Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good by Jan Karon (FIC Kar)

It has been five years since Father Tim Kavanagh retired from his pulpit at Lord's Chapel in Mitford.  Those years have been busy ones with Tim and his beloved wife (and children's book author and illustrator), Cynthia, accepting two temporary assignments, finding a brother he never knew about and helping to save his life, and, most recently, taking a "vacation" to Ireland.

Now back at home, Father Tim finds himself at loose ends.  But Mitford and its residents won't let him rest for too long.  There's a crisis at Lord's Chapel and he must decide whether or not to help.  Hope Murphy, owner of the local bookstore, is confined to bed rest while she awaits the birth of her child and must deal with the potential loss of not only her child but also her bookstore.  Again, Father Tim must decide where he fits in.  Esther Bolick is still mourning the loss of her husband, Gene, and contemplates never making another of her locally famous orange marmalade cakes again.  And the local cafe has reopened under new ownership and Tim and his cronies, Mule and J.C., are not at all sure they approve.

And if Mitford doesn't keep him busy enough, the siblings of his adopted son, Dooley, will.  Still enraged at his lost childhood, Sammy, Dooley's brother, tests everyone around him and especially Father Tim as he struggles to accept that he is loved and can forgive.  Even Dooley presents moments of worry as he struggles with his love for Lace and his dreams of becoming a vet.

And, perhaps most vexing of all, Tim needs a new vehicle...

It has been five years since Jan Karon wrote a Father Tim/Mitford book.  Catching up with my old friends was a welcome respite during a cold winter spell.  It was much like slipping on a pair of well-worn slippers, pulling up my afghan up and settling down with a cup of hot chocolate.  Oh wait - that's what I did!  Not sure at first that I would remember all the characters I had known and loved, I found that after only a few pages I was once again immersed in the lives of Mitford and its citizens.  Mitford may be a small town but it is full of interesting (eccentric?) people and their lives make for entertaining reading.  So grab your own cup of hot chocolate and settle in for a welcome reunion with old friends.

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