In this third installment of the Dorsetville series, Valentine portrays a small town and its people in a manner highly reminiscent of, but not quite equal to, Jan Karon's Mitford series. Substitute New England for North Carolina, change the Episcopalians to Catholics, toss in a little Jewish seasoning and you'll be awash in déjà vu. There are strong similarities to The Andy Griffith Show
as well, from the drunk named Odis to Deputy Hill, who's a ringer for Barney Fife. Thankfully, Valentine puts a different spin on the challenges her characters must face. Single mom Valerie Kilbourne has young twin girls who need operations quickly or they will lose their sight. Lori Peterson is pregnant, but a tragic diagnosis sends her into despair—and prayer. Sam Rosenberg's old car gives up the ghost, and Harry Clifford and Nellie Anderson's wedding invitations have gone missing. Through it all, the tight-knit community of Dorsetville is always ready to step in and offer support and solace. The antics of Father Dennis and his televised cooking show, The Fat Friar
, create some enjoyable moments, and the recipes mentioned throughout have franchising possibilities written all over them should the series prove a hit. Unlike the Mitford books, however, dialogue troubles slow the novel's pacing, and the characters are too lightly sketched. (June 15)
