Saturday, June 26, 2010

April and Oliver Review and GIVEAWAY

The story begins at the end of April's brother's life. The teenager dies in a car accident and hopes his sister knows that he doesn't suffer in death.

The next scene is Buddy's funeral. This is the opportunity for all the surviving players in the story to come together. The reader is introduced to April, a 28 year old bartender, Oliver, a 28 year old law student, Bernadette, Oliver's fiance, Hal, Oliver's father and Al, Oliver's brother. Missing from the scene are April's deceased parents, Hal's deceased wife, and Nana, alive and kicking but kept in the dark.

The story unfolds at a savoring pace. April and Oliver's father's are stepbrothers. April and Oliver were inseparable as children and sheltered Buddy, as well. Both protagonists have plans for their futures. April wants to live by the sea. Oliver wants to be a pianist.

It is a story of deep friendship, longing, forgiving, and redemption. The story is beautifully crafted. The characters took some time to take root and grow in my mind. The ending is not happy or sad but satisfying.  The Readers Group Guide adds layers to story and is fantastic for discussion.

Thanks to Hatchette  I have a copy for one lucky reader. Same rules as usual. Forget them? They're easy.
1. Make a comment and include email address.
2. Extra comments for extra entries (follower, tweet, facebook, link in blog)
3. Extra entry for skipping sometime today. No. I mean it. Stand up and skip across the room. 

It made you smile, didn't it.

4. U.S. and Canada residents with physical address
Contest ends July 9th

57 comments:

Carol W. said...

I'm so glad to find your giveaway. I've been wanting to read this book.

wolfcarol451(at)gmail(dot)com

Carol W. said...

I'm a new follower.

wolfcarol451(at)gmail(dot)com

Carol W. said...

Okay, okay. I skipped!

wolfcarol451(at)gmail(dot)com

Marilu said...

This sounds like a great read! I am a follower of your blog!
I was just finished explaining to my hubby and son why I was skipping in the house, when I read that it is open to US residents. LOL!! At least I got a little exercise...lol!

I am a Canadian resident, but I do have a friend in the US that would be willing to mail it to me if I happened to win! Could I enter if that is the case?

lovemykidsandbooks AT gmail DOT com

Amy (ArtsyBookishGal) said...

U.S. Resident!!!

Sounds like a super book!


Amy
artsyrockerchick at aim dot com

Amy (ArtsyBookishGal) said...

I'm also a follower!


Amy
artsyrockerchick at aim dot com

Sarah E said...

Please enter me in this giveaway!

saemmerson at yahoo dot com

Sarah E

Sarah E said...

I follow via GFC.

saemmerson at yahoo dot com

Sarah E

Sarah E said...

I tweeted:

http://twitter.com/saemmerson/status/17137964366

saemmerson at yahoo dot com

Sarah E

Sarah E said...

I skipped across the room!!

saemmerson at yahoo dot com

Sarah E

Sarah E said...

I shared on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/sarah.emmerson?v=wall&story_fbid=124883717553214&ref=mf

saemmerson at yahoo dot com

Sarah E

Marilu said...

I follow through google friend connect!

lovemykidsandbooks AT gmail DOT com

Marilu said...

Posting a separate comment for an extra entry for my " skipping episode"! Which by the way my hubby thought was kind of funny.

lovemykidsandbooks AT gmail DOT com

Kris said...

Great blog! (and you are funny LOL!) I've been wanting to read this one!
+1 for a new follower :)
+1 for skipping...yes I actually skipped because I would feel guilty for giving myself a point and not skipping...
:)

ksg_amg(at)yahoo.com

Jenny Bolech said...

Thanks for the chance to win this book - sounds interesting!

jenny.maurer84 at gmail dot com

Jenny Bolech said...

I'm a follower of your blog on Google friend connect!

jenny.maurer84 at gmail dot com

Jenny Bolech said...

Haha! I skipped across the room - so goofy!

jenny.maurer84 at gmail dot com

CountessLaurie said...

I have so many questions! Is Buddy a ghost? Why is Nana kept in the dark? Does April and Oliver hook up? How does Bernadette feel about that?

