Welcome to the Follower Love Giveaway Hop 2012!

Through Wednesday, February 15, 2011, at 12:01 a.m., you are invited to enter to win a $15 Amazon gift certificate!

The Follower Love Giveaway Hop is hosted by Inspired Kathy at I am a Reader, Not a Writer and author Rachael Renee Anderson.

Mandatory Entry:

Post a comment in which you describe one special thing that you plan to do for a loved one this Valentine’s Day! (Your entry will not count unless you post an appropriate comment.) Then submit your entry utilizing the Rafflecopter widget. Bonus entries are available, as well!

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Visit all the participating blogs:

On the Same Topic:

• Follower Love Giveaway Hop 2011
• Book Review and Giveaway: The Legacy of Eden
• Book Review and Giveaway: Chasing Mona Lisa
• Book Review and Giveaway: A Whisper to a Scream
• Book Review and Giveaway: In Leah’s Wake

Technorati Tags: Book Giveaways, Follower Love Giveaway Hop

Synopsis:

Meredith, along with her two older sisters, Claudia and Ava, has not visited her childhood home, Aurelia (latin for “Golden”), in over a decade. A scuptor, Meredith resides in New York City, but has received word that the family farm her grandmother, Lavinia, so cherished will now be put on the auction block to pay off debts incurred by her first cousin, Cal, Jr., after he inherited Aurelia. But Cal, Jr. has been killed in an automobile accident.

Now Meredith must decide whether she has the fortitude to return the place where she enjoyed an idyllic childhood — until she was seven years old, at least. Aurelia comprised more than three thousand acres of golden Iowa cornfields. The Hathaway family was revered in the community for its success and, as a child, Meredith understood that, and felt special and privileged.

But now the farm lies in ruin and none of the surviving family members want anything to do with the land or the memories they carry with them. Yet Meredith feels she must return — perhaps to assuage her own guilt? She finds herself thrust back into the legacy of her determined, ruthless grandmother’s dream of elevating the family name to a place of honor, respectability, and prosperity — at any cost.

Review:

Author Nelle Davy

Meredith cared for the grandmother as she became elderly and frail. Sometimes coherent, sometimes not, Lavinia rambled on about the past, she revealed to Meredith the dark secrets she had zealously guarded — in some instances, for decades — beginning with how Lavinia met and married Meredith’s grandfather and how he came to inherit the family farm. Snippets of Meredith’s conversations with Lavinia are juxtaposed against the story of generations of Hathaways living and working together on Aurelia.

At the outset it is clear that Meredith and her two sisters are estranged, and none of them want to deal with the wreck that Aurelia has become, especially if it means returning there. Davy also immediately reveals that something horrible happened to Ava for which she blames Meredith. The source of Meredith’s guilt quickly becomes clear, but that is far from the end of this family saga. Finding out how the sisters’ lives amid people who, in Davy’s words, are willing to “sacrifice each other for their own ends” is intriguing and rewarding.

I chose to structure the novel this way because ultimately this is a tale about the women, and each of them has a pivotal role in their family’s history.…Though the farm is governed by men, it is the women who make this story, who guide their present, and who are instrumental in shaping their history.
~ Author Nelle Davy

The Legacy of Eden is a morality play about a woman who grows up wanting much and sets out to make herself the envy of all her neighbors. Lavinia is socially awkward, but escapes her family of origin at the age of nineteen by marrying the town doctor who is thirty years her senior. That fails to improve her standing in the community, but when she recognizes an opportunity to establish herself as a member of the Hathaway family, she seizes it, abandoning not only her husband, but her very identity. She remains a recluse on the farm, as she convinces her new husband to erect a stately home on the land and gives birth to two sons, sure that they will be rightful heirs to the dynasty she is building. Lavinia is not just determined; she is ruthless.

Claudia, Ava, and Meredith, daughters of Lavinia’s son, Theo, are oblivious to the scheming and plotting of their grandmother. They are loved by their parents and content growing up in one of the smaller houses on the property as their father works the land with his brother, Ethan, and their grandfather. But when their father dies suddenly, their world collapses. As their mother struggles with her grief, Lavinia steps in, but the void left by their father is never filled and Meredith frequently ponders if things might have turned out differently had Theo lived.

Davy’s matriarchal drama features portraits of women who approach motherhood from vastly different perspectives. Lavinia’s domineering, manipulative personality is juxtaposed against that of her daughter-in-law, Georgia-May, who tolerates Ethan’s abuse until she reaches her own breaking point. Julia, the stepdaughter Lavinia despised from the outset, falls victim to Lavinia’s scheme to drive her away from Aurelia, abandoning her own child in the process and setting the stage for devastating events that play out years later. Piper, Lavinia’s never-married, powerless sister-in-law is a mother-figure to the girls, as well, while their own mother surprises them — and readers — when she becomes ensnared in Lavinia’s plot to ensure the future viability of Aurelia.

Ultimately, Meredith and her sisters must resolve their past, each in her own way, but it is Meredith’s journey that is at the heart of The Legacy of Eden. Haunted by the ghosts of the family members who played significant roles in her formative years, Meredith returns to Aurelia to face her demons, seeking closure and forgiveness. She has lived with the knowledge she gained during her grandmother’s final days but must make peace with the brutal reality that, despite all of Lavinia’s machinations, The Legacy of Eden is that nothing good comes from ill-gotten gains and personal sacrifice means nothing when it is undertaken at the expense of others. The Legacy of Eden is a multi-layered, tautly constructed story filled with intriguing characters and numerous plot twists. It is an impressive first work and I look forward to reading more from Davy.

Reading Challenges:
2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge
2012 50 Books in a Year Reading Challenge
2012 Free Reads Challenge

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one copy of The Legacy of Eden free of charge from the author in conjunction with the Media Muscle review and virtual book tour program. I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own. This disclosure complies with 16 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Enter to Win a Copy of The Legacy of Eden

Author Nelle Davy has generously provided one copy of The Legacy of Eden to be awarded to a lucky Colloquium reader! To enter, post a comment in which you answer this question:

What is your all-time favorite dramatic family saga?

