Welcome to the Book Blast for Jubilee’s Journey by Bette Lee Crosby. I’m a huge fan of Bette’s southern flavored writing and her stories always evoke so many emotions. Her characters are genuine, flaws and all, and I just loved this book.
I’ve reposted my review for ya’ll.
Enjoy, and don’t forget to enter the giveaway!
Jubilee’s Journey by Bette Lee Crosby
My Review
I’ve read many of Bette’s books, and some things I know I’ll find in each new one are her strong southern prose, compelling situations very true to life, and characters so vividly depicted they become living beings, and I step into their story.
Another thing I’ve come to expect is her endearing cover art. You feel when you look at them.
The cover design for Jubilee’s Journey was done by Kathleen Valentine of valentinedesign.com. Bette Lee will also occasionally incorporate a friend or fan’s name into her novels.
I fell in love with Ethan Allen in Spare Change and was thrilled to return to Wyattsville and have his story continue in Jubilee’s Journey.
He is doing fine. That is until one day, he stops at a crime scene, doing a lookie-loo to see what was going down. Sent on his way, as he pedals off he spies a little girl sitting all alone on a bench, looking so sad and lost.
I just knew Ethan would mull about that girl. So when he’s riding his bike home from school it’s no surprise when he stops to help the girl still sitting there on a bench. He convinces her to come home with him. His grandmother will take care of her.
Poor Olivia. Ethan brings home a stray. First thing she does is feed her. Then gently, she pries her story from her.
She’s Jubilee, 7 years old, and she came to the city with her brother after their father died. Paul was determined to keep his promise to their father and they get off the bus in Wyattsville searching for their aunt. All they have is her first name.
Paul told Jubilee to wait on the bench while he went inside to check out a job. Hours later, he still hadn’t returned and that’s when Ethan came into the picture.
I felt such anguish for Jubilee. She depended on her older brother, trusted him to take care of them, and now he was just gone. She’s such a sweetie. So innocent yet so firm in her love for her brother.
Paul is such a mature young man, and such a good brother to Jubilee. When he entered that store, he had no idea his path would converge with Hurt McAdams and he would find himself in the wrong place at the wrong time and wouldn’t be leaving the way he went in.
Ethan is still Ethan. Always pushing the limit, and working his grandmother, Olivia. She’s wise to his ways but knows sometimes it’s best to let him think he’s got one over on her.
Ethan and Jubilee become very close with Ethan filling the role of big brother and protector until her real brother returns.
I’m not sure if you could label one genre for this book. Bette blends several into her story. I call it life literature. The characters tell me their stories, let me share their lives, and I savor every moment.
Upon reaching the end of Jubilee’s Journey, I blinked, held the book to my chest, and sighed. I slowly left their world. So moving, so powerful was this story, I tried to hang onto it, to keep everyone close.
Thank you for gifting me Jubilee’s Journey, Bette. There is no better gift than words on a page.
5 Stars
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A couple of excerpts from this journey.
Ethan:
I didn’t want to tell Grandma this on account of she’s a worrier. Mama never worried about nothin’, but Grandma, she worries about everything. The sorry truth is I didn’t see no live people come out of that grocery store. Far as I could tell, they was all dead.
Jubilee:
I ain’t never had six dresses at one time. And I sure ain’t never had underpants with the day of the week spelled out so you don’t get mixed up and wear Tuesday’s pants on Wednesday.
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JUBILEE’S JOURNEY…FPA PRESIDENT’S BOOK AWARD GOLD MEDAL WINNER
When tragedy strikes a West Virginia coal mining family, two children start out on a trek that they hope will lead them to a new life. Before a day passes, the children are separated and the boy is caught up in a robbery not of his making. If his sister can find him, she may be able to save him. The problem is she’s only seven years old, and who’s going to believe a kid?
Reviewer Praise:
An uplifting story of hope, love and the kindness of strangers. Rainy Day Ramblings
I was drawn in from the first page and held captive to the end. Jubilee’s Journey makes you believe in the power of the human spirit and the kindness of strangers. The Caffeinated Reviewer
Real both in circumstances and dialogue Jubilee’s Journey is a book that will have you up late to finish. It will make you believe that you can triumph over tragedy. Mrs. Mommy Booknerd
Crosby’s novels touch my heart big time, and Jubilee’s Journey is no exception. Even the Grinch would be hard-pressed to scowl at the Wyattsville Series books. They’ve got tension and suspense in their mysteries, Southern charm and lessons aplenty. Popcorn Reads
Purchase Your Copy
Amazon * Barnes & Noble * iTunes * Kobo
Excerpts – Popular Highlights:
” His death came as no surprise to anyone. He was one of the countless men forever lost to the mine. They were men loved and mourned by their families, but to the world they were faceless, nameless people, not worthy of mention in the Charleston Times.”
“When Jubilee said she was scared going to a place she didn’t know, I told her not to worry. I said it was a good thing ‘cause we was going to see an aunt we never even knew we had. Then she started smiling. The whole time I was telling her how good everything was gonna be, I was wishing I had someone to tell me the same thing.”
“I guess God looks past what you claim to want and gives you what you need.”
“We can plan ahead until we’re blue in the face, but regardless of what we do events will happen as they will. The truth is we don’t have a bean of say in the matter.”
Author Bette Lee Crosby
Award-winning novelist Bette Lee Crosby brings the wit and wisdom of her Southern Mama to works of fiction—the result is a delightful blend of humor, mystery and romance along with a cast of quirky charters who will steal your heart away.
“Storytelling is in my blood,” Crosby laughingly admits, “My mom was not a writer, but she was a captivating storyteller, so I find myself using bits and pieces of her voice in most everything I write.”
Crosby’s work was first recognized in 2006 when she received The National League of American Pen Women Award for a then unpublished manuscript. Since then, she has gone on to win another fifteen literary awards, including the Royal Palm Literary Award, The Reviewer’s Choice Award, and the FPA President’s Book Award Gold Medal.
A third book in her Wyattsville Series is scheduled for release in January 2015 and the third book in the Serendipity Series will follow in the Spring of 2015.
Website * Twitter * Facebook * Instagram * Google+
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BookBlast Giveaway
$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Click on the rafflecopter below to enter.
Ends 10/3/14
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. 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 Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
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