Walking Shoes (Mt. Hope Southern Adventures #1) (2024)

Walking Shoes is a refreshed story from Lynne’s heart drawn from her own experiences as a pastor’s wife.

I really, really liked this story! It was a great combination of funny and serious. Before I talk about the lovable characters, I want to address the way grief is exposed in this story. There were moments delicately handled with humor that otherwise could have been a little “dark” or sad due to the story circ*mstances. I personally identified with the situation and characters because I have had a similar unexpected loss in my family. I believe the way Lynne Gentry recognizes the grief process in a gentle and understanding way, shading it with humor, speaks of her personal experiences as well as her ability to relate to the reader through story. It exposes how everyone deals with grief or shock differently while emphasizing that it’s perfectly OK to be different. To say the least, it was a little therapeutic for my own heart to read Leona’s story.

The “friends” and supporting characters of this story are endearing, to say the least. Some fiercely in Leona’s corner, some more antagonistic, all of them work to steer the story and reveal how God takes care of people in unexpected ways. Sometimes through an angry grandmother. Sometimes through a janitor. And sometimes through a gruff neighbor. All of them combine to display the blessing and care of a church family. A “home”, of sorts, with mismatched loved ones.

Within the story, sometimes the point of view changes from Leona to that of her son or daughter, David and Maddie. Their experience and secondary storylines all mesh to paint a bigger picture of what’s going on and how each person deals with the complexity of the situation, giving the reader a new perspective of empathy and understanding. For all POVs, the third person narrative sometimes switches to first within the same paragraph in an internal dialogue sort of way. This technique expertly works for the story’s humor and timing as well as revealing the heart of Leona, David, and Maddie at key points.

Ok, now it’s time to talk about the humor! Lynne’s “southern humor” hit the mark with me! Especially with a few little sayings and witty pop culture references I’ve come to appreciate from Lynne. (If you’re an old soul, you’ll really love them, too! Especially ones referring to Robert Redford or something that’s “slicker than snot”! Ha!) The quirky supporting characters fittingly remind me of some people in my own church and circle of friends. If any of ya’ll read this and are curious, just ask. I’d be happy to point out which of you is a Bertie or Roxie!

To me, this story is a reminder that God’s all-knowing plan is always there, intended for your good and His glory, even through seasons of pain and uncertainty. Leona’s journey comes full circle to a place of hope and second chances. Leona Harper and her family experience many emotions and twists, from shock to pain to a determination to live to the fullest. Ultimately, they learn to embrace any second chances they have to mend relationships and make new memories. The Harpers are not quite done with finding their purpose, though, just like us. (Yay for more books to come!). Personally, I’m glad He’s not quite finished with my story, either.

Thank you to the publisher, Travel Light Press, for the complimentary review copy. This is my honest review.

This was such a fun book to read! I absolutely loved this book. I was laughing out loud while falling in love with each of the zany characters. This book was an amazing start to a series that will no doubt be a favorite of mine. If you need a book to help take the cares away and your mind off of your troubles, then this book is for you.

I really enjoyed this book. It would be very difficult to be a pastor's wife. It would also be very difficult to be children of a pastor. There would be so many expectations from the community and from the congregation that a pastor's wife would serve.

It would be hard to be an assertive wife of a pastor. Do you let people in the church walk all over you or do you speak up when it is needed? Lynne Gentry did a great job detailing the life and family of a pastor. She also did an excellent job of telling the life of the pastor - what a gift of God was he to his community.

Wow!

As a new widow, I wondered if I would be able to read this book. Yes, I cried. But I also laughed out loud. I learned about coping as I fell in love with these characters. A wonderful, wonderful book!

I was skeptical about this book while reading the first few pages, but once I got through the shock of it and kept on reading, I found the humor but also truths in this book. Being a Pastor’s wife for nearly 40 years I can totally relate to Leona! There are some church members that can be difficult to live with but oh how many friendships have been formed too! I’m looking forward to continuing this series and see where it leads. It is a bit reminiscent of Jan Karon’s books- The Mitford Series.

Wonderful Christian fiction! This is the first book in the series, and I intend to read the entire series.

