Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Win "Painted Dresses"

When Patricia Hickman's new release arrived at my house, I opened up the package and kissed the cover. I love her books. She does relationship sagas with just the right touch of tension and fulfillment.

Painted Dresses is classic Hickman, and she even throws in a healthy twist of suspense. I mean, how can you miss with a story about a pair of orphaned sisters--one an out-of-control manic depressive and the other "normal" but relationship-challenged--on the lam from a crazed drug dealer? Hickman permeates the mix with a heartrending personal quest to uncover a dark family secret. Oh, and did I forget the sweep dollop of romance?

Wha-hoo! I'm in reader bliss!! Leave a comment at the end of the post to win your chance to join me there with your very own copy of Painted Dresses!!!


ABOUT THE BOOK:

In this story of sisterhood and unexpected paths, Gaylen Syler-Boatwright flees her unraveling marriage to take refuge in a mountain cottage owned by her deceased aunt. Burdened with looking after her adult sister, Delia, she is shocked to find a trail of family secrets hidden within her aunt’s odd collection of framed, painted dresses. With Delia, who attracts trouble as a daily occupation, Gaylen embarks on a road trip that throws the unlikely pair together on a journey to painful understanding and delightful revelations.
Steeped in Hickman’s trademark humor, her spare writing voice, and the bittersweet pathos of the South, Painted Dresses powerfully captures a woman’s desperate longing to uncover a hidden, broken life and discover the liberty of living authentically, even when the things exposed are shrouded in shame. If you would like to read the first chapter, go HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Patricia Hickman is an award-winning author of fiction and non-fiction, whose work has been praised by critics and readers alike. Patricia Hickman began writing many years ago after an invitation to join a writer's critique group. It was headed up by best-selling author Dr. Gilbert Morris, a pioneer in Christian fiction who has written many best selling titles. The group eventually came to be called the "Nubbing Chits".
All four members of the original "Chits" have gone on to become award-winning and best selling novelists (good fruit, Gil!). Patty signed her first multi-book contract with Bethany House Publishers. After she wrote several novels "for the market", she assessed her writer's life and decided she would follow the leanings of her heart. She says, "It had to be God leading me into the next work which wound up being my first break-out book, Katrina's Wings. I had never read a southern mainstream novel, yet I knew that one lived in my head, begging to be brought out and developed." She wanted to create deeper stories that broke away from convention and formula. From her own journey in life, she created a world based upon her hometown in the 70's, including Earthly Vows and Whisper Town from the Millwood Hollow Series.
Patty and her husband, Randy, have planted two churches in North Carolina. Her husband pastors Family Christian Center, located in Huntersville. The Hickmans have three children, two on earth and one in heaven. Their daughter, Jessi, was involved in a fatal automobile accident in 2001. Through her writing and speaking, Patty seeks to offer help, hope and encouragement to those who walk the daily road of loss and grief.

13 comments:

Audra E. said...

This book sounds really interesting! I also love the cover. So pretty. :)

Shelley L. MacKenzie said...

Sounds good. Please enter my name in the contest. My email is tabby2004 [at] hotmail [dot] com

Anonymous said...

Take an interesting story throw in romance suspence and even orphans ( I love books about orphans ) and I'm in . . . . sign me up please.
shoutlife.com/artst4christ

Rose McCauley said...

kisounds like a winner! sign me up. crmcc at setel dot com

luv2read said...

Enter my name in the drawing. Your review has me chomping to read it. spowell01(at)bellsouth(dot)net

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a great book. Sign me up for the contest too! Thanks! Chelle

http://www.shoutlife.com/4eversaved

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a delightful book. I love the added twist of suspense. Your review has perked my interest. I look forward to reading this attention grabber. Sign me up to win!!

Carole said...

Patricia is a new author for me and I would love to read her book. Thank you for the giveaway.

cjarvis [at] bellsouth [dot] net

Story and Logic Media Group said...

You have written a compelling review. Put my name in the hat.

cpullum said...

Would love to win the book!
cpullum(at)yahoo(dot)com

Jill said...

Congratulations to Chelle! She wins the book.

Stay tuned for more giveaways!

Becky C. said...

This looks like a great book. I too, love the cover!

Please enter me in the contest!

Thank you,

Becky C.
rec(at)hiwaay(dot)net

Cheryl said...

This book sounds great! Please enter me in the drawing. My email address is shryackmom[@]charter[.]net