Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Review and Giveaway: Band of Angels by Julia Gregson

Catherine Carreg grew up in Wales, racing horses down the beach with her neighbor, Deio Jones. Though her father, a gentleman farmer, considered their family far above the Jones family in social status, her mother's frail health created the opportunity for Catherine to spend quite a lot of time with them. The Jones family was a haven for Catherine and she developed a deep love for Deio.

As they grew older, the talk began. A young woman should not be spending time alone with a young man, especially one below her in society. So, Catherine's father forbid her to see or spend time with Deio. Her life became a boring round of domestic duties that she absolutely hated. The only saving grace was time spent with her slightly eccentric mother.

And then tragedy struck. Catherine's mother, pregnant in her forties, went into early labor. Curtly ordered by her father to take care of the situation, Catherine found herself with absolutely no idea of what to do. When the inevitable happened and her mother died, Catherine felt responsible, as if she should have been able to save her.


Julia Gregson

She bravely forms a plan. With Deio's help Catherine disguises herself as a boy on a cattle drive in order to get to London. Once there, she secures a position with Florence Nightingale to learn how to nurse. This means giving up Deio, her family and all that is safe and familiar to her. But she is driven to find a way to a life that contains more meaning than the one she left behind.

Julia Gregson brings to life the difficult struggle that was the infancy of the nursing profession. Before Florence Nightingale, most nurses were considered little better than prostitutes and treated accordingly. Many were alcoholics and most came from the lowest levels of society. This was an interesting, absorbing novel with vivid characters and a sense of realism that made it hard to put down.

Band of Angels is published by Touchstone, ISBN 978-1-4391-0113-1. Visit Julia's website here.

Thanks to the very generous publisher (thank you, Kelly!), I have four copies to give away! Winners will be drawn at random and must have a US or Canada mailing address. For one entry, just leave me a comment here. If you would like extra entries there are instructions below. Giveaway open through midnight eastern time on June 1.

+2 Follow this blog any way you choose (Google, Feedburner, etc) and leave a comment...if you already do, include that in your comment

+2 Tweet or blog this giveaway and leave me a comment to let me know that you did

Good luck everyone, thank you for visiting and entering!

59 comments:

rubynreba said...

I'd love to read this awesome book.
+2 I am a follower.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

Martha Lawson said...

This sounds awesome! Another new author to me. Please enter me for this one.

+2 Iam a follower on gfc

mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

Shannon said...

Thank you for entering me. =) I'm a follower.

tiredwkids at live dot com

Rachel said...

I follow you on my Google Reader! Thanks for the giveaway!

Rachelhwallen@gmail.com

Tammy said...

I follow you on Google Reader as well. Thanks for the opportunity to win -- I really enjoyed Gregson's "East of the Sun" and I'm looking forward to this one as well.
thsorrell@gmail.com

Sandy Jay said...

Great review. The book sounds really good. I'd love to win it. Thanks for the giveaway.

+2 I follow with Google Reader.

forwhlz at gmail dot com

Linda Henderson said...

This sounds like a very interesting book. I'd love to read it.

+2 I am a follower on Google.

seriousreader at live dot com

Mystica said...

I'd love to win this book + 1

I follow you on GFC + 2

mystica123athotmaildotcom

Momma Told Me said...

Hello, thanks for the giveaway, I'd love a chance to win!
six_one_nine_girlie86 (at) yahoo (dot) com

+2 I follow on GFC

Craftymoose Crafts said...

I'd love to read this one!

+2 I follow on Google.

Linda said...

I read East of the Sun by this author, and I'm delighted to know she has another book. This one sounds wonderful - I love books involving Florence Nightingale. Thanks for the giveaway.

+2 I follow through Google Reader

lcbrower40(at)gmail(dot)com

Zibilee said...

Very cool synopsis, and also, welcome back! I was just wondering about you the other day! I'd love to be entered in your giveaway, as I loved East of the Sun, and this one sounds great too!

zibilee(at)figearo(dot)net

I am also a follower of your blog!

traveler said...

Thanks for this wonderful giveaway which soulds compelling and memorable. I enjoy this author's novels greatly. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

Sorry. Forgot to mention that I subscribe via Feedburner. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

Menagerie Soaps said...

Thanks for the giveaway! I am a follower.

lisa.2713 at gmail dot com

Menagerie Soaps said...

I also tweeted your giveaway :)

http://twitter.com/LittleTesoro

A&S said...

Thanks for the chance to win this. I'd really love to read it.

I'm already a follower.

I blogged about contest here, http://bit.ly/9dKhUe


Thanks much,
alyxandsimon at gmail dot com

Carol M said...

This sounds like a book I would enjoy!
I follow on Google Friend Connect.
mittens0831 at aol dot com

enyl said...

A histtorical novel involving Florence Nightingale is perfect for both my history and english lit students.
enyl(at)inbox(dot)com

enyl said...

GFC follower. +1
enyl(at)inbox(dot)com

enyl said...

GFC follower.
enyl(at)inbox(dot)com

LAMusing said...

Sounds wonderful - I love historical fiction

adrianecoros(at)gmail.com

Sandra K321 said...

I would enjoy reading this. Thanks.

+2 Subscribe to feed via Google reader.

chey said...

I'm hooked! I've got to find out how the story ends!
+2 follower

chey127 at hotmail dot com

Anonymous said...

i'm interested in reading this novel...thanks for the chance :)

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

angie said...

