I must admit that I have a particular fondness for this month’s book club selection. You see, it was written by my best friend and She Reads co-founder, Marybeth Whalen. THE GUEST BOOK is her third novel, and in it we return to idyllic Sunset Beach, North Carolina, the much-loved setting of her debut novel.
This summer marks our third anniversary and as a way of saying thanks for every reader and comment and forum participant we’ve had along the way, we’re giving away three gorgeous, southern-themed gifts: a trip for two to Sunset Beach, a beach-themed gift set, and an all natural soap collection from Southern Soap Factory. Entry details can be found beneath each photo:
Enter into the world of Sunset Beach, North Carolina!
Grand Prize: Win a trip for two to Sunset Beach, North Carolina. Three-days and two beautiful nights at The Sunset Inn for two people in a double occupancy room; travel and food stipend included, anticipated retail value: $2,000.
Runners-Up: Three runners-up will win ten copies of THE GUEST BOOK. Share the copies with your reading club so all ten of you can enter into Macy Dillon’s world: anticipated retail value: $149.90 each.
Entry Details: Enter for a chance to win at www.MarybethWhalen.com. Entries accepted from June 1, 2012-August 31, 2012. Winner will be chosen on, or around September 4, 2012.
Marybeth will be on our discussion forum all month talking with readers about THE GUEST BOOK and she’d love you to join her! All participants of this month’s discussion will be eligible to win the gift set above, including: a copy of THE GUEST BOOK, a handmade, studio-quality sea glass bracelet and earring set (from ArtShak studio in Southport NC, colors may vary from photo), beach themed candles, and a beautiful beach towel (colors may vary from photo). Each comment left on the discussion is another entry.
We often get emails from readers wanting to make sure they don’t miss our book announcements and giveaways. Easiest answer: sign up for our free monthly e-newsletter. You can do this at the top of our sidebar, on the right. And because we value each and every reader we’re giving away a Southern Soap Factory gift set (see above) for one new subscriber to our email newsletter this month. (Full disclosure: my husband is part owner in this company. But I can also tell you that this really is the best soap you will ever use. It’s handcrafted, all natural, and smells like heaven.)
And now, without further ado, a little bit about Marybeth’s novel:
When Macy Dillon was five years old her father encouraged her to draw a picture in the guestbook of a Carolina beach house. The next year, Macy returned to discover a drawing by an unidentified little boy on the facing page. Over the next eleven years the children continue to exchange drawings … until tragedy ends visits to the beach house altogether. During her final trip to Sunset, Macy asks her anonymous friend to draw her one last picture and tells him where to hide the guest book in hopes that one day she will return to find it—and him. Twenty-five years after that first picture, Macy is back at Sunset Beach—this time toting a broken family and a hurting heart. One night, alone by the ocean, Macy asks God to help her find the boy she never forgot, the one whose beautiful pictures touched something deep inside of her. Will she ever find him? And if she does, will the guestbook unite them or merely be the relic of a lost childhood?
You can read the first 40 pages here.
Marybeth Whalen is the wife of Curt and mom of six children. The family lives outside Charlotte, NC. Marybeth is the author of the novels “The Mailbox,” “She Makes It Look Easy” and the upcoming “The Guest Book”. She also serves as director of She Reads, an online book club focused on spotlighting the best in women’s fiction. Marybeth spends most of her time in the grocery store but occasionally escapes long enough to scribble some words. She’s always at work on her next novel.
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in this post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the book, She Reads will receive a very small commission. These commissions help us pay for the site and the services we offer.
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.
Sounds like an intriguing story. I’m looking forward to reading it. Blessings.
I can’t wait to get a copy! Love MaryBeth and love Sunset Beach. What a combo!
Oh How I love her writing! I would love a copy but better yet the trip to the beach! I just love Sunset Beach, one of my favs.
I read The Mailbox by Marybeth and loved it! I’m sure I will love The Guest Book too! I love a book with a beach setting!
