Book Review & GIVEAWAY: The Bridegrooms

I truly enjoyed this book! A story of sisters always appeals to me and not only did I have a growing curiosity about each girl, I also found elements of myself in each.

The Bridegrooms, by Allison Pittman, is about four sisters whose mother abandons them in their young years. This book only covers a week of time when each sister is thrust up against a situation where it seems only a mother would be able to guide them through. But they have none.

The story focuses on Vada, the eldest Allenhouse, and the decisions and temptations she experiences. She must suddenly weigh the options of the long-term, dependable lawyer beau, who has yet to propose or the dashing, spontaneous baseball player, who makes her feel like she's never felt before. All of this, however, takes a backstage to what her family needs and expects of her. Residing, or sleeping rather, in an upstairs room is a young man who was hit in the head with a baseball during a game between the Spiders & the Bridegrooms. Their father is a doctor and the unconscious man is in his care. This unfortunate circumstance brings along several very colorful characters (and a lot of drama) straight off the baseball diamond just before the turn of the century. There is so much anticipation in this story I regretted every time I had to put the book down because duty called in the form of my three year old or my desperate need for sleep.

I was truly turning every page curious about what Pittman would do next to these girls. Their meal time conversations were always filled with laughter, tears, and even fits of anger and I found myself wondering how in the world this would conclude. I thought of every scenario that may work and still couldn't guess exactly what would Pittman choose to do or what I even wanted to happen. I felt just as torn as Vada was!

I so enjoyed this read and the instant I opened the pages to wherever I'd left off before I found myself smoothly transported to almost turn of the century Cleveland. What I love about Allison Pittman's writing is that no matter what era she is writes in everything runs seamlessly and the research is impeccable…but what I think she does better than so many writers is that her pacing and witty styles change with the era. This is not the slower life frontier America where it seems you have time to smell (and write about) every rose but her writing matches the witty, faster-paced city life. I loved how it clipped along and you went from one action scene to the next. Every conversation carried with it conflict and information. Even in the short time frame that the book was set in her characters were well-developed and came full-circle in the most believable ways. I found myself rooting for each of them…and loving the conclusion.

I would highly recommend this book to any historical reader and even contemporary readers because of its tight and witty writing. The Bridegrooms is a perfect book for a stay-at-home mom like me who loves to be transported to another time and place during those few stolen moments of peace throughout the day…and between laundry piles.

If you would like to win a copy of this terrific book, leave a comment here or on my Facebook page by Monday, May 17th and you'll be entered into the drawing. If you comment on this blog post PLEASE be sure to give me a way to contact you back with an email address. 

The winner will receive an autographed copy of The Bridegrooms by Allison Pittman and may be signed to you or anyone else you choose.

Disclaimer: No one has paid me for this review nor given me the book for a give away.