Author Guest Post
Writing About In-laws
In-laws. A topic of much interest and debate. One of the main parts of Becoming Mrs. Walsh centers on in-laws. I think everyone experiences in-laws differently. Some people consider their in-laws to be as important if not more important than their own family. Others can't stand them. The challenge of writing about in-laws is to really cover the many possibilities people have when joining new families. If you think about it, in-laws really are perfect strangers who you know nothing about until you marry into their family. This concept is fascinating to me.
I also find it interesting to see how different personalities mesh together. Your in-laws become 'family' but they do things differently from your own family. With Becoming Mrs. Walsh, you really get to watch as Shoshana tries to relate to her three sisters-in-law. One of the girls she strikes up a real friendship with, another girl she is very jealous and in awe of, and the other one she grows to like though initially she is rubbed the wrong way. Shoshana's relationship with her mother-in-law is one I really enjoyed writing. Shoshana's mother and mother-in-law are from two totally different worlds. Shoshana really grows a fondness toward her mother-in-law and a special relationship forms, which is an example of the beauty of in-laws: they can be an unexpected friend or support system. At the same time, sometimes blending of the in-laws and your own family is not so smooth, much like Shoshana experiences throughout the book.
I wonder how readers relate to their in-laws. I know from my friends and family, I've heard a wide range of stories! So you just never know how it will all shake out...
About The Author
After working in the corporate world for several years, Jessica decided to return to her first love: creative writing. Jessica takes her readers to the prominent Washington, D.C. area where her characters navigate through the complex world of family, in-laws, and love. Jessica lives in Washington, D.C. with her husband.
Becoming Mrs. Walsh is her first novel.
AUTHOR WEBSITE
GOODREADS
Jessica Gordon ~ Becoming Mrs. Walsh ~ Virtual Book Tour Page ~ Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours
Virtual Book Tour Contest Giveaway
Win A $20 Amazon Gift Card
Contest Dates: Jan 21 - Feb 11, 2013
Everyone who leaves a comment on Jessica Gordon's Becoming Mrs. Walsh Virtual Book Tour Page ~ Chick Lit PLus Blog Tours will be entered to win a $20 Amazon gift card! Anyone who purchases their copy of Becoming Mrs. Walsh before February 11th and sends their receipt to Samantha@ChickLitPlus.com, will get five bonus entries.
Book Review
Publisher: Jessica Gordon - Independent Self-Publishing
Publication Date: October 8, 2012
Format: eBook - 279 pages / Kindle - 482 KB / Nook - 699 KB
ISBN: 9780988469808
ASIN: B009O3NO9I
Genre: Chick Lit / Contemporary Romance / Women's Fiction
BUY THE BOOK: Becoming Mrs. Walsh
* Currently On Sale $.99 - Amazon & Smashwords *
AMAZON
BARNES & NOBLE
SMASHWORDS
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours.
Book Description:
Shoshana Thompson is 26 years old, miles from home, and engaged to be married into one of Washington D.C.'s wealthiest families. Andrew Walsh, her fiancé, is Shoshana's vision of the perfect man. Throughout their engagement, she becomes enamored with his privileged lifestyle.
Rumor has it: when you marry a Walsh, you're set for life. Her socialite sisters-in-law show her how to live in a Walsh-style world, but just as she is starting to get acclimated, this world introduces her to someone who may shake up her perfect wedding plans.
While Shoshana navigates the tricky world of in-laws and societal wedding planning, she desperately tries to ignore her growing feelings for another man. She knows that exploring this love will threaten her existence as a Walsh. But, when she discovers the feelings may not be one-sided, she knows things are about to get a lot more complicated, especially because this man is absolutely off-limits.
As Shoshana learns, the view from the top is not always the clearest.
Becoming Mrs. Walsh is a story of relationships and the richly layered complexity of family, in-laws, and love.
Book Excerpt:
“Drew, why didn’t you wake me?” Shoshana asked as she looked at her bedside clock. It was 9:45 a.m. and she had to be ready in 15 minutes.
“I figured you’d want to sleep as long as you could before the alarm,” Drew said.
“My alarm! Did it even go off? I didn’t hear anything.”
“I kept hitting snooze; you like to sleep late on Saturdays.”
She glared at her fiancé.
“Yes, normally! But not when I have to be with your family all day!”
“It’s just the girls,” Drew said.
“Please, your sisters-in-law are not like normal ‘girls;’ it’s like a beauty pageant slash couture fashion show,” Shoshana said as she sprung up from bed.
She sped walked into the bathroom and began brushing her teeth with fervor.
“I guess you’d better get your crown ready,” Drew said and winked at her.
“I don’t even think I have enough time to shower!” Shoshana protested between mouthfuls of toothpaste foam.
“Why do you have to shower?”
Shoshana spit into the sink. “Are you serious?” She marched out of the bathroom and looked at him incredulously.
“Yeah, your hair looks fine, you don’t seem dirty,” Drew said with a shrug.
“Drew! Your sisters-in-law have perfect hair.”
“Stop, you’re making yourself crazy.” Drew walked into the bathroom to shave.
“Forget it, there’s no time to shower,” Shoshana yelled after him.
“Sounds good,” Drew said barely listening.
Shoshana rummaged through her closet. She threw on a black cotton dress and black flip-flops. She figured black was a chic-enough color and it would hide any sweat marks. It was August in Washington, D.C., which meant, it was hot.
