Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Book Review & Giveaway


I am probably the only person who was asked to review this book and got incredibly excited about not only the story I was about to read within, but the fact that the art design on the hardcover book jacket comes from an 1885, blockprinted Garden Tulip Wallpaper by William Morris. Love that!

Plus the fact that the soft robin's egg blue of the hardcover with the lovely gold lettering will look incredible on my bookshelf!

But this is a review of the actual novel, not the cover, so here goes... :)

"The Season of Second Chances" by Diane Meier follows the main character of Joy Harkness as she learns through a year of making choices and taking chances what Home, Family, and True Friendship is all about.

Joy has spent her entire life yearning to feel at home. As a young woman she fled her mid-western roots for the big city of New York, certain that the excitement and whirlwind of the city would be what she needed to transform herself into the woman she had always wanted to become. When she realized that that had never materialized, she was already divorced, at a job at a university she didn't enjoy, had no real friendships and ready for anything to help her start over.

She got her chance when a university in Massachusetts came knocking, and she impulsively said "Yes!". As Joy transforms a rundown old house slowly into a home, as she picks out fabrics and paint colors, as she trusts new friends, and meets others in this small town, she comes to realize that she does indeed have a Home at last!


I am not a person who jumped on the Book Club bandwagon. But, this book, "The Season of Second Chances", would certainly be interesting to read in a book club. The diverse characters, the many themes within (what is home, loss, a new way of looking at feminism, true friendship, etc), the fact that you may relate to and yet want to shake the shoulders of the main character in exasperation, the desire for realizing a Second Chance of your own...these would all be so interesting to discuss!

Overall, I'd have to say that I really did enjoy reading this book! I really enjoyed Diane Meier's writing style, her humor she infused in her writing, the rich character development (she could probably create a series of books based on these characters), and the way she allowed her main character to learn and grow.

{FYI--as a Christian with a larger Christian readership, I will say that I do not personally & morally agree with all of the character's choices in this book, though I will say that it is minimal.}


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If you would like a chance to win a copy of "The Season of Second Chances" for your own, then please leave a comment below!!!

This giveaway will close at midnight on Thursday.


29 comments:

~Kristen~ said...

Ooooh this book sounds like one I would really enjoy!!! Thanks for providing the review and a chance to win!!! :-)

southerninspiration said...

Sounds interesting...and I have to agree with you that the cover is very lovely indeed!

Suzanne

Kristen said...

I just love a good book, and this one looks fantastic. Thanks for sharing!

Unknown said...

Sounds like an interesting book!! Would love to win it, of course! =)

Svr said...

Sounds like a great book. Thanks for the opportunity to win it.

Angie Kerr said...

I Love the cover too. Beautiful. I would love a chance to read it!

Amanda @ Serenity Now said...

Ooo---I say "yay" to the book cover and the story!! :) I am pretty forgiving when it comes to fiction. I will just skim over parts of the story that I don't personally agree with if the story is really good. I like the plot of this one!

Thanks for the visit today! I hope you'll be able to swing by Decorating Dilemmas party this week with a Dilemma OR a Solution. I'm posting it tonight and it will be up until 11 pm tomorrow. :)

2Belles2Beaux4me said...

Stacy, I would love to have this book. Thanks for the review. Blessings to you.

Nikki said...

Sounds like a great book. Thanks for the review!

Jennifer {Studio JRU} said...

It is a *gorgeous* cover! :) Sounds like a wonderful book... thanks for the review!

Angie said...

I would love a new read! Book sounds very interesting!

I Love Pretty Little Things said...

Thanks for the review. I am dying to read it.
Please enter me in your wonderful give-away!
Thanks, Joyce

Haden News said...

Sounds like a good book, enjoyed your review of it. Thanks for the chance to win!!

Cara said...

Sounds like an interesting story. Summer vacation is right around the corner (I'm a teacher) and I would love a new book to start off my summer! Thanks for the chance to win!

Karens-Korner said...

Sounds like a great book! I need some new reading material! Sign me up!!

Karen

Anonymous said...

It sounds interesting.

Anonymous said...

It sounds interesting.

Katie said...

sounds great! my mother would love to read this one :)

kshuttle@uoguelph.ca

Musings Of A Gem said...

I would love to read that :D Thanks for the opportunity!

Gemma X

Decorchick! said...

I'd love to get a chance to read this book! Thanks for the opportunity. :)

Carla said...

Just what I need - a good summertime book! Sounds interesting.

Pamela said...

I have not read a book in a long while! I use to stay up till 3 am just because I wanted to finish one. This book sounds like one of those books! Thanx for the opportunity and come and stop by for a give away over at my place. It is my first eva!:) I enjoy reading your blog!

Mandy said...

Looks like a great book... Love to look at your blog and see all your great ideas!!

Traci M said...

Sounds like an interesting read, and one I could relate to...thanks for the opportunity to win!!

Melanie said...

I could really use a good summer read! Thanks for the giveaway! (I'm with you on the gorgeous cover, too, I was immediately drawn to the pretty pattern!)

Melanie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
K Lynne Designs said...

I love your blog - the book sounds fantastic and I'd love the chance to win and read it. Thanks for being so generous and having a giveaway! :)

Unknown said...

ahh, books! gotta love them...never have too many so I would LOVE to have a chance to win it!

Jackie said...

Oh I would love to have this book for summer reading. I just finished a book I loved and was wondering what I would read next! Maybe I will be blessed and win the drawing!
Thanks for the opportunity!