Sunrise in the West creates a wonderful if somewhat confusing introduction. The story is set in 13th century Wales as the country is struggling to remain separate and free from England. Brothers are fighting bloody battles against brothers and Samson, clerk to Llewelyn, is the readers eyes and ears into this world. As narrator, Samson is deeply involved in the conflicts of the families. There are times he is conflicted and emotional yet he remains devoted to the family he has faithfully served. Samson is able to relay a story that goes beyond war and country and delves into the fall of a family.

The Brothers of Gwynedd is not an easy read so far. The use of period language, vast settings, and numerous characters (thankful for the family tree to reference) proved to be difficult to follow at times, yet the more I read, the more relaxed I became and was able to fully enjoy and begin to comprehend the struggle. I am excited to read the next 3 volumes.

Amy from Passages to the Past will be hosting a live chat on Monday, May 24th from 7pm to 9pm EST. Come and join in the fun! You can also take a peek at some thoughts from others participating in the Summer Reading Club.

May 17

• The Burton Review
• The Bibliophilic Book Blog
• Rundpinne
• A Reader’s Respite
• History Undressed
• Linda Banche Blog
• A Hoyden’s Look at Literature
• Renee’s Reads

May 18

• Between the Pages
• The Broken Teepee
• Books and Coffee
• Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell
• Tanzanite’s Shelf and Stuff
• Passages to the Past
• The Book Faery
• A Girl Walks Into a Bookstore
• Martha’s Bookshelf

May 19

• Beth Fish
• Deb’s Book Bag
• booktumbling
• A Work in Progress
• Stiletto Storytime
• Queen of Happy Endings

May 20

• The Literate Housewife
• Reading Adventures
• Books Like Breathing
• Kailana’s Written Word
• Confessions of a Muse in the Fog
• Wendy’s Minding Spot
• Mrs. Q Book Addict
• The Life and Lies of an Inanimate Flying Object
• Starting Fresh

May 21

• Loving Heart Mommy
• Peeking Between the Pages
• Celtic Lady’s Ramblings
• Bookfoolery
• One Literature Nut
• The Book Tree
• My Reading Room

May 23

• Carla Nayland’s Blog

The Brothers of Gwynedd – Volume One Review is a post from: booktumbling

©2010 booktumbling. All Rights Reserved.

posts you may enjoy

• April 22, 2010 -- Firefly Rain – Review/Tour (3)
• April 15, 2010 -- Jane Slayre – Review/Tour (4)
• April 14, 2010 -- How Clarissa Burden Learned to Fly – Review/Tour/Author Guest Post (4)
• May 15, 2010 -- Invisible Prey – Days of Prey Tour/Review/Giveaway (17)

I was thrilled to catch up with one of my favorite crime busters. I started listening to the Prey series on audio books but got off track when my library didn’t have each book in the series. Invisible Prey was a great reminder as to why I enjoy these books and I am now on a mission to read the entire series. The main character of Lucas Davenport is tough, a little bit of a ladies man, pushes the envelope and stops at nothing to solve cases. I adore this character. The stories and dialogue between him and other officers, criminals and those of the female persuasion are pure entertainment. One of the great things about Mr. Sandford’s books is that even though the reader may know who the criminal is the fun comes from following Lucas as he tries to solve the crimes. This may be a series but each book can stand on it’s own for a great read.

I must admit, I am late in my posting of this tour stop.  I sincerely apologize to Penguin and TLC Book Tours for this delay and appreciate the fact that I was able to be part of this experience.

On with the questions:

Title and series number of the book:

Invisible Prey – number 17 in the series.

Year published:

2007

What is Lucas Davenport doing when he first appears in the book:

Lucas is drinking diet cokes at a bar which belongs to a good friend. They are talking about their families and the jobs. Lucas then turns the conversation to the case he is working on as the suspect is a politician that went to school with his pal. The accusations are crude and involve a minor and Lucas is trying to get a feel for the type of person the politician is and whether he could have committed the alleged crime. There is some thought that the mother of the minor may be attempting and extortion of some kind but the evidence is pretty damning.

Give a sense of time and place:

It is 2007 and most of the story takes place in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota.

