Monday, February 4, 2013

Woman of Substance by Annette Bower - Review tour and giveaway



(Full Length, Contemporary Romance)


This review is done in conjunction with the author's virtual tour with Goddess Fish Promotions.

Annette will be awarding a $25 Amazon Gift Card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour, so comment today AND follow the tour (if you click on the tour banner above, it'll take you to a list of her tour stops) -- the more you read and comment, the better your odds of winning. You could be introduced to a great new author AND win an awesome prize!
 

"You will never understand what it means to be fat.” With those words, grad student Robbie Smith begins the Fat-Like-Me project. In order to support her thesis, she puts on a fat suit to measure people’s reactions to the new her.

Accused of embezzling funds, Professor Jake Proctor returns home to spend quality time with the only father he has ever known. There, he meets an intriguing overweight woman who reminds him of his late grandmother. She’s witty, charming, and cares deeply for those around her, including his dying grandfather.

When Robbie meets Jake while she’s in disguise, she deceives him for all the right reasons. But how long can she maintain the deception before Jake discovers that she is not who he believes her to be?



This book was nothing like I expected, and ended up being so much more than I'd hoped. It could have been full of preachy clichés , but instead it was just a real, honest story.

First, I have to say how well Ms. Bower crafts her characters. They're all so individual, three dimensional and real from the most important to the ones who are barely walk-ons.  I loved Robbie, and I adored her group of women she used for advice on being fat.  I disliked her professor, and reserved judgement on Jake because he so clearly loved his grandfather, Frank (Frank by name, and Frank by nature).

From the moment the book starts with poor Robbie knocked to the ground wearing her fat suit and unable to get up, to the last, sweet moment I was enthralled.  This book is primarily about perception and emotion and will tug hard at your heartstrings (I even cried at one point).  The author clearly did her homework and shares things like how our gestures matter, and had deep insight to the human psyche.

Not that it's all deep and thought-provoking... not at all. Frank (the goose whisperer), especially, lightens things up all the time with his incredibly fun personality.

With a dozen strong secondary characters, enough emotion to make your heart swell, sing and sigh and family ties enough to make you grin, Woman of Substance is a sweet romance that I recommend to any romance lover.

Rated 5 Flowers - I loved this book! It's on my keeper shelf! I highly recommend it.

Now enjoy an excerpt when Robbie, in her disguise, meets Jake for the first time:

Robbie’s cheeks burned. “You, you think I’m asking Frank for money?” She forced herself to stand straight and gripped her hands so she wouldn’t brush at the dirt clinging to the front of her jacket and kept both feet on the ground so she wouldn’t kick him in the shins. These solid shoes would give him a good bruise.

“For starters, you look as if you could use some clean clothes. There’s bread on the bench. And there’s the open wallet and a frail, old, man.” His clipped words and flashing eyes when he nodded toward each item left no room for doubt as to exactly what he thought.

Struggling between her outrage and the genuine concern in Jake’s eyes, she said, “Ah, Sherlock Holmes, I presume.” Nincompoop. Just goes to show a well-fitted jacket and height can disguise real character, too.

“No.” He put his hands behind his back and jutted his chin forward. “I’m a concerned grandson.”

“Stop it, both of you,” Frank growled. “Here’s the picture of Mabel I wanted to show you before Jake turned up out of the blue.” He handed his billfold to Robbie. Behind yellowed plastic was the image of a woman with dark curls smiling at the camera holding a baby wrapped in a blanket.

“That’s our Mabel.” He looked from Jake to Robbie.

“Yes.” Jake stood behind Frank and his hands hung loosely at his side.

Robbie felt a sense of relief. She turned toward Jake and pointed at the baby. “You?”

“No.” Jake sounded resigned. Robbie understood that sometimes a person just has to allow the story to be told.


Annette Bower writes about women in family and women in love and women’s quest for love. Her short stories are published in magazines and anthologies in Canada, United States and in the United Kingdom.

Her first sweet contemporary romance Moving On, A Prairie Romance is e-published by XoXo Publishing™. Her second novel which is a blend of sweet romance and women’s fiction, Woman of Substance is e-published by Soul Mate Publishing.

Annette Bower lives and writes stories from a high rise where she can see the immediate hustle and bustle of downtown Regina and experience the changes in the grain fields throughout the Saskatchewan seasons.

