While I think this Hope series opener technically must stand all right without reading the previous Harmony series, I wouldn't personally recommend it. I'm not sure I would've liked Sam if this book had been my introduction to him. He can be pretty, um...whiny. So it helps having the background of his upbringing and the illustration of his character in the Harmony series before encountering him here.

And I wonder about the appearances of the character Deena Morrison in this book, with no mention of the man she married in the last series. Was that an oversight on the author's part? Or did something happen to Deena's husband late in the previous series and I just forgot?

Anyhow. Yeah, it was kind of sad for me to see Sam leaving Harmony. Yet, I was drawn by the thought of him, in the midst of uncertainty about his future, finding Hope. ( )

Should have stopped with the original Harmony books. The tone of these books is as if written by a different person. Characters are not likable at all any more. It was not a pleasant read. If you truly want light-hearted and funny, read the Harmony books by the same author. Obviously he was at a better place in his life when he wrote them. ( )

This is a new series, following Quaker minister Sam Gardner and his family, who are familiar to Gulley’s fans from the Harmony Series. Sam and Barbara’s boys have both graduated high school and moved away (even if only temporarily), and the couple has moved to Hope, a suburb of “the city” where Sam will pastor a new meeting.

I love Gulley’s Harmony series; I welcome a gentle read now and again, where I can visit with old friends. Gulley has a gift for writing humorous stories about small-town life, but instilling a message of tolerance, peace and love. There are times that Sam drives me crazy with his passivity and indecision, but then I don’t have to deal with the likes of Dale Hinshaw. I like that while Gulley gives us a somewhat idyllic situation, it is not without challenges. I love to hear a saxophone … but at 6:30 in the morning?! It’s the way that Sam and Barbara deal with such challenges that endears them to me. Here’s hoping that their adventures in Hope will continue to entertain and inspire for years to come. ( )

I've enjoyed Gulley's Christmas Scrapbook & every book in the Harmony series."HOPE" is a new series.Sam and Barbara leave Harmony and move to Hope.Still a Minister and still quirky people in the town.This book is still funny but also reflective of Sam's character.Delightfuly funny. ( )

This book is a sequel to the "Harmony" series, where the Quaker minister, Sam Gardner, ends up moving from Harmony to Hope, Indiana. This is a very cute series about the ups & downs of being a minister and the many characters in his congregations. I especially like it because author Philip Gulley is really a Quaker minister who lives near Indianapolis, IN (close to my own home!). It is the 9th or 10th book in the series, however, it could easily be read as a stand alone. It is funny, entertaining, and heartwarming all at the same time. Can't wait for the next one to come out! ( )