Another overall entertaining read about Sam, though I think it's best to start with the previous series featuring him, the Harmony series.

As much as Sam's small-town, familial, and Quakerful experiences do give me literal laugh-out-loud moments, I don't find all of his violent thoughts funny. I mean, thinking about how you'd wring a nursing home resident's "scrawny little neck" because she left your church a generous gift y'all don't know how to handle? Nothing about the visual of a middle-aged man strangling an infirm, elderly woman makes me laugh. And certain jokes about Alzheimer's disease, death, and Hitler pinched some of my bones rather than tickling my funny one.

There's also a comedic marriage proposal I disliked because it's a bad idea to get engaged or married to someone because you were prodded into it to make other people more comfortable with your romantic relationship. Yes, I know the characters' situation is meant to be funny here, but... (*Sigh.*) It wasn't clear to me whether she really loves him, the person, or if she just goes along with his impromptu proposal because she wants a family, he says he loves her, and his people put the two of them on the spot.

On the other hand, I laughed at what wasn't a minimal number of underwear jokes in the novel. So I'm not impossible to please.

In other news, I don't know why a certain character who started off single and then had a momentous wedding in the previous series, Deena, is making moves in this series like a single woman, with absolutely no mention of her husband or marriage. Did the author forget that he once married her off? Or did something happen to Deena's husband in the previous series and I missed it? Even if the missing is on my part and her husband died or they got divorced or something, it doesn't make sense to me that this book wouldn't mention that fact at all.

Also, speaking of missing...I do miss Harmony. While enough of the main church members there are a pain, certain aspects of that town and its townsfolk do have their own quirky charm. And even with the Harmony series' touches of irreverence and all the irony in the stories, the overall makeup seemed warmer to me, especially in some particular books. Here, despite one pleasant moment when Sam feels like a "wealthy man" for being a pastor, I rather get the impression that the only reason he doesn't resign and do something else with his life is because he's in his fifties and pastoring is all he knows. It's all he's professionally employable for.

Yet, even if that is the truth about Sam, it wouldn't be unrealistic. And I'd find it more problematic if he were depicted as a clerical angel, with his spiritual situation painted over in convenient, rosy religious tones.

Besides, I did still enjoy the overall easy reading, seeing the progression of Sam's family and having some laughs. I'll likely go on and pick up the last book sooner than later. ( )

A Lesson in Hope by Philip Gulley is a Christian novel and is the second book in the Hope Friend Meeting series. Sam Gardner is a Quaker pastor for Hope Friends Meeting. Sam has only had the job for four months, when Olive Charles, their oldest member, passes away at age 98. Olive leaves Hope Friends Meeting $800,000, a 1979 Ford Granada, her home and its contents. This could be a blessing for the group. Unfortunately, things are never easy when money is involved (and a group of people). Everyone has an idea on how the money should be spent. Then Olive Charles’ niece, Regina Charles arrives in town. Regina has decided to contest the will. As she is leaving their meeting house, Regina “trips” on the church’s sidewalk and sues them for damages (what a coincidence). Then, Sam finds out that his parents are moving to town. Actually, just down the street. Sam’s patience is really going to be tested during the coming weeks.

A Lesson in Hope is an entertaining novel. The book is nicely written and easy to read. I especially liked the quirky characters. The tone of the humor was just right in this book (and I rarely say that). We get to read about the life of a pastor in a small town. A pastor’s life is not his own and that is especially true for Sam Gardner. I give A Lesson in Hope 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it). I appreciated the theme that there is always a little hope. A Lesson in Hope is part of a series, but it can be read alone (easily). I look forward to reading the other books in this series and other novels by Philip Gulley. ( )

Title: A Lesson in Hope (Hope #2)
Author: Philip Gulley
Pages: 272
Year: 2015
Publisher: Center Street
My rating is 4 stars.
I’ve never read any Philip Gulley books so I did look at some of his previous books as well as what other readers thought. Some of the reviews weren’t clear enough for me to know whether the reader enjoyed it or not, plus it would have been advantageous for me to have read the Harmony Series to understand the main male character, which I haven’t done.
As a Quaker Pastor, Sam definitely is in many situations that are hard and challenging as are many pastors. Sam is supported by his wife Barbara. His parents drop in for a visit and his brother then decides to introduce the woman he is dating. The background characters are various, intriguing and can be found in any church. Sam doesn’t seem to me to be held by convictions of a pastor as he is of what others think he should or shouldn’t do. The story really places a heavy concentration in what or where Sam finds fulfillment. In one place, he doesn’t seem to understand the blessings around him until he calls a meeting house only to learn the letter he received was sent out to many and not just to him.
There were some very funny parts in the book that caused me to burst out laughing and they came when I least expected them. I appreciated those moments as well as the tension in the congregation when it learns it is to receive a large sum of money. Perhaps if I had time to read the other series or understood the Friends beliefs I would understand more what the author shares. However, authors need to realize that some readers draw conclusions, rightly or wrongly, from fiction as they do nonfiction. Be careful of what and how you present a denomination in life, beliefs or mannerisms.
I do suggest readers read the Harmony series to get a better understanding of the main character Sam as the pastor, as well as the congregations.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” ( )