25 Book Reviews

Friday, March 2, 2018

A Fantastic Debut Novel by Teresa Tysinger!!! Don't forget to enter the giveaway!





                 "Someplace Familiar"
                    By Teresa Tysinger


About the Book:


Release date: May, 2017
Artist Livy Johnson needs a fresh start. That’s what a broken heart and forgotten dreams can do to a person. On little more than a whim, she reclaims her grandmother’s old home in quaint Laurel Cove, North Carolina and vows to restore its original charm. When she literally collides with childhood friend, Jack Bowdon, Livy wonders if she’s back for an entirely different reason.
Jack can’t believe his childhood crush is back. As the owner of Bowdon’s Supplies, and once again the town’s most eligible bachelor, he offers to help Livy with repairs. Together they embark on the project – and an undeniable whirlwind romance.
But it’s not all smooth sailing. Can they survive the destructive pain of their pasts and discover God’s grace waiting to renovate their hearts?

Click here to purchase your copy!
My Thoughts:


The cover of this book immediately caught my eye! There is something about it that calls to me saying, "READ ME!"  As Teresa Tysinger is a new author, the novel was an unknown territory to me. How glad I am that that cover caught my attention! Upon starting to read, I was whisked away to a place called Laurel Cove where I met and connected with some of the most interesting people.

The main characters, Livy and Jack were described in such a detailed and realistic fashion that it was very easy to identify with both . The author is very talented at creating characters that have depth and meaning. I loved the fact that she showed us bits and pieces of their childhood to understand where each was coming from. Both Livy and Jack had pasts that they had to deal with in order to attain joy in a new relationship. I have to admit, I love a good romance and this was one!!  These characters were not without flaws and had to learn to forgive themselves as well as others . 

The plot had just enough twists and turns to keep the reader engaged from start to finish. Tackling the subject of verbal abuse was done in a creative, sensitive manner . The Christian message of how forgiveness is a true healer comes through loud and clear. When one attains this, then a future becomes so much brighter and full of hope. 

  A VERY impressive debut novel!!
Teresa Tysinger, I will be waiting for more novels from you!! ]
This was a great read!!


This book was received as a gift. The thoughts and opinions expressed are honest and my own. I was not required to give a positive review. 

About the Author:



Teresa Tysinger is a wife and mother transplanted from North Carolina to North Texas. When not working as the Director of Communications for a large downtown church, she writes charming southern romances inspired by grace. Her debut novel, Someplace Familiar, released this summer. She also is a contributing writer for the Fort Worth Moms Blog (part of the national City Moms Blog Network). A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Religious Communicators’ Council, and the Association for Women in Communications, Teresa has spent over a decade committed to telling stories of faith through written word. She loves coffee, caramel, and stories with happy endings.


Guest Post from Teresa Tysinger

Someplace Familiar began way back in 2014 when I participated in National Novel Writer’s Month, a challenge to write a 50,000 word novel during the month of November. It was an exhilarating, albeit exhausting, experience! Since then, the book was workshopped with a critique group, had large portions rewritten countless times, pitched at workshops, edited by two editors, and even renamed (original title was Good Graces). After a lot of prayer, I decided that self-publishing would give me the greatest flexibility and control while being able to maintain my responsibilities as a wife, mother, and full-time communications director. It’s been a wonderful ride!
About the Inspiration for Someplace Familiar One thing I’ve learned about myself through writing Someplace Familiar is how much I am personally drawn to setting and place. The idea for the book was born out of my desire to introduce readers to the charming small-town life found in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina where I went to college. Laurel Cove, the fictional town where the story is set, is directly based on my best friend’s hometown of Burnsville, NC. The other source of inspiration comes from my great-grandmother’s tiny bungalow home in West Palm Beach, Florida. Long weekends and summer vacations spent there were full of imagination, adventure, and sweet memories. The scents of her garden, feel of the damp earth beneath my feet, slow pace matching gauzy curtains dancing in the breeze—it all is mirrored in the cottage home of Livy’s Gram in the book. The rest of the story formed around my desire to capture my childhood memories of this home that was so magical and safe for me.
About My Writing Style Here are a few ways I would describe my writing style: Sensory—I aim to provide readers with an experience that enlivens all of their senses. Relatable—It’s my hope that readers see themselves in realistic, flawed characters trying to make their way to discovering grace in a less than perfect world. Charming—Like any good southern fiction, there’s a good dose of charm in these pages.
My prayer is that Someplace Familiar will touch readers with an awareness of God’s grace even during circumstances and within relationships that feel hopeless. Restoration is possible!

Blog Stops

Just Commonly, March 1
Pursuing Stacie, March 1
Among the Reads, March 2
Bigreadersite, March 2
Quiet quilter, March 3
C Jane Read, March 4
Remembrancy, March 5
Book by Book, March 7
A Greater Yes, March 10
Carpe Diem, March 13
Simple Harvest Reads, March 14 (Guest post from Mindy)

Giveaway


To celebrate her tour, Teresa is giving away a grand prize of a gift basket that includes a signed copy of the book, an Original Painting by Author’s Sister (artist Cyndi Browning), and a $10 Amazon Gift Card!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/ca5b

3 comments:

  1. Thank you for your review and information on "Someplace Familiar" by Teresa Tysinger as well as being part of the book tour. I'd very much love the chance to read this book.
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

    ReplyDelete
  2. Interesting story idea - verbal abuse isn't often tackled in books that I've read.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Karla, thanks so much for hosting Someplace Familiar! I'm so blessed by your amazing review. :) And, as a professional graphic designer, a big part of me LOVES that the cover grabbed your attention, too. Haha.

    ReplyDelete

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