May 18

These High Green Hills
By Jan Karon

Book 3 in the Mitford series find Father Tim and his new wife Cynthia just returned from their honeymoon.  Tim has never been happier and the two relish their time together.  Still, as a long-time bachelor, he finds he must make many adjustments.  His large dog Barnabas can no longer sleep in his room, his recently adopted son Dooley Barlow now has a mother figure in his life and the dynamics of the home are different, Cynthia's decorating style for their home is not what he would have chosen.  Father Tim remains busy with his outreach to his parishioners, as well as others in the town, including another needy teen, Lace Turner, whom he finds digging up ferns (to sell) at Miss Sadie's estate.  One of the funniest stories revolves around his secretary, the ever frustrating Emma Garrett, who gets a computer for the church office.  Surprisingly, she finds she loves all the shortcuts and labor-saving techniques of the computer, and tries to get Father Tim to get with the program, too.  He is less than eager.

Again, the characterizations are wonderful, though this book is not as plot-driven as Light in the Window.