Review: Galway Bay - Blog Tour

Title:  Galway Bay

Author:  Mary Pat Kelly

Review Copy Provided by:  Hachette Book Group

About the Book:  Here at last is one Irish family's epic journey, capturing the tragedy and triumph of the Irish-American experience. In a rousing tale that echoes the myths and legends of Ireland herself, young Honora Keeley and Michael Kelly wed and start a family, inhabiting a hidden Ireland where fishermen and tenant farmers find solace in their ancient faith, songs, stories, and communal celebrations. Selling both their catch--and their crops--to survive, these people subsist on the potato crop--their only staple food. But when blight destroys the potatoes three times in four years, a callous government and uncaring landlords turn a natural disaster into The Great Starvation that will kill one million. Honora and Michael vow their children will live. The family joins two million other Irish refugees in one of the greatest rescues in human history: the Irish Emigration to America. Danger and hardship await them there. Honora and her unconventional sister Maire watch their seven sons as they transform Chicago from a frontier town to the "City of the Century", fight the Civil War, and enlist in the cause of Ireland's freedom. The Kelly clan is victorious. This heroic story sheds brilliant light on the ancestors of today's 44 million Irish Americans.

My Review:  Having come from Irish ancestors, I was drawn to this book immediately.  To say it was a beautiful read would be an understatement.  I loved everything about this book, the writing, the characters, the story line, the history, all of it.  I have studied the Potato Famine with my kids at school, but never knew just how deeply and tragically it affected these people.  What a horrible feeling to know that all you had planted, all you had worked for, was ruined in less than a heartbeat.  What these people went through to sustain life, each other, and their families during the years of hardship is amazing!  It truly shows their character, determination, and resilience.  At the same time, they are being pushed out of Ireland, only to travel to "Amerikay."  How can they leave Ireland behind, the land where they were born, raised, and made their own families?  Coming to America brings it's own trials.  So many emotions went through me as I read this story.  Frank McCourt said, "Laughter and tears and pure magic." How right he was!  Honora, the main character, is truly admirable.  I love her!  I'm not sure I could have endured everything that she had to endure.

Mary Pat Kelly tells a wonderful story in Galway Bay.  It is based upon the true story of her family's journey.  A true gem of an historical fiction novel!

Here are some extras that you might enjoy reading:

Letter from Mary Pat Kelly
Author Essay - An Honor

Thanks to Miriam at Hachette, I have a copy to give away to a lucky reader!  Please leave a comment about your favorite period in history, favorite historical event, or favorite historical fiction novel.  I will randomly draw a winner on Monday, Mar. 23.  As always you can earn extra entries by following me, tweeting about this contest, or blogging about this contest.  Earn 3 extra entries for visiting another blogger on the tour and telling me something about their post.  Please leave a separate comment for each entry.  Open to US/Canada addresses; no PO boxes.

Following is a list of ALL the other blogs on the tour.  I hope that you will take some time to stop by a few and see their thoughts on this great book!

http://2kidsandtiredbooks.blogspot.com/
http://athomewithbooks.blogspot.com/
http://book-thirty.blogspot.com/
http://readersrespite.blogspot.com/
http://www.myfriendamysblog.com/
http://bermudaonion.wordpress.com/
http://www.acircleofbooks.blogspot.com/
http://www.corinnesbookreviews.blogspot.com/
http://lorisbookden.blogspot.com/
http://www.bookthoughtsbylisa.blogspot.com/
http://teddyrose.blogspot.com/
http://libraryqueue.blogspot.com/
http://allisonsatticblog.blogspot.com/
http://cherylsbooknook.blogspot.com/
http://luanne-abookwormsworld.blogspot.com/
http://bookingmama.blogspot.com/
http://enroutetolife.blogspot.com/
http://thetometraveller.blogspot.com/
http://www.marjoleinbookblog.blogspot.com/
http://peekingbetweenthepages.blogspot.com/
http://cafeofdreams.blogspot.com/
http://jennsbookshelf.blogspot.com/
http://thebookczar.blogspot.com/
http://linussblanketcom/
http://booksbytjbaff.blogspot.com/
http://www.caribousmom.com/
http://hiddenplace.wordpress.com/
http://www.chikune.com/blog
http://librarygirlreads.blogspot.com/
http://diaryofaneccentric.blogspot.com/
http://savvyverseandwit.blogspot.com/
http://www.kayespenguinposts.blogspot.com/
http://writebyfaith.blogspot.com/
http://www.frommipov.blogspot.com/
http://booksiesblog.blogspot.com/
http://www.bookbargainsandpreviews.com/reviews/history/galwaybay.htm
http://wendisbookcorner.blogspot.com/
http://www.thisbookforfree.com/
http://abookbloggersdiary.blogspot.com/

Winner: Everyone is Beautiful

I want to start off by saying Thank You to each and every one of you who entered the contest.  I tried to reply to each of your comments.  If I missed you, I apologize.  There were 91 comments on this post and I know a lot of that is due to the Book Giveaway Carnival.  I hope that many of you will stick around because there are always great things going on here!  I am currently running 2 other giveaways, so make sure you enter those.  They are Spring Cleaning Giveaway (choose from 2 books) and My Little Red Book.  There are more to come as well, I promise!

