Monday, September 28, 2009

A Slow Burn Blog Tour and Double Book Giveaway!

Mary DeMuth's new book, A Slow Burn is an incredible read, people, and I'll give my reasons below.

Here's the back cover copy:

She touched Daisy’s shoulder. So cold. So hard. So unlike Daisy.

Yet so much like herself it made Emory shudder.

Burying her grief, Emory Chance is determined to find her daughter Daisy’s murderer-a man she saw in a flicker of a vision. But when the investigation hits every dead end, her despair escalates. As questions surrounding Daisy’s death continue to mount, Emory’s safety is shattered by the pursuit of a stranger, and she can’t shake the sickening fear that her own choices contributed to Daisy’s disappearance. Will she ever experience the peace her heart longs for?

The second book in the Defiance, Texas Trilogy, this suspenseful novel is about courageous love, the burden of regret, and bonds that never break. It is about the beauty and the pain of telling the truth. Most of all, it is about the power of forgiveness and what remains when shame no longer holds us captive.

Mary, with typical courage and boldness, tackles some difficult issues in the second book in her Defiance, Texas trilogy. My review, coming from a therapist's perspective, will hopefully shed some light on the psychological power Mary conveys with her words.

Emory Chance could very well be one of my clients (in fact, I've definitely seen her in my office before). Addictions are so difficult to deal with (and some would say to write)...but Mary realistically portrays Emory's sunken state after finding out about her child's death. The passages where Emory is standing over the toilet bowl, hesitating over flushing her "little white pills"...that really happens! The dissonance Emory feels in herself when she remembers her daughter's admonishments to quick "smoking that stuff," so at odds with what her body wants and craves...incredible how it jumps out at you on the page.

Emory wasn't a good parent. She feels guilt, shame....you name it. And this will touch the hearts of readers everywhere...because everyone who is a parent can relate (perhaps in smaller or larger ways) to not being the type parent we want to be at least some of the time. There's always room for improvement, and for Emory, that's an understatement. But she comes from such a place of brokenness....her tragic history actually explains her actions in such a believable, tragic way...not to make light of what Emory did or didn't do with her daughter, but to give a backstory that makes you ache for her in understanding.

And parents all over who have lost a child, whether at the cruel hands of someone else or just at the cruel hands of fate, will gravitate toward Emory as she deals with the death of her daughter. The waiting period (about 2 months) before she found out, the shock, hallucinations...these will all speak to parents still grieving. Grief is nothing to be afraid of, and Mary writes it so well. So real. So sad. Her poignant flashbacks from Emory's own childhood and Mama are so well situated throughout the novel, punctuating Emory's current state of emotion with ah-ha type revelations. Excellent. the kind of stuff therapists DREAM would come out in sessions, so thanks, Mary. :)

But this book ends with an incredible message of redemption and restoration and healing. It didn't end the way I wanted, but it was satisfying nonetheless...probably more so the way Mary did it, actually.

So now, with my stellar, 5-star review, I'm sure you're dying to read this book for yourself! So leave a post in the comment section to win not only A Slow Burn, but also Mary's first book in the trilogy, Daisy Chain! The contest will end Friday night and I'll announce a winner Saturday sometime.

Learn more about Mary at her website (click here). And if you don't win, visit the Amazon link here to buy a copy for yourself!

Wordle: signature

30 comments:

Tabitha Bird said...

Wow! those books sound awesome. Please enter me in the comp. Love the titles too. 'Slow burn' Hmmm... makes you want to sit by a log fire and soak it up :)

Jen said...

Her books sound so deep. I am always amazed by authors who are able to write about such heavy topics and make them sound believable. Thank you for making me aware of this talented writer.

~Jen

Lynnette Labelle said...

Those books sound interesting. Please enter me in the contest. I especially like "A Slow Burn". That title can mean so many things.

Lynnette Labelle
http://lynnettelabelle.blogspot.com

Tana said...

I must win this! I need to see what happens next!!!!

Tess said...

How intriguing! You've done a fantastic job of enticing us....

Anonymous said...

This is Kristie Roberts and I would love a chance to win these books! :) I love the opportunities that your blog always me to have to win books that I would want to read! :)

Cindy R. Wilson said...

Wow, that sounds like an amazing and poignant book. Great review. I heard wonderful things about Daisy Chain as well but haven't had a chance to read any of her books yet.

Susanne Dietze said...

Jeannie, these books sound wonderful: moving, powerful, and well-written. Please enter me in the drawing. Thanks for the amazing review.

www.susannedietze.blogspot.com

Jennifer Shirk said...

Oooh, sounds deep and gripping.
I thought Mary's Wishing on Dandelions was good, too.

Niki Turner said...

These sound very good. I enjoy Mary's blogs, I can't imagine the books would be anything but excellent!
I'd like to be entered in the drawing, too. Thank you!

Tamika: said...

Jeanie drop my name in the hat, sounds intriguing!

I'm always looking for a great read.

Feel free to drop in on me at
www.thewriteworship.blogspot.com

Blessings to you...

Jessica Nelson said...

Woohoo! I've got a bunch of these to give away and I'm really looking forward to reading them.
:-) Thanks for the review.

Jill Kemerer said...

I usually skip book reviews, but I really enjoyed your method. You made me want to read the book--and I always appreciate your professional take on characters!

Eileen Astels Watson said...

I have this from conference, Jeannie, so don't enter me, but now I must read it after that review. Thanks, Jeannie!

Eileen Astels Watson said...

Oh, wait, I just noticed you have a giveaway of the first book, Daisy Chain too, that one I don't have yet. So if you want you could add my name in for that one :)

Diane said...

Sounds like two emotionally charged books.... sound very interesting. Thanks for the opportunity! :O)

Roni Loren said...

Sign me up. These look great! Thanks for the reviews.

Mary DeMuth said...

Thank you for reviewing it. I think your review has a cool twist, from a therapist's perspective. Thank you!

Jeannie Campbell, LMFT said...

thanks for dropping by, mary! it was my pleasure. :)

Erica Faraone said...

I love your perspective in this review and the books sound incredible. I follow Mary on twitter and support her wholeheartedly, just from what she says. I would love to read these two books! Thanks for promoting them.

ericafaraone@bresnan.net

Tana said...

Gosh can I double enter??? I really want these! How cool are you to have Mary drop by??? *I heart Mary*

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Anonymous said...

huh.. cognitively :)

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Anonymous said...

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