Dr. Bill's Book Bazaar: Book Blog Tour - Review

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Book Blog Tour - Review - The Widow Smalls

Book Blog Tour

Review

The Widow Smalls and Other Stories

Jamie Lisa Forbes

It is a real pleasure to participate in this Book Blog Tour for WILLA Award winning author, Jamie Lisa Forbes, and her book “The Widow Smalls and Other Stories.”

I grew up on an Iowa farm in the 40s and 50s - a part of my heart is still there. Stories such as these just really reach out and grab me - and, they make me happy.

Publisher: Pronghorn Press (October 20, 2014) 
ISBN: 978-1-932636-97-0 
Category: Short Stories, Literary Fiction, Women's Fiction 
Available in: Print & ebook, 231 Pages

Description of the book:

Thirty years of browbeating from rancher Bud Smalls has penned his wife, Leah, into emotional isolation. Now Bud is gone and Leah owns the ranch, but there is no help forthcoming from Bud’s brothers who want to force her out and take the ranch for themselves. When their attempt to humiliate her instead becomes her opportunity to succeed, Leah begins to find her way back to herself and learns how much she can gain by opening her heart.
The Widow Smalls is just one of the stories in this collection by the WILLA Award winning author of Unbroken, Jamie Lisa Forbes, who writes about the hardships of making a living from the land with an understanding that comes from first-hand experience.
Her deftly drawn characters include star-crossed lovers, a young rancher facing his first test of moral courage, an inscrutable ranch hand claiming an impressive relative, a father making one last grasp for his daughter’s love and a child’s struggle to make sense of the world around her. Each will pull you into the middle of their stories and keep you turning the pages.

Jamie Lisa Forbes

About Jamie Lisa Forbes:

Jamie Lisa Forbes was raised on a family ranch in southeastern Wyoming. She graduated from the University of Colorado with honors in 1977 and then lived in Israel until 1979, when she returned to her family’s ranch and raised her own family over the next fifteen years. Today, she writes and practices law in Greensboro, North Carolina. She enjoys spending time with her grandsons and playing old time Appalachian fiddle. With her Arabian horse, Cody, and her cattle dog, Reb, she still devotes part of her life to the outdoors.

Buy Widow Smalls:
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My Review:

Each of the stories is a good read, but the story about Leah Smalls, “The Widow Small,” is the one that I enjoyed the most. As an older person, the thoughts she processes are much like my wife and I have discussed, many times, should one or the other of us “go first.” Real-life experiences on the ranch are what I enjoy reading, along with the relationships among family members. These relationships are always filled with surprised, even though from experience we should know what to expect from these people. However, in these circumstances, when you hope they will act in your best interest, is when they act most in their self-interest - as is the case with the brothers-in-law, here. This is so very familiar… and presented in just the right tone and spirit through the story.

The addition of the Julian character adds immensely to this story, and makes it truly special. The added dimensions through her relationship with him makes this story a real winner. I can only say “Thank you” for sharing these stories with us! ;-)

The Widow Smalls Tour Schedule:

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Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus Nov 3 Review & Giveaway

Pinky's Favorite Reads Nov 4 Interview & Excerpt

Inspire to Read Nov. 5 Excerpt

Cassandra M's Place Nov. 6 Review & Giveaway

Back to Books Nov. 7 Review

WV Stitcher Nov.10 Review

Dr Bill's Book Bazaar Nov. 11 Review

Deal Sharing Aunt Nov. 12 Review, Giveaway, & Excerpt

Unshelfish Nov 13 Review

Indie Re Behind the Scenes Nov 13 9 PM Eastern Live Interview

My Reading Addictions Nov. 14 Review

Bound 4 Escape Nov. 17 Review