Monday, September 30, 2013

When the Clouds Roll By

GIVEAWAY

JOHNSON, MYRA
WHEN THE CLOUDS ROLL BY

Sometimes, going home is the worst thing you can do.

World War I has ended, but returning to Hot Springs, Arkansas, means Lt. Gilbert Ballard has to face his fiancée, Annemarie, who has helped Gilbert confront his postwar anxiety, but both men continue to struggle with the war's aftermath on their lives.

Determined he won't become a burden, Gilbert decides to break his engagement to Annemarie, Samuel does his best to convince Gilbert he's a fool for giving Annemarie up, but he can't deny -- at least to himself -- his own growing attraction to his best friend's girl.

Caught in the middle and confused, Annemarie searches for the courage that can save them all -- the courage for Samuel to reaffirm his faith, for the Gilbert to leave the war behind, and for her own journey to become the woman God intended her to be.

My Review:

Do not peek at the last page of this book.

Do. Not. Peek.

No! Stop!!!!!! You really don't want to know how it ends before...well...it ends.

 Why do I feel the need to post this warning? Because you will become so emotionally invested in these characters you will be in agony wanting to know how things turn out. You will be squirming in your seat and frothing at the mouth and howling at the moon but you need to reader up and just plow on through. So, no peeking at the last page. Is that clear?

I spent most of the read wanting to smack the author upside the head while screaming "Tell me how it ends already!!!!" That's because Johnson has woven such a compelling and complex story that honestly, I've never been so close to throwing my highly held reader standards out the window and devouring the last page first. LOL. I'm still gutted.

Phew, now that I've gotten that off my chest, I can get on with the review.

Johnson gives a voice to thousands World War I veterans -- men and women who were grossly misunderstood and under treated. We're just starting to get it now in the 21st century but after World War I -- well, there are parts of this book that are painful to read and parts where you want to lambast the doctors and a certain mother and...I guess y'all are getting the idea that this was an emotional read for me. I don't think my blood pressure is back to normal yet.

 I loved Annemarie -- her unwavering faith, her desire to move forward in the midst of intense emotional turmoil, her strength in the face of adversity, the creative spark that brings a whole new dimension to her character. This heroine makes the read a rich and immensely satisfying one.

As to the hero -- that's a more complicated matter that I'll leave up to fellow readers to discover.

And one final warning. You will reach a point of no return and will have to compulsively read until you reach the end so it is best to clear your calendar and send your family on holiday without you so you can enjoy a reading staycation. Would that be a readcation? Whatever you call it, you'll enjoy every minute of it!

 Giveaway Opportunity:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of When the Clouds Roll By please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday October 6 2013. Offer open to international readers. Good luck! 

34 comments:

  1. Ok you got my interest going on this one... now I have to read it. rrwalter34ATgmailDOTcom

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    1. I'm glad I could up your interest, Becky. I thought it was a fantastic book. Can you tell?! Good luck!

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  2. What an outstanding review & recommendation on this book - have heard a lot of other wonderful comments about it in the last few weeks. Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy!

    bonnieroof60(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. It's definitely a book that lives up to the hype! Good luck Bonnie.

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  3. wow, sounds like a great book, one that will be hard to put down
    sonflower277 at gmail dot com

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  4. great post and wonderful recommendation...can't wait to put in on my tbr list. thanks for the chance to win!
    truckredford(at)Gmail(dot)com

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    1. It's worth being at the top of that list, Eliza. Good luck!

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  5. This genre really isn't something I would normally read. But I definitely want to now. Thanks.

    sweetdarknectar at gmail dot com

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    1. I think this era has become popular because of Downton Abbey, It's a captivating age though -- so much change in such a short time in history. Good luck!

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  6. Wow! Sounds heavy! I've never read Myra Johnson but would love to add this to my collection. lilmissbullock1994atgmaildot com

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  7. I have been interested in this one for awhile now and your review just made me even more so! Thanks for the chance to win!
    gatorade635(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. I love the author so I am interested in anything she writes but the cover really hyped me and then when I read the back blurb I was smitten! Good luck Abbi!

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  8. thanks for the chance to read this novel, kav

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

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  9. Fun review!! Definitely makes me want to read it...and not peek! I used to read the last pages when I was a teen, but it always ruined the story!! ;-) So, I never peek anymore! I love the WWI/WWII era, so I can't wait to get my hands on this book!

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    Stephanie
    mybabyblessings AT gmail DOT com

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    1. Stephanie, it would really, really, really ruin the read if you peeked at the last page. I was so glad I didn't! And My allegiance kept flipflopping all the way through the book so I was in quite a dither and didn't get an inkling of which way it would go until close to the end. Good luck!

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  10. Gutted? Oh, this sounds like an emotional story! I do enjoy WWI/WWII stories, so sign me up my friend. :)
    worthy2bpraised at gmail dot com

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    1. Consider yourself signed up, Merry. Good luck!

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  11. Sounds like a great read! I'm not familiar with Myra Johnson, I will have to look her up...

    pattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. Myra Johnson has written a number of romances for Heartsongs Present and an awesome, deep-thinking Christmas book for Abington, I think. You can check the sidebar here for her name and see the list 'cause I've read all of Myra's books. :-) Good luck, Patty!

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  12. This looks like a great book!!
    bookwormgal2011(at)yahoo(dot) com

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  13. This sounds like a great book. Haven't heard of Myra Johnson. Will have to check out other books by her. Would love a chance to win a copy. Thank you for the chance.

    Kav, I wish you had email subscriber. I keep forgetting to look at your blog.

    Karen G.
    kmgervais(at)nycap(dot)rr(dot)com

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    1. Hey Karen -- so I have to admit to being a techno dunce and not knowing how to create the email subscriber option. Someone asked before and I tired to figure it out but couldn't and just checked again and can't see anything obvious but I'll check into it. In the meantime, good luck!

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  14. When the Clouds Roll By sounds intriguing. I've read other reviews that made me interested in this book; your review cinches it! I'd love to win a copy. Thanks for the chance.

    pmk56[at]sbcglobal[dot]net

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  15. Glad it's getting glowing reviews. Good luck, Pam!

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  16. Fantastic review. After this review, how could I not want to read this book. Sounds like an awesome book. Thank you for the chance to participate in this giveaway. Please enter my name.
    Barbara Thompson
    barbmaci61(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  17. I've wanted to read this novel the first time I saw it - just love that era! And the storyline already sounded good, and then I read your review... it's now on my must read list! ;-) Would love to be entered in the draw :-)
    kiwielle(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. I like the era too, Ellie. Lots of angsty plot possibilities for that time period. Good luck!

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  18. ohhh, I've never heard of this author or book... Sounds like an amazing book! Thanks for a chance to win!

    ladettek[at]gmail[dot]com

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