I’m excited to be able to offer up 2 copies of Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman. I have seen so many great reviews of this book. I can’t wait to read it – I’m participating in a blog tour for Beth in May so I have a ways to go before I read it unfortunately but it sure gives me something to look forward to. Here’s a bit about the book from Beth Hoffman’s website…
Twelve-year-old CeeCee is in trouble. For years she’s been the caretaker of her psychotic mother, Camille— the crown-wearing, lipstick-smeared laughingstock of an entire town. Though it’s 1967 and they live in Ohio, Camille believes it’s 1951 and she’s just been crowned the Vidalia Onion Queen of Georgia.
The day CeeCee discovers Camille in the front yard wearing a tattered prom dress and tiara as she blows kisses to passing motorists, she knows her mother has completely flipped. When tragedy strikes, Tootie Caldwell, a previously unknown great-aunt comes to CeeCee’s rescue and whisks her away to Savannah. Within hours of her arrival, CeeCee is catapulted into a perfumed world of prosperity and Southern eccentricities—a world that appears to be run entirely by women.
While Tootie is busy saving Savannah’s endangered historic homes from the wrecking ball, CeeCee encounters a cast of unforgettable, eccentric characters. From the mysterious Thelma Rae Goodpepper, who bathes in an outdoor tub under the watchful eyes of a voyeuristic peacock, to Oletta Jones, the all-knowing household cook, to Violene Hobbs, the loud-mouthed widow who entertains a local police officer in her yellow see-through peignoir, the women of Gaston Street keep CeeCee entertained and enthralled for an entire summer.
But CeeCee’s view of the world is challenged in ways she could have never imagined: there are secrets to keep, injustices to face, and loyalties to uphold. Just as she begins to find her ballast and experiences a sense of belonging, her newfound joy collides with the long-held fear that her mother’s legacy has left her destined for destruction.
Laugh-out-loud funny, at times heartbreaking, and written in a pitch-perfect voice, Saving CeeCee Honeycutt is a spirited Southern tale that explores the intricate frailties and strengths of female relationships while illuminating the journey of a young girl who loses her mother but finds many others.
About the Author (from Beth Hoffman’s website)…
I was born on an elevator during a snowstorm, a story my father often enjoyed telling whenever the opportunity arose. For the first five years of my life, I lived (along with my mom, dad, and older brother) on my grandparents’ farm in northern Ohio. It was a rural area, and other than a few tolerant garden toads, a highly social chicken, and Midnight, our family dog, there wasn’t anyone to play with. So I created imaginary friends. I’d draw pictures of them and build them homes out of shoeboxes—replete with interiors furnished by pictures I’d cut from a Sears & Roebuck catalog. Eventually I wrote stories about my friends, giving them interesting names and complex lives.
From earliest memory, there were two things I loved above all else: writing and painting. I wrote my first short story when I was eleven and sold my first painting at the age of fourteen. I believed the sale of the painting was a sign of what direction I should take in life. So I chose a career in art that eventually segued into interior design, but I still kept writing and dreaming of becoming a novelist. Life sent me on many creative journeys and I ultimately landed in Cincinnati, Ohio, becoming the president and co-owner of an interior design studio.
Years went by, long hours and hard work brought success, and with it came the inevitable stresses of business ownership. During the busiest year of my professional life, I nearly died from the same infection that took puppeteer Jim Henson’s life—group A streptococcal infection that resulted in septic shock. After finally being discharged from the hospital, I returned home to convalesce. I spent weeks reevaluating my life—the good, the bad, and the downright painful. As I struggled to regain my health and find spiritual ballast, my dream of writing a novel resurfaced. But no matter how I looked at it, there simply weren’t enough hours in the day to fulfill the demands of my career and write a novel. So I let the dream go.
Then, on a snowy morning in January of 2004, a complete stranger said something to me. And like an unexpected gust of fresh air, his words blew the door wide open. In an eye-blink I knew if I were to write a novel, it had to be now or never. I chose now. I sold my portion of the design business, and after a month of sleeping and meditating and realigning my energies, I plunked down at my computer. Day after day my fingers blazed over the keyboard, and I didn’t come up for air until I typed “The End” nearly four years later.
If there’s a moral to my story, it’s this: take a chance, embrace your dreams, forgive, let go, move on. And if life gives you a big smackdown, there’s a reason—and it just might lead toward your own little piece of the rainbow.
