Thursday, March 28, 2013

Virtual blurb blitz stop for The Angry Woman Suite by Lee Fullbright

This is just one of many blurb blitz stopsfor psychological mystery author Lee Fullbright as she promotes her novel The Angry Woman Suite.

Lee will be giving away a $50 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn lucky commentor at the end of the tour. To be entered for a chance to win, leave an e-mail with your comment below. For more chances to win, visit other tour stops and leave comments there.

THE ANGRY WOMAN SUITE
By
Lee Fullbright

Blurb:  
Raised in a crumbling New England mansion by four women with personalities as split as a cracked mirror, young Francis Grayson has an obsessive need to fix them all. There’s his mother, distant and beautiful Magdalene; his disfigured, suffocating Aunt Stella; his odious grandmother; and the bane of his existence, his abusive and delusional Aunt Lothian.

For years, Francis plays a tricky game of duck and cover with the women, turning to music to stay sane. He finds a friend and mentor in Aidan Madsen, schoolmaster, local Revolutionary War historian, musician and keeper of the Grayson women’s darkest secrets. In a skillful move by Fullbright, those secrets are revealed through the viewpoints of three different people–Aidan, Francis and Francis’stepdaughter, Elyse–adding layers of eloquent complexity to a story as powerful as it is troubling.

While Francis realizes his dream of forming his own big band in the 1940s, his success is tempered by the inner monster of his childhood, one that roars to life when he marries Elyse’s mother. Elyse becomes her stepfather’s favorite target, and her bitterness becomes entwined with a desire to know the real Francis Grayson.

For Aidan’s part, his involvement with the Grayson family only deepens, and secrets carried for a lifetime begin to coalesce as he seeks to enlighten Francis–and subsequently Elyse–of why the events of so many years ago matter now. The ugliness of deceit, betrayal and resentment permeates the narrative, yet there are shining moments of hope, especially in the relationship between Elyse and her grandfather.

Ultimately, as more of the past filters into the present, the question becomes: What is the truth, and whose version of the truth is correct? Fullbright never untangles this conundrum, and it only adds to the richness of this exemplary novel.—Kirkus Reviews


Excerpt:
“I’ll tell you what I’m ready for, Aidan. I’m ready for the top floor.” His eyebrows shot up.

“I beg your pardon?”

“The third floor of Grayson House. I’m ready for it. I’m really ready.”

“I don’t think I understand—”

“Please, Aidan.” I emphasized each word: “I’m ready to meet Jamie.”

I turned and walked out of that parlor then, and into the foyer and up the ten steps to the landing where the grand staircase turned direction. I ran up the first flight, then paused at the second landing, waiting for Aidan. When I glimpsed him behind me, I turned and ran up the next flight, to the third floor, straight for the door at the end of the hallway, next to the door that opened onto the outside stairs.

I’d been able to pinpoint this door as the one by the soft thumps I’d heard when I’d sneaked into Papa’s room on the second floor—things nobody thought I’d hear—and by watching from my spot across the road: the quick deliveries and arrivals, the things and people nobody thought I’d see.

I hesitated, not feeling anything, I was now so empty. No more  anger. Instead I was in tune with senses: the steady tick-tock of the clock at the end of the otherwise soundless hallway, the wallpaper’s perfectly vertical stripe, even an aromatic odor reminiscent of the appendectomy I’d had when I was six—was it ether? And then, finally, Aidan’s ragged breathing when he caught up with me. We were ready,  in position—and it was understood I’d assumed leadership: I’d go first.

I turned the doorknob. My opponent had just run through his resources.


Review Sound Bytes:

From Kirkus Reviews

"Secrets and lies suffuse generations of one Pennsylvania family . . . in a skillful move by Fullbright, those secrets are revealed through the viewpoints of three very different people . . . a superb debut that exposes the consequences of the choices we make and legacy's sometimes excruciating embrace."


2012 DISCOVERY AWARD

GLOBAL E-BOOK AWARD NOMINEE

From Midwest Book Review

"A very human story . . . a fine read focusing on the long lasting dysfunction of family."

"There is something fascinating in labyrinthine plot twists, which is what we have here, and I must applaud Fullbright for her keen and magical ability to pull it off with such aplomb."-Norm Goldman, Montreal Books Examiner and Bookpleasures.com

5 Stars ***** Reviewed by Joana James for Readers Favorite: "The Angry Woman Suite is quite a ride . . . very cleverly written . . . an outstanding novel."

Rating: 5.0 stars Reviewed by Anne B. for Readers Favorite: Lee Fullbright is master of characterization."

Rating: 5.0 stars Reviewed by Alice D. for Readers Favorite:
"The Angry Woman Suite is a brilliant, complex, complicated story about talented, complicated people . . . this is a story to remember!"

Author information:
Lee Fullbright, a medical practice consultant in her non-writing life, lives on San Diego’s beautiful peninsula with her writing partner, Baby Rae, a 12-year-old rescued Australian cattle dog with attitude.        

The Angry Woman Suite, a Kirkus Critics’ pick, 5-starred Readers Favorite, and a Discovery Aware winner, is her first published novel.

Links:


14 comments:

Lee Fullbright said...

Thank you for hosting me and The Angry Woman Suite.

MomJane said...

Sounds like a really complicated story with some twists and turns. I love it.

Catherine Lee said...

There is a great build up and sense of anticipation in this except. Who or what will we meet behind the door?
catherinelee100 at gmail dot com

Rita Wray said...

What a tease the excerpt is.

Kit3247(at)aol(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I love the pacing here!

vitajex(at)aol(dot)com

Lyra L7 said...

Nice teaser, I'm looking forward to read more!

lyra.lucky7 at gmail dot com

Anas said...

Do you have a favorite secondary character?

moonsurfer123 AT gmail DOTcom

Lee Fullbright said...

Hi, I'm late checking in with y'all, as the power in my (medical) bldg went out and just now came back on ... imagine, stuck for HOURS with NO electronics! !@#$%

Anyhow, to answer the question Anas asked, as to who my favorite secondary character is (in The Angry Woman Suite), that's easy: Papa. Adore Papa. Wanted to write about him for forever, but how many pages of "I love you" can you write without becoming boring as all get-out? None. But I love Papa's courage, integrity, and wisdom-- he is one of the few characters (in this book) who is consistent (Magdalene is the other).

bn100 said...

Nice blurb

bn100candg at hotmail dot com

Mary Preston said...

It scares me to think what they will find on the top floor.

marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

Andra Lyn said...

So do you let your friends and family read your books? What do they have to say about them?

andralynn7 AT gmail DOT com

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the chance to win! Really excited now that I've read the excerpt!

Kate

hense1kk@cmich.edu

Mihnea said...

Lee, what were some of the other working titles you had for this book?

Sarah Perry said...

Im really excited to read this book...Have it on my TBR :) Loved reading the excerpt
oddball2003 at hotmail dot com