Thursday, November 29, 2012

Book Review and First Ever Give Away!

Isn't it interesting how a string of events can bring you to a certain place in time? I remember the day last winter when I looked up a blog my sister told me about. I spent hours reading back in the archives and the name of an author, Dorcas Smucker, caught my attention. The name sounded familiar and I soon hopped over to Life in the Shoe and started reading. I fell in love quickly and when, many months later, Dorcas offered a chance at a spot on the blog tour for her newest book, Tea and Trouble Brewing, I jumped at the chance. Of course, in true "Bethany" fashion, as the day drew closer I fought the urge to jump back out of the chance :) but here we are! It's amazing to me how you can feel like you "click" with a person you've never met. Maybe it's because Dorcas and I share some things in common...we're both Mennonite, after all and, while she is mother to six, I'm expecting my fifth :)  We also share a love for writing - a compeling urge to capture lessons, memories, events - with written words. The day my package with Tea and Trouble Brewing arrived in the mail, I rushed through my work so I could curl up in a chair and read! When I reached page 121 and read the chapter titled "Paul and the Vacuum Cleaner", I discovered we shared yet one more thing in common, perhaps the most significant one of all! I laughed aloud as I read how Paul refused to cooperate with the portrait potographer and Dorcas' description of his "wolf-with-fresh-caribou repair methods". When I read the chapter aloud to Chris and received a hearty "Thank you!!" on the line "...he still doesn't do what he's told if he thinks it's stupid." I knew I was correct. We share husbands with many of the same personality traits!

Tea and Trouble Brewing is full of delightful stories about Dorcas and Paul Smucker who, with their 6 children, live in a farm house in Oregon.  Each chapter is taken from one of Dorcas' monthly columns published in their local paper, The Register Guard. Dorcas' candid honesty and insight as she relates personal triumphs and failures has the potential for producing laughter and tears, deep pondering, and reminiscing of your own. It's just the sort of book to make me look forward to a 14 hour trip to Arkansas at Christmas time so I can read chapters aloud and share the goodness with the rest of my family!

The best part of all? Because of an innocent little string of events, today I get to offer you a chance to win a copy of Tea and Trouble Brewing! All you have to do is leave a comment on  A) this blog post  B) facebook  C) send me an email at christopherbethany@juno.com  Tell me what book you are currently reading or the last book you have enjoyed (if it's Saggy Baggy Elephant that counts! :)) I'll gather the names from all the comments on December 6 and draw a lucky winner. I will then announce the winner and as soon as I receive their email address, a signed copy of Tea and Trouble Brewing will be on it's way!

Of course, only one of you will be lucky enough to win, but that doesn't mean you have to stay left out. Tea and Trouble Brewing is available here  or, you can send a check for $15 to: Dorcas Smucker  31148 Substation Drive, Harrisburg, OR 97446.  And there's more! Since one book of Dorcas' writing will probably make you wish for more, she has three more books for you to enjoy - Ordinary Days, Upstairs the Peasants Are Revolting, Downstairs the Queen Is Knitting - and now's the time to get them! She's offering the complete set of 4 books for $40. Just send a check to the above address and you'll have lots of stories to enjoy :)

So...don't forget to leave your comment and check back for a winner on December 6!

28 comments:

Vivian said...

I'm following this tour and I enjoyed your cheery review. Thanks for the back cover photo; I don't think anyone else did that. I've been reading Number Eleven Poplar Street to my children, a book written in the late 1940's, part 2 in a three-book series by Frances Fitzpatrick Wright.

Anonymous said...

Please put me in the drawing for Dorcas' most recent book. I would love to read it and then have it in my library to read again as the need arises. --Linda

FAith said...

Sounds like a fun book to read! Currently reading Just a Minute by Wes Stafford (in the heart of a child, a moment can last forever)

Aurelia Glick said...

I too enjoyed the picture of the back of the book. I am currently reading Pilgrim's Progress and one of those Chicken Soup Type books. This one is for brides. I would guess I am no longer considered a bride, but it is still an interesting read.

Miller scribe said...

Grin! Reviews are so much more interesting when you know the reviewer. Glad you didn't back out.
Currently reading "Unstoppable" by Nick Vujicic and Thriving Family magazine.

shattered broken said...

I am currently reading my psychology textbook plus a number of other books.. always have about 5-10 going at one time. :-)

Donella said...

Currantly reading whatever happens to be laying close, since I don't have any fresh books at this point. I really need Dorcas' new book! =) And I did happen to read Saggy Baggy to my 2 yr. old yesterday. =) Thanks for your review.

