May 28, 2009

Reunion by Therese Fowler

Therese Fowler's Reunion examines the secrets many of us carry and how they can direct our lives and decisions. While some could consider this a light read, it deals with a number of deep issues, including teen pregnancy.

Harmony Blue Kucharski/Reynolds is a young girl with a deep crush on a junior professor and son to her boss, Mitch Forrester. After a whirlwind romance, Mitch breaks her young heart, and she embarks on a destructive path that ultimately leads her to a decision that must be kept secret after her career begins to take off. Two decades later, fate brings them back together in Key West, Florida, and Blue helps Mitch with his pet video project about writer's like Hemingway.

"In Chicago, the snow was falling so hard that, although quite a few pedestrians saw the woman standing on the fire escape nine stories up, none were sure they recognized her. At first the woman leaned against the railing and looked down, as if calculating the odds of death from such a height. After a minute or two, though, when she hadn't climbed the rail but had instead stepped back from it, most people who'd noticed her continued on their ways. She didn't look ready to jump, so why keep watching? And how about this snow, they said. What the hell? It wasn't supposed to snow like this in spring!" (Page 13)

Blue is a complex character floundering in her decisions and striving to find true happiness, and Mitch has tried all kinds of happiness, but has been unable to patch things up with his only son. Blue's mother, Nancy, is an aging hippie still looking for love, and her sister has found a family life she can be proud of, though she still seems to have a hard time dealing with her sister's success as TV personality--much like Oprah in Chicago.

"Without the interruption of commercials or the finite images of someone else's interpretation of a story, she could more easily fit herself into the romance or drama unfolding inside a book's cover." (Page 54)

Fowler's writing is down-to-Earth and captivating. The characters pop from the page. While there are multiple story lines in this novel, Fowler weaves them well and transitions seamlessly between them. Although this book could be considered chicklit or women's fiction, there is much more beneath the surface; all readers have to do is scratch the surface.


Thanks to Pump up Your Book Promotion for providing Savvy Verse & Wit with an opportunity to review this book and be part of the virtual blog tour. Check below to find out about the International giveaway.


About the Author:


Therese Fowler has believed in the magic of a good story since she learned to read at the age of four. At age thirty, as a newly single parent, she put herself into college, earning a degree in sociology (and finding her real Mr. Right) before deciding to scratch her longtime fiction-writing itch. That led to an MFA in creative writing, and the composition of stories that explore the nature of our families, our culture, our mistakes, and our desires.

The author of two novels, with a third scheduled for 2010, Therese lives in Wake Forest, NC, with her supportive husband and sons, and two largely indifferent cats. You can visit her website
or her blog.

To Enter:


1. Leave a comment on this post about why you'd like to read this book.
2. Leave a comment on the guest post, here, for a second entry.
3. Follow this blog, and let me know; if you follow, let me know that too.
4. Tweet, Facebook, or blog about the giveaway and leave a comment here.

Deadline is June 4, 2009, 11:59 PM EST.

Don't Forget About These Great Giveaways!

1 Signed Copy of The Last Prince of the Mexican Empire by C.M. Mayo, here. Deadline is May 30, 2009, 11:59PM EST.

2 copies of The Wonder Singer by George Rabasa, here; Deadline is May 30, 2009, 11:59 PM EST

3 copies of Mating Rituals of the North American WASP by Lauren Lipton, here; Deadline is June 3, 2009, 11:59 PM EST.

30 comments:

Blodeuedd said...

Yes I am intrigued, what is the secret...I am so curious so i really want to know. Must find the book :)

Amanda said...

Hi Serena! This book sounds really interesting. I went to a high school that had a very high teen pregnancy rate, and had friends that have dealt with teen pregnancy, so the issue has always been one near and dear to me. I'd like to enter the contest.

I also already follow your blog. Thanks!

amandagignac [at] gmail dot com

Pam said...

I love finding new authors (or new to me) and new books to read. This sounds really interesting and I need ot know the secret...

melacan at hotmail dto com

Pam said...

I left a comment on the guest post.

melacan at hotmail dot com

thewriterslife said...

Thank you, Serena!

Llehn said...

I've been reading good reviews about Reunion so I'm definitely intrigued.

I commented on the guest post.

lesly7ch(at)yahoo(dot)com

Melanie said...

I'm looking forward to reading this book. Theres is coming to our library in October!

Sue W. said...

I have read a number of reviews for this book and it really caught my fancy. Some of the WASP words or speak that is used is new to me but the book seems to explain it well. I look forward to hearing the outcome of this crazy mix up.

Sue W. said...

I am a follower by google reader.

roylsue(at)telpage(dot)net

Anna said...

I'm always looking for women's fiction that's a little deeper than the standard chick lit. I've commented on your guest post already. I'm a follower. I added the giveaway to my sidebar.

--Anna
Diary of an Eccentric

Therese said...

Serena, many thanks for this review! I appreciate it so much.

And thank you, everyone, for your interest and your comments!

-Therese

mrsshukra said...

I just love reading good stories and I'm ready to discover new authors this summer! delilah0180 (at) yahoo (dot) com

Jo-Jo said...

This book sounds great...I want to read it because I love the idea of fate bringing these two together after many years apart.
joannelong74 AT gmail DOT com

Jo-Jo said...

I'm also a follower.
joannelong74 AT gmail DOT com

Unknown said...

I would like to read this because it sounds like a good read.

bjhopper(at)me(dot)com

Unknown said...

I posted this on my sidebar

http://bridget3420.blogspot.com

bjhopper(at)me(dot)com

CherylS22 said...

I like stories about the unplanned consequences of an early decision in life. I'm also dying to know what the secret is!

Please count me in - Thanks!
megalon22[at]yahoo[dot]com

CherylS22 said...

I'm a follower.

megalon22[at]yahoo[dot]com

Unknown said...

The book sounds great. There is an award for you over at my blog http://themaidenscourt.blogspot.com/.

scottsgal said...

This sounds like it has a good premise - thought provoking

msboatgal at aol.com

scottsgal said...

already a current follower

msboatgal at aol.com

The Bookworm said...

Reunion sounds like a great book, great review!
http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/

Ashley said...

I'd love to win this.
booksobsession(at)gmail(dot)com

Ashley said...

+1 I commented on the guest post.

L said...

This book sounds very interesting and a great read. Enter me please!

lovinfitch(at)aol(dot)com

L said...

I commented on the guest post.

lovinfitch(at)aol(dot)com

Unknown said...

I would love to read this because it sounds great and I need some summer reading :)

lavery328 at yahoo dot com

Gaby317 said...

This sounds like an intense but interesting read. Please count me in.

+ I'm a follower

gaby317nyc AT gmail DOT com

Mary (Bookfan) said...

I would love to read this book. I was part of a close-knit group in college and love the idea of a reunion like the one in this book.

I follow (google reader)

I blogged in my sidebar

Thanks,
Mary

meah56 at gmail dot com

The Reading Momster said...

ok Please Enter me too! Love the sound of this book...
veena[.]h[.]regit@gmail[.]com

I Follow your blog too :)

I don't know really... what got me fascinated is this line from your review - "examines the secrets many of us carry and how they can direct our lives and decisions."!
Yeah the very first line :)

Thanks Serena for a wonderful giveaway!