And now, the moment you've all been waiting for...who is the winner?  I let random.org do the choosing, and the one that was chosen is...

INDIGO

 Here is Indigo's comment:

"For some reason everyone is drawn to my eyes and comments how beautiful they are. I get comments like if the eyes are windows to the soul, then yours is truly beautiful.

I think at the end of the day it's not the outer appearance, rather what lies inside. I believe who I am as a person is the most beautiful thing of all. Thanks for this opportunity to enter the drawing!"

 

I have already emailed the winner.  Please send me your mailing address ASAP so that I can pass it on and you can get your book.

Spring Cleaning Giveaway

It is that time of year when people start to think Spring.  The weather is starting to warm up, days are getting longer, and spring break is upon us.  We are even springing forward this weekend, not that I'm a fan of that, because I lose an hour of sleep, but spring forward we must.  Springtime brings with it new life in the grass, flowers, animals, etc.  Another place where it brings new life is in the home.  This time of year, we find ourselves doing spring cleaning.  Why, maybe because we've been cooped up for the winter and it's time to start anew.  Whatever the reason, many of us do it. 

 

Today, I have 2 books to offer you that just might help you in the area of spring cleaning.  Hachette has generously let me giveaway 1 copy of each book.

 

MRS. MEYER'S CLEAN HOME

When Thelma Meyer tells it to you, she tells it straight: Clean the kitchen daily! Don't waste anything (not even the water leftover from those potatoes you just boiled)! Always work hard!

 

Now for the first time, Thelma's sage advice is being made available in this revolutionary cleaning guide chock full of practical tips and secrets based on the premise that life is hectic and messy -- and so keeping your house clean and nice is the only sensible thing to do. With shortcuts and tips for cleaning the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and living room, MRS MEYER'S CLEAN HOME contains unexpected advice such as:

 

--Never use vinegar and water on wood floors. One part dish soap and four parts water is the only way to truly get them clean. And remember to buff with a terrycloth towel.

 

--Always clean out the fridge before grocery shopping. Serve the kids "Musko" ("must go") for dinner, using the items that were fast approaching expiration.

 

--Wash windows on a cloudy day to avoid the nasty streaking that happens when the sun's out and glass dry too fast.

 

MRS MEYER'S CLEAN HOME is two parts common sense and one part inspiration. Read it and learn how to clean like the dickens.

 

THROW OUT FIFTY THINGS

"Our lives are so filled with junk from the past-from dried up tubes of glue to old grudges-that it's a wonder we can get up in the morning," exclaims motivator, best-selling author, columnist, and life coach Gail Blanke.

"If you want to grow, you gotta let go," is Blanke's mantra; and that means eliminating all the clutter-physical and emotional-that holds you back, weighs you down, or just makes you feel bad about yourself.

In THROW OUT FIFTY THINGS she takes us through each room of the house-from the attic to the garage-and even to the far reaches of our minds. Through poignant and humorous stories, she inspires us to get rid of the "life plaque" we've allowed to build-up there.

 

-That junk drawer (you know that drawer) in the kitchen? Empty it!

 

-Those old regrets? Throw 'em out!

 

-That make-up from your "old" look? Toss it!

 

-That relationship that depresses you? Dump it!

 

Once you've hit fifty-you'll be surprised how easy it is to get there-and once you've thrown out that too-tight belt and too-small view of yourself, you'll be ready to step out into the clearing and into the next, and greatest, segment of your life.

This contest is open to US and Canada addresses; no PO boxes please.  The contest starts today, March 6 and will run until Thu, Mar 12 at midnight.  I will draw the 2 names, randomly from all the entries, and post the winners on Fri, Mar 13.  Good luck to everyone!

To enter, just leave a comment telling me which book you would like to win.  As always, you may earn extra entries for:

• Following my blog through Blogger, a reader, RSS feed - 1 extra entry
• Following me on Twitter and tweeting about the contest - 1 extra entry
• Blogging about this contest - 2 extra entries

 

 

Review and Giveaway: Everyone is Beautiful

Title: Everyone is Beautiful
Author: Katherine Center
Review Copy Provided by: Pump Up Your Book Promotion

About the Book: Lanie Coates’s life is spinning out of control. She’s piled everything she owns into a U-Haul and driven with her husband, Peter, and their three little boys from their cozy Texas home to a multiflight walkup in the Northeast. She’s left behind family, friends, and a comfortable life–all so her husband can realize his dream of becoming a professional musician. But somewhere in the eye of her personal hurricane, it hits Lanie that she once had dreams too. If only she could remember what they were.
These days, Lanie always seems to rank herself dead last–and when another mom accidentally criticizes her appearance, it’s the final straw. Fifteen years, three babies, and more pounds than she’s willing to count since the day she said “I do,” Lanie longs desperately to feel like her old self again. It’s time to rise up, fish her moxie out of the diaper pail, and find the woman she was before motherhood capsized her entire existence.
Lanie sets change in motion–joining a gym, signing up for photography classes, and finding a new best friend. But she also creates waves that come to threaten her whole life. In the end, Lanie must figure out once and for all how to find herself without losing everything else in the process.


