Review: Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker

Thank you to Tess with Newman Communications for sending me a copy of this for review.



About the Book

When Truly Plaice's mother was pregnant, the town of Aberdeen joined together in betting how recordbreakingly huge the baby boy would ultimately be. The girl who proved to be Truly paid the price of her enormity; her father blamed her for her mother's death in childbirth, and was totally ill equipped to raise either this giant child or her polar opposite sister Serena Jane, the epitome of femine perfection. When he, too, relinquished his increasingly tenuous grip on life, Truly and Serena Jane are separated--Serena Jane to live a life of privilege as the future May Queen and Truly to live on the outskirts of town on the farm of the town sadsack, the subject of constant abuse and humiliation at the hands of her peers.

Serena Jane's beauty proves to be her greatest blessing and her biggest curse, for it makes her the obsession of classmate Bob Bob Morgan, the youngest in a line of Robert Morgans who have been doctors in Aberdeen for generations. Though they have long been the pillars of the community, the earliest Robert Morgan married the town witch, Tabitha Dyerson, and the location of her fabled shadow book--containing mysterious secrets for healing and darker powers--has been the subject of town gossip ever since. Bob Bob Morgan, one of Truly's biggest tormentors, does the unthinkable to claim the prize of Serena Jane, and changes the destiny of all Aberdeen from there on.

When Serena Jane flees town and a loveless marriage to Bob Bob, it is Truly who must become the woman of a house that she did not choose and mother to her eight-year-old nephew Bobbie. Truly's brother-in-law is relentless and brutal; he criticizes her physique and the limitations of her health as a result, and degrades her more than any one human could bear. It is only when Truly finds her calling--the ability to heal illness with herbs and naturopathic techniques--hidden within the folds of Robert Morgan's family quilt, that she begins to regain control over her life and herself. Unearthed family secrets, however, will lead to the kind of betrayal that eventually break the Morgan family apart forever, but Truly's reckoning with her own demons allows for both an uprooting of Aberdeen County, and the possibility of love in unexpected places.

To learn more about The Little Giant of Aberdeen County please visit Hachette's website.

My Review

There was so much about this one that I loved. The writing was beautiful, the characters were very well developed, and the story was captivating. I had actually been eying this one for a while and never got around to it. But I'm glad that I was finally given the chance to read it.

There's so many great things about this book that in trying to write this review I don't really know where to start. The main character is so great. Truly's life is so extraordinary, and yet so simple. The events that occur in her everyday life are really so normal. There are just a few events that cause her life to be so different.

The main characters were so well written that I was able to connect with them all. I could understand what they were all going through and why they choose the paths that they took. While my emotional attachment in this one was with Truly, I had a great understand of what they were all feeling.

In addition to the great characters the story was very well written also. While it was definitely larger than life none of it was unbelievable. This story is really something that I could see happening in any town in America.

With this one I could go on and on forever, as it was just a great book. I guess that's the best way to sum it up: Truly a great book!

The Little Giant of Aberdeen County

Guest Blogger: Author Phyllis Glisson

Today we are being joined by author Phyllis Glisson. She is talking to us about her first book Her Sanctuary. So let me hand it off to Phyllis...



Hi,
When Jennifer asked me if I wanted to be a guest blogger I immediately said yes. Wait, what’s a guest blogger? Well, if you self publish as I did, you say yes to just about anything; short of wearing a big fuzzy bunny suit and standing by the roadside with a sign that reads, “BUY MY BOOK!” Note to self: cancel the bunny suit.

But seriously, I am so new on the publishing scene that I had to ask just what it was I should “blog” about. Jennifer assured me I could blog about anything I wanted. If she knew me better, she wouldn’t have told me that. I tend to ramble, but I’m going to restrain myself from doing that here.

As I said before, I am a self published author. As a matter of fact, it’s not only my first published novel, it’s my first written novel. That’s right, I’ve never written anything before but a short story or a poem here and there. I have always had a knack for storytelling. I’ve got a vivid imagination. Combine that with the rambling thing and voila! Writer.

