Thursday, June 4, 2015

Book Spotlight and Giveaway - The Outer Banks House

About The Outer Banks House

02_The Outer Banks House_Cover

Publication Date: June 8, 2010
Crown Publishing
Formats: Ebook, Paperback, Hardcover
Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance

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As the wounds of the Civil War are just beginning to heal, one fateful summer would forever alter the course of a young girl’s life.

In 1868, on the barren shores of post-war Outer Banks North Carolina, the once wealthy Sinclair family moves for the summer to one of the first cottages on the ocean side of the resort village of Nags Head. Seventeen-year-old Abigail is beautiful, book-smart, but sheltered by her plantation life and hemmed-in by her emotionally distant family. To make good use of time, she is encouraged by her family to teach her father’s fishing guide, the good-natured but penniless Benjamin Whimble, how to read and write. And in a twist of fate unforeseen by anyone around them, there on the porch of the cottage, the two come to love each other deeply, and to understand each other in a way that no one else does.

But when, against everything he claims to represent, Ben becomes entangled in Abby's father's Ku Klux Klan work, the terrible tragedy and surprising revelations that one hot Outer Banks night brings forth threaten to tear them apart forever.

With vivid historical detail and stunning emotional resonance, Diann Ducharme recounts a dramatic story of love, loss, and coming of age at a singular and rapidly changing time in one of America’s most beautiful and storied communities.

Download the Lost Chapter of The Outer Banks House.


Praise for The Outer Banks House

“...There's real darkness on the edge of this romance that hurls the lovers toward tragedy, as if the price to re-enter the innocence of Eden might afford Abby nothing but despair. This 2010 debut novel and portrayal of the historical Outer Banks offers a terrific option for beach reading; it's the sort of novel that can be charming without requiring an abundance of character complexity and depth. Abby's evolution ultimately parallels the positive aspects of how the South reconciled to change after the Civil War, a change that required a culture of ignorance to wash out to sea.” — Style Weekly Review

“It’s 1868, and the natives of North Carolina’s Outer Banks think the Sinclairs’ summer residence on the beach at Nags Head is right peculiar. Seventeen-year-old Abigail Sinclair is enlisted by her parents to teach Ben Whimble, her father’s fishing guide, to read. Abby is being courted by medical student Hector Newman and is appalled at the dirty and perpetually barefoot Ben. But Abby is also restless and slowly sees in Ben more than just a willing pupil. Ben might be getting sweet on his teacher as well, but her father has involved him in a matter that doesn’t sit right with the Banker, knowing that freedmen and runaway slaves have long lived contentedly out on Roanoke Island. It’s just three years since the end of the war, and for some, that isn’t long enough. VERDICT First novelist Ducharme has laced her novel with the sounds and the smells of the North Carolina shoreline. Racism and Southern tradition run along parallel paths in this affecting debut, where gentlemen can be less than honorable and enslavement doesn’t always involve chains. Highly recommended for fans of Southern fiction.” - Bette-Lee Fox — Library Journal, Starred Review

“A heart-felt and engrossing novel about the coming of age of two very different young people in the South just after the Civil War: a curious upper-class girl from an almost bankrupt plantation and a handsome young barefoot fisherman “made of sand and seawater” who comes to her to learn to read. What they learn from each other about tolerance and caring in those turbulent times will change their lives forever. A beautiful sense of this place by the sea, of a country in conflict, of death and redemption, and of new love.” - Stephanie Cowell, Author of CLAUDE & CAMILLE: A NOVEL OF CLAUDE MONET and MARRYING MOZART

“The Outer Banks House is a beautifully written and deeply moving story of a sheltered young woman's awakening to life, love and the injustice of discrimination against former slaves. In theme and impact, shades of Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn; in the evocative setting and fresh voice, a unique novel all its own.” - Karen Harper — Author of THE QUEEN'S GOVERNESS

Buy The Outer Banks House

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Crown Publishing
IndieBound


About Return to the Outer Banks House

03_Return to the Outer Banks House_Cover

Publication Date: December 10, 2014
Kill Devil Publishing
Formats: Ebook, Paperback
Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance

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She was the spirited daughter of a North Carolina plantation owner, and he was a poor fisherman who she tutored on the porch of her family’s Nags Head cottage. When we last saw Abigail Sinclair and Ben Whimble at the close of The Outer Banks House, they’d overcome their differences in life stations and defied convention to begin their new life together.

