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The Laws of Harmony by Judith Ryan Hendricks is the kind of novel that defies a simple description. It opens as a simple life drama, but quickly turns into a suspenseful mystery, but almost as quickly settles back into a novel of self-discovery.
Sunny Cooper is this story. But who is she? In the year that this novel covers, she works as a dog walker, voice-over actress, baker and waitress. She lives in three different places in two different states. Is she a resentful daughter, a mourning lover, a friend, or a maverick? Is she a lone wolf or does she simply need to start over?
This novel has a number of interesting backdrops as well:
- a commune in New Mexico where Sunny grew up
- a beautiful island in the Pacific Northwest
- a small-town bookstore
- a local hang-out restaurant
- and throughout, the food that Sunny loves to cook and eat
Even though all the story lines are not neatly tied up (which is not a bad thing in my mind), by the end of the novel, we have a little bit of an idea about where she’s going, and as a reader I had become interested enough to care.
Do you ever wonder where authors get the ideas for the stories they write? Click over to 5 Minutes for Books for some of the inside scoop from author Judith Hendricks. You can also read 20% of the novel online at HarperCollins by using the Browse Inside feature.
Leave a comment for your chance to win one of five copies (U.S. or Canadian shipping addresses). We will announce the winners in next week’s column.
This giveaway is CLOSED.
The winner of the gift package from Mother of the Year is #33 MomstheWord. If you didn’t receive my notification email, please send your shipping info to 5MinutesforBooksATgmail(DOT)com.
Marcy Strahan says
THIS SOUNDS LIKE A WONDERFUL BOOK!
THROWING MY NAME IN THE HAT FOR THIS ONE!
THANKS!
[email protected]
Jeanine P says
Nice prize! I would love to win! Thanks so much for the giveaway!
Denise says
I so would love to read this one!
Kathy H. says
I love to read and this book looks interesting!
Lily Kwan says
Please enter me into the contest. Thanks!
kathy says
The setting (Pacific Northwest) sounds great and so does the mystery and food!
Veronica Garrett says
I would love to win this book. It sounds very interesting.
Rose Fisher says
Books are wonderful and this one sounds very interesting. Definitely one that you can’t put down. Please enter me for a chance to win!
Thanks!
~~Rose~~
Linda Howard says
I love to read. Please enter me. Thanks!
JoAnn L. says
It looks very good, please enter me.
Laura C says
Thanks for this giveaway and yes it’s a wonder where the authors get their ideas. llchacko(at)hotmail.com
Adrian Lamont says
This is great, count me in.
Martha J says
Sounds interesting!
Esther says
Sounds very interesting!
Donna C. says
I love to read!
Kelly Blackwell says
I have never heard of this book. Thanks for the Harper link! I am convinced I would love this book! Thank you for the giveaway!
Ellie W says
Sounds like a great book. Thanks for the giveaway. Please enter me.
Brenda S. says
sounds interesting!
Jean F says
A heroine that actually eats, now there is a pleasant change!
Patti D says
This is my year of reading, anything and everything. This looks very interesting and I would love to win!
Janea C says
Please enter me in the giveaway.
christopher h says
sounds good
Ed Nemmers says
Happy Weekend!
Lisa Taylor says
I would love the chance to read the book
sherri says
sounds like a fun read
shawna f says
Sounds like a great book!
Stephanie Johnston says
Would love to win this book
Connie A Rowe says
Love to win this for my daughter
ky2here says
I’d love to know where writers get their ideas. I’m interested in this book. Please include me.
Candie L says
I am always looking for new books to read. Thank you
Marie says
Sounds fascinating, I’d love to read it!
Carrie Baird says
Sounds like a good book – thanks for the chance to win! wgbc1446@yahoo[dot]com
Sarah says
enter me!
Jennifer Hedden says
enter me
Kayce C says
I need some harmony.
Stephanie says
I actually heard about this book!
Steve Scott says
Please and thank you
Heather B says
Always on the lookout for a great book!
Karen Gonyea says
Looks wonderful.
leslie says
Terrific
Molly Capel says
Sounds like a great book.
Rhonda Struthers says
This looks like a book with a great plot. I would like to read it. Please enter me.
Jason Nickolay says
This sounds like a great book. I have been in the market for some new reading material
lori w. says
this sounds good
Tarah says
This sounds like an interesting book!
Djp says
i need this
Renita says
Please enter me. Thanks. 🙂
beth shepherd says
Thank you for a great giveaway! I would love to win and be able to read this book. Thank you
[email protected]
Marlene V says
Count me in!!! Thanks for the giveaway:)
Linda Chaput says
I would love to win this book.I am a subscriber.
Gabriel J. says
Please, enter me, great prize!!!
Deborah Wellenstein says
I would love to read this book. Thank you!
J Chaborek says
Sounds like a great read!
Sarah Stern says
Sounds like an interesting read!
