Cynthia Luhrs's Blog, page 21
December 10, 2013
Review Day – Saving CeeCee Honeycutt
Once a month or so I’ll share a book review. As I mentioned last month, I grew up devouring books and to this day I easily read 300-400 books a year across many genre’s. Though I prefer the escapism Fiction provides, I occasionally read non-fiction and recently finished and enjoyed Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg.
Now I’m a writer and get to tell my own stories. This month’s pick – let’s just say I haven’t laughed this much since I read the early Stephanie Plum books by Janet Evanovich.
Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman will make you laugh out. Seriously, I snorted Pepsi out of my nose at the slug scene (trust me) and it wasn’t pleasant. There are many funny parts but it’s not a comedy. This is a book about a young girl trying to cope with life and the craziness of her momma. A fantastic story – one of the best I’ve read in a long time.
Twelve-year-old CeeCee is in trouble. For years she’s been the caretaker of her psychotic mother, Camille— the crown-wearing, lipstick-smeared laughingstock of an entire town. Though it’s 1967 and they live in Ohio, Camille believes it’s 1951 and she’s just been crowned the Vidalia Onion Queen of Georgia.
The day CeeCee discovers Camille in the front yard wearing a tattered prom dress and tiara as she blows kisses to passing motorists, she knows her mother has completely flipped. When tragedy strikes, Tootie Caldwell, a previously unknown great-aunt comes to CeeCee’s rescue and whisks her away to Savannah. Within hours of her arrival, CeeCee is catapulted into a perfumed world of prosperity and Southern eccentricities—a world that appears to be run entirely by women.
While Tootie is busy saving Savannah’s endangered historic homes from the wrecking ball, CeeCee encounters a cast of unforgettable, eccentric characters. From the mysterious Thelma Rae Goodpepper, who bathes in an outdoor tub under the watchful eyes of a voyeuristic peacock, to Oletta Jones, the all-knowing household cook, to Violene Hobbs, the loud-mouthed widow who entertains a local police officer in her yellow see-through peignoir, the women of Gaston Street keep CeeCee entertained and enthralled for an entire summer.
But CeeCee’s view of the world is challenged in ways she could have never imagined: there are secrets to keep, injustices to face, and loyalties to uphold. Just as she begins to find her ballast and experiences a sense of belonging, her newfound joy collides with the long-held fear that her mother’s legacy has left her destined for destruction.
Laugh-out-loud funny, at times heartbreaking, and written in a pitch-perfect voice, Saving CeeCee Honeycutt is a spirited Southern tale that explores the intricate frailties and strengths of female relationships while illuminating the journey of a young girl who loses her mother but finds many others
Similar books in the genre I also recommend:
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Sea Glass by Anita Shreve
My next review: Garden Spells. I don’t always review new books. Sometimes I like to introduce you to a book that’s been around a while. Because what’s better than discovering a book/author you love?
Cheers!
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December 1, 2013
One day only…
Read the holiday novella, Iced in Shadow and now wanting to read book 1 and 2 in the series?
My book, Lost in Shadow, the first in the Shadow Walker series, is being featured Wednesday ($.99 one day only!) at The Fussy Librarian, a new website that offers personalized ebook recommendations. You choose from 40 genres and indicate preferences about content and then the computers work their magic. It’s pretty cool — check it out! www.TheFussyLibrarian.com
Cheers!
Cynthia
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November 28, 2013
Happy Thanksgiving and Hanukkah
Happy Thanksgiving and Hanukkah! Wherever you are, traveling or staying home, enjoy the day.
Image credit: mtkang / 123RF Stock Photo
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November 20, 2013
Review Day – Carved in Bone
Once a month or so I’ll share a book review. As I mentioned last month, I grew up in a household where TV was rarely allowed but books…well, you could pretty much read whatever you wanted, whenever you wanted.
I grew up devouring books and to this day I easily read 300-400 books a year across many genre’s. Though I prefer the escapism Fiction provides, I occasionally read non-fiction and recently finished and enjoyed Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg.
Carved in Bone by Jefferson Bass isn’t for the faint of heart. If you enjoy CSI and don’t mind bodies being cut up, then you’ll enjoy Carved in Bone. I liked the insular mountain town and not knowing if the so-called ‘good guys’ are really good or completely corrupt. The information about the Body Farm in Tennessee is fascinating. Can you imagine working there? I’d scare myself and probably wouldn’t last a day but I wouldn’t mind a field trip.
