BLOG TOUR: Cancel the Wedding by Carolyn Dingman

Hi guys!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers....where it's all books, all the time, even when life gets in the way, as in recent days.  *glares at week*

Today, we're back in the game with a blog tour stop via TLC Book Tours starring a Women's Fiction type title that couldn't be more well timed....well, for me anyway.  It's got style, it's got sass.  It's got...a name that I shall divulge to you right now.  ^_^  Without further adieu, today's book of choice and blog tour guest is....

Cancel the Wedding

by

Carolyn Dingman

9780062276728

Harper Paperbacks

About the book...

A heartfelt tale of one woman's journey to discover the secrets of her mother's hidden past and confront her own uncertain future, this compelling, emotionally resonant novel about the frustrations of blood ties will appeal to fans of Emily Giffin and Jennifer Weiner.

On the surface, Olivia has it all: a high-powered career, a loving family, and a handsome fiancé. She even seems to be coming to terms with her mother Jane's premature death from cancer. But when Jane's final wish is revealed, Olivia and her elder sister, Georgia, are mystified. Their mother rarely spoke of her rural Southern hometown, and never went back to visit—so why does she want them to return to Huntley, Georgia, to scatter her ashes?

Jane's request offers Olivia a temporary escape from the reality she's long been denying: she hates her "dream" job, and she's not really sure she wants to marry her groom-to-be. With her fourteen-year-old niece, Logan, riding shotgun, she heads south on a summer road trip looking for answers about her mother.

As Olivia gets to know the town's inhabitants, she begins to peel back the secrets of her mother's early life—truths that force her to question her own future. But when Olivia is confronted with a tragedy and finds an opportunity to right a terrible wrong, will it give her the courage to accept her mother's past—and say yes to her own desire to start over?

AMAZON   |   INDIEBOUND   |   B & N

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So, how exactly does this book resonate with my current situation?  Well, not in the parents have passed and my fiance of "x" many years sprung a date on me that although I should be thrilled about, I'm more like confused.  Nope.  That is DEFINITELY interesting (and makes for a fabulous read) but my connection is more along the lines of the world falling down around you, choking all the oxygen from the area and NEEDING AN ESCAPE.  Though I don't wish the circumstances on anyone, I would SO love to escape as she did right now.  Leaving all the crazy behind, just me and a good travel companion (in this case, it's Olivia's niece, Logan), a destination known yet not, meeting new people, making new connections (with a little eyebrow raising) and....uncovering secrets bigger than you ever dreamed.  *-*  Whoa.  Maybe I should rethink this particular opportunity to step into literature....NAH!

Olivia is a great lead.  She's level headed and yet this sudden change in her world has her reeling.  I loved following her on her journey towards...well, herself.  Logan was an AWESOME companion and much more insightful than she might appear.  Hey, give the girl credit...teen or not, she's responsible, caring, and a lot sneakier than her aunt but in a totally good way.  Elliot now, he's not so sneaky but quite a catch nonetheless and a great match for...someone that I shan't name but the will they/won't they will keep you on your toes because as I said, THIS IS NOT A ROMANCE book.  This is a book that has the romance of life and it's many aspects on display, but it's bigger than one person's story.  MUCH bigger...and much better.

In the end, it's a story to experience first hand from start to finish.  It's about discovering the hidden past of someone you love, but also the sides of you that manage to allude detection.  It has family, love, mystery, tears and smiles.  Hearts are broken AND mended.  Histories are forever changed as are the perceptions of others and the understanding of themselves.  Highly recommended for fans of the genre as well as those simply seeking a reading escape from the crazy that is life....it definitely doesn't disappoint.

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About the author....

Carolyn T. Dingman grew up as a nomadic military brat often making up stories that the adults referred to as “lies.” She is now a grown-up and hardly ever lies anymore unless she’s writing fiction where it is considered socially acceptable.

She attended Clemson University in South Carolina, which in no way prepared her for a career in writing, but it did inspire a good deal of the names used in her debut novel, CANCEL THE WEDDING (HarperCollins, Aug 5, 2014).

Carolyn lives in her adopted hometown of Atlanta with her husband and their two daughters. She volunteers too much, eats too much chocolate, and prefers beer over wine.

SITE   |   FACEBOOK   |   TWITTER   |   INSTAGRAM

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Special thanks to Trish and the TLC Book Tours crew for the chance to bring this tour to you...and the ARC for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this promotion as well as those tours forthcoming, be sure to stop by their official site.  This book was released just last week via Harper Paperbacks, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.  This being a blog tour and all, pay a visit to my "co-host" of sorts today over at Stephany Writes, as well as tomorrow's stop at Drey's Library.

Until next time....happy reading!

BLOG TOUR: The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow by Rita Leganski

Hi there!

