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.
THIS SOUNDS LIKE A WONDERFUL BOOK!
THROWING MY NAME IN THE HAT FOR THIS ONE!
THANKS!
ZESTYWONDERLAND@GMAIL.COM
Nice prize! I would love to win! Thanks so much for the giveaway!
I so would love to read this one!
I love to read and this book looks interesting!
Please enter me into the contest. Thanks!
The setting (Pacific Northwest) sounds great and so does the mystery and food!
I would love to win this book. It sounds very interesting.
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~~
I love to read. Please enter me. Thanks!
It looks very good, please enter me.
Thanks for this giveaway and yes it’s a wonder where the authors get their ideas. llchacko(at)hotmail.com
This is great, count me in.
Sounds interesting!
Sounds very interesting!
I love to read!
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!
Sounds like a great book. Thanks for the giveaway. Please enter me.
sounds interesting!
A heroine that actually eats, now there is a pleasant change!
This is my year of reading, anything and everything. This looks very interesting and I would love to win!
Please enter me in the giveaway.
sounds good
Happy Weekend!
I would love the chance to read the book
sounds like a fun read
Sounds like a great book!
Would love to win this book
Love to win this for my daughter
I’d love to know where writers get their ideas. I’m interested in this book. Please include me.
I am always looking for new books to read. Thank you
Sounds fascinating, I’d love to read it!
Sounds like a good book – thanks for the chance to win! wgbc1446@yahoo[dot]com
enter me!
enter me
I need some harmony.
I actually heard about this book!
Please and thank you
Always on the lookout for a great book!
Looks wonderful.
Terrific
Sounds like a great book.
This looks like a book with a great plot. I would like to read it. Please enter me.
This sounds like a great book. I have been in the market for some new reading material
this sounds good
This sounds like an interesting book!
i need this
Please enter me. Thanks. 🙂
Thank you for a great giveaway! I would love to win and be able to read this book. Thank you
tatertot374@sbcglobal.net
Count me in!!! Thanks for the giveaway:)
I would love to win this book.I am a subscriber.
Please, enter me, great prize!!!
I would love to read this book. Thank you!
Sounds like a great read!
Sounds like an interesting read!
I could use this! Big time!
I want to win
Great description of the book. Sunny sounds like a great character that I want to know more about. Thanks for the giveaway.
this looks like a great book.
would love to win a copy 🙂
please enter me
Sounds interesting.
oh, another great giveaway……….
I like that there is food and cooking in this book-my favorite type.
Sounds interesting!! I am always looking for something new to read!!
good one thanks
Thanks for the chance to win and read this interesting novel.
The books sounds like a very good read thanks for sharing and the chance to win!
Sounds interesting. Thanks for the giveaway!
I always love new books to read.
Looks wonderful! Would love to read it!
This looks like a good read. I like books that are set in the Northwest.
I think about authors’ creative thoughts all the time. 🙂 Sounds like a great read.
Sign me up!
Sounds like a good book
That sounds like a good one to read…the author video was interesting!
This looks like a real good read. Thanks for the cahnce.
Avid reader who shares with others. Please count me in.
Wow. I can’t believe I won the Mom book! That’s awesome, thank you! I will send my mailing information to you asap.
i like to read these sort of books
I subscribe through Google Reader.
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.
Sounds interesting. I’d like to read it!
sounds like a different sort of read.
madamerkf at aol dot com
sounds like a different sort of read.
madamerkf at aol dot com
I’d love to read this
gkstratos@yahoo.com
i’d love to win
would love to be entered.
please enter me!
I’d love to read and learn from this.
Sounds like a great read, thanks for the chance to win and a great review!
This so sounds like the kind of book I’d love. Thanks.
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.
This sounds like an amazing book to read!
This soulds like a fine book
I would like to read this book. Please enter me in your giveaway.
Reads as if its my kind of book.
Ok, I’m intrigued. Sign me up! Thanks.
Sounds like a great book.
Sounds like a book I’d really enjoy reading. Please enter me.
ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net
This book sounds really good. I am always looking for new authours to read. Thanks for the contest.
Sounds like a great book! Thanks!
This looks like a great read! I’m in!
i want to win, im entered
subscriber
sounds interesting
It sounds like a really good book. I would love a chance to win. Thank you.
sounds intriguing thanks for the giveaway
Sounds good and I am always looking for a good read, especially mysteries.
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.
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
I have this on my list of books to buy. I would love it.
This sounds like a very interesting book. Please enter me into the drawing.
Thanks so much!
dbkagrayson2002 at gmail dot com
This sounds like a great read! I would love to win a copy!
Looks like a good book.
I love reading new books, and would love to win this one. Sounds very interesting.
I’d love to win – it sounds like a great book and a little off the beaten path.
This sounds really interesting!
Sounds like my kind of book!
Love books. Reading takes you somewhere different that where you really are! Wish me luck!
love to read
I’ve been seeing so many good reviews of this – I would love to win a copy!
nnjmom at yahoo dot com
I’d love to win. Thanks for another giveaway.
accoupons at gmail dot com
I would love to win this book! I’m always looking for a good read! 🙂
huh – sounds interesting!