The Weekenders {+ Giveaway}

◊ THE WEEKENDERS: A Novel by Mary Kay Andrews

◊ Hardcover: 464 pages

◊ Genre: Women’s Fiction

◊ Publisher: St. Martin’s Press (May 17, 2016)

◊ Language: English

◊ ISBN-10: 1250065941

◊ ISBN-13: 978-1250065940

SYNOPSIS:

Some people stay all summer long on the idyllic island of Belle Isle, North Carolina. Others come only for the weekends-and the mix between the regulars and “the weekenders” can sometimes make the sparks fly. Riley Griggs has a season of good times with friends and family ahead of her on Belle Isle when things take an unexpected turn. While waiting for her husband to arrive on the ferry one Friday afternoon, Riley is confronted by a process server who thrusts papers into her hand. And her husband is nowhere to be found.

So she turns to her island friends for help and support, but it turns out that each of them has their own secrets, and the clock is ticking as the mystery deepens...in a murderous way. Cocktail parties aside, Riley must find a way to investigate the secrets of Belle Island, the husband she might not really know, and the summer that could change everything.

Told with Mary Kay Andrews’ trademark blend of humor and warmth, and with characters and a setting that you can’t help but fall for, The Weekenders is the perfect summer escape.

From the first few pages of a Mary Kay Andrews novel you know you’re in for a rip-roaring good time combined with a little heartache and lots of hope.

With her sweet Southern flare, Andrews quickly pulls you into the chaos that is her characters’ lives. You can feel their pain and joy, highs and lows while reflecting on your own life. Andrews’ protagonist Riley Griggs is a strong, independent woman who has lost herself while tending to her family. Readers can relate to her as she finds her way back.

The summer vacation setting comes alive through intense descriptions. The close knit Southern atmosphere shines as the unique characters make you laugh.

THE WEEKENDERS is a story of hope and starting over. It’s about facing life as it comes and taking on the challenges. This is a tantalizing read you won’t be able to put down as those you read about feel more like new friends than characters in a book.

The Weekenders: A Novel by Mary Kay Andrews, St. Martin’s Press, @2016, ISBN: 978-1250065940, Hardcover, 464 Pages

FTC Full Disclosure – A copy of this book was sent to me as part of the author’s virtual book tour in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review. The thoughts are completely my own and given honestly and freely.

Thanks to the lovely Meg and the wonderful folks at Tandem Literary, I have a print copy of THE WEEKENDERS by Mary Kay Andrews to giveaway. The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only and will end at 12 a.m. (EST) on Friday, June 3.

To enter the giveaway, just click on the Rafflecopter widget below and follow the instructions. The widget may take a few seconds to load so please be patient. A winner will be selected by the Rafflecopter widget and I’ll send an email with the subject line “Thoughts in Progress Giveaway.” The winner will have 72 hours to reply to the email or another winner will be selected. PLEASE be sure to check your spam folder from time to time after the giveaway ends to make sure the notification email doesn’t end up there. If you win and you’ve already won the book somewhere else or you just decided for whatever reason you don’t want to win (which is fine), once again PLEASE let me know.

Thanks so much for dropping by today. I hope I’ve tempted you to check out this fascinating new novel by Mary Kay Andrews. Do you have a favorite ‘go-to’ author that you read to begin your summer fun? What book do you have currently that you would take to the beach with you for an afternoon of relaxing read time?

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Beach Town Goody Bag Giveaway

With the crazy weather we’ve been experiencing across the U.S. you never know if it’s going to be hot or cold, dry or wet, sunny or snowing. But don’t despair, you can always find the perfect location when you lose yourself in a good book.

With that in mind I’m thrilled to be able to host a Beach Town Goody Bag giveaway today featuring the lovable and talented New York Times bestselling author Mary Kay Andrews. The giveaway is in celebration of the author’s mass market paperback edition of SPRING FEVER that hit stores March 1^st and the trade paperback edition of BEACH TOWN which hit stores May 3^rd. The goody bag comes complete with two books and chock full of other swag.

Here’s a list of what will be in the fabulous goody bag:

•                Copy of BEACH TOWN in trade paperback

•                Copy of SPRING FEVER in mass market paperback

•                Two different Mary Kay Andrews (MKA) bookmarks

•                A recipe card featuring two recipes from MKA’s kitchen

•                BEACH TOWN sunglasses

•                BEACH TOWN lip balm with SPF 15

Here’s a brief synopsis of BEACH TOWN:

Greer Hennessy is a struggling movie location scout. Her last location shoot ended in disaster when a film crew destroyed property on an avocado grove. And Greer ended up with the blame.