Guess I am just gonna have to read it :-)

l.moore.j (stillat) gmail.com (because that is what I printed on my goofy business cards. all 500 of them)

CountessLaurie said...

How do I facebook? Just a link or do you have a profile I can "like"?

CountessLaurie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
CountessLaurie said...

Okay...I skipped. Skipping in flip flops is hard. And I think I hurt my knee. I'm old, you know.

Ginny said...

Looks like a beautiful book, sad but I'm sure it is a good story!

Anonymous said...

I would like to enter this contest. Thanks!
peacelily_2006(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I am a follower.
peacelily_2006(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I skipped! Thanks for giving me something to laugh about!
peacelily_2006(at)yahoo(dot)com

Shannon said...

Thank you for entering me. =)
tiredwkids at live dot com

Shannon said...

Now you've done it. The kids are skipping around the house. =)
tiredwkids at live dot com

Shannon said...

I'm a follower.
tiredwkids at live dot com

Andie said...

Ohhh I really want to read this one!
andie.v107(at)yahoo(dot)com

Elise said...

Thanks, excited about this giveaway.
caliblue7 at gmail dot com

Elise said...

GFC follower
caliblue7 at gmail dot com

Elise said...

I skipped! Sadly that was my only exercise of the day or week for that matter. :)
caliblue7 at gmail dot com

Cindy W. said...

I would really love to win this book. Thank you for the opportunity.

Smiles,
Cindy W.

countrybear52[at]yahoo[dot]com

Cindy W. said...

I am a GFC follower.

Smiles,
Cindy W.

countrybear52[at]yahoo[dot]com

Cindy W. said...

I skipped. I love to skip. My husband thinks I'm crazy when I skip down the sidewalk...maybe it's because I'm 57 years old (young). It's still fun at my age. :)

Smiles,
Cindy W.

countrybear52[at]yahoo[dot]com

Mama4Real said...

julie _ presley 48 @ yahoo dot com

you read a LOT!

Mama4Real said...

I follow!

nfmgirl said...

I'd love this book! Please count me in. Thank you!

nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com

nfmgirl said...

Tweet:
http://twitter.com/nfmgirl/status/17974136704

nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com

nfmgirl said...

You know, it's been so long since I skipped that I'm not sure whether I did it right. It felt more like a polka!

Really! I did! So does it really count as an entry?

nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com

Nancye said...

I would LOVE to win this book!! Please count me in!

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

Follower

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

Since I am unable to walk, I had my daughter skip across the room. Hope that counts! ;)

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Benita said...

Just found your blog. Where have I been? It's great. I'd love to read this book. Keeping crossed fingers.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Benita said...

New follower (GFC)

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a good read.

rhoneygtn at yahoo dot com

Reading said...

Please count me in. Thanks for the giveaway.

lizzi0915 at aol dot com

Simply Stacie said...

I follow.

simplystacieblog at gmail dot com

Persephone said...

I would love a copy of this book, I read it before and loved it!

patronus89013 at yahoo dot com

Persephone said...

I'm a new GFC follower!

patronus89013 at yahoo dot com

Colleen Turner said...

This book has been on my TBR list for a long time now...I would love to win a copy!
Thanks,
candc320@gmail.com

Colleen Turner said...

I signed up to be a GFC follower.
candc320@gmail.com

Colleen Turner said...

I signed up to subscribe to your RSS feed on my igoogle page.
candc320@gmail.com

Colleen Turner said...

I skipped around the room (which is no small feet this morning as my five year old would not sleep last night and is hyper already today) :).
candc320@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

I would love to read this book, sounds like a great summer/beach read. Please accept this as my entry! Thank you!

Aliya D.
aliyadaya(at)shaw(dot)ca

Anonymous said...

The skipping did make me smile... My nephew and I skipped across the room together this morning, followed by some music and boogie-down dance-fest! Thanks!

Aliya D.
aliyadaya(at)shaw(dot)ca

Anita Yancey said...

Sounds like a book I would enjoy reading. Please enter me. Thanks!

ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net