Blog Tour and Giveaway: In Search of Lucy by Lia Fairchild

I'm thrilled to welcome Lia Fairchild to Jo-Jo Loves to Read today!  She has decided to share an excerpt of her new novel, In Search of Lucy, with us today.

In Search of Lucy, my debut novel, is about love, relationships, and family. In creating Lucy, I sought to tell a story about how these things can affect who we are and ultimately who we become. Lucy’s journey will take you on a physical and emotional ride, and leaving you hoping she finds the happiness she deserves.

With the help of new friends and a man who won't give up on her, Lucy sets out on a journey to reunite with her sister and find the answers she so desperately needs. Can she get past her emotions and have a chance at happiness? 

In the following excerpt, Lucy finally acknowledges some of the feelings she’d been pushing away. After finding out about her sister’s illness and going through numerous tests to determine if she is a match to donate a kidney, reality comes crashing in. Everything happened so fast that she didn’t have time to process it and in this excerpt she finds herself alone at a bar.

The need to let off some steam led Lucy to Kelly’s after her appointment—a semi-regular destination spot for her. It was where she went when she couldn’t be alone but didn’t want to be with people either. Kelly’s was a small Irish tavern with a few casual tables and a bar, which is where Lucy preferred to make her perch. She walked in the double-door entrance and as usual scoped out the bar area to see if it was worth staying. The longer side of the L-shaped wood bar was optimal so Lucy could have her back to the tables. It was only a little after four, so most of the tables were empty. She noticed only one man sitting at the bar, but regrettably he was right smack in the middle. She’d have to choose either end and decided on the left side against the wall. As she walked toward the bar she noticed the bartender look up at her, causing the customer to follow his gaze. The man looked to be about in his mid-fifties. He wore khaki pants and a polo- style golf shirt, and he had a pale face with light eyes. He gave a nod and raised his glass as Lucy passed. “Good afternoon,” the bartender said in a mellow voice. It was as though he had a sixth sense, to read a person’s mood and respond with the particular tone of his greeting. He slapped a napkin down in front of Lucy as she took her seat. She recognized the bartender as the young, scruffy-faced guy who had served her before, but she wasn’t sure he recognized her. Maybe he knew she wasn’t looking for friendly banter. “What can I get ya?”

Lucy could feel her neighbor’s eyes on her and wondered how many drinks he’d had. Guys like that didn’t faze her, but she wasn’t in the mood to deal with some drunken idiot. Over the years, she had developed a sort of loser radar, especially since that was mostly the type of men that she encountered around her mother.

Lucy smiled and turned away. She didn’t want to give a false aura of friendliness. But the middle-ager didn’t take the cue. He stood as if wanting to stretch his legs. Then he looked over at Lucy, cupped his napkin around his drink, and slid it across toward Lucy. She lifted her eyebrows and gave him a look that said, Don’t even think about it. What could he possibly see in her anyway? No makeup, wearing faded jeans and a white long- sleeve shirt, not to mention drinking alone at bar. The man slid his drink right back and immediately sat down. “Ookaay.”

The bartender smirked as he brought Lucy’s drink and set it down in front of her. “Here you go.” Then he turned to the back counter and began drying glasses. Lucy took a big sip of her drink, hoping to instantly drain the pressure from her brain. The last few weeks had finally caught up to her. Until now, she had basically been running on autopilot—forms, needles, exams had all been formalities. None of it seemed to be for any real purpose. She was going through the motions, full bore—until today. The psychological evaluation had really made all of it seem so real. Her mind was racing. She took another drink, this time almost finishing it. The second the bottom of the glass touched the napkin, she raised it again and finished it off. She sat still for a while, watching the bartender has he hung the last of the glasses he was drying. She could see his face in the huge mirror that hung on the back wall, and she slouched slightly to avoid seeing herself.

“Another?” he asked when she caught his eye in the mirror.