Oh, and there’s one more thing: be mindful of the words of strangers.
GIVEAWAY DETAILS
I have 2 copies of Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman to give away courtesy of Beth and her publisher at Penguin Books. To enter…
- For 1 entry leave me a comment with a way to contact you.
- For 2 entries follow my blog. Let me know if you already do so I can pass on the extra entry to you.
- For 3 entries, blog or tweet this giveaway.
This giveaway is open to US & Canadian residents only as the books will ship to the winners directly from the publisher. I will draw for the winners on Sunday, March 28, 2010. Good luck everyone!
Please count me in. I would love to win this.
+2 I am a follower.
lizzi0915 at aol dot com
+1 I would love to win this!
+2 I am an old follower!
nbmars AT yahoo DOT com
Count me in!!
I'm a follower.
behapppppppy(at)hotmail(dot)com
I would love to be entered.
+2 I am a follower
Zia
ziaria(at)gmail(dot)com
I'd love to win this. Please count me in. I'm a follower.
forwhlz at gmail dot com
I definately want to read this book! Staciele(at)netins(dot)net
I am a follower! Staciele(at)netins(dot)net
I would love to win this! Please count me in!
+2 I am a follower.
Thanks.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com
Please enter me.
+2 I'm a follower.
amandarwest at gmaildotcom
I saw this book in Target and thought it looked really good.
+3 follower/tweeted this giveaway
hersilentmusings@yahoo.com
would love to read/win this
+2 I follow you
wheresmyrain at yahoo dot com
Oh this sounds like a great read,,please enter me into the drawing,,,
and I am a follower already..
Devon
hanna_563@ msn dot com
Also I am adding to my sidebar under Great Giveaways..
Devon
Cool book!! Would love to win!
billiondollarprincesss@hotmail.com
This would make a great beach read!
vivaglampink@yahoo.ca
My sister-in-law just told me I have to read this. Looks great!
+2 I'm a follower!
bookblogsonning at gmail dot com
Great review and I loved the interview. CeeCee, I was fascinated by your life story.
+2 I'm a follower
misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com
I would love to win this book.
+ 2 am a follower
mystica123athotmaildotcom
I want to read this one. Please include me.
I follow
dlodden at frontiernet dot net
Thanks for this giveaway
reneesuz82@msn(dot)com
I'm a follower
reneesuz82@msn(dot)com
I have been wanting to read this one.
fourkidsrgreat(at)gmail.com
I'm a follower.
fourkidsrgreat(at)gmail.com
Count me in!
js1997 (AT) gmail (DOT) com
I'm a follower!
js1997 (AT) gmail (DOT) com
Recently a friend told me that Saving CeeCee Honeycutt was the best book she'd read in years. So, I would really love to win a copy.
And, I am a follower.
lcbrower40(at)gmail(dot)com
I've been wanting to read this! Thanks for the giveaway.
s.mickelson at gmail dot com
Sounds like a great read!
I'm a follower.
Thank you.
freda.mans[at]sympatico.ca
I follow publicly.
freda.mans[at]sympatico.ca
tweet; http://twitter.com/fredalicious/status/10033828228
freda.mans[at]sympatico.ca
Oh my gosh,Oh my gosh,Oh my gosh!
I so want this book!
I am a follower.
I will post about it on Mon.
forevereading at gmail dot com
I would love to read this book. Thanks.
+2 follower
seknobloch(at)gmail(dot)com
Hi–I wanted to let you know that you can join Beth Hoffman, author of Saving CeeCee Honeycutt for a live chat on Thursday, March 11th at 8 PM EST at http://us.penguingroup.com/static/pages/publishersoffice/subcontent/watercooler.html
Stop by and ask a question!
Thanks for this great giveaway. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
I would love to win this book
I am alos a follower via google.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290@comcast.net
Please enter me!
I am a follower.
I tweeted: http://twitter.com/squiggles87/status/10047442179
xxsquigglesxx(at)gmail(dot)com
I'm a follower, count me in! tWarner419@aol.com
This one is on my TBR list – thanks for the chance
msboatgal at aol.com
Already a follower
msboatgal at aol.com
I would love to win this book, I have been pining after it! Enter me please.
I am a follower.
emily DOT wittenberg @gmail.com
THANKS!