What is Lucas’s occupation or professional role?

He is Chief Investigator for the State’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA).

Lucas’s personal status?

Lucas is now married. Quite a surprise. The last book I had read he was still single. He also now has a daughter from a previous relationship and a son with his current wife.

Lucas is a known clothes-horse. Were there any special fashion references:

Oh yes, Mr. Davenport has style.

Lucas went for Italian suits, French ties, and English shoes. He read men’s fashion magazines, of the serious kind, and spent some time every spring and fall looking at suits. When he and his wife traeled to Manhattan, she sent to the Museum of Modern Art, he went to Versace.

Avoiding spoilers, what was the crime/case being solved:

There were actually two cases that were being investigated. The first was the allegations against the politician. The second was the horrific beating death of an elderly woman and her housekeeper in one of the most affluent neighborhoods in the city. The crime first appears to be a possible burglary gone bad since only a few things were missing and the house was full of valuables. Lucas knows that not everything is as it first appears and when another murder takes place (seemingly unrelated), he begins to search for a common denominator.

Does the title of the book relate to the crime:

The title is perfect. The reader is introduced to the killers immediately but to Lucas and his team, they seem invisible. As they investigate deeper, commonalities appear but the identity of the killers truly remains invisible.

Who was your favorite character, good or evil:

Obviously, Lucas Davenport is a favorite. I was happy to find another detective from Mr. Sandford’s series – Virgil Flowers. He is a bit of a rogue, could care less about what he looks like, and hauls his fishing boat with him on many of his investigations.

What was your favorite scene or quote:

I loved those bits of the story that portray the personal side of Lucas: singing along to Emmylou Harris on the radio, spending time with his family, and admitting his bouts with depression. These small paragraphs create a character with more dimensions then “cop”.

How do you envision Lucas Davenport? If he were portrayed in a movie, what celebrity would play him:

This is difficult as I have my own image of Lucas but if I had to choose, I could definitely see Timothy Olyphant (currently on the great show “Justified”) as a contender.

So, piqued you interest? Well, now you have a chance to not only win your own copy of Invisible Prey but an advanced readers copy of the newly released Storm Prey – 2 great books for one lucky winner. Just leave a comment – no need to leave your email in the comment as this is taken care of in the comment form. Emails will never be shared and will only be used to contact the winner for their mailing information. This is for US and Canada residents only and please, no PO boxes. This giveaway ends Friday, June 4th at midnight CST.

Would you like an extra entry? Please click on The Animal Rescue Site button in the footer to help feed shelter animals and let me know in your comment.

Thank you so much to Lydia from Penguin/Putnam for providing a copy of this book for this tour. You can catch up on all of the tour stops by visiting Penguin’s website.

Invisible Prey – Days of Prey Tour/Review/Giveaway is a post from: booktumbling

©2010 booktumbling. All Rights Reserved.

posts you may enjoy

• May 19, 2010 -- The Brothers of Gwynedd – Volume One Review (0)
• April 22, 2010 -- Firefly Rain – Review/Tour (3)
• April 15, 2010 -- Jane Slayre – Review/Tour (4)
• April 14, 2010 -- How Clarissa Burden Learned to Fly – Review/Tour/Author Guest Post (4)

You know this cannot turn out well. There is the odd discovery that fireflies avoid the property – landing on the Logan land is equal to death. Jacob’s car is stolen and the strange Officer Hanratty is one minute concerned and the next minute angry at Jacob. Carl, the hired caretaker, is creepy, sneaky, and plain mean and others in the town are acting very strange. And of course, there are the bumps and crashes in the night.  Carl knew his parents, especially his mother, was hurt by his infrequent visits but he cannot imagine they are behind these chilling events.

Richard Dansky has created an entertaining, old-fashioned haunted house/ghost story in Firefly Rain.  The story is suspenseful and I was intrigued after just a few pages.  There are moments of overt scares but the book is at it’s best when there is the slow build to what seems like a small outcome.  Jacob’s character evolves from trying to find earthbound explanations for all of his odd experiences to accepting there may be supernatural forces at work.  The other characters are also interesting – are they really that accommodating and pleasant?  The house and the land have a large role in the story and Mr. Dansky’s descriptions of the rooms, yard and family grave add to the eerie feeling.