Now Greer has been given one more chance-a shot at finding the perfect undiscovered beach town for a big budget movie. She zeroes in on a sleepy Florida panhandle town. There’s one motel, a marina, a long stretch of pristine beach and an old fishing pier with a community casino—which will be perfect for the film’s climax—when the bad guys blow it up in an all-out assault on the townspeople.

Greer slips into town and is ecstatic to find the last unspoilt patch of the Florida gulf coast. She takes a room at the only motel in town, and starts working her charm. However, she finds a formidable obstacle in the town mayor, Eben Thinadeaux. Eben is a born-again environmentalist who’s seen huge damage done to the town by a huge paper company. The bay has only recently been re-born, a fishing industry has sprung up, and Eben has no intention of letting anybody screw with his town again. The only problem is that he finds Greer way too attractive for his own good, and knows that her motivation is in direct conflict with his.

Here’s a brief synopsis of SPRING FEVER:

Annajane Hudgens truly believes she is over her ex-husband, Mason Bayless. They’ve been divorced for four years, she’s engaged to a new, terrific guy, and she’s ready to leave the small town where she and Mason had so much history. She is so over Mason that she has absolutely no problem attending his wedding to the beautiful, intelligent, delightful Celia. 

But when fate intervenes and the wedding is called to a halt as the bride is literally walking down the aisle, Annajane begins to realize that maybe she’s been given a second chance. Maybe everything happens for a reason. And maybe, just maybe, she wants Mason back. But there are secrets afoot in this small southern town. On the peaceful surface of Hideaway Lake, Annajane discovers that the past is never really gone. Even if there are people determined to keep Annajane from getting what she wants, happiness might be hers for the taking, and the life she once had with Mason in this sleepy lake town might be in her future.

To make the summer even more fun, the author has a new book, THE WEEKENDERS, coming out May 17^th. Be sure to check back here May 26th as I’ll be sharing my thoughts on this tantalizing new release, as well as a wonderful giveaway.

Here’s a brief synopsis of THE WEEKENDERS:

Some people stay all summer long on the idyllic island of Belle Isle, North Carolina. Some people come only for the weekends—and it’s something they look forward to all week long. When Riley Griggs is waiting for her husband to arrive at the ferry one Friday afternoon, she is instead served with papers informing her that her island home is being foreclosed. To make matters worse, her husband is nowhere to be found.

She turns to her island friends for help and support, but each of them has their own secrets and the clock is ticking as the mystery deepens. Cocktail parties and crab boil aside, Riley must find a way to investigate the secrets of Belle Island, the husband she might not really know, and the summer that could change everything.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Mary Kay Andrews is the New York Times bestselling author of BEACH TOWN, SAVE THE DATE, LADIES’ NIGHT, CHRISTMAS BLISS, SPRING FEVER, SUMMER RENTAL, THE FIXER UPPER, DEEP DISH, BLUE CHRISTMAS, SAVANNAH BREEZE, HISSY FIT, LITTLE BITTY LIES and SAVANNAH BLUES. Her 24th novel, THE WEEKENDERS is coming from St. Martin’s Press on May 17, 2016.

A former reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, she wrote ten critically acclaimed mysteries, including the Callahan Garrity mystery series, under her “real” name, which is Kathy Hogan Trocheck. Her mysteries have been nominated for the Edgar, Anthony, Agatha and Macavity Awards.

A native of St. Petersburg, Florida (and a diplomate of the Maas Bros. Department Store School of Charm), she started her professional journalism career in Savannah, Georgia, where she covered the real-life murder trials which were the basis of MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL.

Married to her high school sweetheart, Tom, she has two adult children and two grandchildren. After a three-year hiatus in Raleigh, NC, she and her husband moved back to their old neighborhood in Atlanta. She also owns two restored beach cottages on Tybee Island, GA, both of which are named for fictional locations in her novels.

For more on Mary Kay and her books, visit her website and connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

Thanks to the lovely Meg at Tandem Literary, I have one Beach Town Goody Bag to giveaway. The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only and will end at 12 a.m. (EST) on Wednesday, May 18.

To enter the giveaway, just click on the Rafflecopter widget below and follow the instructions. The widget may take a few seconds to load so please be patient. A winner will be selected by the Rafflecopter widget and I’ll send an email with the subject line “Thoughts in Progress Giveaway.” The winner will have 72 hours to reply to the email or another winner will be selected. PLEASE be sure to check your spam folder from time to time after the giveaway ends to make sure the notification email doesn’t end up there. If you win and you’ve already won the book somewhere else or you just decided for whatever reason you don’t want to win (which is fine), once again PLEASE let me know.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Do you enjoy escaping to different locations through the wonderful pages of a book? If you were packing a goody bag right now, what one book would you include from your collection and what book would you include from your wish list?

