Book Review
Crimson Clouds by Claude Nougat
Publisher: Independent Self-Publishing
Publication Date: January 16, 2014
(1st Published: September 10, 2012 - titled A Hook in the Sky)
Format: Paperback - 222 pages / Kindle - 1042 KB / Nook - 313 KB
ISBN: 1495262049
ASIN: B0098MFGNM
BNID: 2940044588936
Genre: Contemporary Romance
BUY THE BOOK: Crimson Clouds
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 Goddess Fish Promotions.
Book Description:
This contemporary romance resonates with the complexities and wistfulness of mature passion the second time around.
Book Excerpt:
Opening, Chapter 1: Napoleon in Tears (told from Robert’s point of view):
Julie stuck her head of curly red hair through the door. “Robert, it’s time to go. You’ve got less than five minutes before the start of the meeting.”
She pronounced my name the French way: Rob-air, without sounding the “t”. I liked the way she said it. She drew out the “air”, rolling it softly in her English mouth. I was going to miss her, my ever-so-efficient secretary. The round face, the freckles, the constant smile and her mothering me, always reminding me of my next appointment.
It was odd how much space Julie had taken in my life – many more hours than my wife. Maybe, on reflection, it was not so strange. Think about it; add up your waking hours. You spend more time with people in the office than with your own wife. Especially if she happens to be like Kay, always busy doing her own stuff, always on the go. And I travel for my work too. I often come home late at night. Over the years, it has added up to much less time with Kay and much more with Julie, though I’d been married to Kay for twenty years. And now that I was retiring and coming home for good, what would happen? We had no children; our marriage was all about each other. I started speculating how Kay would take my homecoming when I was interrupted.
“Robert, you are going to be late.” That was Julie again.
I checked my watch, five minutes left. I glanced one last time at my speech. No, it was no good.
Julie stuck her head of curly red hair through the door. “Robert, it’s time to go. You’ve got less than five minutes before the start of the meeting.”
She pronounced my name the French way: Rob-air, without sounding the “t”. I liked the way she said it. She drew out the “air”, rolling it softly in her English mouth. I was going to miss her, my ever-so-efficient secretary. The round face, the freckles, the constant smile and her mothering me, always reminding me of my next appointment.
It was odd how much space Julie had taken in my life – many more hours than my wife. Maybe, on reflection, it was not so strange. Think about it; add up your waking hours. You spend more time with people in the office than with your own wife. Especially if she happens to be like Kay, always busy doing her own stuff, always on the go. And I travel for my work too. I often come home late at night. Over the years, it has added up to much less time with Kay and much more with Julie, though I’d been married to Kay for twenty years. And now that I was retiring and coming home for good, what would happen? We had no children; our marriage was all about each other. I started speculating how Kay would take my homecoming when I was interrupted.
“Robert, you are going to be late.” That was Julie again.
I checked my watch, five minutes left. I glanced one last time at my speech. No, it was no good.
My Book Review:
Crimson Clouds is a poignant romance story about a mature man at a crossroads in his life, who embarks on a journey of self-discovery, while his younger wife desperately wants to save their neglected marriage. It is a timeless story about finding the meaning of one's life, relationships, and second chances.
Robert is a man retiring from his career at the UN. With retirement, Robert suddenly finds himself at a crossroads in his life when he discovers that his life is now lacking importance and cracks in his marriage become more apparent. He and his younger wife, Kay, were once in love, but for years they have been married more to their careers than to each other. After living separate lives for twenty years, they both want what they once had in their marriage, but every attempt to find common ground is met with many trials and tribulations, is it too late for them to salvage their marriage?
Author Claude Nougat weaves a wonderful story written in the first person narrative that draws the reader into Robert and Kay's journey of self-discovery as they struggle to find themselves, their passions, and what is left of their dormant marriage.
Crimson Clouds is an intriguing story that depicts the multi layers of a relationship, its joys and pitfalls, and discovering the many opportunities in life that are possible when given a second chance.
RATING: 4 STARS
Crimson Clouds - Book Trailer
(Originally Titled: A Hook in the Sky)
About The Author
Claude is the author of many books, including two in Italian that won several awards in Italy, and seven in English, all fiction except one essay on development aid; she is considered a prime exponent of Boomer literature.
Her poetry has been included in Freeze Frame, an international poetry anthology curated by British poet Oscar Sparrow, published by Gallo Romano Media in 2012.
Claude is married and lives in Italy.
AUTHOR BLOG
LINKED IN
PINTEREST - CRIMSON CLOUDS BOARD
AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE
SMASHWORDS AUTHOR PAGE
GOODREADS
GOODREADS - BOOMER LIT GROUP
Contest Giveaway
Win A Paperback Copy of Crimson Clouds
Author Claude Nougat will be awarding a print copy of Crimson Clouds to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. (US ONLY)
Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning.
The tour dates can be found here:
http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2014/03/virtual-nbtm-review-tour-crimson-clouds.html
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Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the opportunity to host the virtual book tour event.
DeleteBook sounds perfect for me .Thanks for Giveaway.
ReplyDeleteHi Rhonda, thank you for stopping by today. Crimson Cloud is a wonderful mature adult romance, hope you get a chance to read the book.
DeleteWhat a great review. This sounds like something I would love to read.
ReplyDeleteHi MomJane! Thank you for stopping by and posting your kind words. Crimson Clouds is a wonderful story for the baby boomer generation, I certainly could relate to this story! I hope you get a chance to read the novel. :)
DeleteThanks so much Kathleen for a thoughtful review, I really appreciate it! There's an on-going sale on Crimson Clouds, available for just 99 cents until tomorrow 30 April!
ReplyDeleteTo anyone reading this: hurry and grab a copy if you haven't got one already! I won't repeat this bargain sale for a very long time (if ever!)
Hi Claude! Thank you for the opportunity to host your virtual book tour event. I really enjoyed reading Crimson Cloud, as a baby boomer, I could certainly relate to this story. :)
DeleteSo happy you liked it, Kathleen! Yes, I'm a baby boomer too (of course) and much of the book is based on my own experience (as you might expect, after all, writers take their inspiration from their own life). I've worked at the United Nations, finished there as a director and then, once retired, jumped into a painting career that quickly petered out. I was no match for the Contemporary Art scene (my paintings are way too academic) but I sure learned how the system works!
DeleteAnd, btw, unlike Robert, my own marriage didn't fall apart (thank God!). I've been happily married for...36 years!
Again, many thanks Kathleen, and for anyone interested and reading here, the book is still at 99 cents for a few more hours...
Thank you Claude for sharing some of your life experience with us. :)
Delete