About the Book: Reeling from the loss of her mother, plagued with a bad case of writer’s block (and don’t even talk about that extra twenty pounds), Renata DeChavannes feels as though everything is just plain wrong. And that was before the tabloids caught her sweetheart, filmmaker Ferg Lauderdale, sharing an intimate squeeze with Hollywood’s hottest young tamale.
But the granddaughter of the formidable Honora DeChavannes possesses more hell than belle in her backbone—and she’s about to reclaim it. Heading south to Honora’s home on the Gulf Coast, Renata is determined to stop feeling like a wilted gardenia and emerge as the unstoppable kudzu her beloved grandmother proudly proclaimed she would be: “I’ll just tell you, Sherman may have burned the South, but kudzu will engulf it.” But for that to happen Renata’s got to face some not-so-genteel ghosts from her past, discover the truth about the mother she desperately misses, and make peace with the first man who abandoned her and broke her heart—her handsome and distant father.
Review: This book starts out in a light and quirky way. Renata reads an article in a tabloid paper that suggests her longtime boyfriend is cheating on her. Upset, she misplaces her current work-in-progress and as she is searching for it, she comes across a letter from her mother urging to find her grandmother to fill in the holes in her past. Renata heads to visit her relatives and embarks on a journey of discovery.
I genuinely enjoyed reading about Renata’s life. The point of view is mostly first person Renata, but there are a few chapters told first person from other points of views. There were times when I wished her friends and relatives would just go ahead and tell her everything, but I suppose that wouldn’t make for a very interesting book. There are many pieces to her past that she has misunderstood and they slowly get revealed to her throughout the course of the book.
The characters are fun and quirky and the story is touching and interesting. The conclusion is sweet and satisfying. An enjoyable read.
Now you have the chance to read it! One lucky reader will win a signed copy of Mermaids in the Basement! To enter, please leave a comment with a valid e-mail address. You must have a United States address to enter. Thank you so much! This giveaway ends Friday January 30th at midnight and is part of the Bloggy Giveaways Carnival
This post was written byAmy
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January 26th, 2009 at 1:28 am
This does look like a fun book! Pick number 1 though… not so likely!
January 26th, 2009 at 8:02 am
I love Michael Lee West and I’ve read a few of her books. I would be thrilled to win a copy of this one!
January 26th, 2009 at 9:16 am
Thank you so much for letting your readers know about this terrific book! Also, there is a book trailer promoting the book that is on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mu3Fycoi0e4
Whoever wins will have a great read — I read it in one sitting!
January 26th, 2009 at 11:22 am
hmmmm…sounds interesting!
January 26th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
I’ve wanted to read this book since it first came out! I’ve had my hand on it several times at the library but I always had too many other things to read ahead of it. This is just the type of book I need sometimes to relax and take my mind off everything else. Thanks so much for your contest!
January 26th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
Sounds like a great book! I’d love to read it…
Lisa
January 26th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
Thank you for the opportunity to win this book.
January 26th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
Love to read! I have a Michigan addy, too.
Deborah @ Comfort Joy Designs
comfortjoydesigns.blogspot.com
comfortjoydesigns{AT}gmail{DOT}com
twitter.com/acupofjoy
January 26th, 2009 at 4:34 pm
Ooh, I’ve looked at this book before (and it’s on my TBR list after I read the book(s) of hers that I already own)..so I would really love to win a copy
January 26th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Looks like my kind of book! Thanks for the contest.
bridget3420(at)yahoo(dot)com
January 26th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
I really like this author so I would love to read this!
January 26th, 2009 at 7:07 pm
this def looks interesting….even if i dont’ win, might have to check it out of the library!!
January 26th, 2009 at 7:52 pm
Sounds like a good read. Thanks!
January 26th, 2009 at 8:28 pm
this book looks very interesting!
January 26th, 2009 at 8:29 pm
Would love to win, thanks!
January 26th, 2009 at 8:29 pm
Thanks for the review, I want to read it now.
January 26th, 2009 at 8:34 pm
Wow this sounds like a good book. I would enjoy reading it.
Thank you!
