Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Home to Chicory Lane

GIVEAWAY

 RANEY, DEBORAH
HOME TO CHICORY LANE

Audrey Whitman's dreams are coming true. Now that their five kids are grown, she and her husband Grant are turning their beloved family home into a cozy bed and breakfast, just a mile outside of Langhorne, Missouri. Opening weekend makes Audrey anxious, with family and friends coming from all over to help celebrate the occasion. But when Audrey's daughter, Landyn, arrives, the U-Haul she's pulling makes it clear she's not just here for a few days. Audrey immediately has questions. What happened in New York that sent Landyn running home? Where was Landyn's husband, Chase? And what else was her daughter not telling her? One thing was for sure, the Chicory Inn was off to a rocky start. Can Audrey still realize her dream and at the same time provide the comfort of home her daughter so desperately needs?

My Review:

Funny and sad and frustrating and perfect in their imperfections -- that's the Whitman family in all their complicated glory. Just like real life. Love the premise -- empty nesters following their dream after all their children are finally settled (and out of the house.) But one comes back on the day of the inn's grand opening and she doesn't show any signs of leaving. Oh the complications and folly -- reading Home to Chicory Lane is like getting a front row seat at the best...and worst...moments in one family's history.

Raney has the uncanny ability of making the reader sympathetic to each character -- even when they are at odds with each other. There I am all righteously indignant on behalf of Landyn and totally on her side, cheering her on. You go, girl. Stand up for yourself. You have rights. And then the very next scene I'm like, seriously, poor Chase, he may be a dunderhead, but I get where he's coming from, poor baby.

And Audrey and Grant find themselves in more than one tenuous position between the start up of the inn and parenting their adult children. There are laugh-out-loud moments and tear-your-hair-out moments and weep-copious-tears-into-your-hankie moments. An all round emotionally satisfying read. Can't wait for the next Chicory Lane installment.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Home to Chicory Lane 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 August 31 2014. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Thanks to the publisher and Litfuse Publicity Group for my review copy of this book.

http://litfusegroup.com/author/Draney

The author is hosting her own unique promo giveaway. You can check it out by clicking on the link below:

chicory-400-click


http://litfusegroup.com/campaigns/home-to-chicory-lane-deborah-raney

24 comments:

  1. thanks for the chance to read this wonderful novel

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

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  2. Sounds like a great story! Thank you for sharing, Kav.

    texaggs2000 at gmail dot com

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  3. Life never turns out quite like we expect it! I like fiction that reflect that.

    pattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. This one certainly does. It's so life like -- and the gentle humour really eases the angst. The author struck a real balance. Good luck, Patty.

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  4. Im currently reading this book and really enjoying it!

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    1. It's an interesting twist from books I've read in this genre. Loved the contrast in romance between seasoned Grant and Audrey and just marrieds Landyn and Chase.

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  5. Oh I love Deborah's books, think I've read just about all of them. Will read this one for sure. rrwalter34ATgmailDOTcom

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  6. A beautiful cover for a beautiful book! Thank you Kav!

    mauback55 at gmail dot com

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  7. Sounds like an interesting family story. Deborah is a new author to me. Great review Kav.
    marypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com

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    1. She is amazing. Quite prolific writer too. I've only read a few of her books but I'm backtracking to catch up. Good luck, Maryann.

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  8. I love the B&B setting for Home to Chicory Lane and the family drama... this sounds terrific.
    worthy2bpraised at gmail dot com

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    1. I know -- it's been a secret fantasy of mine to open a bed and breakfast that caters to writers and readers, but after reading this book I'm glad it's likely to stay a fantasy. Lots and lots of work! Good luck, Merry.

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  9. Thanks, Kav, for the chance to read Deb's newest book! I absolutely love her books and try to read all of them!
    jacsmi75 at gmail dot com

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  10. I really enjoy Deb's books. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of Home to Chicory Lane. It looks like the beginning of another great series.
    pmkellogg56[at]gmail[dot]com

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    1. I'm excited to be in on the beginning of a great series. Love being able to catch up with old friends in subsequent books. Good luck, Pam.

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  11. I've always thought it would be interesting to run a bed and breakfast. And that's the way families are - you never know what will come up next!

    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

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    1. You're so right! Makes for a great background for a novel. Good luck, rubynreba!

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  12. wow. My TBR is seriously going to be leaning if I win this book, but I'll risk it :) Love Deborah's books and your review!
    homesteading[at]charter[dot]net

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    1. Anne, easy solution to your teetering TBR pile -- start another one! Good luck!

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