Wednesday, July 17, 2013

FINDING BLISS by Dina Silver







Can you believe that I am featuring another book so soon?!? I've got so many to share, I'm trying to blast you with a bunch of awesome books! Before you read on, though, make sure to click here to Jess Riley's Mandatory Release and enter to win her book here. I'll wait.


Thanks, and now, I'd love to share today's book with you, which is by Dina Silver and it's called Finding Bliss. Dina is one of those amazing authors who took her career into her own hands, self-pubbed her first book, One Pink Line and hit it big. 

She is someone I look up to, because she's done exactly what I hope to do someday with my own books, What She Left Us and The Life After (shameful plug, I admit!)! I admire her a lot and I love her stories. She got a great following, was discovered by the people at amazon and now has a contract with them. Finding Bliss is her latest, and just like One Pink Line, when I picked up the book to check out the first chapter, I just kept reading! Seriously, I did NOT put it down, and there are very few books that I pick up and read in two sittings. This was one of them!

Here is what Finding Bliss is all about:

Chloe Carlyle has always longed for the perfect family.
 
Growing up with an alcoholic single mother, she has seen her share of heartbreak and disappointment, and is striving to build a new legacy for herself. After graduating from college, she takes a job working as a summer girl for the Reeds—a wealthy, accomplished family that personifies her American dream. Her summer takes an unexpected turn when the Reeds’ eldest son, Tyler, the star quarterback for Notre Dame, shows up and turns her life upside down. 


An ambitious young woman with a wry sense of humor, Chloe never imagined herself as the type to succumb to the looks and charms of the hometown hero, but she falls hard for Tyler, and is devastated when they part ways at the end of the summer. As she heads off to law school, Chloe tries to convince herself this was just a fling, but she can’t quite get over him. It’s not until Tyler contacts her out of the blue late one winter night that everything changes.


After doing everything in her power to build the perfect life, Chloe soon learns that there are things beyond her control. She must draw on inner reserves of strength as her life takes unpredictable—and sometimes heartbreaking—twists and turns, and she finds herself faced with decisions she never thought she’d have to make. Poignant, heartfelt, and emotional, Finding Bliss is a reminder that you don’t have to live a fairytale life in order to have a happy ending.

 Here are Dina's THESE THREE THINGS, which also gives you some more insight to some of the storylines of the book:


1) There is an infertility storyline in the book that was really important for me to write. My sister, along with many of my close friends, struggled with getting pregnant. I would always hear from them how hard it was to deal with feelings of jealousy and bitterness when around other women who were pregnant, and also how woman tend to not talk to each other about the topic of infertility. It was important for me to address the issue with humor and honesty, and to give a voice to this taboo subject.



2) For a long time, the book was simply titled, Bliss. In fact, the entire time I was writing it. It wasn't until a week before I handed in my final draft that I changed it to Finding Bliss. Because in the end, the book is truly a journey about finding the things that will ultimately make you happy…and how often times it not what or who you thought. 
 

3) Chloe, my protagonist, is a divorce lawyer. In researching her character, I worked really closely with a friend who is a divorce lawyer, and it was so fun listening to her old client stories. No one has better stories than divorce lawyers!! Maybe E.R. doctors are a close second :)


If you'd like to win a copy of FINDING BLISS, tell me IN THE COMMENTS BELOW, if you had one BLISSFUL hour to yourself what would you do? Me, of course, I would either go to Starbucks or take a nap!



Don't forget to CLICK HERE to also enter to win Jess Riley's Mandatory Release, which is still up for grabs on Booking with Manic! I'll be coming at you again shortly with another fabulous book too, so make sure to check back soon! As I showed you here, I've got many books to share, and I realized I slacked off a bit this summer so I'm trying to make up for it!

First time visiting?
If you're new to Booking with Manic, thank you for stopping by! We love new readers! Some notes - If you're entering to win a book, please leave a comment on this post and use an identifying name when commenting. It's usually a great idea to include an email, which I will never give out to anyone else. You can only enter once please. You'll need to check back here in a few days to see if you've won the book -- I will either list the winner in a new post OR highlight the winner's name at the top of this post, or tell you where you can find the winner's name at the top of this post. I do NOT personally contact the winners. It is YOUR responsibility to come back to see if you've won. Most books are supplied directly through publishers, publicists and the authors. Winners will receive books directly from the publisher or author within 3 weeks from the time you provide me with your address, unless I send you the book (sometimes I will). Sorry, but we can only ship to U.S. and Canada so if you're from another country, thank you for coming by to read and discover new authors, but we can't send you a book. Any questions on how I run the blog or suggestions on who you would like to see featured, please email me at stephanieelliot[at]gmail.com. Thank you for your support!
 


