April 11, 2008

Firefly Lane (Thrilling Thursday)

If you haven't read "Firefly Lane" by Kristin Hannah yet, I highly recommend you do! But be prepared to sit for a while (since you won't want to put it down) grab a box of tissues (yes, a whole box) and have some way to reach your best friend the moment you're through! (Any method will do... phone, cell, email, *gasp* snail mail...a drive over) You get the picture. Here's a little about the book. And then, my news!

Firefly Lane by: Kristin Hannah

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  • Publisher: St. Martin's Press
  • Pub. Date: February 2008
  • Available in: Hard Cover, Large Print and Amazon's Kindle
  • pp: 496
  • Author's site:KristinHannah.com

From the Publisher:

In the summer of 1974, Kate Mularkey has accepted her place at the bottom of the eighth-grade social food chain. Then, to her amazement, the "coolest girl in the world" moves in across the street and wants to be her friend. Tully Hart seems to have it all - beauty, brains, ambition. On the surface they are as opposite as two people can be: Kate, doomed to be forever uncool, with a loving family who mortifies her at every turn; Tully, steeped in glamour and mystery, but with a secret that is destroying her. They make a pact to be best friends forever; by summer's end they've become TullyandKate.

Inseparable.

So begins Kristin Hannah's magnificent novel. Spanning more than three decades and playing out across the ever-changing face of the Pacific Northwest, Firefly Lane is the poignant, powerful story of two women and the friendship that becomes the mainstay of their lives.

From the beginning, Tully is desperate to prove her worth to the world. Abandoned by her mother at an early age, she longs to be loved unconditionally. She will follow her own blind ambition to New York and around the globe, finding fame and success...and loneliness.

All Kate really wants is to fall in love and have children and live an ordinary life. In her own quiet way, Kate is as driven as Tully. What she doesn't know is how being a wife and mother will change her...how she'll lose sight of who she once was, and what she once wanted. And how much she'll envy her famous best friend....

For thirty years, Tully and Kate buoy each other through life, weathering the storms of friendship - jealousy, anger, hurt, resentment. They think they've survived it all until a single act of betrayaltears them apart...and puts their courage and friendship to the ultimate test.

Firefly Lane is for anyone who ever drank Boone's Farm apple wine while listening to Abba or Fleetwood Mac. More than a coming-of-age novel, it's the story of a generation of women who were both blessed and cursed by choices. It's about promises and secrets and betrayals. And ultimately, about the one person who really, truly knows you - and knows what has the power to hurt you...and heal you. Firefly Lane is a story you'll never forget...one you'll want to pass on to your best friend.

I loved this book so much and it will NEVER leave my shelf (unless I'm re-reading it) : )

So as you can guess:

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This book is a FIVE CROWN READ - Which means that "THIS BOOK LIVES HAPPILY EVER AFTER ON MY BOOKSHELF!!"

About the Author:

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I was born in September 1960 in Southern California and grew up at the beach, making sand castles and playing in the surf. When I was eight years old, my father drove us to Western Washington where we called home.


After working in a trendy advertising agency, I decided to go to law school. "But you're going to be a writer" are the prophetic words I will never forget from my mother. I was in my third-and final-year of law school and my mom was in the hospital, facing the end of her long battle with cancer. I was shocked to discover that she believed I would become a writer. For the next few months, we collaborated on the worst, most clichéd historical romance ever written.


After my mom's death, I packed up all those bits and pieces of paper we'd collected and put them in a box in the back of my closet. I got married and continued practicing law.


Then I found out I was pregnant, but was on bed rest for five months. By the time I'd read every book in the house and started asking my husband for cereal boxes to read, I knew I was a goner. That's when my darling husband reminded me of the book I'd started with my mom. I pulled out the boxes of research material, dusted them off and began writing. By the time my son was born, I'd finished a first draft and found an obsession.


The rejections came, of course, and they stung for a while, but each one really just spurred me to try harder, work more. In 1990, I got "the call," and in that moment, I went from a young mother with a cooler-than-average hobby to a professional writer, and I've never looked back. In all the years between then and now, I have never lost my love of, or my enthusiasm for, telling stories. I am truly blessed to be a wife, a mother, and a writer.

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***NOTICE: I will be doing give-a-ways of certain books. They will not be my copy nor will I be able to do it if the book is in ebook form, such as this. SO, this book is NOT part of the give-a-way. Books to be given away will be noted in the review or at the bottom...like SO : )

NOW FOR MY THRILLING NEWS!!

Ok, after I read this book, I went to the author's site to find out what other goodies I could read. She was holding a contest where you had to write an essay. "Who is your best friend, and Why?" I couldn't resist. This story was so much like my friend Kim and I... We've been friends since we were five! So, I entered and was notified that I won second place!! Here's where you can see and read my entry:

KristinHannah.com - Contest

I won a $50.00 gift certificate to Nordstrom's and I'm going to get a personally autographed copy! : ) I'm SO excited! Thanks everyone that interested in my THRILLING THURSDAY!

Second Place: Amy Santos "Another letter that touched me deeply. This friendship is the very embodiment of Kate and Tully."

7 comments:

  1. That has to be the coolest of things to have happen! Wonderful news. :-D

    I have only read one other book by this author and think she's fantastic.

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  2. Congrats. I have not read anything by this author yet. I had been looking at this book before and now I can add it to my list to get

    I am jealous about the ereader. I want to get one

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  3. Congrats, Amy! What a prize to win!

    I am glad you enjoyed Firefly Lane. The cover is quite attractive, I think. :-)

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  4. Congratulations, Amy!

    I'm glad you enjoyed Firefly Lane so much :)

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  5. congratulations on the contest! a good down payment on a great pair of shoes....

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  6. J. Kaye - Thank you for your kind words and congratulations. You always know just what to say.

    Cheryl - Thank you SO much. You'll love the book if you do decide to read it.

    Wendy - Thanks SO much! Isn't it amazing. I NEVER thought I'd win. I'm really shy about my writing.

    Breeni - Thank you for the congrats!

    Nemyth - I did really love the book. Thank you ... you're always so sweet!

    Richard - You are so right! A small down payment, but a down payment none-the-less! LOL Thanks!

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