Hi all!
Celebrations are in order, for today marks the release of
House of Diamonds by
Karen Jones Gowen!
I am so honored to kick off the Diamonds Blog Tour. Karen is a gifted writer whose words evoke true warmth, feeling, and sincerity.
House of Diamonds is a great and powerful achievement and I hope you enjoy it as I did. Huge congratulations on the book’s publication, Karen. Cheers to you, and thanks for a wonderful read.
Summary:
“In this sequel to Gowen’s debut novel,
Uncut Diamonds, she follows sisters Cindy and Marcie as they reach a crossroads in their lives.
House of Diamonds tells the story of two women, one facing opportunity the other tragedy. Can their bond endure?
Marcie pursues her dream of becoming a published writer while Cindy faces a terrible tragedy. In this gripping story of faith, loss and the transcending nature of sacrifice, Gowen gives voice to a beloved baby who has none. She shows the incredible power that comes to families when they pull together to overcome challenges. It is at these times that a house of pain can become a house of diamonds.”
About Karen:
Born and raised in central Illinois, the daughter of a Methodist minister from Indiana and a school teacher from Nebraska, Karen has down-to-earth Midwestern roots.
She attended Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, then transferred to the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana. After converting to Mormonism at the age of 20, she transferred to Brigham Young University in Provo, UT, where she met her future husband. She obtained her degree at BYU in English and American Literature.
Karen and Bruce have lived in Utah, Illinois, California and Washington, currently residing near Salt Lake City. They are the parents of ten children. Not surprisingly, family relationships are a recurring theme in Karen's writing.
My House of Diamonds review:
HOUSE OF DIAMONDS, by Karen Jones Gowen, is the story of Marcie (mother of 7) and her sister Cindy (mother of 2) and how their lives change and grow together through family, loss, and faith. Gowen has crafted a poignant, moving, and honest novel, weaving themes of family, identity, life's blessings and trials, change, financial hardship, and tests of faith.
The heart of HOUSE OF DIAMONDS lies in a devastating revelation: something is wrong with baby Jordan, Cindy's infant son—his head is too big for his body, his eyes are clouded, and he isn't developing properly. The story unfolds around doctor visits and how Cindy and Marcie cope with learning the truth of his condition, and the journey of his treatments. In the background America is recovering from inflation, as people suffer through job strikes, food stamps, and trying to make ends meet.
The questions, conflicts, and internal dilemmas Gowen raises are hard-hitting; no character is spared from the ups and downs of life. It is an honest portrayal of so many emotions: fear, longing, grief, guilt, family, motherhood, faith, love, courage, pain, devotion, life’s tests, misfortune, being there for one another, remembering our blessings, the incredible love between a mother and her children, and the powerful bond between sisters. Her characters are strong women who struggle with doubt in how they're raising their families but always keep faith at the heart of their lives.
Gowen writes with a forward, clean, well-thought writing style. I admire her unsentimental writing. There are powerful themes of wanting to stay true to your identity amid the chaos and attention a large family demands, as well as being part of a religious community. But also the guilt that goes along with this want, and yet: family can’t be an excuse to lose yourself. The book is also a study of interesting family dynamics. I love the glimpses into Marcie’s family scenes—especially the ordeal of getting everyone to do their chores (love the Job Chart LOL).
In addition to being a mother, Marcie is a writer with publication dreams who copes with the joy and frustration this dream brings. She joins a monthly writers support group, an interesting cast of characters who put Marcie through some unexpected challenges that test her own character. This writing theme becomes a form of escapism and expression, providing a welcome respite to the heartrending storyline of baby Jordan.
I also appreciate how Gowen's characters don't take themselves too seriously, and they had some unexpected pasts—like Karl, Cindy's husband, for example. Never saw that coming, but it added incredible depth to the characters' psychology. Every character truly comes from a different place with their own unique struggles and triumphs. I especially loved Linda, Cindy and Marcie’s sister—I do wish we got to see more of her. She was fun!
To end, HOUSE OF DIAMONDS is a moving read, emotionally and spiritually rich, with a dazzling finish. 5 Stars!
To Purchase House of Diamonds:
-For the
Kindle
-For the
Nook
-To preorder print copy from
publisher's website and get free copy of
Uncut Diamonds-- buy 1 get 1 free through the holidays!
Visit
Karen's website.
Visit her blog:
Coming Down the Mountain: A Writer's Blog.