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Save The Date and Black Cat’s Legacy

Sharing books is one of the many pleasures of blogging. Today I have two different types of books to share with you. Both are great reading/listening material for the summer.

SAVE THE DATE by Mary Kay Andrews

Nothing buy bad luck seems to be the order of the day for florist Cara Kryzik, owner of Bloom, a Savannah (GA) floral shop specializing in weddings.

Narrator Kathleen McInerney does a superb job of giving distinct voices to each of the characters. Her cadence is perfect and her mannerisms will draw you in. Her interruption of the dialect enhances the author’s delightful story.

While at first glance everything seems to be going smoothly for Cara, it’s really falling apart behind the scenes. She owes a huge debt to The Colonel (aka her father) and he wants his money now. Her shop/home needs major repairs including the AC fixed immediately and her land lady won’t return her calls. Her usually trustworthy assistant, Bert, is acting strange. And just as she’s getting ready to go put the finishing touches on a wedding, her golden doodle, Poppy, runs out of the shop.

When Cara finally tracks Poppy down, she’s on the end of a leash being led by Jack Finnerty, who claims the dog is his dog, Shaz. They both call the police and are told to work it out themselves. Cara has to get to the wedding – it could keep her business afloat awhile longer. Seeing the man apparently cares for his own dog, Cara leaves determined to get her dog back as soon as possible.

Running into Jack at the wedding was the last thing Cara needed on top of everything else. Jack, a master carpenter specializing in restoring historic buildings, turned out to be the best man and brother of the groom. As the two clash over just about everything, tiny sparks begin to ignite between them.

Just as it seems Cara’s bad luck may be changing, her world drops out from under her. Cara is determined to keep her business going no matter what. The floral business isn’t all rosy when there’s a thorny competitor in the mix. 

While you may guess where some of the story is going, it’s like a train wreck and you can’t (don’t want to) look away. You want to be wrong or at least find out how justice is served and happiness is found.

SAVE THE DATE draws you in and makes you feel the characters’ highs and lows. The author’s rich, beautiful descriptions of the location and surroundings brings it all to life. The protagonist is someone readers/listeners can relate to and cheer for. Brides-to-be may even get a few wedding ideas from Cara’s brides.

This is a charming and enjoyable story with ups and downs that will have you crying and laughing. It’s filled with humor, romance, friendship, and hope. A great story for the summer or anytime you want to enjoy the wonders of flowers, brides and love.

Save the Date by Mary Kay Andrews, Performed by Kathleen McInerney, Macmillan Audio, @2014, ISBN: 978-1427239402, Unabridged, 11 Discs, Listening Time: 14.5 Hours 

FTC Full Disclosure – A copy of this audio book was sent to me by the author’s publicist. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review. The thoughts are completely my own and given honestly and freely.

BLACK CAT’S LEGACY by Elaine Faber

Sometimes secrets are buried deeper than we realize. In author Elaine Faber’s BLACK CAT’S LEGACY, the protagonist (Kimberlee Larsen) discovers secrets from her past she had long forgotten could now jeopardize her future.

Kimberlee and her daughter, Amanda, end up at Fern Lake by accident, fate or unknown desire. Fern Lake is the scene of her father’s cold case murder. Meanwhile, true-crime author Brett Clarke has also arrived at Fern Lake in search of his next big novel. They both cross paths with Dorian Dilman, a determined detective.

The trio work together to find out the truth as Kimberlee’s past returns to claim her. The three have assistance from an unlikely source, the resident black cat named Thumper. Having knowledge from his ancestors, Thumper watches over Kimberlee helping with clues where he can.

This intriguing murder mystery moves at a steady pace with twists to keep you guessing. The characters are well-developed, realistic and for the most part likable – there’s always got to be an unfavorable character or two.

The author mixes murder and mystery with the right amount of romance and a touch of paranormal for a well-blended tale. The setting is mesmerizing and quickly pulls you in.

BLACK CAT’S LEGACY is a fascinating tale of suspense with romance and supernatural undertones that will hold your attention to the very end. This is a great start to a promising series of mysteries, compelling characters, and innovating plots.

