**Update: entry in May’s giveaway has been closed. We will select winners this weekend. As always, thank you SO much for participating and we hope you stick around in June. We’ve got a great novel lined up for you, along with some exciting giveaways!!
Science is pretty clear that there are two defining chromosomes: X and Y. But, having been married to a Texan for eleven years, I propose that there is a third, even stronger chromosome that trumps all others: TX. Texas. My husband would be the first to tell you that he’s a citizen of Texas first and then the United States. My parents, both Texans, would agree. Years and years ago I dated a man from New Zealand. When I told my grandmother (a third generation Texan) she sniffed and replied, “Don’t go dating any dern feriners. And anyone not born in Texas is a dern feriner.” (She made an exception for me out of necessity–I was born in New Mexico)
All that to say, I have a deep fondness for those with the TX chromosome. So when I heard about Lynda Rutledge’s debut novel, FAITH BASS DARLING’S LAST GARAGE SALE, I knew it was a book I had to read. Charming, quirky, thoughtful, and deeply Texan, it’s a novel that I immediately loved and wanted to share with you.
The talented and generous team at Amy Einhorn Books has sponsored this month’s giveaway. In honor of Faith Bass Darling we’re giving away a Texas-themed gift basket from New Canaan Farms. Simply leave a comment on this post to enter. I do hope you’ll buy a copy of this heartfelt story and join us this month and we discuss it on our online book club. There is no cost to participate and no long-term commitment. However, everyone who joins us this month will be entered to win a signed copy of Faith Bass Darling’s Last Garage Sale. Every comment on the forum equals another entry.
And now, a bit more about Faith Bass Darling and her eye-popping garage sale:
May Book Club Selection
ON THE LAST DAY OF THE MILLENNIUM, sassy chain-smoking, 70 year old Faith Bass Darling decides to have a garage sale. Why is the richest lady in Bass, Texas, a recluse for twenty years, suddenly emptying her mansion and selling off her dearest—some even priceless—worldly possessions?
Why? God told her to.
As the townspeople grab up the heirlooms of five generations of the town’s founding family, a crowd gathers to witness the sale or try to stop it. Faith’s estranged daughter, Claudia, is summoned home, but after spending half her life running away from Faith and the day everything changed forever, she’s not sure she can face them all again. Bobbie Blankenship, the town’s antique shop owner, who spent her childhood dreaming of life in the big Bass mansion, can’t believe her luck—but will her conscience get in the way of making a killing? Deputy Sheriff John Jasper Johnson, who owes Faith his life, knows he’s got to save her from herself, but can he find a way to stop the sale before everything is gone? And the one person Faith actually calls for help, Father George A. Fallow, is having a crisis of faith.
Before the day is over, they will all examine their roles in the great Bass family saga, as well as some of life’s most imponderable questions:
Do our possessions possess us?
What are we without our memories?
Is there life after death?
Or second chances here on earth?
And is Faith Darling really selling that 1917 Louis Comfort Tiffany lamp for a $1…???
A fifth generation Texas, Lynda Rutledge has hopped across literary and geographic boundaries in her writing career. She’s been a freelance journalist, travel writer, ghostwriter, restaurant and film reviewer, copywriter, college professor, book collaborator, and nonfiction author while living/ writing/ studying in Chicago, San Diego, New Orleans, Madrid, and lots of other heres and theres around the globe.
Currently, she is behaving herself in front of her computer screen in the hill country outside Austin, pursuing those pesky literary pretensions as she enjoys the debut of her novel with Putnam’s Amy Einhorn Books. [Pause for a deeply-felt Hallelujah here.]
(*Sensitive readers will want to know up front that is some emotionally-driven adult language in this novel.)
About Ariel Lawhon
Ariel Lawhon is the co-founder of She Reads, novelist, blogger, storyteller, and life-long reader. She lives in Texas with her husband and four young sons (aka The Wild Rumpus). Ariel believes that Story is the shortest distance to the human heart.
The blurb on the e-mail I got sounded like THE book I wanted to read. The Bible study I have been leading is about possessions and I told the ladies in my groups (all in their 80s or older) about it. I ordered it and started reading it. I was greatly disappointed and now realize that I should have gone to the website and read more, especially the disclaimer about emotionally driven adult language. I’ll be more careful next time!
I would love to read this book.
Esther, I also had trouble parting with any of my books. Each one was a best friend! I recently ran out of any space anywhere to store another book, my husband solved this problem for me by giving me a Kindle Fire for Christmas. I had thought I would never like not holding an actual book in my hands, but the Kindle is great, and once you buy one you also have accesibility to many free books to download from Amazon.com
I thoroughly enjoyed Faith Bass Darlings Last Garage Sale. Amazing life lessons !!!
Finally finished the book and really enjoyed it!! I recommended it to my relatives and friends! Thank you for finally choosing a good one.
Eager to read this one!!
This sounds like a book I can definately sink my teeth into.
Can this book possibly be better than the family-relationship novel, PLEASE LOOK AFTER MOM? I look forward to the opportunity to find out!
This book sounds very intriguing…
This is one for my reading library! This woman sounds like the woman I plan to be!
This definitely sounds like my kind of book. And since I grew up in Texas, it makes it even more intriguing. LOVE the title!
I am intrigued by the episcopal priest losing his religion, or having Faith put into words his own struggle with faith. Texas does get in your blood, either by birth or by transfusion – after you’ve lived there long enough – it seems to run in your veins. Born a Carolinian myself, but gave birth to a Texan. Like many, I got there as soon as I could. Would love to read your book!
This is one book I want to read!
After reading about the book in my She Reads email, I saw it at Books-A-Million this past weekend on my date with my hubby! Wow! I sat down in one of their chairs and read the first three chapters there on the spot! I wasn’t able to pick it up then, but cannot wait to finish the story!
What a wonderful book. Faith Bass Darling’s Last Garage Sale truly made me think about many things, my own faith was only one of them.
I love gentle reads…
I am fully enjoying this book. It is keeping me on the edge of my seat and up at night with several moments of pause as I lay the book on my chest to ponder what I have just read.
I belong to 2 book clubs, and this looks like a terrific pick for a bunch of teachers on summer vacation or permanent retirement! Can’t wait to read as I am the garage sale queen!