Monday 29 April 2019

Book Review of The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen


Book Title: The Girl Who Chased the Moon
Genre: Literary Fiction
Pages: 272
Author: Sarah Addison Allen
Date Published: 17 February 2011

Synopsis:

Emily Benedict came to Mullaby, North Carolina, hoping to solve at least some of the riddles surrounding her mother's life. But the moment Emily enters the house where her mother grew up and meets the grandfather she never knew, she realises that mysteries aren't solved in Mullaby, they're a way of life. Here are rooms where the wallpaper changes to suit your mood. Unexplained lights skip across the yard at midnight. And a neighbour, Julia Winterson, bakes hope in the form of cakes, offering them to satisfy the town's sweet tooth - but also in the hope of rekindling a love she fears might be lost forever. Can a hummingbird cake really bring back a lost love? Is there really a ghost dancing in Emily's backyard? The answers are never what you expect. But in this town of lovable misfits, the unexpected fits right in.

Review:


The Girl Who Chased the MoonThe Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Girl Who Chased the Moon is a lovely tale. I enjoyed it a lot.

Emily Benedict is an interesting character. I liked her as soon as she was introduced. After her mom passes away, she arrives in Mullaby, North Carolina, to stay with her grandfather as he's now her legal guardian. Her mother never discussed her childhood, so Emily is eager to learn about it. Unfortunately, many of the residents of Mullaby blame Emily's mother for the death of one of them. As Emily delves into the mystery surrounding her mother's past, she meets the mysterious Win Coffey, whose relative died all those years ago.

This story is told through the eyes of several characters, though Emily is one of the main ones. The other characters involved are her grandfather, Vance Shelby, Julia, a young woman who owns and runs a barbecue house and bakery, Sawyer Alexander, a school mate and old fling of Julia's, and Win Coffey, a teenager with a family secret.

When I first read the synopsis in my local library, I thought that this book would be a young adult paranormal fairy tale, so I borrowed it. However, I was completely wrong - in a good way. It is a story about loss - lost love and opportunities - and love and redemption. There is magic in the pages, not just the wallpaper that changes in Emily's bedroom.

The story takes the reader on an emotional roller coaster ride, and once I began reading it, I didn't put it down until I'd finished it; I am finding it difficult to articulate my feelings about this book. Emily's journey to uncover her mother's possible role in the suicide of Wyn's uncle because of a family secret, and the sweet romance between the two teens, touched me deeply. I also loved the subplot of Julia and Sawyer's past, present and future. The author artfully pulled me into the story, and when it ended, I was left with mixed feelings - happy at the way it ended but sad that it had finished. *Spoiler* Though I would have liked to have seen what happened when Maddie met with Julia and Sawyer. Nevertheless, I was left with a bittersweet feeling.

Sarah Addison Allen has written a heart-rending, as well as a heart-warming tale that held me captive from beginning to end. I love her writing style but found the shift in viewpoints a little unsettling at first, though I enjoyed the pacing. The story flowed well too. I would definitely consider reading more of this author's books in the future.

Although there are no explicit scenes of a sexual nature, there is mention of it. However, I would highly recommend this book to young teens (13 up) and adults who love literary fiction, family sagas or romance novels. - Lynn Worton

View all my reviews

Purchase Links:

Amazon US                                               Amazon UK

About the Author:

Author photograph credit: Melissa Markis

Sarah Addison Allen is the New York Times bestselling author of Garden Spells, The Sugar Queen, The Girl Who Chased the Moon and The Peach Keeper. She lives in North Carolina, where her novels are set.

Author Links:

You can discover more at:


Find Sarah on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sarahaddisonallen

Or follow her on Twitter @SarahAddisonAll.

Sunday 7 April 2019

Release Day Tour: An Irish Attraction by Louisa Masters @AuthorLouisaM #IrishRomance @hottreepromos



"This story has a little bit of everything..."


Title: An Irish Attraction

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Collection: Emerald Isle Enchantment




While a paranormal investigator and a hotel concierge butt heads, matchmaking ghosts and an enchanted elevator cause mischief. It’s just another day at Castle Tullamore.

Keela Keane sees things others think aren’t there. It’s the perfect talent for a paranormal investigator and has served her well across the globe. She’s at the top of her field and ready for a new challenge: the enchanted elevator at Castle Tullamore Hotel in her homeland of Ireland.

Senior Concierge Seamus O’Kane has been dealing with the fallout from that cursed elevator for fourteen years, but that doesn’t mean he likes being assigned to assist Dr. Keane in her investigation. Working with Keela is a revelation he never expected, and it’s not long before the project—and Keela—soften his attitude.

But as they get closer to unraveling the secrets of the elevator, all the while dodging the efforts of the castle’s matchmaking ghosts, both Keela and Seamus are forced to admit that the magic of Tullamore might be the best thing to have ever happened to them.







Just $1.99!



On sale for 99c!









Louisa Masters started reading romance much earlier than her mother thought she should. While other teenagers were sneaking out of the house, Louisa was working out how to read romance novels without being discovered. As an adult, she feeds her addiction in every spare second, only occasionally tearing herself away to do things like answer the phone and pay bills. She lives in Melbourne, Australia, where she whines about the weather for most of the year while secretly admitting she’ll probably never move.


Find Louisa at www.louisamasters.com