Rene
January 26th, 2009 at 8:56 pm
Sounds interesting, I’d like to be entered. Thanks! unforgetable_dreamer_always AT hotmail DOT com
January 26th, 2009 at 9:47 pm
sounds like a great read, thanks for the opportunity to win.
ceashark at aol dot com
January 26th, 2009 at 10:01 pm
I am intrigued with this story and it would be wonderful to have the chance to read it. Thanks.
January 26th, 2009 at 10:14 pm
I would love to read this book! Thank you for the chance!
January 26th, 2009 at 11:26 pm
OOhh, I just love to read. Thank you for giving a book away.
January 27th, 2009 at 12:12 am
Please add me to the drawing. I would love to win and read this book. Thanks so much.
January 27th, 2009 at 4:19 am
Sure would like to read this.
God bless u all
January 27th, 2009 at 4:45 am
Read your review and this sounds like a book I would enjoy reading. Sign me up please.
Theresa N
weceno(at)yahoo(dot)com
January 27th, 2009 at 8:45 am
Looks like it is a good read and something that I could read from front to back in a couple of days.
January 27th, 2009 at 9:23 am
Sounds like a good book. Thank you for the giveaway!
mommyof3inva(at)yahoo(dot)com
January 27th, 2009 at 9:33 am
I love your review,it was great.Really made me want to read the book.I hope you will please enter me. Thanks!
ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net
January 27th, 2009 at 9:49 am
Sounds good. Thanks for the chance.
andriagoebel at gmail dot com
January 27th, 2009 at 9:55 am
Sounds like a great fun read. I’d love to win!
January 27th, 2009 at 10:36 am
Thank you for a chance to win! I would love to be able to read this
tatertot374@sbcglobal.net
January 27th, 2009 at 10:42 am
That does sound like a good book. I’d love to read it.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:51 am
Looks like a good one, please enter me.
January 27th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
This looks like a book I’d enjoy! Thanks!!!
January 27th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
I must be honest and admit that I stopped reading when you began your review… if I win, I don’t want the story spoiled for me! This sounds like a good read.
January 27th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
I have to say, that book looks like a really good read!
orchestratenoise0726[at]yahoo[dot]com
January 27th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
I would love this book
January 27th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
This book has been on my TBR list, but I never seem to get to it. I would love to win this book. Thanks for the chance!
January 27th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
sounds like a delightful read thanks for the giveaway
January 27th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
I love to read anything.
Thanks for the giveaway >^..^<
January 27th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
Sounds like the perfect book to curl up with on a cold winter day (like today, or tomorrow, or next week) Thanks for the chance!
January 27th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
Sounds like a great read!
kelli at pfrog dot net
January 27th, 2009 at 3:31 pm
sounds good
January 27th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
This looks interesting, Amy. What’s the profanity level like?
January 27th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
This books looks like a very good read!
January 27th, 2009 at 5:10 pm
I’m always interested in reading something from new authors…..this sounds like a great book
January 27th, 2009 at 5:57 pm
This book sounds like it would be a lot of fun to read. Thanks for the chance. iclipalso(at)yahoo(dot)com
January 27th, 2009 at 6:00 pm
I am an avid reader and this sounds like a fun book to read.
January 27th, 2009 at 6:26 pm
Sounds like a good book.Thanks for a giveaway:)
angelacisco at rocketmail.com
January 27th, 2009 at 6:30 pm
This sounds like a good read, I’ve added it to my list. Thanks
January 27th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
Sounds like a book I would like to add to my collection!
January 27th, 2009 at 7:28 pm
i would like to read this! thanks!
January 27th, 2009 at 7:52 pm
This would be a great addition to my library
January 27th, 2009 at 8:00 pm
I love to read. Thanks for participating in the bloggy giveaways!
Jenny
January 27th, 2009 at 8:14 pm
This sounds like fun
January 27th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
I would love to read this ..sounds like a good read.
January 27th, 2009 at 9:31 pm
I’d love it!
January 27th, 2009 at 9:43 pm
I’m always looking for something new to read and this sounds like something I might enjoy.
January 27th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
Sounds like a good book! Thanks! FlipFlopsChels@msn.com
January 27th, 2009 at 10:09 pm
Thanks
January 27th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
This sounds like a fun book to read and I’d like to give it a go.
Thanks so much,
Darby
darbyscloset at yahoo dot com
January 27th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
It sounds like a really entertaining book. Love reading, can’t even go to sleep without a book.