Submit your entry utilizing the Rafflecopter widget. Note: The book can only be mailed to a United States street address. It cannot be mailed to a post office box.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Entries will be accepted until Monday, February 20, 2012, at 12:01 a.m.

On the Same Topic:

• Book Review and Giveaway: Chasing Mona Lisa
• Book Review and Giveaway: A Whisper to a Scream
• Book Review and Giveaway: In Leah’s Wake
• Book Review: The Shadow of Your Smile
• Book Review and Giveaway: The Keeper

Technorati Tags: 2012 50 Books in a Year Reading Challenge, 2012 Free Reads Challenge, 2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge, Book Giveaways, Book Reviews, Media Muscle, Nelle Davy, The Legacy of Eden

Synopsis:

France is in Germany’s grip, but Bernard Rousseau and his fellow members of the Resistance are determined to see France freed from Nazi control and restored to its pre-World War II glory. Bernard would do anything to secure his country’s liberation, including risking his own life to stop a train loaded with priceless French works of art from leaving Paris, bound for Germany.

Two years later, August 1944, liberation is assured. Swiss agents Eric Hofstadler and Gabi Mueller are en route to France to deliver supplies on behalf of the Red Cross. Meanwhile, Colette Perriard is hard at work as a curator in the Louvre, from which some of France’s most famous valuable works of art were secreted away when Nazi occupation of France became an eventuality. Now she struggles through each day, eagerly anticipating the departure of the Germans who direct her work at the famed museum.

The world’s most treasured painting, the Mona Lisa, is tucked safely away at a secret location, but is about to become the object of intrigue and sabotage — a bargaining chip in Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring’s desperate plan to escape Germany and the punishment that surely awaits him for his war crimes and a pawn in a high-stakes political gambit led by Bernard to discredit Charles de Gaulle and the Gaullists in order to prevent them from assuming power after Allied troops liberate France.

Review:

Author Tricia Goyer

The story begins with Bernard’s exploits. He is principled, dedicated, and prepared to risk his very life for the sake of seeing France freed from German control so that it can reemerge as a Communist nation. Meanwhile, Eric and Gabi are OSS agents who have faced danger and found love together, while Colette is determined to endure the German occupation for the sake of her career as a curator in which she has worked hard to establish herself and the precious artworks she is equally determined to safeguard. Although she knows the whereabouts of the paintings that were whisked away to safekeeping, she is sworn to secrecy. It is not immediately apparent how the three stories relate to each other, but patient readers are rewarded when Eric and Gabi encounter Bernard, who has been involved with Colette.

Author Mike Yorkey

Chasing Mona Lisa is a well-researched thriller loaded with narrow escapes, shocking plot developments, and poignant moments in which the characters’ humanity makes them hauntingly sympathetic, all set against the backdrop of a proud country torn apart by war. The story was inspired by real events — the Mona Lisa was spirited from place to place to keep it from falling into Germans hands and indeed did hang over a little girl’s bed for a time — as well as actual historical figures. But Goyer and Yorkey have vividly imagined and expertly brought to life an escapade that could have unfolded during that tumultuous period. That is what makes Chasing Mona Lisa so entertaining.

Reading Challenges:
2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge
2012 50 Books in a Year Reading Challenge
2012 Free Reads Challenge

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one copy of Chasing Mona Lisa free of charge from the author in conjunction with the Litfuse Publicity Group’s review and virtual book tour program. I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own. This disclosure complies with 16 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Enter to Win a Copy of Chasing Mona Lisa

Authors Tricia Goyer and Mike Yorkey have generously provided one copy of Chasing Mona Lisa to be awarded to a lucky Colloquium reader! To enter, post a comment in which you answer this question:

Have you read any of Tricia Goyer’s other books? If so, which is your favorite?

Submit your entry utilizing the Rafflecopter widget. Note: The book can only be mailed to a United States street address. It cannot be mailed to a post office box.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Entries will be accepted until Monday, February 6, 2012, at 12:01 a.m.

On the Same Topic:

• Book Review and Giveaway: The Legacy of Eden
• Book Review: The Shadow of Your Smile
• Book Review and Giveaway: A Whisper to a Scream
• Book Review and Giveaway: In Leah’s Wake
• Book Review and Giveaway: The Keeper

Technorati Tags: 2012 50 Books in a Year Reading Challenge, 2012 Free Reads Challenge, 2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge, Book Giveaways, Book Reviews, Chasing Mona Lisa, Litfuse Publicity, Mike Yorkey, Tricia Goyer

Synopsis:

Noelle Hueston has no idea how she got to the hospital or why she is there. She believes that she is a twenty-one-year-old college student majoring in art and insists that the nurses tell her when her parents will be arriving to take her back to school.

In reality, Noelle has been married to Eli for twenty-five years and raised three children, Kyle, Kelsey, and Kirby. En route home from Duluth to Deep Haven, the northern Minnesota hamlet where Eli served as sheriff for many years and Kyle has recently become a deputy, Noelle was the victim of a violent crime. Her confusion is the result of amnesia caused by head trauma. Whether she will regain her memories is uncertain.

What is certain is that Noelle and Eli were estranged from each other at the time of her accident. In fact, Eli was not even aware that she had made the trip to Duluth and now he is left wondering what she was doing there. Worse, Eli struggles with how to explain the past three years to Noelle — how much should he reveal to her and when? And he wonders what their future holds if Noelle has forever lost her memories of Kelsey, who was brutally murdered three years ago. Eli has spent the intervening years sleeping in the basement, escaping to his ice house, and spending two much time with Lee, the widow of Clay Nelson, the officer who also lost his life on that terrible day. Although Lee values the assistance Eli provides with chopping wood, plowing the driveway to the log cabin she shared with Clay, and other chores, she has felt herself increasingly drawn to the husband of her good friend and knows their shared loneliness and grief have inspired their deepening friendship.

