cover image God's Guest List

God's Guest List

Debbie Macomber, S&S/Howard, $23 (208p) ISBN 978-1-4391-0896-3

New York Times bestselling author Macomber—with more than 100 million books in print—started out with a list of 30 people she wanted to meet. Yet she was often disappointed when she met them. "I had misplaced my admiration," she writes. That's when God prompted her to make a blank list of people he'd send into her life. "From that point on I've looked deeply into each face I meet," she writes. She records her encounters here, along with stories of others' encounters, tales of historical figures, and more. Macomber uses her considerable storytelling ability to encourage and inspire, sharing anecdotes of meeting folks from New Orleans chef Tory McPhail to a childhood friend she reconnects with. Stories are divided into themed parts such as prickly people, children, family, colleagues, and business associates; each part includes "Take Note" and "RSVP" sections offering to-do advice and spiritual application. Macomber offers readers her signature charm and sincerity (she shares her struggles with weight and also her children's struggles), always urging readers to "look for His fingerprints on your own life." (Nov.)