Blog Tour and Giveaway - Stray Affections by Charlene Ann Baumbich

Stray Affections
Charlene Ann Baumbich
Multnomah/Random House
303 pgs., Reader's Guide, recipes

Summary
Cassandra Higgins loves animals. She grew up rescuing them whenever she saw they needed help. She especially loved her dog Toby. Now Cassandra lives in a small town, in a small house, with four boys, a husband, and a living room full of animal collectibles. After what happened with Toby she doesn't trust herself around real animals anymore. So, each year, she satisfies her heart's longing by attending a convention and finding a material animal for her shelf. She'll never forgive herself, or her mother Betty, for what happened twenty-four years ago.

My Thoughts
I really enjoyed this book. I felt as if I as able to get inside Cassandra's head and find out why she felt the way she did. I also understood Betty. Sometimes, as a single mom, you have to make tough choices and you can't always make the right ones. But they usually feel right when you make them.

I thought Baumbich introduced too many characters though. The addition of Cassandra's friend Margret, Marget's husband Leo, and Margret's family felt like I was trying to keep too many people straight. Also, Ken, Cassandra's husband, was a little too good to be true. When Margret told him things about Cassandra's past that he didn't know, he just accepted them and moved on. He didn't really talk to her about being open and honest with him. That said, I still liked the way he took care of her.

The plot was a little predictable, you could figure out how things were going to come around long before the story wrapped itself up. But, it moved at a nice clip and I kept turning the pages. I actually read the entire book in one sitting.

Stray Affections was an easy, relaxing read that made me pause and think. I liked how Baumbich showed her love for God without making me feel condemned or damned. The book showed a promise without making all the characters immediately repent and turn from their ways. The broken relationships didn't heal overnight but there were quite a few "feel good" moments. And I absolutely loved the twist with the snowglobe. That was unexpected and brought tears to my eyes.

About The Author
Charlene Ann Baumbich is a popular author and speaker and an award-winning journalist. In addition to her Dearest Dorothy series of novels, she has written seven nonfiction books of humor and inspiration. A bungee-jumping, once motorcycle-owning grandma and unabashed dog lover, Charlene lives with her husband and rescued dog Kornflake in Glen Ellyn , Illinois . She loves telling stories, laughing whenever possible, and considers herself a Wild Child of God. Check out Charlene's website - Don't Miss Your Life. Charlene will be at Anderson's Bookshop in Naperville, IL on Tuesday, September 29, 2009.

Giveaway

I'm giving away one copy of this book courtesy of Ashley and Random House. Just mention in the comments that you'd like to read this and leave your email address.
The giveaway will run until Thursday, September 17, 2009 midnight.
US and Canada entrants only, please.

Stray Affections - Charlene reading from book