Wednesday, March 28, 2012

WHAT HAPPENED TO HANNAH: REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

GIVEAWAY ENDED
WHAT HAPPENED TO HANNAH
BY MARY KAY McCOMAS

ABOUT THE BOOK:
As a teenager, Hannah Benson ran away from home in order to save herself. Now, twenty years later, the past comes calling and delivers life-changing news: her mother and sister have passed away, leaving Hannah the guardian of her fifteen-year-old niece.

Returning home to bitter memories and devastating secrets, Hannah must overcome her painful past to pave a future with her niece, the last best chance at a family for both of them. She begins to create a new, happier life with her niece and rekindles a relationship with Grady Steadman, one of the few people she’s ever called a friend.

But she can’t forget what she cannot forgive, or lay to rest those ghosts that will not die. Will love and trust—and the truth—give her the strength to stand her ground and fight for what she deserves? 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Mary Kay McComas started her writing career twenty-five years ago. To date she’s written twenty-one short contemporary romances and five novellas; What Happened to Hannah is her second novel. She was born in Spokane, Washington, and now lives in a small town in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia with her husband, three dogs, a cat, and her four children nearby. 

PRAISE FOR WHAT HAPPENED TO HANNAH:
“Blending poignancy with humor, crafting characters as real and recognizable as your next-door neighbor, Mary Kay McComas weaves stories that brighten the heart.”
— Nora Roberts
“I love Mary Kay McComas. Her books are honest and real, and transport you to a place that feels like home.”
— Patricia Gaffney
“It is hard not to be moved by the tender love story that emerges from the depths of violence in this haunting and touching novel. You will never forget What Happened To Hannah.”
— Jessica Anya Blau
“a touching tale of trauma, healing, and family...McComas builds the relationship between Hannah and Anna deftly, showing how hard it can be for strangers who happen to be family to know each other.”
— Publishers Weekly
“Hannah Benson is a memorable character of uncommon strength. From the unthinkable horror of the past to the glimmering possibility of love in the present, What Happened to Hannah is a stirring novel of family and redemption.”
— Kristina Riggle, author of Keepsake
“[an] inventive contribution…that steals the show. McComas focuses on the most important relationship of all—the relationship one has with oneself—and spins an introspective and irresistible story that, for some readers, may make this collection worthwhile.”
— Publishers Weekly on "Melon Lemon Yellow" in Bump in the Night
“McComas...writes a bittersweet tale of homecoming.
— Booklist
“...a vibrant, haunting tale of a woman trying to discard the past once and for all in order to begin again. A powerful story with a beautiful plot that will have readers routing for peace, romance, and second chances.”
— Feathered Quill
“Mary Kay McComas has written a poignant tale of the prolonged effects of domestic abuse.”
— Iron Mountain Daily News 
MY THOUGHTS/REVIEW:
WHAT HAPPENED TO HANNAH is based on a tragic situation many young people sadly find themselves in when growing up in an abusive home. Told so well by Mary Kay McComas, this is the story of Hannah Benson who as a teenager decided one night to run away from her abusive home life and father. Hannah left her sister and mother behind, but took a secret with her in order to try and find some semblance of peace and normalcy in her life.

All of Hannah’s hard work to rid herself of that past comes racing back years later with one phone call from her hometown’s Sheriff, Grady Steadman. Grady, Hannah’s high school beau, has to steel himself to tell Hannah that her mother has died. With her sister dying a while back, that leaves Hannah’s niece, Anna, alone and now to be in Hannah’s care. Hannah is forced to return to the place she fled from all those years ago in order to go “rescue” Anna. Facing the ghosts of her painful past, Hannah finds a few good things awaiting her as she remembers how she felt about Grady. She also connects with Anna and there is a glimpse of what might be a chance at a normal family for Hannah ahead.

With the responsibility of caring for her niece, Hannah has to draw on all her strength to face, and let go of, the past while in turn she keeps some of the good moments from those times. These moments include Grady. How Hannah exorcises her demons from the past and faces the deeply hidden secret (that you will guess early on, I think) makes for a story that shows this woman’s strength. Her relationship with Grady is one good part of her return and how she connects with Anna to build a new life gives hope to any who have had something horrible in their past that they have to get over.

McComas does a wonderful job letting readers get to know Hannah, as well as the other characters, with her use of in-depth character development. I enjoyed the use of the flashbacks that filled in the details to Hannah’s past, both the enjoyable as well as, sadly, the appalling parts. WHAT HAPPENED TO HANNAH becomes a story of personal victory over one’s atrocious past and how life can change, often for the better, in a strange and sudden way.
 
GIVEAWAY
THANKS TO MARY AND THE GOOD FOLKS
AT WILLIAM MORROW PAPERBACKS, I
HAVE ONE COPY OF THIS INTERESTING
BOOK TO GIVE AWAY TO ONE READER
 
--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 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON WHAT YOU READ ABOVE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO HANNAH THAT MADE YOU WANT TO WIN THIS BOOK... DON'T FORGET YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS 

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON ONE ITEM OF "PRAISE" FROM ABOVE AND TELL WHAT YOU THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT WAS WRITTEN AND PERHAPS WHY IT WOULD MAKE YOU WANT TO READ WHAT HAPPENED TO HANNAH EVEN MORE

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

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON A CURRENT GIVEAWAY THAT YOU HAVE ENTERED ON MY BLOG. IF YOU ENTERED MORE THAN ONE, YOU MAY COMMENT SEPARATELY FOR EACH TO RECEIVE MORE ENTRIES
 
GIVEAWAY ENDS AT
6 PM, EST, APRIL 10
GOOD LUCK!

