Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Book Review: Somewhere Along the Way by Jodi Thomas

Somewhere Along the Way 
Somewhere Along the Way by Jodi Thomas
Publisher: Berkley
Publish Date: November 2, 2010
Mass Market Paperback, 368 pages
Romance, Fiction

  
My Review:
Why I read this:  I read the first book, Welcome to Harmony and loved it so much that I begged the author to include me on her second tour.  Okay she invited me, but I think I did beg after I read the first book - I loved it so much!

How is the novel driven:  Characters are front and center in this one, though there is a nice suspense plot that runs through the book.

My thoughts:  Somewhere Along the Way did not disappoint.  When I started reading this one I fell right back into the wonderful town of Harmony along with it's inhabitants.  Somewhere Along the Way is the story of Liz and Gabe and the town of Harmony, but it's so much more than that as well.

One thing I particularly love about these novels is the fact that they don't focus just on the couple who will be getting together in that novel.  This isn't just about Liz and Gabe.  We get to go back and visit with Hank and Alex from Welcome to Harmony.  We see more of Reagan, Preacher, Tyler and others.  We get to meet new people in Harmony and find out more about them.  It's fun to see the town come to life with it's inhabitants.  I absolutely love the way Ms. Thomas writes about Harmony and the people, it makes me feel like I am a part of the town and watching what is going on from my front porch.

There are a couple of romances in this one and Tyler is still pining away as well.  Reagan is also still central to the story and I really like her and her uncle and the colorful townsfolk.  Ms. Thomas tells a beautiful story of how a town comes together each time there are problems.  I think I would love to live somewhere like Harmony and I definitely wouldn't mind a Gabe, Hank or Denver to come to my rescue.

If you like small town romances, with a touch of suspense, some humor and great characters, then I highly recommend Somewhere Along the Way.  It's a book you will pick up and not want to put down and as soon as you finish you will be eagerly awaiting the next novel in this series.

Wondering whether you need to read the first in the series before you read this.  It's not a must, but it will give you background on this book.  I do believe you can pick Somewhere Along the Way and get to know the folks of Harmony, but trust me when I say you want to read Welcome to Harmony as well.

My Rating: 5.0/5.0

About the Book

In the two years since she claimed Harmony, Texas, as her home, eighteen-year-old Reagan Truman has found herself drawn to others who have made their way there, too. Gabe Leary, for instance, whose plan to hide out in Harmony is dashed when he becomes the town hero. Then there's Liz Matheson: Vulnerable and fresh out of law school, Liz has never been needed by anyone—until an unsettling encounter with Gabe changes everything. And there's Liz's brother, volunteer fire chief Hank Matheson, who's starting to wonder where the town's sheriff, Alex McAllen, will ever set the date to marry him.

As for Reagan, who's been shaped by the loneliness she's know most of her life, she's finally found a place she belongs—and doesn't want anything to get in her way. But when her life is put in jeopardy and the whole town comes together to save her, she'll discover that trusting the love that's come into our hearts is the greatest gift of all…


About the Author

Jodi Thomas is the NY Times and USA Today bestselling author of 31 novels and 8 short story collections.
As of July 2006, she was the 11th woman to be inducted in to RWA Hall of Fame. She is also currently serving as the Writer in Residence at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas. 

Jodi’s website

Enter my giveaway here, post on this review for 5 bonus entries in the giveaway.  Giveaway ends 10/26.  Open to US/Canada only.

FTC Information: I received this book from the author for review.  I have Amazon links on my review pages but I do not make any money from these because of NC laws.  I put them solely for people to check out the books on a retail site. 
 

Guest Post and Giveaway: Somewhere Along The Way by Jodi Thomas

Please join me in welcoming author, Jodi Thomas to My Reading Room this morning.  Jodi has visited in the past and I am thrilled to have her here again.  Thank you Jodi!

Jodi-Pic-2007
Good morning everyone.  Thanks for inviting me to drop by and visit.  I’d like to welcome you to step into my second book in the Harmony Series.  SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY.  This is my 30th book and what I believe will be one you’ll keep and read again and again.
 Somewhere-Along-the-Way-rou
My story begins with Reagan, a runaway who found her home in Harmony two years ago.  An old man took her in as his niece and gave her the first home she ever had.  The story opens with her working a shift in the town’s diner for a friend.  The last thing she has to do is take a take-out out the back door to the town hermit.  He speaks to her and as the weeks pass they form a friendship.
Gabe Leary wants nothing but to be left alone.  After five years of living on his land he’s managed to earn a living as a graphic artist without speaking to anyone in town.  He’s shattered from the war and sees himself as a man without friends.  About the time he’s comfortable with his life, he meets Liz.

With a mixture of characters you’ll fall in love with and a treat that gets everyone involved, I think you’ll love this story.

Thanks for letting me drop by and thank you for reading.  Writing is a fascinating journey, but if it wasn’t for readers coming along with me it wouldn’t be any fun.


About Jodi
Jodi Thomas is the NY Times and USA Today bestselling author of 31 novels and 8 short story collections.
As of July 2006, she was the 11th woman to be inducted in to RWA Hall of Fame. She is also currently serving as the Writer in Residence at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas. 

Jodi’s 30th Novel
NY Times and USA Today best-selling author Jodi Thomas is pleased to present her 30th novel, SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY. Thomas proves once again that she is one of mainstream romance genre’s most compelling writers with her highly anticipated sequel to WELCOME TO HARMONY, which captured America’s heart.
Jodi’s website
 
My review of the first book in the series, Welcome to Harmony is here.

My review of Somewhere Along the Way will be coming later this afternoon.

Giveaway:
Jodi has sent me along a second copy of Somewhere Along The Way to give to one of my readers.  Open to the US/Canada only, and it ends on 10/26.  How to enter?  Simply comment and leave a way for me to reach you.  Additional entries for following (rss, email, GFC Friend, Twitter, Goodreads, Facebook, etc.).  Other entries for tweeting and sidebar or blog posts (+2, 1/day).  You can place all your entries in one post if you like.  5 extra entries for posting a comment on the review that posts later this afternoon.  Just post on the review and I'll add your entries. 

For today, 10/19, you can get a bonus 10 entries if you ask Jodi a question on the blog, she'll be around, I won't guarantee she'll answer, since hopefully she's busy writing more books :)