by Jan Karon
Part of Mitford Years, book 7
First published 2005
Father Tim cannot settle into retirement. The quiet days feel wrong after decades of pastoral duties. When he and his wife Cynthia prepare for a year of ministry work in another state, Father Tim hopes the calling will restore his sense of purpose. But unexpected events rock the small town of Mitford before they can leave. The crisis reaches deep into the community Father Tim served for so long. These upheavals test not only the townspeople but Father Tim himself. His faith, once steady as bedrock, begins to waver under the strain. The retired priest must confront doubts he never expected to face while watching his beloved town struggle with forces beyond his control.
Genres: literary-fiction, christian-fiction, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, second-chance
Setting: Mitford
488 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Penguin