Welcome back to the only place to be when your mood ring changes to that unnamed color between the blue of the sky on a cloudless day and the blue of your favorite sweater...Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we are playing host to the two part closing (check out the other stop over at 50 Books Project!) of a blog tour courtesy of the FAB folks over at TLC Book Tours. (Hi, Trish!) If you haven't checked out all the fun they have in store for you and yours, you definitely should...I know I've recently discovered a few new favorite reads thanks to their promotions, including the one I'm about to reveal.  It's a title that reached publication this past February with Harper Paperbacks and tells a most curious story.  No, wait...curious isn't quite the right word because it is SO much more than that.  *ponders*  Perhaps instead of pinpointing it like a species of butterfly to a board (though I'd never do that...poor butterfly!), I'll just come right out with the review.  Sound good?  Hope so seeing as that's the route I'm taking...hehe...but given the time to answer, I'm sure you would have agreed as well ESPECIALLY for this title.  Without further ado, today's blog guest and book of choice is...

The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow

by

Rita Leganski

About the book...

Conceived in love and possibility, Bonaventure Arrow didn't make a peep when he was born, and the doctor nearly took him for dead. No one knows that Bonaventure's silence is filled with resonance—a miraculous gift of rarified hearing that encompasses the Universe of Every Single Sound. Growing up in the big house on Christopher Street in Bayou Cymbaline, Bonaventure can hear flowers grow, a thousand shades of blue, and the miniature tempests that rage inside raindrops. He can also hear the gentle voice of his father, William Arrow, shot dead before Bonaventure was born by a mysterious stranger known only as the Wanderer.
Bonaventure's remarkable gift of listening promises salvation to the souls who love him: his beautiful young mother, Dancy, haunted by the death of her husband; his Grand-mère Letice, plagued by grief and a long-buried guilt she locks away in a chapel; and his father, William, whose roaming spirit must fix the wreckage of the past. With the help of Trinidad Prefontaine, a Creole housekeeper endowed with her own special gifts, Bonaventure will find the key to long-buried mysteries and soothe a chorus of family secrets clamoring to be healed.

Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder but it is also between the pages of this book.
This is one of those rarer works where to read it is to love it and to describe it in a scant few words while conveying the magnitude to which it impressed you or rather made an impression upon you is quite near impossible.  Nevertheless, for the sake of sharing this remarkable read, I shall endeavor to try.

The words will carry you away to the streets of New Orleans to the very doorstep of one particular house on Christopher Street where secrets are a plenty but borne more of self-blame than actual guilt.  The characters affected by these secrets are wide spread and how it affects them individually manifests in many ways, but in the end, as with all secrets...the truth shall set them free.  Alas, I'm only a few sentences into this post and I'm already ahead of myself.  You see, the secrets are not the first thing we encounter or at least not fully, nor are they the heart and soul of the novel; no, that belongs to Bonaventure Arrow entirely and that is how this story begins.

The birth of a child, the welcoming of a new life into this crazy world even in 1950's Louisiana was a cause
for celebration of great magnitude, but the balloons and congratulations will not be arriving in droves for as much of a gift as this arrival is (and the extent to which that gift if known will be years in the coming) there is a deeper sorrow lining the hearts of both the born and just born.  A life has been snuffed out as it was really just beginning and the reasons behind it seem to be nonexistent.  A crime is one thing but a senseless crime where no sense can be made even if it is a skewed version of reality to ascertain the "why" of such an event is even more burdening somehow and the ladies in the life of our newly born Bonaventure are all too ready to carry the blame as their own.  Warranted?  Hardly, but kind hearts touched by the badness of life can not be blamed for supposedly acts of heroism; they do what they do until the pure light of truth and understanding can set them free.  That light would come from the heart and mind of a child (with a little help both from above and from a kindred spirit on earth)...but not the voice.

Yes, Bonaventure had great things in his future, things that we'd be lucky to have a small hand in if given the chance in life, but he'd have to accomplish these things sans voice.  It's not that he didn't have the right equipment or that it was broken exactly, but rather a type of disconnect that happened when the harshness of life touched him while still in the womb.  In it's place, Bonaventure was graced with a superior sense of hearing that would continue to develop throughout his life allowing him to hear everything from colors and plant life to the words off a page when not spoken aloud to the birth of a star in the cosmos.  I found it amazing how something that could be so limiting on the outside became such a gift and was conveyed in such a way that it wasn't an obstacle at all, even for the reader (a feat indeed!).  Bonaventure knows he is different, his own experiences along with the voices of those he loves and those who love him have told him as much and yet they don't let it get in the way of his growth .  I can't even begin to imagine what it must have felt like to have to hide that much of yourself for fear of being singled out nor the elation that each new sound, each new emotion heard brought.  But I digress, there are more wonders to discuss...

