Peeking Between the Pages

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Book Review: On Folly Beach by Karen White & Giveaway

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I have read and enjoyed many of Karen White’s novels and On Folly Beach was no different. I really enjoyed this latest novel of hers. Like many of her novels, On Folly Beach is a novel full of emotion – sadness and happiness and yet hopeful at the same time. There is also a great mystery that weaves the past with the present in a way that will keep you turning the pages to find out exactly what happened and how it relates to the present day and those in it.

Emmy has lost her husband to the war in Afghanistan six months ago. She still desperately misses him and finds it hard to move forward at all with her life and still be able to breathe. Emmy’s mother knows she’s struggling and encourages Emmy to buy a local bookstore called Folly’s Finds in Folly Beach, South Carolina where she herself grew up. She feels that Folly Beach could somehow awaken the life that she knows her daughter still has inside of her.

Emmy is very against the idea until she starts going through a box of books that her mother had purchased from Folly’s Finds. It contains a lot of old books but the interesting thing is that many of the books have these secret messages of love written in the margins. Emmy has a masters in library science and at one point her dream had been to be a curator in a museum or university working with rare book collections so needless to say these old novels and messages are definitely sparking her curiosity. Finally she decides to jump in feet first and take a risk – she’s going to move to Folly Beach and buy the bookstore with the hopes of finding yet more messages and unraveling the mystery of them.

When Emmy arrives in Folly Beach she is confronted with the not quite so pleasant Lulu, a woman in her seventies, who she will have to work with. Lulu is the sister of the woman Maggie who had once owned Folly’s Finds and she has a thriving business selling bottle trees. Lulu also happens to be the only person left alive who really knows the truth about what may have happened many years ago and just who it is who may have written those love notes in the novels.

This novel alternates between the past in the 1940’s with Lulu, her sister Maggie and Maggie’s cousin Cat and the present day 2009 with Emmy coming to Folly’s Finds and trying to uncover the mystery behind all that happened back in the 1940’s. Emmy’s discoveries begin to unravel the little world that Lulu has built for herself. Of course there are many unanswered questions and each question brings the past closer and closer to Lulu who has been running away from it her whole life. At the same time uncovering this past life brings Emmy back to realizing she still wants to live even without her husband.

I really enjoyed the characters in this novel- with my favorites being Emmy and Lulu. Emmy I liked for her vulnerability, sadness, and love of anything books. Lulu I liked for different reasons. She seemed mean and rude to everyone but it was her way of not letting anyone get too close. As you read about her past you begin to understand more and more about why she’s as she is and why she devotes her life to making her bottle trees. I loved the setting of Folly Beach and mostly I just loved being able to immerse myself in a Karen White novel and say good bye to real life for a while.

I read On Folly Beach by Karen White for her blog tour with TLC Book Tours. You can check out the rest of the tour stops for On Folly Beach here. You can buy your very own copy of On Folly Beach by Karen White here in the US and here in Canada. Be sure to pop in and visit Karen White’s website as well!

My thanks…to TLC Book Tours and the publisher Penguin for my review copy of On Folly Beach by Karen White.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

Would you like to win your own copy of On Folly Beach by Karen White? Well I just happen to have 2 copies up for grabs courtesy of the publisher Penguin.

To enter: just leave me a comment with a way to contact you. No email address and your entry will be deleted.

This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only (no PO boxes) as the books will be shipped to the winners directly from the publisher. I will draw for the winners on Saturday, June 5, 2010. Good luck everyone!

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Comments

  1. The more I hear about this book the more I want to read it! I have only read one Karen White book, and I really look forward to read more.

    Don't enter me into the giveaway as I am not eligible.

  2. I missed out on the Tradd Street books of hers, so I leaped at this opportunity. It was really a pleasurable book to read, and included just about every hot topic that catches my eye…lighthouse, beach, bookstore, WWII. White is an amazing woman.