Lucy nodded in agreement, and he went to work preparing another drink. The door behind her opened and closed over the next twenty minutes, and the ensuing patrons filled in vacant tables. Lucy didn’t take notice of the increasing volume of clink-ing dishes and glasses, and muffled conversations.

After her third drink she started to feel guilty. This was not the effect she was seeking. The pain was supposed to be decreas-ing, not increasing. She tried to sort things out in her brain, but nothing was clear to her. Why am I doing this? she thought. Is this how I help my sister? By saturating my kidney with alcohol? But she wasn’t just feeling guilty, she was angry too. Why did everything seem to fall on her shoulders? Why had she gone through all that with her mother and taking care of Katie, only to have Katie run out on her?

Now all of a sudden Katie needed her again. Lucy wasn’t sure she could take seeing Katie again, taking care of her again. I can’t help her…because I can’t help myself. That was it. She finally realized that it wasn’t just the feelings you would expect when a loved one was sick. Lucy was bitter and scared and frustrated. She remembered the days when she thought she couldn’t go on. Now…she had to. She had no choice. That was a frightening thought.

Now for the giveaway!

I will be giving away one paperback copy for every ten entries, giving away a maximum of three books

To enter this contest you must be at least 18 and live in the U.S. or Canada.

For one entry leave me a comment including your email address below.

For two additional entries, blog about this contest or add the link to your sidebar.

Please include your email so I will have a way to contact you if you win. Use a spam-thwarting format such as myemail.address AT gmail DOT com or myemail.address [at] gmail [dot] com.

You will have until April 20th to enter and I will draw for a winner on or after April 21st.

Good luck everyone!

**This giveaway is closed**

Review: Clair de Lune by Jaretta Carleton

Here is a summary of the book from the Harper Collins website:
An unexpected treasure: A long-lost novel of innocence threatened, by the author of the beloved classic The Moonflower Vine
 
The time: 1941, at the cusp of America's entry into World War II. 

The place: southwest Missouri, on the edge of the Ozark Mountains. A young single woman named Allen Liles has taken a job as a junior college teacher in a small town, although she dreams of living in New York City, of dancing at recitals, of absorbing the bohemian delights of the Village. Then she encounters two young men: George, a lanky, carefree spirit, and Toby, a dark-haired, searching soul with a wary look in his eyes. Soon the three strike up an after-school friendship, bantering and debating over letters, ethics, and philosophy—innocently at first, but soon in giddy flirtation—until Allen and one of the young men push things too far, and the quiet happiness she has struggled so hard to discover is thrown into jeopardy.

My Review:
This book started out a little slow for me, but I am so glad that I stuck it out as I found a new love and appreciation for the characters as the story developed.  Young Allen isn't sure what to do with her life, but knowing that she needs to find a job to satisfy her debts, she lets her mother talk her into becoming a college professor at a small private institution.  Her dreams are put on hold as she enters the world of higher education.

Allen is probably one of the youngest faculty members at the junior college where she has been hired.  She lets her love of literature lead the way for her life in teaching and even thinks of ways that she could excel in this department.  Considering that she isn't much older than some of her students, she finds it easier to build friendships with them rather than her fellow peers.  Later in the novel, these friendships will make Allen the subject of an academic witch hunt, giving her the opportunity to re-evaluate her priorities.

As Allen dodges academic failure, she easily falls into a pattern and lifestyle that would benefit anyone striving for a successful teaching career.  But will these temporary goals deter her from her true dreams of becoming a writer herself?  How can she fulfill her own desires as she struggles through life trying to do something she doesn't truly love?

I enjoyed this novel that also had a nervous edge to it as the U.S. is getting ready to enter World War II.  I found the writing beautiful and almost poetic at times, and with themes of war, love, friendship, and dreams, you may want to pick this book up yourself.  I don't hesitate in recommending this novel.

My Rating:  4/5

Disclosure:  This e-book was provided to me by the publisher through the Netgalley program in exchange for an honest review.

Teaser Tuesday-March 27

Check out Teaser Tuesdays from Should Be Reading. TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:

Grab your current read.

