Author Guest Post
Why A Horse Named Joe?
I’ve never been the type of girl that was much interested in girl trips, call me silly, but I really like being with my husband or immediate family. Several years ago over a glass of wine with a few friends, one of them invited the group to join her on a trip to Green Turtle Cay, Abacos, Bahamas. I was told it was a very small island, only 3 miles long, with lots of white sand beaches, and that with several of us renting a house it would be very inexpensive. It all sounded too good to be true and so I decided to take the plunge and go on my first girl trip.
Because of my schedule I had to travel alone and meet the other girls there.
So Tara, one of the characters, when she gets off on the wrong dock, yep that was me. It really was quite amusing. I got off the ferry, all the passengers left, as did the boat, and I was left completely alone standing on that wooden platform. I had no clue what to do, so I just sat and waited. Another ferry captain finally arrived on the dock and asked if I needed help. I did not know the name of the house, which part of the island it was on, or anything, except my friend’s name, who I didn’t realize went by a nickname on the island. The only thing I could finally recall is the house belonged to a doctor. Over a two-way radio this little piece of information was enough for him to find my friends and let them know where I was.
Much of the book is pulled from my experiences between two trips to the island and of course research. I fell in love with the place! There is so much history, charm, and delightfully happy people. It was just too good not to share. I owned a mortgage branch in 2008 when the financial meltdown happened, and I saw first hand how so many lives were affected by a situation that was out of our control, so thus Roni Dugan’s background.
And as for Joe and his best friend Bacon the pig……well they’re real. All the things Joe represented in the boat, he represented to me, that’s why A Horse Named Joe.
About The Author
Lisa Loomis was born in Oakland California and raised in San Jose until she was a sophomore in high school. Her father then took a job in the San Diego area where he moved the family to Escondido, California (or hickville as she called it). She finished high school at San Pasqual High then went to junior college at Palomar JC, ultimately graduating from San Diego State University with a BS in Finance.
Finding more BS than finance with the financial meltdown in 2008 she went back to her passion of writing. Her currently published novels can be seen on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords.
She now lives and writes in Park City, Utah.
AUTHOR WEBSITE
GOODREADS
Book Review
A Horse Named Joe by Lisa Loomis
Publisher: Independent Self Publisher / Lisa Loomis Books
Publication Date: January 7, 2014
Format: eBook - 451 pages
Kindle - 1845 KB
Nook - 3 MB
ASIN: B00E40H9N8
BNID: 2940045862899
Genre: Chick Lit / Women's Fiction
BUY THE BOOK: A Horse Named Joe
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:
This novel will amuse and subject you to a whole other world and culture where friendship, love, and self discovery abound.
Book Excerpt:
“Does it bother you that I come to talk?” Roni asked.
“Nah, it not bodder me,” Devin said.
“Come on, tell me you like it,” she goaded. “I bet you don’t have many girls who come to chat, especially white girls.”
“Nat many,” he said.
“Oh, come on, none is more like it,” Roni challenged. “Do you play any card games?”
Roni liked a contest.
“Nah. I play dominoes.”
“You got dominoes here?” she asked.
“Yez,” he said.
“Well, let’s play,” Roni said.
Devin gave her a distrustful look again.
“What, are you afraid I’ll beat you?” she dared.
“Nah, ain' afraid. Gals don' play dominoes,” Devin said seriously.
Roni laughed until tears ran from her eyes. Devin stared at her grinning, obviously not sure why she found his comment so funny.
“You’re serious,” she choked out. “Girls don’t play dominoes, only men?”
“Jes' da men,” he said.
Then he laughed.
“It aganst da law,” he joked.
“Oh, here we go, Devin’s law again. I guess what you really mean is you don’t want the girls to play. Like I said, afraid they might beat you. Hurt your man pride.”
“Nah, it not bodder me,” Devin said.
“Come on, tell me you like it,” she goaded. “I bet you don’t have many girls who come to chat, especially white girls.”
“Nat many,” he said.
“Oh, come on, none is more like it,” Roni challenged. “Do you play any card games?”
Roni liked a contest.
“Nah. I play dominoes.”
“You got dominoes here?” she asked.
“Yez,” he said.
“Well, let’s play,” Roni said.
Devin gave her a distrustful look again.
“What, are you afraid I’ll beat you?” she dared.
“Nah, ain' afraid. Gals don' play dominoes,” Devin said seriously.
Roni laughed until tears ran from her eyes. Devin stared at her grinning, obviously not sure why she found his comment so funny.
“You’re serious,” she choked out. “Girls don’t play dominoes, only men?”
“Jes' da men,” he said.
Then he laughed.
“It aganst da law,” he joked.
“Oh, here we go, Devin’s law again. I guess what you really mean is you don’t want the girls to play. Like I said, afraid they might beat you. Hurt your man pride.”
My Book Review:
Two years after losing her investment banker position on Wall Street to the 2008 recession, forty-nine year old Roni Dugan is still obsessing over her loss and is at a crossroads in her life. The upheaval and downsizing of their lifestyle has put a strain on her marriage to the point that husband Mack demanded that she get away for a month to clear her head and get a fresh perspective on life on the tropical Bahamian island paradise of Green Turtle Cay, Abacos, where they had spent their honeymoon twenty-two years ago. Roni's stay on the small island that is three miles long will be a journey of self-discovery that will change her outlook on life.
In A Horse Named Joe, author Lisa Loomis transports the reader to the small tropical Bahamian island paradise where they follow Roni's month long journey of self discovery. Roni's stay on the island is filled with meeting colorful fun-loving Bahamians and a free-spirited horse named Joe who freely roams the island and has a best friend who is a pig named Bacon.
A Horse Named Joe is a lighthearted story about finding oneself and getting a new perspective on life. As Roni's month long journey unfolds, she gains a new insight into her life, and enjoys a fun week of adventures when her three friends Jenny, Tara, and Lacy come to stay with her on the island. You can't help but embrace Roni and cheer her on as she rediscovers her spirit and passion in life.
With a quirky cast of characters; witty dialogue that reflects the local Bahamian dialect; fun interactions that will make you laugh; a vivid and rich description of the island setting; and a thoughtful storyline that you can easily relate to (especially when you are in your late forties); A Horse Named Joe is an entertaining chick lit tale that will leave a smile on your face.
RATING: 4 STARS
Virtual Book Tour Schedule
Tour Schedule:
July 29 – Novel Escapes – Q&A
July 30 – Chick Lit Plus – Review
July 31 – Two Children and a Migraine – Review
July 31 – Two Children and a Migraine - Guest Post
July 31 – Two Children and a Migraine - Excerpt
August 4 – Shelf Pleasure – Guest Post
August 5 – Book Suburbia – Excerpt
August 7 – Samantha March – Q&A & Excerpt
August 11 – Jersey Girl Book Reviews – Review, Guest Post & Excerpt
thanks for closing out the tour!
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