Saturday, June 4, 2011

ON HUMMINGBIRD WINGS: REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

GIVEAWAY ENDED
ON HUMMINGBIRD WINGS
BY LAURAINE SNELLING

ABOUT THE BOOK:
"But Mother is always dying," is Gillian Ormsby's sarcastic response when her younger, favored sister tells her that she has to go take care of their hypochondriac mother. Much against her will, since she and her mother never have gotten along, Gillian arrives in California to find the garden and yard dead, the blinds all drawn, and her mother indeed in bed--waiting to die. But when Gillian talks with the doctor, he assures her there's no medical reason behind her mother's state.
 
Now on a mission to restore her mother to health, Gillian insists Mother get out of bed, eat, exercise and hopefully, choose to live. She also sets about reviving the garden to its former glory, enlisting the help of Adam, a handsome man who owns a family gardening business with his father. Gillian is delighted when a pair of hummingbirds appear, and her friendship with Adam grows.
 
Soon, Mother's health improves, and one day she announces she and her friend Enzio are going on a cruise. Before Gillian has time to turn around, her mother is gone and she is left high and dry again, and wondering, what is she going to do with the rest of her own life?

EXCERPT FROM ON HUMMINGBIRD WINGS:
“But Mother is always dying.” Why had she ever let the call come through? “I'm putting you on speaker.” Gillian Ormsby clicked the SPEAKER button without waiting for her sister's reply. At least this way she could continue to flip the screens on the computer. Glancing at the clock, she mentally allowed Allison two more minutes before returning to the report in front of her.

“No, this time it is really serious. I can't make her get out of bed.”

Gillian rolled her eyes. Leave it to Miss Perfect Allison to hit the dramatics. “Look, you live twenty miles away and I live across the country. Surely you can find time in your busy schedule to sweet-talk Mother into doing what you want.” You always have.

“You don't need to be sarcastic. Just because I'm not a high-powered executive with an office in New York City. It isn't like what I have to do isn't important, with two active teenagers and a busy husband.”
TO FINISHER READING THIS EXCERPT, GO HERE.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Lauraine Snelling has been writing since 1980, with a total of 56 books published, both fiction and non-fiction, historical and contemporary, for adults and young readers. Lauraine's books consistently appear on CBA bestseller lists and are frequently featured in the Crossings Book Club. Lauraine and her husband, Wayne, live in California and have two grown sons.
To find our more about the talented and busy Lauraine Snelling, visit her website HERE!

MY REVIEW/THOUGHTS:
Lauraine Snelling’s  ON HUMMINGBIRD WINGS is a dynamic inspirational tale about what really matters in life. With family relationships being the focal point, Snelling weaves a story around it and inspires us all to stop and smell the roses. She reminds us that there is more to life than just the hectic work day world.

The main character and one who learns this lesson well is Gillian Ormsby whose life revolves around her fast-paced professional career in marketing at a computer data firm in New York City. As a corporate Vice-President, Gillian doesn’t have time now for the distressed plea she gets from her sister out in California. Allison tells her that their mother is dying and she really needs her to come home. Gillian isn’t heartless but honestly, their mom has “been dying” for years! However, her sister convinces her that perhaps it is serious this time and Gillian books a flight back home.

Upon arriving home, she finds her mother’s house is a mess including her beloved garden as her mother languishes in bed waiting to die. Checking with the doctor to confirm there is no serious problem, Gillian wonders what to do. As fate steps in, things are decided for her. Her company in New York is taken over and she loses her job. So with time on her hands, she decides after being gone for years, maybe she will devote this time to her family and get her mother back into the real world of the living. One of the first things she does is to place a hummingbird feeder in the garden by her mother’s bedroom window so that perhaps the tiny birds will begin to give her mom something to be interested in again.

One thing leads to another and changes seem to happen as sure as the hummingbird has wings. Her mother improves and before you know it, surprises her daughter. She winds up taking off on a cruise with a nice man named Enzio, leaving Gillian on her own. Well, not totally as there is an adorable neighbor, Adam, who Gillian finds quite interesting as well as helpful. He is especially helpful with knowledge and experience in gardening, and just as the plants begin to thrive again, so does a relationship. During that time, Gillian also reconnects with her sister and her nephew and niece. It almost seems like Gillian has realized that she has found what she was looking for all the time as she rebuilds her family relations. She also learns that life can be really good even if you slow down and enjoy it! Will Gillian return to the world of work or is what she is finding back home enough for her? I think with the engaging characters and straight forward storyline that Snelling has given readers in ON HUMMINGBIRD WINGS, she will have found many new fans if they didn’t know her work before.
GIVEAWAY

THANKS TO SARAH AND THE GOOD
FOLKS AT HACHETTE BOOK GROUP,
I HAVE TWO COPIES OF THIS NOVEL
TO GIVE AWAY TO TWO LUCKY READERS
 
--U.S. AND CANADIAN 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 THOUGHT ABOUT THE DESCRIPTION AND REVIEW OF ON HUMMINGBIRD WINGS AND WHY YOU WANT TO WIN THIS BOOK

+1 MORE ENTRY: BLOG AND/OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND COME BACK HERE AND LEAVE ME YOUR LINK

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU FOUND INTERESTING ON LAURAINE SNELLING'S WEBSITE BY SEARCHING HER WEBSITE HERE

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON ONE WAY THAT YOU FOLLOW MY BLOG. IF YOU FOLLOW MORE THAN ONE WAY, YOU CAN GIVE THEM ALL AS LONG AS THE COMMENTS ARE SEPARATE TO COUNT FOR THE GIVEAWAY

GIVEAWAY ENDS AT
6 PM, EST, JUNE 12!
 GOOD LUCK!

86 comments:

debbie said...

