Book Review, Excerpt, Huge Sale and Giveaway: Unexpected Gifts by SR Mallery
Welcome to my stop on the Blog Tour of Unexpected Gifts by S.R Mallery.
“Unexpected Gifts” is the story of a confused college student who gains clarity in life when she begins to read the journals and diaries of her ancestors from America’s past.
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~About the Book~
Title and Author: Unexpected Gifts by S.R Mallery
No. of Pages: 317
Publication Date: 2013
Genre: Historical Fiction
Blurb:
Can we learn from our ancestral past? Do our relativesâ behaviors help mold our own?
In “Unexpected Gifts” that is precisely what happens to Sonia, a confused college student, heading for addictions and forever choosing the wrong man. Searching for answers, she begins to read her familyâs diaries and journals from Americaâs past: the Vietnam War, Woodstock, and Timothy Leary era; Tupperware parties, McCarthyism, and Black Power; the Great Depression, dance marathons, and Eleanor Roosevelt; the immigrant experience and the Suffragists. Back and forth the book journeys, linking yesteryear with modern life until finally, by understanding her ancestors’ hardships and faults, she gains enough clarity to make some right choices.
~Book Review~
Unexpected Gifts by SR Mallery is truly an unexpected gift to readers. A realistic and emotionally rich story that took me back to the times I had only read about in my history lessons in school, this story took me inside and made me feel a part of that era.
When I heard about the book, the first thing that appealed to me was the title that is intriguing and had me checking out the blurb which had me reading the book. Interesting and eye catching the blurb had me assuming that this would be an insightful historical story with a gripping story line and I am so happy that all my assumptions came true with this book!
The author merges lessons from the historical events beautifully into Sonia’s present life and brings to life the history in technicolours in our minds. Her writing style is engaging and simple and it shows that she has done extensive research to write the book. The story is cohesive, crisp and held me engrossed right till the end.
A soothing, entertaining as well as a learning experience, I absolutely loved reading Unexpected Gifts by SR Mallery and strongly recommend it to everyone. 4.5 out of 5 stars to it. Go grab your copy and enjoy reading! SR Mallery has really won my heart with her soulful writing and I am sure to keep a lookout for her future books.
I received the book from the author and I am very thankful to her. The above review is my honest and unbiased opinion and in no way influenced.
~Excerpt~
SONIAâS paraplegic Father –CHAPTER 2: SamââLiving With
Fear
Fear
âFirst
thing I killed was no kind of thing at all. It was an enemy
thing I killed was no kind of thing at all. It was an enemy
soldier,
which was a hell of a lot easier to say than the first thing I ever killed was
a man.â
which was a hell of a lot easier to say than the first thing I ever killed was
a man.â
—Steve Mason
â…Nearing the
village, we passed women in their beige tunics, black pants, and Sampan hats,
shouldering thick bamboo rods weighted down by buckets of water. Most kept
their heads lowered as they walked, but the few who didnât, stared up at us
with dead, black-brown eyes and pressed lips. The afternoon was drawing to a
close by the time we reached a village compound that reeked of nuoc maum rotten
fish sauce and animal dung. An old, leathery woman, squatting by her hooch was
our welcoming committee, but once she saw us shuffle by, she scurried back into
her hut, clacking loudly in Vietnamese as chickens pecked at rice granules,
bobbing their heads up and down in 2/4 time.
village, we passed women in their beige tunics, black pants, and Sampan hats,
shouldering thick bamboo rods weighted down by buckets of water. Most kept
their heads lowered as they walked, but the few who didnât, stared up at us
with dead, black-brown eyes and pressed lips. The afternoon was drawing to a
close by the time we reached a village compound that reeked of nuoc maum rotten
fish sauce and animal dung. An old, leathery woman, squatting by her hooch was
our welcoming committee, but once she saw us shuffle by, she scurried back into
her hut, clacking loudly in Vietnamese as chickens pecked at rice granules,
bobbing their heads up and down in 2/4 time.
Carbini
cut to the chase. âFirst, pull every one of those gooks outta their hooches,
then line them up here,â he barked.
cut to the chase. âFirst, pull every one of those gooks outta their hooches,
then line them up here,â he barked.
I
watched my troop comb each thatched home, rounding up families of all ages and
herding them out into the open like a cattle drive in
Oklahoma. I, too, started the mission and stooping into one of
the huts, saw a young woman sitting on a straw mat, eating some rice in a black
bowl, a young child at her side.
watched my troop comb each thatched home, rounding up families of all ages and
herding them out into the open like a cattle drive in
Oklahoma. I, too, started the mission and stooping into one of
the huts, saw a young woman sitting on a straw mat, eating some rice in a black
bowl, a young child at her side.
