Night of Miracles: A Novel

Elizabeth Berg

Nov 2018 · Sold by Ballantine Books

About this ebook

The feel-good book of the year: a delightful novel of friendship, community, and the way small acts of kindness can change your life, by the bestselling author of The Story of Arthur Truluv
 
Lucille Howard is getting on in years, but she stays busy. Thanks to the inspiration of her dearly departed friend Arthur Truluv, she has begun to teach baking classes, sharing the secrets to her delicious classic Southern yellow cake, the perfect pinwheel cookies, and other sweet essentials. Her classes have become so popular that she’s hired Iris, a new resident of Mason, Missouri, as an assistant. Iris doesn’t know how to bake but she needs to keep her mind off a big decision she sorely regrets.

When a new family moves in next door and tragedy strikes, Lucille begins to look out for Lincoln, their son. Lincoln’s parents aren’t the only ones in town facing hard choices and uncertain futures. In these difficult times, the residents of Mason come together and find the true power of community—just when they need it the most.

“Elizabeth Berg’s characters jump right off the page and into your heart” said Fannie Flagg about The Story of Arthur Truluv. The same could be said about Night of Miracles, a heartwarming novel that reminds us that the people we come to love are often the ones we don’t expect.

Praise for Night of Miracles

“Happy, sad, sweet and slyly funny, [Night of Miracles] celebrates the nourishing comfort of community and provides a delightfully original take on the cycles of life.”—People (Book of the Week)

“Find refuge in Mason, a place blessedly free of the political chaos we now know as ‘real life.’ In Berg’s charming but far from shallow alternative reality, the focus is on the things that make life worth living: the human connections that light the way through the dark of aging, bereavement, illness and our own mistakes. . . . As the endearing, odd-lot characters of Mason, Missouri, coalesce into new families, dessert is served: a plateful of chocolate-and-vanilla pinwheel cookies for the soul.”—USA Today

“Full of empathy and charm, every chapter infuses the heart with a renewed sense of hope.” —Woman’s World

Ratings and reviews

Before reading Night Of Miracles, I had not read Elizabeth Berg. I immediately had to go back and read Arthur Truluv. My advise would be to read Arthur Truluv #1 first, if you can. Night Of Miracles is a complete stand alone book, but there is so much rich detail and background history in Arthur Truluv, it may add to your reading enjoyment. Elizabeth Berg has crafted such likable characters, you would be happy to have them as your neighbors. The story takes place in small town USA, Mason, Missouri. Lucille Howard, the matriarch at 93 years old, is holding the community together. She has not let her age slow her down. She has started giving cooking lessons in her home thanks to the help and encouragement of her former neighbor Arthur Truluv. When she learns her new neighbors, due to an emergency, find they need someone to watch their son, Lucille volunteers. She finds herself looking forward to spending time with Lincoln, as he is with her. As it is often the case, Lucille does not know how much she means to everyone. She is coming to the end of her life, but she still has so much to give. Elizabeth Berg has so many wonderful characters, it took me awhile to get them straight in my senior brain. LOL I struggled at the beginning, but I am so glad I didn't give up. This is such a sweet story about life, love, living and dying. I found myself with tears in my eyes and running down my checks more than once. I would highly recommend this book. I received a copy of this book from Random House Publishers through NetGalleys. The Opinions expressed in this book are my own.

Wonderful snapshot of everyday life being sublime. Ms Bergs books always remind me how miraculous humanity can be, something needed in this year 2018. Laughs & tear

About the author

Elizabeth Berg is the author of many bestselling novels, including The Story of Arthur Truluv, Open House (an Oprah’s Book Club selection), Talk Before Sleep, and The Year of Pleasures, as well as the short story collection The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted. Durable Goods and Joy School were selected as ALA Best Books of the Year. She adapted The Pull of the Moon into a play that enjoyed sold-out performances in Chicago and Indianapolis. Berg’s work has been published in thirty countries, and three of her novels have been turned into television movies. She is the founder of Writing Matters, a quality reading series dedicated to serving author, audience, and community. She teaches one-day writing workshops and is a popular speaker at venues around the country. Some of her most popular Facebook postings have been collected in Make Someone Happy and Still Happy. She lives outside Chicago.