venerdì 13 maggio 2016

Review & Giveaway: Take Me to the Willow by Shelly Brimley


Take Me to the Willow
by Shelly Brimley

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GENRE: Historical Fiction

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BLURB:


In defending his life-long friendship with Charlie, Will may have inadvertently had a hand in the growing chaos that leads to the horrifying night when his familiar world is shattered. 


When Will Wright, the eighteen year old son of a small-town Arkansas sheep herder in 1905, begins reading his mother’s journal, he is inspired by its startling content to start putting his own experiences to paper for posterity. An unsophisticated but principled young man, Will is becoming increasingly aware of the hatred that exists in the world. When he begins his own journal, Will can’t know what events are to take place in the next five years – from his mother’s battle with a life threatening illness, to his embarrassments of learning how to be in love for the first time, to witnessing Charlie’s fate at the hands of the bigoted townspeople. While part of him wishes the pain in those pages didn’t exist, he knows that the original purpose for keeping the journal has been realized - to show his kin how he became the man he is. He will probably never go back through and read again the pages he’s written, but someday, someone will, and they will see that along with the hurt, Will’s life had been one that knew true joy, absolute love, and undying friendship.


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My Review:


It was a historical novel written really well, romantic but also touching, an intense and enjoyable reading. I loved every single page. Once it started it is very difficult to put it down. It caused a late night and a very early morning to finish.
The characters are well constructed and very realistic, are people that I wanted to know. Will is a great character, loyal, brave, with a great sense of justice. He hates injustice and tries to defend the weakest. Excellent idea of telling the story from his point of view. It was really great to see him grow and mature through the experience that life had forced him to face.
It 's a poignant story, is excellent from the cover till the end.
I have no hesitation in recommending it highly.





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EXCERPT:


"Men and women are different," Will, he said.

"I know that," I said.

"Now don’t interrupt me, son!," he said, his voice rather abrupt and a bit on the nervous side. "Just let me say what I got to say."

"Sorry, I said," feelin’ startled.

Daddy scratched the back of his head and started again.

"Men and women are different," he said.

We’ve already covered that, I thought to myself but didn’t dare share that with him.

"And when they come together as husband and wife for the first time, it’s real important for the man to be sensitive to the woman so she feels comfortable… because the woman might feel uncomfortable if the man ain’t sensitive," he said.

I just sat and listened, not sure where he was goin’ with it. He didn’t seem to be goin’ anywhere except around in circles. All I could seem to grasp was that I’m supposed to be sensitive — about what… I had no clue. And Hannah is gonna end up feelin’ comfortable or uncomfortable – I’m not sure which. And speakin’ of bein’ uncomfortable, Daddy looked like a lone rabbit in a coyote’s den. I don’t believe he looked at me the whole time he was talkin’, just fidgeted and looked at the ground.

"You understand?" he asked.

I couldn’t bring myself to tell him I had no idea what in tarnation he was talkin’ about. So I just nodded instead.

"Uh huh," I said.

"Good," said Daddy as he put his hat back on and stood up to leave.

"Thank you, sir," I said. "This was real helpful."

Daddy stood there for a minute, not sure what to do next. He nervously shifted his weight from one foot to the other, and at one point, I thought he might shake my hand, but then he just said, “Alright then”, and went back in the house.


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AUTHOR Bio and Links:


Shelly Brimley was born in Flagstaff, AZ, where she lived most of her life until moving to Mexico to study abroad. After graduation, Shelly did some volunteer work in Africa and completed her graduate degree while working in an adolescent drug treatment center. After acquiring her Master’s degree, she worked as a counselor at a residential shelter for children who had been smuggled and trafficked into the USA from different countries around the world. She also taught English to adult refugees before resigning to raise her children. Shelly wanted to use her experience working with others as a source of inspiration in her writing, offering a voice for those who are not typically heard or considered.

Website link –

Author Facebook-

Goodreads-

Amazon – On sale for only $0.99 until May 22



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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE


One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card.



a Rafflecopter giveaway

33 commenti:

  1. Thank you so much for hosting and for your review!

    RispondiElimina
  2. Risposte
    1. I started taking my writing seriously about 5 years ago. What is your favorite genre to read?

      Elimina
  3. I appreciate the review!

    --Trix

    RispondiElimina
  4. Congrats on the new book and good luck on the book tour!

    RispondiElimina
  5. Thank you for the chance . Congrats on your new release sounds like a good read .

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. Thanks, Esther! Hope you get a chance to read it! Do you enjoy historical fiction?

      Elimina
    2. I can enjoy historical books to .

      Elimina
  6. Have a fun filled Saturday and thank you for the giveaway

    RispondiElimina
  7. I enjoyed reading about this book. Thank you so much for sharing!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. Thank you, Ree Dee! Let me know if you read the book!

      Elimina
  8. Awesome review and great excerpt! Thanks for sharing, I'm looking forward to reading this one myself :)

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. Thanks a lot, Victoria! Let me know how you like it! Do you enjoy historical fiction?

      Elimina
    2. I do! There's something to be said about writing that can take you to a place and make you feel like you are actually there, it's almost like you get your own personal time machine - I really love that!

      Elimina
  9. I appreciate you hosting me, and thank you for the lovely review!

    RispondiElimina
  10. Thank you for the book excerpt, and the chance in the contest.

    RispondiElimina
  11. Awesome post and would love to read this book!

    RispondiElimina
  12. I enjoyed reading the excerpt. This book sounds like such an interesting and intriguing read. Looking forward to checking out this book.

    RispondiElimina
  13. What comes first for you--the story or the characters?

    RispondiElimina
  14. Wishing you a blessed Sunday and thanking you for the giveaway

    RispondiElimina
  15. Based on the author bio I would say she has quite a bit of inspiration for her works.

    RispondiElimina
  16. This book sounds like something I'd really enjoy reading, thank you for sharing!

    RispondiElimina
  17. Sounds like a great read.

    RispondiElimina
  18. Good Golly Miss Molly. Looks like splendid read. Kudos to ur review & hosting. . Wow, prize amazon gc is fab. & splendid. 2 fingers snap. It is tight, fly & off the chain. Thank you for the awesomeness, the contest, and generosity. :) Pick me, pick me! Dear Santa: I’ve been nice. My X-Mas wish this year is to win this contest. Starving artist here desperately needs the gc to shop and eat. A life changing exp.

    RispondiElimina
  19. I can't wait to read this book. I love the story line.

    RispondiElimina
  20. What book that inspire you to be writer?

    RispondiElimina

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