Because Noelle has lost her memory, she cannot identify her assailants, but they don’t know that. Kyle is determined to catch those responsible before they locate Noelle and attempt to keep her from revealing their identity.

Review:

Author Susan May Warren

Prolific Christian author Susan May Warren challenges readers to ponder those questions in The Shadow of Your Smile, the story of Noelle Hueston. For most of their marriage, Noelle and Eli were happy. He served as the sheriff of Deep Haven and she devoted herself to raising their three children and serving as a volunteer. Kyle was a local basketball star who earned a college scholarship and Kirby seems destined to follow in his footsteps, while the beautiful Kelsey dreamed of a future as a singer-songwriter with her best friend, Emma Nelson. The Nelsons and Huestons enjoyed a close personal and professional relationship. In an instant, their lives were shattered when both Kelsey and Clay were brutally murdered.

Warren explores the aftermath of the tragedy from the perspective of each of the characters as Noelle struggles to remember the last twenty-five years. Eli is wracked with survivor guilt, convinced that he should have done more in his role as the local sheriff to prevent the violent crime that claimed the lives of his only daughter and best friend. His regrets and inability to share his emotions with his wife helped drive a wedge between them — he distanced himself from Noelle and gravitated toward Clay’s widow, Lee.

You have the unique chance … to break down all the barriers of the past and begin again. Don’t run from it.
The Shadow of Your Smile

Kyle lost his way for a time, as well. His basketball dreams in the past, he decided to pursue a career in law enforcement and has returned home to Deep Haven as a deputy sheriff. While in the process of moving from Minneapolis back to his home town, a chance meeting with Emma Nelson, Kelsey’s best friend and musical partner, causes Kyle to ponder why he never really noticed her in high school. But Emma is determined never to return to Deep Haven, convinced that the town holds no appeal and can never figure prominently in her future.

Noelle’s life is like a huge puzzle — she works, once piece at a time, to establish a picture of who she became during the years that she can no longer remember. There are some humorous aspects to her journey, including the moment when she finally looks in the mirror and finds that the face staring back at her is no longer twenty-one years old. She is as appalled by the body that has carried three children and been impacted by the passage of time, as well as gravity, as well as the age-appropriate wardrobe selections she discovers in her closet. There are also heartbreaking and poignant moments, such as when she learns that her parents will not be coming to the hospital because they are both deceased.

The core of Warren’s tale is, however, the issue of whether Eli and Noelle can find their way back to each other and the happy marriage they once shared. Initially repulsed by Eli, Noelle’s gradual appreciation of the man to whom she has devoted herself for so many years feels authentic and believable. So too does Eli’s self-reproach and eventual acceptance of responsibility for his own part in the marriage’s breakdown. The Huestons are revealed as having been a quintessential American family, neither perfect nor without problems, but loving and committed to each other and the life they have built in Deep Haven. Whether that life is worth reclaiming is very much in doubt at the outset of the story. The juxtaposition with the secondary storyline — the need to identify and apprehend Noelle’s assailants before they can further harm her — holds reader interest and keep the action moving.

Ultimately, as with Warren’s other books, the real key to the success of The Shaadow of Your Smile is her characters’ flawed humanity. Their challenges are believable, their redemption not at all assured at the beginning of the book. Their journey to peace is both interesting and compelling. Because the characters are essentially likable, readers will find themselves hoping they will at least be able to process their grief and forgive each other. The resilience of the human spirit and promise of hope through faith are very much evident in Warren’s work, but prominently so in The Shadow of Your Smile. That’s enough reason to build a fire, make a cup of hot cocoa, and curl up on the coach on a winter’s afternoon to get to know the good folks of Deep Haven, Minnesota.

Reading Challenges:
2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge
2012 50 Books in a Year Reading Challenge
2012 Free Reads Challenge

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one electronic copy of The Shadow of Your Smile free of charge from the author in conjunction with the Litfuse Publicity Group’s review and virtual book tour program. I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own. This disclosure complies with 16 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

On the Same Topic:

• Book Review and Giveaway: Chasing Mona Lisa
• Book Review and Giveaway: The Legacy of Eden
• Book Review and Giveaway: The Keeper
• Book Review and Giveaway: A Whisper to a Scream
• Book Review and Giveaway: In Leah’s Wake

Technorati Tags: 2012 50 Books in a Year Reading Challenge, 2012 Free Reads Challenge, 2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge, Book Reviews, Litfuse Publicity, Susan May Warren, The Shadow of Your Smile

Synopsis:

Julia Lapp is twenty-one years old and looking forward to her November marriage to Paul Fisher, whom she has loved practically all of her life. Julia is confident of her feelings for Paul and their future together. They were to have married last year, but Paul asked to postpone the wedding. Julie is convinced Paul was persuaded by The Bee Man, Roman “Rome” Troyer, who never settles down, instead roaming from place to place with his hives of brown bees. Seems that whenever Rome shows up, Amish men get cold feet and weddings are either called off entirely or rescheduled.

The eldest of Amos and the late Maggie Lapp’s children, Julia shoulders a great deal of responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of Windmill Farm now that Amos has been diagnosed with a serious cardiac disorder. At only fifty years of age, Amos refuses to place his name on a transplant waiting list, even though a new heart is his only hope for recovery. Son Menno, 17, works hard but requires constant supervision and direction due to his unspecified mental disability, while fourteen-year-old Sadie tries to recreate some of their mother’s favorite recipes. Little Mary Kate, known affectionately as M.K., is a high-spirited and precocious eleven year old.

As the story opens, Julia’s worst nightmare again comes true. Paul asks to postpone their wedding yet again! And sure enough, Rome is back in the region! A stern, nonsense woman named Fern arrives to manage the household, banishing Sadie from the kitchen and putting Amos on a strict cardiac-healthy diet. She seems to be acquainted with Rome who, before long, is ensconced in the family cottage, helping out around the farm while his bees pollinate the orchards, and rapidly becoming, along with Fern, practically a member of the Lapp family.