Let the book fall open to a random page.

Share with us two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.

You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

This week my teaser is from The Heretic Queen by Michelle Moran:
Certainly, there were some women, like Iset's grandmother, the prettiest or cleverest, who were kept in the harem closest to Pharoah's palace.  But Malkata's harem could only house so many women, and most were sent to distant palaces where they were forced to spin and weave to survive.

pg. 46

What Are You Reading?

Sheila over at Book Journey hosts this meme that gives you the opportunity to share the books that you have been losing yourself in lately and also the ones that you are looking forward to picking up next.


Here is what I finished on my Kindle last week:

I finished reading Clair de Lune as part of a blog tour.  I was unable to get my review done by the time the tour stopped here, so I will be posting my review of this beautiful novel about following your dreams on Wednesday.


Now I'm reading:

Our current book club selection is The Heretic Queen by Michelle Moran.  I've just started this one, but I can tell you that Moran has no problem with creating a vision of the time and place within the pages.

And next up:

I've been trying to get Cross Currents by John Shors read and reviewed since January, so I think I am going to move that one to the top of the list.

Blog Tour: Clair de Lune by Jetta Carleton

I am thankful to Trish once again from TLC Book Tours for inviting me to be a part of this tour.  I feel horrible for not being able to complete my review by today, but I am not quite done with this book yet!  At the end of this post I will give you some of my basic thoughts about this novel and post my complete review next week.

Here is a summary of the book from the Harper Collins website:
An unexpected treasure: A long-lost novel of innocence threatened, by the author of the beloved classic The Moonflower Vine
 
The time: 1941, at the cusp of America's entry into World War II. 

The place: southwest Missouri, on the edge of the Ozark Mountains. A young single woman named Allen Liles has taken a job as a junior college teacher in a small town, although she dreams of living in New York City, of dancing at recitals, of absorbing the bohemian delights of the Village. Then she encounters two young men: George, a lanky, carefree spirit, and Toby, a dark-haired, searching soul with a wary look in his eyes. Soon the three strike up an after-school friendship, bantering and debating over letters, ethics, and philosophy—innocently at first, but soon in giddy flirtation—until Allen and one of the young men push things too far, and the quiet happiness she has struggled so hard to discover is thrown into jeopardy.

My thoughts so far:
So I have only read about three-quarters of this book, but I can tell you that if I didn't have a shopping trip planned with some friends of mine last weekend, I would have already finished it.

Allen reluctantly became a college English Professor after her mother's continual push for her to become a teacher as she had years ago.  Allen doesn't have any better ideas herself, and debts need to be paid so she takes her mother's advice and start her teaching career?

Allen is a young woman, not much older than some of her students, so it really shouldn't be a surprise that she enjoys the company of some of her students more than her fellow faculty members.  This book would definitely make a great discussion as you look at all aspects of the teacher/student relationships.  Discussing the morals and feelings involved could last for hours!

I worked in higher education myself for about fourteen years so I found the human element of this novel very interesting.  I am enjoying the book so far, but please be sure to check back next week to read my complete review!

Disclosure:  This ebook was provided to me by the publisher through the Netgalley program in exchange for an honest review.

Winner of Night Road!

I'm pleased to announce that the winner of Night Road by Kristin Hannah is.................

Linda

Congratulations Linda!  I will be contacting you shortly to get your mailing information.  Stay tuned for more giveaways coming later in the month!

Review: The Miracle at Speedy Motors by Alexander McCall Smith

Here is a summary of the book from the Goodreads website:

In the latest installment of the universally beloved, bestselling series, Mma Ramotswe discovers the biggest miracles in life are often the smallest.Under the endless skies of Botswana, there is always something Mma Ramotswe can do to help someone and here she finds herself assisting a woman looking for her family. The problem is the woman doesn't know her real name or whether any of her family members are still alive. Meanwhile, Mma Makutsi is the recipient of a beautiful new bed that causes more than a few sleepless nights. And, at Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni has come under the influence of a doctor promising a miracle cure for his daughter's medical condition, which Mma Ramotswe finds hard to accept. Nonetheless, Precious Ramotswe handles these things in her usual compassionate and good-natured way, while always finding time for a cup of red bush tea. 

