Monday, December 10, 2012

Review and Giveaway: The Boys Upstairs

Disclaimer: I was given a free e-copy of this book to read and review. The opinions are my own.

This time of year, all I want to do is curl up next to the fire with a hot cup of tea and a good book. Sure, I love going out and shopping, playing the snow and destroying the kitchen in the name of cookie making... but at the end of the day I want to curl up some place warm with a good cup of tea (or wine, depending on the day!) and a book.

The Boys Upstairs by Jane Lebak is a "curl up at the end of the day" book.

 

The Boys Upstairs is a novella about two brothers who experience the joy and miracles of the holiday season . . . but in different ways. Father Jay is a disabled priest who is greeted one cold winter's day by his estranged brother Kevin. Kevin, a police officer, brings him three children who are in need of shelter. Father Jay is well known for providing a warm, loving place for homeless boys ("the boys upstairs"). What transpires after the children arrive is a heart-warming, a wonderful series of awakenings as both Father Jay and Kevin reunite and learn to trust again.

Lebak's characters are multi-dimensional and well-written, from Father Jay and Kevin down to the youngest "boy upstairs." The dialogue is genuine and snappy. The situations are real and believable. You will fall in love and identify with the characters, which is what makes this book so wonderful You want to reach through the pages and help (or shake some sense into!) these people. When you feel like this about fictional characters, you know the writing is good! Although this book takes place at Christmas time, it's a wonderful tale that should be enjoyed all year long.

The Boys Upstairs earned the Catholic Writer Guild Seal of Approval, which means there is nothing in the book that is objectionable to people of the Catholic faith or the Church's teaching. However, this book is a story that would be enjoyed by people of all faith backgrounds.

Because this is a such a heart warming, snuggle before the fire story, the author is offering the winner of this review and giveaway a pair of slipper socks!

Buy it! The Boys Upstairs is available from Muse It Up Publishing for $4.50 US. Got a Kindle? You can buy it on Amazon for $3.99/US.

Want more of Jane Lebak? Read her blog, Seven Angels, Four Kids, One Family.

Want to win a pair of slipper socks? Enter to win via Rafflecopter!

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7 comments:

  1. Snickerdoodles and wreath cookies!

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  2. cant eat cookies... but we loooove fudge!

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  3. I LOVE sugar cookies with LOTS of icing!

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  4. It isnt really a cookie but I LOVE the Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes. I dont know why they are so much better than all of the others but they are!

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