But Rome is hiding a six-year secret that explains his refusal to settle down, instead preferring a nomadic lifestyle sans commitment to anyone or any place. And there is a mysterious man in a panama hat lurking around Stoney Ridge. Who is he and why is he so interested in the Lapp family?

Review:

Author Suzanne Woods Fisher

Patriarch Amos has fallen ill, but refuses to place his name on a transplant waiting list because he believes God is revealing to him that his time to die is approaching. He refuses to be the beneficiary of a new heart because another individual would have to die in order for him to live, and he does not believe that can possibly be God’s will for his life. Once a healthy, robust farmer, he is wasting away before his children’s eyes and they are powerless to convince him to allow medical science to intervene.

Julia, the eldest, is a delicate-appearing beauty with inner strength and determination that will serve her well as her family faces its greatest crisis. She has always loved Paul Fisher, but believes that his meddling mother, Edith, along with “Roamin’ Roman” Troyer, has convinced Paul to insist that their wedding be postponed a second time. Edith accused her of being prideful about the price that her beautiful quilt fetched during last year’s auction, causing Julia to stop quilting altogether and instead focus on the family garden from which she sells produce by the roadside each day. She has absolutely no use for Rome, who is ruggedly handsome, a perpetual flirt, and the source of consternation for several local brides-to-be.

What Julia does not realize is that Rome conceals the unrelenting grief born out of a profound loss that compelled him to begin traveling from place to place six years earlier. Rome believes that if he never puts down roots and avoids developing attachments to others, he cannot be hurt so deeply again. He is determined to keep moving, unencumbered and free from emotional entanglements, in order to protect the tender heart that he hides so well.

Meanwhile, little M.K. steals virtually every scene in the book with her realistic and mischievous schemes. She is a little dynamo, determined to get Paul and Julia back together so that the big sister she adores will again be happy. She connives Rome into championing her cause, hiring him to offer Julia rides in his buggy and be seen with her in order to make Paul jealous. Rome plays along, not realizing that by doing so, he is placing his own heart in jeopardy.

And then there is “Stern Fern,” as M.K. dubs her, who takes over the Lapp home like a military general, issuing orders, delegating chores, and dispensing advice that proves, time and again, to be both perfectly timed and insightful. She’s a “Mrs. Doubtfire” who does not need to don a costume each morning. Like Rome, she harbors both a secret and a very big heart beats under her gruff exterior — her oft-cited wisdom has been hard-earned.

Rome is corresponding with the mysterious R.W. who has offered to buy the family farm he abandoned back in Ohio at an exorbitant price, well above market value. But why? What do R.W.‘s cryptic messages mean and why would he/she be willing to spend so much money to acquire his family’s land?

Fisher reveals clues to the various mysteries at play in The Keeper at expertly timed intervals, amping up reader interest with each subtle hint. That Rome and Julia will fall for each other comes as no surprise, but that does not spoil the charming way that the two characters come to appreciate their feelings. Fisher includes other plot twists and turns so deftly that The Keeper is elevated from what could have been a formulaic story to a delightful tale about an endearing group of people, each of whom is searching in a unique way for his or her destiny. It is the characters’ humanity that keeps the pages turning rapidly and, ultimately, makes readers care deeply about the Lapps, as well as Rome, Fern and even R.W.

As with Fisher’s other Amish fiction, the characters’ deep and abiding faith is seamlessly woven into the fabric of their lives and the manner in which they conduct themselves, enriching the story for those readers who share similar beliefs while simultaneously making it fully enjoyable for those who have divergent viewpoints. Fisher tenderly explores issues including the ethics of organ transplantation, caring for a special needs child, forgiveness in the face of unspeakable tragedy, and healing after suffering crippling loss in a thoroughly entertaining, never preachy fashion, making The Keeper a lovely surprise. Book Two, The Haven, is set for an August 2012 release and focuses on Sadie. I definitely look forward to reading that next installment in the series.

Reading Challenges:
2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge
2012 50 Books in a Year Reading Challenge
2012 Free Reads Challenge

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one copy of The Keeper free of charge from the author in conjunction with the Litfuse Publicity Group’s review and virtual book tour program. I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own. This disclosure complies with 16 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Enter to Win a Copy of The Keeper

Author Suzanne Woods Fisher has generously provided one electronic or print copy of The Keeper to be awarded to a lucky Colloquium reader! Submit your entry utilizing the Rafflecopter widget. (The book can only be mailed to a United States street address. It cannot be mailed to a post office box.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Entries will be accepted until Monday, January 23, 2012, at 12:01 a.m.

On the Same Topic:

• Book Review and Giveaway: Chasing Mona Lisa
• Book Review: The Shadow of Your Smile
• Book Review and Giveaway: A Whisper to a Scream
• Book Review and Giveaway: The Legacy of Eden
• Book Review and Giveaway: In Leah’s Wake

Technorati Tags: 2012 50 Books in a Year Reading Challenge, 2012 Free Reads Challenge, 2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge, Book Review Party Wednesday, Litfuse Publicity, Suzanne Woods Fisher, The Keeper

Sarah Anderson loves her two young children, but feels much of the time like she has lost herself. She hesitates to tell people that she is a stay-at-home mother because of the reactions that announcement often provokes. Her husband, Tom, travels extensively for business and works long hours, often coming home to regale her with stories of his workplace accomplishments without even asking how their children’s day was. Even when he is at home, he spends hours holed away in his study and Sarah wonders if he will ever realize how much of their boys’ lives he is missing as he manages a series of projects for the tech company that employs him and she shoulders increasing responsibility for managing their home.

Sarah decides to join a book club devoted to discussing classics as a way of getting out of the house and having some time to herself just one evening per month — if, that is, she can manage to stay away long enough to read the books selected by the group.

