Hi there!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers...the site that aims to share something bookish with you every day of the week.
Today, we're hosting a stop along The Story Plant blog tour for a title that's a bit....unconventional. No worries, it's not going to scar you for life or anything but it does deal with a little more than your average flora and fauna. *ahem* Okay, I admit it, I didn't get the reference, but when reading the description to dear old Mom, she totally KNEW just from that passage! Yep, I'm a bit naive. So sue me. Anywho, moving forward, allow me to introduce today's featured tour and ebook of choice...
Betty's (Little Basement) Garden
by
Laurel Dewey
About the book....
Betty Craven is the epitome of elegance, class, and perfection. Her prize-winning garden is the envy of her neighbors; her impeccable manners and epicurean skills have made her the “hostess with the most-est.”
But all is not what it seems.
The truth is that this fifty-eight year old’s seemingly idyllic world is quickly disintegrating. Widowed and left with a modest income, Betty’s Colorado gourmet chocolate shop has gone belly up, leaving her floundering for purpose and meaning. Tied to a house in disrepair that she can’t sell, and mired in unrelenting grief for her dead son, this patriotic former Texas pageant queen comes to the shocking and debilitating conclusion that her entire life has been wasted. As that realization hits her hard between her well-manicured brow, the rebellious spirit that Betty has silently kept under lock and key, explodes to the surface.
When that happens, her staunch conservative world changes drastically, causing Betty to question every belief and opinion she’s ever had. The path she chooses is paved with secrecy, eccentric characters, toe-curling love, life-changing events, and a connection to her unconventional garden that she never could have imagined. No matter how hard she tries, Betty Craven will never be the same again.
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Alright, so a showing of virtual hands, who realized what the "unconventional garden" had in it?
*looks round*
Wow, THAT many of you?
*-*
Well, that won't damper my spirits any. ON with the post!
I'm going with an awards point system on this one. Why? Because I can....and because it felt right since our leading lady loves to be judged in the best of lights on a consistent basis. Are you with me? Well, ready or not, here we go!
ONE POINT - for creating a lead that is memorable in so many ways and yet so prim and proper without crossing into that crazy Professor Umbridge territory. ~shudders~ I love her for her manners and grace even in times of great personal trials; she consistently presents a picture worthy of notice. I love that she's not afraid of failure even if she doesn't want it broadcast to the world.
ONE POINT - for presenting a sensitive and controversial subject matter in an informative yet entertaining light. There's nothing worse (for me anyway) than getting into a Fiction read and feeling as if I've gone to school. Don't get me wrong, I LOVED school, but I didn't pick up a book in this genre to get a lecture, know what I mean? The author is neither preachy nor judgmental and even allows her characters some growth on the matter (pun somewhat intended).
ONE POINT - for managing to weave a bit of a romance in between the prickly vines that the deaths and secrets have cultured. Once again, an unexpected surprise that REALLY worked! It was quirky enough to stand out but not so off the wall as to raise eyebrows in anything but mirth.
So that's THREE points in its favor with ZERO in the negative column....I'd call that a win, wouldn't you? ^_^ Recommended read for adult readers of all ages due to some content and the particular garden she grows. *ahem*
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About the author...
Laurel Dewey’s writing career has been anything but predictable. Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Dewey began her career working in public relations for such celebrities as Barbra Streisand and Frank Sinatra. Her writing talents quickly took her into other entertainment avenues. Dewey was an assistant editor at BOP Magazine, helping launch the blockbuster career of teen pop groups like The New Kids on The Block. During this time, she wrote a string of successful mystery radio plays for Los Angeles radio networks. The plays won Dewey consistent awards and caused one reviewer to write, “Dewey’s flair for creating memorable characters and great stories is a welcome change these days.”
Read more about the author and her complete body of works on her official site.
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Special thanks to Aaron at The Story Plant for the ebook for review and chance to bring this tour to you. (THANKS!) For more information on this title (check out the official tour page!) as well as their future tours, be sure to check out their official site. This title is available now, so seek thee out a copy on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choice.
Until next time...happy reading!
I so feel for Betty and the loss of her gourmet chocolate shop. Seriously though she sounds like a wonderfully inspirational character, the book a great thought provoking read.
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