Friday, June 13, 2014

Let's Talk About Love Baby {Giveaway}

Love Will Make You Drink and Gamble, Stay Out at Night by Shelly Lowenkopf
Published
: June 6, 2014 by White Whisker Books
I tend not to read a ton of short story collections. I wouldn't really consider myself a huge fan of them, yet overall when I do read them I tend to enjoy them. I think my biggest issue with them is a want a book I can sit down and continue to read chapter after chapter, and with these collections you really want to sit back and reflect after each story.

Why then was I so eager to read these stories? I was intrigued by the fact that each story took place in Santa Barbara. For most of high school I wanted to go to UCSB, and it wasn't till my senior year I changed my mind and set my eye on the east coast. But I still have a soft spot for Santa Barbara and was excited to get there in these stories. Except I was a bit disappointed in these stories, but Santa Barbara wasn't really a factor. Most of these stories could easily take place in any other city and it wouldn't change a think. In fact most times Santa Barbara was never even mentioned in a story, so it could have been anywhere.

Instead the unifying theme for all these was really love or relationships, from the start of a friendship to the end of the love affair to the love for a future child to even the feelings between man and dog. The title for the collection is actually the name of one of the short stories inside. But even so I think it's perfect to encapsulate all the stories within it's pages.

With any collection like this it makes sense that you have highs and lows, and there definitely were here. I especially enjoyed Between the Acts, and found The Ability to be my favorite. All of these stories do feel very smart, and with some I think details went over my head. But even so I found the ride to be overall enjoyable.

3.5/5

If you're ready for love, I have a copy waiting for you to read it! Winners with have the choice of print (US & Canada Only) or ebook. Please use the rafflecopter form below to enter.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure: I was provided this book through Virtual Author Book Tours. All opinions expressed are my own.

Today I'm linking up with Blonde Undercover Blonde for Book Club Friday!

7 comments:

  1. I need something to read to keep my busy (:

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  2. I can never get into short stories. I just can't handle them.

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  3. Thanks for taking part in the tour. I'm glad you found the stories enjoyable.

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  4. This book interests me greatly. Certainly unique. thanks. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

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  5. Oh no. I'm neither in the US nor in Canada :( R U S S

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  6. oooh.. This sounds interesting. :)
    Thanks for the giveaway. :)

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