January 27th, 2009 at 10:37 pm
i have ambitious reading goals this year… This sounds like a good one to try…
January 28th, 2009 at 12:07 am
This sounds like an excellent book. I hope I get the opportunity to read it.
January 28th, 2009 at 7:39 am
I love women’s stories set in the South. Thanks for the chance to win!
January 28th, 2009 at 9:48 am
Sounds like a great book
January 28th, 2009 at 9:49 am
I am always looking for a new book to read and this one looks awesome
jason@allworldautomotive.com
January 28th, 2009 at 10:08 am
Great giveaway! Count me in.
bebemiqui82(at)yahoo(dot)com
January 28th, 2009 at 10:32 am
sign me up please. I love the cover of this book, it is gorgeous.
sports[dot]erikalynn[at]gmail[dot]com
January 28th, 2009 at 10:56 am
Sounds like a good read. Please enter me.
January 28th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
I love books. This one looks like a good read. Thanks.
January 28th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
Sounds like a great book!
January 28th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
sounds like a good book con5459(at)gmail(dot)com
January 28th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
Sounds like an interesting book.
January 28th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
I’d like to read this book. Thanks!
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com
January 28th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
This sounds good! Thank you for the chance to win it!
mittens0831 AT aol.com
January 28th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
Sounds like a good read. Thanks for a chance to win.
January 28th, 2009 at 3:26 pm
Love Books!
January 28th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
please enter me in your giveaway-thanks!
trishnatey@gmail.com
January 28th, 2009 at 8:26 pm
sounds like a great book
January 28th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
Wow! I’d love to win
January 28th, 2009 at 9:07 pm
Sounds like a very interesting story.
trishalitax3(at)gmail[dot]com
January 28th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
Looks great! Thanks for the giveaway!
January 28th, 2009 at 10:14 pm
Sounds like a good read…thanks for the chance.
January 28th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
I love to read and have a nice collection of favorites. Thank you for the chance to add this one to my bookshelf — after I read it, of course!
djr58(at)cfl(dot)rr(dot)com
January 28th, 2009 at 11:50 pm
I love reading all kinds of different books, thanks!
January 29th, 2009 at 12:19 am
This sounds like a delightful book!
Thanks for the giveaway!
January 29th, 2009 at 9:45 am
Thanks for the giveaway!
kimspam66(at)yahoo(dot)com
January 29th, 2009 at 11:32 am
This sounds like the strong sassy Southern girl fiction I love to read. Thanks for giving us the chance to win. Bookworms love new books!
January 29th, 2009 at 11:35 am
Thanks for the chance to win.
January 29th, 2009 at 12:34 pm
Thanks for the opportunity!
jill(dot)watkins(at)gmail(dot)com
January 29th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
I would love to read this book, thanks for the chance.
January 29th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
It sounds like a good book, fairly light and an easy read. We need those every once in a while.
January 29th, 2009 at 4:34 pm
Looks good, I’d love to read it.
January 29th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
sounds like a book I would thoroughly enjoy reading!
luckofdraw777(at)gmail(dot)com
January 29th, 2009 at 8:20 pm
I am always looking for a new book to read! Thank you for the giveaway!
January 29th, 2009 at 9:45 pm
I love to read. Thanks!
January 29th, 2009 at 11:50 pm
it sounds like a really fun book! i like the title.
January 30th, 2009 at 12:48 am
This sounds really good. Normally I am a non-fiction reader but this has me intrigued.
Thanks for the opportunity to win your giveaway.
Tammy
domesticdivawannabe@gmail.com
January 30th, 2009 at 11:56 am
great book
January 30th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Sounds like a book I would really enjoy.
January 30th, 2009 at 5:55 pm
Sounds like a good book. Thanks for the giveaway.
January 30th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
I’ve read lots of great reviews of this one – would love to win a copy! Thanks!
January 30th, 2009 at 9:43 pm
I always like to try a new author that I haven’t read before. Enter me.
January 31st, 2009 at 12:16 am
Sounds great, would love a chance to win!
January 31st, 2009 at 7:15 pm
I would love to win this book. I pass my books on to other as I see the match between to book and the person. Those that especially encouraging and this sounds like one.