Lucky Change by Susan Law Corpany

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Sheila's Reviews
Feb 042011
 

Lucky Change

Author: Susan Law Corpany

Publisher: Bonneville Books (Cedar Fort)

Published: 2010

ISBN: 978-1-59955-392-4

FTC FYI: I received a free copy, which in no way influenced my review

After a fluke lottery win, Karen Donaldson – the ward charity case – is determined to use her millions to pay back all the kindness she’s received. But the future holds a few more surprises for Karen, her neighbors, and someone she thought was gone forever. Sweet, funny, and full of heart, this off-beat comedy is perfect for anyone who’s ever dreamed of making it big.

I really loved Lucky Change. This was a unique story of a down on your luck, divorced woman who strikes it rich. Karen, the main character, is a lively and good-hearted woman. She is not like the other women in her ward, who at times have not been too kind to her. This does not stop Karen from wanting to help others and shower them with kindness and money. You can not help but love Karen and her humor. Her outlook on life can’t help but bring a smile to your face. Bishop Parley doesn’t always know what to say in guiding Karen in using her new wealth. Bishop Parley tells Karen to be careful about who she tells about her winning the lottery. Karen let’s him know that she already gave her notice at Smiths that she won’t be working there anymore. This is what she told her co-workers, “I told them I struck it rich and was gonna sit around the rest of my life eatin’ cookie dough. Everybody just laughed. Nobody believed me, even though I had a whole shopping cart full.” You can see just a little of her humor from that, but you have to read the whole story to really get to know her. When you finish the book, you wish that you really did have a good friend like Karen; and not because of the money that she could give you.

I wanted you to know more about how this fantastic book was written. I had the pleasure of interviewing author Susan Law Corpany. She is such a delightful person! Enjoy reading the fun answers that she gave me.

Question #1. When did you get the idea to write “Lucky Change”?….I got the idea for Lucky Change (which I originally called Heaven Help Us!) back in the late nineties when I had a cheap boss in Florida. I was in the sales department, and whenever we had a good month, he would go across the street and buy ten lottery tickets and give one to each member of the team. I would just toss them into my purse and never even check to see if I had won anything. One day I was sitting in church and was looking for a pen and saw all these lottery tickets in the bottom of my purse and I thought about how embarrassing it would be if I actually won big. Then I said to myself, “Lots of ‘poor person with a heart of gold wins the lottery’ stories have been done, but I haven’t ever read a story of an LDS person winning big, someone who isn’t supposed to be buying lottery tickets in the first place.” So there I was, sitting in church, mentally writing that first chapter. Also not good, but that’s how it happened.

Then I remembered Karen, a rather minor character I had created for Unfinished Business, mostly as an example of a poor housekeeper. I remember how I had thought she was an interesting character and that someday she should have her own book. A match was made!

If you would like to read the rest of this interview with Susan please go to my personal book review blog Why Not Because I Said So. Also join me back there on Monday, for a chance to win a copy of a healthy cookbook called The Squeaky Gourmet: Simple..Clean…Food. Whole Food is the Key.

I’ll Know You By Heart by Kimberly Job

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Hillary's Reviews
Mar 312010
 


Hello dear friends- Hillary here-

Today my post may have more serious overtures as I read a more seriously overtured book this week:) If you haven’t read “I’ll know you by Heart”, you really should take some time out and read it.

I was fortunate enough to be at the Valor Publishing debut a few weeks ago, and was able to meet and chat a bit with Kimberly Job, the author (you can soon, if not already, listen to our podcast interviews with the authors there). At any rate, I spoke with Kimberly and I opted to buy her book because a) I like romances and b) I hadn’t read anything from her and was curious about the book.

If you have ever read anything by Tristi Pinkston, you will recognize her hand in editing this book because it begins with an INTENSE and dramatic gut-wrenching first chapter and doesn’t really slow down. Kimberly took a very tender, terrible subject- one that I think instills anger, frustration and maybe even a bit of fear in every woman- that being the subject of abuse. Though I’ve never being the victim of any type of abuse, physical or verbal,I was so drawn in to Stephanie, the main character, that I felt like I was her, experiencing that type of violence first hand and whenever I put the book down (which wasn’t often) I had to basically put myself back in reality and remember that my husband isn’t an abuser.

The story tells of Stephanie, a 40 something semi-overweight housewife, married to Mark, a physically abusive (when it suits him, which is frequent) husband. After she endures a particularly violent beating that her oldest son, Tyson unfortunatley becomes a part of, Stephanie decides late into the night to pack up her 3 children and leave him. What follows is a tale of pain, anger, growth and love. The love in this book tales of the loss of love, almost a mourning, and the newness of a new love and what it is supposed to feel like.

The love story I liked because it felt very realistic. She wasn’t this perfect woman. She was insecure, scared and dependant upon others to help her. With the help of her extended family, the church and Heavenly Father, she was able to slowly get over her husband, and make room for love worthy of her. The only part that didn’t feel totally authentic to me was how she felt her heart had known Jared (the new interest) all along. I guess that seemed a bit fairy tale to me, but then again, a little fairy tale never hurt anyone either, and it wasn’t constantly mentioned or over done, so overall, not a bad thing.

I would have to say that I made a good purchase. The story is unique and authentic. It has a way of drawing you in and making you forget that it is a story. Though it is her freshman novel, I would say that Kimberly does a fabulous job!

FTC-FYI- purchased