ASIN: B00WRESHIY
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: 8/11/2015
Format: e-book (Novella)
My Rating: 5 Stars
In this short story prequel to Pretending to Dance, psychologist Graham Arnette longs to dance the way he used to, before illness stole his ability to walk. Graham lives on one hundred acres of family land with his daughter Molly and his wife Nora-and with Amalia, a green-eyed beauty with whom Graham shares his hopes and fears.
Six-year-old Molly is the light of Graham's life. As he and his extended family turn an old springhouse into a playhouse for her, long buried hostilities emerge that lead to anger and resentment. . . and, ultimately, to the healing power of family love.
About the Author
Diane Chamberlain is the USA Today and London Times bestselling author of 23 novels published in more than a dozen languages. Her complex stories combine intrigue and suspense with engrossing family drama. Diane was born and raised in Plainfield, New Jersey. She also lived for many years in San Diego and northern Virginia before making North Carolina her home. Diane received her master’s degree in clinical social work from San Diego State University. Prior to her writing career, she was a hospital social worker and a psychotherapist in private practice, working primarily with adolescents.
Diane’s background in psychology and her work in hospitals have given her a keen interest in understanding the way people tick, as well as the background necessary to create living, breathing characters.
Diane lives with her partner, photographer John Pagliuca, and her shelties, Keeper and Cole. She has three stepdaughters, two sons-in-law, and four grandchildren. She loves interacting with her readers through her blog, on Facebook and via speakerphone and Skype calls with bookclubs. She's currently at work on her next novel. Connect with Diane: Website Facebook Twitter Goodreads
My Review
International bestselling author, Diane Chamberlain returns following sensational, The Silent Sister and Necessary Lies,delivering a tantalizing introduction prequel short story, THE DANCE BEGINS to her extraordinary new book, PRETENDING TO DANCE, coming, Oct 2015---Top Books of 2015! (Was fortunate to have read an ARC-review to follow) Set in the mountains of North Carolina in 1982, outside Asheville in Morrison Ridge, a family owned compound of one hundred acres, we are introduced to the Arnette family. Graham- father, Nora-mother, and six-year old daughter, Molly and their extended family. This is no ordinary family. Graham a remarkable man, psychologist, and author, with MS. His wife, Nora is a successful pharmacist, and Molly is the light of her father’s eye. They all enjoy their life on their land, and a springhouse (a special hideaway playhouse) for Molly. Graham has a wonderful outlook on life, even with his disabilities. He believes in Pretend Therapy – visualizing, dancing, literature, and music. Molly loves her dad and lives to make his life as comfortable as possible. In this inspiring beautiful short story, we get an inside look at the life of a special family and an extended family. A coming- of-age story of Molly, we get a brief introduction of her childhood, with an excerpt included, picking up with Molly, later in life in PRETENDING TO DANCE. Having read all Diane’s books, and one of my favorite authors, she is known for her keen insights into social issues, emotions, family, and relationships. She once again delves into the tragedies of life, the strong bonds, and healing power of love. Influenced by the author's former career as a social worker and psychotherapist, she writes suspenseful stories that will touch you, filled with mystery and intrigue. Buy both they will change you, with characters which linger long after the book ends.
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Coming Oct 6, 2015
