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Summary:
In Stray Affections, the last thing that Cassandra expects out of her Sunday is to be mesmerized at a collectors’ convention by a snowglobe. She’s enjoying some shopping time, with husband Ken at home tending their brood of four young boys, when she’s utterly charmed by the one-of-a kind globe containing figures of three dogs and a little girl with hair the color of her own. She can’t resist taking the unique globe home—even if means wrestling another shopper for it!
The beautiful snowglobe sparks long-dormant memories for Cassie, of her beloved Grandpa Wonky, the stray she rescued as a child and the painful roots of her combative relationship with her mother, “Bad Betty” Kamrowski. Life in Wanonishaw, Minnesota is never dull, though, and Cassie keeps the recollections at bay, busy balancing her boys, her home daycare operation, and being a good friend to best pal Margret. But after a strange—flurrious, as Cassie deems it—moment happens with the remarkable snowglobe, Cassie and the people she loves are swirled into a tumultuous, yet grace-filled, and life-changing journey.
“As a believer, I know the power of forgiveness and new beginnings, and of a God, and family and friends, who love me the way I am,” Charlene Ann Baumbich says. “The heartbeat of change flows through those wonderful gifts.”
With the quirky, close-knit Midwestern small-town feel that made Charlene Ann Baumbich’s acclaimed Dearest Dorothy novels so popular, Stray Affections invites readers to experience the laughter and the healing of second chances.
My Review:
Stray Affections is book that really tugs on the heart-strings. There were even two scenes where I got very misty eyed. From Cassie's giving up her childhood pet to "Bad Betty"'s realization that she's not a nice person there are so many other pieces interwoven into the story that you can't help falling in love with the characters and feeling their pain along with thier happiness.
I loved the way there were several ups and downs in the book. Cassie's life wasn't always rosy. She had real life problems and her faith, supportive family and best friend got her through the tough times. To me having the character go through things like this just endears me to them more.
This sweet story laced with mysterious happenings surrounding a snow globe is the first in a planned 3 book series called Snowglobe Connections. I'll definitely be picking up the next book in the series and I recommend this to anyone who loves Christian Fiction.
About the author:
Charlene Ann Baumbich is a popular author and speaker and an award-winning journalist. In addition to her Dearest Dorothy series of novels, she has written seven nonfiction books of humor and inspiration. A bungee-jumping, once motorcycle-owning grandma and unabashed dog lover, Charlene lives with her husband and rescued dog Kornflake in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. She loves telling stories, laughing whenever possible, and considers herself a Wild Child of God.
Charlene Ann Baumbich is a popular author and speaker and an award-winning journalist. In addition to her Dearest Dorothy series of novels, she has written seven nonfiction books of humor and inspiration. A bungee-jumping, once motorcycle-owning grandma and unabashed dog lover, Charlene lives with her husband and rescued dog Kornflake in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. She loves telling stories, laughing whenever possible, and considers herself a Wild Child of God.
- MAIN ENTRY: To enter to win a copy of this book tell me one sweet memory from your childhood. For me it was playing circus in the front yard with my little brother. Leaves were tickets and I performed different "shows" to keep him entertained. We always laugh about it now but it brings back fond memories.
- EXTRA ENTRY: Tweet about the giveaway using the ShareThis link at the end of the post or your own message. Twitter entries can be done once a day. Just leave me a new comment each time you Tweet.
I have a new a copy in hand so this giveaway is open worldwide. The winner will be selected on September 11th and will have 48 hours to respond to the winning email or a new winner will be selected. GOOD LUCK!
41 comments :
Thank you so much for your heart-felt review. It's spot-on. I cried while writing the two scenes you're talking about. But I also laughed much throughout the writing too. I especially appreciate your plug for the series. I'm almost finished with the second book now, yet untitled. Watch for it next September, which will be here in a fingersnap. Again, thank you. I promoted your wonderful blog on my Facebook *page!
What a great review, this is going on my wishlist. My brother and I would see who could wake up first on Saturday Morning. My mom would buy several kinds of cookies but the first person got to choose which cookies we would eat while watching cartoons. It was always a race. Please include me in your giveaway.
Thanks
Debbie
debdesk9(at)verizon.net
Playing in the snow with my brothers and sisters, was the best time for me. We also had a skating rink in the back yard.
