Monday, January 17, 2011

On My Nightstand - The Rhythm of Secrets by Patti Lacy - Recommendation/Giveaway!

Due to a scheduling conflict, I've decided to post this book recommendation/giveaway today. Stayed tuned. Details of the giveaway follow my comments.

Sheila Franklin knows how to adapt to changing situations. She's a survivor...at least on the outside. Married to a minister, she's built a life, but one telephone call marks the end of her chameleon existence.

Not only are her secrets revealed, but she must also choose between the man she loves and the son she longs to help. Will she stop running from her past and face it no matter what the cost or once again hide behind her mask?

This is the first book I've read by Patti Lacy, the first of many I hope. (Keep writing, Patti!) She captures the 1940's - 1960's time period from the settings to the attitudes and culture.

Sheila's growth from childhood to 40-something gives an accurate portrayal of a child coping with tragedy, learning, making mistakes, and ultimately getting her life on track. Her speech and thought patterns are always age appropriate.

I read this book in a few days. The story kept drawing me back to see what would happen. The grand finale exploded across the pages, making my heart pound as if I were the character. You don't want to miss this riveting story.

Want an opportunity to win, "The Rhythm of Secrets?" Well, you've come to the right place. :)

1. The giveaway is open to existing Followers and new Followers. Due to various laws, only U.S. residents are eligible. The giveaway is void where prohibited.

2. Comment on this post and leave your email address in the spam-busting format. Example: susanjreinhardt AT _______DOTcom Sorry, no email address = no entry

3. Want an extra entry? Post a link about the contest on your blog, and send me an email with the link to  your post. susanjreinhardt AT gmail DOT com

4. Deadline: Saturday, January 22, 2011, at midnight. The winner will be chosen by random drawing on Sunday, January 23, 2011 and notified via email. A notice will be posted on the blog sometime Sunday.

Disclaimer: The publisher provided me with a copy of this book, but the opinions expressed here are my own. The book is being given away in this contest.

For the reader: Have you ever thought of the 1940's - 1960's as a historical time period? It seems strange to me since I've lived through some of those years. Writers: If you write historicals, is this an era you'd consider?





49 comments:

Katie Ganshert said...

I'm reading it right now. Patti is a beautiful writer. The imagery she creates is wonderful. :)

Wendy Paine Miller said...

I've been told my copy is in the mail. Can't wait to start it. I've read her work before. Patti brings you through a story.
~ Wendy

Patti Lacy said...

Hey! Glad to see, on Martin Luther King Day, that folks are up and about!
GREAT questions, Susan! The Rhythm of Secrets was a tough sell BECAUSE of its not quite historical, not quite contemporary time period. I personally think of it more as women's fiction, but then I see almost EVERYTHING as women's fiction.

Thanks for having me at your great place!
Patti

Patti Lacy said...

Susan, you have been one of my book's early fans. Thank you for taking the time from YOUR schedule to do so.

Katie, Thank You !I just LOVE playing with words...and always have! They were better than blocks or dolls!

Wendy, hope that baby gets to you soon. In the meantime, attack that TBR...and TBWritten pile!!!
Patti

CarlybirdH said...

This sounds like such a good book. I would love to win a copy. I am a follower of this blog. To answer your question, Susan, I do think of the 1940s-1960s to be a historic time period. There were so many significant events that shaped the way our nation is now (for good or bad) in such a relatively short span of time. I find that time period fascinating in our history. Thank you and God bless.

Melanie N. Brasher said...

I just won this book and I'm so excited to read it.

Patti is truly a beautiful writer!

Patti Lacy said...

Carlybird, thanks for stopping by!I've been THRILLED this year to read other books from this time period, especially Carla Stewart's "Chasing Lilacs."

So what IS a good distance between the present and past to allow "historical" gaze?
GOOD QUESTION!

Patti Lacy said...

Melanie, I'll hold that comment close during this slooooowwww editing day! How did all these mistakes get in the manuscript???

Jaime Wright said...

Sounds wonderful!!! I've never heard of it or her, so I will definitely check it out! :)

Patti Lacy said...

Jaime!
Nice to make your acquaintance!!
Hopefully Susan's great blog will help spread the word!!!

Patti

Karen Lange said...

Yes, I do consider this time period for historicals. I've read a few that I really enjoyed. I'd consider writing one from this era.

I'd love to be entered, thanks so much!
Blessings,
Karen
klange61(at)hotmail(dot)com

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Hi Katie -

Thanks for adding to the kudos. I can't say enough nice things about Patti's book.

Blessings,
Susan :)

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Hi Wendy -

I'm so glad I finally had an opportunity to read Patti's work. I know you'll enjoy this story.

Blessings,
Susan :)

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Hi Patti -

Thanks for stopping by!

No matter what the genre, it's a wonderful story. The time period is certainly history for anyone born in the 1960's or later.

Blessings,
Susan :)

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Hi Patti -

My pleasure. :)

Blessings,
Susan

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Hi CarlybirdK -

I'd love to enter you in the giveaway, but I need your email address. :)

Blessings,
Susan

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Hi Melanie -

I see Patti will have many new reader friends. I can't wait until her next book comes out.

Blessings,
Susan :)

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Hi Patti -

What a great question! Okay, everyone, what do you think?

Personally, I believe 40-50 years is a good timeframe. Even if people are still around who experienced those events, it's still part of their history.

My mother and her friend recently read a book set during WWII. While they didn't consider it history, it brought back many memories.

