 |
| Kristy Woodson Harvey |
Gumption is one of my favorite
words. It’s one of those rare and beautiful words that, to me, sounds like what
it is. The mere act of saying “gumption” feels
a certain way. It feels like you’re going to do something, like your going to
make it happen, like you’re going to be brave no matter what.
Lovey, the grandmother and one of
the protagonists in Lies and Other Acts
of Love, is a big fan of gumption too. In fact, one of the pieces of advice
that she passes down through the generations in her family, and to her granddaughter
Annabelle, the other protagonist, is that, “All a girl really needs to get
through this life is a good dose of gumption.”
From Lovey to her five daughters to
Annabelle, each of the women in this book, at some point, has needed a big,
healthy helping of gumption to make it through.
Lovey’s story is one of true,
lasting love, of commitment and grit, of a marriage that has had to ebb and
flow a bit, as they all do. Lovey is dedicated and brave in the face of her
husband’s illness, in her new reality of caretaker and in her new position as
head of a very large family. She is brave not only for her daughters but also
for the person who needs her to step up the very most: her husband. She fights
for him every day, in ways big and small. And she is the bearer of some large
secrets and has to make some tough decisions in light of those secrets, as you
will learn as this story unfolds.
Annabelle is engaged to Holden, the
perfect-on-paper man who she comes to realize might be the man of her mother’s
dreams, but isn’t necessarily what she wants. She knows that marrying him is
something she should want. But, as
she comes to realize that maybe that isn’t enough, Annabelle has to use a big,
giant dose of her own gumption to break it off—and perhaps even more gumption to
tell her family. Annabelle is young and fresh out of college, and, at this
point in her life, simply finding her way in the world takes a huge amount of
bravery.
In their own small ways, each of
the women in Lies and Other Acts of Love
is a risk-taker. Each of the women in this story has to take a deep breath and
make a hard choice to move forward. Annabelle’s mother, Jean, uses her gumption
to run for mayor, lose, and then run again. Lovey’s sister gathers all of hers
to move to London, during World War II, with her children and war correspondent
husband. She stares her fear in the face every night as the bombs rain down on
London. But she chooses to persevere through her fear.
Each of the women in this story is
a risk taker in her own way. From the most outwardly brave to the ones that
seem the meekest, each of these women comes to learn that living the life you
want, even in the small ways, takes a big, heaping helping of gumption.
And a little bit of grace.
Lucky for each of them, they have
Lovey, a perfect example who has displayed both of these qualities in the
grandest way.
Giveaway:
Want to win your own copy of "Lies and Other Acts of Love?" Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below!
It sounds like a wonderful book, and I love the cover. I am looking forward to reading this one. Thanks for having the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteThis novel sounds captivating and profound as well as unforgettable. Thanks for this lovely giveaway.
ReplyDeleteThank you so, so much for hosting me today and for hosting the giveaway!! I can't wait to see who wins!! xo Kristy
ReplyDeleteLovely guest post by Kristy. Looking forward to reading this book.
ReplyDelete