This book wasn’t as good as I was hoping it would be. It had a great concept and plot with a good character development and I was hoping since i loved the first book I would love this one but it just didn't happen. I just couldn’t get into this book which is why I am giving it only 2 stars. I see I am in the minority with this one as so many gave it 4-5 stars but it’s just not the book for me. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book for my honest review.

Mason, Missouri is a town Elizabeth Berg has visited before. (Some of the characters are familiar but Night of Miracles is a standalone novel.) There’s Lucille, the elderly woman who teaches a baking class, Iris, the transplant from Boston, Tiny, the kind driver who is not really tiny, and so many others. (The magnifying glass on a small town and its residents reminded me of Fannie Flagg’s novels). Berg is a master of character development and insightful observations. One of my favorites was that “certain life circumstances make for people who walk with a psychic limp for all of their days.”

4.5 stars
Night of Miracles is a happy, sweet story that I couldn't read fast enough. This is a follow-up story to "The Story of Arthur Truluv," but it definitely stands on its own as well. We are introduced to quite a cast of characters, and, whether put together by divine intervention or pure coincidence, their lives all intermingle in the most unexpected ways. Even though some characters are struggling with loss, weight, or health, the overall tone of the book just made me happy and feel very connected to the characters.

Reading this book made me want to re-read The Story of Arthur Truluv as soon as possible. I hadn't realized how much I missed the familiar characters, setting, and overall feeling of that until I had read this,

I loved seeing more about Lucille, Maddy, and little Nola. I had enjoyed the family they had created, so seeing that family grow and strengthen was so special. The addition of new characters in a sequel is always hit or miss for me, but it really worked here. Each chapter read was just a short glimpse into the character, so I didn't feel like familiar characters were sacrificed to develop new ones. The new character development was sparse, but I learned enough to really love some of the new characters as much as the older ones. Monica, Tiny, and Iris each stole a little piece of my heart.

Most important for me, the book retained the same feeling as Arthur Truluv. As a reader, you could feel the small-town familiarity and love. The characters were connected in believable ways for a small community. The sense of community came across in the writing and made the reader feel right at home. At times, I felt like a community member just hearing about these goings-on from my neighbor. It made it hard for me to put the book down. This is definitely a series I will return to when I need that warm and comfortable "home" feeling.

Thank you to Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

#Night of Miracles#NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy of The Night of Miracles in exchange for my honest review.

This book was a total delight to read. It was a quick read and can easily be read in a day. I find Elizabeth Berg’s style of writing to be easy to follow along with and easy to relate the characters to each other in the storyline. The setting of the book is in a small town and made it easy to relate to as grew up in a small town myself. I loved Lucille and her cooking classes and was amazed as to how a 88 year old woman was still up to the every day rigors of running a business. The only thing that could have made it better, in my opinion, is to have included some of the mouthwatering recipes for the readers to have tried out themselves. I also particularly loved the reference to past generations and making them a part of the story. Example: Maddy snuggled up in a quilt that Lucile had made and she could feel her hands touching it as she made it. It had love, laughter, sorrow, illness and death that brought the story to life. This is a book that I will definitely recommend to friends and family. Good job, Mrs Berg!

This novel is the follow up to The Story of Arthur Truluv, but it can be read as a stand-alone. Ultimately this is the story of how we can form family relationships with those who aren’t blood related and still deeply care for one another and help out each other when we need it most. I’ve always been a fan of Elizabeth Berg, and the way she introduces characters and intertwines their stories together in an interesting way. I would have liked to see more, the book could have been longer for my taste but overall I enjoyed it. 4/5 stars.

"There's a full moon up and rising,
And there's a whisper of a breeze.
Blowing through the tangled silver,
Hanging from the cypress trees.
There's a river made of moonlight,
Flowing clear across the lake.
And there's a million stars just waitin',
To fall for any wish we make.

"Why don't we get caught in this moment?
Be victims of sweet circumstance?
Tonight I feel like all creation,
Is asking us to dance. "
-- Asking Us to Dance, Kathy Mattea, Songwriters: Hugh Prestwood

Night of Miracles is Elizabeth Berg’s sequel to her 2017 The Story of Arthur Truluv. If you haven’t read her 2017 story, you might miss out on the significance of some of this story, but this can still be enjoyed on its own merits.

Lucille, Arthur’s former neighbor, now lives in his Mason, Missouri home, a home which he left to young Maddy, and she, in turn, allows Lucille to live there rent free. One kindness begets another kindness.

