Elizabeth Berg had me from the very first page as she asks the reader to imagine looking out from a window seat on an airplane as it takes off. She suggests that, as we look down, we see another kind of order than what we see on earth and that it is full of hopefulness. She closes the prologue by suggesting that this aerial view can inspire a yearning for a “grand possibility.” I found that the Night of Miracles was full of grand possibilities indeed.

Continuing on to the first chapter, we begin to meet a variety of characters and a little town in Missouri called Mason. From there we share in a bit of the joys and sorrows of their lives. Mason is the kind of place I’d like to visit and perhaps call home. The characters are interesting and caring and sound like people I would like to call friends. Delightful and sweet, Night of Miracles is also profound and comforting.

I have not read The Story of Arthur Truluv (yet) so I think this can work as a standalone but I have a sneaky suspicion that they would work even better in the order written.

FYI - I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a continuation of “The Story of Arthur Truluv” and when I found this out I was so excited to read Berg’s new novel. While this book can be read without reading the first one, I highly encourage the reader to read the first book! Both of these books will not disappoint.

In this continuation we see a few of the main characters again. Lucille still has her moments of such grief as she misses her beloved Frank so. She’s a splendid baker teaching baking classes that are growing every week! She hires an assistant, Iris, and while she had her reservations about her at first, she quickly realizes Iris was much needed. Lucille is renting Arthur’s house from Maddy which Maddy inherited when Arthur passed away. She and Nola come to visit Lucille quite often.

New characters are born and we see Tiny a gentle do anything for anyone soul who only has eyes for Monica a sweet, hardworking waitress. It takes both of them a while to realize just how interested the other is in them.

Then we have Jason, Abby and Lincoln who are Lucille’s vegetarian, non sweet eating neighbors who face tragedy.

I loved this book and could hardly put it down! Hats off again to Berg for a well written book! Thanks to Netgalley and Berg for an advanced copy of this work.

Mason, Missouri is a small quiet town in Middle America. It is where Iris, a wealthy young divorcée, had fled after leaving her husband and Boston. What she found in Mason were some very lovely people. Her neighbor, Tiny, was an overweight cab driver who pined over Monica, a waitress at the local coffee shop. However he was too shy to ask her out even after he tried to lose weight to make himself more appealing. Then Iris sought a part time job to keep her busy and ended up working for elderly Lucille at a cooking school. Lucille had taught elementary school for many years but was now known for the incredible baked goods that she taught local women to create. Iris’ baking skills were not great but she was able to assist Lucille with publicity and other necessary tasks.

The home Lucille lived in had been owned by the kindly Arthur Truluv who was the subject of Berg’s previous book, The Stroy of Arthur Truluv. Lucille had young neighbors who were vegetarians and believed in a healthy lifestyle. So it came as a surprise when Abby, the wife, developed leukemia, and could only be treated in a hospital in Columbia, a distance from Mason. Abby’s husband, Jason, asked Lucille to babysit for the couple’s son, Link, after school and some nights so he could see Abby in the hospital. Link and Lucille became good friends as they spent more time together.

The house Lucille where lived had been left by Arthur to Maddy after his death. Maddy was a troubled girl that Arthur raised. Maddy let Lucille live rent free in the house while she attended college with her daughter in another town. Then Maddy returned to visit Lucille and give her the news that she was engaged to marry and would move to NYC with her husband and young daughter after the wedding.

Lucille had never married but was reunited with her first love, her high school boyfriend, Frank, after his wife died. Frank and Lucille made plans to marry but He died before they could tie the knot. As the story progressed, an angel started appearing to Lucille in her dreams and told her he was to take her to the afterlife. Each time Lucille refused to go and bargained for more time on earth.

This is a book about many lovely, ordinary people who all live in a small town. Unfortunately Berg does not spend much time on character development of some of the more interesting people in the town. Still the book leaves the reading feeling good about these people.

Night of Miracles is my first Elizabeth Berg book. I wish I had been able to read “The Story of Arthur Truluv” first, but it wasn’t a necessity. This is such an easy, touching story to read. I actually cried at one point, but will not say why because I don’t want to spoil anything.

I love the small town charm and quirky characters and most of all Lucille’s belief system. It made me wish I lived in small town instead of a huge city. This was a total feel good book for me and I needed it! Please read it if you need a lift and a reminder of what kindness to yourself and others actually means!

I loved this beautifully written story about these people who live in a small town. From beginning to end, I thoroughly enjoyed this feel-good story that sometimes made my eyes water. The characters in the story were so vivid in my mind and the author wrote in a way that made feel connected to and emotionally invested in the outcome.

I am a sucker for quirky characters and this book gave me a whole group of them! Easily one of my favorite books in a while.