For more information on Richard Dansky, including his work as a video game designer, check out his website and follow him on twitter. You can also find some other great thoughts from others on the blog tour.

I would like to thank Sarah from Pocket books for a copy of this book.

Firefly Rain – Review/Tour is a post from: booktumbling

©2010 booktumbling. All Rights Reserved.

posts you may enjoy

• May 19, 2010 -- The Brothers of Gwynedd – Volume One Review (0)
• April 15, 2010 -- Jane Slayre – Review/Tour (4)
• April 14, 2010 -- How Clarissa Burden Learned to Fly – Review/Tour/Author Guest Post (4)
• May 15, 2010 -- Invisible Prey – Days of Prey Tour/Review/Giveaway (17)

Sherri Browning Erwin has kept the voice and tone of Charlotte Bronte in this wonderful mashup – Jane Slayre. Ms. Erwin has incorporated vampires and other ghouls and beasties while keeping the classic story intact. There is a little gore, quite a bit of humor and tremendous fun.

I would like to thank Gallery books for providing me a copy of this book, without expectation or compensation.

Please visit some other thoughts on this blog tour.

Jane Slayre – Review/Tour is a post from: booktumbling

©2010 booktumbling. All Rights Reserved.

posts you may enjoy

• May 19, 2010 -- The Brothers of Gwynedd – Volume One Review (0)
• April 22, 2010 -- Firefly Rain – Review/Tour (3)
• April 14, 2010 -- How Clarissa Burden Learned to Fly – Review/Tour/Author Guest Post (4)
• May 15, 2010 -- Invisible Prey – Days of Prey Tour/Review/Giveaway (17)

How Clarissa Burden Learned to Flyby Connie May Fowler follows Clarissa’s day on the summer solstice and oh, how 24 hours can change everything. A rendezvous with a handsome author friend, a trip to the dump  and almost drowning in a sunken grave full of quick mud are just some of the unsuspecting events that lead Clarissa on a journey to change her life and allow her to finally fly.

My initial reaction to this book after the first 40 pages or so was confusion and curiosity. I was not sure if I would actually like the main character of Clarissa as she played such a victim of past and present circumstances. I was hoping this would not be the tone of the entire story. It did not take long for me to become completely immersed in this story and to completely become engaged with Clarissa and each and every character – I hated some and laughed at and with others. There was so much more to Clarissa then a dud just letting life run her over. She has recurring daydreams of death scenes of her husband, listens to the ovarian shadow women and speaks with Deepak Chopra as he tells her to toughen up while wearing Liberace glasses.

Ms. Fowler’s storytelling skills are superb. I wanted to walk in the garden surrounding the house. I wanted to visit the general store and drive around the small swamp town meeting the eccentrics that seem to congregate in those out-of-the-way places. There were some fantastical moments and some meandering along trails that actually go nowhere but these add to the overall impact of the book and they all serve a purpose. The conclusion to the story would seem extraordinary if taken out of context but was perfect – satisfying!

If you cannot tell, I loved this book. In fact, I wish I could pretend I have not already had the pleasure of following Clarissa’s life-altering day so I can experience it again!

Please take a moment to visit Ms. Fowler’s website where you can participate in the Clarissa Burden I’ve Got a Secret Postcard Project, follow Ms. Fowler on Twitter, take a peek at the launch party for the book, or become a fan of the book on Facebook.

Ms. Fowler graciously provided some insights on her writing schedule (if she has one) and the Connie May Fowler Women with Wings Foundation:

Booktumbling is a completely awesome site—full of easily accessible information on really great books—so it’s an honor for me be asked by Christine to answer a couple of questions.

Christine wants to know if I follow “a specific routine/time schedule” in my writing process and she wants to know about the Connie May Fowler Women with Wings Foundation that I operated for several years.

