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Sand in My Eyes

July 21, 2010 by Jennifer

Do you have an older wiser mentor who can encourage you in matters of motherhood and marriage? If not, do you wish you did?

Anna is a struggling, harried mom of three kids under the age of 5. She and her husband have disconnected from each other, and she feels like she just can’t get it all together. She’s recently quit her job in New York City, and they’ve moved to Sanibel Island, Florida, in hopes of slowing down.

Just when she thinks that she truly is going to lose it, the old woman next door, Fedelina, manages to work her way into Anna’s life with a gift of an orchid that needs TLC. This orchid, and Fedelina’s instructions about how to make sure it gets what it needs so that it will bloom, causes Anna to evaluate how much attention she’s paying to her own needs in the midst of this trying season of life.

In addition to the encouragement that Fedelina gives her, Anna gleans wisdom from notes and letters that Fedelina shares with her that her own mother wrote to her back in the early 1900’s.

It’s a reminder that although so much has changed in the last 100 years, the bond of a woman to her children is the same. The worries and concerns and things that confuse a woman’s priorities may be different, but the feeling is universal.

This story is told in a unique way alternating between excerpts of Anna’s novel-in-progress, letters, conversations, and real-time events. I loved the way the story came together, and I don’t want to even hint at the surprise in the plot that could only be realized with the narrative unfolding in this way.

Christine Lemmon’s Sand in My Eyes is a clean read that will resonate whether you have someone like Fedelina in your life or not. There’s no doubt that you will appreciate and enjoy her wisdom, and no doubt you will relate to some of Anna’s story.

We have a great giveaway for one of you (U.S. and Canadian shipping addresses only):

A beach bag of summer books including Sand in my Eyes and Sanibel Scribbles by Christine Lemmon, The Opposite of Me by Sarah Pekkanen, The One That I Want by Allison Winn Scotch, Georgia’s Kitchen by Jenny Nelson, The Icing on the Cupcake by Jennifer Ross

Leave a comment if you’d like to win, and we’ll announce the winner in our giveaway post on August 4. THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED.

The winner of the novel Free to a Good Home is #25 Steph

Check out our current giveaways. Subscribe to our feed. Follow us @5M4B on Twitter.

Filed Under: Fiction, Jennifer

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Comments

  1. Annette W says

    July 21, 2010 at 12:17 pm

    I don’t have a mentor of my own, but I do try to reach out to one young woman I know.

    • Jennifer (5 Minutes for Books) says

      July 21, 2010 at 6:31 pm

      Me too–and at almost 40, I’m getting closer to that mentoring age!! But I love older wiser women.

  2. Lauren says

    July 21, 2010 at 12:30 pm

    I know I can’t win, but this sounds like a great book! Thanks for the review.

    • Jennifer (5 Minutes for Books) says

      July 21, 2010 at 6:31 pm

      We need to feature more giveaways on books like this. Very popular!

  3. Anne Anderson says

    July 21, 2010 at 12:47 pm

    I would love to win a bag of summer reading.

  4. Colleen Turner says

    July 21, 2010 at 1:07 pm

    I would love to win! Please enter me in your giveaway.

  5. Alison S. says

    July 21, 2010 at 1:30 pm

    Wow! What a fun collection of books. I would love to get them for myself. 😉

  6. Melissa A says

    July 21, 2010 at 1:45 pm

    Please enter me in this giveaway. Thanks!

  7. Jenny says

    July 21, 2010 at 2:29 pm

    I would love to have this great set of book!!

  8. Benita G. says

    July 21, 2010 at 3:23 pm

    What a terrific collection. My fingers are crossed.

    bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

  9. Michelle says

    July 21, 2010 at 3:36 pm

    Great giveaway. Thanks for offering this. And, this sounds like a great book!

  10. julie says

    July 21, 2010 at 3:46 pm

    Oooh, this story sounds wonderful – can’t wait to read it! Your giveaway bag is amazing … please count me in (fingers crossed!). Thanks for such a great opportunity!

  11. Kathieshoop says

    July 21, 2010 at 3:58 pm

    I just got sand in my eyes the other day!!! Can’t wait to settle in on a nice beach Chair and read. Even if it’s on my own deck.

  12. Ruthie Bloszinsky says

    July 21, 2010 at 4:21 pm

    I’m a grandmother now but since my own mother died before I had my children I often wished when they were young that someone would tell me what to do when things were not going right.
    Please enter me, my book club would love it if I won this fabulous giveaway! Thanks!

    [email protected]

    • Jennifer (5 Minutes for Books) says

      July 21, 2010 at 6:32 pm

      I really think that it would be an excellent book club read.

  13. enyl says

    July 21, 2010 at 5:43 pm

    Sand In My Eyes would be a great reflective piece for book clubs, I would love to preview this for my book club.
    enyl(at)inbox(dot)com

    • Jennifer (5 Minutes for Books) says

      July 21, 2010 at 6:32 pm

      Ditto to what I said above. This really would be a great book club read.

  14. Some Lucky Dog says

    July 21, 2010 at 5:45 pm

    The “bag” sounds like a great bunch of reads!

