Book Description-
Sue Monk Kidd’s stunning debut, The Secret Life of Bees, has transformed her into a genuine literary star. Now, in her much-anticipated new novel, Kidd has woven a transcendent tale that will thrill her legion of fans and cement her reputation as one of the most remarkable writers at work today.

Inside the abbey of a Benedictine monastery on tiny Egret Island, just off the coast of South Carolina, resides a beautiful and mysterious chair ornately carved with mermaids and dedicated to a saint who, legend claims, was a mermaid before her conversion.

Jessie Sullivan’s conventional life has been "molded to the smallest space possible." So when she is called home to cope with her mother’s startling and enigmatic act of violence, Jessie finds herself relieved to be apart from her husband, Hugh. Jessie loves Hugh, but on Egret Island— amid the gorgeous marshlands and tidal creeks—she becomes drawn to Brother Thomas, a monk who is mere months from taking his final vows. What transpires will unlock the roots of her mother’s tormented past, but most of all, as Jessie grapples with the tension of desire and the struggle to deny it, she will find a freedom that feels overwhelmingly right.

What inspires the yearning for a soul mate? Few writers have explored, as Kidd does, the lush, unknown region of the feminine soul where the thin line between the spiritual and the erotic exists. The Mermaid Chair is a vividly imagined novel about the passions of the spirit and the ecstasies of the body; one that illuminates a woman’s self-awakening with the brilliance and power that only a writer of Kidd’s ability could conjure.

I picked this book up at a yard sale for my wife (a non-bookcrosser) to read. Now that she's done with it I'm offering it as a rabck raffle.

Mailed to chubsiewhubsie today (1/3/06), winner of my rabck raffle. Enjoy!

I won this book in a RABCK raffle.
Thank you ever so much.
Upon thumbing through this book I am quite intrigued...will read, ASAP.
Feels like a girl book already.
Update:I read this book pretty quick, in one day. This book centers around an empty nester lady named Jessie who is going back home to help her sick mother. Jessie falls in love with a Monk(Yes,wild Monk-y sex)who lives next door to mom. The Monks own the Mermaid Chair, a beautiful carved chair...with a lore.
Read the book to hear the legend of this chair.
Did I mention that Jessie is married.
Oh...this book is drama.

I sent this book off to Tempestsans who won this book in my Pay it forward Mermaid Chair raffle.
Feel free to pc this book or release it...just enjoy.

chubsiewhubsie offered in a RABCK drawing and i won! thanks so much for sending this one along. can't wait to read and then i think i'll ring or ray it out!

controlled release as a surprise RABCK to sha along with a couple of other little goodies... happy 'unbirthday' sha!

also released as part of Celebrating the Summer Challenge!

tempest, I was absolutely flummoxed when I received your package today with all of the goodies, what a great way to celebrate my un birthday

Although this book was beautifully written it did not have the impact as The Secret Life of Bees (all of the characters were so developed). I must admit I was really disappointed with this novel, however, the silver lining is that it was a RABCK from tempest and I can use it for the keep them moving challenge.

the following review is from amazon:

bland, July 24, 2006
Reviewer: Bettina Reches "Bette" (San Diego) - See all my reviews

Bland writing, contrite characters, and cliche'd plot line. I thought, if there is going to be such a whirl wind romance, at least make it worth my time. I couldn't care less if they ended up together or not. The whole mermaid chair myth had no point. I was hoping for something diffrent, beautiful even, with the name "The Mermaid's Chair", and all I got was a hardcover book full of nonsense....and stupid people doing stupid things without true objectives....not worth even paperback price.

RELEASE NOTES:

dual challenge release for the keep them moving & the well travelled challenges

Found this along with a whole lot of stuff from my Sis tonight. Whoopee!

RELEASE NOTES: