I always worry when I post a link-heavy blog that no one will bother clicking through, but The Familiar Stranger is on the CFBA tour, so there are a lot of blogs discussing it all at the same time. Please, grab a nice, relaxing cup of hot water and enjoy some side trips in cyberspace. (Why just hot water? Coffee and tea have been so over done, I’m starting a new trend. No calories!)
Michelle Sutton-a tough reviewer of “edgy” fiction. Find out why my book is making her “best of 2009” list and view the list.
Kim at Window to My World gave me a review that made chills go from my heart out over the rest of my body. There’s a bit of a discussion about forgiveness in the comments there, as well.
Kim also asked me some different questions than any other interviewer has before. The resulting post is emotional, I think, because it was so emotional for me to write. (This interview is a different link than the review.)
Linda, a reader of Kim’s blog, also reviewed my book. I was so touched by what she said on Mocha with Linda. “While there was plenty of intrigue and suspense as I tried to figure out the whole situation, the heartbeat of this beautiful story is grace, forgiveness, and mercy.”
If I have any blog readers who haven’t read The Familiar Stranger yet, then shame on you! No, really, here’s the first chapter.
Not everyone is as impressed, however, and to keep you from thinking I’m biased in my blog reporting, I’m including the net two links.
Engrossing and emotional novel about betrayal and forgiveness – doesn’t feel Denise character is consistent.
But Nicole from Into the Fire feels even more strongly. She says of Denise, “She’s as flighty as a flag in a hurricane and sometimes she’s just plain annoying.” I have to agree that I wrote Denise as a flawed woman, so in that respect this is kind of a compliment. Nicole’s reaction to her means she came across as a real person. But Nicole also points out why this reaction wasn’t one I would strive for: “This presents a problem when trying to make her the sympathetic character with whom the reader needs to identify and commiserate.”
Nicole is very careful not to give any spoilers away, but those of you who haven’t read it might feel too much of the plot is discussed. However, she does something I absolutely adore and have never seen before. She ends the review with a prayer of encouragement for me! Very classy and meaningful. And I can only hope her prediction of pleasing a Karen Kingsbury-type audience comes true. 🙂
Let’s end an a more complimentary note though, shall we? 🙂 Giving Up on Perfect didn’t really want to read the book because she worried it would be too sad. Ultimately she found the sadness was worth it to get to the hope. My favorite quote from her reveiw: “Grey’s Anatomy has nothing on this complicated story!”
Thanks for the mention. I did love this book!
Christina, you’re very kind, and I apologize if you think I gave away too much. I tried very hard not to do so because I don’t read reviews of books until I’m finished with them for exactly that reason.
My opinion is just that. This is in no way a “bad” review. I look forward to your future books.
Hey, had to check out the reviews, and I must say they did a fine job. I might be bias, but as a writer, I feel you hit the nail on the head with Denise. Despite what the publishing world says, I think a character who shows their flaws is intriguing to me. We’re not perfect, never will be until we reach heaven.
And Nichole did a nice job of giving her thoughts. <};^) If I don’t “see” you online before then, Merry Christmas!
Thank you, Michelle!
Nicole, you absolutely did not give too much away. We’ve been having discussions on here about how some of us don’t even read the back cover copy if it looks like a good book because we don’t like ANYTHING to be given away. Great job, girl!
Winter, we need protags we can identify with, right? ;p