  15. Just Mom says

    July 21, 2010 at 6:51 pm

    What a great giveaway – count me in! In my job I mentor all sorts of young mothers and get to be grandma to their babies so this one really appeals to me!

  16. Michele says

    July 21, 2010 at 7:15 pm

    what a great giveaway!

  17. Brittanie says

    July 21, 2010 at 7:55 pm

    Enter me please. 🙂

  18. Christine Lemmon says

    July 21, 2010 at 8:09 pm

    Jennifer, Thank you for the wonderful review! I am so happy you enjoyed Sand in My Eyes. Sincerely, Christine Lemmon

  19. Upstatemomof3 says

    July 21, 2010 at 9:10 pm

    This is the first year I have ever heard someone talk about “summer reading” but now it seems to be popping up everywhere. This book looks like exactly what I need – I have three kids and they are five and under (the oldest is five and the babies are one and almost two). I am adding it to my to read list – which I seem to be adding to faster than I can read. 🙂

  20. Beth C says

    July 21, 2010 at 9:13 pm

    Great prize! Summer reading sounds good to me!
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

  21. Linda Kish says

    July 21, 2010 at 9:19 pm

    Sand in Mt Eyes sounds wonderful and, when you add all the other books, this would be great. Thanks for the chance.

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

  22. Casey says

    July 21, 2010 at 9:36 pm

    As one who also feels overwhelmed sometimes, I think this bookis right up my alley. Thanks!

  23. Tammy Marrone says

    July 21, 2010 at 9:49 pm

    I am a big Christine Lemmon fan. She gives me great hope that even though I am a busy mom, I will find time to write, if I look for it. She is an inspiration to all moms. Thanks for entering me in this give away.

  24. Rita says

    July 22, 2010 at 8:55 am

    Amazing giveaway! A whole bag of books to read & share around.

  25. Susan says

    July 22, 2010 at 9:44 am

    I’d love to take these books on vacation with me!

  26. karenk says

    July 22, 2010 at 11:15 am

    would love to read this fabulous novel…thanks for the chance 🙂

  27. Steph says

    July 22, 2010 at 11:53 am

    Great selection of books. Sand in My Eyes really sounds fantastic.

  28. katklaw777 says

    July 22, 2010 at 12:28 pm

    What a great giveaway…thanks ever so much!

  29. Katie Schroeder says

    July 22, 2010 at 5:01 pm

    Sounds like a wonderful book that I would really enjoy!

    Thanks!

  30. Francine Anchondo says

    July 22, 2010 at 6:42 pm

    Thanks for the giveaway.

  31. Amy says

    July 22, 2010 at 11:07 pm

    This sounds like a good book! Count me in!

  32. Tennille says

    July 23, 2010 at 6:03 pm

    thank you for letting us Canadians entering this one-because it looks awesome!!!!!

  33. Wendy M says

    July 23, 2010 at 11:58 pm

    I would love to win these books. They sound great.
    wmmahaney(at)att(dot)net

  34. edj says

    July 25, 2010 at 2:18 pm

    I thought I just entered this but I don’t see my entry. If I’ve entered twice, please disregard whichever one doesn’t win 😉 and if I’ve entered once, please count this.

  35. karenk says

    July 26, 2010 at 4:55 am

    i’m interested in this book…thanks for the chance to read it 🙂

  36. Sarah Newman says

    July 28, 2010 at 10:47 am

    Thank you so much for the chance to win:)

  37. Sheri says

    July 28, 2010 at 4:46 pm

    I have read one of Christine’s books and loved it! I also love Sanibel Island – it is beautiful! Thanks for a chance at this awesome giveaway!

  38. Michele says

    July 28, 2010 at 6:15 pm

    These books sound great! Would love to read them all!

  39. Kate says

    July 28, 2010 at 6:35 pm

    I’d love to win a copy!

  40. Carolyn says

    July 31, 2010 at 11:07 am

    Pick me! Sounds like a good one!

  41. Jen B. says

    August 1, 2010 at 10:50 am

    I have a good friend whose parents live on Sanibel Island. She is always talking about what a special place it is. I’d love to “see” the island through this book. Thanks for the chance to win!

  42. Julia says

    August 1, 2010 at 7:07 pm

    I haven’t read any of these books, but they all sound fantastic. I love historicals!

  43. Laura Rachel Fox says

    August 2, 2010 at 3:41 pm

    Wow this sounds like a great read.

    *crosses fingers*

    • Jennifer (5 Minutes for Books) says

      August 3, 2010 at 9:40 pm

      Laura–

      You won the beach bag full of books, including Sand in My Eyes. Please send me your shipping info, so we can have it sent to you.

Trackbacks

  1. Saturday Review of Books: July 24, 2010 | Semicolon says:
    August 6, 2010 at 4:42 pm

    […] Janet @ Across the Page (The White Witch)30. Margaret (Discipline, the Glad Surrender)31. 5M4B (Sand in My Eyes)32. 5M4B (The Accidental Cowgirl)33. 5M4B (The Starlet)34. 5M4B (What is the Gospel)35. Nicola […]

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