Wow the idea that they have this drawing game going on between them is awesome. I am impressed!
Sounds really good. Please enter me in this contest.
I read The Mailbox and I loved it! I can’t wait to read The Guest Book. I’m sure it will be just as wonderful…
Each prize is awesome! I would be happy with either:)
I can hardly wait to begin!
Hi Marybeth,
When I read the Mailbox, I hardly could put the book down, I wanted to see what was coming next. I so look forward to your new book, and will be getting it this week end. Looks like my husband will have to be chief cook and bottle washer once I get my hands on it. Your are such an inspiration!
Just read the first 40 pages. Can’t wait to read the rest!
Haven’t read any of your books but I really like the premise of THE GUEST BOOK. Can’t wait to read it!
I just finished reading the free download. Awesome.
I’m really enjoying this book!! It’s hard to put down.
I just finished the book this morning. I actually listened to the book from audible. It was so good. I just loved it. Great job, Marybeth.
Read The Mailbox. Can’t wait to read The Guestbook. NC beaches are the best. The ocean has always been a great healing place for me.
I love to go to the beach but have never been to Sunset Beach, NC.
There is no place, besides Heaven, that I would rather be than at the beach with sunscreen in one hand a book in the other.
This book sounds awesome. I would love
to read it.
Authors are sooo brave! You set your ideas out for everyone to read, to love or to hate. A miracle not unlike the miracle of childbirth! Thanks for taking the chance. It sure makes our lives better!
I suspect that there are many more stories that are clamoring to be written by you. “The Guest Book” sounds very entertaining as well as a bit of mystery about what will happen when the two meet after 25 years! I will enjoy reading this book. You are an exceptional author and each time I read your books I am delighted.
So disappointing I missed July’s discussion on this book! Going to be digging into it anyway lol. Hope I’m not too late for the giveaways deadline …
The title intrigues me..and MaryBeth will make it come alive in my soul!
Sounds like a great read. I have added to my list of books to read and put a star beside this one : ) Looking forward to it.
Love the book! Every night my husband says, your going to read again!!! He must be sleep deprived!! Seriously, Marybeth is a great author!!
Sounds wonderful! Looking forward to a good read and a wonderful time away!!!
I’ve been waiting anxiously to read The Guest Book. I would love a copy. I’ve been waiting all summer. I read MaryBeth’s other books and am a true fan. I read both in one week at the beach. I was also hunting for sea glass. The bracelet would be lovely reminder of my search for sea glass and my wait for the book. I drove my family nuts looking for sea glass!
Looks like a good one!! Can’t wait to read it!
I really hope this is my next book to read!
Can’t wait to read this one!
I loved your book, The Mailbox. It was magical. I am looking forward to reading The Guest Book.
Thank you for this website where I can find good Christian books to read. I can’t wait to read “The GuestBook”!
I can hardly wait to read The Guest Book! Thanks so much for celebrating your third anniversary with this giveaway!
I think it is rather timely for me to discover this book and this post the month I am still walking at the beach with my heart still broken. Hoping there is a message in what I read for me from God.
I normally don’r read fiction but this one intrgiues me!! Loooking forward to this read!!
Pamela
I love MaryBeth’s books. Would love a trip to the beach for a relaxing getaway!
I enjoy novels and North Carolina. Best of luck with the book launch.
Just finished The Guest Book. I want a beach house just like Time in a Bottle. What an adventure. Really wish Marybeth could publish books as fast as I read them.
The Guestbook brought back fond memories of a beach house that my husband and I returned to each year in Charleston, S.C. There was a guestbook and each year I looked forward to reading the entries of the families that stayed there, especially the family that chose to come back year after year as we did. Great story and beautifully written!
Thank you, God, for healing and for Marybeth!
I so love her books! I can’t wait to read this one, though I would agree with the comments that the trip to SC would be even a better place to enjoy reading it.
Looking forward to reading this book. Sounds like it would be good for a small group that I lead each week.
The monthly letter isn’t working only the post newsletter.