When We Last Spoke book review

When We Last Spoke

About The Book:

With the heart and humor of Fannie Flagg’s Fried Green Tomatoes and Rebecca Wells’s Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, author Marci Henna introduces you to the Cranbournes—a mostly lovable and undoubtedly nutty family who’ve had more than their fair share of hard times.

A beautiful blend of tears and laughter, When We Last Spoke tells the tale of sisters Juliet and Evangeline, who are dropped off by their Broadway-bound mother at their paternal grandparents’ Texas ranch in 1967. After their cherished father is killed in Vietnam, the girls are orphaned. Still mourning their son’s death, grandparents Walt and Ruby accept their role as guardians, only to be surprised soon after by another permanent houseguest’s arrival—Walt’s kooky mother, Itasca.

Fast-forward to the present, where the warmhearted home in which the girls grew up is now just a faint memory. The estranged sisters are in need of a good dose of Walt’s famous stargazing wisdom: “You’ve got to look real close. Pay attention to what’s around you in this life. You’re liable to miss something important if you don’t.”

Packed with plenty of quirky characters and hilarious escapades, this must-read novel also digs in deep to the things that matter most—family, friends, love, and forgiveness.

My Thoughts:

As I lay in bed and read this book I was swept back to my days living in Texas from 2nd-6th grade.  Memories washed over me and I see, hear, taste, smell and feel the images that the author Marci Henna painted with her words.  This was a book I thoroughly enjoyed reading and can't wait to read the rest of the Fireside series.  I've never read anything written by Marci Henna but I love her style of writing and they way she seamlessly goes from the past to the present and back to the past again.  As I was reading I found myself longing for the days I spend with my grandparents.  I've recently lost all of my grandparents so I think a tear or two might have slipped out as memories sprang up while reading this novel.  As I was reading I loved that the main protagonist found out that a life worth living is the life worth remembering.

About the author:

 Marci Henna

Marci Henna was born in Austin, Texas and lived as a child in Kenya, East Africa with the Wakamba tribe where her parents managed a medical research station. She later moved to the Hill Country ranch which has been in the family since the 1800’s and currently lives in Austin.

 More Info:

Follow Marci Henna and the Fireside series on social media:

• Facebook 
• Twitter 
• GoodReads 

Buy the book:                                                                            

• Softcover    
• Kindle 
• Retail price $11.38

Marci will be giving away a FREE Kindle version from Feb. 20-24 on Amazon.

Leave a comment telling me your favorite memories of your grandparents and you will be entered to win both the book and DVD!

Thanks for reading,

 

“Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255:  “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”):  Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway.  Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.  I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller /FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days on the same blog, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again.  Winner is subject to eligibility verification.