Peeking Between the Pages

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Book Review: Sea Escape by Lynne Griffin & Giveaway

Sea Escape, releasing today, by Lynne Griffin is a book that I really enjoyed. This story was emotionally charged for me; it’s the story of family – of the things that are important and of the things that we hold secret without thought to the consequences. For me, it was also the story of a woman still striving for her mother’s love even as an adult with children of her own. I felt a deep connection to this story which is probably why I liked it so much. It’s also very much a love story – of a couple and of a woman’s desire to have everything perfect from her love for her man to the home and family she’s dreamed of all her life. Yet, it takes only one thing to go wrong to upset this delicate balance and throw it all into a turmoil.

Laura is married with two kids at home and a great career that she loves as a nurse taking care of newborn babies. As well there is her mother Helen, someone Laura has strived almost her whole life to understand. As a child her mother doted on her but then tragedy struck and Laura’s mother went into a depression and after that Laura’s life was very much different. Her mother was no longer there for her emotionally. Laura has spent her life wondering why her mother didn’t love her anymore. What had she done?

Tragedy strikes yet again as Laura’s mother has a stroke and is in a coma. Laura, in an attempt to better understand her mother begins to read private letters from her father to her mother that her mother has vigilantly kept to herself over all the years. She also decides to try reading them to her mother; Laura believed if anything could bring her mother out of a comma it would definitely be her father’s words.

Through these letters though Laura begins getting a very different picture of her mother and also more of an understanding as to why her mother was the way she had been over the years. The story unfolding before her eyes is one very different from what she thought her parent’s and her mother’s life to be. The woman she calls her mother; someone she hasn’t been allowed to get to know, is beginning to make a lot more sense to her. Laura begins to realize that her mother isn’t who she had always thought – she wasn’t just a cold and unemotional person. She was a very private person who just didn’t know how to open up after being hurt.

As Laura fights to make sure her mother receives proper care she begins to realize through the letters and very difficult conversations with her mother due to the stroke that they may not be so different from each other as she’s always thought. As more and more secrets come to light Laura develops a relationship with the mother she thought she had lost.

There are so many layers to this story that it’s hard to put it all into words. It’s very much a story of a mother and daughter. A daughter wanting her mother’s love yet never feeling as though she’s getting it. I found the story and characters very real. Laura was a character I really liked. She seemed to be a loving and caring woman who, even though she felt distanced from her mother, still wanted to do everything possible to try one last time to get close to her. For me, this is where I connected to this story so strongly. My mom and I have a relationship a lot like that. I love her more than anything but we don’t have that close mother/daughter bond that I’d like because for whatever reason she doesn’t allow that. I could really see myself in Laura; always making that attempt to get closer, to understand.

The story goes back and forth between the present with Laura and the past with her parents when they were first in love and starting a life. It never seems confusing; the chapters flow together nicely. Sea Escape was a page-turner for me. I just couldn’t put it down -from the very beginning the story gripped me and once everything started unfolding and the secrets that had been buried so long were being realized – I just couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. I would recommend Sea Escape to those who enjoy mother/daughter relationship books like I do. If you’re looking for a book club pick, Sea Escape would be a terrific choice. I think novels that involve mother/daughter dynamics and family life in general can really spark a great deal of great conversation.

As a note, this story was actually inspired by the author’s personal family letters about the ties that bind mothers and daughters.

I read Sea Escape by Lynne Griffin for her book tour with TLC Book Tours. I’m the first of the tour stops so you have lots of other stops to check out here. Make sure to pop in and visit Lynne Griffin’s website. You can purchase your own copy of Sea Escape by Lynne Griffin here in the US and here in Canada.

My thanks…to Trish with TLC Book Tours and the publisher Simon & Schuster for my eBook review copy of Sea Escape by Lynne Griffin.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

This is a great giveaway: not only do I have 1 copy of Sea Escape by Lynne Griffin up for grabs but a copy of her first novel Life Without Summer will also be included in the giveaway to 1 winner! What do you need to do…

  • Leave me a comment with a way to contact you. Please leave me an email address or I will delete your entry. Thank you.

That’s it. Easy Peasy. This giveaway is open to US & Canadian residents only (no PO boxes) as the books will be coming to the winner from the publisher. I will draw for the winner on Saturday, July 31, 2010. Good luck!

***THERE SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING GOING ON WITH COMMENTS RIGHT NOW. THEY AREN’T SHOWING UP HERE BUT THEY ARE IN FACT COMING INTO MY MAIL SO WE’LL WAIT AND SEE IF IT’S A BLOGGER ISSUE. JUST SO YOU KNOW I DO SEEM TO BE GETTING THEM.

Comments

  1. Hey Dar, Please enter me in this contest! Looks great.

    forevereading at gmail dot com

    I also posted about it.

