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Showing posts with label Charlene Ann Baumbich. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Charlene Ann Baumbich. Show all posts
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers. It's time to announce the winner of a recently closed contest here on the site. The competition was tough....but I waded through the entries and TADA we have a winner. Drum roll please....
Congratulations, Kat! You just won (1) copy of Finding Our Way Home by Charlene Ann Baumbich! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. To find out more about this title, feel free to check out my review as well as the fabulous author interview I scored with Ms. Baumbich. This book is available now at a bookstore near you from Waterbrook Press. To discover more about the twinkly author herself, be sure to visit her online, follow along on Twitter or check out her new blog!
Thanks to all that entered! Didn't win? No worries....there's plenty more where THAT came from. In fact, there's TWO more contests going on right now! Just check the right hand side bar under 'Current Contests' for more details and remember, you can't win if you don't enter!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers….the place where every day is a celebration of the bookish variety and you’re always welcome to join the fun.
Today, I’d like to wish a very special HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY to author Charlene Ann Baumbich as her latest book FINDING OUR WAY HOME hits store shelves everywhere!*blows party horn…tosses confetti*It’s the latest installment in a series that will touch your heart and make you appreciate the things in life that really matter.For a sneak peek at this new title, check out my review in yesterday’s post.Now, for the main event….
For those of you that don’t know this author, I highly suggest you check out her website, read her books, or simply follow on Twitter.She’s a wonder lady and always happy to share a sparkly thought with you over many a topic.As I’ve shared my reading adventures with you throughout the course of the Snow Globe Connections series, I thought it was high time that we met the author behind the works a little more intimately…and being the generous person she is, my request for an interview was granted!
The results?A bit on the lengthy side (which is totally my style and the answers are SO worth it!) and a joy to share….so please, put your hands together as we welcome Ms. Charlene Ann Baumbich!
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Interview:Author Charlene Ann Baumbich
In Finding Our Way Home, you provided a first hand glimpse of the beauty and majesty of the ballet world. How was it getting the research for Sasha's back story? Were you ever a dancer or inclined to be one?
How was it getting the research? Well, it was a lot of things, including enlightening, overwhelming, intimidating and creatively constipating.
Aside from social dancing, my dance experience consists of a couple years of tap lessons, way back before fifth grade. I basically went into this story having to learn everything—or so I thought. I read nonfiction books on dancers in transition and a handful of memoirs. I watched endless YouTube videos and Googled until my fingers were nearly numb.
For awhile, I creatively constipated myself with the dichotomy of too much knowledge that was also never enough. I convinced myself that the one true thing I knew for sure was that even though Sasha showed up in my head; a professional dancer should be the one to tell her story.
But I had a contract and a deadline. So now what?
After weeks of doing nothing other than more research and fretting, one day a powerfully quickened image of Sasha came to me. She was sitting in a rocking chair with a beautiful shawl wrapped around her shoulders. She was already injured, which is not how I thought the story would begin. I said to myself, you’re mostly Irish, you’re a storyteller. Just start there. Trust what you’ve taken in already. Watch her closely, listen, pay attention …
As soon as I set my hands on the keyboard to describe the vision of her in that chair, I could feel her pain and regret. Yet when she slipped into a memory of a specific moment on stage, I was there with her too.
Once I began to write, the story unfolded in amazing ways. I had to remember that my job wasn’t to teach everyone about the professional life of a dancer. It was to tell a good story about Sasha’s life, then, of course, Evelyn too.
Afterward, I had the book vetted by a couple dancers, to make sure I didn’t dishonor the profession with inaccuracies.
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I know you said these characters danced into your mind....but after writing their journeys, do you feel closer to either of them?
I feel extremely close to both Sasha and Evelyn. I wish I could run next door to visit them, drink iced tea, learn what’s new in their lives. It was difficult to leave them at The End.
While chasing their story—and writing as fast as I could to keep up with their unfolding lives--I cried with them, laughed with them, felt their frustrations, rode the waves of their highs and lows. I sometimes even YELLED at them when I could see their stubborn mistakes taking a toll, or leading them down a wrong path. Luckily, they were both headstrong and had a right to their own mistakes. The emotions of their most gut-wrenching torments were so relatable. (Why is it, I wondered, we so often hurt the ones who love us the most?) Then, their bright moments arrived with such sparkle and shine, the redemption was palpable. Isn’t God good to keep extending us grace?!
