Review of "House of Living Stones"

Review of House of Living Stones

by Katie Schuermann

In the small Illinois town of Bradbury, change doesn't come often, and it certainly doesn't come easily. So when Pastor Fletcher hires Emily Duke as the new choir director at Zion Lutheran Church, he unknowingly sets in motion a chain of events that turns the life of his congregation upside down.

The crusty church secretary, Mrs. Scheinberg, must learn to adjust her curmudgeonly ways. Zion's talented but pompous organist, Evan Ebner, must recognize his shortcomings. Emily must come to terms with her past. Even Pastor Fletcher must face reality when his world is shaken by the baggage Emily brings and by the handsome Zachary Brandt who pursues her.

With its host of lovable and relatable characters, House of Living Stones will find a special place on your bookshelf and in your heart.

MY REVIEW:   This novel is absolutely hilarious and refreshing!!   I found myself laughing through parts and then crying!   I was a former pastor's wife and Katie has captured the antics of mannerisms of church life in such an amusing and tasteful way.  I fell in love with Emily, Alice, Rebecca, and Pastor Fletcher while feeling equal amounts of distaste for Candice and Evan.    Before the story had come to a close, many of my feelings had changed about characters and assumptions.   

I felt for Emily trying to take over a church choir in a long-established church with an equally well-established choir membership.  New pastors in churches experience many of the same things......change one thing at a time, don't change too much, as there are always many opinions and thoughts on matters of the church and choir.   I love how this book shows that people can change, people can make unfounded assumptions and there is always someone or a few someones who like to spread gossip in the church.   It can tear churches apart if allowed to fester and grow.  I really appreciate the way young Pastor Fletcher handled the problem of gossiping in the church.   Music lovers will surely appreciate the many references to musical instruments, singing, and choirs.   

I highly recommend this book to readers and rate it 5 stars.   

I was given a kindle version of this book from netgalley and the publishers in exchange for my honest review.

About the Author:

Honest, sincere, and lyrical, Katie's writing reflects her Midwestern roots and her interest in the arts. After earning graduate degrees in music, she taught music history and literature at various colleges, directed children's theater camps, and sang in various concert halls, theaters, and churches across the Midwest.

While Katie's upbringing and curriculum vitae factor heavily into her writing, it is her Lutheran confession of faith in the Triune God that readers have come to expect and trust in her writing.

When she's not working on a writing project, Katie can be found gardening, cooking, hiking, singing, and enjoying fellowship with friends and family.