THE GODDESSES by Swan Huntley & GIVEAWAY

BookSparks’ Summer Reading Challenge 2017 is winding down … and it’s almost time to start our senior year in BookSparks’ Fall Reading Challenge 2017! But before we put away our beach bags and flip-flops, let’s check out another compelling novel – you’ll want to read!

My first trip to Hawaii was in 1990 and I’ve been blessed to have returned several times. In fact, we’re celebrating my husband’s special birthday this December in Hawaii. Imagine my excitement when I got to read, Swan Huntley’s, novel THE GODDESSES (Doubleday) set in Hawaii. I could picture the sunsets and almost taste a frozen Mai Tai.

In THE GODDESSES (Doubleday), Nancy, her husband, Chuck and their twin teenage sons, Jed and Cam arrive in luscious Kona, Hawaii hoping for a fresh start. Nancy’s husband cheated on her and they’re hoping to put all of that behind them, now that they’re living in paradise.

But once there, Nancy realizes wherever you go, there you are and a geographic change isn’t going to cut it. She knows she has to do something ASAP. She reads about a yoga class, and soon she’s on the beach at 7am, with her mat. There she meets Ana, pronounced On-a. She’s immediately drawn to the truly alive cheerful, positive woman with a chunk of neon pink within her short black hair. Her warm eyes and deep wisdom, resonate with Nancy and soon they’re BFFs, spending nearly all their time together. But even bad things can happen in the idyllic tropical Hawaiian Islands.

Swan Huntley weaves a dark psychological thriller in juxtaposition to the beauty of Hawaii. She explores how manipulation can affect friendships and people to the point of not recognizing who themselves. The characters of Nancy and Ana are written so well, I felt as if I was driving around the Island with them. After reading THE GODDESSES, you’ll be thinking twice, the next time you want to befriend someone … someone too fabulous for words!

Now I have to go read Swan Huntley’s debut  novel, WE COULD BE BEAUTIFUL.

*****

Swan Huntley earned her MFA at Columbia University and has received fellowships from the MacDowell Colony and the Ragdale Foundation. Her shorter writings have appeared on Salon, The Rumpus and McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, among others. She lives in California and Hawaii.

 Thanks to BookSparks and Doubleday, we have one copy of THE GODDESSES to giveaway. If you’ve ever visited Hawaii, tell us your favorite part of your trip. If you haven’t, tell us what you think  like. We’ll Hawaii is like. We’ll announce a winner next week.

IT’S SENIOR YEAR AND WE’RE HEADING BACK TO CLASS! GET READY FOR BookSparks Fall Writing Challenge #FRC2017 which starts very soon!