"Not all those who wander are lost...": The Runaway Wife by Elizabeth Birkelund

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're shining the spotlight on a title that's set to hit bookstore shelves this coming Tuesday via Harper, thanks to BookSavvy PR.  It stars a wintry journey to the heart of the Alps for both pleasure AND business...and that business is more entrenched in the feelings of the heart than you might imagine.  Ladies and gents, grab your climbing gear and bundle up, or if you're in the 100+ degree heat like I am, you might keep your warm weather clothes on an utilize the full power of your imagination, as we welcome today's book of choice...

The Runaway Wife

by

Elizabeth Birkelund

9780062431752

Harper

About the book...

THREE BEAUTIFUL FRENCH SISTERS ENTRUST AN AMERICAN HIKER WITH THE MISSION OF RESCUING THEIR MOTHER HIGH IN THE ALPS.

BUT WHAT IF SHE DOESN'T WANT TO BE FOUND?

Recently fired from his high-power finance job and dumped by his fiancée, Jim Olsen has come to the Swiss Alps to clear his head. At the charming Cabane des Audannes, he meets Clio, Thalia and Helene Castellane, who are on a quest of their own: their mother, Calliope, has fled to these mountains to escape her philandering politician husband's most recent scandal. As snow threatens to descend upon the Alps, the women have come to bring their mother home.

But the sisters are at the point of surrender; it is time for them to return to Paris. Buoyed by wine and inspired by their beauty, Jim impetuously volunteers to assume their search, but soon realizes that he is in over his head. The Alps are filled with beauty and danger, not the least of which is Calliope's desire to stay hidden. And all the while, Jim finds himself haunted by the memory of her daughters and conflicted in his desire for them.

The Runaway Wife is a story of adventure, survival, and romance—and of a man's discovery of a world outside his conventional life and a new vision of himself within it.

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This is a story that is as much about a journey through the Alps as it is a man mapping out his heart.

Jim starts this portion of his life with a single step, just as we all begin any unknowingly life-altering journey, that leads to a week long adventure in some of the harshest terrain known to man.  One heartfelt request from the Castellane sisters three, delivered in flirtatious glances, a set scene, and acting skills to boot, and this inexperienced climber feels like he can tackle the world whilst looking for one soul lost among its nooks, crannies, and crevices.  Problem is he was vulnerable when he accepted this challenge having just had his heart broken into tiny pieces.  Problem is that he IS an inexperienced climber, this being his first actual mountain trek, and despite his football-esque appearance, the places he will have to travel are demanding to those that know it like the back of their hand.  Problem is that the famous J.R.R. Tolkien quote applies here very well..."Not all those who wander are lost..."...nor all those that choose to be "lost" want to be found.  Life, love, and death hang in the balance for more than soul on this incredible journey...let's just hope that these's enough left of them all to survive the final outcome.

Left you in a bit of a lurch, have I?  GOOD!  You deserve the chance to read this tale to discover all the pitfalls, all the hardships, all the surprises, and the eventual end, for yourself.  On my own journey through the pages, I discovered that despite his bravado, I really and truly liked Jim. His transformation along the way was most remarkable, so much so that his former self would not recognize him, and my heart beat a song of joy just for him.  He deserved happiness, or the potential of, even if it arrived in an unforeseen manner.  The other half of my characters to note list belongs to a Castellane, but not the three you might be thinking of.  No, the sisters, Clio, Thalia, and Helene (yes, all named after Muses), made an impression, but not that much of a lasting one for me personally.  No, the true soul I found invigorating right there next to Jim's was the object of our search, Calliope.  What a name, right?  As exotic as it sounds, that was only the ice on the tip of the mountains because her soul was as vibrant as the oasis of peace and light she made/found in an otherwise foreboding landscape.  Her commune with nature, her respite from the everyday tortures of her real world duties, brings her such a vast amount of joy, it's contagious.  You can feel it emanating from the page, hear it in the calls of the owls, taste it in the fish stew shared, and see it in your mind's eye as they race through fields of flowers when snow is just a heartbeat away.  It's all right there for the taking and even as we learn about her life down-mountain, it still hits just as hard.

In the end, it's a story just as much for the fellas as it is for the ladies.  The journey of the heart taken is not unknown to most, in some fashion or another, as we seek beauty and love in our own lives.  The danger and adventure undertaken provide elements to entice those that might otherwise squirm under the aforementioned aspects alone.  Though at times it may seem more about the mountain than the man, wait...take a moment to bask in what you're reading because when the real world comes crashing back in, you'll be wishing for that glacial escape.

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About the author...

Elizabeth Birkelund is author of the novels The Dressmaker (Henry Holt & Co., 2006) and The Runaway Wife (Harper Collins, July 2016). Formerly the “Money Talk” columnist at Cosmopolitan, Elizabeth worked as a freelance magazine journalist, writing at such outlets as Self, Glamour and Working Woman, among others. She currently serves as a trustee on the boards of the National Humanities Center and the Center for Fiction in New York. Elizabeth is a graduate of Brown University. She has four adult sons and lives in New York City, where she is busy working on her next novel, an espionage romance.

