Life in Chapel Springs by Ane Mulligan ~ Reviewed

Life in Chapel Springs

Ane Mulligan
Paperback: 340 pages
Publisher: Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas (September 5, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1946016136

Description: 

Is it a midlife pregnancy or ... cancer? Claire will keep her secret until she's sure but it isn't easy. Neither is trying to buy a home pregnancy test without anyone finding out. Between her twins double wedding, the caterer canceling, a looming nationwide art tour and her health, Claire's life is upside down. 

Shy Lacey Dawson was happily writing murder mysteries for the community theater with her eye on Broadway. Then, a freak accident causes her traumatic injuries requiring facial reconstruction. When the bandages come off, Lacey's world is tuned inside out. Will Chapel Springs rally behind its own ... or will life unravel? 

When the mayor announces he has found quartz on his land, the local TV station reports: Where there's quartz, there's gold. Then Mayor Riley discovers Howie Newlander has bought the mineral rights to his land. Howie and his nefarious investors are struck with gold fever and set out to buy all the homes in Chapel Springs and mine the gold. Will life in Chapel Springs become the tailings of a gold mine?

Review: 

Ane Mulligan's little Chapel Springs is a community I want to visit. Maybe for a really long time. Depends on the bugs and snake population. Mulligan has created a group of characters I'd love to spend time with, and a landscape that beckons. 

And the trouble they get into in Chapel Springs. This time, while working on wedding details for the twins and an upcoming art tour and a play, Claire ends up getting intimately involved in the gold fever sweeping the town. Unfortunately, the gold is not what interests the out-of-town big guns, but the quartz. Mining the quartz would nearly destroy the town and an unknown buyer is snatching up mining rights that were somehow not attached to properties, and attempting to get residents or landlords to sell. 

Lacey suffers a painful crisis when she is involved in a freak accident and her life changes radically. The only hope she has is in turning her eyes to God. 

Fortunately, Claire is not responsible for Lacey's accident. The other big crash heard around the hamlet was Claire's fault, but on purpose. She knows what those big ol ceramic pots can do from experience and feels the need to do it. 

Claire and Patsy are friends I'd love to meet with at Dee's. Mulligan sprinkles chuckles on nearly every page as the characters get involved with saving the town, making Lacey's script magical and rocking a wedding and reception. Claire even managed to get through the wedding with both feet on the ground. If you love characters and fun, clean escapism grab this one. If you haven't read the others you should probably buy the whole series.  

Review by Kelly Klepfer