Tuesday, September 1, 2009

"The Carousel Painter" Book Review and Giveaway!


"The Carousel Painter"
by
Judith Miller


After her father's death, artist Carrie Brouwer moves to Collinswood, Ohio, where she accepts a job in the carousel factory owned by her friend Augusta's father. On her first day, she discovers she's the only woman in the plant, and the men resent her---especially the manager, Josef Kaestner. Can she win his respect---and perhaps his love?

352 pages, softcover from Bethany.
MY REVIEW:
(My husband with our son Quinn on our local carousel / my daughter Chloe (in the hat) on the same carousel)
I love carousels. There is something very romantic about carousels. We are fortunate enough in my small town to have an original carousel that has been restored and is open to the public during the sum
mer to ride. They even made an amazing acquisition a few years ago and bought an original calliope as well, so the music playing while the carousel turns is real calliope music. Because of this I was really intrigued by the storyline that Judith puts forth in her newest book. The intricate workings of the carousel factory really piqued my interest and I loved reading the description of how the carousel horses were made. The way new designs are developed and how a beautiful horse can be ruined. All of this was fascinating to me.

Even better though was the storyline itself that introduced me to a lovely character, Miss Carrington Brouwer.
Here is a young lady that has been dealt a hard hand in life. Her mother passed away and now her father has died as well and she leaves France to come to America to stay with a friend because she has been left penniless with only two of her father's paintings to her name. Her friend Augusta Galloway's mother is less than pleased to have someone staying with them and so she quickly tries to find a way to make it on her own and starts working as a painter at Mr. Galloway's Carousel Factory. She has much working against her. No other women work there and she is not welcomed. Even though she is an artist, fellow workers don't consider that adequate training, and the factory manager seems to have a problem with her. She must try and find a way to fit in, discover her faith in God through the many accusations that come her way, and maybe find God's will for her life and love along the way.

This is a quaint story that I really enjoyed. For a good historical romance with a touch of mystery, pick up "The Carousel Painter".
***********************************************
Judith has offered a copy of her brand new book for one lucky reader! Leave a comment telling me about the last time you were on a carousel and I will enter you in the drawing (as long as your email address is included). Judith also offered a few comments for all of you...

(a carousel horse at the Allan Hershell Carousel Museum and one of me outside the museum)
I’d love to have them visit my website at www.judithmccoymiller.com for information on additional books and they can also sign up for my newsletter while they’re at the website. I send it out about four times a year and there are always giveaways when I do my newsletter. I totally enjoyed conducting my research on this project and learned a great deal about carousels and developed a genuine respect for the artisans who created these beautiful works of art. Even though I have no other books planned about carousels, I’m going to attend the National Carousel Convention the end of September to learn even more.

40 comments:

Pam said...

I don't remember the last time I was on a carousel but just a couple of months ago, the midway was in town and my husband took our 3 yr. old on the carousel. Watching his face light up as he chose the horse he would ride was priceless.

melacan at hotmail dot com

Anonymous said...

What a great contest! The last time I was on a carousel was when my sons were young and I rode beside them. I love the memory!
wandanamgreb (at) gmail (dot) com

Merry said...

The last time I enjoyed a carousel was with my daughter, friends and family as we shopped for my daughter's wedding dress. Wonderful memories!

worthy2bpraised[at]gmail[dot]com

Cherie J said...

Enjoyed the post. The last time I was on a carousel was when hubby and I took the kids to the amusement park together a couple years back. My son did not want to go on by himself so I went on with him. Thanks for the chance to win this wonderful book.

cherierj(at)yahoo(dot)com

Simply Stacie said...

The last time I was on a carousel was a few summers back. I went on with both of my girls.

simplystacieblog (at) gmail (dot) com

Winning Readings said...

I can't remember! My daughter was on one when we visited York last December...

janemaritz at yahoo dot com

Winning Readings said...

Just a note that we've posted about this at Winning Readings:

http://winningreadings.blogspot.com/2009/09/carousel-painter.html

Unknown said...

I don't think I've ridden a carousel since I was little. :(

I have a friend reading this book right now, and she's loving it, so I would love to be signed up for the giveaway. Judith writes such great books....I really enjoyed her Pullman series.

Christy
orca0024 at yahoo dot com

apple blossom said...

My girls are teenagers now. Haven't ridden a carousel since they were little. We had one in the center of our mall for many years, but they took it out :( . There is a sporting good store about an hour away that has a ferris wheel in the center of their store. We love riding it.

PS I love the cover of this book. Because I love this cover I'm going to put this giveaway in my side bar and probably blog about the giveaway linking to you.

Oh, yes and I'd really love to win this book thanks.

Happy day,

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

Gin said...

The last time I was on a carousel
was about a month ago at cody Park
in North Platte.

le15307@msn.com

Carole said...

With such a beautiful cover and all the memories that the carousel evokes, how could I not enjoy Judith's book?! I haven't ridden a carousel since the last family vacation we took when my kids were growing up - about 13 years ago. The colors, music, happy faces, children's excitement - thank you for making me think back to those wonderful years.

cjarvis [at] bellsouth [dot] net

Linda said...

