Wednesday, July 29, 2009

SUMMER HOUSE BLOG TOUR & GIVEAWAY


GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED!
SUMMER HOUSE
by NANCY THAYER
VIRTUAL BLOG TOUR
and GIVEAWAY

July 29-31

Book Description:

At thirty, Charlotte Wheelwright remains the dreamer she’s always been. But when she begins an organic garden on a portion of her grandmother’s land, Charlotte learns to plant her feet in solid ground and begins to build a new life.
More often than not, ninety-year-old Nona Wheelwright contentedly spends her time reminiscing about days gone by. But with her family’s annual reunion and financial meeting looming, Nona must give up her days of quiet solitude to soothe her easily riled up family. For decades Charlotte’s mother, Helen, who married into the illustrious Wheelwright family, has been pressured to adhere to their way of life. But when, during the course of the family’s annual summer retreat, she discovers her husband’s betrayal, Helen wonders if she sacrificed her dreams for the wrong reasons. Artfully written and set on the glorious island of Nantucket, Nancy Thayer’s Summer House is a vibrant and stirring novel about family, love, and daily choices that affect entire lives.


About the Author:


Nancy Thayer is the New York Times-bestselling author of The Hot Flash Club, The Hot Flash Club Strikes Again, Hot Flash Holidays, The Hot Flash Club Chills Out, and Moon Shell Beach. She is also the author of a new June release, Summer House. Nancy lives on Nantucket. You can visit her website at www.nancythayer.com.

MY REVIEW OF SUMMER HOUSE by Bingo

The three generations of Wheelwright women weave a story that would sound familiar in summation but is not so in reading. Yes, the one woman, Charlotte who is 30 years old has finally found her place in life, living with her grandmother in 90-year old Nona's home year round on the island of Nantucket but then the yearly trek to the summer house by the entire family upsets her organic apple cart. Nona has been a little forgetful of late and reminiscing a bit too much so that some of the family feel she needs taking care of. Meanwhile, when they all arrive, including Charlotte's mother, Helen who is married to Nona's son, the family decides to take stock of things so that when Nona is gone, all will be taken care of in a nice tidy package. Everyone wants to be sure that Nona's obvious favorite, Charlotte, doesn't get more than her share!
So there is the story we all think is familiar...I know I have read it before but then I read Nancy Thayer's SUMMER HOUSE and realized this WAS a different story. Each of the main characters alternates parts telling the story and with Nona intertwining among the stories with tales from her glorious past, it makes for a delicious family saga. Many characters are not fully developed that spend time in the house but they need not be as the three women themselves are so full and rich that it made me hate for the story to end.
The story is not all sugar and spice. Helen finds her husband cheating on her and her children not what she had hoped for, thus questioning her parental ability. Meanwhile Charlotte still is trying to atone for her past while growing pure and healthy organic vegetables and fruit in her garden there on the island. And with the family having descended upon her home, poor Nona has her whole peaceful routine thrown askew. This is a fine family story with just the right amount of drama to make it interesting but not overbearing. I noticed that there are several books out this summer about Nantucket so it must be THE place to go and to be. Either way, it certainly was a great backdrop for this finely written novel by Nancy Thayer.

SUMMER HOUSE GIVEAWAY

THANKS TO DOROTHY AND PUMP UP
YOUR BOOK PROMOTION, I HAVE TWO BRAND
NEW HARDBACK COPIES OF THIS WONDERFUL
BOOK TO GIVEAWAY TO THE RIGHT PERSON.

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU
ARE THE RIGHT PERSON?
IT IS EASY!

FOLLOW THE RULES:
(YOU SHOULD KNOW THEM BY NOW)

U.S. ONLY (Sorry but I have no funds to ship internationally

NO P.O. BOXES, PLEASE

LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS SO I CAN
GET IN TOUCH WITH YOU!

THE GIVEAWAY STARTS TODAY AND
RUNS UNTIL 6 PM, EST, AUGUST 16!

ENTER BY LEAVING A COMMENT ABOUT A
FAVORITE SUMMER VACATION SPOT FOR YOU
AND YOUR FAMILY. THAT AND YOUR CONTACT
INFO IS ALL IT TAKES....PRETTY EASY, RIGHT?
GOOD LUCK!