If you can believe, there is magic here beyond Bonaventure's skills, though they are a key to solving the mysterious equations running throughout, and they run a wide range of topics if ever I've seen.  Love found to love lost, debts created unwillingly and repayment taken without mercy, the discovery of secrets held and perhaps most important of all, the forgiveness that is within each of us to give.  Each character we are introduced to also brings their own flavor to the story, some more favorable than others.  We have Grandma Roman who holds herself and her faith above all (sounds nice enough, but the poor soul...her fate really is deserved), Grande-mere Letice that carries the weight of the world on her shoulders but in truth it wasn't for her to hold, Dancy the mother of our beloved Bonaventure who again takes too much blame for events that transpire but that is often the fate of those whose hearts love has touched.  In the background but only just, we have William the father that Bonaventure had never known (...in person at least), Gabe whose work helps bring life back to the broken family even when reciprocation is not a possibility, and one whose companionship seems odd in this little gathering we shall call the Wanderer.  He goes by no name for most of the story as he has forgotten that where he has been and who he once was; a poor fate to suffer, yes, but perhaps not when the deeds done since would break any piece of heart that might have remained his own.  His story is uncovered, in time...but you'll have to listen close.

In the end, I have to say this is one read I'll be recommending for many moons to come if not for the sheer enjoyment it provided but for the bittersweet symphony that is its sum whole.  The story alone is wonder-mous enough and the history that is sprinkled throughout provides a connection with our reality, but the lives created within the pages deserve to share their story...and I can think of no better way than through the leaves of a book.  After all, Bonaventure would approve of our volume-less method and the joy that it brings to our hearts would please him fully...it might even earn an inclusion in his box of joyful noises and memories.  This work has brought up many ponderings besides the obvious one of which would be the tale within.  I mean can one even wonder big enough to guess the stories that surround us on a daily basis?  I would love to know just what the color blue sounds like or the stories that a book can tell above and beyond that which we read off the page. Remove all the chatter and dive into the meaning of a look, the endless depths of the written word, the beauty of nature and the kindness of a gesture.  What would one be able to really hear if given the chance?  The possibilities are endless.

Author Rita Leganski

Review copy received courtesy Trish at  TLC Book Tours.  (THANKS!)  For more information on where this book hopped, skipped, and jumped across the blogosphere, check out the official tour schedule.  To discover what's up next for this blog touring phenom, pay a visit to their official website, like them on Facebook, or follow along on Twitter!  To connect with author Rita Leganski, seek thee out her Facebook page...which I happened to see included a few listings for upcoming book signings so be sure to have your calendars at the ready!  This book was released the end of last month via Harper Paperbacks so be on the look out for it on a bookstore shelf near you.  To discover more of the bookish worlds HarperCollins Publishers has opened the door to, be sure to visit their official website, add them on Google+, like them on Facebook, pin them on Pinterest, or follow along on Twitter.


Until next time...make time to truly listen to the world around you...and happy reading!

BLOG TOUR: Yesterday's Sun by Amanda Brooke

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers...the place to be when you need a distraction from that less than likable situation, the everyday mundane-ness that life can sometimes bring or simply a change of venue; we're here for you.  ^_^

Quick reminder....don't forget we have TWO contests on the site right now where you can enter to win a new seasonal mystery from author Leslie Meier as well as a $50 Amazon gift card (or Paypal)!  For more details, just click on the links embedded here or on the right hand side bar under Current Contests....but do it AFTER today's post, kay?  I promise, you won't want to miss this.

Today, we're playing host to a stop along a TLC Book Tour (Hi, Trish!) featuring a newly released title that you're gonna want to run out and grab today; no really, TODAY.  Ironically as I type this review, I'm listening to Pandora Radio (and no, that's not the ironic part) and Nickelback's IF TODAY WAS YOUR LAST DAY just came on.  Eerie.  Why?  You'll see, but you have to let the natural course of this review unfold to get the full effect.  Agreed?  Good deal.  Now, let's welcome the featured title of today's blog tour stop and my book of choice besides...

Yesterday's Sun

by

Amanda Brooke

About the book...

Newlyweds Holly and Tom have just moved into their dream home, a charming English carriage house in the London suburbs. A rising television journalist, Tom can’t wait to fill the house with children. Holly, a budding artist, isn't so sure. She fears that as a mother, she will repeat the terrible mistakes of her own neglectful parents. But Holly and Tom are young and deeply in love, and they have time to decide.
While renovating the house, Holly finds an unusual crystal orb—the missing top to the moon dial in their garden. She soon discovers this is no ordinary timepiece. Under the full moon’s brilliant light, it reveals the future—a future in which Tom cares for their baby daughter . . . alone.
Holly’s new friend in the village, an elderly woman named Jocelyn, reveals the cursed secret of the moon dial’s power. Now Holly must choose between herself and her future child—a painful decision that will ultimately teach her about motherhood and sacrifice . . . and reveal how far she will go in the name of love.

