Special Offer from Chronicle Books

If you’ve been around the book bloggers portion of the blogging world for any length of time you may recall that Chronicle Books has a wonderfully generous Christmas contest for said bloggers.  I am so happy to share with you a new service offered by Chronicle Books that I have every intention of utilizing for upcoming gifts myself ~ MyChronicleBooks.com.  With this site, certain products offered through Chronicle can be personalized with names and pictures.  There’s a section for babies, children, teens and unique gifts for adults that can be personalized in such a way the recipient will forever cherish the gift (even if recipient is yourself!)

With the new site comes a very nice “gift” for you, the reader: when you make a purchase   from MyChronicleBooks between now and November 15, 2012, not only will you receive 25% off your purchase, you will also receive FREE shipping! Now how’s those beans for some early Christmas shopping!?!

To take advantage of this offer use coupon code: TryMyCB!

 

And, I bet you can guess which special little fella in my life is going to be receiving one of these personalized books for Christmas!  The Jellybean has grown into a delightful Snugglebug that laughs at his own jokes (like trying on my shoes – he finds shoes especially hilarious these days – who knows why, we just laugh and enjoy the moment right along with him!)  Now my only difficulty is trying to decide what to get for Mr. Snugglebug first – the personalized growth chart or the dedicated Goodnight Goodnight Construction Site!  Thoughts? Suggestions?

Mr. Snugglebug, the ham himself!


Book Review: The Homecoming of Samuel Lake

Every once in a blue moon a book comes along that can make you laugh in one sentence and the next have you crying your heart out.  The Homecoming of Samuel Lake is one such book.  I was surprised to learn that this was written by a first-time novelist because it is that darn incredible.

Samuel Lake takes his wife Willadee and their three children to his wife’s family reunion in a small rural town in Arkansas, leaving them with her parents while he goes to the annual Methodist Convention.  Samuel expects to discover what city his family will move to for the upcoming year but instead is informed the Methodists don’t have a church for him – he’s too outspoken with views contrary to the average church, such as bringing people to church from the poorest side of town to rub elbows with everyday folk.

At the same time Samuel is discovering he is a preacher without a church, his wife’s family has a tragedy of their own during the middle of the annual reunion.  This tragedy and the loss of a church home leaves the Lake’s at Willadee’s parents’ home.  But the story truly begins when Swan Lake, Willadee and Samuel’s eleven year old daughter witnesses 8 year old neighbor, Blade, being abused by his father, Ras Ballenger.

Around the town, Ras is known as the devil – he is a cruel, evil man who enjoys beating his family into submission.  Swan and her brothers become obsessed with saving Blade from the horrific beatings from his father.  Enlisting the help of beloved characters like Grandma Calla and Uncle Toy, the Lake children spend the summer attempting to save Blade, break through the silent brick wall Uncle Toy has erected and figuring out where they belong in the world now that they are no longer “preacher’s kids.”

A beautiful book, both heart-warming and tragic – Swan has been compared to Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird and I would daresay the southernisms affectionately portrayed put me in mind of The Secret Life of Bees.  Highly recommended.

To win a copy of The Homecoming of Samuel Lake leave a comment about your favorite southern fiction novel.  Contest closes on August 5th at 11:59 pm.  Winner will be selected and notified on August 6th.

To read what other bloggers have to say about The Homecoming of Samuel Lake visit:

Tuesday, July 10th:  The House of the Seven Tails
Wednesday, July 11th:  Twisting the Lens
Thursday, July 12th:  It’s a Crazy, Beautiful Life
Monday, July 16th:  Southern Girl Reads
Wednesday, July 18th:  Bloggin’ ‘Bout Books
Thursday, July 19th:  The Lost Entwife
Monday, July 23rd:  Book Snob
Wednesday, July 25th:  Kritter’s Ramblings
Monday, July 30th:  A Novel Source
Wednesday, August 1st:  WV Stitcher
Monday, August 6th:  A Patchwork of Books
Wednesday, August 8th:  Reviews by Lola
Monday, August 13th:  A Musing Reviews
Monday, August 20th:  Colloquium
Tuesday, August 28th:  Sweet Southern Home

Book Review & Scavenger Hunt: One Breath Away

OOOOOO I’m so excited to be participating in my first book review tour scavenger hunt!!!

Click on this link to find more clues and follow the tour.

 

From One Breath Away

My grandfather tells us this isn’t going to happen. My mother is far from being able to come home from the hospital. My mom will be in Arizona until she is out of the hospital and well enough to get on a plane and come here …

 

My thoughts:

Told in alternating voices, One Breath Away will keep you glued to the pages and have you one breath away from sheer terror.  Not that it is a horror novel by any means, simply a heart-in-your-throat dramatic novel that in an age where lone gunmen commit unspeakable acts, the characters in One Breath Away will have you ‘gunning’ for a successful ending.

