Hi there!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.
Today, we're joining forces with TLC Book Tours to bring you a stop along their current promotion featuring the latest release from author Kelly Harms via Lake Union Publishing. It's a work of Fiction that can be shoehorned into the Women's sub-genre, but just as easily hang out with the upper crust of the Chick-Lit category, or even a modest Contemporary Romance. Basically, it has a little bit of this, and a little bit of that, and a whole lot of heart that'll appeal to a lot of my fellow reading audience members, and so without further ado, I'm going to cut right to the chase, so my own review is not "overdue" (get it...like the title? Ha!). Today's blog tour guest and book of choice is...
The Overdue Life of Amy Byler
by
Kelly Harms
9781542042963
Lake Union Publishing
About the book...
Overworked and underappreciated, single mom Amy Byler needs a break. So when the guilt-ridden husband who abandoned her shows up and offers to take care of their kids for the summer, she accepts his offer and escapes rural Pennsylvania for New York City.
Usually grounded and mild mannered, Amy finally lets her hair down in the city that never sleeps. She discovers a life filled with culture, sophistication, and—with a little encouragement from her friends—a few blind dates. When one man in particular makes quick work of Amy’s heart, she risks losing herself completely in the unexpected escape, and as the summer comes to an end, Amy realizes too late that she must make an impossible decision: stay in this exciting new chapter of her life, or return to the life she left behind.
But before she can choose, a crisis forces the two worlds together, and Amy must stare down a future where she could lose both sides of herself, and every dream she’s ever nurtured, in the beat of a heart.
Overworked and underappreciated, single mom Amy Byler needs a break. So when the guilt-ridden husband who abandoned her shows up and offers to take care of their kids for the summer, she accepts his offer and escapes rural Pennsylvania for New York City.
Usually grounded and mild mannered, Amy finally lets her hair down in the city that never sleeps. She discovers a life filled with culture, sophistication, and—with a little encouragement from her friends—a few blind dates. When one man in particular makes quick work of Amy’s heart, she risks losing herself completely in the unexpected escape, and as the summer comes to an end, Amy realizes too late that she must make an impossible decision: stay in this exciting new chapter of her life, or return to the life she left behind.
But before she can choose, a crisis forces the two worlds together, and Amy must stare down a future where she could lose both sides of herself, and every dream she’s ever nurtured, in the beat of a heart.
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Once upon a time, there was a girl, who grew into a woman, who married a guy, who had two amazing kids, who woke up one day and was very much....ALONE. I'm not talking in the midlife-crisis-sense sorta way either. I mean in the OMG-where-the-hey-did-my-so-called-beloved-disappear-to-all-of-a-sudden-after-FIFTEEN-years-of-marriage type of alone. Yeah...try figuring THAT one out of the stinking blue.
Admittedly, Amy had her moments...both of falling to pieces and taking on the world...I mean, who wouldn't, but in the end, she managed. It wasn't so much a solo drudge though, but a self-created village of helpers that came together to help her pull herself up by her bra straps and get things done. The thing is, in the midst of all that, she was blindsided by the pain and strangeness of the land in which she was living, so she didn't quite see the scope of the assistance there or available to her, which aided in feeding her self-inflicted martyr state of mind....but that's not all she overlooked, or had to come to terms with later. She also forgot to take care of herself...
This was an unusual, but GOOD read! Admittedly, I adored the cover at first sight, then the title, then once I got around to reading the synopsis, I was sold all over again. Once I began reading, I was in a bit of a conundrum though. I held so much respect for Amy's decision to attempt to let the kids get to know John (aka the absentee *astard that simply couldn't handle things, disappeared, and...whew...back on track) after three years off the maps, but honestly I wasn't certain I could've made the same choice. I mean I, I get it...they were kids, but not babies, so involving them was the "adult" thing to do, but man...I really just wanted to trust her initial gut instinct, and run the other way. Not that Amy and I were suppose to mirror each other thought for though...though I wouldn't mind being a librarian, nor her hottie librarian man prospect...but it did give me pause to think about the real life repercussions of saying YES or NO to such an "offer". Also, when she decided to take on the Big Apple, her plan b in New York...so much b*lls to pull off! Wish I could say I could do that as well, but whew! I'd TOTALLY be sweating bullets. She is one STRONG WOMAN! Anywho, back to things again...
Amy is really and truly a stellar woman, role model, and mom. She's not perfect though she tries to be, and when things get messy, yes...she does have that moment of what-the-heck-am-I-suppose-to-do-with-this, but she doesn't give up; she just readjusts her heading like any good captain of her own ship called life. As lovable as she is, her friends are equally stellar and TOTALLY dependable in a crisis! I'd really like friends like hers, guys and gals included. Okay, so I wasn't thrilled when Talia's article feature was sprung on her (#momspringa it's a thing!), but it didn't hurt her, and it was helping her friend...plus the makeover and other pluses? Gold! Lena was an absolute HOOT, what with her past, her present, and her penchant for helping others turn things right side round again without being overbearing. Regarding the guys, I'm not talking about John because yeah...SO not a character I care for. I'm talking about Matt, Talia's assistant and Amy's newest friend addition, and Daniel, the aforementioned hottie librarian prospect. They're not just fun to talk to or look at, but true golden heart owners.
In the end, I TOTALLY suggest taking a #lifespringa and reading this book. I enjoyed getting to know our leading librarian as she got to know herself, and discovered that it was okay to have a life again after "tragedy" has struck. It's a hard lesson to learn, but one that's necessary to find our way back to happiness.
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About the author...
Kelly Harms is an author, a mother, and a big dreamer. She lives in Madison, Wisconsin, with her sparkling son, Griffin; her fluffy dog, Scout; and her beloved Irishman, Chris. Before this midwestern life, she lived in New York, New York, and worked with many of her author-heroes as an editor at HarperCollins and then as a literary agent. When she’s not lost in a book that she’s either writing or reading, you can find her on the water, in the water, or near the water.
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Up for grabs...
(1) print edition of
The Overdue Life of Amy Byler by Kelly Harms!
TO ENTER, CLICK HERE
TO ACCESS THE RAFFLECOPTER FORM!
THE RULES...
Open to US residents only; no PO Boxes please.
Entries accepted through midnight 06/08/19.
Winner will be drawn, contacted, and given 48 hours to respond with their mailing information which will be forwarded for prize shipment. If not response is received, a new winner will be chosen.
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Special thanks to TLC Book Tours and Lake Union Publishing for the chance to bring this tour to you as well as the copy for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, the publisher, THIS TOUR, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now via Lake Union Publishing, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing!
Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!
Liking the sound of Amy's journey. This sounds like a wonderfully uplifting read.
ReplyDeleteThis novel sounds so real and captivating. I enjoyed learning about the book and the author. Thanks for this lovely feature and giveaway. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI adored this cover, too! I added this one to my summer TBR because these are the books I like to read as I lounge in my chair outside! Thanks for being on this tour. Sara @ TLC Book Tours
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