Black Cat’s Legacy by Elaine Faber, Elk Grove Publications, @2014, ISBN: 978-1940781020, Paperback, 284 Pages 

FTC Full Disclosure – A copy of this book was sent to me by the author. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review. The thoughts are completely my own and given honestly and freely.

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope I’ve entice to you to check out these amazing novels. What’s on your reading list at the moment?

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Save the Date Is Now Out {+ Giveaway}

When it comes to writing about Southern charm and high jinx, author Mary Kay Andrews knows how it’s done.

I’m thrilled to welcome Mary Kay back to Thoughts in Progress today to talk about her amazing new release, SAVE THE DATE. Thanks to Mary and the lovely Meg, I have a print copy of this charming summer read to giveaway in celebration of the recent release. Please see the end of the post for details.

First, here’s a brief synopsis of SAVE THE DATE:

      A savannah florist is about to score the wedding of a lifetime — one that will solidify her career as the go-to-girl for society nuptials. Ironically, Cara Kryzik doesn't believe in love, even though she creates beautiful flower arrangements to celebrate them.
      But when the bride goes missing and the wedding is in jeopardy, Cara must find the bride and figure out what she believes in. Maybe love really does exist outside of fairy tales after all.

Now, please join me in welcoming Mary Kay, who has graciously answered some questions about her new book.

The main character in Save the Date is a wedding florist. How did you research this character and her profession?

Mary Kay:
I have a friend in Savannah, Elizabeth Demos, who is a wedding stylist. She connected me with a talented local florist, and I interviewed her on the phone and spent some time observing her and her assistants in her flower shop, Gardens on The Square.

There are so many different types of weddings described in Save the Date from high society chic, to art student funky, to country barn rustic. How did you come up with the ideas for all these affairs?

Mary Kay:
In a word—Pinterest! I also liberally borrowed wedding theme ideas from magazines and my friend Liz’s book about vintage-inspired weddings.

You are happily married to your high school sweetheart and yet most of your books feature some not-so-stellar guys. Where do you come up with the ideas for these bums if not from Mr. MKA?

Mary Kay:
Unfortunately, lots of them are drawn from real-life stories shared by friends and friends of friends—and even Facebook friends.

Tell us about your writing process. When you begin a new book, do you follow an outline?
 
Mary Kay:
I don’t outline, because I was never good with Roman numerals, but I do try to write a synopsis that will give me a road map of the story. Sometimes I’ll write bios of my protagonist and other major characters. Then I start at the beginning, and plow all the way through to the end before I do any major revisions.

What books have you read more than once?
 
Mary Kay:
Gone With the Wind.

What books are you embarrassed never to have read?
 
Mary Kay:
So many. The most embarrassing is the fact that although I’m from the South and am identified as being a Southern writer, I’ve never read any Faulkner.
 
If you weren’t a writer, what would you be?
 
Mary Kay:
A travel guide.

Mary Kay, thank so much for stopping by again. You have definitely captured the highs and lows of a wedding florist in this new book.

Now for those who aren’t familiar with Mary Kay, here’s some background on her.
Mary Kay Andrews is the author of the New York Times bestselling The Fixer Upper, Savannah Breeze and Blue Christmas, as well as Deep Dish, Hissy Fit, Little Bitty Lies and Savannah Blues.

She also wrote ten critically acclaimed mysteries, including the Callahan Garrity mystery series, under her real name, Kathy Hogan Trocheck. Her mysteries have been nominated for the Edgar, Anthony, Agatha and Macavity Awards.

A native of St. Petersburg, Florida (and a diplomate of the Maas Bros. Department Store School of Charm), Trocheck earned a B.A. in journalism from the University of Georgia in 1976 (Go Dawgs!). She started her professional journalism career in Savannah, Georgia, where she covered the real-life murder trials which were the basis of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. She left journalism after a ten-year stint as a reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

She is a frequent lecturer and writing teacher at workshops including Emory University, The University of Georgia’s Harriette Austin Writer’s Workshop, the Tennessee Mountain Writer’s Workshop, and the Antioch Writer’s Workshop.
As a lifelong “junker” the author claims to know the location of every promising thrift store, flea market and junk pile in the southeastern United States, plus many parts of Ohio.

Married to her high school sweetheart, she is the mother of two grown children and a proud grandmother. After a brief hiatus in Raleigh, NC, she and her husband moved back to their old neighborhood in Atlanta, where they live in a restored 1926 Craftsman bungalow. She divides her time between Atlanta and her restored beach cottage on Tybee Island, GA.

