Friday, February 27, 2009

"Daisy Chain" Book Review and Giveaway!


This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Daisy Chain

Zondervan (March 1, 2009)

by

Mary DeMuth



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Mary E. DeMuth is an expert in Pioneer Parenting. She enables Christian parents to navigate our changing culture when their families left no good faith examples to follow.

Her parenting books include Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern Culture (Harvest House, 2007), Building the Christian Family You Never Had (WaterBrook, 2006), and Ordinary Mom, Extraordinary God (Harvest House, 2005).

Mary also inspires people to face their trials through her real-to-life novels, Watching The Tree Limbs
(nominated for a Christy Award) and Wishing On Dandelions (NavPress, 2006).

Mary has spoken at Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference, the ACFW Conference, the Colorado Christian Writers Conference, and at various churches and church planting ministries. Mary and her husband, Patrick, reside in Texas with their three children. They recently returned from breaking new spiritual ground in Southern France, and planting a church.


ABOUT THE BOOK

The abrupt disappearance of young Daisy Chance from a small Texas town in 1973 spins three lives out of control—Jed, whose guilt over not protecting his friend Daisy strangles him; Emory Chance, who blames her own choices for her daughter’s demise; and Ouisie Pepper, who is plagued by headaches while pierced by the shattered pieces of a family in crisis.

In this first book in the Defiance, Texas Trilogy, fourteen-year-old Jed Pepper has a sickening secret: He’s convinced it’s his fault his best friend Daisy went missing. Jed’s pain sends him on a quest for answers to mysteries woven through the fabric of his own life and the lives of the families of Defiance, Texas. When he finally confronts the terrible truths he’s been denying all his life, Jed must choose between rebellion and love, anger and freedom.

Daisy Chain is an achingly beautiful southern coming-of-age story crafted by a bright new literary talent. It offers a haunting yet hopeful backdrop for human depravity and beauty, for terrible secrets and God’s surprising redemption.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Daisy Chain, go HERE

MY REVIEW:
This is the first book by Mary I have read and I found it interesting. In the first chapter we find Daisy has disappeared. Jed is the last person to see her (his best friend) and he chooses not to walk her home that night. The hunt is on... what happened to Daisy?
We follow Jed as he tries to keep his life together with a very dysfunctional family, Daisy's mom, some interesting secondary characters and his own personal demons to haunt him. In some ways we get closure, but not enough. This is the first in a trilogy and so I think some of the thread is intentionally left open so it can be woven through the next two books. I understand that, but it did leave me a little disappointed at the end. All in all it is a good book and I will read the next one in the series to get my closure.
*******************************************
If you would like to win a copy of Daisy Chain, then leave a comment telling me who your best friend was when you were about 14 years old. Be sure to leave an email addy as well and I will enter you in the drawing. If you are a blog follower leave a separate comment saying so and I will give you an extra entry! Good luck!

38 comments:

KR said...

My BF was and is Charlene. While we don't see each other as often, she's the first one I call when I truly need to talk!

Anonymous said...

When I was 14 my best friends were my e-mail pals. Fellow homeschooled teens, we had an e-mail group where we had a LOT of good, clean fun. Eleven years later I still count them as some of my best friends! :-)

author_erin(at)lycos(dot)com

Goat Gal said...

When I was 14 my best friend was a girl named Kathleen.
please enter me in the draw.
sarahlscott@gmail.com

Goat Gal said...

I follow your blog :)
sarahlscott@gmail.com

Simply Stacie said...

My BF was Angel and we are still BFs!

hippmom said...

My best friend at 14 years of age was Marie. She was my science partner in 7th grade and I thought she was weird at first. But within a few month, we were inseperable. We are still friends to this day even though we did not keep in touch for a few years. This book looks great!

hippmom said...

I'm a blog follower!

Lora Lease said...

When I was 14, we had just moved from Colorado to Arizona with a new step dad, and started a new school. We didn't know each other, but thankfully we had each other... My best friend (then & now!) was my sister!

Lora Lease said...

Oops... it was supposed to say, we didn't know anyone else, but thankfully we had each other. LOL

traveler said...

When I was fourteen my best friend was Kathy. Unfortunately she moved far away and we lost touch. Thanks for this giveaway. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

luv2read said...