This sounds good. Please count me in.
gaby317nyc at gmail.com
+ 2 I follow
I'd like to read this book. Thanks for the giveaway.
I'm a follower.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com
This one is on my Wish List. Please count me in. Thank you!
nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com
I follow
nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com
This sounds like such a good read-please count me in.
Elaine R
emrosser@shaw.ca
I've heard a lot about this book. I'd love to win it!
I also follow you through google reader.
vtgoat[at]gmail[dot]com
Looks like a really interesting story -please sign me up.
I'm a follower.
baileythebookworm at gmail dot com
My Mom read this and really liked it! I'd love to enter the contest!!
+2 I'm an existing follower
+3 tweeted here: http://twitter.com/in_the_hammock/status/10079358817
inthehammockblog (at) gmail (dot) com
Thanks!
Please enter me! 🙂
kpic724 (at) gmail (dot) com
I am a new follower.
Tweet: http://twitter.com/kpic724/status/10082108823
Thanks!!
I'd love to win this one. I talk to Beth on Twitter and she's a real sweetie.
I'm a follower.
litandlifeATgmailDOTcom
would love to have a copy
copperllama at yahoo dot com
1 follower
copperllama at yahoo dot com
2 follower
copperllama at yahoo dot com
1 tweet
http://twitter.com/Copperllama/status/10084884295
copperllama at yahoo dot com
2 tweet
http://twitter.com/Copperllama/status/10084884295
copperllama at yahoo dot com
3 tweet
http://twitter.com/Copperllama/status/10084884295
copperllama at yahoo dot com
I would love to win this book! It sounds great. My email is bangersis(at)msn(dot)com
I became a follower and I tweeted http://twitter.com/bangersis/status/10090031156
Thanks for the giveaway!!
Rachelhwallen@gmail.com
The book sounds fascinating and I love the cover!
melacan at hotmail dot com
follower
melacan at hotmail dot com
Thank you. I'm a follower.
sliugarcia@gmail.com
I'd like an entry. A comment on my blog will trigger an email to me.
I would love to read this one – thanks for hosting the giveaway!
I am a follower.
leenbeen2001 (at) yahoo (dot) com
I would LOVE to win this! Thanks for hosting such a great book!
+2… I am a loyal follower!
+3… I blogged about your giveaway at Chick with Books! The giveaway is listed in my sidebar!
http://www.chickwithbooks.blogspot.com
Suzanne
quzy (at) mac (dot) com
sounds like a great read, please enter me.
mmmtnbike09@yahoo.com
Great giveaway. Count me in, please.
fitz12383(at)hotmail(dot)com
+2 Follower.
+3 tweeted: http://twitter.com/bookmonstrosity/status/10137472367
Loved this book. I would love it for my library.
I added you on my reader list to follow your website.
My goodness that is an inspiring post. It's a shame that it takes a severe illness or brush with the unthinkable to make us re-evaluate ourselves and the lives we lead.
We should be able to do this every so often because life is worth it.
Excellent post and thank you for sharing.
Please count me in.
+2 I follow
jennygirl73(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Please enter me.
RJB
loki304[at]tds[dot]net
+1 I'd love to enter this giveaway. E-mail is wakeupangel at gmail dot com
+2 I'm already a follower.
+3 Tweeted here- http://twitter.com/baniclips/status/10191815653
Please count me in, I just love the cover of this book.
+2, I am also a follower.
jhoorm01(at)yahoodotcom
Looks like a great book. Please enter me.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net
I am a follower.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net
I love your blog – please include me in the giveaway.
Ann
http://www.annsummerville.com
http://www.cozyintexas.blogspot.com
oops. forgot to leave an e-mail address.
cozyintexas@yahoo.com
Ann
I'd love to enter! Thanks!
aikychien at yahoo dot com
I'm a follower.
aikychien at yahoo dot com
I tweeted:
http://twitter.com/aikchien/status/10215850810
aikychien at yahoo dot com
This sounds so good! Please enter me!
thanks
dcf_beth at verizon dot net
+2 I follow – google reader
dcf_beth at verizon dot net
Ooh Dar! Great giveaway! I would love a chance to win this one. I have heard it's a great read.
zibilee(at)figearo(dot)net
I am a follower of you blog as well!