Specific Sasha closeness: Although I’ve not suffered her same type of injury), I have twice broken my leg. It’s incredible how quickly your life can change. One minute you’re running down the stairs, and the next … Pain. Anger. Reliance on another for the simplest things. It’s a terrible struggle to regain both your physical and emotional strength, especially in your darkest hours.
Also, I must confess that my own stubborn pride sometimes keeps me from what’s best, not only for myself, but for those around me. L Pride is so blinding and misleading. Pride is a very bad guide.
Specific Evelyn closeness: I’ve been her age. I was attracted to a couple Bad Boys. I remember the lure of lust.
I was blessed by a special closeness with my father. I loved fishing with him. Writing the scenes about Evelyn and her dad and fishing made me feel close to my dad, who’s been gone since 1998.
Like Evelyn, I usually look for the Bright Side of things, unless I’m tired, and then I’m just cranky. Evelyn is a great study in optimism.
Don’t misunderstand: It’s not that I’ve lived their scenarios, or that these are MY stories. Goodness not! But I could relate, especially to the emotions. Their duo definitely highlights the gift and goodness of friends who stick with us. Great lessons from those two, whom I’d like to publicly thank for showing up in my head!
This book joins its predecessors in the Snowglobe series and though it doesn't bare that trademark cover, it fits right in. Tell me, what sparked the idea for this series in the first place?
I can do you one better! I can let you watch and hear about it, straight from my lips...
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The addition of a "love story" for both characters was a great detail and did well in showing their emotions about things outside of "work". I'm curious though....what made you decide to add it? Was it always there?
I never decide to add anything, unless it’s a specific detail an editor wants after a first read. The characters decide. Show me. Lead me.
I refer to myself as a story chaser. In other words, I don’t outline. I write by the seat of my pants. I write about the events as they unfold in my head. I start with a character and a dilemma.
When Sasha showed up, I wondered, What comes next for someone in this position? Does she even know who she is after she lost her career? After all, one thing I’d learned to be true: the life of dance is all consuming!
Perhaps, in part, these questions were spurred on by Divine Appointments, the book I wrote just before this. One of those themes was how we deal with unemployment, how we handle losing our work identities. To add a physical distress to that? Unimaginable—or was it?
Sasha came to me and demanded I tell her story. Pretty much the only things I intuitively knew about her were that she’d been a world renowned dancer, that she’d suffered a career-ending injury, and that she was isolated. To be honest, I wasn’t sure she had a love interest, let alone the likes of Donald Major, a man who adored her, and who suffered his own torment after the accident. The man who’d held her in a lift when the accident took place.
As for Evelyn and Jordan, when I sat down and began writing, I didn’t even know Evelyn was IN the story! Both she and her love interest were a surprise to me. However, I learned about her fiancé in the first chapter when she kept flashing her engagement ring around. J
Evelyn’s “love story” was an interesting one to follow. I remember telling friends at the end of a writing day, “Wow. I STILL have no idea about the integrity of this shady kind of guy!”
Each of the books in this series has been connected in some way, generally by the appearance of and magical aspect of the snowglobe featured. In this story however, there is a more direct connection and we even get to "talk" with a character from a previous book...Burt Burt. Tell me, was it like welcoming an old friend when writing him into the story once again? What made you decide to connect Evelyn's character that way?
Since I didn’t know there was an Evelyn in Finding Our Way Home, I sure didn’t know we’d see Burt Burt again. But boy was I excited when I found out Evelyn was his granddaughter! I didn’t know that until she got on her bicycle and headed for the butcher shop. I’m sure I hollered BUUUUUUUUUUUURT! when I realized the connection.
I loved getting to know Burt Burt while writing StrayAffections. Readers adored Burt too. (YAY!) He’s a quirky butcher with a fun sense of humor and a giant heart. (Evelyn’s positivity is so much like her grandpa’s.) His love story in Stray Affections was so … tender and dear. It was so honestly good to “see” him again, to get to hang with him, watch him at work, wielding a clever, slicing meat and serving samples of his special Burt’s Durves. And loving. Burt loves so very well.