Linda Moeller says
I could use this! Big time!
Mike Weisberg says
I want to win
Leslie D. says
Great description of the book. Sunny sounds like a great character that I want to know more about. Thanks for the giveaway.
Vicky Boackle says
this looks like a great book.
Jennifer Barr says
would love to win a copy 🙂
Dan says
please enter me
Angela J says
Sounds interesting.
michelel anne says
oh, another great giveaway……….
Susan C says
I like that there is food and cooking in this book-my favorite type.
Tara says
Sounds interesting!! I am always looking for something new to read!!
david basile says
good one thanks
Carol Lawrence says
Thanks for the chance to win and read this interesting novel.
Shelly T. says
The books sounds like a very good read thanks for sharing and the chance to win!
Christy Gold says
Sounds interesting. Thanks for the giveaway!
Paige says
I always love new books to read.
Mozi Esmes Mommy says
Looks wonderful! Would love to read it!
Meredith Rogen says
This looks like a good read. I like books that are set in the Northwest.
Petula says
I think about authors’ creative thoughts all the time. 🙂 Sounds like a great read.
Leann S says
Sign me up!
Susan Smith says
Sounds like a good book
Gail says
That sounds like a good one to read…the author video was interesting!
ellen cunningham says
This looks like a real good read. Thanks for the cahnce.
Baba says
Avid reader who shares with others. Please count me in.
momstheword says
Wow. I can’t believe I won the Mom book! That’s awesome, thank you! I will send my mailing information to you asap.
susan varney says
i like to read these sort of books
Stacy says
I subscribe through Google Reader.
Renee Concolino says
I love following the path of someone who is on a journal: whether is be emotional, spiritual, or one of trying to find oneself—it is generally interesting and helps us all to learn about ourselves and humans as a whole.
Stacy says
Sounds interesting. I’d like to read it!
Wendy Wallach says
sounds like a different sort of read.
madamerkf at aol dot com
Wendy Wallach says
sounds like a different sort of read.
madamerkf at aol dot com
Gina Stratos says
I’d love to read this
[email protected]
Adrienne Gordon says
i’d love to win
romero says
would love to be entered.
Delores says
please enter me!
Denise says
I’d love to read and learn from this.
Sherry says
Sounds like a great read, thanks for the chance to win and a great review!
Susan says
This so sounds like the kind of book I’d love. Thanks.
Deanna says
I would love to win this book.
I listened to the author speak about how she came to the idea of this story. It was very interesting to her speak about the idea and where it originated from. A sad story from 1979. After listening to her…I am even more interested in reading the story.
Angela says
This sounds like an amazing book to read!
Marilyn says
This soulds like a fine book
Ann Fantom says
I would like to read this book. Please enter me in your giveaway.
Linz says
Reads as if its my kind of book.
edj says
Ok, I’m intrigued. Sign me up! Thanks.
hotpants4979 says
Sounds like a great book.
Anita Yancey says
Sounds like a book I’d really enjoy reading. Please enter me.
ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net
Loraine says
This book sounds really good. I am always looking for new authours to read. Thanks for the contest.
jayne says
Sounds like a great book! Thanks!
Debbie says
This looks like a great read! I’m in!
C. clemens says
i want to win, im entered
SANDY says
subscriber
SANDY says
sounds interesting
Andria says
It sounds like a really good book. I would love a chance to win. Thank you.
mindy says
sounds intriguing thanks for the giveaway
alycep says
Sounds good and I am always looking for a good read, especially mysteries.
randi oaklief says
I’ve read everything she’s written & have really enjoyed her books! This one sounds very good as well, I’d love to read it.
Cindi says
Sounds like a very interesting concept for a book that reads like an everyday drama and then turns into to a suspense story! The main character sounds colorful. Please add my name to your drawing. Many thanks, Cindi
Mary Ward says
I have this on my list of books to buy. I would love it.
Becky says
This sounds like a very interesting book. Please enter me into the drawing.
Thanks so much!
dbkagrayson2002 at gmail dot com
Christine Jensen says
This sounds like a great read! I would love to win a copy!
shannon Baas says
Looks like a good book.
Jen Thomas says
I love reading new books, and would love to win this one. Sounds very interesting.
Alexia says
I’d love to win – it sounds like a great book and a little off the beaten path.
Mama Zen says
This sounds really interesting!
Lorri S says
Sounds like my kind of book!
IE Mommy says
Love books. Reading takes you somewhere different that where you really are! Wish me luck!
Noreen says
love to read
Carrie K. says
I’ve been seeing so many good reviews of this – I would love to win a copy!
nnjmom at yahoo dot com
Angela C. says
I’d love to win. Thanks for another giveaway.
accoupons at gmail dot com
Renee Garcia says
I would love to win this book! I’m always looking for a good read! 🙂
lifeasamama says
huh – sounds interesting!