Fireworks Over Toccoa is Jeffrey Stepakoff’s first novel. It doesn’t release until March 30, but we are happy to offer you a sneak peek here.

The author reveals in the forward that the story was born as he interviewed some Italian fireworks-producers he interviewed in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, and he interviewed people in Toccoa, Georgia when he decided to set the story there.

Fireworks Over Toccoa is the story of Lily Davis. She’s the daughter of the family in Toccoa. She marries one of her father’s employee’s at Coca-Cola who is smart, good-looking, ambitious and kind — and just the kind of person everyone expects her to marry. So after a very short courtship, and only a few weeks before he ships off to Europe to be a “Coca-Cola General” in World War II, nineteen-year-old Lily marries Paul.

She won’t see him again for three years.

She’s lonely and unsure about who she is, and as his homecoming date grows closer, she begins to wonder if she knows who he is. When she meets an Italian fireworks-maker who is in Toccoa to create a display for 4th of July, her loneliness and fear about her future come to a head.

What does this book have?

I don’t like spoilers, but I can say that this novel is described as being about “forbidden love.” As a happily married woman (who knows that marriage is never easy), I don’t like the easy conflict of that sort of story line. However, I will say that the particular circumstances in this novel, make it somewhat more palatable, and most importantly — as I believe that good fiction should — it raises questions about choices, responsibility, loyalty, regret, and so much more.

The portrayal of this young war bride, made me think about those soldiers who are serving and deployed overseas today. I wonder if it’s different. I’d love to have some military wives weigh in on this.

What doesn’t it have?

Bad language. It does have one sex scene, but in general it’s a pretty clean read. I found that so refreshing!

This book will appeal to

• Moms who want to read but don’t have a lot of time (it’s a very quick read)
• Fans of World War II era fiction
• Georgians (the state, not those from English historical period)
• Military wives
• Romance-readers
• Nicholas Sparks fans
• Those who like to grapple with moral dilemmas

You can read over 100 pages of the book right now at FireworksOverToccoa.com. You can also enter to win one of 300 books!

If you’re a blogger, find out how 5 Minutes for Books is teaming up with the publisher to get this book in the hands of a lot of bloggers. If you read the book and post a review, you’ll be eligible to win a $25 amazon gift certificate. Find out how you can be considered to receive a free book in this post at 5 Minutes for Books.

Are you in a book club? The publisher would like to give you up to 12 copies to your bookclub if you can read it for your April or May meeting. Find out all the details about having Fireworks over Toccoa as your bookclub selection at 5 Minutes for Books.

So, yes there is a giveaway — there are many MANY copies of Fireworks Over Toccoa available (to U.S. and Canadian shipping addresses) — more books than we’ve ever given away before at one time — but you can’t just leave a comment to win. See above for all of the ways that you can enter to win or sign up to receive a copy of the book.

The winners from last week’s giveaway of the audiobooks of Cole. . . I Love You to the Moon and Back are #22 Danielle and #11 Annette W.

*Disclosure: This is a paid campaign with the publisher to help them reach bloggers and bookclubs. However, as always, our opinions are our own.