But now it’s seven years later, and Return to the Outer Banks House finds the couple married and in hard times—riddled by poverty, miscarriages, and weakened family ties. The strong bonds that once held them together have eroded over time, and their marriage threatens to unravel, particularly when relationships from the past and ambitions for the future find their way into the mismatched couple’s present predicament.

Can their love survive? Or are the challenges they face insurmountable? Return to the Outer Banks House carries readers back to 1875 to answer these questions and explore the ebb and flow of a rocky marriage set against the enchanting North Carolina shoreline. Replete with history, intrigue, and plenty of maritime drama, it’s an evocative tale of struggle in the Reconstruction-era South.


Praise for Return to the Outer Banks House

“...Set between 1875 and ’76, Ducharme’s story—this being the sequel to The Outer Banks House (2010)—is about love and its many faces, from young and reckless to unrequited. Specifically, she explores the unlikely passion that forms between smart, affluent Abigail Sinclair and uneducated, penniless Benjamin Whimble. The people of this tightknit island community on the Outer Banks, off the coast of North Carolina, are connected by their collective poverty and abiding love for the sea. Outsiders are generally unwelcome...” - Kirkus Reviews


Buy Return to the Outer Banks House

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
IndieBound


About the Author

04_Diann Ducharme_Author

Diann was born in Indiana in 1971, but she spent the majority of her childhood in Newport News, Virginia. She majored in English literature at the University of Virginia, but she never wrote creatively until, after the birth of her second child in 2003, she sat down to write The Outer Banks House. She soon followed up with her second book, Chasing Eternity, and in 2015 the sequel to her first novel, Return to the Outer Banks House.

Diann has vacationed on the Outer Banks since the age of three. She even married her husband of 10 years, Sean Ducharme, in Duck, North Carolina, immediately after a stubborn Hurricane Bonnie churned through the Outer Banks. Conveniently, the family beach house in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina provided shelter while she conducted research for her historical fiction novels.

She has three beach-loving children and a border collie named Toby, who enjoys his sprints along the shore. The family lives in Manakin-Sabot, Virginia, counting down the months until summer.

For more information visit Diann Ducharme's website. You can also follow Diann on her blog, Twitter, and Goodreads.


The Outer Banks Series Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, May 25
Spotlight & Giveaway at Raven Haired Girl

Tuesday, May 26
Guest Post & Giveaway at Susan Heim on Writing

Wednesday, May 27
Review (Book One) at Back Porchervations

Thursday, May 28
Review (Book One) at In a Minute

Friday, May 29
Interview & Giveaway at Historical Fiction Obsession
Spotlight at The Never-Ending Book

Saturday, May 30
Spotlight at Becky on Books

Sunday, May 31
Review (Book One) at Book Nerd

Monday, June 1
Review (Book Two) at Let them Read Books
Spotlight at I'd So Rather Be Reading

Tuesday, June 2
Review (Book One) at Book Lovers Paradise

Wednesday, June 3
Review (Book Two) at Back Porchervations

Thursday, June 4
Spotlight & Giveaway (Book One) at View from the Birdhouse

Friday, June 5
Review (Both Books) at Bibliotica

Sunday, June 7
Review (Book One) at Carole's Ramblings

Monday, June 8
Review (Book One) at Ageless Pages Reviews
Guest Post at Curling Up With A Good Book

Tuesday, June 9
Review & Giveaway (Book One) at A Literary Vacation

Wednesday, June 10
Review (Both Books) at Unshelfish
Spotlight at CelticLady's Reviews

Thursday, June 11
Review (Book Two) at Book Lovers Paradise
Interview at Boom Baby Reviews

Friday, June 12
Spotlight at Caroline Wilson Writes

Sunday, June 14
Review (Book Two) at Carole's Ramblings

Monday, June 15
Review & Giveaway (Both Books) at Genre Queen

Tuesday, June 16
Interview at Books and Benches
Spotlight at The Lit Bitch

Wednesday, June 17
Review (Both Books) at Luxury Reading

Thursday, June 18
Review (Book One) at Books and Benches
Interview at Layered Pages

Friday, June 19
Review (Book One) at Build a Bookshelf
Review (Book Two) at Ageless Pages Reviews

Giveaway:

Prize:  A paperback copy of The Outer Banks House.

