Just Shy of Harmony

Rating:
Summary: Just Shy of Satire
Review: Mr. Gulley takes an irregular route to the very heart of things, complete with a test of faith. The reader returns to Harmony where once again the author shines up the mediocre and the mundane and turns it into a miracle. A very sympathetic look into the discouragement of leading a church of willy nilly believers, with one or both feet in the past and blinders on their eyes. The reader will learn why goal setting and a gymnasium aren't necessarily a good thing for a church, and how a run-away wife and mother can pull people together. The accidental lottery winners and scripture eggs and yes - gossip - keep things interesting, when life isn't always harmonious. Believe it or not, there is something for everyone here in this story of a Quaker minister challenging faith and depression. The well intentioned, as well as the goofier members of this congregation, are kindly and humorously set out in caricatures that leave you laughing or shaking your head (and I'm betting you'll recognize some of these folks). The Friendly Women taking on the liberal press and hijacking the hospital kitchen was simply a touch of genius. The gentle people of Harmony occasionally practice the fine art of indifference, but joy and faith, steadiness and kindness carry through. A thought provoking and profound ending that challenges the reader to come up with their own explanation. Might giving thanks be more important than seeking the truth?

Don't miss Gulley's other warm, wonderful and charming books: Home to Harmony, Front Porch Tales and For Everything There A Season ... divided into easy to digest chapters for all ages.

Rating:
Summary: Another winning book by Phil Gulley
Review: My whole family (teenager included) just finished reading this delightful book. We all found ourselves laughing over the scripture egg project, and the folks of Harmony. Maybe we saw ourselves in some of the people. Even though parts of it were serious, it brought you to the place of reflecting about your own spirituality and yet brought humor into the story at the same time. I have read all of his books, and found this one as delightful as the others. Thanks Phil!

Rating:
Summary: Visit Harmony and you will never want to leave
Review: Phillip Gulley is my favorite author. I have waited a long time for the second book in the Harmony series. Mr. Gulley has a way of writing in such a way you can feel the spirit. What a gift he has been given.
Just shy of Harmony continues the glimpse in the lives of the citizens of Harmony Indiana and the Harmony friends meeting.
The stories are filled with warmth, love, and compassion.
I am ready for the next installment of this wonderful story.
I encourage you to visit Harmony and sit a while at the legal grounds coffee shop and make sure you get a scripture egg!!!!!

Rating:
Summary: I can't believe Gulley has been compared to Karon
Review: Since reviews for other books of this genre use Karon and Gulley as kindred series, I'll continue with that assumption. The characters in Karon's Mitford series are likeable, even the quirky ones; I cared about what happened to them, and often wonder what they're doing right now, as Karon had portrayed them so realistically that they became alive. The characters in Gulley's book are unpleasant, egotistical, and aggressive, and I don't have enough interest in them to care what they do or what happens to them. The character Sam Gardner is such an unlikable pastor, hardly humble (and he's supposedly a Quaker?), and at times downright nasty, that I can't believe his church would keep him, so I can't buy anything Gulley is selling.

The tone of the book is so cynical about church-goers that I have a hard time believing it was written by a person who claims to have Faith.

Those criticisms aside, and examining the book in and of itself, I had a real problem with the author's improper use of tenses. In several paragraph concerning action happening at the same point in time to the same person, Gulley uses present tense, past perfect tense, and present progressive tense. I found myself wondering about chronology way too often to make reading enjoyable. While it's acceptable to shift tenses in a sentence, it has to be done properly.


Rating:
Summary: great!
Review: The whole Harmony series is very enjoyable, and it among my favorite in the fiction genre. They are all light-hearted and full of wonderful and entertaining characters. The books follow Sam, a pastor in a small-town Quaker church, and the eclectic group of individuals who are members.

You will likely find yourself laughing out loud at the antics of Dale, as he undertakes his scripture-egg project or his salvation balloons. Fern Hampton may drive you nuts, but you'll learn to love her.

Many reviewers compared this to the Mitford series, reading this one because they enjoyed the Mitford series so much. I tried reading the series after this one, and found it dry and dull.

These books are easy, pleasant and clean reads. Enjoy!


Rating:
Summary: Spend some time in Harmony!
Review: These two books are fantastic! Very "Mitford" like and I know Philip Gulley has a bright writing future ahead of him! Buy them today! Home To Harmony and Just Shy Of Harmony!

Rating:
Summary: A Great Book. Can't wait for the next in the series
Review: This book was excellent. A lot more serious than the first, but definitely with its lighter moments, like with the Scripture Egg project. I'm sure that many people can relate to the characters in this book, who are so believable. I can relate to Sam's struggles with his belief in God, as I'm sure that many have experienced the crisis of faith. I was touched by Asa's and Jessie's generosity with the lottery money and how the town pulled together over Sally's illness. I can't wait to read the next book in the series. And the author himself is such a nice guy. I have friends who used to go to his church, and he responded quickly to an e-mail where I complimented him on his first Harmony book.

Rating:
Summary: Witty and Wonderful
Review: This is the first book I've found that hits close to the best in the Mitford series. It's different than the Mitford series, tho. It's more concise and succinct. Every page shines with laughter and true faith. I enjoyed it more than the first "Home to Harmony". The author is more polished and he is just hilarious, has created characters that we love getting to know, and, if you've ever been active in church you can spot most of your fellow parishioners among them. Thank you, Mr. Gulley, for such a warm and entertaining experience from cover to cover.

Rating:
Summary: Witty and Wonderful
Review: This is the first book I've found that hits close to the best in the Mitford series. It's different than the Mitford series, tho. It's more concise and succinct. Every page shines with laughter and true faith. I enjoyed it more than the first "Home to Harmony". The author is more polished and he is just hilarious, has created characters that we love getting to know, and, if you've ever been active in church you can spot most of your fellow parishioners among them. Thank you, Mr. Gulley, for such a warm and entertaining experience from cover to cover.

Rating:
Summary: Uplifiting read
Review: Unlike the Mitford books, Gulley asks the question, what is faith without testing? The characters portrayed here ring true and earnest, similar to those in Katherine Valentine's Dorsetville series. Keep writing. I'll keep reading!