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5 Minutes for Books: The Laws of Harmony

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This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

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.

Reader Interactions


125 Comments

  8. 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~~

  11. Thanks for this giveaway and yes it’s a wonder where the authors get their ideas. llchacko(at)hotmail.com

  16. 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!

  20. This is my year of reading, anything and everything. This looks very interesting and I would love to win!

  29. I’d love to know where writers get their ideas. I’m interested in this book. Please include me.

  32. Sounds like a good book – thanks for the chance to win! wgbc1446@yahoo[dot]com

  42. This looks like a book with a great plot. I would like to read it. Please enter me.

  43. This sounds like a great book. I have been in the market for some new reading material

  57. Great description of the book. Sunny sounds like a great character that I want to know more about. Thanks for the giveaway.

  67. The books sounds like a very good read thanks for sharing and the chance to win!

  72. I think about authors’ creative thoughts all the time. 🙂 Sounds like a great read.

  78. Wow. I can’t believe I won the Mom book! That’s awesome, thank you! I will send my mailing information to you asap.

  81. 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.

  92. 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.

  99. Sounds like a book I’d really enjoy reading. Please enter me.

    ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

  100. This book sounds really good. I am always looking for new authours to read. Thanks for the contest.

  109. 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.

  110. 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

  112. This sounds like a very interesting book. Please enter me into the drawing.

    Thanks so much!

    dbkagrayson2002 at gmail dot com

  115. I love reading new books, and would love to win this one. Sounds very interesting.

  116. I’d love to win – it sounds like a great book and a little off the beaten path.

  119. Love books. Reading takes you somewhere different that where you really are! Wish me luck!

  121. I’ve been seeing so many good reviews of this – I would love to win a copy!

    nnjmom at yahoo dot com

  123. I would love to win this book! I’m always looking for a good read! 🙂