Thursday, April 14, 2011

WELCOME TO LAST CHANCE: REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

 GIVEAWAY ENDED
WELCOME TO LAST CHANCE
BY HOPE RAMSAY
ABOUT THE BOOK: 
Dear Reader,

Yes, our town is way off the beaten path, but strange, wonderful miracles happen a lot around here.


I've owned the Cut 'n' Curl beauty shop for years, and I've seen folks come for a visit, then stay for a lifetime. Take Jane-that pretty firecracker of a girl who just arrived in town. I would swear she's running from something. She came with only five dollars in her pocket but she's worked real hard to make a fresh start. She's turned my son Clay's life upside down without even realizing it.

And thank goodness for that! Ever since Clay left his country western band, he's played everything too safe. He needs to take a chance on Jane. Besides, the more he tries to keep his distance, the more he'll realize that he and Jane are singing the same tune.

But I should quit ramblin' and go check on Millie's permanent wave. Next time you're in Last Chance, be sure to swing by. We've got hot rollers, free coffee, and the best gossip in town.

See you real soon,

Ruby Rhodes

In Welcome to Last Chance, the first novel in the four-book Last Chance Series, the gals wreak havoc on the the lives of Clay Rhodes, a country and western musician who’s suffered one-too-many broken hearts, and Jane Coblentz, a woman on the run from a weasel of an ex-boyfriend who has recently trashed her life.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Hope Ramsay was born in New York and grew up on the North Shore of Long Island, but every summer Momma would pack her off under the care of Aunt Annie to go visiting with relatives in the midlands of South Carolina.  Her extended family includes its share of colorful aunts and uncles, as well as cousins by the dozens, who provide the fodder for the characters you’ll find in Last Chance, South Carolina.  Hope earned a BA in Political Science from the University of Buffalo, and has had various jobs working as a Congressional aide, a lobbyist, a public relations consultant, and a meeting planner.  She’s a two-time finalist in the Golden Heart, and is married to a good ol’ Georgia boy who resembles every single one of her heroes.  She has two grown children and a couple of demanding lap cats.  She lives in Fairfax, Virginia where you can often find her on the back deck, picking on her thirty-five-year-old Martin guitar.

FIVE FUN FACTS ABOUT HOPE RAMSAY AND WELCOME TO LAST CHANCE:
WHAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW...
1. Like Jane, the heroine in the story, Hope Ramsay once dreamed of being a professional musician.  For a number of years, she was a member of an acoustic singing duet, called You and Me, that performed at restaurants and bars in the Washington, DC area.  Hope plays guitar, flute, and dulcimer and still practices every day.  Clay is a songwriter and the lyrics to Clay's songs are from songs that Hope wrote and performed in the 1980s, during her folkie musician stage.

2. Last Chance is not a real place, but it was inspired by a the small town of Denmark, South Carolina, located in Bamberg, County.  In building her world, Hope gave her town a history that was strongly influenced by the history of other small towns in the midlands of South Carolina.  Like those towns, Last Chance started its life as a turnout on the cotton railway that linked the cotton plantations of the midlands with the port of Charleston.
 
3. Hope wanted to give Clay's father, Elbert, an occupation that his sons and daughter would find embarrassing.  While researching odd occupations she came across a link for Golgotha Bible Golf, located in Kentucky, and knew she had found the answer to her quest.  Unfortunately, like a lot of independently-owned mini golf emporiums, Golgotha is no longer in operation, but you can read all about it at this link: http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/3342.

4. Hope makes liberal use of family names in creating her characters.  Ruby Rhodes was Hope's grandmother's maiden name.  Ruby Rhodes married Elbert Ramsay and lived her life in Hampton County, South Carolina.

5. Hope was born in New York, but visited her extended family every summer in South Carolina.  She settled in Northern Virginia directly after college, and has lived there for most of her life. 
GIVEAWAY

I HAVE ONE HARD BACK COPY
OF THIS DELIGHTFUL BOOK
 TO GIVE AWAY MYSELF
 
--U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES
---INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
IN CASE YOU WIN!
--ALL COMMENTS MUST BE SEPARATE TO
COUNT AS MORE THAN ONE!