Book Description: There is a patch of ground in Tennessee dedicated to the science of death, where human remains lie exposed to be studied for their secrets. The real-life scientist who founded the “Body Farm” has broken cold cases and revolutionized forensics . . . and now he spins an astonishing tale inspired by his own experiences.
Renowned anthropologist Dr. Bill Brockton has spent his career surrounded by death at the Body Farm. Now he’s being called upon to help solve a baffling puzzle in a remote mountain community. The mummified corpse of a young woman dead for thirty years has been discovered in a cave, the body bizarrely preserved and transformed by the environment’s unique chemistry. But Brockton’s investigation is threatening to open old wounds among an insular people who won’t forget or forgive. And a long-buried secret prematurely exposed could inflame Brockton’s own guilt–and the dangerous hostility of bitter enemies determined to see him fail . . . by any means necessary.
With Fascinating Insider Information on the Body Farm!
Similar books in the genre I also recommend:
The rest of the Body Farm series
Natural Causes by James Oswald
My next review: Saving CeeCee Honeycutt.
Cheers!
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November 15, 2013
Iced in Shadow – the holiday novella is here!
ICED IN SHADOW A Shadow Walkers Holiday Novella – only $.99!
Enjoy a modern-day ghost story with a twist. There’s a nasty spirit threatening to ruin Christmas for everyone. Come spend the holiday with your favorite Shadow Walkers.
Iced in Shadow takes place after Desired by Shadow though it may be read stand alone.
Available at: Amazon
Apple
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
Smashwords
Happy Holidays!
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November 10, 2013
Iced in Shadow is here!
Iced in Shadow, A Shadow Walkers Holiday Novella is live on Amazon amzn.to/1aLmImU (and B&N) And only $.99! It should be available on the rest of the ebook retailers in the next few days.
Beware… there’s a nasty spirit threatening to ruin Christmas for everyone. Come spend the holiday at Ravensmore Castle with your favorite Shadow Walkers. You'll learn more about Hamish and of course, Frederick - the wicked ghost.
Iced in Shadow may be read standalone. It takes place after Desired by Shadow.
November 1, 2013
NaNoWriMo – are you ready?
NaNoWriMo or National Novel Writing Month runs from November 1-30. During this time you may find your writer friends, loved ones, etc. a bit more distracted than usual. Give them some space – after all they have a goal to write 50,000 words in ONE month!
Not a writer? No worries, November is a good month to set a goal and achieve it by the end of the month. Post your goal, writing or not and we’ll all motivate each other.
I’m participating again this year. Last year was a wonderful experience and what came out of it was Lost in Shadow, the first book in the Shadow Walkers series. This year, I’m working on book 4 in the series. Oh my, book 4…let me take a sec to catch my breath and let it sink in that I have 2 novels published, a holiday novella currently with my formatter and the third novel – well I’m going to finish and do the revisions during November. I know crazy, right? Whew!
My goals: write more than 50K for the month. And in 2014: publish the 3rd and 4th novel in the series, then write the end of the world trilogy that’s been banging around in my head for a while.
Check in to see how I’m doing 
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October 31, 2013
Happy Halloween!
Be safe whether you’re out trick-or-treating or celebrating, just say no to any zombies who mumble they just want to talk or share your candy…
Image credit: sarunyufoto2010 / 123RF Stock Photo
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October 28, 2013
Giveaway Complete
Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway for Desired by Shadow, Book 2 in the Shadow Walker series. All books in the series can be read stand alone.
Autographed copies have been sent to the five winners. Hope you all enjoy Robert and Maggie's story!
And...the Shadow Walkers Holiday Novella, Iced in Shadow will be out by the middle of November. Come spend Christmas with all your favorite Shadow Walkers.
Cheers!
October 26, 2013
Iced is almost here!
Look for Iced in Shadow, A Shadow Walkers Holiday Novella on 11/13. I'll let everyone know when it's published.
I hope you'll enjoy spending Christmas with the Shadow Walkers. But beware...there's a nasty spirit planning to ruin everyone's holiday. And for those of you wanting more of Hamish - you'll get it here. For the story from his side read Reborn in Shadow which follows the novella. Look for Hamish's story in February.
P.S. If any of you notice a typo or mistake in any of my books, please send me a quick note and I'll get it fixed.
Happy weekend!
Cynthia