My best friend was a curly Red-head named Donna. She reminded me of ANne of Green Gables. Enter me in the drawing it sounds good. spowell01@bellsouth.net

Theresa N. said...

My best friend was Sheri and we still keep in contact today.
Theresa N
weceno(at)yahoo(dot)com

Theresa N. said...

I'm a follower/ subscriber. :)
Theresa N
weceno(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

My best friend lives in Canada. I have since moved to America. I am a blog follower.
rachelmarie42@yahoo.com

apple blossom said...

I'd love to win.

apple blossom said...

I am a follower and subscriber.

windycindy said...

Hi! My best friend was a fellow music lover like I was. Her name was Donna. Actually, two Donna's were my best friends. All of us sang in the choir and were in special musical groups. Many thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

windycindy said...

I am a follower and fan of your site!
Thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

Carole said...

My best friend at age 14 was a redhead named Joan. We had similar interests, went to the same school and church, and she was even in my wedding many years later. Unfortunately, we lost contact over the years; I wish we could find each other again.

Thanks for a great giveaway!

cjarvis [at] bellsouth [dot] net

Carole said...

I'm also a follower/subscriber of your blog.

cjarvis [at] bellsouth [dot] net

traveler said...

I am a subscriber.

saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

Sherrylinn said...

My best friend was Jennie. We don't talk much anymore as we are many miles apart. Sad, I miss her.

Sherrylinn said...

I'm a follower/subscriber

Sherrylinn
slcremer at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I was lucky to have two equally best friends at that time -- Ramona Gladden and Lela Carter. It was never "three's a crowd for us" ;) *Thanks* for the giveaway!
blog[at]theluckyladybug[dot]org

Anonymous said...

I'm following you on Blogger :)
blog[at]theluckyladybug[dot]org

kalea_kane said...

My best friend when I was 14 was my friend Jeanne. We met in nineth grade, and were extremely close. I moved to Rhode Island after nineth grade and we stayed in touch until we graduated from high school, but we kind of went in different directions. She got pregnant and married right after high school and I did the college thing. We reconnected when I joined a friend for the same high school's 20th reunion. It was pretty awesome. :) Thanks for the giveaway!

Kelly

enroutetolife(at)gmail(dot)com

kalea_kane said...

I am a follower. :)

enroutetolife(at)gmail(dot)com

Jo said...

My best friend was Bobbie and when I was 14 1/2 we moved away but we still kept in touch even though we couldn't visit as often. We recently found each other and a few other friends on facebook from that time

Blessings,
Jo
ladijo40(at)aol(dot)com

Anonymous said...

What a timely topic with the so many children on the news being looked for...this sounds like a very good book.

Thank-you for the chance to sign up.

Gayla Collins
gayla.c@bresnan.net

Unknown said...

My best friend was Teresa. We are still tight even though we live in different states. I miss her so much and relive the past with her with fond memories

lastnerve2000@gmail.com

terry said...

My best friend was Phyllis. She is gone now. I sure do miss her.
Please enter me in the drawing.
Thanks.
azranch@internet-usa.net

Anonymous said...

My best friends when I was about 14 years old were Ramona and Lela :) *Thanks* for the giveaway!
blog[at]theluckyladybug[dot]org

Martha A. said...

My best friend was Katrina when I was 14....she had a really hardlife living with a father who was an alcoholic, and had to move far away to make a new life, but we are still friends now 16 years later, not quite as close, but still good friends! She just had her fourth baby!
(More than you wanted to know!)
martha(at)lclink(dot)com

Cheryl said...

I would love to win a copy of this book. Please enter me in the contest. My email address is shryackmom[@]charter[.]net

rubynreba said...

My best friend when I was 14 was a neighbor girl. We went everywhere together and talked on the phone all the time. Unfortunately when we were Seniors in High School she started to think I was not good enough for her and dropped me. Now we never see each other at all.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

Renee G said...

My best friend was Susan who had just moved here from Canada.

rsgrandinetti(at)yahoo(dot)com

Diana D said...

Living in Texas I think I would enjoy reading this. Thanks for having the wonderful giveaway.

dianad8008 AT gmail DOT com

Janna said...

And the winner is...

Carole!

Congratulations!