Before starting this series, I wrote the Dearest Dorothy series. In some ways, Burt Burt reminds me of Arthur Landers, although Arthur was much more of a trouble maker, someone who liked to stir up the pot. But they both have such wonderful big hearts and great humor. I’ve always loved working with male characters.
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The message of Grace in both word and simple prayer is evident throughout the story. How has it applied to your life?
First of all, since I am by no means a “preachy” storyteller, thank you for noticing the evidence of Grace. It is my heart’s desire to entertain, yes, but also to send hope and love into the world via the power of story. And to extend grace. YAY!
Madeleine L’Engle once wrote that her stories were smarter than she was. I know exactly what she meant. Stories better illustrate grace than any amount of preaching I could deliver, so I let them lead.
Having said that, I cannot write about what I do not know. As a Christian, I know grace. Grace is everything. Grace can’t be earned. In other words, it isn’t my striving that “makes grace happen.” It isn’t because I’m a “good girl” that God showers me with grace and covers my every mucky mess with love. Rather it’s because I’m such a mess, and because God loves me so, that God saw fit to save me from myself.
Every day, the more aware I become of how inadequate I am in so very many ways, how short I fall from getting things right, it grows more remarkable to me that God loves me. When I watch the news, I think, And God is present in that too, mourning, holding, hearing, guiding …
I wouldn’t be who I am without the presence of God’s grace. Like Eleanor said the first time she prayed over dinner, “Grace. Amen.” When Sasha questioned if that was the entire prayer, Eleanor responded, “What else do we need or need to remember?”
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Quid pro quo
Favorite author.... Depends on the day and mood, and my needs.
Favorite book.... The answer to this question changes too, but today I’ll go with The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak
Right now I'm reading.... (Just getting ready to start) The Book of Lost Fragrances by M.J. Rose
If I wasn't an author, I would have been..... A torch singer. I love Karaoke. Singing anytime, anywhere.
One thing I know now that I wish I knew then... Seriously, I wouldn’t trade today’s “knowledge and maturity” for yesteryear’s naïveté and mistakes. I’m the me I am now because of those mistakes and what I’ve learned through them. Ten years from now, I’ll be the me I am then because of the mistakes I’m still making today. The beauty is that no matter what, God, grace, family, laughter, love, friends and random acts of kindness see us through.
The best advice I have for future authors... Know what you’re getting into. These days, writing the story is only a part of what’s expected. Trust the story more than yourself. Don’t try to be a wordsmith; it usually shows. Semi-colons are no longer in favor, but perhaps you can revolt. : ) Relentless pursuit!
Thank you so much for the wonderful answers, Ms. Baumbich!It’s great to see the connection you have with your characters and the fate that awaits them.Your works are not all sunshine and roses, they reflect life as it can happen from time to time…but in the end, you leave readers with a renewed awareness for the joys that surround them and hope for a better tomorrow.
Now, how would YOU like to check out this latest work for yourself?Remember, it’s IN STORES NOW so it should be readily available at your favorite bookstore or online outlet…BUT…I’ve one more way for you to meet this work face to face.That’s right…you guessed it…it’s CONTEST time!
Thanks to the generosity of the author, we’ve got one copy up for grabs!Here’s the scoop….
For those that prefer extra entries…don’t worry, there are plenty of opportunities for them.^_^
Rules:
Open to U.S. entries only, no P.O. Boxes please.
Entries accepted March 13th, 2012 through March 23rd, 2012, midnight CST.Comments are lovely, wonderful, magical even….and most appreciated, but in order to enter, you MUST fill out the form.
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So there you have it.
Another great read to potentially add to your wish list….and it even comes with a message of good will and love in our hearts.
Congratulations once again Ms. Baumbich on this latest release.
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers…the place where things usually run according to plan…bookishly speaking at least.Yes, today has been an interesting day to say the least.Mom was suppose to have surgery…and yes I said suppose to because up until about 20 minutes ago, she was; then the doctor said there was a complication and he needs to postpone it.*-*_hand to face_ If I wasn’t stressed out enough by the events themselves, no…now we have to start all over again another day.Oye…life, sometimes she brings you an orchard of lemons…but other times, she brings an unexpected bounty through the most unanticipated means, which leads me right to today’s post.