For more on Mary Kay, you can visit her website and connect with her on Facebook.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

This giveaway is for one print copy of SAVE THE DATE. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only and will end Wednesday, June 18. To enter, just click on the Rafflecopter widget below and following the instructions. The widget may take a few seconds to load, so please be patient. 

The winner from this giveaway will have 72 hours to respond after being contacted or another winner will be selected. The email will have ‘Thoughts in Progress: Mary Kay Andrews’ in the subject line, just so you know what to watch for (in case it goes into your spam folder).

I do appreciate you stopping by today and visiting. Have you ever had any experience as a wedding florist? Would you want to be a wedding florist?

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Ladies’ Night Goes Paperback (+Awesome Giveaway)

The delightful author, Mary Kay Andrews, has a lot going on in the next few weeks. Her hysterical LADIES’ NIGHT is being released in paperback tomorrow (Tuesday, April 29) and her much anticipated SAVE THE DATE hits bookshelves in June. 

To celebrate the paperback release of LADIES’ NIGHT, the author is giving away an awesome goody bag filled with excellent swag and an autographed book. Here's a list of what all will be in the fabulous goody bag:

• Signed copy of LADIES' NIGHT in paperback
• Set of 3 LADIES' NIGHT recipe cards
• LADIES' NIGHT drink coasters
• Cocktail umbrellas
• LADIES' NIGHT drink cup
• Three different Mary Kay Andrews bookmarks
• SAVE THE DATE magnet
• Set of 3 SAVE THE DATE recipe cards
• News about a special SAVE THE DATE pre-order gift

Please see the end of the post for details on how to enter this fun giveaway.

LADIES' NIGHT is a hilarious look at what all goes wrong (and right) for a beloved lifestyle blogger. I reviewed the audio version of this funny story last year. You can click HERE to read my review.
 
Now here’s a brief synopsis of LADIES’ NIGHT:

      Take a splash of betrayal, add a few drops of outrage, give a good shake to proper behavior and take a big sip of a cocktail called...Ladies' Night!
Grace Stanton's life as a rising media star and beloved lifestyle blogger takes a surprising turn when she catches her husband cheating and torpedoes his pricey sports car straight into the family swimming pool. Grace suddenly finds herself locked out of her palatial home, checking account, and even the blog she has worked so hard to develop in her signature style.
      Moving in with her widowed mother, who owns and lives above a rundown beach bar called The Sandbox, is less than ideal. So is attending court-mandated weekly "divorce recovery" therapy sessions with three other women and one man for whom betrayal seems to be the only commonality.
      When their "divorce coach" starts to act suspiciously, they decide to start having their own Wednesday "Ladies' Night" sessions at The Sandbox, and the unanticipated bonds that develop lead the members of the group to try and find closure in ways they never imagined. Can Grace figure out a new way home and discover how strong she needs to be to get there?
      Heartache, humor, and a little bit of mystery come together in a story about life's unpredictable twists and turns. Mary Kay Andrews' Ladies' Night will have you raising a glass and cheering these characters on.
 

PRAISE FOR LADIES' NIGHT:
      "Andrews presents a delightful novel...A wonderful blend of action, repartee and offbeat characters in a just-plain-fun story. Humorous and witty, and as entertaining as a good night out." -- Kirkus Reviews
      "Her newest novel offers another engaging and satisfying tale of life, loss, and love." -- Booklist
      "Mary Kay Andrews' novels have become a summer staple like a new pair of sandals. The New York Times best-selling author returns with the perfectly mixed cocktail of romance, mystery and comedy..." -- Raleigh News & Observer
      "This is her best book yet, and it combines all of the strengths we have come to expect from this audacious and beguiling author." -- Huffington Post
      "A court-ordered therapy session is the site of the action in Andrews's zesty, amusing latest..." -- People
      "Mary Kay Andrews blends heartache and hilarity in a story line filled with surprises." -- Southern Living
      "If there were a literary genre dedicated to great beach books, the novels of Mary Kay Andrews would set its standard for excellence." -- Cape Gazette

ABOUT THE AUTHOR …

Mary Kay Andrews is the author of the New York Times bestselling The Fixer Upper, Savannah Breeze and Blue Christmas, as well as Deep Dish, Hissy Fit, Little Bitty Lies and Savannah Blues.

She also wrote ten critically acclaimed mysteries, including the Callahan Garrity mystery series, under her real name, Kathy Hogan Trocheck. Her mysteries have been nominated for the Edgar, Anthony, Agatha and Macavity Awards.