Meanwhile, Annie Jacobs is growing increasingly desperate to have a child. At 37, she and her lawyer husband, John, have achieved career success and traveled the world together, as well as purchased and decorated a beautiful five-bedroom home, during their sixteen-year marriage. Annie is ready to enter the next phase of her life: motherhood — if only her body would cooperate. Pressure from John’s family, who insist that he play Santa each year because he is the only sibling who does not have a child of his own thus far, and Annie’s strained relationship with her emotionally distant mother add to her frustrations. Rather than consider adoption, Annie insists upon commencing fertility treatments — no matter what the cost, financially or to her marriage.

Like Sarah, Annie seeks a brief respite from the rigors of her life as a member of The Bibliophiles, led by the eccentric and formidable Edwina Hipplewhite.

Review:

Author Karen Wojcik Berner

Berner’s two lead characters are believable, their plights sympathetic. Sarah is the everywoman to whom many female readers will easily relate. She wonders what happened to the woman she used to be before she began answering to a new name, “Mom.” That she loves her children unconditionally is never in question, but she struggles to balance her responsibilities against her growing need to reclaim just a slight bit of her former self. Her resentment of husband Tom’s detachment from their home, children’s lives, and marriage grates on Sarah in an entirely realistic manner. More sad than angry, Sarah realizes how much he is missing, as are their sons, while longing for the husband she still loves and desires. When Tom accepts a long-term assignment in Boston, Sarah soldiers on at home. In one heart-breaking and poignant moment, she observes that “Dada” has vanished from her toddler son’s vocabulary in the wake of Tom’s extended absences.

[T]he idea of an overwhelmed stay-at-home mom (Sarah) came to me in the shower, probably because it was the only time I had two minutes to myself since my kids were very young at the time. I’m sure many of you can relate.
~ Author Karen Wojcik Berner

In contrast, Annie has until recently focused on her career with a public relations firm. She and John, a litigator anxious to become a partner in the law firm where he is employed, consciously chose to defer child-rearing while they enjoyed being a couple and attained a modicum of financial comfort. It never occurred to Annie that they would experience “unexplained fertility.” With each month that passes without a positive pregnancy test, Annie becomes increasingly fixated on conceiving a child. She convinces John to undergo testing and submit to expensive, invasive, and humiliating fertility treatments. For John, the stakes are not nearly as high — he would gladly explore adoption — even though he is also disappointed and baffled by their circumstances. Hormone treatments exasperate Annie’s erratic behavior, which threatens to derail her career. Simultaneously, John launches into professional hyper-drive. He is determined to make partner, but also seeks refuge from their increasingly strained marital relationship. Berner’s depiction of a couple mired in grief and aggravation, helpless to stem the tide of resentments, blame, and emotional isolation when they need each other most is the highlight of A Whisper to a Scream.

Against the backdrop of marital and maternal disappointments, Sarah and Annie learn from each other. While the issues explored by Berner are certainly neither new nor novel, she strikes just the right balance with characters whose problems are genuine, their emotional struggles compelling. Sarah is the more empathetic of the two, simply because she is more selfless and, despite her frustrations, never loses sight of what is most important in her life. Annie, meanwhile, teeters on the edge of narcissistic compulsion, but Berner deftly refuses to allow the character to spin completely out of control, reminding readers that fertility treatments have exacted a horrific toll upon Annie’s body, in addition to her psyche. A couple of surprising plot twists propel the story forward, although it does end abruptly.

A Whisper to a Scream is entertaining and its assortment of supporting characters intriguing, which bodes well for the next planned installment, How Long ‘Til My Soul Gets It Right? Therein, Berner will relay the story of Catherine Elbert, a would-be actress acquainted with rejection. Future volumes will focus upon the lives of other members of the book club. A Whisper to a Scream sets a realistic, compelling and promising tone for the series.

Reading Challenges:
2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge
2012 50 Books in a Year Reading Challenge
2012 Free Reads Challenge

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one electroniccopy of A Whisper to a Scream free of charge from the author in conjunction with the WOW! Women on Writing review and virtual book tour program. I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own. This disclosure complies with 16 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Enter to Win a Copy of A Whisper to a Scream

Author Karen Wojcik Berner has generously provided one electronic or print copy of A Whisper to a Scream to be awarded to a lucky Colloquium reader! Submit your entry utilizing the Rafflecopter widget. (A print copy of the book can only be mailed to a United States or Canadian street address. It cannot be mailed to a post office box.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks to all who participated!

On the Same Topic:

• Book Review and Giveaway: The Legacy of Eden
• Book Review and Giveaway: Chasing Mona Lisa
• Book Review and Giveaway: In Leah’s Wake
• Book Review: The Shadow of Your Smile
• Book Review and Giveaway: The Keeper

Technorati Tags: 2012 50 Books in a Year Reading Challenge, 2012 Free Reads Challenge, 2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge, A Whisper to a Scream, Book Giveaways, Book Review Party Wednesday, Book Reviews, Karen Wojcik Berner, WOW! Women on Writing

My special guest author today is Karen Wojcik Berner, whose debut novel, A Whisper to a Scream, is getting rave reviews!

A Whisper to a Scream is the story of two women, Sarah Anderson and Annie Jacobs, who, at first glance, appear to have nothing in common. Sarah is a stay-at-home mother of two while, at 37, Annie has been trying without success to conceive her first child. Annie and her husband, John, made their careers a priority, delaying parenthood, but now it may be too late for them to ever have a child of their own. Meanwhile, Sarah is a stay-at-home mother whose husband, Tom, travels extensively for business and works long hours, leaving Sarah to shoulder the bulk of the responsibility for their home and young sons. Sarah and Annie meet when both decide to join a book club devoted to reading and discussing classics.

In A Whisper to a Scream Berner explores the women’s very different perspectives on motherhood, marriage, and “a yearning that might start as a vague notion, but eventually grows into an unbearable, vociferous cry.”