Rules

– Must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open to US residents only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.

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05_Outer Banks Series_Blog Tour Banner_FINAL

36 comments:

traveler said...

This captivating and memorable novel would be greatly enjoyed. The story, setting and era are all fascinating. thanks for this great giveaway. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

A must read for ANY Outer Banks lover! This is an amazing book! I LOVE vacationing at the Outer Banks with my Hubby.

Mama Cat said...

Both of these sounds like awesome books! I love novels written around the Civil War and post war eras, and the conflicts faced by families thru these times. Thank you for the chance to win! jeaniedannheim (at) ymail (dot) com

sweepmom said...

I really enjoy historical fiction. This book looks very interesting.

Julie Waldron said...

I love historical fiction, looks like a great book.

lag123 said...

I am very intrigued by this story.

lag110 at mchsi dot com

Unknown said...

I love the Outer Banks and historical fiction so this book looks awesome!!!

absbarge@yahoo.com

Deborah Wellenstein said...

The book sounds great-thank you!

Bonnie in FL said...

The book sounds great I love historical novels nut must say that it's been mainly English and European novels Must look more into the American novels

Bonnie in FL said...

The book sounds great I love historical novels nut must say that it's been mainly English and European novels Must look more into the American novels

Caryl Kane said...

The OUTER BANKS sound amazing! I am looking forward to reading more.

rhonda said...

Historical fiction perfect for me,

Unknown said...

This would be amazing to read! I can't get enough historical fiction. The setting alone is incredible. Thank you so much for this chance..

Amy Putney said...

Sounds like an amazing read! I grew up going to the Outer Banks near Nags Head. I'll always love it there. :) And I love books set in the mid-late 1800s!

Letty Blanchard said...

Love historical fiction! Would love to read this!

Anne Rightler said...

Would enjoy reading this one. Here's hoping to be a winner. Thank you for sharing

JJT said...

The Outer Banks sounds like great historical fiction

Anonymous said...

I love reading historical fiction and this sounds like a good summer read
marypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com
Merry

Mary Hill said...

I love romance and stories about place. This sounds great. Thanks for sharing on Literacy Musing Mondays!

Arf2-D2 said...

That's a great author pic - and it goes with the story too.

Angela - Bookaunt said...

Thank you for the chance to win this book. I have enjoy looking around on your blog.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a good read!

Tara Lauren said...

Sounds like the perfect book to take to the beach! Thanks for the giveaway!

Amanda G. said...

I love to read; this book looks so interesting!

jules mcnubbin (buttmuffin) said...

i live on the coast of NC very near the Outer Banks so I would really love to read this!!

Lisa said...

I would love this! I need a new summer read!

Anonymous said...

THIS SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD BOOK FOR ME TO READ AND THEN PASS ON THE NEIGHBOR

Kathy Davis said...

Historical fiction is my favorite genre.
kdavis1@centurytel.net

Unknown said...

I love the Outer Banks,my family visited Kill Devil Hills just a few weeks ago. Sounds like a great read.

Anonymous said...

I love to read and your books sound great!!

Nancy said...

I love to discover authors who are new to me!

Nancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

Unknown said...

love to read

Annmarie Weeks said...

This looks like the perfect book to read out by the pool or at the beach! A great summer read!

Unknown said...

My mom would love this title! She would find it very intriguing. I tried to put my email in the widget, but something went wrong. The email I check most often is fossil316@aol.com

Kristen Patton said...

I am not a huge reader but have been looking into picking up a book.

Tandi Cortez-Rios said...

Looks like a great book! Would love to read it!