Website: www.annettebower.com
Blog: www.annettebower.com/blog
Twitter: @bowerannette
Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/arezhhm

47 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Good Morning Its Raining Books,
      Thank you for being a reviewer on my first day of my tour. Thank you for your careful and considerate review of Woman of Substance. This book has been bubbling in my creative juices for a long time and I am glad that you even cried at one point because I did too. I laughed as well.
      Yours truly,
      Annette Bower

      Delete
  2. Wonderful review and lovely excerpt!

    galaschick78 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good morning, Galaschick 78,
      Thank you for stopping by and commenting. I agree that It's Raining Books has provided a wonderful review. I'm glad that you like the excerpt. It does make the reader wonder about Jake.
      Yours truly,
      Annette Bower

      Delete
  3. Excellent review and excerpt. Thank you.

    Kit3247(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Dear Ingeborg,
    Thank you for reading the review and commenting.
    As authors we wonder how our readers are going to relate to our characters and theme.
    Yours truly,
    Annette

    ReplyDelete
  5. A lovely review, Annette, for a book I thoroughly enjoyed. Congratulations!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Mary Balogh,
      Thank you for stopping by and reading the review and commenting. Also I appreciate that you read Woman of Substance and enjoyed Robbie and Jake's journey.
      Yours truly,
      Annette

      Delete
  6. Sounds like a very interesting book and the interaction between the characters is easy to read and laced with emotion. Robbie has a nice strong voice that carries it. Added to my reading list.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Elizabeth Lang,
      As an author I enjoy bringing the everyday into the story and we have emotional moments around the events of our days and lives. I enjoy writing women characters with strong voices and I appreciate that you feel I have accomplished this with Robbie. Thank you for adding Woman of Substance to your reading list.
      Yours truly,
      Annette

      Delete
  7. what do you like best in being a writer?

    lennascloud AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Lena,
      Hmmm, that is a difficult question. I really enjoy the imagined characters and the situation that they find themselves in. I enjoy the first flush of creativity. Then I like to make the work stronger and accessible to the reader, of course that is harder.
      Finally, I enjoy hearing from readers, they are the key to a well told story.
      Thank you for asking a question and stopping by at It's Raining Books.
      Yours truly,
      Annette

      Delete
  8. Can't wait to read the story.
    kvmatlock(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Kim,
      Thank you for stopping by It's Raining Books and being tempted to read Woman of Substance. I hope you get to travel with Robbie and Jake on their journey toward knowledge, friendship and love.
      Yours truly,
      Annette

      Delete
  9. I loved the excerpt. What a great review.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Mom Jane,
      When an author is asked to provide an excerpt we try to find one that will show off a bit of the characters.
      I especially like when the reviewer for It's Raining Books said: "This book was nothing like I expected, and ended up being so much more than I'd hoped. It could have been full of preachy clichés , but instead it was just a real, honest story." I feel as if I accomplished my goal and that makes me as an author very excited.
      Yours truly,
      Annette

      Delete
  10. Great review!

    emiliana25(at)web(dot)de

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Emiliana 25,
      Thank you for commenting on It's Raining Books Review.
      It is always good for a story to have many differing opinions about the novel. It helps a reader decide if the book is for them. As an author I want the reader to be glad they made the journey along with my characters.
      Yours truly,
      Annette

      Delete
  11. Sounds like a great read!
    Thanks for the chance to win!
    natasha_donohoo_8 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Natasha,
      Thank you for stopping by and yes you will be entered into the random draw.
      We all take chances in our lives as Robbie and Jake have done but chances to win prizes are always fun.
      Yours truly,
      Annette Bower

      Delete
  12. Nice review.

    bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear bn100
      Thank you for taking the time to read the review for Woman of Substance. As readers we research books to see if they might capture our attention, just as Robbie researched her thesis to find a way to discover more knowledge about life and love.
      Yours truly,
      Annette Bower

      Delete
  13. I love finding books for my keeper shelf. I'm looking forward to a great read.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Mary Preston,
      I'm pleased that this review has helped you make the decision and you have added it to your keeper shelf. I love this about e published books. I still have the books and the touchstone memory covers and pages, they just take up so very little room.
      Enjoy the journey with Robbie and Jake.
      Yours truly,
      Annette

      Delete
  14. Very intriguing excerpt. What does it mean to you, being a published writer?

    shadowrunner1987ATgmailDOTcom

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Ami,
      It is exciting and scary too.
      It's like sending your child to school and hoping that someone likes them. Or at least allows them to be friends.
      That's what it is like for me when my books come out. So as an author, I put the book out there for reviewers so readers can get various opinions because there are readers with vastly different tastes. And if they read reviews and think that my book might be for them, then they may just invest the time and money in the journey.
      Thank you for asking and thank you for dropping in at It's Raining Books Review.
      Yours truly,
      Annette

