Sunday, April 26, 2015

Dear Carolina - A Book Review

I've never done a book review before.

For one thing, lately I haven't had the time to read some books.
I love to read, but I'm sure you all know how my life revolves right now with my
family-career-baby-blogging juggling act.
You can get your copy HERE

But when my fellow blogger friend KRISTY WOODSON HARVEY  (one of the brains behind DESIGN CHIC ) announced last year that she will get her book published, I knew I just had to read her book!
This is KRISTY WOODSON HARVEY, also one of the most famous Design bloggers around 

Daddy Mason said it so well for me too!

I wanted to read it, not just because I knew the author but also because of this preview she gave us..

One baby girl.
Two strong Southern women.
And the most difficult decision they’ll ever make.
 Frances “Khaki” Mason has it all: a thriving interior design career, a loving husband and son, homes in North Carolina and Manhattan—everything except the second child she has always wanted. Jodi, her husband’s nineteen-year-old cousin, is fresh out of rehab, pregnant, and alone. Although the two women couldn’t seem more different, they forge a lifelong connection as Khaki reaches out to Jodi, encouraging her to have her baby. But as Jodi struggles to be the mother she knows her daughter deserves, she will ask Khaki the ultimate favor…
 Written to baby Carolina, by both her birth mother and her adoptive one, this is a story that proves that life circumstances shape us but don’t define us—and that families aren’t born, they’re made…
The sweet, lovely and talented New York Times bestselling author, Jodi Thomas said, “Kristy Woodson Harvey weaves a story around characters with rich, complicated lives we all identify with…beautifully shows how a family comes to be.  Not only by blood, but also by choice.”



Makes you want to read it right there and then!

I guess it all boils down to this book 'connecting' with me. 
Being a mother, I can relate to a lot of difficult choices one can make, not just for her family and children, but for herself as well.

I was so privileged to get an advance copy, (book officially comes out May 5th) and when I got it, I was so excited and read the whole thing in 1 day!

I got mine about 2 months ago
Yes, it was that good!

I haven't read a great book in a long time, and I must say this book was heaven-sent.

I love the narrative of the book and on how Kristy presented each of the protagonists story inalternating chapters. Her descriptions are so vivid, I could 'taste' and 'smell' the food she wrote about and I could picture the rooms she described just like that (picture me with my fingers snapping). 

I can relate with some of the characters different aspects at some point and I feel and understand their dilemmas, roller coaster of emotions ultimately, tough choices made. Definitely, something difficult to reiterate into words, let alone unto paper. I love that the book is not melodramatic but poignant and pure. Just beautiful!

And I'm not the only one saying it..

“Characters with rich, complicated lives…beautifully shows how a family comes to be.”—New York Times bestselling author Jodi Thomas


“Dear Carolina is Southern fiction at its best. Lovely and lyrical, with the strong voices of the two female narrators taking us deep into the heart of what being a mother is about. It shows us that love is not without sacrifice, and there’s little in life that doesn’t go down easier with a spoonful of jam. Beautifully written.”—New York Times bestselling author Eileen Goudge

“Dear Carolina is like the Southern women within its pages and those who will love this book, sweet as sweet tea on the outside and strong as steel on the inside. The dialect of the south is so entwined in these pages the reader is  transported to a place where women and children are treasured and family rules all. Kristy Harvey is a natural.”—Ann Garvin, Author of On Maggie’s Watch and The Dog Year

I had to share this with you all since, Mother's day is coming up, and I truly think that this book would make a great gift to any mother out there! I already pre-ordered some for my closest friends.;-)

Again, I would like to give a BIG THANK YOU to the author, Kristy Woodson Harvey for trusting me enough to read her novel in advance. 

I can't wait for the next book! Oh, did I mention that this book is so good, that there's a second book coming out in 2016?!!!!

HAPPY READING EVERYONE!

VEL 

 Would love to hear your thoughts! Please share away...

7 comments:

  1. I am about to start reading my copy too. Can't wait!

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  2. Oh my goodness!! Thank you for this beautiful review of Dear Carolina, Vel!! You are too sweet. Thanks for taking the time to read it in between being superwoman :) much love to you!!

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  3. I loved the book too!!! I can't wait for her next one!

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  4. HI Vel! Honey, I'm surprised you can post on your blog much less read a book! :) I know your life is so busy and I really appreciate you sharing it with us. The book seems wonderful and now I want to read it too! Thank you for your visit.
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  5. What a beautiful review of Kristy's book, Vel - how in the world you had the time to read it and write this amazing review I have no idea…you must never sleep…thank you so, so much!

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  6. Sounds like a great read, Vel. I am putting it at the top of my summer reading list. Jane

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  7. Vel,

    You have such good taste and a great eye for decorating...what you did with the window is fantastic. And I really love the curtains. So fresh and the color is sweet. You did good!

    I'm so glad you mentioned the book...it looks great. I'm jotting book ideas down like crazy just from the comments on my blog. Who would know so many of us read (or wanted to get back into the groove)? Love it.

    I've been bad about visiting. I'm wondering if I'm having a problem being notified of your posts as you are on Blogloving? Does that show up on email?

    Jane x

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Thank you for reading my blog! Hope you can stop by again sometime! Have a Wonderful Day!!