic. Though it was an established vet practice of thirty-five years, the changeover would be big and how they handled it would be important. She would be there for Dooley completely. Dooley stopped and wiped the perspiration pearling on his forehead. You and Cynthia both. Thanks for everything. I want you to know we appreciate it. They were a start-up herd of five heifers with the self-determination of a vestry. It had taken a village to get them off the truck and through the open cattle gate. The hauler had left more room than needed between the trailer doors and the gate and so there went Willie and Harley, racing to head one off from the barn, and there was Lily brandishing her apron like a matador as another trotted toward the corn crib. He had stood by the trailer like a bump on a log, waiting for directions from Dooley. He did know. Knees stiff, harder to keep the weight down, the occasional diabetic flare-up. They worked for a time, silent. The buzzing of flies, a vagrant bee, the scent of grasses they were trampling. Nobody was talking about the honeymoon. That window over the front porch? Dooley laughed. Things were okay. Almost twenty-two, now, with a manager and a hot name on the pro pool circuit. He had loved Sammy as well as he knew how. Aged out? What was the language to be learned for being old? But he was sobered, too—by the big responsibilities that lay ahead. It was no dream anymore, it was the real deal. I look at you—always so patient. I can never be patient like you. Ambrose Bierce called patience a minor form of despair, disguised as a virtue. It was easy now to forget the fights and the tears, but still hard to forget the devastating disappointment that came nearly a year ago and the grieving that followed. A raw, new strength was born from that grief and for the first time they both understood that no matter what, they could do this. So the waiting had been a good thing, like a huge investment sufficient to pay out over a lifetime. Most important, the waiting had been worth it because she had lost the fear of surrendering her heart. For years, she had believed her strong will could be enough to make their relationship work. At one point, she decided her courage could be enough. And during one of her crazier phases she tried to believe that just being pretty, as some said she was, could be enough. But none of that was enough for the great journey they would be taking. She came to know this during his second year at vet school, after a long week of prayer and loneliness and weeping. She had surrendered her heart once before, when she was a kid, when Preacher Greer brought revival to the Creek. She had jumped down from the tree limb and Preacher Greer had prayed for her and she was warm for the first time in her life. To think that she must again surrender the core of her being was too much. Surely it was more than was needed to get by. He had come home to Mitford that last weekend of October— documented in her Dooley book for three long pages—and with an ease unlike any she might imagine, she had at last opened her heart to him completely. She remembered his weekend smell of a burger on the highway and his shampoo and his favorite jacket with the top button missing, all that, and his hands cold from the October wind. She had held him, unguarded and certain, and he looked at her and she knew that he understood. For days she had wanted to write a special word in the Dooley book, but things had been so crazy. She cleaned her brushes and went to the shelf and took down the once-blank book and let it fall open of its own accord. Some days, it fell open to the really good times. Now it fell open to the other times. We are always sorry about something with each other then we have to go back to school before we finish working things out.

Come Rain or Come Shine (Mitford Years, #13) by Jan Karon

I remember when he was just a hooligan of a kid trying to make it through the days as his home life was not that good. He was a spitfire, but Father Tim took him on. And now look at him! Wow, time surely flies, even in the book world. The story is so sweet with all the characters coming to the farm to help Dooley and Lace get ready for the wedding. Lace and Dooley used to butt heads all of the time growing up because she had troubles too. And now they are getting married, there are some other surprises that happen but I don't want to spoil it. Not only did Dooley take on the vet and farm, which is where they live as well, Dooley bought a bull named Choo-Choo for his cattle he's taking on. I got a good laugh out of ole Choo-Choo through-out he book. He made a surprise appearance at the wedding, that was at the farm anyway, and brought some of his lady friends. The only one that could actually pet him was Lace, she said she understood him, he would eat from her hand. It's just a male thing I think : Anyway, the story was beautiful and I'm glad I got to take a step back to a kinder place for a bit. I also love the cover of the book. View all 10 comments. Jul 07, Debbie rated it it was ok Shelves: net-galley-books , ebooks. This was an okay book for me. It was a little too spiritual for me, but the story, I think, was good. My main complaint about the whole thing was the fact that the author would start a paragraph or a chapter and say he or she. There were about a dozen or so characters in this story. I had no idea which he or she it was. Or it would be Reverend. There were two Reverends. It was pretty frustrating. At one point in the book the groom had two sets of parents there. Then it would be mom or dad, which This was an okay book for me. Then it would be mom or dad, which one? Say a name!