It’s a book that’s set to celebrate its bookish birthday tomorrow, but I’m bringing you the review today.Why?Ah, see…there’s a method to my madness (if you want to call it madness that is…it’s not like I’m running around like the Mad Hatter or anything).The lovely author behind the work was kind enough to grant me an interview, and what a session it turned out to be.Let’s just say that you’re in for a moving story in both the book AND the answers….the later of which will be revealed tomorrow with an extra special treat, so be sure to stop back by!Now then, let’s introduce this wonderful new book, shall we?Today’s book of choice is….
The road home can be daunting—and sometimes it takes a very capable girl on a bicycle to help find the way.
When principal ballerina Sasha Davis suffers a career-ending injury at age thirty-seven, she leaves her Boston-based dance company and retreats to the home of her youth in Minnesota. But Sasha’s injuries are limiting and her recently deceased mother’s absence haunting. Since she can’t do it alone, she is forced to hire a temporary live-in aide.
Enter the über-capable Evelyn Burt. As large-boned as Sasha is tiny, Evelyn is her employer’s opposite in every way. Small town to Sasha’s urban chic, outgoing to Sasha’s iciness, and undaunted where Sasha is hopeless, nineteen-year-old Evelyn is newly engaged and sees the world as one big, shiny opportunity. Is there any way for such a mismatch to make life better?
Evelyn soon discovers Sasha needs to heal more than bones. Slowly, as the wounds begin to mend and the tables tilt, the two women form an unlikely alliance and discover the astounding power of even the smallest act done in the name of love. Finding Our Way Home is a story of second chances and lavish grace.
Despite the lack of a snow globe on the cover, this book is in fact a part of the Snow Globe Series (for a peek at the rest of the series, check out my reviews of Stray Affections and Divine Appointments right here on the site).What is this series, you ask?Well, to put it simply, they are stories of men and women at various points in their lives looking for direction, a little guidance if you will, to a future for themselves and those they love…worth achieving.They’ve lost their way as so many of us do and through their steps and missteps we learn a bit more about them as well as ourselves along the way.
Let me be upfront about something, this is labeled as Christian Fiction…a genre I don’t generally partake of due to its tendency to get “preachy”.Ms. Baumbich’s work, for the most part does not.True there are mentions of God here and there, as well as a plenitude of Grace both sought and shared, but it doesn’t overpower the story making it a sermon as opposed to a work of fiction with morals entwined.Of the three books in the series, this one stepped a bit closer to that fine line than I might have liked, but in the end, my enjoyment of the tale spun and the connections I made with the characters allowed this reader to turn the last page with a smile on her face and a lightness in her step.Now, back to the cover….
Aside from the lack of snow globe gracing the front, there was a rather big change in the cover’s color scheme that begged me to include both the final (seen above) and the ARC (seen here).A lot of thought and planning goes into a cover choice, so by no means am I discounting the research done to find a suitable match, but personally, I’m a fan of the ARC cover more so than the final.Something about the reds and pinks used is warmer to me than the stark contrast between the blues and yellows…not to mention when I think ballet shoes, I think pink; any thoughts or opinions on them….feel free to leave them in the comments.But enough of that….let’s move on to the characters….
Evelyn and Sasha couldn’t have been more different if they tried and yet they worked so well together.At times those differences created rather interesting situations (i.e. the warped pan that served as a bird bath…at least for a while) and obstacles to overcome, but they also presented opportunities for them to grow as individuals and towards a friendship you’d have never guessed was just waiting to blossom.They are both forces to be reckoned with in their own ways what with Sasha being the strong but silent sufferer that she is and Evelyn being the outgoing sometimes brash girl she is.They both discover their weaknesses extend far deeper than the physical while their strengths come straight from the heart and it’s those realizations that help them along the path to true friendship.
