This is just one of many blurb blitz stopsfor psychological mystery author Lee Fullbright as she promotes her novel The Angry Woman Suite.
Lee will be giving away a $50 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn lucky commentor at the end of the tour. To be entered for a chance to win, leave an e-mail with your comment below. For more chances to win, visit other tour stops and leave comments there.
THE
ANGRY WOMAN SUITE
ANGRY WOMAN SUITE
By
Lee Fullbright
Blurb:
Raised
in a crumbling New England mansion by four women with personalities as split as
a cracked mirror, young Francis Grayson has an obsessive need to fix them all.
There’s his mother, distant and beautiful Magdalene; his disfigured,
suffocating Aunt Stella; his odious grandmother; and the bane of his existence,
his abusive and delusional Aunt Lothian.
in a crumbling New England mansion by four women with personalities as split as
a cracked mirror, young Francis Grayson has an obsessive need to fix them all.
There’s his mother, distant and beautiful Magdalene; his disfigured,
suffocating Aunt Stella; his odious grandmother; and the bane of his existence,
his abusive and delusional Aunt Lothian.
For
years, Francis plays a tricky game of duck and cover with the women, turning to
music to stay sane. He finds a friend and mentor in Aidan Madsen, schoolmaster,
local Revolutionary War historian, musician and keeper of the Grayson women’s
darkest secrets. In a skillful move by Fullbright, those secrets are revealed
through the viewpoints of three different people–Aidan, Francis and
Francis’stepdaughter, Elyse–adding layers of eloquent complexity to a story as
powerful as it is troubling.
years, Francis plays a tricky game of duck and cover with the women, turning to
music to stay sane. He finds a friend and mentor in Aidan Madsen, schoolmaster,
local Revolutionary War historian, musician and keeper of the Grayson women’s
darkest secrets. In a skillful move by Fullbright, those secrets are revealed
through the viewpoints of three different people–Aidan, Francis and
Francis’stepdaughter, Elyse–adding layers of eloquent complexity to a story as
powerful as it is troubling.
While
Francis realizes his dream of forming his own big band in the 1940s, his
success is tempered by the inner monster of his childhood, one that roars to
life when he marries Elyse’s mother. Elyse becomes her stepfather’s favorite
target, and her bitterness becomes entwined with a desire to know the real
Francis Grayson.
Francis realizes his dream of forming his own big band in the 1940s, his
success is tempered by the inner monster of his childhood, one that roars to
life when he marries Elyse’s mother. Elyse becomes her stepfather’s favorite
target, and her bitterness becomes entwined with a desire to know the real
Francis Grayson.
For
Aidan’s part, his involvement with the Grayson family only deepens, and secrets
carried for a lifetime begin to coalesce as he seeks to enlighten Francis–and
subsequently Elyse–of why the events of so many years ago matter now. The
ugliness of deceit, betrayal and resentment permeates the narrative, yet
there are shining moments of hope, especially in the relationship between Elyse
and her grandfather.
Aidan’s part, his involvement with the Grayson family only deepens, and secrets
carried for a lifetime begin to coalesce as he seeks to enlighten Francis–and
subsequently Elyse–of why the events of so many years ago matter now. The
ugliness of deceit, betrayal and resentment permeates the narrative, yet
there are shining moments of hope, especially in the relationship between Elyse
and her grandfather.
Ultimately,
as more of the past filters into the present, the question becomes: What is the
truth, and whose version of the truth is correct? Fullbright never untangles
this conundrum, and it only adds to the richness of this exemplary novel.—Kirkus Reviews
as more of the past filters into the present, the question becomes: What is the
truth, and whose version of the truth is correct? Fullbright never untangles
this conundrum, and it only adds to the richness of this exemplary novel.—Kirkus Reviews
Excerpt:
“I’ll tell you what
I’m ready for, Aidan. I’m ready for the top floor.” His eyebrows shot up.
I’m ready for, Aidan. I’m ready for the top floor.” His eyebrows shot up.
“I beg your pardon?”
“The third floor of
Grayson House. I’m ready for it. I’m really ready.”
Grayson House. I’m ready for it. I’m really ready.”
“I don’t think I
understand—”
understand—”
“Please, Aidan.” I
emphasized each word: “I’m ready to meet Jamie.”
emphasized each word: “I’m ready to meet Jamie.”
I turned and walked
out of that parlor then, and into the foyer and up the ten steps to the landing
where the grand staircase turned direction. I ran up the first flight, then
paused at the second landing, waiting for Aidan. When I glimpsed him behind me,
I turned and ran up the next flight, to the third floor, straight for the door
at the end of the hallway, next to the door that opened onto the outside
stairs.
out of that parlor then, and into the foyer and up the ten steps to the landing
where the grand staircase turned direction. I ran up the first flight, then
paused at the second landing, waiting for Aidan. When I glimpsed him behind me,
I turned and ran up the next flight, to the third floor, straight for the door
at the end of the hallway, next to the door that opened onto the outside
stairs.
