About the Book

Book Title: Someplace Familiar

Author: Teresa Tysinger

Release date: May, 2017

Artist Livy Johnson needs a fresh start. That’s what a broken heart and forgotten dreams can do to a person. On little more than a whim, she reclaims her grandmother’s old home in quaint Laurel Cove, North Carolina and vows to restore its original charm. When she literally collides with childhood friend, Jack Bowdon, Livy wonders if she’s back for an entirely different reason.

Jack can’t believe his childhood crush is back. As the owner of Bowdon’s Supplies, and once again the town’s most eligible bachelor, he offers to help Livy with repairs. Together they embark on the project – and an undeniable whirlwind romance.

But it’s not all smooth sailing. Can they survive the destructive pain of their pasts and discover God’s grace waiting to renovate their hearts?

My Review:
This book worked for me. First, Livy is an artist, so I connected with her right away. Next, I know people in North Carolina. Now, I have to say, North Carolina isn't nearly as Southern as I'd hoped it would be, but this book manages to keep that out of the picture and used truer "Southern-ness" like you'd have where I come from. I was grateful for that. Jack and Livy complement each other and their relationship grows naturally in this story. It's very "at home" because I'm very familiar with the "someplace" that is comfortable to me. It made the story super easy to read. It's a very nice debut book, with a focus on growth, change, forgiveness, and staying out of abusive relationships. (That didn't go too deep, so don't be afraid to read it.)

4 stars

Click here to purchase your copy!

About the Author

Teresa Tysinger is a wife and mother transplanted from North Carolina to North Texas. When not working as the Director of Communications for a large downtown church, she writes charming southern romances inspired by grace. Her debut novel, Someplace Familiar, released this summer. She also is a contributing writer for the Fort Worth Moms Blog (part of the national City Moms Blog Network). A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Religious Communicators’ Council, and the Association for Women in Communications, Teresa has spent over a decade committed to telling stories of faith through written word. She loves coffee, caramel, and stories with happy endings.

Guest Post from Teresa Tysinger

Someplace Familiar began way back in 2014 when I participated in National Novel Writer’s Month, a challenge to write a 50,000 word novel during the month of November. It was an exhilarating, albeit exhausting, experience! Since then, the book was workshopped with a critique group, had large portions rewritten countless times, pitched at workshops, edited by two editors, and even renamed (original title was Good Graces). After a lot of prayer, I decided that self-publishing would give me the greatest flexibility and control while being able to maintain my responsibilities as a wife, mother, and full-time communications director. It’s been a wonderful ride!

About the Inspiration for Someplace Familiar One thing I’ve learned about myself through writing Someplace Familiar is how much I am personally drawn to setting and place. The idea for the book was born out of my desire to introduce readers to the charming small-town life found in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina where I went to college. Laurel Cove, the fictional town where the story is set, is directly based on my best friend’s hometown of Burnsville, NC. The other source of inspiration comes from my great-grandmother’s tiny bungalow home in West Palm Beach, Florida. Long weekends and summer vacations spent there were full of imagination, adventure, and sweet memories. The scents of her garden, feel of the damp earth beneath my feet, slow pace matching gauzy curtains dancing in the breeze—it all is mirrored in the cottage home of Livy’s Gram in the book. The rest of the story formed around my desire to capture my childhood memories of this home that was so magical and safe for me.

About My Writing Style Here are a few ways I would describe my writing style: Sensory—I aim to provide readers with an experience that enlivens all of their senses. Relatable—It’s my hope that readers see themselves in realistic, flawed characters trying to make their way to discovering grace in a less than perfect world. Charming—Like any good southern fiction, there’s a good dose of charm in these pages.

My prayer is that Someplace Familiar will touch readers with an awareness of God’s grace even during circumstances and within relationships that feel hopeless. Restoration is possible!

Blog Stops

All-of-a-kind Mom, March 1

Just Commonly, March 1

Pursuing Stacie, March 1

Among the Reads, March 2

Faithfully Bookish, March 2

Bigreadersite, March 2

Quiet quilter, March 3

Blogging With Carol, March 3

C Jane Read, March 4

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, March 4

Remembrancy, March 5

Inklings and notions, March 5

Chas Ray’s Book Nerd Corner, March 6

100 Pages per Hour, March 6

Book by Book, March 7

Red Headed Book Lady, March 7

Ashley’s Bookshelf, March 8

Ladybug Chronicles, March 8

Two Points of Interest, March 9

proud to be an autism mom, March 9

Bibliophile Reviews, March 10

A Greater Yes, March 10

Texas Book-aholic, March 11

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 11

Reflections From My Bookshelves, March 12

Janices book reviews, March 12

Jeanette’s Thoughts, March 13

Carpe Diem, March 13

A Baker’s Perspective, March 14

Simple Harvest Reads, March 14 (Guest post from Mindy)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Teresa is giving away a grand prize of a gift basket that includes a signed copy of the book, an Original Painting by Author’s Sister (artist Cyndi Browning), and a $10 Amazon Gift Card!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/ca5b