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I obviously became VERY frustrated and because of that did not really enjoy the book as much as one typically could. I would be reading, having absolutely no idea who I was reading about, unless the author decided to give me some type of clue in the following paragraphs. I gave this 2. And that surprises me because I know this author has written several other books. I'm not sure if its the editing or what, but as this was my first by her, I was not impressed. May 18, Laura rated it really liked it Shelves: contemporary-christian-fiction , audiobook , read , read I have a confession: I was never a big reader, until I read Jan Karon's first novel in her Mitford series. After that, you could say, " I was hooked. In Karon's latest book, Come Rain or Come Shine, I eagerly wanted to devour it and yell from the rooftops that I loved it, but, for much of the novel, I spent my time feeling more disappointed than pleased. Several reviews have pointed out the lack of fluidit I have a confession: I was never a big reader, until I read Jan Karon's first novel in her Mitford series. Several reviews have pointed out the lack of fluidity between characters point of views, or how many readers would not understand the depth of meaning, as certain scenes took place, unless you had read the previous novels. Although I don't feel giddy happy after reading this novel and even though I too, found the writing style to be lacking in some ways, every so often a glimpse or feeling from the previous books would pop out and make me smile and keep me turning the pages. Many "strings" were tied up with this novel and it truly was a warm and cozy read. I think I just missed the old characters and the story being focused on Father Tim. Now that I have turned the last page though, I am very happy I read it. View all 22 comments. Sep 01, Camie rated it really liked it. I'm always happy to venture back to Jan Karon's bestselling Mitford series where Father Tim Kavananah and his wife Cynthia set about keeping the peace in this small well imagined Southern town of colorful and well loved characters. This is book 13 and everyone's here, reunited to celebrate the long awaited marriage of Dooley and Lace both of whom we've watched grow up at Meadowgate Farm. This is not a great literary work but as always Karon's books are something like comfort food for those of I'm always happy to venture back to Jan Karon's bestselling Mitford series where Father Tim Kavananah and his wife Cynthia set about keeping the peace in this small well imagined Southern town of colorful and well loved characters. This is not a great literary work but as always Karon's books are something like comfort food for those of us who long for a kinder , more gentle life , where the biggest problem of the day may be how to resist Ester Bollick's famously delicious Orange Marmalade cake or if too many folks will decide to bring deviled eggs to the potluck. Aug 28, Julie Durnell rated it liked it. An unfair rating actually because of my own foolish choice when I haven't read any of the Mitford series and was totally lost; although I did finish it. I have read the first of the Father Tim series and thought this was the second one in that series-wrong! View all 5 comments. Oct 03, Trish rated it liked it. As a fan of the Mitford series, this book was an advanced purchase for me. That said, as much as I would like to give this book 5 stars, I can't. The story is good, the insight into beloved characters is great, but the total head hopping and frequent changes in point-of-view, left me constantly frustrated with exactly whose thoughts I was reading. It was almost as if this were a book of notes that had never been fully put together. The story is lovely. There are heart-warming moments, combined wi As a fan of the Mitford series, this book was an advanced purchase for me. There are heart-warming moments, combined with laughter, and still some of the angst that comes with broken lives. I just wish such a lovely story could have been told in a more cohesive fashion. Still recommend, it's an easy and quick read since I devoured it. But predict you'll be frustrated at times as well. View 2 comments. Oct 29, Cindy Rollins rated it really liked it Shelves: Escapist literature for the thinking Christian? Nothing truly great going on here but then why did I the tears come to my eyes several times while reading? These books make me feel like I am having a deep conversation with an old friend and they help me learn a little about small talk too. I was greatly moved by Pauline's attempts to apologize to her children. Just "I'm sorry," with no expectation of forgiveness. Very moving without the easy out which would have done us all a disservice. Kudos t Escapist literature for the thinking Christian? Kudos to Karon for avoiding that trap. Jul 03, Susan Snodgrass rated it it was amazing. I surely do wish I could give this book more than 5 stars! I was absolutely blessed to win an ARC of this wonderful book by submitting a recipe. It was such a delight to be able to read this 3 months early, let