Writing is a tough taskmaster and, though I love it when I’m deep in what I call the “word mines,” getting there can be arduous.  Fear tends to keep me away from my word processor.  So, for me, keeping to a strict schedule is very helpful.  My husband leaves the house very early for a long commute into Tallahassee.  I rise around 6 or 7, let the dogs into the yard, feed them, put on a pot of tea, and turn on the computer.   I normally read a few pages of a favored work (Mrs. Dalloway or Love in the Time of Cholera, for instance) to get me started and then I begin writing.  I write for as long as I can.  I am a morning writer because my brain is fresh.  If I wait until later in the day, my synapses are firing with all the vigor of a jalopy in need of a tune-up.  I also tend to revise the previous day’s work before I go forward with new writing.  All of this helps me sink down into that deep muck from which novels arise: a place of unconscious creativity.

The Connie May Women with Wings Foundation helped women and children in need from 1997 until I sadly shuddered its doors in late 2003.  We raised money for shelters nationwide, helped build new shelters, gave down payments for new buildings, established children’s libraries within the shelters, ran medical clinics in shelter, and lobbied for better laws.  We donated every dime we made, which might not have been the brightest thing to do: all volunteer all the time can be daunting.

But then my life changed.  I got divorced.  The experience left scars that I still tend to this day.  And I wasn’t writing.  I had become a fulltime philanthropist.  I loved the work—and remain deeply proud of our accomplishments—but I had to be honest: The time had come for me to be a writer again. So I made the terribly difficult decision to close the foundation.  It had been my life’s work for nearly a decade.  Moving on did not feel liberating, but as if I was walking away from my child.

I have worked hard to find a balance between social causes that interest me and being a writer.  I continue to speak on issues such as literacy, family violence, and the environment.  And I’m so happy that Christine, on the occasion of the publication of How Clarissa Burden Learned to Fly, asked me to do this guest post because it gives me the opportunity to stand on my latest soapbox and ask each of you to put books into the hands of children.  I urge you to buy everything from picture books to young adult novels and donate them to your local domestic violence shelter.  The children in shelter have witnessed unspeakable acts of terror committed by a parent they love.  They bear guilt that they could not stop the violence and heal the battered parent.  Notions of safety and happiness—notions many of us take for granted—are skewed in children who come from this background.   We need to help them because, simply put, they deserve better.  And it’s so easy.  One of our daily mantras should be Give a kid a book.  I am living proof that a child whose family is wracked with violence can find her way out of the darkness one word, one paragraph, one page, one book at a time.

Happy reading!

Connie (www.conniemayfowler.com)

I would like to thank the Hachette Book Group for providing a copy of this great book, without expectation, for my reading pleasure. I am participating in the Early Book Blog Tour. Please check out the other great blogs included in this tour.

How Clarissa Burden Learned to Fly – Review/Tour/Author Guest Post is a post from: booktumbling

©2010 booktumbling. All Rights Reserved.

posts you may enjoy

• May 19, 2010 -- The Brothers of Gwynedd – Volume One Review (0)
• April 22, 2010 -- Firefly Rain – Review/Tour (3)
• April 15, 2010 -- Jane Slayre – Review/Tour (4)
• May 15, 2010 -- Invisible Prey – Days of Prey Tour/Review/Giveaway (17)

A fragile period of peace between the eternally warring kingdoms of Oakharn and Langmyr is shattered when a surprise massacre fueled by bloodmagic ravages the Langmyrne border village of Willowfield, killing its inhabitants—including a visiting Oakharne lord and his family—and leaving behind a scene so grisly that even the carrion eaters avoid its desecrated earth. But the dead lord’s infant heir has survived the carnage—a discovery that entwines the destinies of Brys Tarnell, a mercenary who rescues the helpless and ailing babe, and who enlists a Langmyr peasant, a young mother herself, to nourish and nurture the child of her enemies as they travel a dark, perilous road . . . Odosse, the peasant woman whose only weapons are wit, courage, and her fierce maternal love—and who risks everything she holds dear to protect her new charge . . . Sir Kelland, a divinely blessed Knight of the Sun, called upon to unmask the architects behind the slaughter and avert war between ancestral enemies . . . Bitharn, Kelland’s companion on his journey, who conceals her lifelong love for the Knight behind her flawless archery skills—and whose feelings may ultimately be Kelland’s undoing . . . and Leferic, an Oakharne Lord’s bitter youngest son, whose dark ambitions fuel the most horrific acts of violence. As one infant’s life hangs in the balance, so too does the fate of thousands, while deep in the forest, a Maimed Witch practices an evil bloodmagic that could doom them all. . . .

