Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Letters From Home

Letters From HomeAuthor: Kristina McMorris
ISBN: 978-0-7582-4684-4
Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corp
Available: March 2011
Purchase from Amazon
Source: PumpUpYourBook Blog Tour

About the Book:

In the midst of World War II, a Midwestern infantryman falls deeply in love through a yearlong letter exchange, unaware that the girl he’s writing to is not the one replying. Woven around this tenuous thread are three female friends whose journeys toward independence take unexpected turns as a result of romance, tragedy, and deception, their repercussions heightened by an era of the unknown.

Inspired by a true account, LETTERS FROM HOME is a story of hope and connection, of sacrifices made in love and war – and the chance encounters that change us forever.

My Review:

I loved this book! If you ask me, it is a must read. Letters from Home makes its debut this month and what a wonderfully original debut! While the story line of war, love and letters is not original due to the fact that it actually happened, the book itself is remarkably original in context, ideas of how things played out and the characters. Below are some aspects of the book and how they caught me.

Cover:
I absolutely love the cover of this novel. It attracted my attention from the start, making me wonder what was written in the letters pictured. The letters portray a deep emotional connection, value and meaning. The flowers are beautiful, full of life and color, a picture of hope. The cover fits the story that flows within the pages of this book wonderfully and intrigues the potential reader to wonder about the story the letters hold. It is everything a cover should be! Bravo to the designer.

Storyline:
I loved this storyline. It’s WWII, families are ripped apart, women and men are separated, and the only communication is done by post. The story doesn’t leave out any details. All sides of relationships and the reality of war are covered. This book could easily fit any number of couples that lived and loved during this era. I simply loved the twist the author offers in this book! Writing letters is simple, writing letters to a woman who is not who you think she is takes an interesting turn in the course of events.

Writing style:
I immensely enjoyed the authors writing style. Each new chapter starts off by telling the reader the date and location of the events about to happen. This easily gives the reader guidance through the multiple stories going on in this book. While everyone is tied together by a common bond, they are also separated, worlds apart in many ways. The author effortlessly switches between the stories and characters, keeping the reader glued to the book the entire time. It is wonderfully written and easy to understand. At no point during reading this novel was I confused or unsure of what was taking place.

Characters:
The characters are simply wonderful. I loved them all. Each character brings the reader a different viewpoint of the events taking place. I cried with the characters, laughed with the characters and thought like the characters. They all gave me a deep connection to the story which made me read the book quickly, putting it down only when I absolutely had too.

Pace:
The novel was set at a wonderful pace. The chapters were written at near perfect length. I never left one chapter wanting to know more. The pace of this book guides the reader along quickly without rushing you. It is really easy to sit back, enjoy and wonder where the time when and how you have already read so much of the book.

Overall, this is a refreshing and exciting read. It is clear the author had a personal connection to this story. She pens a tale that means something to her which portrays to itself to the reader. I highly anticipate the next novel by Kristina McMorris. This always makes me fearful due to my expectations! I would love to give another wonderful review for whatever she has ready next!

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Did you like the review?? Enter to win a copy of this title! Must follow and comment on this review to enter. Fill out the form below! Good Luck!!!


About the Author:
Kristina McMorris lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. Her foray into fiction began in the fall of 2006 as a result of interviewing her grandmother for the biographical section of a self-published cookbook intended as a holiday gift for the family. Inspired by her grandparents’ wartime courtship, Kristina penned her first novel, a WWII love story titled Letters from Home. This award-winning debut is scheduled for release in trade paperback from Kensington Books (2-22-11; U.S.) and Avon/HarperCollins (5-5-11; U.K.). The condensed book rights have been sold to Reader’s Digest, and the film rights are represented by the prestigious Creative Artists Agency of Los Angeles.

Prior to her literary career, Kristina acted in numerous independent films and major motion pictures. She began hosting an Emmy-award winning television show at age nine, and most recently served as the six-year host of the WB’s weekly program Weddings Portland Style. Adding to her diverse résumé, McMorris is a professional emcee, literary workshop presenter, and former owner of a wedding/event planning business. Her previous writing background includes being a contributing writer for Portland Bride & Groom magazine and ten years of directing public relations for an international conglomerate. A portion of Kristina’s sales proceeds from Letters from Home will benefit United Through Reading®, a nonprofit organization that video records deployed U.S. military personnel reading bedtime stories for their children. She is currently working on her next novel.

15 comments:

  1. You have me all dizzy for this one.
    Great review.

    I am seeing good things about this book.

    I got to wait til May before it is released in the UK!

    carol

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  2. What an amazing review. I love the way that you broke this down. It really helped me to understand all of the great qualities. I can't wait to read this book.

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  3. would love to read this fabulous novel...thanks for the chance :)

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

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  4. Thanks so much for the wonderful review, Tiffany!

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  5. I would love to read this one. I have an old leather suitcase of letters that my father and mother wrote back and forth during WWII and I have often wondered if I could write a book based on them. Please enter me for this. Great interview.

    CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

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  6. I would so love this book. I love the fact that it takes place in our past history. I'm sure I will cry many of tear over this book.

    Teresa

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  7. Wow. I'm in awe of your thoughtful review and so thrilled you enjoyed the read! Thanks for giving me a great reason to smile after a hectic day. :)

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  8. Awesome review. Sounds like a good read.

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  9. Even though I hate war, I love reading about love letters during times of wars - ir treally shows humanity

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  10. I would love to win this. It's been on my TRL. I love the whole premise of this one. I'm a GFC follower under Lucky47. And an email subscriber.
    Carol L
    Lucky4750@aol.com

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  11. Nice review. I had already added this to my TBR list, but now I think I should move it up. I'm really looking forward to the book.

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  12. I've read several reviews of this and they have all been very favorable. I also enjoy historical fiction.
    seknobloch(at)gmail(dot)com

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  13. This sounds like a great book! Thanks for the chance!

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

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  14. I would love to read Letters From Home. I've read such good things about this book.

    bookloversarah at yahoo dot com

    Sarah E

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