Five Editing Rules for Grammarphobes

by
Karen Wojcik Berner

Thank you so much, JHS, for inviting me to be a guest author today. I am very excited to be here at Colloquium.

I am a word nerd. I love playing with them, moving them around until the sentence reads just so. Can’t help myself.

I know many people are not, and that is understandable. I don’t like to fish, for example, no matter how much fun my father says it is. However, while fishing is not a necessity for everyone, writing most definitely is. Think about how many times a day you use it. Email. Texting. Work presentations. Research papers. Holiday newsletters. Facebook updates. The list is endless.

“Editing for Grammarphobes” is a frequent feature on my blog, Bibliophilic Blather. I know I am neither Strunk nor White, but I can share some things I have learned over my many years as a magazine editor, freelance writer, and English major.

Here is my list of the top five grammar mistakes.

Punctuating decades. From television to billboards to even print journalism, people all around the country have been exposed to it for so long, the wrong way has become commonplace. It should read 1980s, not 1980’s. An apostrophe s signifies possession. Decades do not own anything. It should read ‘80s, not 80’s. The apostrophe replaces the missing numerals.

Confusing possessives with plurals. Continuing with “apostrophes gone wild,” I have seen many a holiday card signed “From the Smith’s.” From the Smith’s what? Again, the apostrophe s is supposed to signify possession, not make something plural. A simple s will do just fine. It should read “From the Smiths.”

Homophones. Do you remember what a homophone is? They are words that sound the same, but are spelled differently. Homophones can trip up even the most seasoned of writers. And what is worse, they are never picked up by spell check. The most common homophones are to, two, and too and their, they’re and there.

Redundancies. They clog our writing, weighing it down in unnecessary muck, much like what triple cheeseburgers with bacon and mayonnaise do to our arteries. Examples include ATM machine (the acronym is automated teller machine already, right?), my own personal opinion (who else’s opinion are you qualified to give?), and 7:00 p.m. at night (p.m. already signifies evening).

Spelling. These words trip up even the most seasoned editors.

Top 25 Most Commonly Misspelled Words

accommodate
consensus
acknowledgment
argument
commitment
deductible
dependent
embarrass
harass
liaison
separate
withdrawal
equipment
gauge
lightning
minuscule
achieve
committee
definitely
surprise
weird
supersede
existence
privilege
publicly

Remember, no matter who you are or what you do, everyone writes.

Meet Karen

Author Karen Wojcik Berner

Karen’s first published novel, A Whisper to a Scream, is the initial installment in The Bibliophiles Series, inspired by her fascination with people’s journeys to the places where we encounter them and desire to understand how people’s pasts impact their present-day lives. “So I decided to bring a group of people together, bound only by their love of classic literature, and see what happened,” she says. The next book, How Long ‘Til My Soul Gets It Right?, is scheduled for release this coming spring. Four more titles are scheduled to follow, each focused upon a different character who is a member of the book club.

You can connect with Karen on her website or blog, Bibliophilic Blather, or by emailing her (karen at karenberner dot com).

Thank you, Karen!

Thanks also to Jodi Webb at WOW! Women on Writing.

Be sure to visit Colloquium tomorrow, Tuesday, January, 10, 2012, to read my review of A Whisper to a Scream and enter to win your own copy, graciously provided by the author!

On the Same Topic:

• Book Review and Giveaway: A Whisper to a Scream
• Guest Post and Giveaway: The Fire of Suicide
• Guest Post: Remembering Jesus at Christmas
• Guest Post and Giveaway: Opening Doors
• Guest Post: Finding Your Inner Scheherazade

Technorati Tags: A Whisper to a Scream, Guest Authors, Guest Posts, Karen Wojcik Berner, WOW! Women on Writing

Leah Tyler has an excellent future, full of possibilities. An accomplished soccer player — the best on her high school team — she is poised to earn a college scholarship, possibly to Harvard University. She is beautiful, has always maintained good grades, and been responsible. But she is tiring of soccer and her father, Will’s, drive to see her lead her team to the state championship and attend an Ivy League university. He dropped out of college, forfeiting an athletic scholarship and has always regretted it, so he does not want his daughter to repeat his mistakes.

Justine is a twelve-year-old eighth-grader who, like her sister, maintains excellent grades and stays out of trouble. She is a devout Catholic, about to be confirmed, has been selected to give a speech during the confirmation service. Meanwhile, Zoe, the girls’ mother, works as a counselor and presents motivational workshops.

When Leah begins to rebel, the family’s status quo is shattered. First, Leah cuts soccer practice, telling her father that she is burnt out on the game and the disciplined practice and game regimen it requires. Worse, she begins hanging out with a troublesome group of kids, including Todd Corbett, an older boy with a criminal record. Leah’s coach is angry and disturbed by Leah’s behavior, her grades slip, and she becomes openly defiant and disrespectful toward her parents. Her father reacts with angry threats, while her mother struggles to understand why her daughter is changing so dramatically — both of them feel completely helpless and symied, as their own relationship deteriorates under the strain of trying to stop Leah’s life from completely derailing. Meanwhile, Justine, who has always idolized her big sister, becomes increasingly lost, wondering why her parents seem to have forgotten that they have two daughters.

Review:

Author Terri Guiliano Long

In Leah’s Wake is told from the perspective of each of the four members of the Tyler family. Will’s primary reaction to Leah’s sudden irresponsibility and acting out is rage. He yells, he threatens, he attempts to reassert boundaries, all to no avail. When his efforts prove futile, in addition to failing to meet with his wife’s approval or support, he retreats from his family. Already traveling frequently on business, he begins drinking more and flirting with barmaids, contemplating the idea of a dalliance. Long’s portrayal of a committed family man who has become lost and bewildered rings true.

Zoe also retreats in her own manner. Following an accident while jogging, she relies increasingly on pain killers to numb her emotions and withdraw from her professional and family responsibilities. She is believably heartbroken, but unsuccessfully tries to stop Will from pushing Leah further away from them. Her methods — trying to be understanding and sympathetic while bribing Leah with expensive gifts — are, however, equally unavailing. She seeks solace in the friendship of the police officer who intercedes and develops an interest in Zoe that exceeds the bounds of professionalism. Like Will, Zoe’s reactions are completely believable.