But enough about me:

Her Sanctuary is an adult romance/mystery with just a smidgen of the supernatural. It’s the story of a woman, Shannon Mallory, who has escaped from an abusive, loveless marriage, buys an RV and takes off on a journey of self-discovery. When she stops off at “The Last Resort Café’” outside the town of Sanctuary, she meets Seth Proudfoot, a half Native American with electric blue eyes and a scar on his face to match the one on his heart. He’s an outcast; not accepted by the whites because of his Native American half; not accepted by the Native Americans on the Reservation because of his white half. To make matters worse, both the whites and the Native Americans think he’s guilty of killing his wife and child, but because he suffered a head injury on that fateful day, he walks around condemning himself for a crime he can’t even remember committing!
When Shannon locks eyes with Seth, there’s an instant attraction, so much so that you can practically feel the electric sparks!

I know, it sounds like just about every other romance novel you’ve ever drooled over, but wait. That is about where the similarities end. Unlike most romance novels where they hate each other at the beginning but there’s an obvious undercurrent of sexual tension and you have to wait until the very last pages of the story for them to proclaim their love; Shannon and Seth proclaim their love almost immediately which would lead you to think the story is pretty much over. But actually the story is just beginning. I have to be really careful here or I’m going to give away some of the surprises. Let’s just say their love is tested….many times. There is danger, betrayal, and a plot twist that will leave you breathless with anticipation. Oh, and let’s not forget, lots of steamy, make your toes curl, love scenes.

It’s available on amazon.com where you can take a “look inside the book” to see a preview. There are also reviews posted, most of them 5 stars! You can also find it on Barnes&Noble.com, Booksamillion.com and other bookstore websites across the globe. The book has been shipped to exotic lands like New Zealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom. It’s also available in ebook form, Kindle and Nook.

So get out your bon-bons and pour yourself a tall glass of wine, snuggle up in your favorite chair and escape to Her Sanctuary.

Thank you Jennifer for giving me the opportunity to guest blog and tell people about my book (my baby).

I am a member of goodreads.com, where I have an author’s page. Please feel free to look me up and become a fan. All are welcome. You can also check out what I’m currently working on.

I also have a blog site.

Let’s not forget facebook. I also have a fan page where you can become a fan and receive updates of my coming events and book news or you could follow me on twitter.

I also entered a contest on novelnovice.com and was one of the winning entries. You can read the winning entry, “Meeting of the Minds”, on my profile page at goodreads.com.

Thank you Phyllis, I am really looking forward to reading this one. I've really been on a romance book kick lately....

I think it's great that your book has been shipped around the world. That is really too cool. I hope it keeps going around and around!!

Thank you again for sharing with us today. Your rambling wasn't bad at all, but I could see how that would lend itself greatly to writing a book!

Closed: Giveaway: Audiobook War by Sebastian Junger

Thank you to everyone that entered. There were 12 different entrants and a total of 23 entries!

Here are the three winners:
1) Edna
2) Simply Stacie
3) Jane

Emails are being sent to the winners. Thank you again for entering and congratulations to the winners. I hope you enjoy them.

All winners were chosen using Random.org

-Jennifer

Thanks to Anna at Hachette I can giveaway 3 copies of this one.



About the book

In WAR Sebastian Junger gives breathtaking insight into the truths of war-- the fear, the honor, and the trust among men. His on-the-ground account follows a single platoon through a 15-month tour of duty in the most dangerous outpost in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley. Through the experiences of these young men at war, he shows what it means to fight, to serve, and to face down mortal danger on a regular basis.

For more information on this title please visit Hachette Book Group.

Giveaway info

The giveaway will end 6/23/10 at 11:59pm (EST)

Rules:
1) Only winners from the US and Canada
2) No PO boxes

To enter:
1) Leave a comment with your email address (so I can contact you if you win!)
2) Get an extra entry for following my blog (let me know if you're a new follower or have been following for a while!)
3) Get a third entry for mentioning this giveaway: On your blog, facebook, twitter... anywhere (Make sure to leave me a link or your SN so I can verify!)
4) Get an extra for referring friends who become followers of my blog. Have them mention your name in their comments. (along with all their info!!)

!!!REMEMBER!!!! If you do not leave your e-mail in your comment you will not be entered into the giveaway!!!

The winners will be randomly drawn and notified by email.

Good Luck and thank you for reading my blog!