Night of Miracles returns the reader to the town of Mason, Missouri, where we pick back up with some of the characters from The Story of Arthur Truluv and meet some new friends. Lucille Howard keeps busy teaching her baking classes during the day, babysitting her young neighbor, Link, in the evening, and dodging the Angel of Death in a flannel shirt at night. Her baking classes have become so popular, she must hire Iris as an assistant. Iris, recently divorced and mending a broken heart, has recently moved to Mason. She makes friends with her new neighbor, Tiny, an overweight taxi driver who is in love with Monica, a waitress at the local diner (who is also in love with Tiny, but they are both too shy to share their feelings).

I loved getting to know each of these characters and reading their stories, both individually and as they interacted with each other. Together they all make up an unconventional family. The ending is bittersweet, with an appearance from some characters from Truluv. I would love to see this series continue!

A Night of Miracles, the second story of The Story of Arthur Truluv - I just adored this book, as much as I loved the first. The story continues with Lucille baking and giving baking lessons, Maddy now having a fiancee and Nola happily following along. There are new characters as sweet, mystifiying and endearing as those we already know. It's a story of the miracles of love and those connected by community in a smalltown way. I highly recommend this lovely book, it will make you feel happy! #netgally.com #nightofmiracles #elizabethberg

Elizabeth Berg welcomes her readers on yet another stunning novel about unlikely friendships, community spirit, and surprising miracles. Night of Miracles is the sequel to the beloved book The Story of Arthur Truluv. The book picks up where it left off, so I recommend you read the first book to appreciate the story and all the eclectic characters. And what grand characters they are!! I love how Ms. Berg writes and infuses her books with her characters’ deepest thoughts. It feels like they are sitting beside you, pointing out this and that while telling you the story. Her writing is beautiful and whimsical. I highlighted so many phrases in the book because they are inspirational or motivational. I was reading the novel on the commuter train; that might have not been my brightest moment since there are parts in the book which are very emotional, and I wear my heart on my sleeve. Just to say, that my fellow commuters watched me dabbing my eyes several times. If you like books that make you feel human, these two books are for you. Select a quiet place, start with The Story of Arthur Truluv and end with Night of Miracles. See if this little exercise does not change you in some way.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Random House of my advanced reader’s copy of this masterpiece. Night of Miracles by Elizabeth Berg will be available at your favorite bookstore on November 13, 2018.

Excerpt: Surely you’ve had this happen. You are seated by choice or misfortune in a window seat on an airplane. You look out as the plane takes off, rises up higher and higher, levels off. If you have a chance to glance down, you see a particular kind of order not realized on earth. You might feel a kind of hopefulness at the sight of the houses clustered together....

Now imagine, that you are looking down at a small town called Mason, Missouri.

The town where Lucille is still living in her friend Arthur Truluv’s house, teaching her baking classes. Although Arthur has passed away, he didn’t do so before changing the lives of Lucille, and Maddy (From The Story of Arthur Truluv). And, now it is Lucille’s turn to continue the legacy with a new cast of characters.

Iris, a woman in search of a fresh start.

Tiny, a “large” man with an even bigger heart.

Monica, the waitress who works at Polly’s henhouse, who is the woman he is secretly in love with.

The family who now lives next door to Lucille, in her old house (Abby, Jason and their 10 year old son, Lincoln)

And, a few others, from past and present who make up this community, which feels more like a big family.

As the famous quote remind us, “When one door closes, another door opens....”

This book is best served up with a freshly brewed pot of coffee, a baked good of your choice fresh from the oven, and a box of tissues close by....

Heartwarming and delightful, it may make you want to move to a small town!

If you have read and enjoyed Maeve Binchy’s books, the Arthur Truluv books (two so far!) will help fill the void, Ms Binchy left behind. This can be read as a stand alone, but why not read the first one while you are waiting for this one to be released?

I would like to thank Netgalley, Random House Publishing and Elizabeth Berg for the ARC provided in exchange for a candid review! Available Nov. 13th 2018!

Whereas our previous book today starts the reader off questioning "WHY?", this book continues a tale started in a previous book (but isn't required reading) and asks "what happens next?". What happens when your dysfunction leads you to friends who are so much more than family? When do you find yourself no longer alone, but buoyed by strangers you would have previously passed by? This is a heart-warming book and one that is excellent for giving this holiday season as a hostess gift, for those who adore lovely stories! You might not want to read on an empty stomach though, as all the cooking the characters do will make you hungry! This book is sure to be a new classic, and I can see it being adapted for a movie quite easily!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was not the genre that I usually read but this was captivating. Each character is so well developed and relatable. The way the experience each other is eye opening. There are many life lessons in this book. It is a true feel good book. The writing is warm and makes you feels like you are sitting in the midst of the town where these people live. Great read.

I liked this follow-up as much or maybe even more than The Story of Arthur Truluv. We met Arthur, Maddy and Lucille in that book and the story continues in Night of Miracles. I found the characters in the small Missouri town of Mason charming and recognizable. I grew up in a small midwestern town and know “these people” and wanted to know them all – from octogenarian Lucille to Tiny, the town cabbie to Iris, a new arrival to town (and several more people). They’re all at various stages in life and learning to let go of long-held fears. I loved their courage to move forward despite their current and past challenges. The novel is told in short chapters that felt like vignettes but soon became connected. It was a comforting read that I quite enjoyed and recommend to fans of Elizabeth Berg and novels with a small town setting.

