Stray Affections by Charlene Ann Baumbich (Book Review)

Title: Stray Affections
Author: Charlene Ann Baumbich
Publisher: Waterbrook Press

First sentence: Preoccupied by troubling news, Cassandra accidentally broiled a batch of cookies.

My synopsis: The story starts out by introducing us to Cassandra and her brood of 4 boys. We soon learn that she has a penchant for collecting knick-knacks of "critters" - usually dogs.

She attends a Collectors' Convention, without her usual companion Margret, and gets swept away by a snow globe that contains three dogs and a young girl. She impulsively buys it - paying more than she probably should have - but pleased with herself anyway. Unfortunately the day end by her getting popped in the nose by a large bag, having her wallet stolen, and then being interviewed on TV as both her eyes are developing bruises.

Her mom, Betty, sees the news and is immediately all over Cassandra with the "I told you so's". Cassandra and her mother have never had a great mother/daughter relationship. Cassandra's father passed when she was young and her mother was constantly putting her down, to the point where Cassandra and her friend Margret started calling her Bad Betty.

The snow globe seems to be the only high point recently in Cassandra's life. Upon looking into it - soon after she purchased it - she has what she can only describe as a "flurrious" moment - where the snow in the globe twirled to the point of a white out. When it calmed down, the dogs and the little girl where gone.

My thoughts: I enjoyed this book very much and read it in just a couple of sittings. I liked the way that all the story lines seemed to be in upheaval at the same time - and that they all could see the changes that were being made or needed to be made. I actually liked Bad Betty. It gave, what appeared to be a perfect life (Cassandra's) a little tension. I would recommend this book to a friend - good book to read in front of a cozy fire!


Purchase Stray Affections

Stray Affections
Publisher/Publication Date: Waterbrook Press, Sept 15, 2009
ISBN: 978-0-307-44471-4
320 pages

Stray Affections blog tour concludes today - but please visit my previous post to read more about the book and hear from the author. Also sign up for the giveaway while you are there!

Stray Affections Blog Tour

Stray Affections by Charlene Ann Baumbich is on tour Sept 7-11 and I have one copy to give away!

About the book: The last thing that Cassandra Higgins expects out of her Sunday is to be mesmerized at a collectors’ convention by a snowglobe. She’s enjoying some shopping time, with husband Ken at home tending their brood of four young boys, when she’s utterly charmed by the one-of-a kind globe containing figures of three dogs and a little girl with hair the color of her own. She can’t resist taking the unique globe home– even if means wrestling another shopper for it!

The beautiful snowglobe sparks long-dormant memories for Cassie, of her beloved Grandpa Wonky, the stray she rescued as a child, and the painful roots of her combative relationship with her mother, “Bad Betty” Kamrowski. Life in Wanonishaw, Minnesota is never dull, though, and Cassie keeps the recollections at bay, busy balancing her boys, her home daycare operation, and being a good friend to best pal Margret. But after a strange–flurrious, as Cassie deems it–moment happens with the remarkable snowglobe, Cassie and the people she loves are swirled into a tumultuous, yet grace-filled, and life-changing journey.

With the quirky, close-knit Midwestern small-town feel that made Charlene Ann Baumbich’s acclaimed Dearest Dorothy novels so popular, Stray Affections invites you to experience the laughter and the healing of second chances. (Random House)

About the author: Charlene Ann Baumbich is a popular author and speaker and an award-winning journalist. In addition to her Dearest Dorothy series of novels, she has written seven nonfiction books of humor and inspiration. A bungee-jumping, once motorcycle-owning grandma and unabashed dog lover, Charlene lives with her husband and rescued dog Kornflake in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. She loves telling stories, laughing whenever possible, and considers herself a Wild Child of God.

To be entered in the giveaway, just leave a comment with your email address. One entry per person. U.S./Canada only. This giveaway will end Sept 28. If you can't wait for the giveaway - you can purchase Stray Affections!


Stray Affections (A Snowglobe Connections Novel)
Publisher/Publication Date: Waterbrook Press, Sept 15, 2009
ISBN: 978-0307444714
320 pages

ARC Arrival: Stray Affections

Stray Affections by Charlene Ann Baumbich

Publisher: Waterbrook Press

I received this from Ashley at Random House for a book tour in September. Thanks Ashley!

About the book: Cassandra Higgins, daycare provider and mother to four little boys, is at a Collectors' Convention when she's utterly charmed by a one-of-a-kind snowglobe containing figures of three dogs and a little girl with hair the color of her own.

She can't resist buying the beautiful globe, and it begins to spark long-dormant memories for Cassandra, of her beloved grandpa, the stray she rescued as a child, and the painful roots strangling her relationship with her mother, "Bad Betty" Kamrowski. When a strange--flurrious, as Cassandra deems it--moment happens with the remarkable snowglobe, Cassandra and the people she loves are swirled into a tumultuous yet grace-filled journey.

With the quirky, close-knit Midwestern small-town feel that made Charlene Ann Baumbich's Dearest Dorothy series so popular, Stray Affections invites you to experience the laughter and the healing of second chances. (book cover)

About the author: Charlene Ann Baumbich is a popular author, speaker, and an award-winning journalist. In addition to her Dearest Dorothy series of novels, she has written six nonfiction books of humor and inspiration. A bungee-jumping, once motorcycle-owning grandma, and unabashed dog lover, Charlene lives with her husband and rescued dog, Kornflake, in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. (book cover)

Stray Affections
Publisher/Publication Date: Waterbrook Press, Sept 15, 2009
ISBN: 978-0-307-44471-4
320 pages