Peeking Between the Pages

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Book Review: Far From Here by Nicole Baart & Giveaway

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You can tell from the beginning of Far From Here, Nicole Baart’s newest novel, that things may not end up all flowers and roses for Danica and Etsell but you have no idea how it will all unfold. He loves to fly planes and she is absolutely terrified of flying and after the first time she flies with him she refuses to ever fly again. He would love to live in Alaska and work there while Danica doesn’t want to leave home let along move out to the wilds of Alaska. Yet they get married and for many years are happy – or are they? Do you ever wonder what hovers just below the appearances of a happy couple?

When Ell comes home one day and pretty much informs Dani that he is going to Alaska to fly for a buddy of his for three weeks she is ticked off. She feels they could have at least discussed it but it is only three weeks and it’s always been a dream of his to fly in Alaska so she lets go of her anger. Then she receives the phone call that tells her that her husband is missing and her life is forever changed. She is devastated and when the search is called off she flies to Alaska with Ell’s surrogate mother Hazel to further search for Ell. It is there that she learns that a woman went missing with her husband as well. Dani is at a loss as to what to feel. She arrives back home trying to piece together some kind of a life but she is at loose ends not knowing if she’s a widow, if Ell is coming home, or if Ell had intended to leave her all along.

This novel is really about Dani dealing with her anger and grief. It is told in flashbacks to Dani’s marriage with Ell and also with flashbacks to her past with her less than perfect family. Dani has pretty much been on her own her whole life. She and her sisters Kat and Natalie never really had a mother in Char, who much preferred the bottle to bringing up kids and yet Dani felt loved and despite being the youngest in the family she took over the role of caregiver. As Dani gets back to working in her beauty salon and opening up to people a bit more she is dealt another blow – a big one. Can she get past yet one more upheaval in her life and just how much more can she take before she loses her sanity completely?

I loved Far From Here. I’ve read one other of Nicole’s books and that was The Moment Between (my review) which I also loved. She’s an author who writes with a distinct beauty in her words and I never fail to come away from reading one of her books without being touched in some way. In Far From Here Dani’s pain is so raw and real and you can feel that emanating from the pages of the book. At the same time you can see hope in the way that her family draws together in ways that it never has before to help Dani heal. All of the characters in this novel are well rounded out even the brash Hazel is likeable. They are all real and flawed individuals trying to make it in a world that isn’t always fair or perfect.

Far From Here is an emotionally charged novel of loss and of love.  It will touch your heart and leave you wondering if you ever really know those closest to you and just how long do you hold onto the hope that someone will come back to you. I literally could not put this book down until I turned that last page and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to my friends.

Read the First Chapter
Nicole’s website and blog
Find Nicole on Facebook

Buy your own copy of Far From Here on Amazon.com or Amazon.ca

 


Far From Here Video from Todd Montsma on Vimeo.
 

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

Because I loved Far From Here  by Nicole Baart so much I’m really excited to have a copy to share with my readers.  To enter…

  • For 1 entry simply leave me a comment entering the giveaway.
  • For 2 entries, follow my blog.  If you already do, thank you, and please let me know so I can pass the extra entry on to you as well.
  • For 3 entries, blog or tweet this giveaway and spread the word.

This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only (no PO boxes) and I will draw for the winner on Saturday, February 25/12.  Good luck everyone!

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Comments

  6. I love the setting of Alaska. Settings can always take a story to the next level. I’ll take your recommendation to heart!

    • Sandy, there isn’t much of the book that takes place in Alaska but there are a few really good descriptions.

  7. Thanks for the giveaway. Alaska alway seems so appealing to me. I would love to read this.

    I follow on GFC

    lizzi0915 at aol dot com

  15. What a lovely, heartfelt review Darlene 🙂

    It sounds like this is a book sure to touch a chord with me…I can’t read overly sad stuff right now, so I think I will have to put this on the list for later.

  16. Oh, this one does sound fascinating, and I would love the chance to read it and get to the bottom of things. Thanks for the great giveaway, Dar! I would love the chance to be entered! Your review of this one was lovely, by the way!

    zibilee(at)figearo(dot)net

  21. I watched the trailer and read your review. This must be a very moving and powerful story. I don’t know “how long you hold on to hope”.

    It sounds like this book also asks some other important questios too.

    I have some relatives who live north of Fairbanks so that is really in the wilds too.

    Would really love to read this story for so many reasons.

    CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

    • Carol, I really think you’d enjoy this story and yes it does get you asking yourself a lot of questions. I like that in a book.

  25. Being the youngest in my family this story piqued my interest! Thanks for the giveaway!

    Margaret
    singitm(at)hotmail(dot)com

  30. I have a couple of this author’s books on my wishlist. This story has an interesting storyline. The couple’s wants seems a world a part, it’ll be interesting to see if they overcome it and if love is enough.

    • Na, I always think love is enough in the beginning and then as the years wear on it becomes less so.

  33. Everyone brings their strengths and flaws to a marriage and hopes for a HEA. Great review!
    kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

  38. Your review is wonderful and I’ve just added this book to my list. Thanks, Dar!

    I hope you and Sammy have a terrific week. Give him a squeeze from me!

  42. This sounds like an intriguing book. The location of Alaska makes it particularly interesting to me. Thanks for the giveaway.
    mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

  57. I, too, have a fear of flying. And my last flight was to Alaska! (I’m an Amtrak girl now!). I would love to read this book.

  65. Sounds like a very good and interesting book. I would really enjoy reading it. Please enter me. Thanks!

    ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

  71. Thank you so much for your giveaway ^_^ This sounds like a wonderful book

    faefever25 at hotmail dot com