Disclaimer:

Many stories herein are subject to the faulty, and sometimes creative, memory of the blog owner and should not be taken as factual, although the names and events are real! Kind of.

Tuesday, September 01, 2009

Read this Book! Stray Affections


I had intended to come home and be industrious Monday evening but I started this book a few days ago and with the weather being so beautiful, I decided to sit on my back porch and read instead!


I refilled my oil lanterns and lit some candles and settled into my chair to finish this wonderful story!


Stray Affections is a tale of broken hearts and wounded people, miracles and blessings, misunderstandings and reconciliation all mixed in with 4 kids, a passel of dogs and extended families and lifelong friends.

Cassandra Higgins is a stay at mom of four small boys. She's got a great life with a loving husband but struggles daily with feelings of inferiority and abandonment leftover from her difficult childhood. Cass doesn't dwell on the past, but the loss of her father to suicide, the death of her doting grandfather and giving up a beloved pet all in a short time as a child have affected her greatly. She collects nick-knack critters in an unconscious effort to replace her lost dog Toby, and her newest addition to the collection, a snow globe containing a girl and three dogs is the catalyst for this terrific, heartwarming story.

Cassie is the main character and I loved her, but it was her mom, 'Bad Betty' Kamrowski who stole my heart. Her stoic response to tragedy has earned her an undeserved reputation of cold-heartedness, but the kindness of a local butcher causes Betty to undergo a transformation and she begins to allow her heart to thaw and let people in. I even found myself praying for her on my way to work the other morning, she had become so real to me! I quickly amended it to "women in unimaginably difficult circumstances!"

This book made me laugh and cry and ended on an upbeat and surprising note. It won't be released until September 15, but for a small bribe, I might lend you my Advanced Reader Copy!

In fact, instead of me lending someone my copy, how about I have a drawing and give it away? Leave a comment and I will use a random number thingy or print them and cut them and draw one from a hat or something. That way I won't be overwhelmed with bribes!

Comment by Thursday Evening!

Read it! You won't be sorry for the time you spend in Minnesota with Cassie and her family!

10 comments:

Tisha said...

Sounds like a good read! PICK ME PICK ME!!!

Charlene Ann Baumbich said...

Oh, thank you SO MUCH for this wonderful review. You have captured the heart of the storylines and expressed it very well. YAY! Wonderful encouragement.

Peace and grins and thank you again,
Charlene Ann Baumbich
Author, Stray Affections
PS to Trish: Love your enthusiasm! Good luck.
PSS I'm working on book two in the Snowglobe Connections series, coming fall 2010. Keep those porch torches burning. :)
PSSS Book tour starts soon. Lots of fun stories behind the stories to tell about this one. Hope to see some of you. And thanks for reading!

Marilyn said...

Your review is so inticing. It makes me want to read the book now but as you can see, it is after midnight and I need to go to sleep.Thanks for the story!!!!!
If you don't pick me, let me read it.

Anonymous said...

To my BEAUTIFUL older sister that looks much younger than I. Your wisdom is amazing, your creativity is inspiring, your generous nature is loved by all. I will humbly try to follow your example and pass the book on to another, should you see it in your love filled heart to bestow the book on me...your sister...the middle one that was always overlooked...but is not bitter because I learned so much watching your example. For instance my first lesson was that hand me downs were the ultimate recycling gift. You taught me to be green before green was even a term.

LOL. Great idea for a give away.
Love ya
P

Mandy said...

Last time I took your advice and read a recommended book of yours I didn't sleep for like two days because all I did was READ! I really want to ready this book also but I'm just really tired right now! :)

Robin said...

I want to read your book, pass it along to me and then I could pass it on to someone else like Tish or maybe Mandy if she is not to tired...............

Becky said...

I'm glad you said you laughed, because I was afraid it might be just too sad. But the other book I read you gave me was terrific! I really liked it!

Andi said...

Anything to drum up blog readers, eh? It sounds totally good, and i can't believe you're not loaning it to your sisters first!


Love ya!

Zuda Gay Pease said...

It sounds fabulous!! How generous of you to be willing to give your book away. I really have trouble parting with books. Please, please enter me!! Thank you!

blessings, Zuda Gay Pease

You can contact me through my blog:
http://www.clayinthehands.blogspot.com
or Etsy shop
http://www.ZudaGay.etsy.com

Linda said...

I live in MN. Great state all around. So, Please enter me.
desertrose5173 at gmail dot com

One Last Thought.......

Pleasant words are a honeycomb;
sweet to the soul and healing to the body.
Proverbs 16:
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