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!