  3. Yes, I would love to win this book!
    I love the cover! I wish I was there and could just reach down and pick up a seashell.

    I am a follower.

    I will post about it (you know I always do).

    forevereading at gmail dot com

  4. I would love to read this book. Who wouldn't want a bookstore on the beach. please enter me.

    I am also a follower.
    jgoffice(at)cox(dot)com

  5. I love Karen's books and would love to read her latest one. It sounds really good! Please enter me in your giveaway. Thank you!

    Blessings,
    Sandee61

    Muzzley56[at]aol[dot]com

  6. Sounds like a great summer read. I enjoy stories from the 40's era.
    seknobloch(at)gmail(dot)com

  8. This book sounds very good. I loved Tradd Street and am looking forward to reading more Of Karen White's books. Gotta love a book that has books as part of the storyline!

    bthgordon at yahoo dot com

  10. Even the cover is enticing! And if that wasn't enough, your words have convinced me to download this next! Thanks.

    How's Buddy? How are you?

  13. Sounds wonderful – the beach, a book store, a bit of mystery, time slip to the 40s. I would love to read this book. Thanks for the giveaway.
    lcbrower40(at)gmail(dot)com

  15. Thanks for this lovely giveaway. This story appeals to me and would be great to enjoy. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

  16. No need to enter me in the giveaway, as I have this one on my shelf for review. I loved your review on this one and am really looking forward to reading it. It has a lot of elements that really excite me!! Glad you loved it!!

  17. I'm reading this right now and so far, I'm loving it. No need to enter me.

  19. Please count me in. I would love to win this. Thanks for the giveaway.

    lizzi0915 at aol dot com

  20. This is on my wish list! Thank you for hosting the giveaway!

    freda.mans[at]sympatico.ca

  21. I would love to read this. I am a big fan of her work. I would love to read this. Thanks for the giveaway. My eamil can be found on my blog.

  24. Please enter me and thanks for hosting the giveaway!

    theroundfile at live dot com

  26. I enjoy books that are set in the 40's–with the present day too it looks great. Please count me in! Thanks.
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

  27. I have heard wonderful things about Karen White and would love to win her book.

    Smiles,
    Cindy W.

    countrybear52[at]yahoo[dot]com

  28. The story sounds so very good. Have not read her previous books and would love to read this.

  31. Hi Dar, I've heard so many good things about this book. Like I've said on all the other book blogs, I need to read Karen White beginning with her first book. I'm not eligible to enter for the giveaway (bummer!) but I sure wanted to drop by and say HI. 😀

  32. This sounds like such a wonderful book, and I keep reading terrific things about this author. Thanks for the great review!

  34. Please enter my name in the giveaway for the book. Thanks!

    pboylecharley AT hotmail DOT com

  36. This one looks awesome! Please enter me for it.

    I follow on gfc

    mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

  37. I love characters who seem unlikeable, but once you learn about their past you feel sympathy for them! I think that's a great skill for an author to possess because they're playing on so many of your feelings at once. Thanks so much for being on this tour!

  38. I enjoyed reading Karen's Tradd Street series so when I was given a review copy of this, I was thrilled! I'm currently reading this book and enjoying it. I just love Karen's writing style. 🙂

  42. Hi Darlene,

    I am new to your blog, found my way here from Ramya's bookshelf and I must admit I loved your reviews and have added your page to my bookmarks. 🙂

    I have been reading rave reviews about 'On Folly Beach' and all the other novels by Karen White. I would love to have a copy of this book.

    So please enter me into the giveaway.

