COME RAIN OR COME SHINE

A simple farm wedding faces many unanticipated challenges.

The long-awaited marriage of Lacey Harper Harper and Dooley Russell Kavanagh is finally coming about. Both Lace, who was adopted by Doc and Mrs. Harper, and Dooley, who was adopted by the Rev. Tim Kavanagh, started their lives in severely dysfunctional homes. Now that Lace, a talented artist, and Dooley, a newly minted veterinarian, have worked so hard to put their futures on a bright path, they plan to wed in a simple ceremony at the farm and vet clinic they’ve purchased near their families. But they discover that their easy wedding involves advanced and complex planning. The grounds need extensive sprucing up, and the barn must be readied for the potluck supper to which they can only hope the guests will contribute an appropriate amount and variety of food. Lace can’t find the elegant , inexpensive dress she pictures in her mind; the groom wonders if his wedding present to the bride is such a good idea; and several of the invited guests may well open wounds from the past. The siblings Dooley has cared for all his life will be there along with the mother who deserted all but one of them. Each of their friends and family members has a role to play in generating and resolving the problems that spring up. On top of everything else, Dooley and Lace are hiding a secret they hope they’ll be able to share before the wedding. Through it all, though, their love never falters.

The latest entry in Karon’s Mitford series (Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good, 2014, etc.) continues with all the beloved characters, down-home charm, and deep faith in God that are the hallmarks so beloved of fans.