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Monday, August 1, 2011

book tour: Before Ever After by Samantha Sotto + giveaway


author: Samantha Sotto  
Publisher: Crown  
Source: TLC Book Tours
Hard Cover: 304 pages  

"foodie" elements: YES...in the form of words...no recipes, but plenty of mouthwatering, belly-rumbling moments.

random excerpt:  The group followed Max and their noses to a rustic wooden table.  It groaned under the weight of freshly baked bread, croissants, jams, coffee, and fruit.  Max set the dish at the center of the table, revealing a golden crust of cheese topped with a sprinkling of fresh herbs.  It bubbled an invitation.  

summary/synopsis: (from dust cover flap/author website)  Three years after her husband Max’s death, Shelley feels no more adjusted to being a widow than she did that first terrible day. That is, until the doorbell rings. Standing on her front step is a young man who looks so much like Max–same smile, same eyes, same age, same adorable bump in his nose–he could be Max’s long-lost relation. He introduces himself as Paolo, an Italian editor of American coffee table books, and shows Shelley some childhood photos. Paolo tells her that the man in the photos, the bearded man who Paolo says is his grandfather though he never seems to age, is Max. Her Max. And he is alive and well. As outrageous as Paolo’s claims seem–how could her husband be alive? And if he is, why hasn’t he looked her up? – Shelley desperately wants to know the truth. She and Paolo jet across the globe to track Max down–if it is really Max– and along the way, Shelley recounts the European package tour where they had met. As she relives Max’s stories of bloody Parisian barricades,medieval Austrian kitchens, and buried Roman boathouses, Shelley begins to piece together the story of who her husband was and what these new revelations mean for her “happily ever after.” And as she and Paolo get closer to the truth, Shelley discovers that not all stories end where they are supposed to.  

my thoughts/review: I found myself instantly intrigued by Shelley.  Her sudden devastating, life-altering loss and the way she chose to deal (or not so much) with her husband's death.  Until she finds out that maybe the past three years she mourned somebody who didn't really die.  I love (in a shivering, teeth-chattering kind of way) the supernatural, and I found Sotto's immortality concept very intriguing.  From the yellow flyer that found its way to Shelley...
...to the new, unexpected life it led to, I was hooked.  Since the loss is laid out right away in the book, I began to wonder where the story would lead me.  As Shelley and Paolo began a new journey, I felt a bit of a longing for more of what was happening "in the present", but was easily caught up in the tales of Max's past lives (in a sense) in Paris and Austria and Rome.  We got to know much about Shelley and a lot about Max through her memories...memories that began to take on a whole new meaning with the new, confusing information that Shelley had to relate to.  It ended with a bang and a twist...and made me wish there was something hiding on the next page.

And darn it all.  Why oh why would Sotto tempt us with such brilliant descriptions of eggs baked with cream, tarragon, a hint of cayenne...and a crust of golden cheese and then not put a recipe to go with it!?  Just the one.  But alas, it's not there.  I checked thrice.

A fun, interesting tragic romance sprinkled with good food, historical fiction, and a bit of fantasy.  I enjoyed it.
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 about the author: SAMANTHA SOTTO fell in love with Europe’s cobbled streets and damp castles when she moved to the Netherlands as a teenager. Since then, she has spent nights huddled next to her backpack on a beach in Greece, honeymooned in Paris, and attended business meetings in Dusseldorf in the pleasant company of a corporate credit card. Before Ever After was inspired by her experiences living, studying, and traveling in Europe. Samantha lives in the Philippines with her family. This is her first novel.
Giveaway: The publisher has graciously offered one of my readers a chance to win their own copy of Before Ever After.  Open to those who have a mailing address in the USA or Canada only.  If you'd like to be entered to win, simply let me know in a comment on this post.  Please make sure I have a way of contacting you, should you win (otherwise I will draw a new name). Submissions due August 14th by 11:59 pm (Eastern).  Good Luck!  
 This giveaway is now closed.













 Winner by random draw is:
Congrats, Nay...I hope you enjoy it☺!

*I received a free copy of this book to review from the publisher.  All thoughts and opinions stated in this post are 100% mine.
Photobucket foodiesreadingchallenge

Would you like to comment?

  1. This book sounds very intriguing and an armchair journey I would like to take.

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  2. Oh, that does sound good. I am hooked already. Will have to order a copy.

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  3. *waves to bellini and Jacqueline*

    Thrilled that this is the first stop on Before Ever After's blog tour! What better way to start the tour than with an egg breakfast? ;-)

    In case you want to take a peek at the book trailer, here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWkkQVZCH2E :D

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  4. I would love to read this book:)
    soriano(dot)renee(at)gmail(dot)com
    Thanks!

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  5. The book sounds amazing and intriguing. I'd love to read this.

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  6. Great review and I love the pictures associated. I also really enjoyed the book and will be featuring it in a couple of weeks :)

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  7. Your reviews are always exciting, love your words..thank you for sharing!! loved you mex cookies from leslie..

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  8. This book looks divine, I'd love tow in!

    krisleighsen@yahoo.com

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  9. What a fantastic book review; you had me on the edge of my chair and that foods looks amazing.
    Rita

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  10. there's food in it too? OMG Sam wants to kill us :)

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  11. This sounds great! Please count me in. Thank you!

    nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com

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  12. I love foodie books! :)

    cytljjb @ gmail com

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  13. This sounds like a great read ... if only it had recipes to go with it! :)

    Thanks for being on the tour.

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  14. I am a bookworm and will devour just about any book. :-)

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  15. What a nice review and a tasty breakfast! I'm always looking for the next summer read ... count me in!

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  16. I would love to win! Thank you so much for the chance!

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  17. Wow, this sounds WONDERFUL! Please include me in the giveaway!
    Thanks,
    candc320@gmail.com

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  18. I'm hooked - food, travel, a new twist on the workings of a fairy tale, life, death, supernatural - yes, I'm hooked.

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  19. We had so many of the same thoughts on this book...I wanted a baked eggs recipe so badly as well! It was a lovely book but it was very food centered and would have been nice with recipes! Lovely review!

    Courtney
    Stiletto Storytime

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  20. I would really like to read this book. It is intriguing and sounds quite emotional.

    Cambonified(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  21. Sounds like an awesome book. I'd love to win.

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  22. Oooohhhh! This book sounds like a real page-turner! I would love one, thank you! :P

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  23. Great review and this sounds like a book I would love!

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  24. Great review. I saw this book and wondered about it. Even with no recipes it sounds like a good read.
    ;-)

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  25. I JUST finished reading a review of this book at Chick Lit Reviews and JUST added it to my wish list. It sounds like a wonderful story.
    pascale.poitras@verizon.net

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  26. Ooh, I love narratives that involve food!

    kattellofilms at g m a i l .com

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  27. food and books! My two favorite things :)

    jmndowning@gmail.com

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