💝FREE on iBooks today (6/8/2018)!💝

Walking Shoes ( Mt. Hope Southern Adventures-Book 1 )
By: Lynne Gentry
Walking Shoes is book one in Mt. Hope Southern Adventures series. Ms Gentry has weaved a story that will have your heart broken. She will have you laughing one minute and the next you will have tears rolling down your face. She had me hooked right at the start. Walking Shoes is funny, serious, grief, and starting over. A Tragedy strikes the Harper family and nothing is ever the same. Leona Harper has been a Pastor’s wife for thirty years , she knows nothing else. There are Two Adult children who has already left home on their own. The characters in this story are busybodies, lovable, and some are very good friends. I really enjoyed Walking Shoes and can’t wait to read book two, Shoes To Fill .
I was given a complimentary copy of this book , but was not told that I had to give a positive review. All opinions are my own.

I give this a solid 3.5
What I liked about it:
I liked that it showed some rawness within the family system. I love it when I read books that are so relatable. We have the mom, Leona that was just widowed and then her mother that was super rich but harbors anger towards her daughter. Then you have the kids- David and Maddie that are trying really hard to steer away from their childhood because they feel like the grass is greener on the other side.
I also thought that the whole environment of a church organization was really interesting. I don't belong to a religion where our clergyman/pastors are paid and a group of deacons decide the fate of the pastor and his family. So having to see the behind the scenes of that was rather eye opening. It made me feel grateful that all of the "jobs" in the church that I belong to is strictly through volunteer so we don't have to deal with the politics of all of that.
I also thought that the secondary characters were funny and interesting. A lot of senior citizens in this story line and they always bring a certain comic relief and truthfulness that you can't get from young adults or even middle aged people. Their honesty is refreshing and sometimes pretty hilarious.

What I didn't like:
I thought this was a heavier story to follow along to. I mean we start off with Leona becoming a widow and that in itself already holds so much grief and pain, then add to that is the whole dynamic of the family (their dysfunction) as well as the politics within the church. I don't like too much heavy emotions in my reading as I consider my reading a relaxing activity and having to deal with the depth of emotions that is understandable in this case was still something that I didn't like. I would read these kinds of books once but I wouldn't pick it up again, just for that fact.
I thought we would get a love story out of it this one but it just sets the stage for the other books. Which to me, is kinda sad. I was hoping to at least see a happy ending for one of the kids.
I understand that this is a Christian novel and I like that it is clean and have a good lesson behind it. However, I do not like Christian novels to be too "preachy". This one, for me anyways, falls under that category. I know that their background calls for that kind of "preachiness" but honestly I skipped a lot of those internal dialogue parts.

I had downloaded this book a few weeks back onto my kindle, not realizing I would have an opportunity so soon to read it. The synopsis of the book sounded sort of interesting, although after reading the story I understand the purpose of the red bowed heels. But prior to that, I thought I was opening the story to a heavy dose of romanticism.

Instead, the story is about the pastor's wife, Leona Harper, who must deal with the loss of her husband. She went from a beloved wife to widow in the blink of an eye. In turn, her two children return home to attend the funeral and try to last the time with their overbearing mom.

After years of following others, including her husband, she finds a voice and begins to use it. She takes this second chance in life and has chosen not to squander it.

All in all, the book was an enjoyable read and I found myself wanting to find snippets of time to just finish the story. I rather wish the story had continued, because in a way, it didn't really have a good finish. The end of the chapter was the end of the story. My guess, if this is book one, then the rest of the stories will follow. I just wish it had a bit more clean of an ending.

That said, the story was enjoyable, some parts I skimmed over because I had enough of the older ladies with the pickles. But the story and the plot itself were fun to read, yet sad. I'm not sure who Travel Light Press is, but perhaps with a different editor to edit a few areas it would have been an even better book.

Pastor Harper and his family have been in Mt. Hope for 18 years living in an old parsonage. This is their story. Leona loves her husband very much; the sun rises and sets on him for her. Like many pastors and their families, this is small town church life in North America. When tragedy strikes, Leona is left to manage the family and their home. This is a time for Leona, David and Maddie to grow together in their new family unit.

I could relate having attended church from a young age and still do. I love to lift my voice in song and enjoy the fellowship afterwards. My friend’s father was minister for ours and 2 other churches in other small towns. I got to see firsthand how the family all pitched in to make the church hour worked. Her mother could play the organ; my friend would teach Sunday school classes in their home but I also got to see the resentment of my friend of having to be “on” every Sunday morning without fail. The toll on their relationships.

Being able to live with that pressure all the time and tell a story with all the warts and still find humour is a blessing. To keep ones faith under those circ*mstances is truly amazing. God bless them all.

Brilliant.

