Thursday, June 23, 2011

PIE TOWN: REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

GIVEAWAY ENDED
PIE TOWN
BY LYNNE HINTON

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Welcome to Pie Town! Bestselling author Lynne Hinton—who has delighted readers with her heartwarming tales of faith, food, and friendship—has cooked up a delectable treat for fans of Fannie Flagg, Whitney Otto, Kaye Gibbons, and Jan Karon’s Mitford books…as well as the dedicated readers of her own popular Hope Springs novels (Friendship Cake, Christmas Cake, et al). The first in a series centered around the inhabitants of a small New Mexico town once renowned for its homemade desserts, Pie Town is the touching and funny tale about the unexpected changes a sleepy little southwestern community undergoes following the arrival of a well-meaning but woefully unprepared priest and a young hitchhiker who looks like big trouble.

Pie Town, New Mexico, was once legendary for its extraordinary pies. But it's been a while since these delectable desserts graced the counter at the local diner. The townspeople—a hearty mix of Anglos, Hispanics, and Native Americans—like to think of themselves as family, especially when it comes to caring for Alex, a disabled little boy being raised by his grandparents. But, unforeseen by all, Pie Town's fortunes are about to take a major turn—due to the arrival of a new priest, Father George Morris, who seems woefully unprepared for his first assignment, and the young hitchhiker Trina, who some townsfolk just know is trouble. . . .

PRAISE FOR PIE TOWN:
“A feel-good tale....Heartfelt.”
Kirkus Reviews on Pie Town
“Reading Hinton’s light, quickly moving prose feels like sitting down to catch up with an old friend over coffee.”
New Mexico Magazine on Pie Town
“[A] feel-good story—one that will be enjoyed by readers of Jan Karon and Nicholas Sparks.”
Booklist on Pie Town
“Hinton has an excellent sense of Southwestern rhythms and cadence.”
Publishers Weekly on Pie Town
“Lynne Hinton deftly pens an uplifting tale of hope, faith, and community.”
— Lori Wilde, New York Times bestselling author of The Welcome Home Garden Club on Pie Town

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 
A retreat leader and writing teacher, Lynne Hinton is the author of numerous novels, including Wedding Cake, Christmas Cake, Friendship Cake, Hope Springs, and Forever Friends. She also writes a mystery series under the name Jackie Lynn. She lives in New Mexico.
 
MY THOUGHTS/REVIEW:
In PIE TOWN, Lynn Hinton has given readers a new series to look forward to with PIE TOWN setting the bar for the installments that follow. To find a story that one can enjoy and find inspiring as well, is often hard to come by. After completing PIE TOWN, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do first; book a flight to this quaint town in New Mexico, or bake Francine’s banana cream pie recipe from the book. However, I did know I wanted to see what Hinton would give readers next in this series.

PIE TOWN mixes up a tasty treat with characters of the finest quality for the roles they play. Father George is sent to Pie Town, New Mexico, to his first parish after completing seminary. Along the way to finding himself and this town, he picks up a young hitch hiker, named Trina. These two appear to be as different as night and day, or maybe I should say pies and pasta! Actually, Trina has quite an attitude but as the story goes on, you will learn why from her past.

Upon arrival in New Mexico, these two central characters find themselves in a diner in Pie Town, that used to serve pie but no more! It is also where they meet the third, and my favorite, main character, Alex. Alex is a child, ten years old, who was born with a disability and is as sweet and kind as the rest of the town are cold and unwelcoming to the newcomers. However, this town does all agree on one thing and that is that they all adore Alex. His mother is missing and his father is unknown, so he is being raised by his grandparents.

These three characters, and how they settle into this community and how things change, makes for a sometimes tender, sometimes testy, but often times amusing and fulfilling story that is a pleasant way to spend a cool summer evening…if you have a fan! I think the way Hinton developed and fleshed out her characters is one of the two main reasons this story works--readers will care about them. The other is that she has made this multicultural town like a character itself as it changes and evolves over the course of the story. As an extra bonus, the author includes recipes at the end as well as reading group discussion questions. Pick this one up. You won’t be sorry! A welcome addition to the usually run of the mill summer reading.
GIVEAWAY

THANKS TO MEGAN AND THE GOOD FOLKS 
AT HARPER COLLINS, I HAVE ONE COPY
OF THIS FIRST IN A NEW SERIES BY LYNNE
HINTON, PIE TOWN, TO GIVE AWAY
--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 SOMETHING YOU FOUND INTERESTING ABOVE THAT MADE YOU WANT TO WIN PIE TOWN

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

+1 MORE ENTRY: VISIT LYNNE HINTON'S WEBSITE HERE AND COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU ENJOYED OR FOUND INTERESTING AT HER SITE

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON ONE WAY THAT YOU FOLLOW MY BLOG. IF YOU FOLLOW MORE THAN ONE WAY,  YOU MAY ENTER EACH WAY BUT YOU MUST COMMENT ON EACH SEPARATELY

GIVEAWAY ENDS AT
6 PM, EST, JULY 13
GOOD LUCK!