A sweet and charming read. This is one that takes you back to a simpler time in a small town where neighbors know each other and take care of one another. It makes me wish I lived in Mason, Missouri with these characters as my neighbors. The book touched my heart and made me fall in love with the characters.

I have not read The Story of Arthur Truluv and I understand that many of the characters in this book were introduced in this previous work. I will make a point to read it soon, but I don't think that not reading it detracted from the story. I was a little lost in the first part of the story when each chapter introduced another character and I wasn't seeing any overlap. But of course later this resolved.

Thanks to Elizabeth Berg and Random House through Netgalley for an advance copy of this book. I truly enjoyed it.

I received a DIGITAL Advance Reader Copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love a book that introduces me to deep characters and Night of Miracles does this. I did not know this was a sequel or companion novel, and not having read the first book did not affect my reading.

Lucille, Iris, Tiny, Monica, Abby, Jason, Lincoln, Maddy, and Nora reside in Mason, Missouri, a small town that is connected through kindness and baked goods.

If you like books like A Man Called Ove, by Fredrik Backman, or Delicious, by Ruth Reichl, you will love these folks too.

Night of Miracles was a cute, quick read for me.

Lucille is inspired by her late friend, Arthur Truluv, to teach baking classes. She shares with students her secrets and tips. As if that isn’t enough on her plate, Lucille becomes the babysitter for neighbors when tragedy strikes. As you delve further into the book, Lucille and other characters are tested with difficulties and the power of unity.

I didn’t read The Story of Arthur Truluv prior to Night of Miracles - but I didn’t feel disconnected in any way. Elizabeth Berg’s writing is beautiful, and I loved the “feel good” feelings throughout the novel’s entirety. Sometimes we forget that novels are an escape - we don’t need to overanalyze. We just need a good story. Night of Miracles was that, for me.

Elizabeth Berg always brings her characters into your living room and this book is no exception. I truly felt as if I were sitting there watching their interactions and discussions. While sharing my appreciation for this book to a reading buddy she shared with me that several of the characters I was talking about were in a prior book she had written called The Story of Arthur Truluv, which I have not yet read but definitely plan to.
Loved the growing relationship between Tiny and Monica, and also the working relationship between Lucille and Iris, the growing relationship between Lincoln and Lucille. The interweaving of the characters lives were so flawless - each had their own problems to overcome. This is truly a book where you find yourself cheering the characters on, as you would the people in your own life.
Many thanks to Elizabeth Berg, Random House, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this enchanting book.

Night of Miracles is such a gentle, loving story. You don’t even realize some pretty serious subjects are being addressed- illness, death, forgiveness. Elizabeth Berg has created characters to cherish. Every single one feels like a friend. Lucille is the glue that holds them all together. I would love to take one of her cooking classes! Her love of good food is so contagious. This book is what everyone in this crazy world should read and then try to duplicate. Life would be so much nicer.

Wow Elizabeth Berg you truly blew me out of the water with your talent. I truly will always remember this novel and it will be leaving such a special place in my heart. Those final words at the end left me in tears and awe of your talent.

I have not read The Story of Arthur Truluv but have heard nothing BUT spectacular things about it. After finishing this novel... I will definitely be getting the audio for the first novel to get the background of previous characters. This can be read as a standalone...but I can see why so many readers urge you to read the previous story first due to continued characters from the first book will be in this novel.

I cannot say enough good things about this novel and it exceeded my expectations completely. I felt like this is a shooting star with talent by Elizabeth Berg!

4.5 stars for Night of Miracles. This one is not to be missed my friends <3 <3.

Thank you to Random House and Netgalley for granting my wish. The arc was provided in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Publication date: 11/13/18
Published to GR: 10/21/18

After realizing that Night of Miracles is a sequel to The Story of Arthur Truluv, I read that novel first and found it to be a delightful and uplifting tale about how three lonely people befriend and help each other. As a result, I had high expectations for Night of Miracles. However, I felt that this book jumps around too much from character to character without providing any depth of feeling for any of them. Each of these people is seeking a connection to something or someone in an effort to assuage loneliness or illness. In the end, everyone finds what/whom they were looking for and there is joy in Mason, MO.

While I was captivated by The Story of Arthur Truluv, I was disappointed with Night of Miracles. It is too disjointed and too cloying.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book.

While I didn’t read The Story of Arthur Truluv, I could jump right into the lives of the characters and enjoy Berg’s story. I liked that the book was set in a small town and the characters showed genuine interest in their neighbors. I thought this was an easy, lighter read. While I liked it, I didn’t love the novel and would rate it 3.5 stars.