HOW TO ENTER:

+1 ENTRY:
COMMENT ON WHAT YOU READ AND LISTENED TO ABOVE AND SIMPLY TELL ME YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS IF YOU WOULD LIKE A CHANCE TO WIN THIS BOOK

+1 MORE ENTRY: BLOG OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND COME BACK AND LEAVE A LINK THAT I CAN FOLLOW 

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU FIND INTERESTING WHEN VISITING HOPE RAMSAY'S  WEBSITE HERE. YOU MAY WANT TO COMMENT ON A ONE OF HER BOOKS YOU HAVE READ OR WOULD LIKE TO READ
 
+1 (or +2) MORE ENTRIES: COMMENT IF YOU HAVE ENTERED ANY OF MY OTHER CURRENT GIVEAWAYS. IF YOU HAVE ENTERED MORE THAN ONE, YOU MAY GET EXTRA ENTRIES BY COMMENTING SEPARATELY FOR EACH ONE YOU HAVE ENTERED. NOTE: IF YOU ENTERED MY GIVEAWAY FOR THE AUTHOR INTERVIEW FOR I WOULD FIND A GIRL WALKING HERE, AND/OR FOR SEASONS OF SUGARCREEK TRILOGY HERE YOU MAY TAKE +2 ENTRIES AUTOMATICALLY (FOR EACH) BY JUST WRITING THE TITLE OF THE BOOK AND ENTERING THAT SAME COMMENT TWICE! 

GIVEAWAY ENDS AT
6 PM, EST, APRIL 29
 GOOD LUCK!

84 comments:

Tina said...

I love how she uses family names. I want this book.

tbranco24 at gmail DOT com

mamabunny13 said...

I love that she uses her family's names for the characters.
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

mamabunny13 said...

tweet http://twitter.com/#!/mamabunny13/status/58475047484006400
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

mamabunny13 said...

#1 I entered I Would Find a Girl Walking
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

mamabunny13 said...

#2 I entered I Would Find a Girl Walking
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

mamabunny13 said...

#1 I entered SEASONS OF SUGARCREEK TRILOGY
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

mamabunny13 said...

I entered Pillsbury
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

mamabunny13 said...

I entered Love You More
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

mamabunny13 said...

I entered Save Me
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

mamabunny13 said...

I entered Return To Sender
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

mamabunny13 said...

I entered I Spy
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

debbie said...

I love books about small towns and how the people always try to "help" each other, whether they want it or not.
twooofakind12@yahoo.com

debbie said...

I could find a girl walking.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

debbie said...

I could find a girl walking 2
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

~Enamored Soul~ said...

As I've mentioned earlier, in some of my previous comments, I love to read about stories set in small towns. There is this familiarity, and some distinct relatability to the characters, when I read about small towns! I would love to win this book. Thanks so much for the giveaway opportunity, Karen! :)

~Hira~
Email: Enamoredsoul(at)gmail(dot)com
Twitter: @inluvwithbookz

debbie said...

seasons of sugar creek trilogy
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

debbie said...

seasons of sugar creek trilogy 2
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

~Enamored Soul~ said...

I tweeted about this giveaway:

http://twitter.com/#!/inluvwithbookz/status/58478526692720640

~Hira~
Email: Enamoredsoul(at)gmail(dot)com
Twitter: @inluvwithbookz

~Enamored Soul~ said...

By visiting the author website, I discovered, that the next "LAST CHANCE" book comes out in September. I would love to read "Home at Last Chance" when it comes out in September. The cover for that one is BEYOND gorgeous, although so is the cover for Welcome to Last Chance.

~Hira~
Email: Enamoredsoul(at)gmail(dot)com
Twitter: @inluvwithbookz

mamabunny13 said...

I read on HOPE RAMSAY'S WEBSITE that she sits on her back porch picking on the guitar. It's pretty cool that she writes books AND plays guitar!
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

~Enamored Soul~ said...

I entered the "311 Pelican Court Giveaway"

~Hira~
Email: Enamoredsoul(at)gmail(dot)com
Twitter: @inluvwithbookz

~Enamored Soul~ said...

I entered the The Sweetest Thing giveaway.

~Hira~
Email: Enamoredsoul(at)gmail(dot)com
Twitter: @inluvwithbookz

~Enamored Soul~ said...

I entered the Sweet Valley Confidential Audiobook Giveaway.

~Hira~
Email: Enamoredsoul(at)gmail(dot)com
Twitter: @inluvwithbookz

~Enamored Soul~ said...

I entered the I WOULD FIND A GIRL WALKING HERE Giveaway

~Hira~
Email: Enamoredsoul(at)gmail(dot)com
Twitter: @inluvwithbookz

~Enamored Soul~ said...

I entered the I WOULD FIND A GIRL WALKING HERE Giveaway

~Hira~
Email: Enamoredsoul(at)gmail(dot)com
Twitter: @inluvwithbookz

dogwood said...

Sounds like a fun read. I love southern books.

dogwoodlane at suddenlink dot net

Karen B said...

Family names are used - how fun!
kpbarnett1941[at]aol[dot]com

Karen B said...

Home at Last Chance — Coming September 2011. Sounds like another winner!
kpbarnett1941[at]aol[dot]com

Karen B said...