A native of St. Petersburg, Florida (and a diplomate of the Maas Bros. Department Store School of Charm), Trocheck earned a B.A. in journalism from the University of Georgia in 1976 (Go Dawgs!). She started her professional journalism career in Savannah, Georgia, where she covered the real-life murder trials which were the basis of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. She left journalism after a ten-year stint as a reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

She is a frequent lecturer and writing teacher at workshops including Emory University, The University of Georgia’s Harriette Austin Writer’s Workshop, the Tennessee Mountain Writer’s Workshop, and the Antioch Writer’s Workshop.
As a lifelong “junker” the author claims to know the location of every promising thrift store, flea market and junk pile in the southeastern United States, plus many parts of Ohio.

Married to her high school sweetheart, she is the mother of two grown children and a proud grandmother. After a brief hiatus in Raleigh, NC, she and her husband moved back to their old neighborhood in Atlanta, where they live in a restored 1926 Craftsman bungalow. She divides her time between Atlanta and her restored beach cottage on Tybee Island, GA.

For more on Mary Kay, you can visit her website and connect with her on Facebook.

To tempt you a bit more toward reading this fun book, here’s an audio excerpt for your enjoyment.


With the release of SAVE THE DATE coming soon, here’s a brief synopsis of it. (You can pre-order it now.)

      A savannah florist is about to score the wedding of a lifetime — one that will solidify her career as the go-to-girl for society nuptials. Ironically, Cara Kryzik doesn't believe in love, even though she creates beautiful flower arrangements to celebrate them.
      But when the bride goes missing and the wedding is in jeopardy, Cara must find the bride and figure out what she believes in. Maybe love really does exist outside of fairy tales after all.
 
Told with Mary Kay Andrews' trademark wit and keen eye for detail, mark your calendars for SAVE THE DATE!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

This awesome giveaway is available to residents of the U.S. only. To enter, simply click on the Rafflecopter widget below and follow the instructions. Thanks so much for stopping by today. Do you enjoy stories that have you laughing out loud making those around you wonder what's up with you?
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The Invisible Girls and Ladies’ Night

Two intriguing audios to share with you today!

THE INVISIBLE GIRLS by Sarah Thebarge

When you find a book that blends two stories together smoothly, you’ve found a good book. When you find a book that is heart-wrenching and inspiring, you’ve found a wonderful story.

Author Sarah Thebarge has created a wonderfully, good book in THE INVISIBLE GIRLS: A Memoir.

Narrator Kirsten Potter does an excellent job bringing the story to life. Her vocalization of the emotions is an added delight to this mesmerizing story the author tells.

At 27, Sarah Thebarge’s life was great - she had an Ivy League degree, was on the way to having the successful career she dreamed of and had gotten engaged to her handsome boyfriend. Then her life was turned upside down when she was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer. After surgery, months of grueling treatments and a number of losses in her life, Sarah decided to start over across the country in Portland, Oregon.

Once there, Sarah began trying to rebuild her life. A chance encounter on a train turned her world upside down again. This time, it was in a good way. She came to know and care about a young Somali refugee, Hadhi, and her five young daughters. Hadhi’s abusive husband had left them and they were on the brink of starvation as they were ‘invisible’ to their neighbors and the new world around them. As Sarah began to help Hadhi and the girls adjust to their new country, the family helped Sarah adjust to her new life after cancer.

I was touched first by how the author was able to hold onto her faith despite times of despair, anger and doubt. I was inspired by how she overcame all that she did and was able to give so much despite her own losses.

Second, I was amazed at the author’s care and concern for Hadhi and the girls. She was there when they needed someone the most and she continues to help them. Portions of the proceeds from THE INVISIBLE GIRLS goes toward the girls’ college education.

THE INVISIBLE GIRLS is a beautiful and poignant story that will tug at your heartstrings one minute and make you laugh the next. It’s a story that will have you re-examining things about your own life. This is a raw emotional story of not only surviving, but learning to live.

The end of the audio also includes an interview with author Sarah Thebarge that is both very touching and enlightening. 

Author Sarah Thebarge’s website is  http://sarahthebarge.com/theinvisiblegirls/
 
The Invisible Girls: A Memoir by Sarah Thebarge, Performed by Kirsten Potter, Oasis Audio, @2013, ASIN: B00CD8K2SW, ISBN: 978-1455523917, Unabridged, Digital Download, Listening Time: 6 Hours and 21 Minutes

FTC Full Disclosure - This audio book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
 

LADIES’ NIGHT by Mary Kay Andrews

There are several things I know for sure when it comes to a Mary Kay Andrews’ book…..
    * When you think a situation can’t get any worse, it does.
    * When things are finally coming together, the other shoe drops and everything goes wrong.
    * And when you finish, you’re smiling because all the pieces finally fit together more perfectly than you imaged.