If I had to summarize this story in a word, I would choose....AMAZING.

I know, it's an over used word for the most part, especially in the world of book reviews because lets face it, when we get excited about something we're reading, spouting exclamations of its praise is common place.  Been there, done that...going do it again more than once and I make no apologies...though I do try to vary the lingo used.  This one though...there is no other way to describe it, but I shall endeavor to try.

The beginning starts at the end or rather the inevitable end is the beginning and yet even with that sneak peek into the future, NOTHING is ruined; EVERYTHING is enchanting and emotionally charged...and you're just as unprepared for the ending.  My goodness.  It was one of those beautiful but sad and yet happy still on some level reads.  Complicated description; I know...but when a book moves you to tears several times as well as periods of joy, moments of celebrations and finally leaves you reflecting on the true meaning of a life well lived...you KNOW it's captured something special.  As it so happens, this book was born out of a life changing event in the author's own life, the loss of a child.  According to the notes, she set out on this literary journey determined to preserve the memory of her little one and share her experiences with motherhood.  If I may say so, she's done that and more on such a grand scale that I wouldn't be surprised if we're hearing about this one for many moons to come.  Now let's break down the book for just a moment...

Holly and Tom are an amazing couple, perfect for each other in all the right ways; though he starts as her knight in shining armor, over the course of the story they become each other's.  The growth seen in both characters is wonderful as are their heartfelt and realistic actions/reactions.  I feel I could comfortably call them friend if I were to meet them in the flesh and feel as welcomed as one of the villagers in their new home town.  They each have struggles to over come and secrets gnawing at their souls but when it comes down to it, they have the heart to heart conversations, they put the face to face time in, they see through to the end everything they begin and it makes them stronger for it in the end.  Their love and trust is something that storybooks are made of...okay, well maybe not, but they should be.  I mean I love a glass slipper finding prince as much as the next girl but in reality, it doesn't often happen that way now does it?

Speaking of feeling like family, if you don't feel a connection with Jocelyn (sweet little old lady, tea shop owner and new friend of the couple) and Billy (contractor, local and friend to all who welcome the title) before book's end, you might want to reread the story...STAT!  Seriously, these two busy bodies are equal parts humorous, lovable  and above all... unforgettable.  I'd be happy to have just one of these characters in my life, let alone the whole lot of them.  It's a great cast and they really form the backbone of this story as events reveal decisions made, regrets carried for a lifetime and a destiny that seems inescapable.

The story itself deals with unexpected glimpses of the future and the turns a life may take...and yet some paths are unavoidable.  The gift of the mood dial in the story is also its curse.  It's a balancing act that it keeps well but if you're looking for a fair exchange, think again.  Nothing short of a HUGE sacrifice can make its wheels forget what was already known and change what would have been; the question is, would you be willing to pay the price?  That's the seemingly insurmountable decision Holly is faced with when her future is laid before her eyes and a decision must be made that will affect many other besides herself.  Is she willing to risk it all and just let go or will she hang on too tightly and still reach an end that doesn't justify the means?  Decisions decisions...for me, there wasn't but one and eventually for her there is not either.  It's harrowing to watch her agonize over it all but certainly understandable in many levels.  I mean, what would you do to change your stars?  What if it meant the ultimate sacrifice of not just the heart but a life?  Again I say....AMAZING.

In conclusion, a read for older teens through adult readers, fans of Fiction, Women's Fiction and the whole lot...or anyone that simply enjoys an emotionally charged read.  It doesn't necessarily have war torn factions (though Tom's job does take him to some areas witnessing this), murder (not directly at least), mystery (not a who-done-it sense anyway), magic (no wands, but moonbeams aplenty!), or paranormal anything (nope, no vamps, waeres, witches, etc)...but what it DOES have is MORE than enough to keep you glued to each and every page, especially when the ending comes out of nowhere and wrenches your heart yet again.  So, grab a few tissues, your best-est reading buds and a copy of this wonderful story...you'll be glad you did.

ARC for review courtesy of TLC Book Tours and Harper Paperbacks.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, be sure to seek out the publisher's site, like them on Facebook or follow along on Twitter!  Need something more immediate?  No worries!  Drop by the other stops along the tour to discover more.  Remember, reading is an adventure; no two people ever see the same book the exact same way which makes the journey that much sweeter...and tours like this that much more fun.  Yesterday's Sun was at Luxury Reading on Monday, and Books in the Burbs Tuesday; tomorrow it's scheduled to visit Excellent Library.  If you've read enough and are convinced you need your own copy right away, first of all....GREAT CHOICE...and secondly, it is IN STORES NOW so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf near you.

Until next time...make every moment count...and happy reading!