108 comments:

debbie said...

I think this book sounds really good. I did enjoy her other books, and their recipes. Since, I love cooking, I always enjoy it when authors include recipes. I would like to find out, if they bake pies again.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

debbie said...

I am a email subscriber.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

debbie said...

I am a gfc follower
debbie
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

debbie said...

I learned she served as a chaplin at a hospice.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

lag123 said...

Thanks for the great review. I have never read any of her books but I am a huge fan of Fannie Flagg and I would love to read this.

lag110 at mchsi dot com

lag123 said...

Tweeted: https://twitter.com/lag32583/status/83856335736807424

lag110 at mchsi dot com

lag123 said...

I learned that there REALLY is a Pie Town in New Mexico and the diner Lynne stopped at had no pie. This is how the idea came to her for the book.

lag110 at mchsi dot com

lag123 said...

I subscribe via email.

lag110 at mchsi dot com

lag123 said...

I subscribe via google reader.

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lag123 said...

I follow via GFC

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lag123 said...

I follow via networked blogs.

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lag123 said...

I follow on twitter: @lag32583

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lag123 said...

I am a fan on FB: Lisa Holmes Garrett

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Anonymous said...

I like that the child with a disability brings the town together. Everyone loves him. Please enter me in contest. Sounds like a really great read. Tore923@aol.com

Pat L. said...

Anything with the name pie in it has my attention. I had heard about this book and it just sounds good.

Pat L. said...

As always forgot me addy.

patoct at yahoo dot com

Anything with pie in it is for me.

Pat L. said...

See she is touring N.C. - wish she was touring in NY.

Pat L. said...

I did it again. patoct at yahoo dot com

See she is touring NC, wish it were NY.

traveler said...

I like this story and her books are always a delight. saubleb(at)gmail(dor)com

traveler said...

Pie Town is a small town in NM. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

petite said...

I know that I would enjoy this special book which is unique. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

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

petite said...

Her writing and talent is wonderful to learn about. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

I never would have thought that a town could or would be know for its pies and it's amazing how a community can come together for a little boy.

jrandtam[at]columbus.rr.com

Suburban prep said...

It seems the town is a family and they rally around a little boy. I would like to see how it plays out with the entrance of this priest.

msgb245 at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

I learned that Lynne is a regular columnist with The Charlotte Observer and is from North Carolina but now lives in New Mexico.

jrandtam[at]columbus.rr.com

Suburban prep said...

I have read others of the Hope Springs books by Lynne Hinton

Tea said...

I would like to win PIE TOWN because of the diversity of the community. I think having Hispanics, Native Americans, etc. will make the novel really fun and interesting.

teakettle58(at)yahoo(dot)com

Tea said...

I blogged about the giveaway http://readwithtea@blogspot.com

Tea said...

Lynne Hinton's other books have taken place in the South. Pie Town is the first one to take place in the Southwest.

Anonymous said...

I follow your blog on Facebook.

Anonymous said...

I follow your blog by Rss

Anonymous said...

I follow you on Twitter.

Anonymous said...

I follow you through email.

Maria D. said...

This book sounds really interesting. I especially think it funny that the three main characters are in a diner in a town called Pie Town that doesn't serve pie! ...lol

Thanks for the giveaway!

junegirl63(at)gmail(dot)com

Maria D. said...

I subscribe to your blog via email

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Maria D. said...

I follow your blog via Google Friend Connect

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Maria D. said...

I follow your blob via Twitter as
crazymidwestgal

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Maria D. said...

I tweeted the review and giveaway:

http://twitter.com/#!/crazymidwestgal/status/83907239806640128

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Connie said...

The book sounds fun to read. And it centers around pie which I love. Thank you for a sweet giveaway! :)

aliasgirl1976@yahoo.com

Connie said...

I am a GFC follower. :)

aliasgirl1976@yahoo.com

Pamela Keener said...

This book sounds like a great read. I love that it involves a community of multicultural people.
I would really like to know what happened to Trina.
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

Pamela Keener said...