Closed: Giveaway: Still the One by Robin Wells

Thank you to everyone that entered. There were 19 different entrants and a total of 30 entries!

Here are the three winners:
1) Jane
2) misusedinnocence
3) Audrey
4) DCMetroreader
5) Sandra K321

Emails are being sent to the winners. Thank you again for entering and congratulations to the winners. I hope you enjoy them.

All winners were chosen using Random.org

-Jennifer

Thanks to Anna at Hachette I can giveaway 5 copies of this one.



About the book

Robin Wells takes us back to Chartreuse, Louisiana, for a deeply moving story of forgiveness and second chances.

STILL THE ONE

After Katie Charmaine's husband is killed in Iraq, all she has left is a closet full of his clothes, a few pictures, and fond memories. She not only lost her love, but her last chance to have the children she's always wanted. Until Zack Ferguson shows up in town . . . with the daughter Katie gave up for adoption nearly seventeen years ago.

Zack Ferguson has never forgotten Katie, or the one magical night they spent together. Seeing her again brings up a tidal wave of emotions: regret over the way he left her, anger at the secret she kept, and desire he hasn't felt in years. But he's in town for Gracie. Their daughter is sixteen, angry at the world, and-worst of all-pregnant. She needs the love of her two parents now more than ever. Can these three forgive the hurts of the past and open their hearts to each other?

For more information on this title please visit Hachette Book Group.

Giveaway info

The giveaway will end 6/23/10 at 11:59pm (EST)

Rules:
1) Only winners from the US and Canada
2) No PO boxes

To enter:
1) Leave a comment with your email address (so I can contact you if you win!)
2) Get an extra entry for following my blog (let me know if you're a new follower or have been following for a while!)
3) Get a third entry for mentioning this giveaway: On your blog, facebook, twitter... anywhere (Make sure to leave me a link or your SN so I can verify!)
4) Get an extra for referring friends who become followers of my blog. Have them mention your name in their comments. (along with all their info!!)

!!!REMEMBER!!!! If you do not leave your e-mail in your comment you will not be entered into the giveaway!!!

The winners will be randomly drawn and notified by email.

Good Luck and thank you for reading my blog!

Closed: Giveaway: The Secrets of Newberry by Victor McGlothin

Thank you to everyone that entered. There were 25 different entrants and a total of 44 entries!

Here are the three winners:
1) Sarah E
2) Marjorie
3) nfmgirl

Emails are being sent to the winners. Thank you again for entering and congratulations to the winners. I hope you enjoy them.

All winners were chosen using Random.org

-Jennifer

Thanks to Anna at Hachette I can giveaway 3 copies of this one.



About the book

For Ivory Bones Arcineaux and Julian Bynote, life in 1950s New Orleans couldn't be sweeter. Friends since they met in an illegal gambling house in Newberry, Louisiana, they have their pick of all the fine women, good food, and hot nights they can handle. They seem to have it made-especially Julian who begins to make a new life for himself after meeting the beautiful, classy Magnolia Garbo at a social. But both men are about to find out that letting the good times roll can be deadly when a simple robbery goes wrong and Julian witnesses Bones murdering a man in cold blood. The victim was a white city councilman with all the right connections-and if the two are discovered, it will mean the end to everything they've built together. With the New Orleans police hot on their trail, Julian must decide whether rolling in the fast lane is worth losing his freedom and his life.


For more information on this title please visit Hachette Book Group.

Giveaway info

The giveaway will end 6/23/10 at 11:59pm (EST)

Rules:
1) Only winners from the US and Canada
2) No PO boxes

To enter:
1) Leave a comment with your email address (so I can contact you if you win!)
2) Get an extra entry for following my blog (let me know if you're a new follower or have been following for a while!)
3) Get a third entry for mentioning this giveaway: On your blog, facebook, twitter... anywhere (Make sure to leave me a link or your SN so I can verify!)
4) Get an extra for referring friends who become followers of my blog. Have them mention your name in their comments. (along with all their info!!)

!!!REMEMBER!!!! If you do not leave your e-mail in your comment you will not be entered into the giveaway!!!

The winners will be randomly drawn and notified by email.

Good Luck and thank you for reading my blog!