Love and Other Natural Disasters – Review, Blog Tour & Giveaway
Jonathan and Eve are the happily married parents of Jacob and have another child on the way. At least that’s what Eve thinks until she overhears Jon on the phone with Laney on Thanksgiving Day. Laney works in the Chicago office of Jon’s company. Their conversation seems to be very intimate, but Jon insists that they’re just friends. Eve kicks Jon out of the house even though he claims that he’s never had sex with Laney.
Eve is distraught and reads Jon’s email. She discovers that Laney has come to see Jon and that Jon “feels love” for Laney. As far as she can tell, they’ve never had sex, just a year-long emotional affair. Eve is full of anger, so their attempts at reconciliation fail. Then, Jon learns that Eve has read his e-mail and he becomes angry too. After a serious blow-up, Eve joins Jon at counseling. It is not until a friend makes a comment that Eve realizes she needs to accept responsibility for her part in everything. They have to decide if they want to work at starting over again.
I really enjoyed Love and Other Natural Disasters by Holly Shumas. I was expecting it to be chick-lit, but found it to be more than that. I found it to be thought provoking as well as somewhat educational. Holly Shumas is a marriage and family therapist – this is her second novel. She even included 5 ways to disaster-proof your relationship in the back of the book.
Hachette Books is allowing me to offer 3 sets of Holly Shumas’s books. 3 lucky readers will receive 2 books – Love and Other Natural Disasters and Five Things I Can’t Live Without, both by Holly Shumas. To enter, simply leave a comment on this post. This contest is open to US and Canadian residents only (no PO Boxes, please). I will use random.org to determine the winners. Contest ends at midnight EST, Wednesday, January21, 2009. Winners will be announced on Thursday, January 22, 2009.
Go to A Circle of Books to continue this tour.
Bermudaonion's Weblog 
Sounds interesting; especially the privacy issue aspects (reading his email). I’m sure the author’s therapist background adds to the book. Please don’t enter me in the drawing, I don’t think I’d get to this any time soon.
Please enter me for the giveaway. I’ve seen Love and Other Natural Disasters making the blog rounds, and it sounds like an interesting read. & I’m all about branching out into interesting this year. =)
Don’t enter me, but nice review!
Sounds like a good book, and one with advice that maybe we could all use once and a while!
It sounds good. Enter me into the giveaway. Thanks.
I have been reading good reviews about this one. Please enter me for the giveaway! Would love to read the books!
ramyasbookshelf(at)gmail(dot)com
I’d love to be entered! Thank you 🙂
writing.meg [[at]] gmail.com
It seems that I have been reading a lot of books about infidelty lately, but since you recommend this one sign me up!
Please enter me. It sounds interesting, covering some of the aspects of relationships that aren’t always covered. Shumas being a counselor must add a lot to the book.
Hi there.. Great review and Blog Tour Post. I have to say there were times when Eve frustrated me also. I would sometimes give her extra credit for being pregnant, but then I would get frustrated. But I was able to crawl into the corner and just read this book on a weekend and it was good. No need to enter me in the giveaway.
I’ve heard some good things about this one. Glad you enjoyed it too. Relationships can be very complex and I like stories that center around flawed ones. LOL.
Please enter me.
Great review! I’m glad to know this book is more than standard chick-lit, and I think it’s interesting that the author is a family/marriage therapist.
Please enter me in the giveaway! Thanks!
diaryofaneccentric AT hotmail DOT com
Please enter me in your contest.
Would love to win — have been wanting to get Five Things I Can’t Live Without for a while now, and this new one sounds awesome!
Don’t enter me! Nice review though. I really wanted to like it, but I couldn’t even finish it. I did not like Eve, at all.
Please count me in! The books sound interesting.
Please enter me in the giveaway. Although it sounds like this book could cut a little close to a situation in my past, it also sounds well worth reading. Thanks, Kathy!
I liked this too Kathy, definately not the chick lit that I expected when I first picked it up. I found it though provoking and insightful. Don’t enter me, just stopping by on the blog tour!
So glad you liked this one! 🙂
I’d love to win this one. It’s interesting that it was writting by a therapist because as I was reading the description I was thinking it almost sounded too realistic for comfort–I’ve never been through that situation but I can imagine it happening to me or anyone I know, all too well. (Except for the pregnant part. Done with that).