The reality is that Leah, a confused high school junior lured into a life that she perceives as wildly adventurous, exciting, independent, and free from the drudgery of sports and studies, is in free-fall and no one can help her until she wants help. Long accurately and sympathetically describes Leah’s conflicting emotions — she is a girl who genuinely loves her family, but has fallen for a very bad boy who pressures her to have sexual relations with him and experiment with drugs and alcohol. Freedom is enticing, but Leah has to establish her own identity and want to succeed on her own terms, not her parents’. The question Long’s tale poses is whether she will ultimately make good choices that lead her back to a productive life and promising future.

Lastly, little Justine is trapped in the chaos that now characterizes the Tyler household. At only twelve years of age, she must grow up quickly and make choices, as well. Should she emulate some of the behaviors in which Leah is engaging, such as smoking cigarettes? Or should she remain loyal to the values her parents have instilled in her? As she tries to please her parents and Leah, she teeters on the brink of rebellion herself and develops anxiety about not only her sister’s future, but her own, as well as her constantly-bickering parents’ marriage.

Justine’s journey comprises the heart and soul of In Leah’s Wake. Her feelings of being abandoned and overlooked by her parents are heart-breakingly realistic, and compel readers to cheer for a happy ending to a very troubling chapter in the Tylers’ life. The characters’ dialogue is as authentic as their emotional struggles, making In Leah’s Wake a fascinating study of teen-age angst and rebellion against authority and expectations, and dynamic family drama.

Reading Challenges:
2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge
2012 50 Books in a Year Reading Challenge
2012 Free Reads Challenge

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one copy of In Leah’s Wake free of charge from the author in conjunction with the Pump Up Your Book review and virtual book tour program. I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own. This disclosure complies with 16 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Enter to Win a Copy of In Leah’s Wake

Author Terri Guiliano Long has generously provided one copy of In Leah’s Wakee to be awarded to a lucky Colloquium reader! Submit your entry utilizing the Rafflecopter widget. (The book can only be mailed to a United States or Canadian street address. It cannot be mailed to a post office box.)

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Thanks to all who participated!

On the Same Topic:

• Book Review and Giveaway: The Legacy of Eden
• Book Review and Giveaway: Chasing Mona Lisa
• Book Review and Giveaway: A Whisper to a Scream
• Book Review: The Shadow of Your Smile
• Book Review and Giveaway: The Keeper

Technorati Tags: 2012 50 Books in a Year Reading Challenge, 2012 Free Reads Challenge, 2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge, Book Giveaways, Book Reviews, In Leah’s Wake, Pump Up Your Book, Terri Guiliano Long

Will and Zoe Tyler have worked hard to provide for their daughters, Leah and Justine. In particular, Will, who dropped out of college, sacrificing a valuable scholarship, is determined to see that high school junior Leah, a talented soccer player, secures a scholarship from an Ivy League college such as Harvard, while Justine, a well-behaved, quiet twelve-year-old dreams of becoming a doctor. The Tyler family appears stable, their futures secure — until Leah begins rebelling, that is. She begins hanging out with Tood, an older high school drop-out with a criminal record who introduces her to drugs, sex, and irresponsibility. Her grades plummet and she begins missing soccer practices and games. As her life unravels, so does the entire fabric of the Tylers’ life as a family.

Today I welcome author Terri Giuliano Long to Colloquium. She was inspired to pen In Leah’s Wake after writing a series of articles about families coping with drug and alcohol-addicted teenagers. She says that those heartbreaking stories remained in consciousness as she parented her own children. Told from the perspectives of all four members of the Tyler family, In Leah’s Wake explores how Will and Zoe try to understand why such a bright, talented girl like Leah feels the need to squander the opportunities afforded her. Leah, lost and confused, attempts to balance her desire for independence and excitement against her commitment to her family and desire for a secure future. According to Long, In Leah’s Wake is about the “rationalization we make for others’ behavior as well as our own; it is about our responsibility toward those we love and about our interconnectedness with the world around us. Ultimately, this is a novel about family, duty, and growing up (even if you thought you had done that long ago).”

5 Sure-Fire Ways to Get Rid of Your Daughter’s Dreadful Boyfriend

by
Terri Giuliano Long

In Leah’s Wake tells the story of a family in collapse. Sixteen-year-old Leah, a star soccer player, has led a perfect life. When she meets a sexy older guy and is attracted to his independence, she begins to spread her wings. Drinking, ignoring curfew, dabbling in drugs — all this feels like freedom to her. Her terrified parents, afraid they’re losing their daughter, pull the reins tighter, pushing when they ought to be pulling, and communication breaks down. Soon there’s no turning back. Twelve-year-old Justine, caught between the parents she loves and the big sister she adores, finds herself in the fight of her life, trying desperately to pull her family together.

Your daughter is nothing like Leah, of course. A lovely young woman, she respects you -– and herself -– far too much to ever date a bad guy, never mind a boy you detest. Here, on the off chance that she does, are five things, inspired by Zoe and Will, Leah’s parents, that you can do to ensure that your beloved daughter does not follow in Leah’s wake.

1) The first time you lay eyes on the awful boyfriend, be rude and dismissive. He’s a jerk. You can tell by the way he dresses; you see it in his eyes; you’ve heard rumors. You have great instincts. So go with your gut. Let him –- and your daughter -– know that nothing he does or says will ever change the way you feel. You can’t stand him. Period. If your daughter argues or cries, even though it breaks your heart, try to ignore her. She’s a teenager, a slave to her hormones, incapable of making a decent decision. Once they realize you’re serious, they’ll end the relationship. And she’ll find a guy who deserves her.

