The sixth novel in the Harmony series finds Pastor Sam Gardner struggling with the issues of faith, community and loyalty. His Quaker congregation (known as "Friends") also struggles with similar issues when Sam takes a leave of absence to evaluate his future.
Philip Gulley paints a picture of a small town church community that fits into the mold of the "gentle read" genre perfectly. Filled with eccentric but endearing characters, humor and an uplifting story, Almost Friends is entertaining and satisfying. The reader will not find it necessary to have read the first five books in the series. Gulley re-caps his characters and traditions of the community in each novel without becoming redundant. Even though the setting is a church and Philip Gulley is, in real life, the pastor of the Fairfield Friends Meetinghouse in Camby, Indiana, the Harmony series is not "preachy" or "religious." The characters give Gulley enough fodder for clever humor; his message of tolerance, self-discovery and the need for community is universal. - Linda G.
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