It's 1959, and Tommy Bedford lives his life in a fantasy state of mind. He has grown up with the old west heroes of Flint McClintock, Gene Autry, Roy Rogers and of course the Lone Ranger. He sees these men as the true heroes to be emulated in his own life. However Tommy is faced with one horrible problem that no amount of fantasizing can help, it's bedwetting.
His poor parents have tried everything in hopes of determining what is the underlying cause behind it but when all else fails, Tommy is sent off to boarding school in hopes that this will make him grow up. However what Tommy does learn from boarding school is that what goes on behind the walls of the school is kept secret. The brutal horrors of being threatened and bullied by those upper classmen teach Tommy that some things are never meant to be spoken of again.
In the book, The Brave by Nicholas Evans, we are taken back into the past when Tommy is struggling to find his own identity in a world of what the world wants as we see Tommy's childhood years and his sister Diane who has moved away to find her career in Hollywood as the newest up and coming starlet. She only wants to help Tommy in a way their parents can't. She meets Tommy's TV western hero, Ray Fontaine and believes he could be the answer to her prayers.
The book also takes you back and forth in Tommy's life and can occasionally take the reader awhile to understand which time period you are in with regard to Tommy. However the book does take some unexpected twists and turns and you understand that both Tommy and Diane each have secret lives that will soon be on display for the whole world to see and you understand just how tragic their lives are.
I received this book, compliments of Hachette Book Group for my honest review and must say this one is really great. It's a first for me reading Nicholas Evan's book but I did see The Horse Whisperer and have to say he is a great storyteller. I would rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars.
For more information on the book, the author and where to get a first chapter glance, click on the title below:
The wonderful people at Hachette Book Groups have offered 3 giveaway copies of this book to the readers of this blog, and here are your guidelines:
1. You must be a follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart.
2. You must reside in the US or Canada and No P.O. Boxes please.
3. I must have a way to contact you via email if you are one of the lucky winners, so please include your email address in the comment box. You may use the words (at) or (dot) instead of the symbols.
4. Leave me a comment telling me why you'd love to win a copy of this book. The giveaway ends on October 20th.
I would love to win Nicholas Evans new book as I have enjoyed all his other books. Thanks for the chance. I am a GFC follower.
ReplyDeletekdhaney at gmail dot com
I've heard his books are very good! I'd love to read this one.
ReplyDeleteI follow on GFC
mittens0831 at aol dot com
I've never read any books from this author, it sounds good. And it also touches on a subject that seems very prevalent nowadays unfortunately, bullying.
ReplyDeletemicaela6955 at msn dot com
Oh I would love to win a book. I love horses and would enjoy reading this one. I would love to be able to give it to the library for our boys halfway house. BTW I signed up to follow and get emial updates. I just found you over at Denises. Nice to meet you.
ReplyDeleteHave a Blessed evening,
Sherry
Please enter me in contest. I would love to read this book. It sounds really good. Tore923@aol.com
ReplyDeleteGood review.
ReplyDeleteI love the video & I think this would make a great choice for my book club. Please enter me, thanks.
ReplyDeleteruthiekb72@yahoo.com
I love the description of the book and have read another book by Nicholas Evans, The Horse Whisperer. Would love to win this book!
ReplyDeleteYes I'm a follower through GFC.
dancealert at aol dot com
This book sounds soooo good that I would really like to win it and read it.
ReplyDeleteI follow by google reader.
cenya2 at hotmail dot com
Thanks for the givaway.
ReplyDeleteI am a blog follower
my email is mikedraper1042@yahoo.com
and I have enjoyed Nicholas Evans' other novels.
Thank you.
Mike
I'm a GFC follower.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to win a copy of this book because I'm a HUGE Nicholas Evans fan starting with "The Horse Whisperer".
Thanks for another GREAT giveaway!!
BornajhawkATaolDOTcom
It sounds heart-felt!
ReplyDeleteBedwetting-really? (could it have something to do with aubse). This book sounds very intriguing and am really interested in learning Tommy's outcome. Follow via GFC
ReplyDeletehmhenderson AT yahoo DOT com
Great review and video. I like a book with some suspense and heroes who seem to have a knack for keeping us on the edge of our seat! Thanks for sharing. Anne
ReplyDeleteI would like to win this book, because it sounds like a great read. Please enter me. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI am a follower!
ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net
I would really like to win this books because it sounds like an interesting book. It certainly doesn't sound boring! I like books with "unexpected twists and turns." I am a follower.
ReplyDeletenancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
Hi there! I am a new follower of your blog on GFC. Would love to win this book! Thanks!
ReplyDeletechristyplus2 AT gmail DOT com
I haven't read a book by Nicholas Evans before and this book sounds interesting
ReplyDeleteKkrasowski at comcast dot net