Lucille is a wonderful character, quirky, whimsical; she enjoys the everyday touches of magic inherent in this life, rainbows, leprechauns, and the stars. She retains an almost childlike wonder at the grace of everyday life, the wonders of the world all around us. At the magnificent age of 88, she teaches a baking class in her kitchen to women who gather to learn the joys of baking, but perhaps sometimes just for the chance to be surrounded by other adult women. Lucille enjoys teaching these women, and enjoys the local diner’s devotion to her cakes, where her baked creations are sold to those dining at Polly’s Henhouse.

Inside the Henhouse passersby and locals stop to eat, some more often than others. One of the very shy, male regulars, Tiny, loves the cooking there, but is also more than a little sweet on an equally shy waitresses, Monica.

Forgiveness, aging, life & death, the disdain for those whose weight is over a social-media set limit, the balancing act of love in all its many forms – these are all topics that are lightly touched on in this novel, but this is not by any means a heavy or dark story, it is also compassionately humorous, with the strongest message being one of kindness and, yes, love.



Pub Date: 13 NOV 2018

Many thanks for the ARC provided by Random House Publishing Group – Random House

This was the book I needed, right now, at this moment in my life. Although I hadn't read the first book in the series, I found it relatively easy to follow and figure out the backstory.
It was a tale of people and all our hidden hopes and fears; it was a story about community, and it was sprinkled with just enough magic to make me choke up now and again.
It struck a chord with me in different ways, at different times, and in ways I can't easily explain.
Totally worth dipping into, because...who doesn't need a night of miracles in their life?

The story follows Lucille, first introduced in the author’s previous novel, The Story of Arthur Truluv. The story follows multiple characters indirectly related to Lucille who unfortunately do not link in meaningful ways until the second half of the novel. Even then, the rather superficial bond between characters was not enduring enough to truly capture my emotions as Berg’s previous novel did. Perhaps the dilution from having so many characters did not allow for enough character development. It was still a relaxing and easy read but lacked the feeling that you will miss the characters when the book is done.

I actually finished this book a couple of weeks back and thought I had written my review. But I see it is still marked as “currently reading “ and can’t find my review. I skimmed back through the book to refresh my memory and happened upon some of my favorite characters and their lives. I really wanted to give it 4.5 stars. There’s a lot of characters in this story and a lot of moving parts but somehow it seems to fit together for one of the be books I’ve read in a long time. I would have loved living in Mason, Missouri and knowing these people. Maybe I would have been able to count several as friends. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy for my honest review.

#NightOfMiracles #NetGalley

A delicious narration that captures the beautiful landscapes and heartwarming emotions of the community. The story is delightful as a nice day of summer with an energetic journey followed by a quiet and grass smelling peaceful night.

I have read all of this author's books, she is one of my favorites, and this is her best book yet. The characters are likeable and well formed. There is some humor. The story is short, but the impact stays with you. My only complaint is it is too short!

Elizabeth Berg truly is the queen of writing heart-warming stories full of charm and loveliness. I've been reading her books for years now and they consistently make me smile. Night of Miracles is a follow-up to one of Berg's previous novels, The Story of Arthur Truluv. I adored both novels and the unique small town characters of Mason, Missouri. I enjoyed all of the mini plot lines within the novel and how the lives of this tiny community intertwined and came together when they needed it the most. At first I felt there were too many characters to keep track of, but Berg has a flawless way of keeping them all connected. Personal favorites of mine were Lucille and her neighbor, Lincoln. The relationship between the elderly woman and young boy pulled at my heart strings. The unlikely friendship and support system these two create is remarkable. If you're looking for a feel-good, light and easy read, I highly recommend Night of Miracles. Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for this free digital advance readers' edition in exchange for my honest review.

This book was a complete delight. Well written with characters that are ordinary people but still interesting and relatable. A heart warming story that shows that people still care for one another. I enjoyed revisiting the characters from Arthur Truluv and cheered on the sweet new love story. Definitely recommend for fans of Jan Karon and Maeve Binchy.

I received an advance copy of this book from NetGallery in exchange for an honest review. I am an Elizabeth Berg fan. I've read all of her books since Oprah recommended OPEN HOUSE. This is not one of her best. It was the sequel to Arthur Truluv. There were too many characters, so none of the new characters were fully developed. The characters from the first book did not develop or change in this book. They were like place markers. The problems were solved too quickly and too neatly. I don't understand why the supernatural element was added to this story. A good writer like Elizabeth Berg can solve characters' problems without resorting to magic. I guess you can't hit it out of the park every time you get to bat.

