Q: What do John Grisham, Harper Lee and Bette Lee Crosby have in common?
A: Three Bestsellers, three kids who will steal your heart, three Southern towns
Several reviewers have compared my novel Spare Change to John Grisham’s “The Client” as well as Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird.” This thought intrigued me and I began to look at a number of comparison factors.
Let’s start with the fact that all three have a young protagonist who steals the reader’s heart right off the bat. I can almost picture Grisham’s eleven-year-old Mark Sway mixing it up with eleven-year-old Ethan Allen Doyle. Both are survivors, tough on the outside and a bit frightened on the inside. Both are in search of an adult they can trust, and neither of them gives their trust easily.
And then there’s Harper Lee’s Scout; a tomboy who’s looking for trouble, even if she has to scare it up herself. Can you imagine what a trio they would make?
Once this thought settled in my head, I wondered how readers felt when they were rating the books and this is what I found on Amazon:
To Kill a Mockingbird………… 4.7 Stars
Spare Change…………………….. 4.4 Stars
The Client.…………………………. 4.2 Stars
I can see why reviewers have often compared Spare Change to these classic favorites, but I think you should judge for yourself.
Just had to share this wonderful comment posted on Goodreads by Rebecca Elswick, the awesome author of “Mama's Shoes” a book (and movie) we have all come to love. This is what she wrote about “Spare Change” ….”Characters that illuminate the page have me hooked on this wonderful book! Crosby's knack for creating the perfect southern misfit is never more evident than in “Spare Change.”
Spare Change's 2nd trip to USA TODAY BESTSELLER List
I'm so happy to announce that Spare Change has made it's SECOND trip to the USA Today Bestseller's List. To celebrate I've Spare Change at a sale price of $2.99 (reg. $4.99). Be sure to pick up this fan favorite and get started on the Wyattsville series today!
[mybooktable book=”spare-change”]
Review of Spare Change by Sherri – The Reader Salute
Sherri wrote a great review of my USA Today Bestseller Spare Change:
Ethan Allen Doyle, an eleven year old boy witnesses a brutal murder. He is on the run fearing for his life. He has a pocket with a some “spare change” and is set on looking for his Grandfather, a Grandfather he never met. What he finds is Olivia Westerly, his grandfathers widow. It took her forty years to marry, she is very superstitious and she is not particularly fond of children. But when Ethan shows up at her door both their lives are about to change forever.
I could not help but liking Ethan, he had all odds against him, but he had determination. Determined to live a “normal” life. As quirky as Olivia is, I really liked her.She goes through some life altering changes, which (to me) built her character. Spare Change is a story of loss , love, family, devotion and redemption.
Bette Lee Crosby knows how to make words flow off each page, and bring (her) characters to life. A well written story told from each persons perspective, the blend of alternating from each (person) worked very well. I got the feel of what they were thinking and feeling. I was so engrossed I could not put it down. I highly recommend to all.
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Okay, I am officially behind on reading, but am not going like a house afire, so I'll share my reading list for January-February-March with you. You'll find quite a mix since I read across a lot of different genres. That said, I truly enjoy Literary Fiction and this particular selection definitely reflects that preference.
Please join me, and if you're enjoying some of the same books I'm reading,or have recently read, please feel free to leave a comment, and if you have a suggestion that you consider a five-star-plus read, please message me through the contact form. I'll review the suggestions and quite possibly add that book to my next reading list.
Here you go…My list in no particular order
Still Life with Breadcrumbs by Anna Quindlen
The View From Here by Cindy Meyers
The Dream you Make by Christine Nolfi
Palisades Park by Alan Brennert
Emily & Einstein by Linda Francis Lee
A Whisper of Smoke by Angela Hoke
War Brides by Helen Bryan
The Promise of Provence by Patricia Sands
Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend by Matthew Dicks
Orphan Train by by Christina Baker Kline
Sycamore Row by John Grisham
Sand Dollar by Sebastian Cole
Oh yes, and adding one more to the list, I am re-reading Spare Change. Why? because I will soon be starting book three in the Wyattsville Series and I thought it was time to pay my dear friends a visit and spend some time getting to know them again.
