Friday 56 & #BookBeginnings: His Name Was Ben + Giveaway!



It was just past three in the morning when Sara Phillips looked over to the clock on the nightstand. Tazzie, why can’t I sleep like you? Snuggling close to her Rottweiler, feeling the short black-and-tan hair on her cheek and the robust contour of the dog’s chest, she felt a comfort that she was not alone. She wondered how many pills from a nearly full bottle of Ativan in the bathroom would be needed to take her life.
- p. 11

For Friday 56:  
Her ego had built walls of protection, defense mechanisms, to avoid facing the crap she spewed to others about who she was.
- p. 56


Synopsis of His Name Was Ben by Paulette Mahurin: Hearing the words “it’s cancer,” threw Sara Phillips’ life into chaos, until an unexpected turn of events and a chance encounter with a stranger changed everything—his name was Ben. Based on real events, Ben and Sara discover that when all else fails, healing can come in the most unexpected ways. Chilling and heart wrenching, His Name Was Ben is a triumph over the devastating circumstances and fear experienced when faced with a terminal illness. In this narrative, the power of love conquers shadows and transforms the very nature and meaning of what it is to be fully alive.

From the award winning, best-selling author of, The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap, comes a story filled with soul and passion that will leave the reader thinking about it for days after the last page is closed.

GIVEAWAY!






19 comments

  1. Oh it sounds so good! It's a cancer book but still I want to read it! Awesome book beginning!
    My Friday Post

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    1. Thank you. I sure do understand the skittishness about the "C" word, but unlike things in the past, not all cancers are death sentences. We've come a long way. Used to make me shrink back into I started to work with it and got to know more about it. All that aside, the basic storyline is a love story, with some dysfunction family junk thrown in for good measure. Thanks so much for commenting and your interest. Paulette

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    1. No, just contemplating ending her life at the end of a long bout of cancer, but… if that's where the story starts, you can only imagine where it goes from there if she's the protagonist and it's a love story. Thanks for your comment. Paulette

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  3. I love how dogs can always be a comfort to us and totally can relate to wishing to sleep like a dog at times! Haha! Also thanks for the giveaway! :)

    Here's my book beginning this week! Happy Friday! :)

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    1. I share your sentiments about dogs, all things dogs is something I love. Tazzie, who is featured in this book was my rottie for 15+ years, ancient for a rottie, any big dog, and factoring her into this story was my special homage to her. Thanks so much for your comment. I enjoyed it. Paulette

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  4. This sounds like a very emotional story. I have to be in the right mood to read this type of book.
    sherry @ fundinmental Friday Memes - Bad Apples

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    1. Me too, as a reader. And yes, it has a lot of emotional stuff in it. But then, cancer aside, I haven't read a love story that wasn't emotional. Thank you so much for your interest in joining in for the giveaway. Paulette

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  5. Wow! That's quite a beginning. The 56 definitely paints a picture as well. I'm intrigued by this one. It definitely sounds like a powerful book. Thanks for sharing!

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  6. This sounds like an excellent story. The opening paragraph makes me want to read more to find out why she is feeling suicidal and the 56 makes me wonder why she has built those walls. I'd like to get to know this character better.
    My Friday post features NOT YET.

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    1. Thanks so much for your comment and interest in my book. Paulette

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  7. Oh my....I need to know more.

    THANKS for sharing.

    Elizabeth
    Silver's Reviews
    My Book Beginnings

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    1. Oh, that's good to read, that you need to know more… an author's dream when it's directed at their book. Thank you! Paulette

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  8. Thank you so much for featuring my book at your great site and all the help you give to others. I'm very grateful and excited to gift a kindle book to the winner. Love, Paulette <3

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  9. Sometimes I'm afraid of this kind of story. Brings back memories and heartache. But maybe it helps the grieving process and makes the sorrow lessen.
    Here is my 56 - http://fuonlyknew.com/2014/10/17/the-friday-56-41-a-hidden-element/

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  10. Wouldn't take much Ativan... Sadly, I know.
    Not sure I could read this one. The subject matter might be too much for me.
    Happy weekend!

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  11. I wanted to stop by and thank you again for featuring my book. And to respond to a couple of comments:

    Laura Thomas: Thank you and I hear you. Trust your gut/intuition and if it feels like it will bring back the heartache, I'd suggest hold off on reading this one. First and foremost, for me it's people who count. I’m a Nurse Practitioner by profession with clinical and teaching experience. What I’ve seen in the many people I’ve worked with (I do pro-bono work with women with cancer and their families) is the grieving process has its own way and process. What helps one, what works for one, might not for another. What I have found in my years of work, has been this, that your gut/intuition is your best guide for what to involve yourself in or not. If it isn’t sitting right with you and you feel this read will bring up heartache then maybe it’s not the way you need to grieve. Perhaps a support group, or different approach that
    resonates with you is the way to go. I wish you well, Laura, and hope that whatever the source of your heartache is, that it finds its way to the ethers without causing you too much distress in the process.

    Fredamans: Thank you for bringing up Ativan, a benzodiazepine (same category drug as Valium, Librium, etc.), a highly addictive antianxiety medication which should not be used for more than a short time in treating anxiety. There are exceptions, when it’s beneficial, for example with cancer patients, etc. I’m sorry to read what you wrote, “Sadly, I know” and hope that whatever your experience was that it’s well behind you. Again, with what I wrote above, trust your gut and if this doesn’t feel like a read for you, then it’s most likely not.

    And to all the rest of you who showed an interest in reading my book, thank you so much and I do hope you enjoy.

    Love, Paulette

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    1. Paulette, thanks so much for coming by; it is always a pleasure to host you. With a book that deals with very sensitive subject matter, I am glad that you take the time to respond to individual comments.

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    2. Bless your sweet heart. I am always a little leery when visiting another's blog to not overstep my welcome or get too chatty. This from you, very kind, made me feel welcome and so I went back to comment to all. I'm grateful when anyone takes the time to comment and join in on the conversation, especially about such a sensitive subject matter. You''re a delight to work with and have been terrific with this book and my last one. Can't thank you enough. Love, Paulette

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© guiltless readingMaira Gall