Sasha is dealing with her own demons; ones that she has yet to even acknowledge until this perpetually optimistic teenager stepped into her life.She’s hidden herself away from the world and allowed the fear of what is now versus what was then to harden her heart.It takes the prodding (and good natured interloping) of Evelyn to get her world spinning on two well balanced toe shoes again.Will things be the same?Certainly not as some things even time can not heal fully, but from all appearances, things could possibly wind up even better.Evelyn, on the other hand, is lost in the throes of young (chaste) love but she has a lot to learn and life is not always the kindest of teachers.A well tuned ear and a delicate hand to help pick her up if she falls, may not be what she expected from this work endeavor but it certainly doesn’t hurt…and even manages to reconnect her with her parents once again.
I do want to make mention of a few “hidden” characters that you’ll have the pleasure of meeting and that make quite an impression.Mr. Donald Major, whose role is revealed in time, paints an emotional portrait from the male perspective of the story as it unfolds….quite touching really.His plight is partially self-induced by his desire to please another but by book’s end, even he will make a change.Also, there’s Burt Burt….yes, that’s his name….Evelyn’s Uncle.It was so nice to see him again as he was a key character in Stray Affections, and a lovable one at that.His enthusiasm for life and love of his fellow man is evident in everything he does, which serves as a marvelous influence on our young lady…and a great example of a life well lived.
All in all, a lovely read that serves to remind us that we’re never truly alone in this world if we open our hearts to the possibilities that surround us and allow ourselves to be loved.Whether that love is from a spouse, a family member, a close friend or even in the form of self-respect, we are all worthy of it and the Grace that it injects within our lives.Sometimes seeing oneself reflected in the eyes of another is needed to cause a reaction, enough for us to make a change; other times….it takes a good kick in the proverbial pants.Evelyn and Sasha were that needed push to each other and the resulting changes were remarkable in them both.
Recommended read for older teens through adults…the story does not contain questionable content, however with the weightier feelings and issues traveling about, it’s best left for the appreciation of a more mature crowd.ARC for review courtesy of author Charlene Ann Baumbich.(THANKS!)For more information on this book as well as her complete works, feel free to visit her sparkly self online or follow along on Twitter.
REMEMBER:This book celebrates its bookish birthday tomorrow from Waterbrook Press, an imprint of Random House. Be sure to stop by to check out the interview with Ms. Baumbich herself…with a little something extra.Stay tuned!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers!
For some reason, this week seems to be escaping me. How so? Well, the days are flying by and somehow or another I totally forgot to do a 'Teaser Tuesday' post yesterday, go figure. Though not the end of the world, it still irked me when I realized I had deprived you, my readers, of a tease from my current reads...since I know you oh so look forward to them (...hopefully...). No worries...I'll remedy that tomorrow. Speaking of time "slip sliding away" (if you didn't catch that tiny music reference I can't help you, sorry....if you did, way to go...), today's review focuses on a recently released title starring a character with a similar yet unrecognized problem. Ready to read all about it? Here we go! Today's book of choice is....
Here she comes just a walkin' down the street singing, do wa diddie diddie dum diddie d....oh, wait a second, no...that was someone else. *peeks around corner* There she is! Josie Brooks. Feared by many, befriended by few (okay, so none really, but maybe family), single for life (seemingly) due to choice and circumstance. You see, Josie is the person companies bring in when they are looking to revamp, and by revamp I mean down size and by down size I mean cut costs and by cut costs I mean size up the situation and determine who and what can be cut. She's carried many names over the years most of which were warranted by the situation (hey, you can't help feeling a bit of anger towards the person that recommends you are being no longer viable) but said behind her back. No problem for Josie since she has built herself a steel exterior and a wall around her heart to keep any personal attacks at bay. No problem that is until now...
You see a few months ago, Josie Brooks happened to attend the Collector's Convention and while knocking the block off of one Cassandra Higgins (the main character from book 1 in the series), happened to pick up a snowglobe of her own. A beautiful rendering of a park area rich with plant life and a flowing river....wait, a flowing river? How in the world did the maker of the globe include THAT feature? It's tranquil peace and charm call to her almost as if it was meant to be hers and a simple cash exchange later, it is. At home, it sits on her shelf collecting dust, the magic seen in the moment of purchase no longer casting its spell....until one day, the sound of running water disturbs her daily activities. Why would that be disturbing? Well, its not coming from the sink, the tub, or the pipes....it's coming from...the globe! How is that I wonder?