me tell you! Jan Karon takes us back to Mitford and Farmer in this tale. This book is Dooley and Lace's wedding. And what a wedding it is. Oh, my goodness! I don't have the ability to even begin to describe how much I adored this book. Seeing Father Tim is always a joy, hearing his thought I surely do wish I could give this book more than 5 stars! Seeing Father Tim is always a joy, hearing his thoughts and feelings a certain delight. My copy is now flagged and underlined so much! There are so many things I want to remember here, too. There is also some heartache, but these young folks have found a way to bring joy out of even that. When we first met Dooley as a youngster, he was not much to see. But with Father Tim and the Lord's help, Dooley is a fine and wonderfully upstanding young man. He graduates from vet school in this book and opens his practice which he bought from Hal at Meadowgate. He and Lace are only 2 weeks from their wedding. A potluck wedding! I loved hearing from old friends and new ones. Jan Karon tells a tale like no other. It's pure nourishment for the spirit, is Come Rain or Come Shine. As are all her other books. I am so sad for this book to end, but joyfully look forward I hope! My opinions are honest and my own. And I also loved the introduction of a great new character: Jack Taylor. A beautiful story! Three and a half stars I was so looking forward to getting back with all my friends at Mitford and was thrilled to bits to receive this book for Christmas from family. I knew it was about the wedding of Dooley Kavanagh and Lace Harper. In the aim of keeping it simple and costs down, Dooley and Lace plan to do things a little differently for their wedding. They plan a potluck wedding, with lots of people contributing. But simple can turn complicated when more people Three and a half stars I was so looking forward to getting back with all my friends at Mitford and was thrilled to bits to receive this book for Christmas from family. But simple can turn complicated when more people are involved. The countdown to the big day reveals stress, a few difficulties to be overcome and a few surprises. Add to this Dooley graduating and starting a new business and there was a lot going on in this book. It took me longer than it usually does to slip back into Mitford this time. Then it changes again in the next little bit. Once I got into the swing of the way it was written, it was easier. But initially it was hard to work out and hard to work out why the author had chosen to write it this way. If you are new to Mitford, this is definitely not the book to start with. You need to have read the earlier books to understand the dynamics of this town and its inhabitants. I know the main theme was the wedding but at times too I felt some situations were skimmed over too quickly. I did. Just not as much as the others read over many years and especially the one prior to this. Those of us who have read all the other Mitford books will settle into this one as well. There are moments of laughter and moments of tears as Mitford fan would expect and a sweet story underneath all the changing points of view. A good, heart-warming book though not quite up to the standard of some others about Mitford. But you can depend I will still be keen to read the next one in the series. Sep 08, Readnponder rated it liked it Shelves: first-reads. Everybody loves a wedding and the union of Dooley and Lace is no exception. However, the simple, at home affair -- complete with pot luck reception -- proves to be more complicated than first thought. Nevertheless, many readers will care about the details of me Everybody loves a wedding and the union of Dooley and Lace is no exception. Nevertheless, many readers will care about the details of menu, color scheme and choice of music. After all, they have watched Dooley grow up on the Mitford pages. This is a shorter book than most Mitford installments and focuses on a single event. Consequently, there is not much plot, and what is lacking in character development is made up in quantity. Although the guest list runs about 50 and we learn all their names , many friends from earlier books make a cameo appearance as well. Indeed, this thin volume contains more characters than a Russian novel. Technically, this book falls short of earlier Mitford tales. I found it to be choppy — jumping from scene to scene every few sentences. Particularly annoying were scenes which opened with pronouns. Father Tim? After reading further, I realized I had I. I hope that my confusion was the result of a digital galley and that the final print version will be clear for the reader. Those who have read the earlier books will not want to miss this reunion of old friends. Shelves: ebooks , library-book , read- in As other reviewers have mentioned, there were paragraphs were I had no clue as to who was speaking; there was a big build up to Lace's wedding dress and then nothing about when she finally got it; and Father Tim and Cynthia seemed to have a very small part in this book. I think the author tried to cram too much into this book what with Dooley graduating and taking Although I enjoyed reading about Dooley and Lace's wedding, I think this is the least favorite of the Mitford and Father Tim series. I think the author tried to cram too much into this book what with Dooley graduating and taking over the vet practice and farm, and