ONLY ONE COMMENT NEEDED PER PERSON
THANK YOU AND GOOD LUCK TO ALL!

49 comments:

traveler said...

Thanks for this lovely giveaway. My favorite vacation place is Wildwood, N.J. The beach town is wonderful. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

bermudaonion said...

We have a lot of fond memories from our years vacationing in Hilton Head, so I'm going to say it, even though it's not my favorite place. milou2ster(at)gmail.com

scottsgal said...

We love going up to Minocqua WI spending a week on the lakes boating and fishing

msboatgal at aol.com

Unknown said...

Great giveaway! Nantucket is my favorite vacation destination but it gets very crowded in summer so I might opt for Maine, which has many wonderful places to choose from such as York and Camden!

Thank you for hosting this giveaway!

Amy
Aimala127@gmail.com

Beth (BBRB) said...

Maine is always a favorite vacation spot - food, shopping, beach - perfect!

BethsBookReviewBlog AT gmail DOT com

Vera said...

Favorite vacation so far is definitely Mexico - we'll see if a new spot emerges in the future!

vvperesk@gmail.com

Barefoot Studios Ok, LLC said...

We have many favorite summer vacation spots, but I think my favorite would have to be the town of Eureka Springs.

Anonymous said...

Awesome Giveaway! We go to the lake every weekend. It's on base so not many people go. Nice.

abookishmom@yahoo.com

Sue said...

We travel to visit all of the grandparents every summer in Utah, Idaho and Oregon. Love getting up to the Northwest!
Thanks for the giveaway~
s.mickelson at gmail dot com

Jo-Jo said...

My favorite spot is on a little lake about a half hour from our house. It is just so relaxing. Please enter me.
joannelong74 AT gmail DOT com

ChristyJan said...

One of favorite summer vacation spots is Yellowstone National Park and ALL of the surrounding area. Our oldest son worked one summer with the YCC in Grand Teton National Park and he discovered alot of backroads and area we never knew about before.

hawkes(at)citlink.net

holdenj said...

One of my favorite summer getaways was up in Northern Minnesota on Big Sandy Lake. Old time cabins, simple boats and enough fish in the lake to eat for dinner.

Thanks for the great giveaway, count me in!

JHolden955 (at) gmail (dot) com

DarcyO said...

We go RV camping at Camp Faribo in Faribault, MN.

dlodden at frontiernet dot net

Unknown said...

Our cabin is always a favorite. It's about a block away from a beautiful, warm, sandy-bottomed lake in northeastern Michigan.

jgbeads(at)gmail(dot)com

rubynreba said...

We like to go up to a small lake in Minnesota that is secluded and quiet.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

Libby's Library said...

Going anywhere that my kids and grand kids are, is the best for me. My husband would say Hawaii. He loves it there - not me. Just look on a map. It's just a teeny tiny speck in the middle of a GIANT body of water. It spooks the daylights out of me!

Thanks for the giveaway.

libneas[at]aol[dot]com

Commchick said...

Growing up, my favorite vacation place was my grandparents home in Alabama. I would spend the whole summer with them. It was awesome.

belchers@jccal.org

Valorie said...

St. George, Utah because that is where my mother lives. :)

Valorie
morbidromantic@gmail.com

Shawna L. said...

Shawna lewis
weloveourdogs@juno.com

We love to go to Island park and camp at Antalope flats. In August the Elk are bugling to each other and it is just Kinda magical all the time. Thanks for the chance To win

bingo games said...

Hey nice place to spend my precious time in such a peaceful place...

throuthehaze said...

we never really went on real vacations but we did visit family in Tennessee a few times which was nice.
throuthehaze at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

Our family summer vacation spot is where we camp. It is a secluded area, room for the kids to run around, and of course we love how awesome the food tastes cooked outside. :)

Thanks for the contest, I also have one on my blogged called Tall Tales And Wedding Veils.

lovestoread0708(at)yahoo.com

Serena said...

Wow, more giveaways...you are on a role with these.

favorite vacation spot was probably the Azores...everything is so peaceful there and I got to see family for the first time. matter of fact its time to start saving and go back

savvyverseandwit AT gmail DOT com

I ♥ Book Gossip said...

Hawaii is my favorite vacation spot. Sun and white sandy beaches.

cindyc725 at gmail dot com

Wrighty said...