With little time to explore this unexplained "miracle" of sorts, Josie pushes it to the back of her mind as she focuses on the job at hand. This job however is hitting home more so than usual, knocking a chink or two from her carefully constructed walls. What is it about this particular job that has her in a tizzy? These new found feelings along with an unquenchable thirst strike her as two of a handful of things mysteriously out of sorts....and the solution to her problems comes from the most unlikely of places. There is much to learn on the path of life and Josie is about to play the ultimate game of catch up.
Book two in the Snowglobe Series and my verdict...as good as or even better than the first! As in the other book, the mysterious snowglobe still plays a role in the story but this time rather than hiding in the back corners, it sits in the passenger seat to help guide our leading lady....and guide it will, just perhaps not on the most direct course. You learn why Josie is the way she is and how our perceptions of situations can change over time. Whether it is age, experience, or a new revelation, things are not always what they seem at face value; it's a lesson hard taught as well as hard learned. The characters introduced within the story each play a role in Josie's life but also have lessons of their own to discover. There are happy times, funny times (hey, the great Marshalleon deems it so....LOL...one of the characters uses writing as an emotional outlet), sad times (you will need tissues for one part), and everything in between, but the river of emotions flowing through this book is well worth following.
Overall, it struck me as a book about the heart warming changes that can take place if you just give life, in all its vibrant colors, a chance. Josie was not the only one transformed in this book...far from it. Each character was changed in one way or another, but all for the better. From the frustrating losses (jobs, life, trust) to the triumphs both professionally (new jobs, new career paths) and personally (feelings, nothing more than feelings...*ahem* okay more than feelings, so much more), the resounding message I heard was that of a fairly famous quote...No man is an island.
Need a hug?
We all need someone, something to hold on to. Look at our social networks....they are social for a reason. People like to interact and whether you are the outgoing town crier type or that bookish girl over there on the fringe (*raises hand*), we all need our own version of the spotlight. The audience can be grand in numbers or only a select few, either way, so long as it fits the person, they are both equally satisfying. In living that lesson by example, the author's characters create an Encouragement Club...something of which I think we could all use at one time or another to get through the bad times and celebrate the good. Based not on the religion of this person or that, but on the belief that all people at one time or another need encouragement and sharing that experience with others is just another way to create lasting bonds of friendship.
This title hit shelves everywhere on 09/21/10, so be on the lookout at your favorite book store or online site. The first two chapters of the book are available at the publisher's website for you to sample. A word to the wise...in my own reading experience, I was drawn into this book more so later on than the beginning, so consider it with an open mind.
Special thanks to author Charlene Ann Baumbich and Waterbrook Press for the review copy. (THANKS!) For more information about the author and her current work, visit her website or follow along on Twitter. To find out more about the publisher, check them out at their current site.
COMMENT CREATOR
I invite you today (well any day really, but for the sake of this post...today) to be an honorary member of our own little 'Encouragement Club' if you will. There's no membership application, dues, or commitment...in fact, this is its first and last formal meeting of any sort...though you are of course welcome to continue it on your own (something I may do in the future now that I think about, but we'll see). The comments are open as always for your thoughts about the post, but today I also welcome you to leave a word of encouragement. About what? Whatever you like. It can be something you think someone else needs to hear, something you would like to hear, or something in general...whatever pleases you most so long as a positive message can be gleaned from it. So...what have you to say?
Greetings and welcome to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers. Whether you're a new visitor or stop through on a regular basis, thanks for stopping by. For those that generally frequent the site, you may have noticed that I am not only an avid reader but a pet lover as well. While all fuzzy critters great and small have a special place in the hearts of their human friends, dogs are the ones closest to my own. When I find a book that has these lovelies tied into the story...it just makes it that much more fun, such is the both expected and unexpected instances in the story we'll look at today. Without further adieu, today's book of choice is....