That’s the way of Andrews’ latest release, LADIES’ NIGHT.

Narrator Kathleen McInerney does a wonderful job bringing the characters to life. She vocalizes the characters’ emotions with great emphasis. Her cadence has listeners believing there’s more than one narrator.

Grace Stanton has an ideal life - handsome husband, gorgeous mansion, and a fantastic career as a lifestyle blogger. Then she discovers her husband, Ben, is having an affair with J’Aimee, her assistance. She drives Ben’s expensive sports car into their swimming pool and leaves.

The next thing she knows she can’t return to her home and she has to move in with her mother, Rochelle, over her mom’s bar, The Sandbox. Then her blog, Gracenotes, is hijacked by Ben and J’Aimee and she’s forced to attend divorce therapy for six weeks with four other people facing the same divorce judge.

When the actions of the divorce coach turn a bit odd, the group - including one lone male, Wyatt Keeler - head to The Sandbox for drinks and conversation.

While out running, Grace discovers a charming cottage that needs redecorating and talks the owner into letting her do it. With a new mission and a new blog, Grace begins to reinvent herself. Along the way she and Wyatt begin to connect and find that divorce therapy may not have been so bad after all.

The ups and downs of the group’s members are hilarious with touches of heartbreak thrown in. Andrews makes the characters realistic and likable. Her vivid descriptions places the listener/reader in the middle of the action. Andrews has her characters, and you, going through an array of emotions as she plays out the highs and lows of divorce.

Take a group of enraged soon-to-be exs; add in a rescue dog, a couple of well-meaning parents, a touch of mystery and mayhem; top it off with lots of humor and you have a zany story you won’t be able to let go of until the surprising end.

Andrews has done it again with LADIES’ NIGHT. It’s a fantastic story filled with fun and eclectic characters you won’t want to leave.

Author Mary Kay Andrews’ website is http://marykayandrews.com/

Ladies’ Night by Mary Kay Andrews, Performed by Kathleen McInerney, Macmillan Audio, @2013, ISBN: 978-1427230812, Unabridged, 14 Discs, Listening Time: 17.5 Hours

FTC Full Disclosure - This audio book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
 
Thanks for stopping by today. Do you enjoy stories where the characters come to life and you feel you know them or at least someone similar to them?

Let’s Talk

Do you ever have questions that ramble around in your head and won’t go away because there are no direct answers?

Sometimes I have the strangest questions pop in my mind and they always lead to more. I call them my questions for the universe because there are answers to them, but they are so vast and numerous that they seem endless. They always remind me of the movie, You’ve Got Mail, where Meg Ryan’s character is sending Tom Hanks’ character an email and sends out a question into the vast universe without really seeking a direct answer.

I should be sharing a review with you today, but instead I’d like to share some of my universe questions to see if you have answers. Or perhaps you have your own universe questions you’d like to ask.

Here’s an example. Peeling potatoes the other evening for creamed (mashed) potatoes, I wondered why are there are so many black spots on the potatoes lately even though I’ve tried several different brands. What causes the black spots? Why do some call them creamed potatoes, while others call them mashed potatoes? How do the cooking shows always have potatoes with no spots? What if a cook got so upset with the spots that they targeted the potato company? Or what if they took their rage further up the chain and held the agriculture commissioner hostage until the spot problem was resolved? (Okay, so I need to cut down on the murder mysteries I’m reading and watch a bit less of NCIS, Castle, and Bones.)

Then there’s some news I read awhile back where scientists had finally been able to store computer files onto a strand of synthetic DNA. They put sonnets, Martin Luther King’s ‘I Have A Dream’ speech, and more onto the DNA and then were able to retrieve it. 

I understand that that is a major breakthrough in the scientific field. However, what will that accomplish for the individual person? What good will it do us? Will this new discovery cure any of the diseases that plaque our lives? Will it help improve the lives of those less fortunate? I can, however, see this being a gold mine for mystery and sci-fi writers. Sometimes life is stranger than fiction.

Then there’s the question of blog stats. On the blogger dashboard, it gives me one reading for the number of visits per day and other information. When I receive a blog stats weekly report, there’s totally different number for those days and for those activities. And still, another stat meter gives me completely different figures. How do I find an accurate number? Which stats do I believe? Are the stats really that important? And what are some of these stats and rankings different organizations ask for?