I do not normally delve into the fantasy genre when choosing books. The number of pages, detailed plots/characters/worlds, and the commitment involved when there are 7 books in a series can be very daunting. I jumped at the opportunity to read The River Kings’ Road by Liane Merciel – a debut work and what may be the first in a new series – for a book blog tour.

The story captured my attention from the start. An entire village is destroyed by forces of great evil. A mercenary/former knight rescues a baby who is the sole survivor of a visiting royal family and therefore heir to the family throne. The journey of this mercenary as he attempts to deliver the baby to his home is the main focus of the story. The road is dangerous full of rivals, bandits and thieves. Not to mention the Thorn (sadistic evil witch) that is close behind.  Too add some excitement to the mix, a blessed Knight is trailing the Thorn with destruction on his mind.

The book is full of rival kingdoms, archery contests, clandestine visits to the inns, knights, and plenty of well-defined characters to keep the reader’s attention and imagination running at high speed. I did not find myself confused at any time when the chapters would jump from one set of characters and story-line to another. The pace never faltered. What I really enjoyed were the array of characters Ms. Merciel created; some are truly good, some are truly evil. Yet there are those that are not so easily defined. Overall, a great read!

Please visit Ms. Merciel’s website for additional information as well as Simon and Schuster where you will find an excerpt of Chapter One.

You can also check out some other thoughts on The River Kings’ Road from these other great stops on this book tour:

Tour stops:
Pam’s Private Reflections
Book Junkie
Cheryl’s Book Nook
Steph the Bookworm
Readaholic
The Bibliophilic Book Blog
I Heart Book Gossip
Jeanne’s Ramblings
My Book Addiction and More
Brizmus Blogs Books
Taking Time For Mommy
Thoughts In Progress
Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer
Books And Things
She Reads
Blog Business World
Carol’s Notebook
Crazy Books & Reviews
Books Gardens & Dogs
Just One More Paragraph
Rundpinne
drey’s library
My Life In Not So Many Words
Geek Girl Reviews
Starting Fresh
Poisoned Rationality
Temple Library Reviews
The Wayfaring Writer
Booksie’s Blog
See Michelle Read
Genre Reviews
My Book Views
Wendy’s Minding Spot
Book Tumbling
Literarily Speaking
Books R Us
Brenda Loves Books
Lucky Rosie’s
You Wanna Know What I Think?

I would like to thank Sarah from Pocket Books for providing this review copy.

The River Kings’ Road – Review/Tour is a post from: booktumbling

©2010 booktumbling. All Rights Reserved.

posts you may enjoy

• November 23, 2009 -- Nibble & Kuhn (David Schmahmann) – Review/Giveaway (16)
• November 20, 2009 -- The Sugarless Plum (Zippora Karz) – Review (0)
• November 12, 2009 -- This and That (new winner, awards, e-reader giveaways) (10)
• November 10, 2009 -- Rough Country (John Sandford) – Review (1)

Well, it is the fifth stop on the Megan’s Way blog tour.  I have had the great fortune to have already read and reviewed this lovely book.  The story is honest, heart breaking, humorous and inspirational.  Melissa Foster was kind enough to be interrogated regarding her experiences in writing this heartfelt story.  So, without further ado:

Megan’s Way covers a very serious topic in a very open manner with some humor thrown in).  What was your inspiration behind the book?

The main inspiration for Megan’s Way came from the surgery that my mother had years ago. She told me that she’d had ovarian cysts, and the surgery was just to remove her ovaries. Little did I know that she was keeping the rest of the story from me. She failed to mention (for several years) that the doctors thought it might be cancer, and an oncologist was in the operating room to see for himself. She also hadn’t told me that if she’d had the cancer, then she had also decided that she wasn’t going to undergo treatments. That threw me way off – from a very selfish, childish perspective, how could she leave me?

I so enjoyed the banter and love between Megan and her daughter. Have any of your children read the story and if so, do they feel it was realistic?

