Michele Gorman is mostly known for her romantic comedies and I have read and reviewed quite a few of them--they are delightful. I received an email telling me that a book she wrote under her pen mane Jamie Scott had been relaunched with a new cover. I had never read this particular book and decided to give it a try. I am very glad I did! This is not a romantic comedy it is in the author's words "an atmospheric coming-of-age women's fiction novel set in the 1940s American South (in Savannah Georgia)."
It is about the North and the South--the blacks and the whites at a time when there were separate restaurants, bathrooms, you name it it was separate. I know this for a fact because when I was 10 or 11 (1960 or so) my parents and I took a road trip down south. I remember being very thirsty--it was hot down there and no air conditioning in cars--my Dad stopped and he started walking me to the restaurant to get something to quench my thirst. All of a sudden he stopped dead in his tracks and said--we will not go in there and took me by the hand and turned me around. When I asked him why he said if blacks are not allowed in there then they will not get my hard earned cash. I have not forgotten that to this day!
This novel will take you through the eyes of a young girl who, originally from Massachusetts, moved with her parents to Savannah, through the 40's, 50's and into the 60's. You can almost feel what it was like to live there at that time when the old ways were vying with the new and the old guard southerners were holding on with all they were worth to the past.
About the Book: (from Amazon)
Jamie Scott is the pen name of Michele Gorman, the best-selling author of the Single in the City series and Bella Summer Takes a Chance
How much would you risk to stand up for your beliefs?
When Duncan and Sarah Powell move with their daughter, May, to Savannah Georgia in 1947, they hope against hope that they'll be welcomed. But they're Yankees and worse, they're civil rights advocates almost a decade too early.
At first May can pretend they're the same as everyone else. It means keeping quiet when she knows she should speak up, but it's worth the sacrifice to win friends. Unfortunately her parents are soon putting their beliefs into action. And when they wake to find that they're the only family on the block with a Ku Klux Klan cross blazing on their front lawn, the time comes for them to finally decide between what's easy and what's right.
REVIEWS
"I felt that this is a story a friend would tell me and many times had to remind myself that it was just a story, an amazing story. I could picture what Savannah was like, from the sweltering heat to the layouts of the streets." --A Novel Review
"Little Sacrifices is an original, heartfelt and thought-provoking read. 4 stars." --One More Page
"All in all, a fantastic story with historical elements and wonderful character development that will have you completely immersed in the secrets and plot twists of Little Sacrifices." -Minding Spot
Read a chapter or two here Within these pages you will find a link where you can download Single in the City for FREE.
Purchase the Book Here
About the Author: (from Amazon)
Michele Gorman is the #1 best-selling author of Bella Summer Takes a Chance and The Expat Diaries (Single in the City) series. She also writes upmarket commercial fiction under the pen name Jamie Scott. Born and raised in the US, Michele has lived in London for 16 years.
If it weren't for Twitter and Facebook, Michele would be a much more prolific writer, but wouldn't have nearly as much fun, so do chat to her online:
Blog
Website
Goodreads
All opinions expressed are my own honest opinions. For more information please check my Disclosure Statement. Our giveaways are in no way sponsored or promoted by Facebook.
27 comments :
I can just picture myself on the beach reading this. It sounds like a great beach read!!
I absolutely love romantic comedies...they are always my go-to for movies and usually for books too. This sounds like a good read!
I love when authors are online and actually interact with their readers on Twitter, Facebook, etc. This looks like an excellent read!
Wow, that sounds fascinating! I have never read a book about the South during that era, and I'm sure it's an emotionally hard read but empowering as well.
I think it's important to read books from another time period every now and then, it helps us to remember who people used to think and possibly who history repeats Itsself. I remember when I was a little girl, just in the 80's my grandmother didn't like me playing with "the darkies down the street", I didn't understand, they were my friends, but according to her it wasn't proper. I'm glad that my generation can teach kids that love and respect has no color boundaries.
Sounds like an interesting book to read. It's a good read and very informative too. I hope to get a chance to read this awesome masterpiece.
Interesting timing for this book considering how the confederate flag/etc. is in the news now. Great timing or coincidence?
Romantic comedies are my kind of books. Thanks for the suggestion, I will look for this one.
I love Romantic comedies! This book sounds like it's a lot of fun to read! I can't wait to reach it for myself! Thanks for sharing!
This seems like a great book! I grew up in the south so it's definitely something I still see around (although not as blatant of course).
Oh this sounds like a great summer read, just perfect for curling up in the sun with. x
This book does sound like a great summer read. I just can't imigine life like that I grew up in Toronto a maga city of a melting pot of culture's. Even living in Michigan I still notice some divisions of race it makes me sad. So this is a book that might help me try to understand that part of history a bit more.
Never heard of this author. I'm not much into fiction.
I'm not sure this is my sort of topic but I sure do think the author sounds intriguing. Thanks for sharing this with me, I'll pass it to a friend I know who writes about this exact same topic.
Thanks for the review this sounds like a great book. I will add it to my must read list.
Sounds like a good book to check out! I will!
This is a great way to get more insights into this author. It was nice finding out more about the inspiration for the book.
Oooo this book sounds like a total goodie!!! I need a new book super bad! Going to check this one out. Thanks :)
i never heard about this book. but i think this is a good book i try to find this thanks for sharing
Sounds like a great book but I'm not a big reader - if I start a book, I won't put it down and time just doesn't allow too much book reading except when I travel. I'm adding this to my travel list.
I love to read and I will have to check out this book soon! Unfortunately when i read these days, I like to read a book all in one sitting or two!
What an example your dad is! I am putting this book on my list. Not my summer list because you have already given me amazing tittles to read and the summer list is busy getting worked on
This looks like a great summer read, if I get a moment to actually relax and read maybe! I would love to float in the pool with this book!
I've been looking for a good fiction novel to read. I've mostly been reading spiritual books lately and need a bit of a change. Thanks for sharing this review, I will check it out!
I haven't read a book in so long, but love time period books, this one sounds intriguing! Sounds like a great read, will have to put this on the To Read list! ;)
This book sounds very interesting, and what a strong childhood memory to have. I am an East Coast resident, and I have heard tales of how it was to live in the South (and how some things haven't changed much in certain areas).
That sounds like an interesting book. I just recently finished a book set in the South during the Civil Rights Movement and that is such an interesting time period.
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