I’ve posted this on Win A Book. No need to enter the contest.
This is one of those that I would pick up just for the title. Thanks for the review.
I’d love a chance to be entered. (=
Please add my name in the drawing! I would love to add these to my reading pile.
photoquest(at)bellsouth(dot)net
This book sounds great! Please enter me to win.
Thanks
steve(DOT)fisk(AT)gmail(DOT)com
I would love to win this book…please enter me.
I also gave you an award today here:
http://jo-jolovestoread.blogspot.com/2009/01/lemonade-award.html
joannelong74@gmail.com
Please enter me in this great giveaway. I would love to win this.
sharon54220@gmail.com
I’d Love to be entered, I think both books sound good! Thanks for entering me!
unforgetable_dreamer_always AT hotmail DOT com
Interesting book – the situation sounds like a very realistic one. (No need to enter me in the giveaway.)
I’d love to win this – it sounds like a fascinating book. I have a sister going through a divorce right now, with some issues similar. 😦
These sound great. I can’t imagine being in that situation. Please enter me!
jgbeads AT gmail DOT com
I would love a chance to win!
Valorie
morbidromantic@gmail.com
Please enter me for the giveaway. What an interesting book.
I enjoyed your review. I went through a similar situation less the husband just a HUGE mistake of a boyfriend, and it was nice seeing this issue covered in fiction form. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by my review, and of course please don’t enter me. Your winners are going to be stoked! 🙂
Now I am not sure if I should retype (I got an error). Thank you again for stopping by my review.
I’d love to be entered! thanks!
I wonder if the author’s “day job” inspired her to write these books? Kind of like a true crime book!
Okay, I’m babbling, please enter me for I have read neither and would like to, especially now after finding out more about the author!!!
Talk to you soon,
Darby
darbyscloset at yahoo dot com
I’d be very interested in winning these two books! You can contact me through my blog.
Thanks,
Heather
This sounds great!!
Your review sparked my interest. I’ll have to be keeping my eyes open for something by this author.
rsgrandinetti@yahoo.com
Super review Kathy! 🙂
It really makes me want to read the book.
Please enter me into the Giveaway.
Thanks.
-Bobbie
No need to enter me – just stopping by on the tour. Glad you enjoyed it as well! Definitely thought provoking.
oh…this one sounds good. Enter me into the drawing please!
Kris
This one sounds like a good one. Have you read her other book as well?
Please enter me in the contest.
Oh, heck. So much for resisting. Go ahead and enter me. I need to finish the Bobbi Brown makeup book, first, though. LOL BTW, I’ve really enjoyed what I read of the makeup book *but* I wish she’d added sources for buying things like those brushes. I think she overlooked the fact that some of us don’t live near a big city with lots of options.
I think these look wonderful and I would love to win!
I’ve been reading a lot about this book lately. It does sound good. It reminds me of Jennie Shortridge’s Love and Biology at the Center of the Universe from the description.
I like thought provoking books, please enter me in the drawing
thanks!
I would love to be entered in your giveaway. This book has caught my interest in the last week or so and I’d love to read it 🙂
I’d love to read these books — thanks for hosting the giveaway!
geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com
i’ve heardd some great things about this book and would love to be entered!
thanks!
I really like the sound of love and other natural disasters and am just dying to find out what happens!
wow what a great set of books! they sound really interesting!
I would love to win. Please count me in for the giveaway. 🙂 Thanks!
that seems like a long book I just finshed reading it.
I’d like to be in the running for these two books; I’m trying to read more broadly across an author’s works …
dawn [dot] rennert [at] verizon [dot]net
I thought these were chick lit type books too until I read your review. They sound very interesting. Please include me and thanks for the contest!
Please enter me in the contest. Thank you. (=
Sounds like a good book. Love to read this one. Please enter me, and thanks!
ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net
This book sounds good. I’d love to win! Please enter me. Thanks.
Sounds great, please enter me!
I’d like to be entered for this, too, thanks!
I love to read and this book sounds like one I would enjoy. Thanks for having the wonderful giveaway.
Sounds juicy. I’d love to have a copy.