It sounds like loosing her job and helping her mother were a blessing in disguise. I would like to read the book.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

debbie said...

I am a email subscriber.
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debbie said...

I am a gfc follower
debbie
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

Steve Capell said...

This book really sounds interesting. My mother use to say when it rains it pours! I would look at a mother dying and losing a job to really be bummed out; however, I always like saying "You can't have the rainbow without the storm." I agree with Debbie that these not insignificant problems were a blessing in disguise. I like the title of this book and the cover is outstanding. Great review.

steven(dot)capell(at)gamil(dot)com

lag123 said...

I know that I need to stop and smell the roses and I would love for this book to inspire me.

lag110 at mchsi dot com

PoCoKat said...

Sounds like a beautiful story about the importance of family.

littleone AT shaw DoT ca

PoCoKat said...

Email subscriber

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GFC follower

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lag123 said...

Tweeted: https://twitter.com/lag32583/status/77012323054796800

lag110 at mchsi dot com

lag123 said...

Lauraine got started by writing "horse books for kids".

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lag123 said...

I subscribe via email.

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I follow via GFC

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rubynreba said...

I agree that we need to stop and smell the roses - sounds like a wonderful book.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

She started writing horse stories for girls.
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Connie said...

Hi! I loved the review on this book. It sounds like a wonderful book to read. When I read the storyline, it sounds like a book that could be converted into a movie. Thank you for a great giveaway as always! :)

aliasgirl1976@yahoo.com

Connie said...

I am a loyal GFC follower. :)

aliasgirl1976@yahoo.com

Carol N Wong said...

OK, now I am a fan of the author. I really like the story line. I reminds me so much of my great aunt Annie at the family reunions. Of her brother and sisters had passed away. She always said, "Come over and talk to me, I might not be at the next reunion". She did turn up for a great number of the following reunions and it was a shock when she died at the age of 99.


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

My Twitter name is Carolee888 and I tweeted


http://bookinwithbingo.blogspot.com/2011/06/on-hummingbird-wings-review-and.html

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

On her site, under Faqs, she said that her biggest obstacle to writing was being about to sit in her chair long enough. That there were so many other she likes to do.

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I follow your blog with an
e-mail subscription.

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I follow your blog with Facebook.

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Unknown said...

I think helping her mother and losing her job has opened up ne possibilities to her. I would love read this book. It sounds very good. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com

Linda Kish said...

It sounds like a wonderful story. I do like the life's lesson's included.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

She certainly has been busy writing with over 50 books published and yet I haven't read any yet. but I am going to look for them at the store.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

I am an Email subscriber

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

I am a GFC follower

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Charleydog said...

I like the "busy girl returs to her roots and evaluates her hectic life" scenario. The use of the hummingbird in this slow-down scenario is somewhat ironic since the wings of a hummingbird beat so rapidly - not exactly conducive to slowing a pace.


pboylecharley AT hotmail DOT com

Pat L. said...

I would like to find out why this mother thinks she is dying. A mother daughter relationship book is usually a good read.

patoct at yahoo dot com

Pat L. said...

What could be better than a phd in hugging?

patoct at yahoo dot com

Pamela Keener said...

This sounds like an interesting take on work ethics and family relationships. I'd love to read this book.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Pamela Keener said...

I follow your blog via Google Reader
Love & Hugs,
Pam
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Pamela Keener said...

I am an e-mail subscriber to your blog.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Pamela Keener said...

I am an e-mail subscriber to your blog.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Charleydog said...

I liked your review. In a limited space, you managed to give us the gist of this story - slow down, enjoy life and your family; work is not everything.

pboylecharley(at)hotmail(dot)com

traveler said...

This compelling book sounds so appealing.The characters and story are real. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I am an e-mail subscriber. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

petite said...

A real story that captures my interest. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

I am a follower. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

Her writing career has been very successful. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com

Margie said...

This looks like a wonderful book about family relationships. I would like to find out how the main character gets her mother interested in life again.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

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Reading said...

I think the mother/daughter relationship sounds interesting in the book

lizzi0915 at aol dot com

Reading said...

I follow on GFC

lizzi0915 at aol dot com

heavenisabookstore said...

This sounds like a good book for the summer. I like the idea that she finds her way while inadvertently helping her mom. Thanks for the giveaway!
heavenisabookstore@gmail.com

mamabunny13 said...

I think a lot of us forget what's really important in life sometimes. Sounds like a very inspiring story.
mambunny13 at gmail dot com

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I found it interesting that you can buy art prints off of her site. That was a nice little surprise!
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Anonymous said...

I love this Author she has wrote many great books....I would like to win this because of the author and because I would like to see how they resolve this problem

pattifritz2000 at yahoo dot com
thanks a bunch

Anita Yancey said...

I think Gillian's mother sounds very strange. But the book sounds interesting, and I'd love to read it. Please enter me. Thanks!

ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

Anita Yancey said...

I find it interesting that Lauraine has over 50 books published. She also has a husband, two grown sons, a cockatiel named Bidley, and a basset hound named Chewy.

Anita Yancey said...

Follow on GFC(Anita Yancey).

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Subscribe via email.

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Literary Chanteuse said...

I enjoyed this review. It gave me a real insight to the story. I am the youngest of 7 and I took care of my Mother for a few years before she passed away which is why I would love to win it. I can relate to this story!

Margaret
singitm@hotmail.com

Literary Chanteuse said...

I liked the colors of Lauraine's blog. With the flowers it gives a wonderful spring feeling.

Margaret
singitm@hotmail.com

Literary Chanteuse said...

I follow via email.

Margaret
singitm@hotmail.com

bloggingmom said...

This book sounds like it has a very interesting mother daughter relationship in it that would be very entertaining. garczynski (at) aol (dot) com

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