Review & Giveaway - The Castaways by Elin Hilderbrand

The Castaways by Elin Hilderbrand
368 pages, Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Greg and Tess MacAvoy are one of four prominent Nantucket couples who count each other as best friends. As pillars of their close-knit community, the MacAvoys, Kapenashes, Drakes, and Wheelers are important to their friends and neighbors, and especially to each other. But just before the beginning of another idyllic summer, Greg and Tess are killed when their boat capsizes during an anniversary sail. As the warm weather approaches and the island mourns their loss, nothing can prepare the MacAvoy's closest friends for what will be revealed.

Once again, Hilderbrand masterfully weaves an intense tale of love and loyalty set against the backdrop of endless summer island life.

Elin Hilderbrand is known for the depth of her writing and so it is with this book as well. Don't be misled by the breezy beach cover as I was, for this book is anything but light. This is the story of people learning to cope with the death of their close friends and in the process, their own pasts are revealed, their personalities and flaws are exposed. Past and present events are woven together snugly (and sometimes in a giddy manner) even as an unexpected mystery element raises its head. Now that was definitely unexpected! The story is itself very interesting, but not more than the characters themselves whom the author shows us to be real and flawed just like ordinary human beings. One other major aspect of the novel is the island of Nantucket itself which is brought to stunning life in the author's lyrical words. So much so that it at once dominates and empowers the story at times. Also, much fodder for discussion can be found in the serious issues raised in this book such as adultery, addiction etc.

In short, The Castaways by Elin Hilderbrand is a "can't put down" read!

Don't forget to check out these links about this book as well:

• Elin Hilderbrand's website
• THE CASTAWAYS excerpt
• THE CASTAWAYS book club
• A SUMMER AFFAIR video
• Original "The Castaways" cocktail recipe
• What Summer Cocktail Are You?

Thanks to Miriam from Hachette Books, for organizing this book tour and including this blog as a tour stop.

GIVEAWAY

The Prize

A copy of this book will go to one lucky reader of this blog, courtesy Hachette Books.
Note: Sponsor will not ship to PO boxes.

To Enter

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Deadline   Midnight CST of August 12, 2009.

Eligibility  US & Canada only.

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Good luck!
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