Anonymous said...

Dorcas' book sounds so interesting. I've been enjoying the reviews; please enter my name in the drawing. I'm currently reading a book called "Critical Condition".-Denise

Anonymous said...

I'd love to read this book! I've recently seen some of her other short story books but haven't read them and this one sounds good! I'm currently reading "When a Mother Follows Christ" by Katie Hoffman.

Theodorella said...

I'm also not currently reading any books, besides all my school books. :) So I would love to win (and read!) Dorcas's book.

Anonymous said...

I would love to read Dorcas's book

Twila Smucker said...

I am reading an Alexander McCall Smith book currently. I too have a husband with many similarities to Dorcas's Paul... they are first cousins.

Twila said...

I'm currently reading "Wild, From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail." Enter me in the drawing please!

Anonymous said...

Well the best book I read lately was One Thousand Gifts. For fun I just finished Lonestar Angel.And I can hardly wait to read Dorcas' new book.

Unknown said...

I'm not in the middle of reading any books right now. And the last one I read was ok, but not the best. Would love to read this one.

Anonymous said...

My favorite recent book was Wounded Trust. Any one going through any kind of grief must read it! Just let the title alone grab hold of you! Would love to have this one next.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for giving us the chance to receive a copy of this book! The best book I have read recently was The Help. It helped me to understand the events of the deep south a bit better!
Marilyn

Anonymous said...

Did anyone tell Anonymous that you can only enter the drawing once?

tabitha said...

Hi, I'm glad you're on the blog tour too! Right now I'm reading "If I Perish" by Esther Ahn Kim. Another book I enjoyed recently is "The Mountain Between Us" by Charles Martin. I could go on, but I'll refrain. I love Dorcas' writings and would love to read her latest book!

Tabitha

Anonymous said...

Another good review... I do like the back cover, thanks for sharing that. The last book read would be A Dear Diary story about a girl on the Titanic [can't remember the name right now]
I know I would enjoy Tea and Trouble Brewing much more! :)
Carol
paramedicwife@yahoo.com

Phil said...

I've been following the tour and would love an opportunity to win this book.

The last book I read was Life is A Gift by Jenny Miller. A real life story about loving your children.

Ryvkeh said...

I am looking forward to reading Dorcas' books. I enjoy reading her blog. I have the habit of reading 3 o4 books at one time. Right now I am reading, among others, "How to Speak Dutchified English" by Gary Gates and "Getting Along With People God's Way" by John coblentz. I have enjoyed books by Christmas Carol Kauffman. (I think I have read them all.)

Edith said...

I love the books Dorcas writes! The last book I read was "Biff and Becka's Springtime Adventures" written by a friend.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for showing the back cover of the book...I have been following the blog tour and enjoying it... commenting on a few. I'd like to read this one, but haven't been in town for any of Dorcas' book signings.Saw in yesterday's blog tour comments that Amazon is sold out! Wow! good job!
Noticed in your comments another Tabitha
I'm TabithaTheDuck@yahoo.com and I'm reading Pippi Goes to Town to my 4 1/2 yr old as a chapter book/ bedtime book. Also Maggie Grows Up on my kindle and a Nancy Drew mystery in paper.
Tabitha in Oregon

Kathy Sheldon Davis said...

Ryvkeh, I didn't know Christmas Carol Kauffman wrote more than one book! Of course, I didn't think to even look. Her title, "Not Regina," was given to me as a child and I loved it. I'm currently reading one of the Zion series by Bodie Theone. The next one in the lineup is an Eric Wilson book (I don't remember the title of that one just now, either). Happy touring!

Anonymous said...

I've been a 'Dorcas' fan for years and have even heard her speak. Would love to win her book! I just finished "Second Chances" by my high school teacher. Was shocked to see that I'm in the picture of some students on the front cover! Bethany, I'll be following your blog in the future. Congrats on #5! I'm excited about becoming a grandma in several weeks! -Sharon Mast

Anonymous said...

Love Dorcas's blog and glad she introduced me to yours! Jenn Adams - vonderadams@comcast.net

Renata said...

Saggy, baggy elephant was my absolute favourite golden book as a child ~ just you mentioning it made me smile! I am currently reading Carla Emery's 'The encyclopaedia of Country Living' ~ along with about 3 other books too :) Of course the one book I have going constantly is my Bible!
I would love to be entered in your giveaway if it's open to international readers!
Blessings
Renata:)