SITE  |  FACEBOOK  |  TWITTER

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Special thanks to Eileen at BookSavvy PR for the ARC for review.  (THANKS!)  For more more information on this title, the author, the publisher, or those promotions on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title hits store shelves 07/12/16 via Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.

Until next time...happy reading!

What We Set in Motion by Stephanie Austin Edwards

Hi there!

Welcomes back to another week here at Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.  The place that no matter what life throws at you, you can always find yourself between the pages of a great book.

Today, we're shining the spotlight on a recently released title that came to my attention through the folks at Book Savvy PR (namely Eileen... ~waves~).  It's a work of Literary Fiction that would find itself just as well if shelved with Southern Literature seeing how it's leading lady happens to herald from the Lowcountry of South Carolina.  It's all about following your dreams, and finding the life path meant for you, with a broad cast of characters that will endear themselves to you in one way or another along the way.  So sit back, relax, and grab a cold glass of iced tea (or SWEET tea, if you happen to be Southern), as we regal you with a tale that'll move you to dance.  Today's book of choice is...

What We Set in Motion

by

Stephanie Austin Edwards

9780996571906

Novel Ideas by SAE

About the book..

Set in the turbulent, colorful 1970’s, What We Set in Motion finds the daughter of a prominent old South Carolina Lowcountry family fleeing to New York’s Greenwich Village in pursuit of a dance career. Cut off by her disapproving father and abandoned by her would-be fiancé, Nadine Carter Barnwell must strive on her own to beat the harrowing odds. Penniless and surrounded by the temptation of dubious money-making schemes and the bitter disappointment of seeing a friend fall prey to them, Nadine battles fiercely for her place in the ultra-competitive world of dance — only to reluctantly step away to please a man. It takes the loving, mystical intervention of her beloved aunt back in South Carolina and an unexpected letter from a young girl to set Nadine’s chaotic life firmly on the path to fulfillment and the startling realization that every encounter and each choice is a milestone in the quest to forge her own destiny.

AMAZON  |  B&N

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This is one of those books that you don't rush through the story...you savor it.  Every word, every passage, every page takes you deeper into the tale as it unfolds and the characters as they develop into something more than you ever expected.  That, my friends, is what you're in store for with this read.

Right from the start, I thought...this is a remarkable read.  We're given a leading lady with a strong, clear voice that makes it easy to step right into the story.  You can feel the love she has for her family, even when they turn their back on her.  You can sense the connection she has with her Aunt Amelia and Uncle Hamp, the longevity and reach of which will last a lifetime (or perhaps beyond).  I truly admired Nadine in her choices and gumption to continue reaching for her dreams, even when all felt lost and every turn was exposing more raw nerves and strife than she felt certain she could face.  My heart filled with sadness at the outcome of her initial life changing event and the weight which she would carry throughout her life, but I believed Aunt Amelia...something big was around the corner.  Just how big and where her path would take her could not have been imagined, but it was all in pursuit of the Full-Hearted Life she sought.

As the story progresses, there are plenty of moments that will stop your heart (Baby Child!), grit your teeth (OMG...I wanted to I don't know what that sniffling little weasel), shed tears of sadness (for friends, family, and dreams), and steal your breath (he bought her a puppy!  So sweet!).  Watching Nadine pursue her dream come what may was inspiring.  She met many obstacles and friends turned to foes (sorta) along the way, but in spite of it all, she managed to stay strong...with a little help from her family.  Now, family here isn't all about blood, but about those you choose to let in and that being the case, Nadine has an extended one to say the least.  They are colorful and lively, with various backgrounds, but they are all AMAZING in their own ways.  They serve her well throughout her time in the big city, while also conditioning her for the bigger events coming her way.



Overall, it was a thoroughly enjoyable read that will keep you turning pages from start to finish with its simplicity, love of life, and message of following your dreams.  I admit, though genuinely shocked by the ending (in the best way possible), I had entertained a notion or two that came to pass along my reading journey. (Score one for the reader!)  It allowed readers the chance to see things come full circle for Nadine and though sadness colored some of her days, her heart was better for the experiences in the end.

Recommended read for Literary Fiction as well as Women's Fiction fans from older teens through adults.  It's a moving journey you won't want to miss.

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About the author...

Stephanie Austin Edwards is the author of What We Set In Motion (2016), which won the Best Submission Award at the Atlanta Writer’s Club Conference in 2013. Her recent publications include a short story in the University of Texas literary journal, riverSedge, and an essay in the book Beaufort Through the Ages. In a past life, Stephanie was a costume supervisor on Broadway for productions of Dreamgirls, Grind, The Rink (Liza Minelli) and Woman of the Year (Lauren Bacall), among others. She also has numerous film and television credits to her name, including work on The Cosby Show, the Woody Allen films Hannah and Her Sisters and Radio Days, and Michael Jackson’s BAD music video. After giving up the bustle of New York City life, Stephanie has returned to her roots in the South Carolina Lowcountry, teaching writing workshops at the college level and working for the Beaufort School District as a grant consultant.

SITE  |  TWITTER  |  FACEBOOK

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Special thanks to Eileen at Book Savvy PR for the copy for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the author, or those promotions forthcoming, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title celebrated its book birthday March 30th, 2016, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.

Until next time...happy reading!