Friday, July 12, 2019

Wonderland Creek

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ
AUSTIN, LYNN
WONDERLAND CREEK

Alice Grace Ripley lives in a dream world, her nose stuck in a book. But happily-ever-after life she's planned on suddenly falls apart when her boyfriend, Gordon, breaks up with her, accusing her of living in a world of fiction instead of the real world. Then to top it off, Alice loses her beloved job at the library because of cutbacks due to the Great Depression.

Longing to run from small-town gossip, Alice flees to the mountains of eastern Kentucky to deliver five boxes of donated books to the library in the tiny coal-mining village of Acorn., a place with no running water, no electricity, and where the librarians ride ornery horses up steep mountain passes to deliver books. When Alice is forced to stay in Acorn far longer than she planned, she discovers that real-life adventure, mystery -- and especially romance -- may be far better than her humble dreams could have imagined.

My Review:

published in 2011

How's this for an opening line: "If my life was a book, no one would read it." Told in first-person, Alice goes on to prove herself wrong in this funny and poignant and completely spell-binding story. I bonded with Alice on the very first page -- I mean how could I resist a passionate bibliophile with a penchant for getting into trouble? Alice may live in the pages of her beloved books when we first meet her but she quickly begins writing her own absorbing story when life happens...in a really big way.

This book is full of surprises and priceless gems of wisdom and humour and tender romance, not to mention the deeper kind. It's Alice's journey out of fiction and into the real world and it's a marvel to watch her eyes open as she sees reality for the first time. She fights it tooth and nail, of course, feet dragging as petulantly as any self-centered young woman might. But her adventures along Wonderland Creek leave her transformed.

This coming-of-age story put me in mind of The Waltons. Same depression era and small-town life. Austin descriptions are rich and set the tone and setting of the rural south. Even more importantly, she manages to capture the desperation of the Depression while capturing the strength of the people. Lillie, a secondary character drew me in page after page. It's a marvel how Austin wove seemingly separate threads into a beautiful tapestry of words and emotions.

Wonderland Creek is a book of substance and beauty and well worth the read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Wonderland Creek, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday July 13 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

21 comments:

  1. You had me at the Waltons! 😊 I haven't read any of Austin's older books, but have enjoyed several of her newer ones.

    Who doesn't like a book loving heroine?

    teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love a good Walton-esque kind of story too. And book loving heroines are the bestests. Good luck, Trixi!

      Delete
  2. I read this when it first came out,
    one of my favorites by Lynn Austin!
    It did feel like the Walton's,
    but a bit like Christy too with
    the rural mountain setting.
    If only I had time for rereads :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Christy is a good comparison too. Can definitely see that. I think this is my favourite Lynn Austin book too (of the ones I've read at any rate.)

      Delete
  3. I love books with a lot of surprises! Looking forward to reading a Lynn Austin book. Somehow I never have!
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oooohhhh -- this would be the perfect book to become acquainted with Lynn Austin. Good luck, rubynreba!

      Delete
  4. This sounds like a wonderful book. I love the cover!
    mauback55 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do do too -- she has the dreamy look of a reader. Good luck, Melanie!

      Delete
  5. I have read this but just wanted to chime in - I thought it was a wonderful story!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yay for chiming in and sharing the book love!

      Delete
  6. Very neat sounding I love the cover and The Librarians riding horses 🐎 to get books 📚 to people
    Thank you
    iamabho AT gmail DOT com 💜💙💜

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What an adventure, right! Librarians riding to the rescue! Good luck, Linda!

      Delete
  7. Wonderland Creek is of my favorite Lynn Austin books.

    pmkellogg56[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  8. WOW! "Wonderland Creek" sounds amazing!

    What a wonderful idea for a book - going from living in books or live the life books are made of.

    Also love the time frame this story is in. Back when times were simple, but full of hard work - both of which gave one pause to appreciate life in general.

    I would love the opportunity to read this book. Greatly appreciate the chance to win a copy.
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, I love the Depression era timeline. Not many novels set during that time but there are some really great ones -- like Wonderland Creek. Good luck, Kay!

      Delete
  9. Sounds like one I would love. Thank you for sharing.
    leliamae54(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I definitely think this would be a twinning happy dance book, Lucy! Good luck!

      Delete
  10. I have a few Lynn Austin but not this one! Count me in. paulams49ATsbcglobalDOTnet

    ReplyDelete
  11. This sounds like a fun story, thank you for the chance to win a copy.

    wfnren at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete