The House on Mermaid Point by Wendy Wax (plus giveaway!)

The House on Mermaid Point by Wendy Wax

Photo Credit: Goodreads

This book was sent to Traveling With T in exchange for a fair review.

The House on Mermaid Point

In this new novel from the author of Ten Beach Road and Ocean Beach, three unlikely friends who were thrown together by disaster get a do-over on life, love, and happiness . . . 
Maddie, Avery, and Nikki first got to know one another—perhaps all too well—while desperately restoring a beachfront mansion to its former grandeur. Now they’re putting that experience to professional use. But their latest project has presented some challenges they couldn’t have dreamed up in their wildest fantasies—although the house does belong to a man who actually was Maddie’s wildest fantasy once . . .

Rock-and-roll legend “William the Wild” Hightower may be past his prime, estranged from his family, and creatively blocked, but he’s still worshiped by fans—which is why he guards his privacy on his own island in the Florida Keys. He’s not thrilled about letting this crew turn his piece of paradise into a bed-and-breakfast for a reality show . . . though he is intrigued by Maddie. Hard as that is for her to believe as a newly single woman who can barely manage a dog paddle in the dating pool.

But whether it’s an unexpected flirtation with a bona fide rock star, a strained mother-daughter relationship, or a sudden tragedy, these women are in it together. The only thing that might drive them apart is being trapped on a houseboat with one bathroom.

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Giveaway: THE HOUSE ON MERMAID POINT by Wendy Wax

The House on Mermaid Point by Wendy Wax

Berkley Trade Paperback- July 1

 

 

Eeeek! Traveling With T has 1 copy of THE HOUSE ON MERMAID POINT by Wendy Wax to give away to a lucky person (US/Canada!) But wait, it’s not just an ARC.. Oh no- this is an EARLY FINISHIED COPY (I’ll pause while you run around the house screaming and shrieking with excitement).

Good! You’re back- well the details on how to win this glorious prize are at the bottom of the post along with the Rafflecopter link! I won’t lie- this book cover has been calling out to me for weeks- ever since I first saw it while investigating some summer reads- and I think it’s going to be fantastic!

 

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Literary Friday, ya’ll……

literary friday

 

It’s Literary Friday! Talk of Gone Girl is buzzing about today (more on that later!)

 

1. Deep South Magazine and their #literaryfriday: Karen White and Return to Tradd Street news, Gone Girl made the list for 16 books being made to movies to see, Wiley Cash’s latest, A Dark Road To Mercy is a mover and shaker (don’t forget to join in Twitter chat Jan 31’st hosted by Deep South Mag!) and so much more!

 

2. Always With A Book got to meet Sue Monk Kidd this week- read on for her exciting tale!

 

3. Giveaways, giveaways, giveaways! Always With A Book is giving away Wendy Wax’s While We Were Watching Downton Abbey (ends TODAY) AND Eggs in a Casket by Laura Childs. Traveling With T (that’s me!) is giving away an e-copy of Wild Ones by Kristine Wylyys and The Tulip Eaters by Antoinette V Heugten.

 

4. So, back to the Gone Girl thing. The news on the internet today is that Gillian Flynn re-wrote the ending for the movie version of Gone Girl. Say what?! What are your thoughts on this news? Here’s mine: We prob should have seen this coming. It’s really not that surprising- I mean, don’t get me wrong- I wish THE ENDING would be the ending in the movie. But, it’s not going to stop me from watching the movie. I say pass the popcorn and hand me my large strawberry drink while I enjoy Gone Girl on the big screen!

 

5. Bloggers Made of AWESOME is back this week with Krysta from Pages Unbound! Read about her #literaryconfession!

 

6. I reviewed River Road by Jayne Ann Krentz this week- the right amount of suspense and romance for me!

 

7. What are your 2014 reading goals? Here is some of mine!

 

8. Don’t forget: Twitter chat with Jennie Shortridge 1/15! Use #srbkchat to join in the fun- it begins at 8pmEST and there will be 3 copies of LOVE WATER MEMORY given away!

 

9. You know, I said that Traveling With T had some good news- well, I just posted a new button in my sidebar- I’m a Harlequin V.I.B (Very Important Blogger). Which means that Traveling With T will be having access to more great giveaways (which is great for you!)

 

10. What are you #fridayreads? I just finished my ARC of Murder With Ganache by Lucy Burdette (loved it!) and will be starting The Goldfinch soon.

 

 

“Serious” book lovers- don’t hate me because I prefer “happy” books.

Last night, I was chatting with a group of women in a conference call about different books. These ladies I met at Booktopia Oxford last summer- and I find them intelligent, articulate, and wonderful. But, as we discuss books and different things, some of the group gets to talking about “serious” books- all the Tournament of Books list, various prestigious awards these books are being considered for, and how most of them were so excited that Orphan Master’s Son won TOB (I’ll be 100% honest: When the ladies wanted to do TOB racket, I was like “sure- I’m in”- and I was doing pretty good. Until Gone Girl got knocked out- because I had Gone Girl taking the Rooster. Side note: this is why I don’t bet in March Madness- I apparently don’t have the skills to pull off the win!)

And while none of the group ever makes fun of me for my lack of serious book reading, this is where I almost being to feel like an imposter in the book world, where I feel like someone is going to discover my lack of “serious” book reading. This is where I begin to ponder the questions: Am I really an avid reader if I don’t prefer the “serious” books? Do I lose “book cred” by not reading the “serious” books- the non-fiction, the tales of life in foreign countries, the dreadful situations, the politically charged?

And thanks to an article that Wendy Wax wrote, I have an answer. Wendy writes: “For those of you who have been made to feel ashamed for choosing a ‘beach read’ over the latest version of War and Peace, I say do not be cowed.”

And so, yes, I freely admit that I read the fun books, the beach books, the cozy books. I like mysteries, I like some Southern Lit. I like the books where the characters go through a bad patch; yet come through it wiser and happy. I still occassionally like a non-fiction, and I don’t mind a book that makes me cry- although I don’t want to cry the whole time I read. I even like books where the ending is not completely clear! I’m just not a fan of the “”serious” books- the ones  that make me want to stick a needle in my eye and pull my hair out! As Bob Ross once said:” We want happy paintings. Happy Paintings. If you want sad things, watch the news.”

Life’s too short to read books that bore you- find the books that make you happy, the books that fulfill you- and read.