My dear husband believes that I should get rid of one book for every one that comes into our home. Bless his heart, I think he is serious! 😉 Seriously, I do try to keep the book hoard mountain collection under control by giving away books I have read to my friends and family and to the readers of this blog through giveaways. But it is not easy. For every book lover out there, you know my pain.
So in the spirit of home organization and contented married life, I have three books that I would like to find a good home. I have loved all the books in Penelope Wilcock‘s The Hawk And The Dove series. I still have the last three books in the series on my shelf. Would you like them? Just leave a comment to enter the giveaway. The giveaway runs through February 14.
William and Madeleine are deeply in love ― but love may not be enough to win the day
Madeleine Hazell and William de Bulmer have been married a year. She is a healer, a wise woman, practical, intelligent, and blunt. He is not only an ex—monk, but an ex—abbot, a man accustomed to authority, a gifted administrator, at home with figures―but less capable in matters such as shutting up chickens for the night.
They are deeply, irrevocably in love. And every conversation may become a battlefield that leaves both of them wounded and resentful.
When William’s former abbey, St. Alcuins, suffers the loss of their cellarer, the current Abbot Father John doesn’t know how to handle the rents and provisions. He is a gifted physician and a capable leader, but estate management is beyond his competence. With a sense of rising panic he turns to his friend, the man who renounced his vows for love, the former Father William — only to find that his own pastoral skills may be required in matters matrimonial.
The Breath of Peace is the seventh novel in The Hawk and the Dove series and explores themes of mutual submission found in Ephesians 5:21–33.
Abbot John has to face the consequences of his previous good deeds — and none go unpunished
In this eighth novel of the Hawk and the Dove series, William, has returned to St. Alcuins at Abbot John’s request to help his replacement learn the ropes. But William’s return coincides with a bishop’s visitation, a regular event.
The bishop, a zealous churchman with a large entourage, has heard rumors of St. Alcuins having had in their community one William de Bulmer, who is said to have attempted suicide and left the order — attempted suicide is a felony and breaking monastic vows is a grave sin. The bishop wants to know where this man is so he can be arraigned before an ecclesiastical court, and wishes to discover what happened and what part Abbot John played in those events.
As the story unfolds, the beautiful thread of the gospel weaves quietly through the contrasting colors of human frailty, religious zeal, and social pretension.
The monastic rhythm of life at St. Alcuins means that all is peaceful on the surface, but beneath there are strong currents as each monk contends with his own hopes, fears, challenges, and temptations.
Not every monk is settled and secure. Sadness permeates the monastery when it is discovered early one morning that one of the novices, Brother Cedd, has disappeared. It quickly becomes clear that disturbance in the life of one can impact many. As the day goes on, the question looms: will Brother Cedd return? And what will be the consequences if he doesn’t?
In this moving conclusion to The Hawk and the Dove series, Pen Wilcock describes a single day in the life of the community weaving a deeply touching, frank, and witty tapestry of monastic life.
Penelope (Pen) Wilcock is the author of over a dozen books of fiction and poetry, including The Hawk and the Dove series. She lives a quiet life on the southeast coast of England with her husband and is the mother of five adult daughters. She has many years of experience as a Methodist minister and has worked as a hospice and school chaplain.
One of my friends shared the first book in the Hawk and the Dove series with me, and I’ve just begun reading it. While I have A Day and a Life and several others in the series in my possession, I do not have The Breath of Peace or The Beautiful Thread. I would love to obtain those two titles and read the entire series. Thanks for sharing your books in so many ways!
Suzanne, you won this giveaway! I have sent you a FB message.
I totally know your pain. But, I only move them out of my house if I get doubles or DID not like the book. Then I think they need a new home. Thank you for the chance! I would LOVE to read these!
Mary
I would love to read The Hawk and the Dove series! Thanks for the chance.