I subscribe.
cenya2 at hotmail dot com
This is such a heart-warming book. I too find things that remind me of my past. Please enter me. Thanks.
desertrose5173 at gmail dot com
I'm reading this for the tour right now, so don't enter me. Glad you liked it - I'm enjoying it so far.
My fav memory is playing Alias Amith and Jones with my cousins. They were really 'into' the tv show. We always had so much fun in their big backyard pretending it was a western town.
When we were young enough to still play together, my sibilings and I built "igloos" in the snow at our Fort Lee, Virginia home. We'd also make snow angels and afterwards we'd always have "snow cream" :) *Thanks* for the giveaway!
blog[at]theluckyladybug[dot]org
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I remember my first time skiing with my twin brother. Boy was that fun.We were 6 years old, and he had alot of laughs.
Melissa(at)gingerhigh(dot)com
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Melissa(at)gingerhigh(dot)com
It sounds like a wonderful story, I'm putting it on my list! One of my favorite memories is the long, hot summer days we spent at the lake BBQing and water skiing.
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My father would take my sister and me to the Bronx Zoo on Sundays. We'd spend the day looking at and feeding the animals. Then we'd go to Howard Johnson's for an ice cream sundae. What fun we had! What pleasant memories.
bgcchs@yahoo.com
This sounds really good and sweet.
One menory that I have is playing on the porch of my home and being 'teacher' to any of the neighborhood kids, dolls, dogs, whatever. I loved holding a piece of chalk and 'teaching' everyone.
(ps I grew up to be a teacher! Ha!)
My sweetest moment was when my brother and I used to dig huge holes and put a board up and made a ramp. We would take a bike and ride it hard and hit that ramp and catch some air. Most of the time we would clear the hole, but others. Well we would crash hard and giggle.
My sweetest memory is helping my older neighbor "garden". I mostly just pulled weeds from between the cracks in the patio, but she was happy to have somebody to listen to her.
weird chick online at gmail dot com
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Please enter my name in your draw. Thanks.
wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com
A sweet memory for me was sitting up on the roof of my parents' house and reading in the sunshine!
wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com
I remember childhood summers. My mom and the neighborhood moms would take us to the creek in the afternoon. We would spend hours there, learning how to swim and making memories. I will never forget it.
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my brother and i put on a play of sleeping beauty with the neighbors and i was really upset whey they wouldn't let me play the main part
amanda
catss99@yahoo.com
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amanda
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mine was along the same line as yours but different as well. My mother taught me how to create leaf houses in the fall I could play for ever in the leaf houses that I would create. Just continously building houses. SO much fun and great memories
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I loved running through the sprinklers and playing with my dog!
coolnatty12@yahoo.com
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coolnatty12@yahoo.com
We use to have a huge hill in our backyard and kids use to come from far away to toboggan. I remember my friends and sister use to toboggan down the hill for hours. When I finally went in, my mom would have hot chocolate ready for us. I have tons of fun childhood memories. Thanks for this nice giveaway and please count me in.
chinook92(at)gmail(dot)com
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My favourite childhood memory is boating with my family on the Ottawa River. My parents owned a boat and we used to go out every weekend. We would go to the beach and play all day with our cousins. It was a blast and I miss those carefree days!
simplystacieblog (at) gmail (dot) com
One of my favorite memories about my childhood was spending endless days with my brothers and sister's at my grandparents farm. Back then there were no such thing as computers, so we had to make our own fun, and we would spend the entire day in the bush helping grandpa empty the sap buckets and assisting him with making maple syrup.
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roxxyroller(at)hotmail(dot)com
Canadian Contests, Freebies, Coupons, Deals, Games and Chat - join us at http://forum.coolcanucks.ca/
I remember going to our local spring lilac parade and yelling at the old cars to honk their horns when I was about 5.
rsgrandinetti@yahoo(dot)com
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One of my favourite childhood memories involves my mother teaching me how to bake chocolate chip cookies. My love of baking and cooking was thanks to her patience and guidance.
ennsee72(at)hotmail(dot)com
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Mine would be with my best friend making up dance routines to music and then performing for our parents.
denise_22315(at)yahoo(dot)com
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