My Review: 
When my book club got together in March we met to discuss The Miracle at Speedy Motors.  Most of you probably know that we have been reading one novel in this series every year, but I can tell you from my viewpoint anyway, Smith did not disappoint once again with this installment.

These books are always a short, light read, but also filled with good morals and lessons within the pages.  As Mma Ramatswe tries to solve mysteries. her good manners and common sense always come first and help to create a positive outcome.  She learned early on that by just asking people what she is looking for, she will usually get the answers she is looking for.

There were only a couple of mysteries in this novel, and that was the main complaint from most of the ladies in the book club.  Some thought that Smith spent a lot of time reviewing events that had taken place in previous novels and that may have taken away from the current story.   I did not feel that way, as I felt a close connection with the current story.  Overall, it seemed to be a novel about finding one's place in the world when you don't have any family left.  Now that your family is gone, you have to embrace the new family that is given to you and move on with your life. 

Like I said, I really enjoyed this book and with themes of love, family, and acceptance, you may too!  Although it wasn't one of our favorites this year, we still enjoyed the entertainment it provided.  It's such fun to sit down and read this book with a cup of tea, as you can feel that Mma Ramatswe is right there with you.

My Rating:  4/5

Disclosure:  This book is from my personal collection (signed by Alexander McCall Smith when I met him in Minneapolis a couple of years ago) and I read it for my own entertainment and as a book club selection. 

Wondrous Words Wednesday-March 14

Bermudaonion asks you to share new words that you have learned during your reading adventures in the last week. Feel free to join in the fun!

Here are a couple of words that I learned while reading Clair de Lune by Jetta Carleton:

Aphasia:   Partial or total loss of the ability to articulate ideas or comprehend spoken or written language, resulting from brain damage due to injury or disease.

Here is how aphasia was used at location 450 of 2687:
She was having a jolly time with a freckled freshman when the coach cut in and put her in such a dither she went into instant aphasia.

Folderol:  wasted effort; nonsense.

Here is how folderol was used at location 586 of 2687:
It may be Souder who wants Greek and Latin like he had back east, but it's Frawley who's pushing for 'em, along with the music and art and all that folderol.

Bumbershoot:  an umbrella.

Here is how bumbershoot was used at location 831 of 2687:
"Take your bumbershoots, everybody, it's going to rain."

 I don't know about you, but I could have been using my bumbershoot this week!  I can tell you that with all these new words I sure appreciate reading this book on my Kindle as I don't have to write it down and look it up later.

Teaser Tuesday-March 13

Check out Teaser Tuesdays from Should Be Reading. TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:

Grab your current read.

Let the book fall open to a random page.

Share with us two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.

You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

This week my teaser is from Clair de Lune by Jetta Carleton:
At the back door, which always stood open, the warmth from the bakery kitchen drifted into the alley.  Inside, pastries fresh from the oven lay in rows on the long tables-cakes and sweet buns, thin brittle cookies, and muffins fat with raisins and nuts, cherries and apples steaming through lattice crusts, and cream pies hidden under gold-tipped meringue.

From location 696 of 2687 on my Kindle.

Doesn't this just make you hungry???

Mailbox Monday-March 12

Mailbox Monday is a great meme that has us list the books that we receive.  Different bloggers now have the opportunity to host this meme for a month at a time.  This month you can see what everyone received over at Diary of an Eccentric.

Here is what came to my home:

Next to Love by Ellen Feldman

I was very surprised to get this one in the mail, but considering that I haven't received many books lately, I welcomed it with open arms!

So how about you?  Did you have any surprises in your mailbox?

Audiobook Review: Burnt Mountain by Anne Rivers Siddons

Title:  Burnt Mountain

Author:  Anne Rivers Siddons

Narrator:  Kate Reading

Unabridged Length:  9hrs, 13mn.