“I’ll wear black and then I’ll fit in—”
“Why do they bother you so much?” Drew asked as Shoshana emerged from the closet.
Shoshana stopped and looked at him. “It’s not that they bother me.”
“What is it then?”
“I can’t really describe it.”
“They’re nice, they mean well, I really don’t get it,” Drew said as he buttoned his shirt.
“You wouldn’t get it, you’re a guy. They’re gorgeous and they’re well-dressed, always. And by the way—I’ve never seen them without makeup. They’re not human.”
“I figured you’d want to sleep as long as you could before the alarm,” Drew said.
“My alarm! Did it even go off? I didn’t hear anything.”
“I kept hitting snooze; you like to sleep late on Saturdays.”
She glared at her fiancé.
“Yes, normally! But not when I have to be with your family all day!”
“It’s just the girls,” Drew said.
“Please, your sisters-in-law are not like normal ‘girls;’ it’s like a beauty pageant slash couture fashion show,” Shoshana said as she sprung up from bed.
She sped walked into the bathroom and began brushing her teeth with fervor.
“I guess you’d better get your crown ready,” Drew said and winked at her.
“I don’t even think I have enough time to shower!” Shoshana protested between mouthfuls of toothpaste foam.
“Why do you have to shower?”
Shoshana spit into the sink. “Are you serious?” She marched out of the bathroom and looked at him incredulously.
“Yeah, your hair looks fine, you don’t seem dirty,” Drew said with a shrug.
“Drew! Your sisters-in-law have perfect hair.”
“Stop, you’re making yourself crazy.” Drew walked into the bathroom to shave.
“Forget it, there’s no time to shower,” Shoshana yelled after him.
“Sounds good,” Drew said barely listening.
Shoshana rummaged through her closet. She threw on a black cotton dress and black flip-flops. She figured black was a chic-enough color and it would hide any sweat marks. It was August in Washington, D.C., which meant, it was hot.
“I’ll wear black and then I’ll fit in—”
“Why do they bother you so much?” Drew asked as Shoshana emerged from the closet.
Shoshana stopped and looked at him. “It’s not that they bother me.”
“What is it then?”
“I can’t really describe it.”
“They’re nice, they mean well, I really don’t get it,” Drew said as he buttoned his shirt.
“You wouldn’t get it, you’re a guy. They’re gorgeous and they’re well-dressed, always. And by the way—I’ve never seen them without makeup. They’re not human.”
My Book Review:
When it comes to love ... do you follow your heart ... or do what's expected?
Becoming Mrs. Walsh follows twenty-six year old photojournalist Shoshana Thompson's journey to the altar as she plans her wedding to Andrew Walsh, the last of four brothers from a prominent Washington D.C. family to get married. Coming from a simple family lifestyle in Iowa, Shoshana feels like she doesn't fit in with the opulence and extravagance of the Walsh family, but knows that she can learn to live within their privileged world. But their relationship is not your typical one, Andrew is more often absent due to his top secret job, and his distant demeanor has Shoshana questioning their relationship, especially when she begins to have feelings for a man that is definitely off limits. As her wedding day approaches, Shoshana's mixed emotions will leave her with a decision to make ... is it really worth becoming Mrs. Walsh or should she follow her heart?
In her debut novel, author Jessica Gordon transports the reader to the extravagant city of movers and shakers in Washington D.C., where they follow Shoshana Thompson as she tries to fit into a new lifestyle that she is not accustomed to while establishing relationships with her future in-laws. This story has intricately interwoven and complex layers that simply draws the reader in from the start and captivates you with an intriguing storyline full of drama and enough twists and turns that will keep you turning the pages.
I loved the character development in this story. Not only does the author feature the trials and tribulations that befall Shoshana as she struggles with her relationship and future with Andrew; the author also interweaves the relationships that she shares with the Walsh family: future mother-in-law Birdie and the three Walsh brothers and their wives. The dialogue and interactions between the characters are realistic, they come alive and leap off the pages. I found myself fascinated with the Walsh family and the core relationship theme of the story and how it relates to marriage, family and loyalty. I could relate to the relationship issues that comes with marriage and in-laws, the dynamics of this relationship is complex and universal for anyone who has traveled down this path in life. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the author's description of the opulence of the family's high society Washington D.C. lifestyle, it made my inner fashionista smile and sigh with wistful thinking. I could easily see this story as a made-for-tv movie on Lifetime. The only thing that made me groan is the anti-climantic ending. The author does a great job of making her readers yearn for more as they wait for the sequel to reveal what happens to Shoshana, Andrew and the rest of Walsh family members.
Becoming Mrs. Walsh is an intriguing story of family relationships and marriage that will keep you thoroughly entertained.
RATING: 4 STARS ****
Loved this one!
ReplyDeleteHi Samantha! Thank you for the opportunity to host the virtual book tour event. I loved this book too, can't wait to read the sequel. :)
DeleteThanks for hosting me today! I really liked hearing your take on the book and I am so glad that you enjoyed it!
ReplyDelete:) Jessica
Hi Jessica! Thank you for the opportunity to read, review and host your virtual book tour event. I loved Becoming Mrs. Walsh, it was a fascinating story, but geez an anti-climatic ending left me yearning for more! I can't wait to read the sequel! :)
DeleteI loved this book and can't wait for the sequel either! Great review!
ReplyDeleteHi Samantha! Thanks for stopping by and leaving you kind comment, I appreciate it. The book was a great read, I can't wait to see if the sequel is just as good! :)
Delete