131 comments:

heavenisabookstore said...

I am excited about this book. Growing up can be so hard, but to add to that an abusive home and a secret - crazy. But life seems to be circular. Great premise!

lag123 said...

I want to know what the secret is.

lag110 at mchsi dot com

lag123 said...

I liked Publisher's Weekly comment about trauma, healing, and family. I love books about relationships and healing.

lag110 at mchsi dot com

lag123 said...

Tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/lag32583/status/184946756050616320

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lag123 said...

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debbie said...

I can understand why she ran away, but it is a good thing to deal with the past, so she can move on. I would love to read the book.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

lag123 said...

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debbie said...

I entered drift.
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CMash said...

I just tweeted about the giveaway.
@CherylMash
I just entered Booking With Bingo's giveaway for What Happened To Hannah.
Mash 1195 at aol dot com

CMash said...

Lately my reading habits have changed a bit in my genres and am enjoying books with relationship dynamics. This sounds so good!! Would love to read and find out what the secret is.
CMash
Mash1195 at aol dot com

CMash said...

All the reviews are great but I think this one sums it up.
“Mary Kay McComas has written a poignant tale of the prolonged effects of domestic abuse.”
— Iron Mountain Daily News
Keeping fingers crossed for this read. Thank you for the giveaway.
CMash
Mash1195 at aol dot com

Karen B said...

This would be a nice change of pace book for me. Family dynamics can make great reading.
kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

dogwood said...

It seems she had good reason to run away, but I think everyone goes through things in which they feel that running away would solve their problems. This sounds like a great book about what happens when we deal with the past and find that there are good things right along with the bad.

dogwoodlane at suddenlink dot net

dogwood said...

I entered the LOSING CLEMENTINE giveaway.

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dogwood said...

I also entered THE UPRIGHT PIANO PLAYER giveaway.

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Pamela Keener said...

This story sounds like a good read. I wanna know if you can go home again
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Pamela Keener said...

I loved the review by The Feathered Quill that says it will have the reader routing for peace romance and second chances. Sounds like a feel good story
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Renee said...

sounds like a book I'd enjoy reading.

Reneesuz82(@) gmail.com

Carol N Wong said...

I would like to know about the secret too. Also what to know if it effects the niece at all.

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

“I love Mary Kay McComas. Her books are honest and real, and transport you to a place that feels like home.”
— Patricia Gaffney

That is the praise that I like the more. I love it when the books seem real instead of hard to believe.


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I tweeted:

http://t.co/QWaWHBEL

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

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Carol N Wong said...

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Maria D. said...

I love the idea of Hannah going back and confronting and healing her past. Great giveaway!

junegirl63 at gmail dot com

Maria D. said...

I loved the praise by Nora Roberts because I love reading about characters that I can relate to and if Hannah is like an approachable next door neighbor that's even better...

junegirl63 at gmail dot com

Maria D. said...

I tweeted the review and giveaway

https://twitter.com/#!/crazymidwestgal/status/185160374713188352

junegirl63 at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

I would love to know what happened to Hannah to make her run away. Please enter me in contest. I am a follower and email sbuscriber. Tore923@aol.com

Linda Kish said...

It's good that she got away and good that she rescues her niece. I'd like to see how she and her niece develop their relationship and where they go from there.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

I appreciated the comment of the Iron Mountain Daily News -“Mary Kay McComas has written a poignant tale of the prolonged effects of domestic abuse.” I am sure the effects are long-standing.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

Entered LONE WOLF

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rubynreba said...

The review makes me want to know what the secret is!
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

I like the comment from Patricia Gaffney that you will never forget What Happened to Hannah.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

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Margie said...

I'd like to find out how Hannah overcomes her past and comes to find peace. Thanks for the giveaway.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

Publishers' Weekly called this "a tale of bittersweet homecoming." Makes it sound very intriguing.
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rbooth43 said...

This subject of Domestic abuse is very dear to me as I have a friend who went through this. Thank God, she has finally gotten out of the situation and has remarried and very happy. I would love to read SO PRETTY IT HURTS!
Thanks!
Rebecca
rbooth43(at)yahoo(dot)com

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Anonymous said...

impressed that nora roberts gave a praise comment for this book!
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Anonymous said...

sounds like a dillemma for the main character, to have to confront your past and take care of a teen
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mamabunny13 said...

I would like to find out about the secret.
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Anonymous said...

I would love to win this book to see how she adapts to being put into a parental role

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thank you

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Nancye said...

This sounds like an incredible book! Very intriguing! I can't imagine how hard it must've been for Hannah to return to "face her ghosts" to rescue her niece, Anna. I wonder what her "secret" is?

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

I found the praise by Nora Roberts made me really want to read this book. She said that the characters were "real", that's just the kind of book I love to read. Nora Roberts is such an amazing author herself that I trust her opinion.

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

I Tweeted!
@NancyeDavis

https://twitter.com/#!/NancyeDavis/status/189191945950740481

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rubynreba said...

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