Wow, what a masterful weaving of interactions, feeling, and motives. Her descriptions were eye-opening and compassionate. Almost the entire book goes beyond 5 stars. The ending surprised me a bit , maybe only 3 stars for a few pages, because I thought things were going better with the new couple than they were, and suddenly people exploded and it was quickly ended, unlike the rest of the book where you were right there inside people's heads for every important move. For example, in the car, the new woman oozed compassion from under her thick mascara....this is probably sarcasm rather than real compassion, so thus, I got a bit confused about the real nature of the new people and the story end had me trying to figure out why things went down as they did. Other than that, this author is a new favorite!!!

I enjoyed this once I got into it. Be warned its a bit "southern churchy" which takes a bit of getting used to as it seems a bit over the top cheesy if you are used to it. Then you settle into the story and it gets a little bit less obvious.

The point of view changes so keep alert or you are not on the same page as one of the three main characters (the main character is a pastors wife who could have carried the whole story in my opinion).

I loved a number of the characters and scenarios as they rang with a truth that felt very unforced and I felt the way the grief was handled was very sensitive and felt authentic.

I enjoyed the minor humour characters and the roles they played in reflecting our main character. All in all my biggest criticism is that there wasn't more of the story. I feel this is a story with more left to tell.

I was fascinated by the glimpses of life in a parsonage and from the viewpoint of one who would know the pulpit, the preacher's wife. This story was both heart-wrenching in pages, and laugh-out-loud funny in others. Lynne Gentry writes characters that are memorable, ones you feel empathetic toward, and ultimately, have them wrap around your heart.

Leona Harper is a woman who morphs from a quiet, introspective lady to one with enough steel in her backbone to take on mercurial men trying to run roughshod over her. It reminded me of some strong characters in another book, whose pluck and spirit mirror Leona's. The other characters in this book were just as entertaining to become acquainted with, and all had their own quirks. Excellent storytelling.

When I finished this book, I went on to see what others were in this series, and I'm looking forward to reading those as well.

Walking Shoes by Lynne Gentry is a delightful story of life as a pastor's wife or maybe it would be more accurate to say, former pastor's wife. There is lots of humor, joy, family, and love in this first book of the Mt. Hope Southern Adventure series. Having been a preacher's kid and wife, Walking Shoes resonated with me. The author did a great job portraying some of the ins and outs of living a fishbowl life in the pastorate. Her characters were lovable and relatable (ok, there were a couple not quite so lovable ones too!). I was disappointed when the book ended as I didn't realize there were more books to come. Yay! Can't wait to start reading them. The audiobook is read by the author and I enjoyed that...an author knows just how to speak the essence of her characters. I listened to a copy of the audiobook that was given to me and was not required to write a positive review.

I had high hopes for this book and it did not disappoint. I thought Gentry did a great job of portraying the unique issues that minister's wives face, as well as what preacher's kids go through. I absolutely loved all the characters, which were so distinctive and true depictions of the different kinds of people found in a church family. Lenora's (the preacher's wife) journey was beautiful from start to finish, from anger to love, from doormat to backbone. Gentry's writing is packed with powerful prose, witty banter, and hilarious conversations that will have you snickering out loud. Fun read with depth!

I am a bit torn on this one sometimes I liked it and other times it takes a turn I didn't like. I did not like how they decided the best way to handle things was to drive off the new pastor and his family - very un-Christ-like behavior on their part and then the son decides yes I will preach and take over my father's spot even though he doesn't want it - just to give his mother a home - it felt like a random change and didn't work for me It showed me many of the pitfalls of a paid clergy and I am so glad we don't have that.

Surprises around every corner

Leona's husband died preaching one Sunday morning. They lived in a house next door to the church that belonged to the church. The church was tight with their money and the preacher had done all the repairs and upkeep himself and with his own money. Leona was left with little money and few skills to find work. The story is about how she managed handling his death, getting a job, and handling her crazy mother. All the characters are very amusing and will tickle your heart.

I listened to this book on audio and am so glad I did! The author’s own voice brings Leona Harper and all the characters to life and puts the reader right in the middle of the fictitious town of Mt Hope. An absolutely delightful story. The characters are so real you’ll feel you know them – and some you’ll wish you didn’t. Put your walking shoes on, plug in your earbuds, and take off for a good long walk and listen. You will definitely add lots of steps to your day laughing, even crying a little. It’s a great story!

Just like home!