When tragedy strikes, it can be hard to strike back. Finding the courage to raise one's head again is often difficult but manageable...as an adult. When those tragedies visit during our childhood days, it makes it nearly impossible...but then again, faith is about having belief in those things that are seemingly impossible is it not? Cassandra Higgins is a wife, mother, and collector, but in her heart of hearts she is an animal lover. In her youth, she loved nothing more than rescuing and bringing to health those furry friends needing a helping hand. She longed to one day become a veterinarian so she could tend to the masses...but that dream came to an end when a death in the family rocked their carefully built foundation to its core, shaking loose doubts and fears long kept dormant and making hopes and dreams a luxury just out of her reach. Her family is broken...beyond repair? That remains to be seen, but if a recent acquisition from the Collectors' Convention has anything to do with it, these wounds of old might just heal in new and unexpected ways.
Let's start with the cover of the book, which I myself found most enchanting. It depicts a snowglobe with a little girl and three dogs inside, surrounded by "flurrious" winter activity. It is not however merely a cute picture chosen without thought as the globe shown plays a role in the events that occur within the story...though not exactly how you may be imagining. In fact, at times I thought, okay, it's the snowglobe series....why does the snowglobe not feature more often, but in continuing my read of the story, I came to see it was merely a vehicle by which Cassandra was to grow above and beyond her past. It was a physical representation of what her life once was, became and now could be.
The cast of characters taking turns in both supporting and primary roles gave the reader other viewpoints to consider as the story unfolded. You have Burt Burt (no, that's not a typo) the town butcher full of whit, charm, and a giving heart. "Bad Betty" Kamrowski, Cassandra's mother who was graced with the "bad" nickname due to her own actions and yet is perhaps the most misunderstood of all (can't tell you why, it's be too spoilerish!), though by books end her heart is beginning to show. Cassandra's family and friends, each taking turns in the spotlight with their own stories of loss, strength and courage, all leading up to an ending both pleasing and unanticipated. It's wonderful when a book can surprise you. Though not a fast paced page turner, it certainly holds it own. The characters have a journey to travel within this book and though at times the end is not quite clear, the personal revelations made and obstacles conquered make for a read to remember.
The storyline resides in a genre of books I generally avoid as they can become preachy in nature. This one, though there are moments of spiritual guidance, is presented as the characters belief system, not a push for you to be swayed one way or another, leaving you free to enjoy the story and receive the moral at books end as you would with any tale. In short, it offers a little bit of everything. Family drama (Three words...mother and daughter. There, that should clue you in to the amount of drama that can take place...), a love of creatures great and small (Doggies, and bunnies, and other things, OH MY!), heartache (death is a frequent visitor in Cassandra's past), happiness (Egad! "Bad Betty" may have a lighter side!), and everything in between (yeah...from durve's for all occasions, complete with a recipe at book's end...to random acts of funny....there's a lot covered in here).
In summary, it's a book that is as sweet and endearing as the snowglobe graced cover. If we had more people in the world like those within this story, we'd be in a much happier if not better place. They're not fake happy-all-the-time people. They're real enough to have emotions and issues just like the rest of us. The turns their story takes reminds us to have an open heart and mind when dealing with others, even when you think you know them well. Just because you know their story, doesn't mean it's the unabridged version and those missing details could make a world of difference in understanding them fully. No worries, they'll share when and if they reach a point where they are ready to, but in the mean time, accept them as they are...differences of opinion and all.
Now, I must give a special shout out to this wonderful author. Why? Well, let's see... Her stories are full of heart and rich with meaning. She's a witty source of tweet-ful and twinkly tidbits to make you smile (serious, check out her Twitter feed). She has a wonderfully cute rescued dog named Kornflake whom shares the limelight with her from time to time. Oh and she was also the very FIRST sponsor to sign up for the Got Books? Event...throwing her hat in the ring to support the hair brained idea of two bloggers with only a handful of participates signed up (at the time)...definitely a confidence booster. So, if it's not clear....THANK YOU!
For more information on this author and her work, check out her website, or follow along on Twitter! Review copy of this title was gained from a GoodReads giveaway earlier in the year. ONE MORE THING! Did you know....Snowglobe Series, Book 2: Divine Appointments was scheduled to hit shelves as of yesterday? Be on the lookout for it in a store near you....and you can count on a review of same said title to be right here in the coming days.