This sounds like a good book!
+2 I am a follower through google friend and email subscriber
+2 I tweeted http://twitter.com/bangersis/status/14397089720
Thanks!
bangersis(at)msn(dot)com

Tina said...

I'd love to win this one. I follow you on bloglines.

tbranco (AT) hughes (DOT)net

Amanda said...

Oh please enter me. I did a semester abroad in Wales and would love to read this one. Thanks!

PamelaHD said...

Sounds interesting

Marg said...

I really loved this book when I read it a year or so ago (it was originally published as The Water Horse) so I am really glad to see it getting a much wider release! Glad you enjoyed it too.

Don't enter me into the contest!

Beth said...

This looks great! Please enter me!

bethsbookreviewblog2 AT gmail DOT com

Beth said...

I'm a Google Friend Connect follower.

bethsbookreviewblog2 AT gmail DOT com

Heather said...

Would love to win a copy of this. I read Gregson's East of the Sun a few months ago, and really enjoyed it.

Sue said...

I love historical fiction. This looks like a good one. Thanks for the giveaway.

s.mickelson at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

This sounds like an amazing read. Please enter me.

debraldufek AT hotmail DOT com

Margie said...

Sounds interesting...count me in.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

+2 blog follower via GFC

Anonymous said...

I've also read some great reviews of this book - please enter me
jgoffice(at)cox(dot)net

Anita Yancey said...

Sounds like an amazing book. I would love to read it. Please enter me. Thanks!

ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

Anita Yancey said...

+2 I already follow your blog on GFC.

ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

Aik said...

I'd love to enter!

+2 follower

+2 tweeted:
http://twitter.com/aikchien/status/14880265322

aikychien at yahoo dot com

skyla11377 said...

Wow, This Book Sounds Like A Really Compelling Read. I Would Love To Be Entered Into This Giveaaway.



+2 I Am Following Your Blog Via Google Friend Connect And Google Reader (Skyla11377).

http://skyla11377.blogspot.com/

+2 I Tweeted About This Giveaway On Twitter (@skyla11377).
http://twitter.com/skyla11377/status/14880748541

Spring said...

This book sounds very good and I'd love to read it.

I'm a Google follower.

I blogged about contest here, http://bit.ly/bQ5Vuu

Thanks,
comethespring at gmail dot com

Sarah E said...

Please enter me in this giveaway!

+2 I follow via GFC.

+2 I tweeted: http://twitter.com/saemmerson/status/15063460150

familyhistree at yahoo dot com

Sarah E

Carole Spring said...

This sounds like an awesome book. I would love to read "Band of Angels". Please enter me in the giveaway.

Thank you for the chance.

blondie_31971(at)yahoo(dot)com

Carole Spring said...

I follow your blog via GFC as Carole Spring - entry #1

blondie_31971(at)yahoo(dot)com

Carole Spring said...

I follow your blog via GFC as Carole Spring - entry #2

blondie_31971(at)yahoo(dot)com

Carole Spring said...

tweet entry #1: http://twitter.com/cspring31971/status/15086491962


blondie_31971(at)yahoo(dot)com

Carole Spring said...

tweet entry #2: http://twitter.com/cspring31971/status/15086491962


blondie_31971(at)yahoo(dot)com

Dawn M. said...

Ooo, this sounds really good. I'd love the chance to read it. Count me in, please! :0)

Thanks!
librarygrinch at gmail dot com

Carole Spring said...

Tweet: http://twitter.com/cspring31971/status/15135405555

blondie_31971(at)yahoo(dot)com

Unknown said...

I am a new follower thru Google Reader.

debraldufek AT hotmail DOT com

Carole Spring said...

Tweet: http://twitter.com/cspring31971/status/15207529691

blondie_31971(at)yahoo(dot)com

Unknown said...

I'd love to have a chance to read this

Thanks for a great blog

kwaccts@gmail.com

Benita said...

I love stories that highlight class and marrying beneath one's station in life. It's another time, another culture, a long ago belief, and yet it continues to hold our interest. I'd like to read this.


bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Elise said...

Thanks for the review. I think it's admirable that Catherine would become a nurse since her mother's death in order to help save others, since she couldn't save her mom. This is different from the historical fiction I've read, but still sounds interesting nonetheless.
caliblue7 at gmail dot com

Sheila Deeth said...

Sounds a fascinating tale. Thanks for the review.

sdeeth at msn dot com

Anonymous said...

This sounds like a great astory about the history of nursing. I should get my mom a copy (she's a retired nurse).
Please enter me
jgoffice(at)cox(dot)net

brokenteepee said...

I'm sure this would be a very interesting read. Hard to believe that women who just wanted to help the sick and dying were treated so badly.
thank you

Anonymous said...

I have a copy of this book but haven't read it yet. I'm glad to know you liked it and I look forward to reading mine soon.


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About Me

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New Hampshire, United States
Bibliophile, Anglophile, Traveller... I have been an avid reader all of my life, since I took the Dr. Seuss Dictionary away from my Mom when I was less than a year old because I wanted to read it myself. In college, where I earned my degree in English Literature, I was often asked "What are you going to do with it?" Now I finally have the answer to that question!!! Being employed as a Flight Attendant for twenty years has given me a lot of life experience and, better still, a lot of time to read. I love to travel for fun, too.