43 comments:

TinaB said...

I would definitely take a nap!!
Brannanflooring@aol.com

TaraUB said...

Grab a tall non-fat chai from Starbucks and head to the nail shop for a pedicure.

Amelia said...

knit

jdstec said...

a massage

absolutahnie said...

in my hand a tall absolut oranj & soda with an orange slice, my butt in a comfy chair on the deck and a book in my other hand!

Mary Jo Burke said...

Blast my music through the house!

Emma S. said...

If it were any season but winter (I live in PA), I would take that hour and float on a raft in my pool with a good book, or I would sit on my front porch with a good book and a bottle of wine. Either way, a good book is involved!

A.C. said...

As boring as it sounds, I'd take a nap. I'm about to start a new job and my nap times as rare as they already are, are about to go!

Melissa said...

Why, read, of course!

Melissa A from CLC

buttah said...

Lay on a quiet beach, by myself, with a cold drink in hand and soak up the sun in complete happiness!

ncsuloges said...

Clearly we would be best friends, either a nap or reading :)

equinn726 said...

I would totally grab a book, some chocolate, my ipod and a glass of wine and head to the porch for some quality "blissful" thinking time! Thank you again Stephanie for all of your posts, I just love reading about all of these great books!

Unknown said...

Well being childless still I seem to have lots of hours to myself. But my favorite way to spend time is baking. Usually a random new recipe from Pinterest, but it's my true joy! :)

Sheena said...

I'd sit outside in the shade a nice cold Diet Coke by my side and read!

wapneski@yahoo.com

Bev V said...

I would settle in a comfy chair with a cup of coffee and a good book!

Ally said...

Sit on the beach with a book

Lisamarie said...

I would read...I swear every time I pick up a book my husband or kids know and need something.

Coleen said...

I would read while getting a pedicure!!

Juliet Farmer said...

I would immerse myself in a good book!

betsy_blixt said...

I would sit in a cozy room while it was snowing outside.

Tiffany Drew said...

I'd slowly browse the shelves at the local bookstore and find some new reads.

Amy said...

For me it would definitely be a spa day. And because it's only an hour it would definitely be an entire body massage.

Reese78 said...

Nap or read...or maybe a combo of both. :)

Jennifer Huelsebusch said...

Get a manicure and a pedicure!!

Anonymous said...

Definitely a massage.

SuzyQ4PR(at)aol(dot)com

Luvschocolate said...

Mani and pedi

Lizett said...

I have a lot of blissful hours to myself, however, for the purposes of this question I will say getting a facial! I love them =)!

slm8803 said...

NAP!!!

PoCoKat said...

Bliss...a facial..

littleone AT shaw DOT Ca

Unknown said...

I would be sitting in a lawn chair on a 75 degree breezy day, my dog in my lap reading a good book!

Unknown said...

I would read!

Erin G said...

coffee and a book!

Caroline N. said...

Definitely enjoy a blizzard from DQ on my perfect 75 degree weather day with plenty of sun and zero humidity.

Nanette said...

I would sit in the sun with a book and a large glass of iced tea...preferably in Hawaii. :)

Nan

Bernadette7 said...

read of course!

your invisible pixie said...

i would read. or bake cookies!

My Two Army Brats said...

I would love an hour at a spa I think...maybe, I'm not sure if I'd like all that touching haha

kmtkbest@gmail.com

Katie said...

If I had the motivation probably work on organizing my pictures.

Kelleyc said...

Def a book and a glass of wine!

Dolly said...

I've been fantasizing about finding a cool shady wooded spot to spread out a blanket, lay down in a gentle breeze and read/nap/read.

Books & Reviews said...

I would read or take a nap, maybe both!

Carly said...

I'd watch one of the ridiculous shows that I have on my DVR that my husband can't stand.

Carly H

Chantal said...

Awesome!