Blessings,
Susan :)

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Hi Jaime -

Did you want to enter the giveaway? If you leave your email address, I'll put your name in the hat. :)

Blessings,
Susan

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Hi Karen -

I think a lot of people would see this as a historical. After all, it took place in the 20th Century.

Thanks for entering the giveaway. :)

Blessings,
Susan

Cindy R. Wilson said...

Yay for Patti, and I'm glad to see your review of her book here, Susan. I'd love a chance to read this book!

wilsoncindyr(at)gmail(dot)com

Amanda said...

You know, I never did consider the 40's - 60's as historical. I don't know why as I definitely see it with clothing patterns!
Thank you for the opportunity to win.

kjv1611as at gmail dot com

**I'm a New Follower!**

Patti Lacy said...

Karen, it's been fun running into you here and there:)

Cindy, thanks for stopping by here as well.

Amanda, isn't this a GREAT blog? I've been limited lately with blog visits but have Susan's place handy, both on my blog roll and Google Reader. It's a nice mix of author news, reader buzz, and the bends and turns in the road of the Christian walk.

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Hi Cindy -

Thanks for entering the giveaway. Patti is an outstanding author.

Blessings,
Susan :)

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Hi Amanda -

Thanks for becoming a Follower and entering the giveaway. I hope you'll visit again.

The 1940's, '50's, and '60's each had a distinctive look both in clothing and household furnishings. I enjoy watching antiques roadshow and various decorating programs. Would you believe the clothing is considered vintage?

Blessings,
Susan :)

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Hi Patti -

Thank you for your kind words about my blog. I appreciate your participation in the discussion. I enjoy the give and take in the comments almost as much as writing the blog posts.

Blessings,
Susan :)

Janna Leadbetter said...

Count me in! Would love to win this one, so I can read and plop it next to What the Bayou Saw on my shelf.

Best to Patti, and wonderful writer and sincere friend!

jannawritesATyahooDOTcom

Great giveaway, Susan. Thanks!

quietspirit said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Hi Janna -

Ah, you've already sampled Patti's books! Thanks for entering the giveaway. :)

Blessings,
Susan

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Hi Quiet Spirit -

Woohoo! Maybe you'll win this one too.

Blessings,
Susan :)

quietspirit said...

Susan:
I won a copy of one of her other books,"What the Bayou Saw" It was riveting.
Please enter my name in the drawing.
cll4himATsbcglobalDOTnet.

Lillian Robinson said...

Historical? Um... now I'm feeling old. I lived through a few of those years. (Not that I remember them.) I enjoy reading things from that era. I guess when I think of historical, I think of women in hats and full dresses. I'd love to read it. I'd love to win it!

lilyrobinsonATliveDOTcom

CarlybirdH said...

Goodness! How could I forget my email address?! Thank you for reminding me :-)
carlyberd[at]yahoo[dot]com

Patti - I loved Chasing Lilacs too!

Patti Lacy said...

Lily, I think you hit the nail on the COFFIN!!! Folks don't think of the 60s as historical and thus haven't traditionally been drawn to them. THANKS for your interest in my book! You seem like my kind of reader!!!

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Hi Lily -

Ahem. I not only lived through a bunch of them, but I remember them.

Years ago, a friend told me how much she appreciated talking to me because we lived through the same time period. Younger people would give her a blank stare when she talked about Howdy Doody or Milton Berle.

Blessings,
Susan :)

Tyora Moody said...

Awesome blog! Susan, thank you for hosting The Rhythm of Secrets Blog Tour for Patti today.

Blessings!

Jeanette Levellie said...

Don't enter my name, Susan; I have one of my very own. Patti has mastered the art of painting word pictures with finesse and beauty. This is her best writing yet!

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Hi Ty -

Thanks! I loved Patti's book and I'm glad I joined the blog tour.

Blessings,
Susan :)

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Hi Jen -

Thanks for stopping by and giving a thumbs up to Patti's writing. (I love that word, "finesse.")

Blessings,
Susan :)

Patti Lacy said...

Janna, you are SO SWEET! Yes, Sally and Shamika and Ella are LONELY, girl!

They need Sheila and Sylvia and Sheba.

You know what? I JUST realized how many "S" names I have.

Anonymous said...

Sounds great! I love history, especially the years just around the corner from me. alisahopewagner(AT)yahoo(DOT)com

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Hi Patti -

I have a lot of "J" names in my manuscript. I didn't even notice you had a lot of names starting with "S."

I think it's perfectly okay. After all, parents often name their children with the same first initial.

Blessings,
Susan :)

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Hi Alisa -

Thanks for entering!

Hmm, I like the term "near history." It's much better than stale current events. LOL!

Blessings,
Susan :)

Patti Lacy said...

Faith Imagined...LOVE that blog name! Thanks for stopping by! Glad you like historicals.

Because of THIS GREAT BLOG, I checked my final Back Cover Copy. It seems this book might be GENERAL, WOMEN'S FICTION...or HISTORICAL. Would love to hear what folks think:) We'll let the readers vote!

Kristen Torres-Toro said...

I cannot wait to read this book!

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Hi Patti -

Too funny! Just think, it gives your book a wider audience. :)

Blessings,
Susan

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Hi Kristen -

Would you like to enter the giveaway? Stop back and leave your email address.

Blessings,
Susan :)

Patti Lacy said...

This sure was a great blog stop.
Thank you, Kristin, for your readership...and friendship!

Susan, I cannot thank you enough for being a tireless champion of my writing...and providing a nice soft couch these last few days.

Blessings for your own writing.

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Hi Patti -

The week isn't over yet! I hope more folks will come and enter the giveaway. This book is a treat.

Blessings,
Susan :)