Bird in Hand

I've been addicted to books my entire life. From curling up in a cozy chair, to hiding under my covers with a flashlight, some of my happiest memories from childhood involve a good read that takes me away to another place with new lives to get to know and different worlds to discover.

The newest book on my nightstand? Bird in Hand by Christina Baker Kline. I was hooked from the moment I began to read Bird in Hand--I can always tell if I'll love a book by the first page or two.

I was immediately drawn in once I started reading and turning the pages. I felt like I could relate to her characters as if I were there with them during their lives and the changes that started unraveling before their very eyes.

Bird in Hand is based around two couples: Alison and Charlie, Claire and Ben. They have been close friends for ten years. Alison and Charlie moved to the suburbs and had two children. Claire and Ben stayed put in New York City and were focused on their careers.

Although their lives have changed since initially becoming friends, they have tried to remain as close as possible--which we all know that is hard enough once someone moves away, one couple has children and the other couple does not.

Then a horrible, tragic event happened on a rainy evening in New Jersey after leaving a party in the city. In that very instance lives are changed forever--for all four characters. And once this event takes place everything is unraveled and they must start truly examining their own lives, who they are, who they aspire to be.

Here is an excerpt that I want to share--and that I believe may have you hooked, too:

The accident was just that — an accident. It was dark, it was raining, Alison had two drinks in her, and the other car ran the stop sign. She just didn’t get out of the way fast enough. But now a little boy — not her own — is dead, and Alison finds herself trapped under the twin burdens of grief and guilt, and feeling increasingly estranged from her husband . 

That is all I want to tell you about the book without giving too much away--I definitely do not want to spoil any secrets from Bird in Hand--I love surprises and definitely do not want to ruin it for any of my blog readers!

Christina Baker Kline is a novelist, non-fiction writer and editor. Residing in New Jersey with her husband and three boys, they enjoy spending their summers in Maine. She has three other novels that include The Way Life Should Be, Desire Lines and Sweet Water.

She is also available to follow on Twitter and Facebook--I have joined in her following and hope you will, too!

I'll definitely be reading her other novels since reading Bird in Hand. I highly recommend this book to all of my readers--I've been raving about it to my Mom ever since I started to read it. I loved it!

Thank you to TLC Book Tours and Christina Baker Kline for the opportunity to read Bird in Hand.  I loved the book so much!