My Review: Dorothy asked me to take on this book at the last minute, and boy, am I so glad that I agreed! It's been quite awhile since I've picked up an adult fiction novel that I couldn't put down. This was one of those reads. I fell into this story, fell in love with Lanie and her family, and continuously rooted for her until the very end of the book. Katherine Center has written a "real" story. By "real," I mean Lanie could be the stay at home mom down the street. What woman that got married and had kids, hasn't had regrets, dreams that they put on hold, wished their life had been different somehow, etc.? Lanie's story is just that. It's about what really happens in a marriage, the emotions that are out there, and the way women feel but are sometimes so afraid to talk about. I admire Lanie's character. She had what she loved, a husband who took care of her and three beautiful children, but she wasn't happy with herself and what she had become. She loved the men in her life, but she didn't love herself, not completely. Why do I admire her then? She did what she had to do, put herself last, to put her family first. That's the way I was raised and the way I thought it was supposed to be. Lanie learned differently and I have too. Yes, she needs to put her family first, but she learns that she can do things for herself, to better herself and make herself happy, without sacrificing her family. Doing for Lanie, makes Lanie a better person and in the end, makes her family stronger. I kept thinking that Peter was going to have an affair and hurt Lanie, because most novels I read turn out that way. Boy, was I wrong; thank goodness. Nothing was as I expected, and that's what kept me so intriguied by this book. Center has, in my opinion, a bestseller on her hands.

GIVEAWAY

I was so moved by this novel that I immediately emailed the author just gushing with praise for this book. She actually lives not too far from me and is doing a book reading in town that I am anxious to attend. She emailed me back the next day, with these words, "Thank you so much for your kind note--and for taking the time to write it. It is always great to get good feedback! " I emailed back and asked if she would want to give one of my readers the opportunity to win her book. Well, Jayne at Ballentine Books contacted me today with the news that yes, we could definitely do the giveaway. So, there you have it. One of you will win a copy of Katherine Center's Everyone is Beautiful. All you have to do is comment here about one thing you find beautiful about yourself. Be sure to leave your email address if you are not a blogger.

This contest is open to US and Canadian addresses. Please no PO boxes as the book will be coming from the publisher. You can earn extra entries by doing any of the following:

1. 
   
   Follow this blog in Blogger, in a reader, or through RSS feed - 1 extra entry
2. 
   
   Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway - 2 extra entries
3. 
   
   Blog about this and link back to my site - 3 extra entries

You could possibly earn 7 entries. Make sure you leave a separate comment for each entry you do. I am running this giveaway in conjuction with the Book Giveaway Carnival, so you have until Mar. 8th to enter. A winner will be drawn randomly on Mar. 9th, emailed and posted on this blog.

Wednesday Wanderings - 2/18/09

I wander around the blogosphere and bring you what I find.

This week's edition of Wednesday Wanderings is all about giveaways.  I have found a lot of good ones, from friends, other book bloggers, and some new to me, mommy bloggers.  I hope you enjoy what I've found for you this week.

Mudpies and Mary Janes has a Clifford gift pack for you.  It includes 5 books, a frame, and a plush rattle.  Contest ends 2/23.

There is a Dapple Giveaway going on at Mommy Works.  Dapple makes child-friendly cleaning products.  If you have children, you might want to enter this one.

Abby (the) Librarian has an ARC to giveaway.  She just reviewed Something Maybe and is offering up one for a lucky reader!

Blogging Basics 101 helps me out a lot when I need tips and quick fixes.  This week they have a book to giveaway - Blog Blazers.  Check it out!

My book buddy, Kathy, over at Bermudaonion's Weblog has 3 giveaways going right now.  2 audio books - Little Pink House and Long Stone's Throw.  She is also giving away The Terror.  These are all good!  Just look in her right sidebar for the links to each contest.

I have been wanting to read Things I Want My Daughters to Know, so I entered to win it at Books on the Brain.  You can enter too, until 2/21.

5 copies of The Red Leather Diary are up for grabs from Caribousmom.   She also has a signed copy of Matrimony for someone.  Just click on the pictures of the books in her sidebar to enter.

Finally, I have a biggie for you.  Yes, it's that time again.  Time for the Book Giveaway Carnival hosted by Book Room Reviews.  This is a week's worth of book giveaways by a great number of bloggers.  I participated last time, getting a lot of new traffic to my blog, as well as winning some great books.  I will have many to give away this time too.  Won't you join in by hosting some giveaways and entering some contests?