I can't wait to read this one! I've heard such good things about it. I personally love the beach but we don't have too many of those around here. We do have a lot of lakes though (with a few beaches) and when I was a kid we would rent a cottage for a week every year at a place an hour away. We are starting the tradition again this year with my brothers and their kids. We're going next week and I can't wait! Thanks for another great contest!

5wrights1[at]verizon[dot]net

Anonymous said...

Love to visit Cape May, NJ.

kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)com

Debbie F said...

My favorite spot is the mountains but my kids love the beach so... guess where we go. The beach! Its ok though - I have funny watching them!
thanks for the giveaway! Sounds like a great book.
dcf_beth at verizon dot net

mrsshukra said...

Las Vegas!

delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com

Victoria said...

We love Tahoe! It's sooo beautiful! We go every summer.

Thank you!
victoriah40@yahoo.com

Esme said...

Thanks for the giveaway-favorite family vacation-we head down to Solano Beach-love it at the beach

chocolateandcroissants at yahoo dot com

Debs Desk said...

Favorite family vaction was to the lake and camp. Please include me in your giveaway.
Thanks
Debbie
debdesk9(at)verizon.net

MurderMysteryMayhem said...

CapeCod, MA especially Wellfleet, Truro and P-Town. Wish I was there now!

LooseEnds AT Snet Dot Net

nfmgirl said...

If I could choose anyplace for a summer vacation, it would probably be the Olympic Mountains in WA.

nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com

Anonymous said...

Most of our big family vacations are to the Outer Banks, North Carolina -- a favorite spot for Marylanders! :) I love vacationing in London, though, and hope to get back there soon.

Thanks for the chance!

writing.meg [at] gmail.com

Rebecca N. said...

My parents were both teachers. My father was also a principal. Every year we went on Spring vacation to St. Petersburg, Florida. That is still my favorite place to go. Thanks for the fantastic giveaway!

CherylS22 said...

Our favorite family vacation place is any beach in North or South Carolina. We choose a different beach each year just to see more of the coast.

Thanks ~ megalon22{at}yahoo{dot}com

Kim said...

Thanks for the giveaway chance. My favorite vacation spot is the cabin-(owned by dear friends) on the river outside Cle Ellum Washington. We have such happy family memories form those vacations.\
*smiles*
Kim
kimmery4(at)yahoo(dot)com

Cindy said...

A favorite summer vacation spot for me and my family is the Texas Hill Country, not far from San Antonio. We have had some fun times floating the river, shopping at small town antique stores, and enjoying a water park in the area.

Cindy
Socmom213@aol.com

Lisanne624 said...

Well, my favorite vacation spot is London, and my husband's favorite involves anywhere he can fish . . . I guess he could fish in the Thames, if he could avoid all the boats!

lahlstedt (at) gmail (dot) com

Anonymous said...

When I was young, my parents' favorite vacation spot was Atlantic City; they had honeymooned there. It became my sister and my favorite spot because we vacationed there every year.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

Great contest.
RJB
loki304[at]tds[dot]net

Unknown said...

Our fave place is Orlando, FL!

Mermaid2x said...

Mine would be the Pacific Coast--actually there are numerous faves along the Oregon Coast and since I am about 100 miles inland it's a fairly quick trip. I just love the laid back atmosphere and the temperate weather!

rubymoonstone at gmail dot com

JMom said...

Our favorite summer vacation is anywhere there is water. Our most memorable ones are those spent at the beach or by the lake. My daughters and I love water!

JMom (jmomblogs@gmail.com)

A Bookshelf Monstrosity said...

I would love to be included in this giveaway! My favorite vacation spot would have to be Hilton Head, S.C.

Thanks- Amanda
fitz12383(at)hotmail(dot)com

The Lovely Reader said...

My favorite vacation spot is at my uncle's resort outside of Holland MI. It's beautiful.

barbrafl737 (at) yahoo (dot) com

amanda said...

My favorite summer vacation spot is anywhere in the mountains! I love to hike.
oheeyore at hotmail dot com

Dixie said...

I love to go anywhere in Maine as long as it's on the coast.I like to see the old lighthouses.

southrngal(at)gmail(dot)com

Ashley said...

I love going back home to Michigan and visiting my dad's cottage in Indiana

bellasnovella@gmail.com

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