This book, "Walking Shoes" by Lynne Gentry is my favorite kind of book because its just like writing about growing up the preachers house( with my father, the preacher).
The characters from the churches some I'm sure I've met somewhere in real life! They are unusual, quirky and loveable!
You can see where Gods hand was in the outcome of several situations, and I really appreciate Lynn's type of writing!
Now on to other books by this same author.
Recommended to all!!

I loved the antics of these people!

As a pastor’s wife I may have more appreciation for the antics of these characters than most. True to life in so many ways...I relate to so many of the incidences! The Story sisters...are they in every church! And the Roxies...every pastor’s wife needs a Roxie. I loved the ending...and look forward to the next book in this series. Read and be blessed with laughter!

A faith-filled , fun read.

I was pleasantly surprised at this delightful novel. The characters were very human and tugged at your heart strings. The plot was well crafted and had me filled with great compassion for Leona's heartache one minute and laughing out loud the next. I really enjoyed the diverse characters with their quirky personalities. I could really relate. If you want a great read, pick up Walking Shoes; you won't be disappointed.

I enjoyed reading this book--from the grief to the humor. I liked the faith in the midst of tragedy, the quirky characters, and the ties of family and friends. The only thing I didn't like was the way David and Maddie and Porter treated the prospective new pastor. I understood their motivation--and it was even fun to read, but their words and actions were not in keeping with their Christian faith and morals.

Awful story veiled in religious zeal

This is a very simple story with a predictable ending. Fleshed out with countless references to the bible, church and "the Lord". Worse still, all of the main character's problems are mysteriously solved by said deity. If you are not religious avoid this series of books as they are preachy and very sickly. Should be listed under the Christian reading slot so everyone knows what they are downloading.

A well written, candid, Christian look at a pastor's wife and family after his passing.

What an adventure living in a southern town can be, where everyone knows everyone else, and the pastor's wife has her finger on the pulse of the town. Even with her life in shambles after the sudden passing of her beloved husband she carries on serving her parishioners and fixing the strained relationships in her own family.

Leona Harper is a pastor's wife in a small-town church. As is often the case for women like her, every choice Leona makes is up for scrutiny among at least a few members of the church. Her efforts to put forth the kind of image that will keep the church people happy has strained her relationships with her two adult children and left her exhausted.

Then one Sunday morning, her husband, J.D. Harper, drops dead in the pulpit from a heart attack. She doesn't have a job and she is living in the parsonage, the home that the church owns and provides as housing to their pastor. What is going to happen to her now that her husband is gone? Not only does she have to process her grief at losing the man she loved, but Leona also has to face her son David and daughter Madison, neither of whom are big fans of their mother. And then there's her mother who was NEVER happy that J.D. decided to be a pastor.

With the help of her outspoken friend Roxie, Leona re-enters the workforce, learns to stand up to the busybodies in the church, and is able to communicate with her kids like never before. She learns that the "negative nellies" in the church are far outnumbered by those who are genuinely fond of her and are looking out for her.

I am a pastor's wife and I have to say that Leona's story is so true it is almost painful! The author describes a lifestyle that is so unique that only another pastor's family can truly understand the scrutiny that you live with when hubby is in the pulpit every week. The toll that such a life can take on family relationships was depicted in a real and honest way without lumping all people of faith into the same negative box. Leona discovers some real friends among the church members and her kids even start to find the good in a situation that had long been a source of frustration for them both. The first in a series, this is a very realistic peek into life in the parsonage and I will definitely be continuing the series!

So real

I loved this story. It dealt with the reality of loss and grief. It was a forage into relationships and especially into church politics and how it influences communities. Every serious, active Christian should make this a "must read". This author presents both the doubt of God and the challenge of holding on to an unwavering faith all couched in a bed of humour as a family heals and grows. It a an entertaining work of art

The setting is a small fictional town of Mt. Hope TX.
This is a roller coaster ride of happenings starting with the sudden death of the church pastor leaving behind his wife and two adult children who have been a bit removed from the family. Plus the quirkiest and meanest one of all is the mother of the protagonist, Leoni, who leads her family along with a rollicking group of townfolk. Many spiritual insights and references throughout. Leoni's faith never wavers and she carries on a conversation with God throughout.
This is a fun getaway when you don't want to really think!

Left me both thoughtful and smiling!

A serious subject and a situation filled with real life personalities --less than perfect people who are nevertheless relatable and lovable in their struggles. A very enjoyable read that encourages personal introspection, hope and faith along with a fair share of laughter.