First the winner from Day 8:
Congrats to Krista for winning The Sword of the Lyric Series! Tomorrow I will draw a winner for Coldwater Revival by Nancy Jo Jenkins.
Now back to the alphabet!
I am going through the alphabet and giving books away alphabetically by author (Day 1 was Arbertburn for "A," Day 2 was by an author that started with "B" and so on...). The drawing for the books will be held 10 days after each book is posted, i.e., the drawing for the book posted on March 1 will be on March 11. Make sense? So you gotta keep checking back to see what's next!
First, the rules:
1. Post a comment to the blogs with books that you want to win. In your post you get to answer a silly question:
Today's Question: "What's one of the silliest things to ever happen to you?" (I could use a laugh, with still sick husband) Here's mine: I tried to duck under my parent's garage door as it was closing (an old one without the automatic stop feature) and my sweater got caught on a nail head sticking out the back of the garage door. I couldn't get it unhooked so the door closed all the way and I had to lay down in front of the garage door. I was trapped! So I yelled for help and my mom opened the garage door to see what was wrong! I was still hook on it so she kept pushing the door up and down while I went up and down with it! Finally she yelled, "strip!" and so I took off my sweater in front of my cute neighbor boy! Crazy!
2. Not all books I review will be giveaways. Only the ones that have this logo with them.
3. Wait to see if you win. Today's book giveaway will be drawn on March 26.
Tomorrow is the drawing day for the "J" book!
These are the other books you can still sign up to win (post a comment on the pages linked below):
Day 10 was Coldwater Revival by Nancy Jo Jenkins
Day 11 was Skizzer by A.J. Kiesling
Day 12 was Perfecting Kate by Tamara Leigh
Day 13 was Miss Match and Rematch by Erynn Mangum
Day 14 was the To-Catch-A-Thief series by Jill Elizabeth Nelson.
Day 15 was The Watchers by Mark Andrew Olson
Day 16 was Feeling for Bones by Bethany Pierce
Day 17 was Quaker Summer by Lisa Samson
Day 18 was The Mark of the Lion Series by Francine Rivers
Today's letter is "S" and the book is Every Good and Perfect Gift by Sharon K. Souza, one my favorites of the books I've read!
Book Description
After thirty close years, Gabby and DeeDee's lifelong friendship holds no surprises. Except for one: Thirty-eight-year-old DeeDee and her husband have decided to conceive their first child. And despite their concerns and a struggle with infertility, DeeDee finally gives birth to a healthy baby. But while the friends believe they have faced their greatest challenge, an unexpected tragedy will alter their lives and relationship forever.
In the classic tradition of movies such as Beaches and Steel Magnolias, Every Good and Perfect Gift shares a heartwarming story of friendship that overcomes all odds. Filled with laughter, tears, and everything in between, Gabby and DeeDee's journey will strike a chord with female readers of all ages.
From the Back Cover
"I'm not the strong one. I've never been the strong one."
So believes Gabby Whitaker in her friendship with DeeDee McAllister. They've been best friends since sixth grade, when headstrong and courageous DeeDee began mapping out their lives. But after twenty years with her husband, DeeDee changes the plan. Nearing forty years old, she wants a baby--now! Two years of infertility, prayers, and outrageous behavior finally result in the birth of DeeDee's demand.
Gabby is present for all of it, noting the increasingly strange behavior of her lifelong friend after the baby's birth. Then comes a diagnosis that threatens to shatter their world. Now Gabby must find the strength and faith to carry DeeDee and herself through the dark unknown, but is she up for it?
My Review:
Wow! This one is going to be one of my favorites for 2008. I can already tell. The author says of this book that she wanted to write about a "David and Jonathon" friendship with women. It definately is that. The friendship between Gabby and DeeDee is beautiful. They have been friends since childhood, sharing a lifetime of bonds and memories, marrying guys who were friends too, deciding to not have children, they are family. But then one day over their usual lunch DeeDee tells Gabby that she wants to have a baby. Gabby is shocked but supportive and so begins a three-year journey for DeeDee to get pregnant with Gabby beseeching God for an answer to their prayer. And when the prayer is answered and DeeDee has her sweet baby girl, all should be pure joy, but something is wrong with DeeDee and Gabby is terrified. How Gabby's pleas to heaven tore at my heart and reminded me of how we all rant at God in hard times and try to understand "why" even while we know there are no answers now.
What an amazing book. It was sweet and touching. It is a special book and the warmth in my heart after reading it will stay with me for a long time. Isn't amazing how books of this calibre can make you want to be a better person? Can make you smile with the tenderness of it even while you bat away tears from the poignancy? Very moving. It was funny and thoughtful at the same time. I want all my friends to read it! Souza has a wonderful voice that made you love Gabby for her goodness and faithfulness and DeeDee for her determination and outlook. I loved DeeDee's personality and the way she looked at life as if it would go her way and wouldn't dare to do anything but work out the way she expected it to. I loved Gabby's personality too and the way she held steadfast to her beliefs and, while thinking that she wasn't strong, showed strength and love that was beautiful and Christlike.
