Hi there!
Welcome back to the site that aims to please the reader in you, Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.
Today, we're joining in a Tribute Books Blog Tour already in progress starring a Women's Fiction title with a touch of mystery, a good dose of the military, and just what a lifetime of secrets can really do to a person. Ready or not, here comes today's book of choice...
by
Kathleen M. Rodgers
9781603812153
Camel Press
About the book...
Would life have been different for Johnnie if she'd been named after a woman rather than her dead uncle? Or if her mama hadn't been quite so beautiful or flighty? The grandparents who raised her were loving, but they didn't understand the turmoil roiling within her. And they had so many, many secrets.
Why did her mama leave? Would she ever return? How did her Uncle Johnny really die? Who was her father? Now Johnnie Kitchen is a 43-year-old woman with three beautiful children, two of them grown. She has a handsome, hardworking husband who adores her, and they live in the historic North Texas town of Portion in a charming bungalow. But she never finished college and her only creative outlet is a journal of letters addressed to both the living and the dead. Although she has conquered the bulimia that almost killed her, Johnnie can never let down her guard, lest the old demons return. Or perhaps they never went away to begin with. For Johnnie has secrets of her own, and her worst fear is that the life she's always wanted--the one where she gets to pursue her own dreams--will never begin.
Not until her ghosts reveal themselves.
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As you can probably tell from the synopsis, there are quite a few story lines running around this tale and what they all have in common is SECRETS. Surprisingly, though most of the characters are harboring something, Johnnie seems to have the most or rather be connected to the most.
First there's the identity of her father, then there's her own betrayal that's been weighing on her heart for over a decade, follow that up with her grandmother's knowledge of her mother's whereabouts, and let us not forget the inner demon she fights on a daily basis that while familiar to her family, remains cloaked from the world. That's A LOT of darkness to be carrying around your person, let alone ONE person. No wonder her world seems to be coming apart at the seems and all because she tried to comfort her child after he did something rather less than brilliant. *shakes head* Just goes to show you, and it's a lesson Johnnie girl learns in spades, THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE.
Once things start coming to the light, it seems like a runaway train and just when it looks like the bottom has truly fallen out, that whisper of hope that's been floating around comes into reach. Does it save her and her family? Is her husband forgiving, her grandmother welcoming, her kids back on her side? Now that's...something you'll have to read the book to find out but suffice it to say that it is the ups and downs of the every day that make this life a LIFE and true love, whether famial or heart-to-heart, can weather any storm.
To conclude, I enjoyed getting to know Johnnie, even in her darkest hours, and found her character very human. Though I don't necessarily agree with all her choices, she beared them well and never gave up on trying to rebuild her family, her life. Recommended read for Women's Fiction fans.
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About the author...
Kathleen M. Rodgers' stories and essays have appeared in numerous magazines and anthologies. Johnnie Come Lately is her second novel. She is also the author of the award-winning novel, The Final Salute, featured in USA Today, The Associated Press, and Military Times. She lives in a suburb of North Texas with her husband, a retired fighter pilot/commercial airline pilot, and their dog, Denton.
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Special thanks Nicole at Tribute Books Blog Tours for the review copy as well as the chance to bring this tour to you. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, the publisher, the tour, or those on the horizon, please feel free to click through the links provided above. This title was released February 2015 via Camel Press, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing. But before you go, we have some breaking news...
THIS JUST IN!
FIRST OF ALL...
THE EBOOK EDITION IS ON SALE NOW THROUGH JULY 31ST FOR ONLY $2.99!
Whatcha say guys? A little treat for yourself to start the week off right? Huh? (*yes, I'm the bookish devil on your shoulder...you're welcome*)
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LAST BUT NOT LEAST...
Until next time...happy reading!
Dear Gina,
ReplyDeleteThank you for investing your time and emotion in my novel.
I'm honored by your review, and glad you are part of the blog tour.
I especially loved seeing the red bird make his appearance in your review.
Many thanks. Will share,
Kathleen
Gina, thanks for always connecting with the heart and soul of a character because that's what I love the most about your reviews. Great job, as always! Thanks for sharing your thoughts on Johnnie with your lovely blog readers :)
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