I miss the carousel that we had at our State Fair. Not sure why they removed it. It was gorgeous. They are just plain fun to ride.
please enter me in the contest. Thank you.
desertrose5173 at gmail dot com

KR said...

I take my kinder kids to the zoo every year and we always ride the carousel. It's so much fun to watch the "first timers"!

mj.coward[at]gmail.com

Anna Weaver Hurtt said...

The last time I was on a carousel, I must have been around 10 years old, and I rode it in the Lakeshore Mall in Gainesville, GA with three of my brothers and one of my sisters. I'll ride it again one day, just for kicks. :)

Please enter me!

Anna
writer_weaver at yahoo dot com

Theresa N. said...

My last carousel ride was with my daughter at Dollywood many years ago, 10 years.
Theresa N
weceno(at)yahoo(dot)com

Marie said...

We go on the carousel at least once every summer -- we are very lucky to have a restored classic carousel in Saint Louis -- it's a wonderful ride!

marielay@gmail.com

Jill said...

Our local Mall has a Carousel! So, we take advantage quite often :)

dancealertreads.blogspot.com said...

I would love to read this book. I was last on a carousel when we went to the Henry Ford's Greenfield Village and I rode the carousel with my 94 year old grandmother, I heven have a picture of us on my refrigerator!

dancealert at aol dot com

adge said...

This book looks good. The last time I was on a carousel was probably when I went to Disney World years ago. I have a lot of fairs from where I'm from but I don't think they had a carousel.

gasweetheart211{at}netscape{dot}net

Debbie F said...

The last time I was on a carousel was just this past summer - with my two little children - I love carousels!

dcf_beth at verizon dot net

Sherrylinn said...

I believe the last time I was on a carousel horse would have been 19 years ago, when my boys were small. We were living in San Diego at the time.

Anita Yancey said...

The last time I was on a carousel, was right after I first got married. About 32 years ago, at an amusement park.

ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

Jolene said...

One of the great things about being a grandma is you have an excuse to do things like ride a carousel and go to kid's movies and have someone to do it with!!

Jolene

traveler said...

Thaks for this lovely giveaway. It looks captivating and unique. I was on a carousel last summer and it was special since my husband and I were on a beach vacation together. Memorable and beautiful. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

Jblanton said...

The last time I was on a carousel had to be about 10 years ago because my youngest is 16

ejxd95@gmail.com

Debbie F said...

Please include me!
Last time for me was this past summer in Ocean City with my two little ones!

dcf_beth at verizon dot net

Carolynn said...

I have never rode on a carrousel, I would love to though!
Thanks for the chance to win!carolynnwald[at]hotmail[dot]com

The Giveaway Diva said...

the last time would have to be a week ago!!

nicolemarielum @gmail.com

Anonymous said...

This sounds like a unique and interesting story! The last time I rode on a carousel would have been about 3 years ago. I was out at a theme park with my friend, who was pregnant at the time, and I rode beside her young son so she could watch and take picture. :-)

Thanks for the chance to win!
author_erin(at)lycos(dot)com

Edna said...

A very good looking book, as I usually can judge a book by its cover, please include me in the drawing for the book


mamat2730(at)charter(dot)net

Marjorie/cenya2 said...

The cover is amazing, I am a new email subscriber.


cenya2 at hotmail dot com

Diana D said...

I love to read. Thanks for the wonderful giveaway.


dianad8008 AT gmail DOT com

Aik said...

The last time I was on a carousel was approximately 6 years ago. Wow, that's quite a long time ago!

aikychien at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

I don't remember when I was on one. We took my granddaughter to one last year. She loved it.Blessings AprilR

Joyful said...

Hi Abi,
It's been many a year. We don't have one near us. So the last time my boys got to experience a carousel was when they were very young, at Lowry Park Zoo in Fl. They are now 15 & 17. I miss the peace & relaxation of a carousel.
If I remember correctly the one Lowry Park (in Tampa, Fl) had was also an orginial one restored.
Thanks for the giveaway
Joyful

moma 3 homeschool@ gmail(dot)com

Sandee61 said...

The last time I was on a carousel was when my daughter was 3 yrs. old, and it was so much fun. She's now 35 and remembers that ride..it was always our favorite. Please add my name to your giveaway list, I'd love to read this book. Loved the cover for it. Thank you!

Blessings,
Sandee

Muzzley56[at]aol[dot]com

Jo said...

I absolutely love carousels and although we have no little children anymore (do have a 3 year old great granddaughter) I will ride on the carousel whenever I have the opportunity. I just love it! This looks and sounds like such a great book and would love to read it.

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

Mary said...

I think the last time I was on one, was on our honeymoon 10 years ago. I love carousels, but we don't have any close.

Mary Robertson
rcmjrobertson(at)sbcglobal(dot)net

Unknown said...

The last time I was on a carousel was this past June. My husband and I take our four grandchildren to Lake Winnipesaukee, in Chattanooga Tenn. every year.
I love Carousels...I feel like a kid again everytime I climb upon that beautiful painted wooden horse!

debracollins(at)tds(dot)net

Anonymous said...

I was on a carousel last year. My family goes to Knoebels in PA every once in a while.
esterried@yahoo.com