Thursday, October 1, 2009

A Separate Country ~ Book Review and Giveaway!

Flooded with the dark and languid richness and exoticism of the south, A Separate Country is a love story of heartrending depth set in nineteenth century New Orleans. A Separate Country chronicles the life of famous or perhaps infamous confederate army general, General John Hood-- a man who lives his life haunted by his murderous warring past. Through the writings of General Hood and his beautiful wife Anna Marie one discovers the depths of love, the pain it causes to those who feel they don't deserve it, and the lifelong suffering deception, and horrific secrets can cause. Hood sought redemption for his sins, from his haunting memories:
"Once the massacre began, there was no stopping them. One killing leads to the next, and so on. A man changes when he's killed someone, so much of what was possible for him in life becomes impossible: innocence, grace, forgiveness, sweetness. A killer is always a killer, ad once the possibility of redemption disappears there is only anger: at a world that led to damnation, at the dead themselves, at whoever was at hand." (Hicks 2009:165)

Robert Hicks' lyrical style, his beautifully dark and exotic context are exactly what I look for in a historical novel. I want to be enticed; I want to be drawn to the characters as true and authentic; I want to feel a deep connection to the setting and times. Hicks adds colour and depth to the past as an artist adds hues and dimension to a preliminary sketch! My heart wrenching with Hood's fear and guilt, and it aching with Anna Marie's unconditional love. I was engaged and engrossed by the couple's love and devotion in the face of adversity, hatred, and loss.

An epic true story of love and redemption set against the textured, richly hued backdrop of New Orleans A Separate Country by Robert Hicks is a meticulously researched must read for those in love with historical novels. Now five Northern Mama readers will have the opportunity to soak up the atmosphere of the exotic and separate country of nineteenth century New Orleans! Yes Five copies of A Separate Country are up for grabs!

To Enter:
  • Follow Northern Mama and leave a comment here. {Required}
Extra Entries:
  • Subscribe via email
  • Grab My Button {let me know where}
  • Blog about this giveaway with a link back here {please leave the link to your post}
    {Leave a separate comment for each entry}
Giveaway open to US and Canadian residents. Giveaway closes October 15th, 2009 10:00pm CT. For further details read Giveaway Rules.


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31 comments:

  1. I am a follower
    copperllama at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  2. I subscribe via email
    copperllama at yahoo dot com

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  3. I'm a follower and I'd love to read this book.

    melacan at hotmail dot com

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  4. I am a follower and would really like to win a copy of this book.

    Thank you,
    Christine
    womackcm@sbcglobal.net

    ReplyDelete
  5. I subscribe via email.

    Thank you,

    Christine
    womackcm@sbcglobal.net

    ReplyDelete
  6. I follow you and would love to win!

    simplystacieblog at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  7. I am also an email subscriber.

    simplystacieblog at gmail dot com

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  8. I'm a brand-new follower - this book sounds wonderful! We used to live near New Orleans, I would really like to read it!

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  9. I'm also a brand-new E-Mail subscriber - looking forward to reading your blog :)

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  10. I'm a follower. I love this author. Although I won one of your other books and am not sure if there is a limit on giveaways, so if there is, it's ok to disqualify me.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I am grabbing your button also. You can see it at http://the-zookeeper.ramblings.blogspot.com

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  12. I also did a blog and link about this giveaway on my page.

    http://the-zookeeper-ramblings.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. I'm a follower
    dftrew(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  14. i follow

    thanks

    wadesherry@hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  15. i subscribe

    wadesherry@hotmail dot com

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  16. I am a follower. Thanks! It looks like a really good book.

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  17. I Follow Northern Mama and am interested in reading this awesome read.

    Please enter me. Thank you.

    cherdon@sympatico.ca

    ReplyDelete
  18. Subscriber via email

    cherdon@sympatico.ca

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  19. I do follow you and this book looks so good!
    Carla
    cpullum(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  20. Please include me in your giveaway, I follow


    Canadian Contests, Freebies, Coupons, Deals, Games and Chat - join us at http://forum.coolcanucks.ca/


    bluebelle0367(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  21. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  22. I am an email subscriber.

    saemmerson at yahoo dot com

    Sarah Emmerson

    ReplyDelete
  23. Please enter me in this great giveaway! I am a follower.

    saemmerson at yahoo dot com

    Sarah Emmerson

    ReplyDelete