Reading "Night Road" and a Giveaway

I have long been a fan of author Kristin Hannah who has published eighteen novels prior to "Night Road," which is due out on March 29, 2011. As a member of LibraryThing.com, I was fortunate to be selected by St. Martin's Press to receive an Advance Readers' Edition of "Night Road" for review.

The story is about a well-to-do, close-knit family of four in Washington state: Jude Farraday, her husband Miles, and twins Zach and Mia who are just entering high school. Jude is a very involved and protective mother which, of course, horrifies her kids while showing them how much she loves them.

Another central character is Lexi Baill, a new girl at school who was sent to live with her great aunt after her mother died. Lexi becomes best friends with Mia and, eventually, Zach's girlfriend, and the Farradays become her extended family. Life rolls along nicely until it comes time to select colleges. The Farraday kids have to decide which 4-year college to choose, while Lexi will be lucky to afford community college. Graduation draws near as well as the time when Lexi and Zach will be separating to attend college, tempers flare, passions heat up and a horrifying life-changing event occurs.

The Farraday family is broken and the community is in an uproar. Charges are filed, a trial is held and things go from bad to worse. This is an emotional book, full of real life situations that make you just want to lock your kids up to protect them from all the bad things that could happen to them and the mistakes they could make.

Kristin Hannah

I actually received and read this book a few months ago so I'm behind in reviewing it. I did like the book, although it was a little hard for me to read at the time since it deals with death and how different people cope with it. We had recently lost a neighbor and a family member so reading "Night Road" hit very close to home and made me realize even more how devastating such losses can be to those left behind.

However, I thought "Night Road" was well-written and a good read and I'm going to share the wealth. If you would be interested in receiving my advance readers' copy, just leave one comment - including your email address - and I will draw a winner on Friday, April 1, 2011, that I will mail it to. I will contact the winner by email to get their mailing address (for U.S. entrants only).

Thanks to LibraryThing.com and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to review "Night Road" and thank you and good luck to everyone who visits my blog and leaves a comment.