Monday, November 10, 2014

Wonderful Lonesome

GIVEAWAY

NEWPORT, OLIVIA
WONDERFUL LONESOME

In a struggling Amish settlement on the harsh Colorado plain, Abbie Weaver refuses to concede defeat to hail, drought, and coyotes, even as families begin to give up and return east. The biggest challenge of all is the lack of spiritual shepherd and regular worship. When Abbie discovers the root of a spiritual divide that runs through the settlement, she faces her own decisions about what she believes. She must choose between a quiet love in her cherished church, passion with a man determined to leave the church, or imagining her life with neither.

My Review:

A different kind of pioneer story. It is 1914 but Colorado is still a wild, relatively unsettled part of the country. Land is cheap but not without challenges as a small group of Amish settlers soon discover. This whole story fascinated me on so many levels. The historical facts for one -- the author based the settlement on actual Amish endeavors in the area at the same time and she deals with a lot of 'big' questions. The conflict that stems from those concerns -- both personal and as a group -- compelled me to keep reading.

No worries if you are not an Amish fiction fan. This isn't 'that' book. If you like pioneer stories with a good does of grit, you'll like this novel. It's about living a dream -- willing a dream actually and what you do when that dream starts crumbling right before your eyes. Do you let it go or hang on for all you are worth? And at what cost? Not just to you, but to those you love.

Told through multiple viewpoints Wonderful Lonesome is a sombre tale that will haunt you long after you close the book.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Wonderful Lonesome 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 November 16 2014. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

25 comments:

  1. Ah, great review as usual! Sure, I am not that keen about Amish fiction (it really needs a skilled author), but I am very fond of pioneer stories. And conflicts :)
    Count me in, please.

    janka(dot)halcinova(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. I think you'll like it, Janka. It's a pioneer story about a group of people who just happen to be Amish. :-) Good luck.

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

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

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  3. I love Olivia Newport! I would love to win a copy!

    smmcclamrock(at)gmail(dot)com

    Thanks!

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    Replies
    1. She's an awesome writer, isn't she? Good luck, Shannah!

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  4. Thank you for your great review, Kav! This book sounds awesome!!!!!

    mauback55 at gmail dot com

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  5. This book sounds like it has it all for readers to enjoy. Thanks for the opportunity to win this!

    Diane
    dianemestrella at gmail dot com

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    1. Definitely worth the read. Good luck, Diane.

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  6. Like Janka, I'm not big on Amish stories, but love pioneer stories.

    pattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. This is an interesting combination of both but it really is more of a pioneer story. Good luck, Patty.

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  7. This sounds like an interesting story. You said it haunts you, but I hope its in a good way! Please enter me, thanks.
    marypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com

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    1. It's a sombre story. There's really not a lot of levity but there's still a calming all's right with the world feel about it at the end. That's what haunts me. Good luck, Maryann.

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  8. I'll give this one a try ... rrwalter34 ATgmailDOTcom

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  9. Wonderful! Another new Amish book and writer for me!! Thanks for the chance to win this.
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

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    1. Olivia Newport has a previous contemporary Amish series too, rubynreba. You'll want to check those out. Good luck.

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  10. I would love to win this book, it sounds great and I love this cover. Thank you for the chance to win this book.

    wfnren(at)aol(dot)com

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    1. The cover certainly sets the tone of the book. Good luck, Wendy.

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  11. What a time of it our heroine will have, with the decisions she has to make.

    missionwife@hotmail.com

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    1. Makes for a riveting read. Good luck, Melody.

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  12. I have seen this before and wished I had it. I love Pioneer stories and also Amish books. Sounds and would love to win it. Thanks for the chance. Maxie > mac262(at)me(dot)com <

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    1. It's a great mix of both. Good luck, Maxie.

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  13. I have been on the fence about this one. Thank your for your review. I am very interested now.

    sweetdarknectar at gmail dot com

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