Tuesday ramblings

 It's a dreary day in the NC mountains.

A perfect day, I think, to curl up in bed with coffee, cookies, and Annabelle spread across my feet.

In my continuing attempts to limit what I hear coming out of the mouth of The Village Idiot, who becomes crazier and more dangerous by the day, I'm still limiting my Facebook time.  (Here's where I insert my chant:  "VOTE!  VOTE!  VOTE!")

I'm doing a lot of cooking 

and baking 

and reading.

Last night I finished an ARC of a debut novel that blew me away.

One of those books containing passages so lovely that you have to re-read and savor each word.

 

"In this intimate debut novel, a woman returns to her small Southern hometown in the wake of her mother's sudden death--only to find the past upended by stunning family secrets.

Lila Bruce Breedlove never quite felt at home in Wesleyan, Georgia, especially after her father's untimely death when she was a child. Both she and her brother, Henry, fled north after high school, establishing fulfilling lives and relationships of their own, steeped in art and culture. In contrast, their younger sister, Abigail, opted to remain in Georgia to dote on their domineering, larger-than-life mother, Geneva. Yet, despite their years-long independence, Lila and Henry both know they've never quite reckoned with their upbringing.

Now, when their elderly mother dies suddenly and strangely, found among the dense vines of the muscadine arbor behind the family estate, they must travel back to the town that raised them. But as Lila and Henry uncover more about Geneva's death, shocking truths are revealed that upend the Bruces' history as they know it, sending the pair on an extraordinary journey to chase a truth that will dramatically alter the course of their lives.

With deep compassion and sharp wit, Pamela Terry brings to life the culture and expectations of a small Southern town that values appearance over authenticity--and where the struggle to live honestly can lead to devastating consequences."

The description does not do the book justice.

It's this and so much more. 

What makes a book special?  Sets it apart from other books you read and enjoy?

It's characters that have dimension and personality.

It's the author's voice and word choice.

Phrasing and pacing.

Descriptions that place you so deeply in the story you're able to actually see the scene being described.  And feel it.

Pamela Terry is an author I think we're going to be hearing a lot about in the future.

"The Sweet Taste of Muscadines" won't be available until March - AND it'll be worth the wait. Not to worry - I'll be back to remind you! 

I was lucky enough to run across it at NetGalley and even luckier when my request to read it was granted.  

It's one of those books I'll be sharing with friends and family.

While I was up way past my bedtime reading Ms. Terry's book, two books by two of my favorite authors popped up on my Kindle.  (Have I mentioned how much I love the magic of my Kindle?)

Natasha Lester's "The Paris Secret," 

and Mark Pryor's "The French Widow," (the 9th book in the Hugo Marston series)

Now to decide which to read first . . . 

Wishing you a good day!

(Teeshirt available here)

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