    Warm Wishes
    Archana

    archanaskorner(at)gmail(dot)com

  43. so awesome sounding is this book; I'd love to read it and find out how it ends.

    yourstrulee(at)sasktel(dot)net

  48. I would love to read this book—please enter me to win!

    skkorman AT bellsouth DOT net

  50. I love that part of it is set in the 1940's – I really enjoy period settings

    adrianecoros(at)gmail.com

  51. I would love to read this! Pleae enter me and thank you!

    debraldufek AT hotmail DOT com

  52. Have seen some great reviews of this book. Thanks for the giveaway.
    mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

  54. This book sounds really interesting and I'd like to read it. Thanks for the contest.

    lusteewench at gmail dot com

  55. Wonderful review! It sounds like my kind of book.

    I am a follower. 🙂

    I'll post this in my blog's sidebar.

    Thanks!

    Suko95(at)gmail(dot)com

  56. I'd love to read this one — I've been dreaming of opening my own bookstore by the beach!

    geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com

  57. I'd love the chance to read this book. Please count me in.

    Marie
    utah91960[at]yahoo[dot]com

  58. I've never read any of Karen White's books but I hear they're really good. Would love to try this one. And I agree with everyone else, that's a great cover!

    Thanks! :0)
    librarygrinch at gmail dot com

  59. i'm a 'fan' of karen's novels…thanks for the chance to read her latest.

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

  60. I have heard really good reviews on this book and i love books that have coastal locations. Would love to win a copy of this book
    I am a follower
    I am a subscriber
    photoquest(at)bellsouth(dot)net

  61. I love her books….very anxious to read this one. Please enter me.
    Thanks!!!
    jackie.smithATdishmailDOTnet

  63. This sounds like an awesome book! Please include me in this giveaway.

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

  64. I haven’t read any of this author’s books, but your review sounds like a book that I would take pleasure in reading. Thanks you so much for hosting this giveaway.

    steven(dot)capell(at)gmail(dot)com

  65. Please include me! I have heard great things about this one! Thanks

    dcf_beth at verizon dot net

  66. I have been seeing a lot of good reviews on this book lately, and I would love to read it. Please enter me. Thanks!

    ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

  67. I just saw this at my local book store and thought it sounded interesting

    aksimmo at brainerd dot net

  68. Please enter me. I would really love to read this one!! Thanks for the chance!

    poolplayer712 (at) yahoo (dot) com

  70. Yes – Please enter me in this contest! I love Karen's books!

    kherbrand at comcast dot net

  72. I added this to my wish list when I read the first review. I am a child of the 40's and would enjoy reading this book I know.

    Thanks for the opportunity to enter.

    misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

  75. Having just recently started reading your blog, I am thrilled that your taste in reading is so similar to mine. I love your give away choices.I have posted for the other book giveaways also. I have seen Folly Beach on other blogs too, and can't wait to read it. I have just recently read South of Broad for my Book Club. It generated a great discussion with mixed feelings about who liked it and who didn't. I for one, enjoyed it very much. The ending was a bitter of a downer though.

    ladybook21@yahoo.com

  76. I just came across your blog in reading reviews about "the Day the Falls Stood Still" (which is a fantastic read!). "On Folly Beach" soundss just as intriguing & enjoyable and I'd love to win a copy.
    ~Becky : bumbleybzs at yahoo dot com

  77. I would love to win this book! It sounds charged with emotion!

    readingatthebeach(@)gmail(.)com

  78. I always enjoy Karen White's books. I love it when she sets them in my home state of SC too. Please enter me in this contest.

    I am also a follower.

    acabrams[at]gmail[dot]com

  79. Please enter me. I really want to read this one.
    I'm a follower.

    Your contest is posted on the giveaway sidebar of my blog Tutu's Two Cents

    tbranco (at) hughes (d0t)net

  81. This sounds like a great book. I live in South Carolina and Folly Beach is not too far from where I live which makes me want to read it even more.

    peacelily_2006(at)yahoo(dot)com

  83. Please enter me in your giveaway. I follow your blog.

    copperpenny12(at)hotmail(dot)com

  86. This looks like a very good book – beautiful cover too!
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

  87. Now this is my kind of book: a mystery about books! Thanks for offering it!

    luann (at) gpcom (dot) net