the wedding and Jack Tyler, the charm of this series just seemed to be missing. I think part of my lack of interest in this book may be due to the fact that I actually read it instead of listening to the audiobook; most of the previous books I listened to John McDonough narrate and he added a whole new dimension to the books. Oct 03, C. This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I even pre-ordered Like all the other books in the series, I practically read it all in one sitting, BUT I just can't give this one 5 stars, or even 4 stars I like it, BUT I didn't recognize many of the names in this book, and in her writing this time , Karon jumped from person to person so quickly that I often had to go back and figure out whose head I was in now. It felt disjointed, and I missed seeing more of the story from Fr. Tim's point of view. It also seemed like she wrote it in such a way that doors were intentionally left open to write another book not complaining there , but unlike her other books, it made it feel like it wasn't quite a stand- alone story. And by tossing Dooley's mom into the mix at the end and having her be rejected by 2. Why bring it up now? But poor Henry's arrival finally! NOT having Puny at the wedding of Dooley??? What was that about? She wrote her out of the story by sending her to a family reunion! Missing key Mitford folks I had such high hopes, and while I'm hardly giving up on Mitford, I am so sad that this one is only a weak 3-star addition. Maybe next time Dec 22, Craftnut rated it it was ok Shelves: delightful-stories. Very disappointing. Having enjoyed all the previous Mitford series up to this one, I was looking forward to the wedding of Lace and Dooley. However, it seems that Ms Karon has run out of steam for this series, dashing off a disjointed series of thoughts and calling it a novel. The novel is a series of half-page to page-and-a-half views of a small scene leading up to a wedding, most of the time you don't even know who you are reading about. These vignettes start off with 'he' or 'she' did this or Very disappointing. These vignettes start off with 'he' or 'she' did this or that without identifying who it was. Sometimes 'he' was Dooley, sometimes Father Kavanaugh, sometimes someone else. It was too confusing, and slowed down the reading as you'd have to go start over once you realized that 'he' wasn't who you thought it was. The lovely descriptions that the reader has come to expect were missing - most notably the arduous search for a wedding dress yielded no real view of what the final dress was like. Sorry, but I cannot recommend this one, and I am sad about that. Ms Karon should have quit while she was ahead. Dec 16, Meg Ulmes rated it it was ok. Let me preface everything else I am about to say in this review with I have loved the Mitford series. Read each new book as soon as it came out and was sad when each novel ended. So, if you have loved Father Tim, his town, and his family and friends as well you may want to forgo this novel, or at least go into it with this caution--it is not like the rest of the books. I struggled to make myself finish this novel about Dooley and Lace's marriage. It is what I call an "and then" novel. Karon, in m Let me preface everything else I am about to say in this review with I have loved the Mitford series. Karon, in my opinion, spends her whole book telling you what happens--not showing you. There aren't the great stories and the unique conversations among characters--at least very little. Events drag the first half of the book and then jet-speed to the wedding and conclusion. I did not find both my heart and mind engaged as I usually do with Karon's novels. I was really disappointed. Apr 23, Vannetta Chapman rated it it was amazing. What a lovely, lovely book. Yes, I know. I read the last first. But I will be going to find the others. Loved it. An awesome, clean read. Sep 20, Anne White rated it really liked it. My library already has copies of this, although it's still a couple of days away from official release, and I felt lucky to have gotten it into my book pile so quickly. I'm giving it four stars because I like most of the Mitford books, have reread several of them several times, and I thought Somewhere Safe was awesome. But this one wasn't quite up to the "best of Mitford" level--it's more like the Holly Springs book, has lots of people with small parts to play, but not as strong as some of the o My library already has copies of this, although it's still a couple of days away from official release, and I felt lucky to have gotten it into my book pile so quickly. But this one wasn't quite up to the "best of Mitford" level--it's more like the Holly Springs book, has lots of people with small parts to play, but not as strong as some of the others. I also have to say this: my friends who have fostered and adopted children might say that the ease with which the child in this book joins a new family may be a bit unrealistic. It seems almost ironic, considering how much difficulty other characters in the series have had in learning to trust and forgive after abandonment or abuse; but maybe because of that previous acknowledgment of how long it takes to heal, the presumption this time that the bad is over and there will be nothing but smooth sailing seems like too much of a fairy tale. It feels a bit like giving someone with a disability one of those