I’d been able to
pinpoint this door as the one by the soft thumps I’d heard when I’d sneaked
into Papa’s room on the second floor—things nobody thought I’d hear—and by
watching from my spot across the road: the quick deliveries and arrivals, the
things and people nobody thought I’d see.
pinpoint this door as the one by the soft thumps I’d heard when I’d sneaked
into Papa’s room on the second floor—things nobody thought I’d hear—and by
watching from my spot across the road: the quick deliveries and arrivals, the
things and people nobody thought I’d see.
I hesitated, not
feeling anything, I was now so empty. No more
anger. Instead I was in tune with senses: the steady tick-tock of
the clock at the end of the otherwise soundless hallway, the wallpaper’s perfectly
vertical stripe, even an aromatic odor reminiscent of the appendectomy I’d had
when I was six—was it ether? And then, finally, Aidan’s ragged breathing when
he caught up with me. We were ready, in
position—and it was understood I’d assumed leadership: I’d go first.
feeling anything, I was now so empty. No more
anger. Instead I was in tune with senses: the steady tick-tock of
the clock at the end of the otherwise soundless hallway, the wallpaper’s perfectly
vertical stripe, even an aromatic odor reminiscent of the appendectomy I’d had
when I was six—was it ether? And then, finally, Aidan’s ragged breathing when
he caught up with me. We were ready, in
position—and it was understood I’d assumed leadership: I’d go first.
I turned the
doorknob. My opponent had just run through his resources.
doorknob. My opponent had just run through his resources.
Review Sound Bytes:
From Kirkus Reviews
“Secrets and lies suffuse generations of one Pennsylvania
family . . . in a skillful move by Fullbright, those secrets are
revealed through the viewpoints of three very different people . .
. a superb debut that exposes the consequences of the choices we make and
legacy’s sometimes excruciating embrace.”
family . . . in a skillful move by Fullbright, those secrets are
revealed through the viewpoints of three very different people . .
. a superb debut that exposes the consequences of the choices we make and
legacy’s sometimes excruciating embrace.”
2012 DISCOVERY AWARD
GLOBAL E-BOOK AWARD NOMINEE
From Midwest Book Review
“A very human story . . . a fine read
focusing on the long lasting dysfunction of family.”
“There is something fascinating in
labyrinthine plot twists, which is what we have here, and I must applaud
Fullbright for her keen and magical ability to pull it off with such
aplomb.”-Norm Goldman, Montreal Books Examiner and Bookpleasures.com
5 Stars ***** Reviewed by Joana James for
Readers Favorite: “The
Angry Woman Suite is quite a ride . . . very cleverly written . . . an
outstanding novel.”
Rating: 5.0 stars Reviewed by Anne B. for
Readers Favorite: Lee Fullbright is master of
characterization.”
Rating: 5.0 stars Reviewed by Alice D. for Readers Favorite:“The Angry Woman Suite is a brilliant, complex,
complicated story about talented, complicated people . . . this is a story
to remember!”
Author information:
Lee
Fullbright, a medical practice consultant in her non-writing life, lives on San
Diego’s beautiful peninsula with her writing partner, Baby Rae, a 12-year-old
rescued Australian cattle dog with attitude.
Fullbright, a medical practice consultant in her non-writing life, lives on San
Diego’s beautiful peninsula with her writing partner, Baby Rae, a 12-year-old
rescued Australian cattle dog with attitude.
The Angry Woman Suite, a Kirkus Critics’
pick, 5-starred Readers Favorite, and a Discovery Aware winner, is her first
published novel.
pick, 5-starred Readers Favorite, and a Discovery Aware winner, is her first
published novel.
Links:
Thank you for hosting today.
Thank you for hosting me and The Angry Woman Suite.
Sounds like a really complicated story with some twists and turns. I love it.
There is a great build up and sense of anticipation in this except. Who or what will we meet behind the door?
catherinelee100 at gmail dot com
What a tease the excerpt is.
Kit3247(at)aol(dot)com
I love the pacing here!
vitajex(at)aol(dot)com
Nice teaser, I'm looking forward to read more!
lyra.lucky7 at gmail dot com
Do you have a favorite secondary character?
moonsurfer123 AT gmail DOTcom
Hi, I'm late checking in with y'all, as the power in my (medical) bldg went out and just now came back on … imagine, stuck for HOURS with NO electronics! !@#$%
Anyhow, to answer the question Anas asked, as to who my favorite secondary character is (in The Angry Woman Suite), that's easy: Papa. Adore Papa. Wanted to write about him for forever, but how many pages of "I love you" can you write without becoming boring as all get-out? None. But I love Papa's courage, integrity, and wisdom– he is one of the few characters (in this book) who is consistent (Magdalene is the other).
Nice blurb
bn100candg at hotmail dot com
It scares me to think what they will find on the top floor.
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
So do you let your friends and family read your books? What do they have to say about them?
andralynn7 AT gmail DOT com
Thanks for the chance to win! Really excited now that I've read the excerpt!
Kate
hense1kk@cmich.edu
Lee, what were some of the other working titles you had for this book?
Im really excited to read this book…Have it on my TBR 🙂 Loved reading the excerpt
oddball2003 at hotmail dot com