Review, Guest Post, and Giveaway: Somewhere to Dream by Genevieve Graham

Title: Somewhere to Dream
Author: Genevieve Graham
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Berkley
Publish Date: November 5, 2013 (Today!!!)

Why You're Reading This Book:

• You're a historical fiction fan.
• You're a romance fan.

What's the Story?:

From Goodreads.com: "The Cherokee call her Shadow Girl. A white woman adopted by Indians, Adelaide is haunted by the dark dreams she hides—of her murdered family, of the men she fears, and most of all, of the ones that foretell the future. After her visions cause her to make a terrible mistake, she renounces her power and buries her dreams deep in her soul.

Until Jesse Black is captured by the tribe. His life is spared because the Cherokee believe his warrior spirit belongs to their fallen brother. Though he hates all Indians, Adelaide illuminates their way of life for him, just as he shines light into her shadowed heart. But when her dreams return, Jesse must help her face them…or die trying…"

My Two Cents:

"Somewhere to Dream" is yet another swoon-worthy historical romance from Genevieve Graham. It's the third book in the MacDonnells series. While you can definitely enjoy "Somewhere to Dream" without having read the other two novels in the series, you should definitely consider reading the other two books in this series because they are good and you, dear reader, deserve good things. This book will captivate my fellow historical romance lovers!

This book follows Adelaide, the sister of Maggie whose story appears in "Under the Same Sky," the first book in this series. Like Maggie, Adelaide has been taken in by the Cherokees and lives with them. She kind of feels like she walks a really interesting line with being white while adapting to the ways of the Cherokees. She seems to struggle with her identity a lot in this book. It was fascinating to read how she was able to walk this line. You really get to see what she's feeling. She was a really fascinating character to me. Like Maggie, she also has a sixth sense of sorts, which plays into the story (I loved this element so much in this book).

Then we have Jesse, a white man who is taken in by the Cherokees because they believe he is the reincarnation of one of their fallen. He hates being with the tribe and the only one that really seems to make it bearable for him is Adelaide. They fall for each other but things are not as good or as safe as they first seem for both characters (I don't want to give anything away).

This series continues to be a great one. I love reading historical fiction or historical romances set in America because there just doesn't seem to be a lot of it so I'm always really excited when I come across a great one like "Somewhere to Dream." You can count me as one of those readers that is incredibly impatient for the next book in this series (please say there's more!!!).

Author Guest Post:

I'm very happy to welcome  Genevieve Graham here to A Bookish Affair today!

Thank you so much for having me here today, Meg!

People often ask me where I find ideas for stories. It's seems like kind of a complicated answer, and yet for me it's easy.

I don't. The stories find me.

I started writing in 2007 after having read the “Outlander” series four times and listened to the audio book another two or three times. And to be honest, I didn't just “read” and “listen.” I completely submerged myself into her world. I'm sure my family and friends thought I'd lost my mind. Everything tartan, everything Scotland, everything 18th century … that was all I thought about. I even dreamed about it.

One evening I decided to write down some of what I'd dreamed. I told my husband, “I'm going to go try to to write a book,” and he was all ... “Okay, honey. See you in a few hours.” That was back in the day when we had one desktop computer for all four of us. Poor family. We were forced to buy another one since I basically took up residency on that keyboard after my first visit.

I'd imagined a dark, brooding Scotsman, not quite twenty, and I had a feeling he'd fought at the Battle of Culloden. After writing a few pages, I stopped and stared at what I'd done. I could see him. I could hear him. I could feel what he felt. Where on earth had he come from?

Since that night, I've written seven or eight novels (only the first three are published so far, the rest are still being written/re-written) and through writing I've met some incredible “people.” Up until this writing craze took over my life, I have to admit that I never saw myself as an overly imaginative person, so I hesitate to say that I created these characters. I have a much more intriguing idea about where they come from.

Fact: I write historical fiction.

Fact: The only time I can write is when I go somewhere to dream … when I hide in the quiet, calm my mind, and basically meditate over my keyboard.

Isn't that how mediums communicate with the dead (without the keyboard, I mean)?

Well, who's to say my characters weren't actually real people once upon a time, and I'm just telling their stories? Since it was hundreds of years ago, no one can tell me I'm wrong.

If that's the case, then those people lived some pretty incredible lives, filled with adventure. Isn't that a great way to think about historical fiction while you're reading it? And if the author is great at their craft, they can help you truly believe in that magic. Truly believe you're reading someone's real life story. Maybe even wonder if it's fiction at all!

I actually didn't plan to write “Somewhere to Dream.” I thought the first two books told all the stories that needed telling from that family. Especially since Adelaide, the main character, was a very timid person with a lot of emotional scars. I didn't think much of her at all, quite frankly. But I awoke one morning, surprised to hear her soft voice in my head, saying she did have a story, and it needed telling. Unlike some of my other characters, she was patient while I typed. That girl had a lot to overcome, and I knew she had to emerge as a stronger person in the end.

Originally, I called the book “Out of the Shadows,” but Penguin feared that might suggest it was a horror novel (which it's not!). Throughout the story, Adelaide mentions a few times that she was satisfied, living in her sister's shadow. Wah-Li, the ancient Cherokee wise woman called her Oohdeeyuhlee Ageyujah, or “Shadow Girl.” Even seeing a shadow pass across her face terrified her.

To survive all the trauma in her life, she needed a partner, someone who embodied everything she lacked. That's when Jesse Black arrived at the Cherokee village, trussed up and hurling reckless abuse at his captors. She needed strength, and he needed to feel needed. They were perfect for each other.

Where do I get the stories? I don't know. But I'm the luckiest person in the world to be able to hear them and share them with you. And I can't wait to hear more!

Giveaway:

Genevieve is currently running a giveaway for some pretty awesome prizes to celebrate the release of "Somewhere to Dream." 

To enter, just fill out the form below!
  a Rafflecopter giveaway