It All Comes Back To You by Beth Duke
Today I am so excited to take part in the blog tour for It All Comes Back To You by Beth Duke. Thank you to Anne Cater from Random Things Tours, the author, and publisher for a copy of the book, which I have reviewed honestly.
Book Description
It’s 1947.
War’s over, cherry-print dresses, parking above the city lights, swing dancing.
Beautiful, seventeen-year-old Violet lives in a perfect world.
Everybody loves her.
In 2012, she’s still beautiful, charming, and surrounded by admirers.
Veronica “Ronni” Johnson, licensed practical nurse and aspiring writer, meets the captivating Violet in the assisted living facility where Violet requires no assistance, just lots of male attention. When she dies, she leaves Ronni a very generous bequest―only if Ronni completes a book about her life within one year. As she’s drawn into the world of young Violet, Ronni is mesmerized by life in a simpler time. It’s an irresistible journey filled with revelations, some of them about men Ronni knew as octogenarians at Fairfield Springs.
Struggling, insecure, flailing at the keyboard, Ronni juggles her patients, a new boyfriend, and a Samsonite factory of emotional baggage as she tries to craft a manuscript before her deadline.
But then the secrets start to emerge, some of them in person. And they don’t stop.
Everything changes.
Alternating chapters between Homecoming Queen Violet in 1947 and can’t-quite-find-her-crown Ronni in the present, IT ALL COMES BACK TO YOU is Southern Fiction at its hilarious, warm, sad, outrageous, uplifting, and stunning best. In the tradition of Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand and Olive Kitteridge, Duke delivers an unforgettable elderly character to treasure and a young heroine to steal your heart.
My Thoughts
It All Comes BackTo You is the story of Ronni who works in a care home in Alabama. She meets the lovely vivacious Violet who is a resident at Fairfield Springs and they become firm friends. Violet recognises Ronni as a talented author and when she sadly passes away, she leaves a very interesting bequest to the carer. Ronni has spent many hours listening to Violet’s stories. Now, she has to write a complete memoir of her friend’s life and publish it within a year. If she accomplishes the challenge, she will inherit a fortune.
The book is split into two stories. We hear about Ronni’s life and the hardships she has endured. Then the book changes to Violet’s life and although the two women are decades apart in age, there are surprising similarities between them. It is easy to see why Violet chose Ronni to write her life story because they totally understand each other.
With the help of Violet’s diaries Ronni goes right back to 1947 and as she reads, more surprises are unearthed. The book flows brilliantly between the two narrators and different timelines. I loved how Violet’s character sparkled and Ronni was so passionate about getting the right story across. I loved reading about both women’s journeys, it was touching, heartwarming and beautifully written.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Beth Dial Duke is an Amazon #1 Best Selling author and the recipient of short story awards on two continents.
She is eyeing the other five.
Beth lives in the mountains of her native Alabama with her husband, one real dog, one ornamental dog, and a flock of fluffy pet chickens.
She loves reading, writing, and not arithmetic.
Baking is a hobby, with semi-pro cupcakes and amateur macarons a specialty.
And puns—the worse, the better.
Travel is her other favorite thing, along with joining book clubs for discussion. Please invite her to London…England or Kentucky, either is fine. Anywhere!
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