She
was exquisiteâthe best possible combination of French and Chinese ancestry,
with such delicate features, she made my heart ache. My immediate instincts
were to protect her and her son from Carbini and this horrendous war, but she
just gazed up at me, emotionless.
was exquisiteâthe best possible combination of French and Chinese ancestry,
with such delicate features, she made my heart ache. My immediate instincts
were to protect her and her son from Carbini and this horrendous war, but she
just gazed up at me, emotionless.
I
could hear Carbini yelling orders to get a move-on, and I signaled this girl,
this treasure, to follow me. She shook her head vehemently, and curled her legs
around her son. I motioned again, but still, she refused. I froze, unable to
think, but when Carbini popped his head in the doorway and snarled, âWeylan!â
she got the message and followed me out.
could hear Carbini yelling orders to get a move-on, and I signaled this girl,
this treasure, to follow me. She shook her head vehemently, and curled her legs
around her son. I motioned again, but still, she refused. I froze, unable to
think, but when Carbini popped his head in the doorway and snarled, âWeylan!â
she got the message and followed me out.
Whimpering slightly, she joined her fellow villagers, gripping her childâs hand and wiping off a tear that had
slid halfway down her cheek. I suddenly pictured slave owners in pre-Civil War
days and felt my lunch rise up in my throat.
slid halfway down her cheek. I suddenly pictured slave owners in pre-Civil War
days and felt my lunch rise up in my throat.
âNow,
get your Zippos ready, men.â As Carbiniâs face flushed red, I sucked in my breath. He caught sight of my reaction
and came over. âWeylan here doesnât like my orders. Anyone else here who doesnât like my orders?â Nobody spoke up.
get your Zippos ready, men.â As Carbiniâs face flushed red, I sucked in my breath. He caught sight of my reaction
and came over. âWeylan here doesnât like my orders. Anyone else here who doesnât like my orders?â Nobody spoke up.
He
opened up one of my backpack pockets, yanked out my Zippo lighter, and shoved
it into my face. Immediately, you could hear the snap of pockets opening and
boots shifting. We were getting ready to Rock ân Roll.
opened up one of my backpack pockets, yanked out my Zippo lighter, and shoved
it into my face. Immediately, you could hear the snap of pockets opening and
boots shifting. We were getting ready to Rock ân Roll.
Carbini
was first. He marched over to a hooch, flipped on his Zippo, and carefully lit
the underbelly of its thatched roof. It smoldered for a few seconds, a thin,
rising wisp of smoke twisting in the tropical air. From that, a flame grew,
nibbling at the straw with a low, blue heat before suddenly bursting into a
torch, arcing up towards the sky in a yellow-hot blaze.
was first. He marched over to a hooch, flipped on his Zippo, and carefully lit
the underbelly of its thatched roof. It smoldered for a few seconds, a thin,
rising wisp of smoke twisting in the tropical air. From that, a flame grew,
nibbling at the straw with a low, blue heat before suddenly bursting into a
torch, arcing up towards the sky in a yellow-hot blaze.
Carbini
turned to us and nodded, his eyes glazed. This was our cue, yet I spun around
to search for the girl, who was at the back of the pack, crying softly as she
hugged her son. I glanced over at some of the other men, their hands jammed
deep into their pockets, and decided to follow their lead. The fire was raging
full force on each hooch now, the thatch and bamboo crackling like a 4th
of July fireworks display, leaving its reflections in the villagersâ eyes and
turning the sky dark with thick, bulbous smoke.
turned to us and nodded, his eyes glazed. This was our cue, yet I spun around
to search for the girl, who was at the back of the pack, crying softly as she
hugged her son. I glanced over at some of the other men, their hands jammed
deep into their pockets, and decided to follow their lead. The fire was raging
full force on each hooch now, the thatch and bamboo crackling like a 4th
of July fireworks display, leaving its reflections in the villagersâ eyes and
turning the sky dark with thick, bulbous smoke.
âWeylan!
You son-of-a-bitch coward! Youâre no better than the rest of us, you hear me?â Carbini started to charge over, then stopped
mid-stride.
You son-of-a-bitch coward! Youâre no better than the rest of us, you hear me?â Carbini started to charge over, then stopped
mid-stride.