The characters ~

  • A lone gunmen walks into the only school in Broken Branch, Iowa.
  • A March snowstorm brews ever so closer and stronger.
  • A teacher on the cusp of retiring and enjoying life with an adoring husband.
  • A mother in a hospital recovery room a thousand miles away from wounds obtained in a freak accident.
  • Two children ‘stuck’ with their mother’s estranged father, a grandfather they never knew.
  • And a police officer with a past of her own determined to save a school-full of children.

These lives come together in the explosive novel by Heather Gudenkauf, author of These Things Hidden.

All I have to say about this one is hold onto your seat, be prepared to hold your breath and keep snacks and drink nearby cause you’re not going to want to put this one down til you read the very last sentence.  Yes, it’s that good.

Interview with Heather Gudenkauf

Q. What do you draw from to write the emotionally charged scenes in your books?

A. As I write I try to imagine what each character is thinking and feeling and I find myself getting caught up in the drama and emotion of the story. Thankfully, my dog Maxine, is always around to lighten the mood.

Q. Which character in One Breath Away do you identify with the most?

A. I’d have to say that I relate most to Mrs. Oliver since she is a teacher. I do feel a kinship to each of the women in the novel because  all are mothers. Though they are completely different characters with different personalities and experiences, they are all mothers and want what’s best for their children.

Q. If you could do it all over again, would you change anything about One Breath Away?

A. Once I finish a novel I am already moving on to the next project.  I don’t spend a lot of time looking backward, but learn something new about myself as a writer with each novel.

Q. What is your favorite part of the writing process?

A. I love developing the characters in my novels. I get out my trusty notebook and begin to jot down these thoughts and gradually the character appears upon the pages  ~ physical descriptions,  histories, likes and dislikes, hopes and fears. I live with the characters for so long while I’m writing, and sometimes my hands hover over the keyboard and I have to decide which direction to take them, it’s not necessarily the outcome I envisioned, but it’s always an adventure.

Q. What is your least favorite part of the writing process?

A. I truly love every aspect of the writing process, but even so I get stuck once in a while and wonder if I’ve written myself into a corner that I won’t be able to escape from. When this happens, I go for a walk or eat a little bit (or a lot) of  chocolate and all is well again.

 

Book Review: The Virgin Cure

Desperation will take mankind beyond any sane course of action if allowed to go unchecked.  Take, for example, the horrific phenomena in the late 1800′s of ‘curing’ such diseases as syphilis and tuberculosis by bedding a virgin! How well do you think that cure worked?!?

The Virgin Cure is the tale of Moth ‘Fenwick’ a twelve year old destitute child, daughter of a fortune-telling gypsy and run-away father.  The story begins with Moth being sold by her mother to a woman as her serving maid.  When Moth is horribly abused by the woman, the kind butler takes pity and whisks her away back to the New York slum to her mother.  Moth finds her mother gone, the rent due to the loathsome slum-lord, and nowhere to turn for help.  When Moth is about to be used for the slum-lord’s pleasures, she is ‘saved’ by a beautifully-dressed girl.  Who should her benevolent rescuer  be but a woman-child, fifteen year old ‘almost whore.’  Moth is invited to Miss Everett’s ‘infant school,’ home to young girls being prepared for their sacrifice. . .In exchange for a clean home, fresh food and beautiful clothes that actually fit, Moth is expected to entertain men of wealth. . .initially by being the model for the peep show and eventually expected to be the prized virgin up for the highest bidder.

A myriad of characters are interspersed throughout, from the circus owner to the other girls in Ms. Everett’s home to the gangs of homeless children.   Dr. Sadie, one of the very few saints ~  was dedicated to helping the young prostitutes and potentials.  Her family did not believe in her benevolent spirit, especially helping ne’er-do-wells like child prostitutes!  But Dr. Sadie persevered and dedicated her practice to healing the broken bodies of the children in Ms. Everett’s boarding house and the influx of immigrants along Chrystie Street and in the Bowery.

The story was told in a unique perspective – from Moth, but through Dr. Sadie’s journal.  Small vignettes of information are included as if Dr. Sadie were jotting notes.  I found the story to be fascinating and different – few novels out there focus on the plight of children in the late 1800s, much less how “child abuse” came about as a societal concern. . .would you believe the focus on animal cruelty came about in 1866 while the focus on child cruelty did not come to light until 1874! (since my days of working in the child abuse field this lapse has always baffled me!) So I was a champion for this book even before reading it ~ with that said, the voice of Moth at times seemed much older than age twelve.  Granted, she was virtually homeless, sold by a mother who never showed her any affection, and thrust into a world no child should ever witness or be privy to.  Still, I thought she was wiser beyond her years.

The Virgin Cure is compelling, historically realistic with absorbing prose.  One additional minor aspect I did not like was the name “Moth.”  There is a sweet story about the way her father chooses the name, but for the lack of love in the home and for the child it would have seemed more appropriate had the mother chosen such a buggy name. . .Just a little pet peeve I had . . .otherwise a quite engaging novel!

Follow the Blog Tour for The Virgin Cure

 

Many thanks to the publisher for the complimentary review copy.

 

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