  3. Relationships between mothers and daughters almost defy description, and they are extremely tricky. This was definitely the case with my mom and I'm finding it to be the case with my own daughter. I doubt there will ever be a lack of things to write about. Nice review, and I'd love to be included in the giveaway! rnawrot at cfl dot rr dot com

  4. Thanks so much for the review,,it sounds like a wonderful read,,please enter me into the giveaway,,thanks,,
    Devon
    hanna_563 at msn dot com

  5. This sounds like the perfect book to read during the summer. Thanks for the great give away.
    jgoffice(at)cox(dot)net

  6. Darlene…. that is a beautifully written review – touching & poignant!!! As a reader, after reading your review I have a clear picture of what to expect from this book and I must say, now I really want to read this book… Please enter me in this giveaway..

    archanaskorner(at)gmail(dot)com

    Thanks
    Arch

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

    pboylecharley AT hotmail DOT com

  9. Sounds like a good book! Thanks for the opportunity! emilyjoymitchell at gmail dot com.

  10. I like the idea of mother/daughter relationships…love the cover and wanted to read this one too!!

  11. This book sounds compelling and wonderful. Thanks. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

  12. I would love to win and read it. And two for one??? Wow!

    teakettle58(at)yahoo(dot)com

  13. No need to enter me in this giveaway, as I am part of the tour as well. I loved this book and thought it was a very poignant read. I am glad you liked it too and thought that you wrote a wonderful review on it!!

  14. I would love to read it. Thanks for the giveaway.
    aploughery (at) yahoo (dot) com

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

    skkorman AT bellsouth DOT net

  21. you have made this book sound like a great read with a wide range of emotions; makes me want to read this book and the other one. thanks.

    yourstrulee(at)sasktel(dot)net

  22. The book sounds fantastic. I'm trying to figure out what the cover has to do with the storyline. milou2ster(at)gmail.com

  24. This is a wonderful giveaway, Dar and Lynne Griffin, too, thank you! I came across Sea Escape this morning, read about it and added it to my tbr list so I was thrilled to see your giveaway.

    This story sounds very emotionally charged and as a woman who has had some struggles in her relationship with her mom I can relate to Laura's plight and hope to read her story soon.

    Aimala127 AT gmail DOT com

  30. I would love to win Sea Escape. Maybe I can find where I went wrong with my daughter. My daughter and I are close but she seems distant now. She comes to me when she needs money or to borrow something else or needs me to run an error for her but seldoms call just to see how I am or to tell me what is going on in her life. She is now a widow. We use to be closer but something has happened and we are not that close anymore. I lived alone since 91 until my son moved in when he was sick so I am a loner and love my computer which keeps me company.

    Thanks for the opportunity to enter.

    misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

  32. This one sounds terrific. I'd love to win it Dar!

    je2kids(at)yahoo(dot)com

  33. Oh yeah, I'd love to win this! Another new to me author, I love finding them.

    mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

  35. The cover seems at odds with the title, I wonder what that's all about? Relationships between mothers and daughters always seem to be evolving, especially when daughters become mothers themselves. Your review has me wanting to read this book, please enter my name for a chance to win, thanks Dar.

    wanda_waiting[@]hotmail[.]com

  36. Looks like a missed a couple of posts yesterday thanks to blogger weirdness, but looked back 🙂

    great review

  37. Please enter me!!!! This sounds like such a good read

    behapppppppy(at)hotmail(dot)com

  38. This book sounds like my cuppa tea.
    Love & Hugs,
    Pam
    pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

  43. Enter me in the contest please. The book sounds lovely and something I'd enjoy. Thanks for the review & giveaway!

    cc932005[at]hotmail[dot]com

  45. This sounds like a wonderful book. Today I found a box of postcards and letters that I want to go through. My mom sent letters to my uncle in '43 and '44 that I have found so far and postcards from early 1900's. I hope to learn more about my family when I read them.

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

  46. I'm thrilled to see that you enjoyed this book so much! Thanks for being a part of the tour.

    (no need to enter me)

  47. Terrific review, Dar. I definitely want to read this one so I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed.

    booklogged at gmail dot com

  50. Sounds like a very interesting book. I would enjoy reading it. Please enter me. Thanks!

    ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

  51. This so strange..I was just reading a review of "Sea Escape> yesterday..And thought..I want to read this book..Thanks for your indepth,but Spoil Free Review much Appreciated..Susan In Vt…

  54. Aww this sounds super sad! But any book that can make you sad is very well written

    bmweida at yahoo dot com

  55. What an awesome giveaway! I'd love to read both these books.

    bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

  58. liked your review of this book. Sound like a good book.
    RJB
    loki304[at]tds[dot]net

  61. I'd love to be counted in for these books. Thanks for the giveaway. 😀

    ~Briana
    thebookpixie[at]yahoo[dot]com

  63. The synopsis of this book is intriguing and one that I would like to read. Thank you so much for hosting this giveaway.

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

  64. I would love to be counted in for these books! Thanks for the giveaway. 😀

    Marie
    utah91960[at]yahoo[dot]com

  68. Please enter me! I would love to read this book.

    dancealert at aol dot com

    I subscribe!

  69. thanks for the chance to read these fabulous novels 🙂

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

  70. Mother-daughter relationships fascinate me. My relationship with my mother was one of many ups and downs. This sounds like a wonderful read. I would love to win it, but either way it is definitely on my TBR list. I already have Lynne’s exquisite story LIFE WITHOUT SUMMER.