      Delete
  15. This sounds lovely, how do you come up with the names of your characters?

    anzumerlin at mail dot ru

    ReplyDelete
  16. Dear Anzu,
    Naming characters is tricky.
    In an English class we discussed how characters become their names. I confess I have a giant name book and when a name comes to me, I look it up and then I see if the character I'm thinking of will fit.
    Many times it does. Then of course there is the age of the character because some name were around at different times.
    Thank you for asking.
    And thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.
    Yours truly,
    Annette

    ReplyDelete
  17. I am very interested in reading your book. Do you have any print copies available for purchase? I find it hard to read E books with my eyes. I could possibly print it.
    Congratulations and great blog!
    Carrie

    ReplyDelete
  18. Dear Carrie Anne S.
    Thank you for your interest in Woman of Substance.
    At this time the book is not available in print copy however Soul Mate Publishing will print Woman of Substance later in the fall.
    I am sorry that you have sight challenges.
    Have you tried all of the e readers for your eyes?
    Some of the readers without a back light may be easier than even a computer screen.
    But of course you have to do what is the very best for your eyes, they are so very important.

    Thank you for stopping by Its Raining Books.
    Yours truly,
    Annette Bower

    ReplyDelete
  19. Oh, goodness, does this book sound lovely! I adore sweet romances.

    justforswag(AT)yahoo(DOT)com

    ReplyDelete
  20. Sounds like a fun yet moving book. There are truly some heartless people who can't understand or accept that people come in different shapes and sizes. I would love to read this book and share this with friends.
    anne.j2 (at) gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  21. Sounds like a lovely story. And a keeper shelf book too?? That means a lot coming from a blogger :) I'll have to check it out

    andralynn7 AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Andra Lyn,
      Thank you for stopping in at It's Raining Books. I hope you do have the opportunity to check out Woman of Substance. I'd love in many ways if it was available in a library.
      I appreciate the time this reviewer spent reading my book and then sharing her insights with readers.
      Yours truly,
      Annette

      Delete
  22. thanks for the chance to win
    hense1kk AT cmich DOT edu

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Anonymous,
      You are welcome for the chance and thank you for stopping by and commenting thereby giving yourself the opportunity.
      Good luck.
      Yours truly,
      Annette

      Delete
  23. Sounds like a great book to me!

    moonsurfer123 AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Anas,
      Thank you for stopping in at It's Raining Books.
      I'm glad that the blurb and the reviewer have provided some information to allow you to make a choice.
      Yours truly,
      Annette

      Delete
  24. Congratulations on your new book! Enjoyed the excerpt. Thanks for the giveaway.
    bhometchko(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear BookLady,
      Thank you for the congratulations for the release of Woman of Substance. It took awhile for it to find a place. I'm pleased that Soul Mate Publishing took the chance.
      You are welcome for the giveaway.
      Good luck.
      Yours truly,
      Annette

      Delete
  25. I think the cover is very fitting as well.

    lyra.lucky7(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Lyra L7,
      Hmmm by your email address you are lucky 7. Thank you for commenting on the cover. I agree that it does tell some of Robbie/Robin's, Jake and Frank's story.
      Yours truly,
      Annette

      Delete
  26. Great excerpt!

    hopefull1978ATgmailDOTcom

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Hope,
      Thank you for reading the excerpt. It is always a difficult choice to find just enough to entice the reader and provide a little information.
      The reviewer of It's Raining Books and I are pleased that you took the time to stop by and comment.
      Yours truly,
      Annette

      Delete
  27. It was an interesting idea for a story.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Teena,
      Thank you for stopping in at It's Raining Books and sharing that you have read Woman of Substance and agree it is an interesting idea.
      It took a while for Woman of Substance to be a fully formed story that a publisher would take a chance with. I am pleased because as the advice goes, write what we love. And I loved this idea.
      Yours truly,
      Annette

      Delete
  28. Good Morning Everyone,
    The draw is now closed. I have all names to be placed in the random draw. The winner will be placed on the Goddess Fish Promo.com http://www.goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.ca/ and on my blog. www.annettebower.com/blog

    Thank you for participating.
    Yours truly,
    Annette

    ReplyDelete

So... inquiring minds want to know: what do you think?