I like Bookin w/Bingo II on FB
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Pamela Keener said...

"The Things I Know Best" looks like an interesting story.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Jolee said...

You had me at "pie." I'm a lifetime fan. ;-) joleehamlin [at] comcast [dot] net

Jolee said...

Learned from Hinton's site that she is an ordaiend minister. joleehamlin [at] comcast [dot] net

Jolee said...

follow on gfc joleehamlin [at] comcast [dot] net

Jolee said...

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Carol N Wong said...

This one is already on my wish list. I love the cover, the story line and the pie recipe. Having the town to be mutlicultural makes it more interesting.


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

My Twitter name is Carolee888


http://t.co/hSTP6wdGiveaway of 'Pie Town'

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Carol N Wong said...

I checked on the author's site for the reader's guide to 'Pie Town". There really is a Pie town in New Mexico with a place that sells pies. Next time that I am in New Mexico, I plan to stop there and buy a "Triple Berry".

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I follow your blog with an e-mail subscription.


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Carol N Wong said...

I follow your blog with an RSS feed on my IGoogle page.


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Carol N Wong said...

I follow your blog with Twitter.


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ann said...

It sounds like a book I would enjoy reading tho I have never read any of her book.




amhengstATverizonDOTnet

ann said...

Interesting that she has served as a chaplain with hospice and as the pastor of Mount Hope United Church of Christ and First Congregational United Church of Christ, both in North Carolina.

amhengstATverizonDOTnet

ann said...

I subscribe by email for your blog




amhengstATverizonDOTnet

Anonymous said...

I would love to read this book.
gardnerad@juno.com

Becky said...

I have included your book giveaways in my blog post for today. Thanks for your great reviews.

http://quiltingbooklady.blogspot.com/2011/06/jumping-from-one-thing-to-next.html

Becky said...

I absolutely love books written by Jan Karon. I've read the Mitford series several times. If this book reminds one of Karon's books, its one I'd love to read.

Becky said...

I follow your blog in Google Reader.

Becky said...

I found it interesting to learn that Lynne is an interim pastor. I'll have to look for her previous books.

holdenj said...

It sounds like a great book. I love the cover, can't you just feel the warmth thru the potholders as you set the pie in the window?
Thanks so much!
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

holdenj said...

I am an email subscriber.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

holdenj said...

I am a GFC follower.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

holdenj said...

I subscribe via RSS feed.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

holdenj said...

I think Lynne's mystery series, written as Jackie Lynn, look good too!
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

mamabunny13 said...

I think it's interesting that a diner doesn't sell pie! lol I want to read this book now to find out why.
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

mamabunny13 said...

I follow by reader
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I follow on twitter @mamabunny13
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bison61 said...

a tale about a priest and a young hitchhiker- sounds like a great summer read

tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com

Linda Kish said...

I like all these books about small towns.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

She has a Masters in Divinity degree.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

I am an email subscriber

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Linda Kish said...

I am a GFC follower

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Margie said...

This looks like an interesting start to a new series. I like stories that take place in small towns. The three main characters sound intriguing.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

I found it interesting that this author took an interest in writing when she was in the seminary.
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Margie said...

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Anonymous said...

I like Fannie Flagg so this would be for me plus the fact it is food related. LOL.

LAMusing said...

It sounds charming! Since I like both Fannie Flagg and Whitney Otto, I'd love to read this :)
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LAMusing said...

I follow you on GFC
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LAMusing said...

I like you on Facebook
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I follow you on Twitter
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I follow you on Networked Blogs
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LAMusing said...

I learned the author lives in New Mexico - like the book!
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Norma said...

The characters sound really interesting and I haven't read a book set in New Mexico.
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Norma said...

I follow you publicly on GFC
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Norma said...

I learned she was a chaplain at a hospice but also studied at a school of film making.
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Anonymous said...

I found it interested that everyone seems to be able to Get along

pattifritz2000 at yahoo dot com
thanks for the chance

Carol N Wong said...

I sent a friend request to you on Library Thing so I should be following you that way soon.


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Carol N Wong said...

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Carol N Wong said...

I sent a friend request to you on GoodReads so I should be following you that way soon.


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Anonymous said...

I like that food (pie) brings people together.
Thanks for the giveaway.
jgoffice(at)cox(dot)net

Anonymous said...

I am a gfc follower
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Anonymous said...

I found it interesting on her website that she was a pastor and that faith plays a role in her stories.
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Reading said...

This sounds like heartwarming story.

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