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Book Review ~ TLC Book Tours

Painting Juliana by Martha Louise Hunter – Blog Tour, Book Review and Giveaway

by
Patty
-
June 3, 2014

I received a free copy of Painting Juliana from TLC Book Tours for my honest review.

About the Book:

• Hardcover: 362 pages
• Publisher: Goldminds Publishing, LLC (May 20, 2014)
A young girl’s terrifying nightmare, five mysterious oil paintings and a red, flaming firebird all carry the same message:
Stand still, look up and let the funnel cloud suck you up inside.
It’s the last thing Juliana Birdsong wants to hear.  Now a woman who’s losing everything, she’s still running from the dream, and it’s catching up fast. When her Alzheimer’s-stricken father’s canvases come to life exposing secrets, heartbreak and yearnings that mirror her own, Juliana discovers that some memories can be a blessing to forget.
Hit with devastating loss and betrayals, her old life stripped away, Juliana has no choice but to call on the person who’s never helped her before. Steering the chrome handlebars of a vintage motorcycle down a long, tapering highway, she must face her defining moment.  It’s the only way she’ll gain the strength and courage to begin painting Juliana.


About the Author:

Martha Louise Hunter has an English degree from the University of Texas. After writing magazine features, working in politics and owning homebuilding and interior design companies, she now has an estate jewelry collection, www.marthasjewelrycase.com. With four children between them, she and her husband, David live in Austin, Texas. This is her first novel.
Painting Juliana was awarded finalist in the Writers League of Texas Mainstream Fiction Contest.
For more information, please visit: www.marthalouisehunter.com.
You can also keep up with her at her blog, www.beingmarthalouisehunter.com.

My Opinion:

Painting Juliana is a book out of my normal realm of reading genres and it forced me to stretch my reading muscles. I will write that I was pulled in by the writing almost from the very first page. Ms. Hunter has a way with a pen. I will also write that a good portion of the book took place somewhere over my head. I suspect that if I were to read it again I would be able to sort it all out but my reading schedule isn’t going to allow that right now.

We first meet Juliana as a scared 8 year old experiencing a nightmare – one that she has had many, many times. In fact she keeps a journal, marking a line for each time the nightmare comes to disturb her slumber. The story then moves forward in time to when Juliana is married with twins to a very disagreeable man. It’s only after he starts divorce proceedings in a truly spiteful way that the reader starts to learn more about Juliana’s life and how she came to be who she is.

In being forced to leave the comfortable life she has Juliana then goes back to confront her past and learn what the nightmare is all about and how she can make it stop and go forward. I have to admit That I didn’t see anything coming – the book is full of twists, turns and revelations that will make a reader’s head spin. The ending is a wild ride that leaves the reader just all wrung out. But, and yes, there is a but – so much of it was symbolic and as I mentioned above, happens in a place I just don’t understand I suspect I missed things and this made it hard for me to completely enjoy. When books happen over my head (like short stories which I won’t read any longer) I feel deflated and well, stupid. I don’t like when a book makes me feel stupid. I have too literal a mind for allegory. This is not the fault of the book, but rather the reader. It is, though, my review.

Rating:
4

You can follow the Painting Juliana Tour Schedule for additional reviews and giveaway opportunities.

You can purchase Painting Juliana on Amazon.com

The Giveaway:

One lucky reader (US/Can) will win a copy of Painting Juliana. How do you win? It’s easy – just hop on the Rafflecopter. Good luck everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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About

Happily living in the small city of Brattleboro, Vermont, Patty Woodland is navigating the urban life of sidewalks and neighbors in New England. She will share life in her small city, the books she reads, and as always, the delicious food she cooks and bakes.

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