To Love and to Cherish

The Pastor Maggie Series, Book 1

By: Barbara Edema

Narrated by: Barbara Edema

Length: 13 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

What's a young, idealistic, novice pastor got to learn from the congregation at Loving the Lord Community Church? A lot!

Twenty-six and single, Maggie Elzinga has just graduated from seminary and received a call to pastor a church in the town of Cherish, Michigan. Idealistic, impetuous, enthusiastic, and short on life experience, Maggie jumps in with both feet.

With her on the journey are a cast of colorful characters who support, amuse, and challenge her daily.

For Maggie, it's a year of firsts: first funeral, first baptism, and the hope of a first wedding. But much more awaits her at Loving the Lord Community Church and in the little town of Cherish. Parking tickets, abandoned cats, and little white lies pop up to make her question what she believes is right and good, and a sprinkling of romance provides a happy distraction.

Maggie faces her happiest moments and her deepest sorrow while serving the good people of her little church. She learns that being part of a community can be simultaneously suffocating and life-giving. Her bright attitude and hopefulness carry her through the difficult times as she becomes a full-fledged pastor.

©2018 Barbara Edema (P)2022 Barbara Edema

A gem to "love and cherish"

What a life-affirming story! The novel is full of memorable characters whose interactions and idiosyncrasies will make you smile one moment and shake your head the next. Though set in a small town, we quickly learn there are no small lives there. Pastor Maggie, newly-minted minister of the local church and central character, is gracious in her tenacity in serving and transparent in her deep affection for the people. The author, who voices this audiobook (I received a free copy with an invitation to review it), reads in a style that draws the listener in, making each listener a citizen of the town and a member of a community anyone would be happy to be part of. With Maggie there are no strangers and no one who does not belong.

Sweet Story

To Love and to Cherish is a very enjoyable story with the cozy atmosphere of a small town where everybody knows everybody. In a time of mega churches To Love and to Cherish is a reminder of the power of small tight communities and how that power can be channeled in the most amazing ways. The recording is well done and the narration is enjoyable.

A story full of charm, love, and big feelings

"To Love and to Cherish" tells the story of a young pastor (Pastor Maggie), starting her first calling in a small town church in Michigan. It's an emotional rollercoaster that will make listeners laugh, cry, and think. I received a free version of this audiobook in order to give a review.

The book follows Pastor Maggie, a young and passionate pastor, as she leads her congregation through the everyday challenges that come up in a church year. From her own personal struggles, to the congregation's relationship with each other, Maggie's joy and spirit for life brings out the goodness in everyone. This story does not shy away from big feelings, as Pastor Maggie falls in love, deals with the death of her beloved mentor, and in the end is uplifted by the congregation she has been working hard for.

I already was a fan of the written form of the Pastor Maggie series. But the audible version read by the author blew me away! In her voice, the characters really come to life. You will fall in love with Pastor Maggie, a young, energetic, bright spirited pastor working in her first church. You will fall in love with her colleagues: Hank, the good natured secretary; Irina, the quirky and opinionated organist. You will fall in love with the whole congregation - even cranky Mrs. Abernathy - and cheer them on as they learn and grow.

The story itself is well-crafted and well-paced. It moves between moments of joy, delight, sorrow, and reflection, while maintaining a nice balance between character development and plot progression. Readers will be inspired by Pastor Maggie's relentless joy and dedication, and it is sure to bring a smile to anyone who listens. Highly recommend.

A delightful and touching story

This is a delightful read that will have you rooting for the young female pastor as she finds her place in her new church and in the world. The storyline is fresh and intriguing. The characters are intricately presented so that the reader knows them in such depth that we genuinely end up caring about their lives and knowing their personality quirks and foibles. The author is wonderful at providing the context for the real-life struggles Maggie and the other characters face and then showing the reader that it is possible to develop a caring, constructive, and healing way in which to resolve what faces all of us in life so we can move forward. I would highly recommend taking the time to meet Maggie and the people who surround her.

Full of Heart and Humor

I read and adored Barbara Edema’s debut—the first in her Pastor Maggie Series—but I loved the audiobook even more. Edema brings her characters to life so beautifully, skillfully using voices so distinct you'll swear you know each character. To Have and to Hold chronicles Maggie Elzinga’s exciting and exhausting journey as a young and idealistic new pastor in the charming town of Cherish, and allows the reader a hilarious look at the quirky members of the congregation. Edema masterfully writes and narrates from the heart, creating a beautiful love story filled with warmth and tenderness and laugh-out-loud humor. Highly recommend.

Lovable story of a quaint little congregation.

I was already a fan of Edema’s first copy of To Love and to Cherish. Great performance by the author putting the voice to the diverse characters as I had imagined them to be. Lovable characters of a quaint congregation. Found myself laughing one minute then crying the next. Really rooting for Pastor Maggie and this congregation, can’t wait to hear what is in store for them next.

Rooting for Pastor Maggie and LTL

Although fiction, To Love and to Cherish is a tender tribute to a real church community in a small Michigan town. I read the print copy of the book last year but picked up many more details from the author’s skillful performance…the characters become friends in the audio version.
Newly ordained Pastor Maggie is called to Loving the Lord Church to lead the small, sometimes temperamental congregation. Maggie’s enthusiasm and affection pull the varied personalities together as they support each other through the joys and turmoil of a typical, small church. We also experience Maggie's internal struggle as she faces faith challenges and grows as a pastor.
The audio book is a self-contained story, but there are more enjoyable tales of Loving the Lord Church to be shared. I look forward to more audio books based on the Pastor Maggie print series.