If you read the Elizabeth Berg novel “The Story of Arthur Trulov” you will be happy to follow your favorite characters lives as they journey on in this new book “The Night of Miracles” . If you haven’t read the previous novel, read it first and give yourself a treat! The new novel includes some new cast members and a host of descriptions of sweet treats that will send you to the kitchen in search for a piece of cake and a cup of tea. Enjoy!

“Never think winter will last when spring is equally inevitable.”

It is highly recommended to precede this reading with “The Story of Arthur Truluv” by Elizabeth Berg. You’ll get much more satisfaction from this novel about his neighbor, Lucille, by knowing the background of the main characters and how they met and bonded. It’s a short, fast and delightful read.

Elderly Lucille Howard started her baking classes while Arthur from book 1 was still alive and she was living in his home along with Maddy, a young woman he befriended after meeting her at the cemetery where he’d go to have lunch at the resting place of his deceased wife, Nola. Arthur left an indelible mark on their lives. In this novel Lucille is still grieving the loss of her “truluv” Frank, who died unexpectedly and shortly before they planned to be married. Her heart was empty and broken. A former teacher, Lucille was at loose ends, and baking is what gave her comfort. She was known for her “white thumb” as she always shared her baked goodies with others, young and old, male or female. Teaching others to do so seemed like the answer to her empty days, and brought her new experiences and yes, “lessons” of her own in this journey of life. Her classes are successful and growing, she brings in a new character Iris to help. Lucille’s cakes will have you salivating, wishing you were one of her students. Even so, you will learn a thing or two you may not have known about baking, one of my passions as well.

In true Berg style, her sense of humor is evident in the pages of her novels, we share a few chuckles, shed a tear or two, and maybe even look at life a bit differently.

I found this an enjoyable read, with lots to ponder about life and where it leads us. The friends we make that become family, the past and the present day... “Let the day’s fierceness and tenderness hold you... with these friends let it bless you.. Let its vastness be undisguised in all your days“ ~ Jane Hirshfield

Berg rarely disappoints. Seeming effortlessly, she strings the written word together to bring us joy, laughter, love, and gratefulness for each true thing.

My thanks to NetGalley and Random House for a pre-release e-copy in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2378705606

What a wonderful book! One of my top reads of 2018. At about 60% of the way in I decided to give this 5 stars. If you enjoyed The Story of Arthur Truluv, you will definitely enjoy this book. As with Arthur Truluv, this is a character-driven story, full of quirky folks living in a small town, a place where community is important. In fact, the town itself, Mason, MO is a character in the story. The town is populated by unique people and unique places, like the diner that makes the best flapjacks this side of the Mississippi or the bookstore where you can always find a hidden gem.

The town is also full of lovely people, like the older lady next door who who bakes the most amazing cakes and pies. This is a place where neighbors drop by to welcome you to town; they offer to watch your children while you tend to your sick wife; they help out with rides, shopping, and other ways that show they care.

While I was reading this book, I was reminded of Fredrik Backman's stories, like My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry (one of my all-time favorite books) and Beartown. Not necessarily the writing style but that this story, like Backman's, is character-driven and very well-developed characters at that. You meet so many genuine, likable characters, some whimsical, as well as some not so pleasant people, existing in a small town they care for deeply. You come away with the feeling that you've really gotten to know the people. Overall, an enjoyable book that I highly recommend. After reading The Story of Arthur Truluv and now Night of Miracles, I will definitely read more Elizabeth Berg and added her as an author to follow on Goodreads.

I would like to thank Random House and Netgalley for an advanced review copy of this book. You can also see my review on Goodreads at: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2514403018.

This book was a huge disappointment! When I realized it was a follow-up to The Story of Arthur Truluv, I decided I wanted to read that one first. I enjoyed the book and while I did not find it particularly well written, I liked the characters of Arthur and Maddy very much. Lucille definitely was not a favorite character for me so I was disappointed to see that she was a main character in Night of Miracles. I did not like the writing style at all of this book! It almost read like a lot of short stories about the residents of small town Mason. All were loosely connected to Lucille, but I didn’t particularly like any of them - except for Maddy and her daughter Lola who made several appearances. Each chapter read like a list of who did what and who said what to whom. There just didn’t seem much point to any of it! I read a couple of Berg’s earlier works and they seemed to have much more depth than these last two! Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the advance copy of this novel.

An enchanting and magical story about surprising community friendships and the kindnesses we share.
Filled with delightful characters this book reminds us that miracles and friendships can come together when we seem to need them the most. A heartwarming story that was so enjoyable to read and thank for you having given me the opportunity to have done so prior to publication!