In the distance, a large formation
of F4âs was headed our way, torpedoing fireballs of napalm every several
hundred yards and scattering screaming villagers down the main road. We were
ordered to take cover, but followed the fleeing Vietnamese instead, charging
after them and trying not to show our own fear…â
of F4âs was headed our way, torpedoing fireballs of napalm every several
hundred yards and scattering screaming villagers down the main road. We were
ordered to take cover, but followed the fleeing Vietnamese instead, charging
after them and trying not to show our own fear…â
~HERE’S WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT UNEXPECTED
GIFTS BY S. R. MALLERY~
GIFTS BY S. R. MALLERY~
âThe author
has a remarkable gift. The amazing ability not only to bring rich, historical
events to life, but also the ability to perfectly blend different generationsâŚâ
has a remarkable gift. The amazing ability not only to bring rich, historical
events to life, but also the ability to perfectly blend different generationsâŚâ
âIt simply
is one of the best books I’ve ever read. I wish I could give it six stars!â
is one of the best books I’ve ever read. I wish I could give it six stars!â
âI have
never read a book that wasnât a textbook that was able to successfully cover so
many time frames in such little space, with the accuracy you really would
expect from reading the journals of those who had actually lived in those
times.â
never read a book that wasnât a textbook that was able to successfully cover so
many time frames in such little space, with the accuracy you really would
expect from reading the journals of those who had actually lived in those
times.â
âColorful writing,
recreation of periods that prove adept challenges for any films about the
influences of the past being made, and all of this is written with such style
that it often times is dazzling…â
recreation of periods that prove adept challenges for any films about the
influences of the past being made, and all of this is written with such style
that it often times is dazzling…â
âSR Mallery
has created an important and impressive monument of a novel.â
has created an important and impressive monument of a novel.â
âIf only my
history teacher would have taught history like Mallery has, enriching it with
living, feeling people that the reader can equate to, I would have been a
better student.â
history teacher would have taught history like Mallery has, enriching it with
living, feeling people that the reader can equate to, I would have been a
better student.â
âLong after
the completion of the book, I missed the characters and the impact their
stories made on me. This one really touched me deeply.â
the completion of the book, I missed the characters and the impact their
stories made on me. This one really touched me deeply.â
âBeautifully
and sensitively written, anyone who loves a good story interwoven with actual
historical events will enjoy this very special novel.â
and sensitively written, anyone who loves a good story interwoven with actual
historical events will enjoy this very special novel.â
âA master
storyteller has been at work, and this marvelous piece of writing is the
result.â
storyteller has been at work, and this marvelous piece of writing is the
result.â
âI’m in awe
of how the author could write about the events so realistically, putting the
reader firmly into different time periods in America’s history.â
of how the author could write about the events so realistically, putting the
reader firmly into different time periods in America’s history.â
â⌠she
blends the past and the present with a seamless texture that only a âtrueâ
storyteller can manage.â
blends the past and the present with a seamless texture that only a âtrueâ
storyteller can manage.â
âThis is a
book you can keep on your shelf to read over and overâŚâ
book you can keep on your shelf to read over and overâŚâ
~Buying Links~
Grab the book for just 99c or Rs 63 on Amazon and Kobo!
~Meet the Author~
S.R. Mallery has worn various hats in her life. First, a classical/pop singer/composer, she moved on to the professional world of production art and calligraphy.â¨Next came a long career as an award winning quilt artist/teacher and an ESL/Reading instructor. Her short stories have been published in descant 2008, Snowy Egret, Transcendent Visions, The Storyteller, and Down In the Dirt.
Website/Blog: www.srmallery.com
Twitter: @SarahMallery1
Goodreads:
Pinterest: (I have some good history boards that are
getting a lot of attentionâhistory, vintage clothing, older films)
getting a lot of attentionâhistory, vintage clothing, older films)
Amazon
Author page: http://www.amazon.com/S.-R.-Mallery/e/B00CIUW3W8/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
Author page: http://www.amazon.com/S.-R.-Mallery/e/B00CIUW3W8/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
~Giveaway~
Prize: 10 Ebooks of Unexpected Gifts by SR Mallery
Ends 13th September
Open Worldwide.
Open only to those who can legally enter and receive the prize. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded.No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Nikita (Njkinny) from Njkinny Tours & Promotions and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Ends 13th September
Open Worldwide.
Open only to those who can legally enter and receive the prize. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded.No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Nikita (Njkinny) from Njkinny Tours & Promotions and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
~Organized by~
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