I entered CLINK.
kpbarnett1941[at]aol[dot]com

Karen B said...

I entered LOVE YOU MORE.
kpbarnett1941[at]aol[dot]com

Karen B said...

April Bonus - I LIKE BINGO ON FB.
kpbarnett1941[at]aol[dot]com

Margie said...

I like books that take place in small towns...you can get to know the characters well. This one looks like it has some quirky ones.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

I noticed that this book takes place in SC. This interests me because we spend quite a bit of time there.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

+5 Swag
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

Facebook fan April bonus
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Renee said...

I like that Clay's dad owns a mini golf course.

ReneeSuz82(at)msn.com

Renee said...

Home at Last Chance comes out in Sept; looks like another good one

reneesuz82(at)msn.com

Margie said...

Seasons of Sugarcreek
entry 1

Margie said...

Seasons of Sugarcreek
entry 2

Margie said...

entered Love You More
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

entered Save Me
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

entered Return to Sender
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Connie said...

Hi! I love how the story line sounds like "Sweet Magnolias" and a Fannie Flagg novel mixed together. I know I would enjoy this book. :)

aliasgirl1976@yahoo.com

Connie said...

I entered the Seasons of Sugarcreek trilogy giveaway as well. :)

aliasgirl1976@yahoo.comd

Connie said...

Entered the #2 go around of the book "I would find a girl walking".

aliasgirl1976@yahoo.com

lag123 said...

This sounds like my kind of book. I grew up in a small town and wouldn't trade it for anything. I like that she uses family names.

lag110 at mchsi dot com

lag123 said...

Tweeted: http://twitter.com/lag32583/status/58620745575702528

lag110 at mchsi dot com

lag123 said...

I loved Hope's review of The Adjustment Bureau.

lag110 at mchsi dot com

lag123 said...

I loved Hope's review of The Adjustment Bureau.

lag110 at mchsi dot com

lag123 said...

I entered Sweet Valley Confidential audiobook giveaway.

lag110 at mchsi dot com

lag123 said...

I entered the Clink giveaway.

lag110 at mchsi dot com

lag123 said...

Seasons of Sugarcreek trilogy.

lag110 at mchsi dot com

lag123 said...

I entered the Pillsbury Easy as Pie giveaway.

lag110 at mchsi dot com

lag123 said...

I entered the Love You More giveaway.

lag110 at mchsi dot com

lag123 said...

I Would Find a Girl Walking.

lag110 at mchsi dot com

lag123 said...

I entered the Save Me audiobook giveaway.

lag110 at mchsi dot com

lag123 said...

I entered the 1 Mix, 100 Muffins giveaway.

lag110 at mchsi dot com

lag123 said...

I entered the Return to Sender giveaway.

lag110 at mchsi dot com

Sue Farrell said...

I would like to read this book because the setting just sounds so serene---but I'm sure the characters spice it up real fast.

suefarrell.farrell@gmailc.om

holdenj said...

I would love to win and read this book! Love books set in small towns. Thanks for the chance to win!
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

holdenj said...

Entered Sweet Valley High.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

holdenj said...

Entered the Pillsbury cookbook giveaway.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

holdenj said...

Entered Save me.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

holdenj said...

Entered Love You More.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

holdenj said...

Entered Sugar Creek.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

holdenj said...

Entered Sugar Creek.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

scottsgal said...

I love books about small towns and their quirky characters
msboatgal at aol.com

scottsgal said...

She worked as a congressional aide
msboatgal at aol.com

Linda Kish said...

It sounds so folksy and friendly.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

This seems to be her first book but her next one comes out in September

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

Entered for SEASONS OF SUGARCREEK TRILOGY

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

Entered for LOVE YOU MORE

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

Entered for I WOULD FIND A GIRL WALKING GIVEAWAY

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

Entered for I WOULD FIND A GIRL WALKING GIVEAWAY

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

Entered for SEASONS OF SUGARCREEK TRILOGY

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

Entered for PART 2: AUTHOR INTERVIEW FOR I WOULD FIND A GIRL WALKING GIVEAWAY

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

Entered for SAVE ME AUDIO BOOK

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

Entered for RETURN TO SENDER

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Linda Kish said...

Entered for SHIVER OF FEAR and FACE OF DANGER

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

Entered for IN STITCHES

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

Entered for 1 MIX 100 MUFFINS

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

samantha35 said...

Loved that she draws from family for names of her characters
great giveaway
follow via gfc
drakebdog@gmail.com

LAMusing said...

Since she used characters with family names I imagine they are really, really nice characters! LOL
adrianecoros(at)gmail(dot)com

CLICK HERE TO
SEE MY POLICY