Victorian novels about a child who's magically able to walk at the end And where's Coot Hendrick gotten to? Still, four stars. Aug 13, Nicki Conroy rated it it was amazing. I felt like I had watched Dooley and Lace grow up so to watch as they finally started their new life together as husband and wife was fantastic. I love having a series of books to read. Each new installment is like a family reunion with characters you only see once in a while. Best, in Mitford, there always seem to be small changes, just like real small town life After having read all the Mitford books and even plenty of Jan Karon's other books, I was so excited to pick up Come Rain or Come Shine. Best, in Mitford, there always seem to be small changes, just like real small town life. Now, Dooley is finally a vet. People have moved and Dooley and Lace are getting ready to become the occupants at Meadowgate. Dooley has bought Hal Owen's vet practice and a wedding is coming up. I laughed at the wedding being called The Big Knot. I actually loved everything about the wedding from it being a pot luck to Dooley's childhood friend Tommy having his band provide the music. Oct 15, Patty rated it it was ok. I never thought I would be disappointed in a Jan Karon book. This one was hard to read, simply because I had to guess who the character was in almost every paragraph. Pronouns were used, instead of the name. Very confusing. I loved this book so much that after I finished reading it the first time and turned back to page 1 and started reading it again. Aug 17, Ellen rated it really liked it. I mean, I signed up as an educator to review books for school. I never expected them to let me see pre-released copies of my favorite book series. So, maybe my expectations were too high. Maybe I was too adversely affected by all the errors they let through so people aren't tempted to keep the ARCs instead of buying the real thing. I had a tough time reading this. Don't get me wrong, the story is great. We still get to see Dooley and Lace get married and somehow Karon manages to have every last one of our favorite characters pop in for at least an honorable mention. It's worth it just for that. Here's where I had trouble though. First, I'm a little too used to Father Tim being the first voice of the story. It took some getting used to for Lace to be the voice I was hearing. Second, I really dislike the use of "dear diary" as a literary device. The pre-wedding stuff dragged on with it. I missed dialog. Please let me hear the characters talk to each other. So much of the story was one person thinking, then another, then another Finally, and this was probably the most irksome, as the story goes on and we pop in and out of people's heads hearing their thoughts, I often didn't know who it was I was listening to until well into the page. Then, upon discovering who it was that was "talking," I had to go back and read that section over again. This stop-and-start reading makes it hard to lose oneself in the story. I truly hope that this was a result of the ARC reading experience. I've already pre-ordered the real thing on audio so I can hear if John McDonough helps me make more sense of all the character's voices with the final edits. I don't want to dissuade anyone from reading this most excellent series. Once I've listened to the published version, I will be sure to update my review. Nevertheless, the moments are unforgettable and adds more precious memories in Mitford. I will visit again. Oct 04, Lesa rated it really liked it Shelves: women-s-fiction , family-relationships , inspiration , fiction. Anyone who read the early books in the series will remember Dooley. Now, after all these years, Dooley is finishing vet school and getting married. Dooley and Lacey want a small, simple country wedding, but in a community where everyone knows them, t It's been a while since I read one of Jan Karon's Mitford novels, but when I read the summary of her latest, Come Rain or Come Shine, I was eager to pick it up. Dooley and Lacey want a small, simple country wedding, but in a community where everyone knows them, that's difficult. And, the schedule is formidable. In , Joe Pass included it on his album Virtuoso No. In , Bette Midler sings the song in her film For the Boys and it is also featured in the movie's soundtrack. King and Eric Clapton recorded it for their collaborative album Riding with the King. In , Etta James included it on her Blue Gardenia album. Retrieved December 18, Retrieved June 2, Retrieved June 1, Categories : Songs about weather s jazz standards songs Pop standards Songs with lyrics by Johnny Mercer Songs with music by Harold Arlen s song stubs. Hidden categories: All stub articles. https://static.s123-cdn-static.com/uploads/4638237/normal_601f2d2a3172c.pdf https://uploads.strikinglycdn.com/files/c7af1aad-572f-402f-865b-0dcbff94a909/briefe-und-briefwechsel-848.pdf https://files8.webydo.com/9586613/UploadedFiles/631A40F0-9A62-33E2-0555-BB900217606B.pdf https://files8.webydo.com/9586389/UploadedFiles/E4222AD9-9113-9A65-0BBB-342A5E975F93.pdf https://files8.webydo.com/9588940/UploadedFiles/4FE009E1-522F-C52F-DA49-AB1E9CBAFCD4.pdf https://files8.webydo.com/9585996/UploadedFiles/4D81F817-464C-72F4-1277-F5D75D258C8C.pdf https://files8.webydo.com/9586046/UploadedFiles/63750374-C7FF-3E13-A49B-0086E82A9D8A.pdf https://static.s123-cdn-static.com/uploads/4638990/normal_60205b05cf18d.pdf