It’s funny that you ask – My step daughter began reading it and told me that it was difficult for her because it was too much she was living it! So, I suppose she felt that it was very realistic!

Which part of the writing process was a surprise?

Oh my gosh, so much of it was a surprise to me! The personalities of everyone except Megan and Olivia, who I had pretty much envisioned before I started writing, came as surprise to me. Holly and Jack’s relationship, and certainly Holly and Peter’s was a complete surprise to me, and I had no idea that Olivia would have a boy in her life either. When jason appeared, he was like a breath of fresh air!

The ending was also a suprise. I had no idea where the book would end, and then suddenly I knew the story was complete.

Which part was most difficult?

I don’t want to spoil the story for anyone who hasn’t read it yet, so I will not divulge the actual secret, but Holly’s secret was the hardest for me to write. I wanted to convey the severity of her act, but I also wanted the reader to understand what was going on in her mind at the time. I had hoped that even the harshest reader would be able to empathize with Holly and the emotional struggle that led her to such an irrevocable decision.

You chose to go the self-publishing route. How daunting of a road has that been?

Self-publishing was not a decision I made lightly. My husband really wanted me to get Megan’s story out there so I could continue on with my other writing without distraction. Eventually, I gave in and self-published, with his unyielding support.  The self-publishing route was not difficult, and certainly less daunting than querying agents for a year.

I have owned a Human Resources consulting firm for over twenty years – marketing is my game, so to speak, so the aspect that people find the most difficult, the marketing process, is something that I am very familiar and comfortable with. But my feeling is that even if I had secured a literary agent before publication, agents do no market your book. That’s the author’s (or publicist’s) job. I happen to love people, so marketing is a joy to me!

The only negative side to self-publishing, in my opinion, is that typically an author needs sales upwards of 5000 to attract large publishers and literary agents. That’s a large number, but one I hope to surpass. I’m certainly not afraid of the challenge. I truly believe that Megan’s Way will find its way through reader referrals, and eventually, the right agent will read it and move forward.

The final outcome of publishing, through a literary agent or self-publishing, is having your story read. People are reading Megan’s Way, and for that, I am thankful.

Are there any other works in progress? If so, can you give a little hint?

I just answered this today for someone else, so I’m going to give you the same information (sorry!), because I don’t want to reveal too much in a different interview.

I am working on rewriting my first nove, The Knowing.  The Knowing is a mystery with a paranormal twist (of course), which takes place in my hometown, Boyds, MD over a seven-day period. Here’s a little glance into The Knowing:

When seven-year-old Tracey Porter slips away unnoticed from the local park, it ignites fears and mistrust throughout the small town. Molly Tanner is blissfully unaware that the visions she has had her entire life are about to become horrific and compel her to step out of her safe little existence and begin a dangerous and emotional investigation. Laughed at by the police, and unable to ignore her visions, Molly takes matters into her own hands and begins a dangerous, clandestine investigation to save Tracey.

Weaving her way through the darkest cavities of people’s lives, Molly uncovers potentially lethal secrets held by highly respected residents of the small town, and finds herself forced to make decisions with life altering consequences. When all clues point to the local pastor, whose brother was beaten to death twenty years earlier for his association with a prior abduction, it only intensifies her mission to save Tracey and right the wrongs of the town.

And now for some non-book questions:

What are the 3 items you absolutely cannot leave the house without?

My cell phone, my purse, and a pad/pen.

What is on your bookshelf?

I’m currently reading The Help, and on my bookshelf are The Wednesday Letters, Shanghai Girls and What the Dead Know. I have ordered When She Flies as well.

The Women’s Nest is a great site (I have spent some time browsing around). How did that come about?

I am thrilled that you have browsed around! Log on and join us!

The Women’s Nest (or the Nest, as I call it) is a social and support community for women, which came about for me to reach out and connect women across the world. I had wanted to open a venue for women to read, gather and gain free medical and financial advice, etc., but there were a few problems with the idea. The first was that I didn’t want to leave my family for hours-on-end to run the business , and the second was that it would only connect those women in the central location. The Nest ofers a venue for such activities, all free, to all women! We have forums, blogs for each member, a book club (which hosts guest chats with authors), free professional medical and financial advice, and in general, a great escape from the chaos of our daily lives.

