This is a novel about how a small group people cohabiting in a small dorm-like apartment complex become drawn to Christ in their struggles and pain and daily life. It is about how a wayward granddaughter and a cold grandmother reconcile with each other. It is about how a stranger to New Orleans fall in love with local people and local food.

In the first half of the novel I was really annoyed with the granddaughter. I don't see why she felt so hostile and acted so disagreeable toward her grandmother and people who are friendly towards her. But once the story progressed to the latter half, when the thriller/suspense plotline came to the forefront, I like the book a whole lot better and rooted for everyone. The book gradually reveals a theme of how God uses circumstances and miracles to lead people to Jesus Christ.

Because the author is an important Christian leader, the parts where Christianity was mentioned are spot on. I have rarely read a novel with pastor or Christian faith involved in the plot without seeing gross distortion of Christian life and doctrine. This is a refreshing change! ( )

Beth Moore is generally known for her Bible studies, so I wasn't sure how her novel would be,. It was quite good. I enjoyed the cast of characters at Saint Sans, plus the members of the police force. There were some twists and turns in the story that I did not anticipate, and several places had me eager to forge ahead with my reading. Jillian, the main character, was a little difficult to get to love, but I knew from the beginning she would change by the end of the book. My only real complaint is that at the very end, there is a murder dropped into the scene that I felt was sad and unnecessary. It could have just as easily been a bank robbery with no injuries. It left a sad feeling to the end of the book that I don't think was intended. ( )

I had a hard time getting started with this book; the colloquialisms were discouraging. But as I continued to read, I became less critical and more in tune with the author's voice. By about page 20, I began to love the book - Beth Moore can absolutely tell a riveting story, as anyone who has heard her speak knows. I very rarely laugh out loud or cry when I read - I read a LOT - and this book had me doing both. If you like Beth Moore's Bible studies - and I do - you'll love this book. ( )

I was pleasantly surprised by this Bible study author's first novel. I wasn't sure what to expect but I found a story line that kept my interest, colorful characters, and lots of Southern charm. I could definitely hear Beth's voice - which I was familiar with - in the way the characters used inventive metaphors and similes that are steeped in the author's Southern way of speaking. Since the story was set in New Orleans it is an appropriate touch, as were the details about the food and customs of the region. These all slid into the story easily as the main character, Jillian, has grown up in southern California. She travels to New Orleans to escape her problems and to get to know the grandmother she barely remembers. Jillian definitely feels like a fish out of water when she arrives in New Orleans and is surrounded by a cast of Southern types. She finds shelter at Saint Silvanus - a church turned into a boarding house which her Gradmother Olivia owns and which is managed by the very outspoken Adella. Jillian doesn't find her grandmother waiting for her with open arms when she arrives - quite the opposite - but she slowly gets sucked into the warm family atmosphere that exists among the boarders at Saint Silvanus. She also finds hints about events involving deceased father that she becomes intensely curious about - and that eventually lead her into some perilous circumstances. So the story involves some suspense, some romance, a journey of faith (of course), and a lot of Southern flair. If those sound look good ingredients to you, give it a try! ( )

Beth Moore, better known for her Bible studies, ventured into the world of Christian fiction with this title. Jillian Slater, long estranged from her father and his family, goes to New Orleans to attend his funeral. Her mother depicted her father as a homeless loser. As soon as she landed at the airport, she began regretting her decision to fly there. She discovers her grandmother lives in a renovated old church with an odd assortment of people and a sassy manager. After she goes back to San Francisco and discovers her boyfriend/boss with another woman in his office, she quickly packs, returning to New Orleans. She begins to learn more about her father, her grandmother, and herself during her journey. The book contains a mystery concerning the murder of her father and romance for Jillian. The book is unlikely to gain a wide following outside of Christian readers as it tends to be a bit preachy at times. The story is better than expected. I listened to the audio book read by Shannon McManus who does a terrible job. Her male voices and regional accents were horrible. I recommend reading the book rather than listening to it. ( )