Here is a summary of the book from the Hachette website:
From one of our most acclaimed writers comes this dramatic tale of a well-born Southern woman whose life is forever changed by the betrayal of her mother and by the man she loves

Growing up, the only place tomboy Thayer Wentworth felt at home was at her summer camp - Camp Sherwood Forest in the North Carolina Mountains. It was there that she came alive and where she met Nick Abrams, her first love...and first heartbreak.

Years later, Thayer marries Aengus, an Irish professor, and they move into her deceased grandmother's house in Atlanta, only miles from Camp Edgewood on Burnt Mountain where her father died years ago in a car accident. There, Aengus and Thayer lead quiet and happy lives until Aengus is invited up to the camp to tell old Irish tales to the campers. As Aengus spends less time at home and becomes more distant, Thayer must confront dark secrets-about her mother, her first love, and, most devastating of all, her husband.

My Review:
This novel made an interesting audiobook that takes us through the life journey of Thayer.  We see the inside workings of her relationship with her parents and are able to watch her blossom into a young lady.  Thayer hasn't had much romance in her life, but we get an up close look into her heart as she becomes emotionally captured by young Nick.

The beginning of this novel was very confusing for me as I thought I was listening to Thayer's story.  The story begins by Thayer giving a detailed account of how her parents met and fell in love.  This did not make sense to me since Thayer obviously was not even alive at this point.  This was my main complaint about the novel and once the story got to the point of focusing on Thayer, I found it enjoyable.

Thayer was closer with her father than she was with her mother.  So when her father passed away suddenly in a car accident on Burnt Mountain, life changes too quickly for her.  Solace is found quickly for her when her grandmother moves into their home, helping to fill some of the absence left by her father.  Thayer has an honest and heartfelt relationship with her grandmother and this woman probably provides realistic guidance when her mother wouldn't.

The summer that Thayer is a counselor at Camp Sherwood Forest is a life-changing summer for her.  This is where she meets and falls in love with Nick Abrams.  One would think that this would create fond memories of young and innocent love, but when Thayer thinks on those days she only recalls heartbreak and deceit.

After dealing with the events of that summer Thayer finds her life on a new path.  She goes to a college that she wasn't even considering and starts a relationship with an Irish professor.  Their relationship grows and blossoms, leading up to their marriage.  But will Thayer be happy married to Aengus for the rest of her life, rather than Nick? 

This book was full of a few surprises, once I got past the beginning with the confusing narration.  I found myself being quite angry at one point, so obviously the novel and reader were able to keep my attention.  With themes of true love, deceit, and life changes, you may be interested in this book also.

My Rating:  3/5

Disclosure:  This audiobook was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Teaser Tuesday-March 6

Check out Teaser Tuesdays from Should Be Reading. TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:

Grab your current read.

Let the book fall open to a random page.

Share with us two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.

You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

This week my teaser is from The Miracle at Speedy Motors by Alexander McCall Smith:
"And anyway, here in Botswana if anybody came to rob the bank, you'd probably know exactly who they were.  You could simply threaten to tell their mothers.

pg. 178

What Are You Reading?

Sheila over at Book Journey hosts this meme that gives you the opportunity to share the books that you have been losing yourself in lately and also the ones that you are looking forward to picking up next.


Here is what I finished:

I finished reading Falling Together by Marisa de los Santos and if you missed my review you can still read it here.  Overall, it was a nice story but I just didn't love it.

I'm reading now:

Out book club will be getting together on Wednesday to discuss The Miracle at Speedy Motors by Alexander McCall Smith.  These books are just so sweet and I absolutely love them!

What's up next:

I plan on reading Clair de Lune by Jetta Carleton on my Kindle next as part of a blog tour.  I really like the cover of this book.

I certainly haven't been able to read too much this year, as sometimes the only times I can read during the day is during my lunch hour.  Oh well, life will settle down eventually!