Next there’s technology. Why is it that as we advance with modern technology, we have to give up the technology we enjoy that still works good? We had to give up 8 track tapes for cassettes, then we had to give up cassettes for CDs. We had to give up VHS tapes for DVDs and to me it was so much easier to record and watch a VHS tape than it is a DVD. There was no waiting for the tape to load and when you put a tape in, it began where you left off when you took it out. 

Why can’t technology advance without destroying what it has already created? Why are we forced to change just because others want new gadgets? Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for advancements in technology. I just don’t like being forced to make changes when what I like works for me. What about you? What about new computers not accepting the programs from the old computers?

And, have you ever considered how many bloggers there are and what type of blogs are floating around in blogdom for viewing? I wonder if there is a record somewhere of the numbers. There are so many different blog formats available - blogger, wordpress, etc. - how could anyone keep track? 

I blog for fun. I’m listening to Mary Kay Andrews’ LADIES' NIGHT and the protagonist makes her living as a lifestyle blogger. Can a person really make a living from blogging? Then I think about Ree Drummond (just one example) and how her blog, The Pioneer Woman, transformed into cookbooks and a TV show. So I guess you can if you have the right platform. Would you have ever imaged making money through blogging 10 years ago or even 5? Have you ever thought about making money with your blog? How would a person even begin to do that? Can it be done with a book blog or is it only lifestyle blogs? What qualifies as a lifestyle blog?

Now I come to some favorite, but difficult questions in my universe. Which book do I read next? How will I ever get my ‘to be read’ stack down lower? Why are there so many wonderful books released at the same time? How can I possible read all of the intriguing books authors email me about? Can a person burn themselves out reading too much (oh, no tell me this can’t happen)?

Do you ever get that wonderful, but scary feeling when it comes to books? I’m not complaining, but I read and listen to books at the same time and still can’t get caught up. I’m thankful and delighted there are some many great books to check out. I do, however, feel bad when I have to refuse a review request because I’ve already scheduled reviews for the next 2 or 3 months and simply don’t have an opening to do another. And there are times I have to remind myself to take a step back and remember I started doing this because I love reading, not for the pressure of reading everything that’s out there (even though I want to read everything).

Well, I guess that’s enough of my universe questions for today. How about you? Do you have any questions that ramble around in your head searching for answers, knowing there’s no one answer but endless possibilities? 

Thanks everyone for stopping by today and visiting. I hope everyone is having a great Sunday and your Fourth of July holiday wasn’t rained out like ours was here in Georgia. Hug those you love (2 and 4 legged) and enjoy a good book - it’s one of the best ways to spend the day!!

Spring Fever by Mary Kay Andrews

Annajane Hudgens is a protagonist you want to take hold of and shake the living daylights out of for acting the way she does. She’s also the protagonist you want to hug and comfort because you know you’d probably do the same thing she does if you were in her shoes.

Author Mary Kay Andrews brings the charm of a small Southern town to life in her latest release, SPRING FEVER. She also has the details down pat when it comes to the quirks, disadvantages and hilarity of a small town where gossip travels faster than the speed of light.

Narrator Kathleen McInerney brings Annajane and the other characters to life with a pleasant Southern flare. She gives each one their own unique voice with her distinct flawless delivery.

Annajane is attending her ex-husband Mason Bayless’ wedding to Celia Wakefield as a final act that she’s over him and moving on. Just as the bride makes her way down the aisle, her ex’s young daughter Sophie becomes ill.

Is it a sign? Annajane still loves Mason and it seems he still cares for her. Can they get past old memories and problems, as well as a gold-digging fiancée?

Andrews has created a typical small town atmosphere where everyone knows everyone. She also gives a look at how a small town is effective when the family-owned major industry is threatened by a corporate takeover. Passcoe, N.C., may soon lose it’s lifeline - Quixie cherry soft drink. Her characters are lovable and realistic. She even has you feeling sorry for Celia for just a bit.

SPRING FEVER is fun and entertaining. It’s filled with laughter, love, family loyalty, hurt, secrets, deception, and hope. It’s a perfect read/listen for the summer. An added bonus is an interview with Andrews at the end of the audio.

Author Mary Kay Andrews’ website is www.marykayandrews.com

Spring Fever by Mary Kay Andrews, Performed by Kathleen McInerney, Macmillan Audio, @2012, ISBN: 978-1427221667, 12 Discs, Listening Time: 14 Hours 

FTC Full Disclosure - This audio book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
 
Do you enjoy stories with a small town flavor? Remember June is National Audio Month, be sure to listen to an audio book. Thanks so much for stopping by.