So many of my blog friends have followed the path of writing books- ebooks, design books, how to books, craft books. I’ve had people approach me and tell me I should write a book, but I can honestly say I have zero interest in that. I applaud all who have added authorship to their repertoire. And while these books are all beautiful and useful, I admit that what captures me as a reader is a good novel… I want juicy characters with history and a storyline I can get lost in. I won’t stay up way past my bedtime with a DIY book, but engaged in a fantastic piece of literature, I will read and read, telling myself that I will still be ok with 6 hours of sleep, which turns to 5…. How excited was I to learn that a design blogger friend wrote not a design book, but a beautiful fictional novel. Kristy Woodson Harvey, blogger at Design Chic, can now add author to her resume as first time fictional writer of Dear Carolina
I was so excited when Kristy approached me to read her novel. I had heard about it, and had read the synopsis and was already wanting to add it to my reading list! She offered to send me a copy to read and review, so naturally I had her sign it for me as well. 😉
Dear Carolina tells the story of one baby girl, told from the perspective of both her unschooled unwed recovering alcoholic birth mother, Jodi, and her happily married, wealthy and ambitious adoptive mother, Khaki. Jodi is the cousin of Khaki’s husband, so their stories intertwine from the get go. Jodi is struggling to keep her life together and working hard to afford all of the things a baby needs. Khaki and her husband are actively trying (and failing) to get pregnant although she has a son from her first marriage. The story that unfolds is a beautiful one in which Jodi accepts what she can’t handle and asked Khaki to adopt her baby girl, Carolina. Because of their connection, Jodi is still very much in their lives, and Khaki works hard to help Jodi get her own life in order and start writing a new ending to her own story. This book is full of wit and charm, and although there are many sad moments, the takeaway lesson is that “You can never have too many people to love you.” Despite the many trials of the characters involved, Dear Carolina is a feel good happy ending kind of story. When I turned the last page, I felt complete contentment.
Thank you so much to Kristy for sending me my very own signed copy of Dear Carolina
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