You can log onto the Nest from work, home, cell phones, just about anywhere there is an Internet connection. We are very lucky, the women on the Nest are wonderfully supportive and fun. There’s no nastiness on our forum boards, and we don’t allow websites, sales, or promotions, so there’s no spam. Although I must admits, as the Founder, I have plugged Megan’s Way!

The Nest offers a private, anonymous way to talk through hard times and gain valuable insight from other women who may be sharing the same issues. You can laugh, cry, hang out, shout, joke or simply visit. I have no monetary gain from the Nest, in fact, I’m in the red yearly! LOL! It is my labor of love, and the friendships I have made and fostered are truly a gift.

Christine, I have really enjoyed your questions, and I am thankful that you are sharing your review, and this interview, with others! I am happy to answer any reader questions – through you or through email – at any time!

Thank you Melissa for the opportunity to read your wonderful book and to share it with others!

I have to say, I have logged onto The Women’s Nest and there truly is a wide variety of information, chats, blogs…pretty much something for everyone. I would highly recommend taking a peek!

photo courtesy of The Women's Nest

Now, there is so much more fun in the next few weeks of the Megan’s Way blog tour. If you would like more information concerning the next dates and destinations on the tour, mosey on over to Melissa’s informational website. There you will find not only the tour information but also a little about Melissa, her blog, other upcoming events (including a chat with Melissa on LibraryThing, October 1st through the 15th) and how to contact Melissa for yourself.  You can also check out a great interview with The Gazette.Net – an online Maryland newspaper where Megan really opens up about experiences in writing and publishing Megan’s Way. And don’t forget, today (midnight CST) is the final day to enter to win a copy of Megan’s Way courtesy of me – I just have to share the book love!

photo courtesy of Megan's Way website

Megan's Way – Blogtour stop and Interview is a post from: booktumbling

©2010 booktumbling. All Rights Reserved.

posts you may enjoy

• September 17, 2009 -- Updated winner – Megan's Way (2)
• September 16, 2009 -- Winner – Megan's Way (0)
• August 23, 2009 -- Megan’s Way – Review (21)
• August 19, 2009 -- Frozen Tears – Review/Interview/Giveaway (36)

What would you give up for the people you love?

When Megan Taylor, a single mother and artist living on Cape Cod, receives the shocking news that her cancer has returned, she’s faced with the most difficult decision she’s ever had to make. The love she has for her daughter, Olivia, and her closest friends will be stretched and frayed.

Megan’s illness reawakens the torment of her best friend, Holly Townsend, whose long-held secrets and years of betrayal come back to haunt her. How does one choose between a daughter and a life-long best friend? Can the secret she has been keeping be revealed after years of lying without destroying everyone in its wake?

Meanwhile, fourteen-year-old Olivia’s world is falling apart right before her eyes, and there’s nothing she can do about it. She finds herself acting in ways she cannot even begin to understand. When her internal struggles turn to dangerous behavior, even the paranormal connection she shares with her mother might not be enough to save her – her life will hang in the balance.

Megan’s Way is a journey of self discovery and heartfelt emotions, exploring the depth of the mother-daughter bond, and the intricacies of friendship.

Melissa Foster’s debut novel is an intimate portrait of an ailing mother’s (Megan) relationship with her daughter and her small group of close friends as she attempts to prepare everyone for when she is gone.  Be warned, it is a tearful portrait.   Ms. Foster’s language is simple but the story is complex.  The reader has the opportunity to share in Megan’s struggles and her daughter Olivia’s internal conflict of wanting to be with her mother every second yet pulling away in anger.  It is typical teenage behavior and my favorite part of the book.  The story also explores  how there are life-changing secrets even among friends.  Megan’s Way may make you reflect on your own relationships and  think how you would prepare to lose someone you love.

Rating:

Book information:

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Outskirts Press (July 17, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1432744429
• ISBN-13: 978-1432744427

Available at:

• Amazon
• Alibris
• Barnes and Noble

You can also take a look at the book trailer:

Megan’s Way – Review is a post from: booktumbling

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