2) If, God forbid, he sticks around, criticize him at every possible turn. Make pointed remarks about his family, his friends, his clothes, the way he walks or talks or combs his hair. Be relentless. The goal is to get under his skin. If he resents you enough, sooner or later he’ll resent your daughter too. Sure, it will hurt when he dumps her, but you’ll be there to pick her up, comfort her. It’s in those dark times, when we’re down, that we appreciate the people who love us, the importance of family. When it’s over and she’s dating again, she’ll see the light, realize what a horrible boyfriend he was, and she’ll thank you.

3) Make her feel guilty. If you’re Italian or hail from some other guilt-inducing culture, you can stop reading. You’re a master at guilt-tripping already. The rest of you: let your daughter know how hurt and disappointed you are. Cry, whine, pray aloud, lie in bed with your shades drawn. It’s not only you she’s disappointed, either. Your entire clan, dead or alive, is disappointed in her. Dear God. A grandparent or favorite aunt or uncle must be rolling over in his or her grave. In fact, the entire town is talking about her. Everyone thought she was better, smarter, kinder, or more mature than she’s proven to be. If, in a guilt-induced depression, she hurts herself -– you meant well, anyway.

4) You’ve tried. You’ve truly tried. Now drag out the big guns: with a look of pure disgust, let your daughter know, in no uncertain terms, she’s chosen a loser. Translation: she’s a loser. Compare her to the “good daughter,” a sister or cousin, the child of a friend, any girl who dates (in your humble opinion) a half-decent guy. Make these comparisons often — daily if necessary — until they sink in. Stop at nothing. Resort to cruelty, if you must, insults or name-calling. However tempted you are to loosen up, hang tough. She’s your daughter. You love her. You’re doing this for her good. It hurts you more than it could ever hurt her. Under your disapproving eye, her resolve will evaporate. She’ll do anything to return to your good graces -– even if it means cutting loose the detestable boyfriend. If she falls into a depression, see number 3. You tried.

5) Sorry, friend, you’ve got a serious problem on your hands. Grit your teeth: time for drastic measures. Give your daughter an ultimatum. This is your house. As long as she’s living under your roof, she will obey your rules. Cut the kid loose or get out. Those are her choices. If she cries or makes excuses or threatens to leave, ignore her. Do not, under any circumstances, deviate from the plan. You must go through with this. It’s your last hope. If threats don’t work, nothing will. Dig deep. Make a list of boyfriend’s character flaws and refer to it often. Remind yourself: you are the parent. You are in charge. Repeat if you have to. Make it a mantra. I am the parent. I am in charge.

Be warned: while these strategies work with some teens, they backfire with others. You may find that, rather than pushing boyfriend out of your life, you push your daughter away. For an idea of how that can play out, read In Leah’s Wake.

Meet Terri

Author Terri Guiliano Long

Terri lectures at Boston College, and in her free time enjoys walking, traveling, and listening to music. True to her Italian-American heritage, she’s an enthusiastic cook. In an alternate reality, she might be an international food writer.

Terri is working on her second novel, Nowhere to Run, a psychological thriller with a historical twist.

Connect with Terri on her website or blog, or on Facebook or Twitter.

Thank you, Terri!

Be sure to visit Colloquium tomorrow, Friday, January 6, 2012, to read my review of In Leah’s Wake and enter to win your own copy, generously provided by author Terri Guiliano Long!

On the Same Topic:

• Book Review and Giveaway: In Leah’s Wake
• Guest Post: Living Together — The Peaks and Pitfalls
• Guest Post and Giveaway: Author Therese Fowler on Exposure
• Guest Post: The Idea for Beachcombers
• Guest Post: Finding Your Inner Scheherazade

Technorati Tags: Guest Authors, Guest Post, In Leah’s Wake, Pump Up Your Book, Terri Guiliano Long

As 2011 draws to a close and we prepare to welcome 2012, you are invited to enter to win two of my favorite books of 2011!

Author Ellen Meister has graciously provided one copy of her acclaimed novel, The Other Life, to be awarded to one lucky Colloquium reader!

Anyone who has ever wondered — and, truthfully, who hasn’t? — how their life might have unfolded had they made different choices will relate to Quinn Braverman’s overwhelming sense that she is one of two identical people and her counterpart is living somewhere else. The promise of escaping her overwhelming emotional burdens finally lures her to the portal to her alternate life. If she slips through it, she will have the opportunity to examine the quality of her choices and determine whether or not she has been happy on the road she did not take. But if she allows herself to experience her other life, will she be able to return? Will she want to come back?

The Other Life is a mesmerizing, emotionally satisfying tale of a woman dealing with two unbelievably tragic events who must come to grips with her past in order to face her future.

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Author Sarah Pekkanen captivated readers with her debut novel, The Opposite of Me. She followed it in early 2011 with Skipping a Beat, an insightful, engrossing, and entertaining exploration of the foundations upon which relationships are built. And she has generously provided one copy of Skipping a Beat to be awarded to a lucky Colloquium reader!

After surviving a medical crisis, Michael undergoes a sudden, unexpected personality change. His wife, Julia, is unequipped to deal with his transformation from a workaholic, driven man, consumed by the demands of the business he built with one great idea and some borrowed capital, into a man looking for redemption for all the mistakes he made along the way, many of which Julia was blissfully unaware. The very foundations of Julia’s world are threatened and she quickly loses her equilibrium. Everything that she has assumed to be true and relied upon is brought into question by Michael’s sudden metamorphosis. They both realize just how far they had drifted apart prior to Michael’s brush with death. Can they find their way back to each other?

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Thanks to all who participated and to authors Ellen Meister and Sarah Pekkanen!

On the Same Topic:

• Book Review and Giveaway: Skipping a Beat
• Book Review: The Other Life
• Guest Post: How I Found My Agent
• Follower Love Giveaway Hop 2012
• Book Review and Giveaway: The Legacy of Eden

Technorati Tags: Book Giveaways, Ellen Meister, Sarah Pekkanen, Skipping a Beat, The Other Life