I have heard awesome things about this one!! Thanks for the giveaway!!
areallibrarian[at]gmail[dot]com
I also follow!!
areallibrarian[at]gmail[dot]com
+1 I'd love to be entered in your giveaway for this book. Thank you!
Sandee61
Muzzley56[at]aol[dot]com
+2 I'm a follower!
Sandee61
Muzzley56[at]aol[dot]com
justpeachy36@yahoo.com
Please enter me in the giveaway.
justpeachy36@yahoo.com
I am a follower.
I would love to read this book and then pass it on to my book club's book sale. Thanks
bentzen.linda1943@gmail.com
Sounds like a fun read—please enter me to win!
skkorman AT bellsouth DOT net
I love to read and this book sounds interesting! Many thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
I am a follower of your blog…..
Again, many thanks!
Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
"Tweet!"
http://twitter.com/cmh512/status/10498924009.
Merci, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
Please enter me in the drawing for this book – I'm a southerner with lots of cousins that are from further south than I am – would love to win "Saving CeeCee Honeycutt" – thanks for the opportunity!
DB
I have heard that this is a great book. I would love a copy. Please enter me. Thanks.
lovemykidsandbooks AT gmail DOT com
+2 I follow through google friend connect!
lovemykidsandbooks AT gmail DOT com
Please enter me! vvperesk@gmail.com
I follow #1 vvperesk@gmail.com
I follow #2 vvperesk@gmail.com
Please enter me.
allygotts567 at hotmail dot com
I follow #1
I follow #2
Please count me in. 🙂
misusedinnocence@aol.com
I'm a follower. 🙂
misusedinnocence@aol.com
Count me in for a chance to win this one please!
I follow and will post here.
wanda_waiting[@]hotmail[.]com
Count me in please-
karin56381 (at) gmail.com
sounds good please sign me up
tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com
I have been looking for this as a giveway. Can't wait to read it
Lacey914 at sbcglobal dot net
I am a follower through google friends connect
Lacey914 at sbcglobal dot net
http://twitter.com/HtxAstrosFan/status/10784949983
tweet
Lacey914 at sbcglobal dot net
I'm chasing that rainbow! I'd love to win this book – it's one of three that are high up on my "lusting after" list! Thanks for the chance.
geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com
And, I'm a Follower! (of course)
geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com
Here's my Tweet: http://twitter.com/ASeaOfBooks/status/10801951825
geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com
Please enter me in this giveaway!
seizethebookblog(at)gmail(dot)com
Count me in.
dsandyboy@gmail.com
I follow you.
dsandyboy@gmail.com
Please enter me. walkerd@primus.ca
I follow you. walkerd@primus.ca
I've been wanting to read this!
readingatthebeach(@)gmail(.)com
I'm already a follower
readingatthebeach(@)gmail(.)com
Tweet:
http://twitter.com/ReadAtTheBeach/status/10840704112
readingatthebeach(@)gmail(.)com
I've been wanting to read this book. Thanks for the chance.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
I'd love to read this book – please count me in!
Thanks ~ megalon22 at yahoo dot com
GFC follower
megalon22 at yahoo dot com
I have been wanting to read this book for a LONG time! Please count me in.
nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
Follower
nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
#1
Follower
nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
#2
Tweet! Tweet!
http://twitter.com/NancyeDavis/status/11123777744
nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
#1
Tweet! Tweet!
http://twitter.com/NancyeDavis/status/11123777744
nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
#2
Tweet! Tweet!
http://twitter.com/NancyeDavis/status/11123777744
nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
#3
Books are such a treat! This one sounds fab! Thanks for the chance to win!!!!!!
Zoe0825@verizon.net
I would desperately love to read this. Plus I check your blog for updates every day.
I Would LOVE to win this one.
tbranco(at) hughes(dot)net
I'm a follower too…
tbranco(at)hughes(Dot)net
This looks like an excellent book. I'd love a chance to win a copy. Thanks for the great review!
rubymoonstone at gmail dot com
I'm a follower (Ally)
rubymoonstone at gmail dot com
Please count me in.
simplystacieblog at gmail dot com
follower
simplystacieblog at gmail dot com
I have been wanting to read this book.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
blog follower via GFC
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com
Great book giveaway
formycontests@gmail.com
+2 I follow you on GFC as couponmom
formycontests@gmail.com
+3 I tweeted this on twitter
http://twitter.com/courtreporterON/status/11282239493
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