Happy Release Day!
A Measure of Happiness
Paperback and e-book, 320 pages
Published: August 25th 2015 by Kensington
Katherine Lamontagne isn't Celeste Barnes's mother, but ever since Celeste graduated high school and her parents abandoned Hidden Harbor, Maine, she's acted the part. At twenty-two, Celeste worked at Katherine’s bakery, and hoped to buy the business once Katherine took early retirement. But when Katherine reconsidered that decision, Celeste fled to culinary school in New York—only to return two months later, a shadow of the girl who’d stormed out the door.
Katherine knows the signs of secret heartbreak. Years ago, she gave up her baby son for adoption—a regret she’s never shared with either her ex-husband or Celeste. She longs for Celeste to confide in her now. But it will be a stranger in town—an engaging young wanderer named Zach Fitzgerald—who spurs them toward healing. As both women are drawn into Zach’s questioning heart, they also rediscover their own appetites for truth and for love—and gain the courage to face the past without being imprisoned by it.
Uplifting, emotionally rich, and deeply satisfying, A Measure of Happiness illuminates the nature of friendship, motherhood, hope—and the gifts of second chances.
My thoughts about A Measure of Happiness ~~
Once again, I was drawn to this book first by the cover. Isn't it beautiful? And then the synopsis grabbed my attention. I love stories like this, women who come to lean on each other to get through their tough times.
And these two women have had it rough. Katherine's father was abusive and her mother wasn't strong enough to stand up to him. And then she finds herself pregnant. Celeste's parents take off right after her graduation and she is pretty much left on her own. Katherine and Celeste find each other and form a friendship of sorts, not really like mother and daughter, but close enough.
Celeste leaves to go to culinary school but something happens to her while she's away and she runs back to the only place she can call home. Katherine wants to help, but Celeste won't open up to her.
'Even when her chest convulsed, she squeezed her eyes shut and told herself to get over herself. She told herself to deal with it. Because she acted like a sex-crazed slut. Because she'd remembered who she was.'
Katherine has a secret of her own, something she hasn't ever shared with Celeste or even with her ex-husband. In fact, this secret is what is tearing them apart.
'For twenty-seven years, Katherine had been focused in her father's word, the supposed harbinger of doom. You're going to be sorry. What if the past twenty-seven years, she'd focused on the wrong thing?'
Can the stranger who comes to town get the two women to open up and be honest with themselves and those around them? And is he keeping secrets of his own?
I love all of the great characters who make up this small part of the Hidden Harbor community. They are all a bit flawed, but then who isn't? It's learning to get past those flaws and accept themselves and each other for what they are that will bring them true happiness.
A Measure of Happiness is a wonderful story about relationships, love, acceptance, honesty, and forgiveness. This is exactly the kind of story that I love to get lost in. I wouldn't mind taking a trip back to Hidden Harbor someday to revisit everyone and to see how they all are doing.
What do you think, Lorrie? A sequel?
About the author
I grew up as an only child in the city of Boston and dreamed of living with a big family in an antique white New Englander, on a quiet street with neighbors who stopped for chats at the stonewall. I also dreamed of writing novels for a living. Let’s just say, if I’d known the power of visualization, I would’ve thrown in a mountain view. I’m working on it.
When my youngest child was three, I decided to pursue the writing dream for real, and got down to the hard work of putting words to paper. Three novels, and a mere ten years later, I got “the call” from my wonderful agent, telling me we had an offer for my debut novel and making my author dream come true.
I now live in New Hampshire with my husband and our three children. When I’m not reading, writing, or hunting for collectibles, they let me tag along for camping adventures, day-long paddles, and hikes up 4,000-footers, so I can get a taste of that coveted mountain view.
Connect with Lorrie
Lorrie has graciously offered one copy of A Measure of Happiness for one lucky commenter so I am going to run this giveaway a little bit differently from my other giveaways. I want to get some conversation going between you all and Lorrie. Leave a meaningful comment or a question for Lorrie and she'll stop by periodically to respond. I can't wait to see what everyone has to say!
Be sure to check the sidebar for my current giveaways!
