Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good: Mitford Years, Book 10

I love the way Father-in-law draws people out of their fears and scars into trusting relationships with his friends and family, and ultimately, to God!I feel each book is the best until I am a few chapters into the next one. Thank you, Jan Karon!

A bit of background first: This most recent book is a continuation of the Mitford series started with that first novel,  At Home in Mitford: A Novel (A Mitford Novel)  back in November of 1998. Jan Karon continued writing a total of nine books, ending with  Light from Heaven (A Mitford Novel)  which was published in November of 2005. In the years since then, she published two "Father Tim" books which featured the main character from the Mitford books, but they were not considered part of the original series. After a hiatus of almost nine years, Ms. Karon is now publishing another book returning to the town of Mitford and there is much rejoicing from fans. This was one of my most-loved group of books and I eagerly read each of them as they were published and anxiously waited for the next one. In addition to loving the stories, they were books my mother and I could share. One of my favorite memories of my mother was when we had the opportunity to attend a reading and book signing years ago by Ms. Karon. This provided us common ground and was so very enjoyable. My mother passed away a couple of years ago and one of the things I kept was her collection of these hardbound books. I know my story is shared by others so that may help explain some of the enthusiasm and general euphoria on the part of readers upon being given the gift of another Mitford book.An item of note: These books must be read in order to be truly appreciated. You should read the Father Tim books as well prior to reading this one. I skipped those books, thinking it wouldn't matter but it does. While I was able to pick up the threads and there was a quick filling in of the blanks on the part of the author, there were storylines in those two books which are built on in this one. If I had it to do over again, I would have read those other books.----------------------------------------------------------------I am not going to go into plot or storyline as most folks are already acquainted with the books or can get a good idea from the product description. As I said earlier, please don't start with this one, but go back to the beginning if you are interested as that is the only way to appreciate the series. As someone who loves the series I think it would have been difficult for Ms. Karon to write a book I wouldn't like and I did like it.Unfortunately, I didn't totally love it and here is why: I think the book would have been better if it had been shortened by 75-100 pages. There were parts that didn't add much and the book seemed to lose some momentum. At 500 pages, it is 100-150 pages longer than most of the earlier novels and those were perfect and lovely. I also felt much more "preached at" in this one than in previous books. While faith and prayer are integral to what these books are about, my memory of earlier novels are that it was much more woven into the fabric of the story where this time was different. It seemed every conversation between characters either involved praying (and times where the full prayer was printed), a request for prayer, or an offer of prayer. It felt a little like being hit over the head with a stick. While I think the earlier books would be equally appreciated by people of other religious traditions, it would be hard to read this unless you shared the Christian faith. I noticed this was categorized as Christian Fiction which I don't recall being the case with earlier installments.Now that you have heard the downside and maybe I shouldn't have lead with that, I still have to say I am so happy I read the book and caught up with the characters I have come to love. The town of Mitford and its inhabitants feel like old friends I hadn't seen for a very long time and was glad to spend time getting re-acquainted. For those of us who have spent many hours immersed in the world created by Ms. Karon, you really must take another visit there to catch up on all the news.

In Jan Karon’s latest Mitford novel, Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good, Father Tim and Cynthia have returned to their beloved hometown after their sojourn to Ireland, hoping for a respite. But as Uncle Billy would say, “There’s no rest for the wicked, and the righteous don’t need none.” They are immediately caught up again in the business of small town life, courtesy of characters old and new. Emma Newland, Father Tim’s former secretary, is looking for employment. Father Talbot, the new priest of Lord’s Chapel, is trying to watch over souls while ignoring the ache in his own. Dooley is wondering if his relationship with Lace Turner is worth a deeper commitment while Sammy, his younger brother, seems determined to cause as much trouble as he can without caring about whom he hurts. And Father Tim has lost his sense of direction. Will Father Tim find something he can put his heart into? Will Dooley overcome his past and find love? And will Sammy discover the grace he so desperately needs before it is too late? Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good is the tenth book in the Mitford series but a stand-alone novel. Fans of Ms. Karon will not be disappointed. Readers are immediately transported to the idyllic small town set in the North Carolina Mountains, and are immersed in the endearing and sometimes complicated relationships that make Mitford a favorite place to visit. This is why Ms. Karon’s writing voice is often imitated but never duplicated. Her intimate knowledge of the setting lends to the homey, familiar feeling of the story, and the author seems to have regained the tone that has made the early books in the series a success. Karon’s style is lively, light, and warm-hearted, but not without depth. There are profound Christian themes throughout, and they are explored with some detail, which is logical as the main character is a priest. However, the story isn’t drowning in weighty religious language or moral overtones. The plot of Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good is character driven and mostly seen through the eyes of Father Tim. The novel is structured in vignette style with many storylines, which only enhances the pace of the book and keeps the reader turning the pages. The majority of the conflict centers on the relationships of the characters. Father Tim, Cynthia, and Dooley display growth with each successive book in the series, and each minor character has a unique voice and personality in dialogue that adds color and variety to the narrative. Besides the fact that the book is not long enough, the only weakness is that Father Tim’s character is imagined in the mind of a woman and, at times, lacks a true masculine voice in thought or action. Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good will appeal to Christians and non-Christians alike who enjoy an entertaining but wholesome read. It is a cozy, pastoral tale perfect for the fireside on a rainy day. In conclusion, Ms. Karon should be applauded for a welcome addition to a wonderful series. It is by far one of her best efforts. It might be helpful for new readers to start from the first book to acquaint themselves with the characters and context. Nevertheless, Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good is a delightful treat, and makes Mitford a place where readers will want to return again and again.

Best series from the best author. Uplifting and encouraging story in a world where faith and hope still exist.

After each of my nightly readings, I was left with good feelings. I believe baby boomers would all enjoy the Mitford series.

It was so good to have all the beloved characters back for this story. In a world contaminated by Corona virus it has been a joy to immerse myself in this tale of a mountain community of Mitford who really do 'care for their own'.

As ever - wonderful! I never want this series to end. But would recommend any reader new to the Mitford series to read them in sequence - I imagine it might be difficult otherwise to cope with the huge cast of characters and their histories.

This is a lovely book. Really enjoyed it!

Such a good story filled with familiar characters. I'm so glad the author has returned to writing about Mitford. I wish the complete series was available on Kindle.

A good read as are the other books in this series.