Slightest in the House by Barbara Casey | Book Review ~ Excerpt ~ $20 Gift Card | #YoungAdult #Fiction @GoddessFish
A book blog tour from Goddess Fish Promotions.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and Marianne & Judy at Goddess Fish for providing me with the information for this tour.
Book Details
Slightest in the House by Barbara Casey Published by Speaking Volumes LLC on July 2, 2023
Genres: Coming of Age, Contemporary Fiction, Family
Format: eBook, Paperback
Pages: 190
Source: Goddess Fish PromotionsOn some level she was aware that an elderly woman had come out of the darkness and put her arms around her. Meredith heard her say that everything would be all right. But on another, more conscious level, the one where all of her senses saw, felt, processed and recorded what was happening, Meredith watched two black body bags being loaded into the back of an ambulance. Then she watched the ambulance turn around and drive off in the opposite direction. Her long, tumbling mass of blond curls hung loosely over her face, shielding it. For Beth, the reality of what had taken place would come later. But Meredith had seen what had happened and understood. That knowledge was now seeping through every pore of her body.
Seventeen-year-old Meredith and her four-year-old stepsister, Beth, face the numbing reality of suddenly losing their parents in a freak accident. With no other family, they are taken from their mobile home in Georgia to go live with a grandmother they have never met in a mansion in Palm Beach, Florida. Beth soon adjusts to her new environment; but Meredith withdraws from everyone and everything, unable to blot out the image of the horrible crash that killed her parents. It is only when she reaches out to a homeless woman that Meredith is finally able to find herself and face her demons. With the help of her grandmother’s long-employed staff, a family doctor, a museum curator, an attorney who is more than just her grandmother’s legal advisor, and, of course, her conniving grandmother who is dealing with her own guilt for having been estranged from her son and his wife (Meredith’s and Beth’s parents), Meredith is able to pull herself from the depths of despair into a life filled with faith, hope, and generosity.
Slightest in the House is a contemporary novel with strong, interesting characters from different walks of life, brought together because of life’s difficult and often unexpected circumstances, and bonded together by their faith and belief that everything works out as it should.
CW: Death of parents
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Excerpt from Slightest in the House
Ron stared wildly at the crumpled car. “You don’t think the girls were . . .” Ron didn’t finish. It was simply too horrible to say out loud. Instead he reached out and grabbed at the twisted metal frame of the car, yanking and clawing at it, as though once he got it out of the way, he would find two young girls miraculously sitting there, whole and perfect, and untouched by gore and death.
Terror filled Ron’s face as he glanced back at his partner. “Oh, god, Mack, they would never leave the kids at home alone,” he yelled as he knelt down and wrenched harder, surreal, blood-soaked images flooding his mind that were simply too unbearable for words.
“Mr. Reynolds?”
The soft voice came from somewhere behind him, through the dust and the fumes of the wreckage, and through the noisy confusion of fire trucks, sirens, and frantic people. Ron turned around, searching through all the chaos made even more so by the flashing blue and red emergency lights, until his eyes stopped and focused on a young girl. A much smaller child had her arms wrapped around her neck, clinging to her. Both of them were covered with dirt, and their clothes were torn. But otherwise they looked to be all right.
Ron’s panic was quickly replaced by a façade of calmness. He glanced up at the elderly man standing behind them, his arms encircling them protectively. He was bleeding from a cut on the side of his face, and his eyes were glazed over in shock.
“Meredith. Beth.” Ron stood up and brushed off his hands. Then he gently took the little girl out of her sister’s arms and held her tightly against him. “Are you two all right?” he asked taking a deep breath.
“Yes,” answered Meredith. “We were in the candy shop.” Her eyes looked too large for her face, and her normally fair skin was ashen. “Mr. Devening has a cut.”
“I hurt my finger,” announced Beth sticking up her thumb. “And Oinky hurt his tail.” Beth then proceeded to poke the back end of a rather ugly stuffed toy pig into Ron’s face so he could examine that as well.
“I see,” said Ron, fighting down the sick feeling that was threatening to overtake him. He knew he couldn’t lose it now—not in front of the girls. They needed him. He must be strong for them. He would be able to go home later on to his wife and young daughter. But for Meredith and Beth, their nightmare was just beginning.
“I’ll tell you what,” he said. His voice was soothing—in control. “This man is my partner, and his name is Mack.”
Both girls looked at the man standing next to Ron.
“He’s going to drive us all to the hospital so we can get everyone taken care of.” Mack led Mr. Devening to the patrol car.
“Oinky’s tail, too?” asked Beth.
“Absolutely. Then he’s going to take us to my house. Would you like that?”
“And see Christie?” asked Beth.
“And see Christie,” Ron answered. “Is that O.K. with you, Meredith?”
Meredith didn’t answer. On some level she was aware that a woman had come out of the darkness and put her arms around her. Meredith heard her say that everything would be all right. That she was safe. And that she must be strong. But on another, more conscious level, the one where all of her senses processed and recorded what was happening, Meredith saw two black body bags being zipped and placed into the back of an ambulance. Then she watched the ambulance turn around and drive away.
Her long, tumbling mass of blond curls hung loosely over her face guardedly, concealing it, preventing the horror from penetrating any deeper. For Beth, safeguarded by youth and innocence, the reality of what had taken place would come later. But Meredith had seen what had happened and understood. That knowledge was now seeping through every pore of her body. Ron glanced at the woman, nodded, and took Meredith’s hand.
Excerpt provided by the author/publisher for use in this post.
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Purchase Links for Slightest in the House
Amazon – OneLink for every country
Slightest in the HouseShop on Amazon
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My thoughts on Slightest in the House
“The Slightest in the House” by Barbara Casey is a poignant and heartwarming contemporary novel that delves into the lives of Meredith and Beth, two young girls grappling with the sudden and tragic loss of their parents. The author skillfully captures the essence of their emotional turmoil as they are uprooted from their familiar surroundings and thrust into a new life under the care of a previously unknown grandmother.
Casey’s narrative unfolds with a blend of sensitivity and realism. The opening scene, where Meredith witnesses the aftermath of the accident that took her parents, is both haunting and powerful. The contrast between Meredith’s inner turmoil and her exterior appearance, as symbolized by her blond curls, creates a vivid visual representation of her emotional state.
The characters in the story are compelling and diverse, each facing their own challenges and secrets. Meredith’s journey from grief to healing is beautifully depicted, and her interaction with a homeless woman brings a refreshing element of compassion and human connection. The way the characters come together, including the supportive staff, a family doctor, a museum curator, and an attorney, showcases the interplay of different lives united by shared experiences.
The novel’s central theme of faith and hope resonates strongly throughout the story. As Meredith navigates her way through her emotional wounds, the narrative reinforces the belief that despite life’s darkest moments, there is potential for redemption and growth. The grandmother’s complex portrayal adds depth to the narrative, as her struggles with guilt and estrangement mirror the family’s journey toward reconciliation.
” The Slightest in the House” is a moving portrayal of resilience and transformation, reminding us that the human spirit can mend and emerge stronger even in the face of adversity. Barbara Casey’s writing is evocative and poignant, skillfully weaving together diverse characters and their intersecting paths. This novel earns its five-star rating for its adept handling of complex emotions, its theme of hope, and its portrayal of characters finding solace and purpose in unexpected places.
I received a copy of the book for the tour. This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.
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I love my Amazon Kindle Unlimited Subscription. So many books, so little time!
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About Barbara Casey
Originally from Carrollton, Illinois, author/agent/publisher Barbara Casey attended the University of North Carolina, N.C. State University, and N.C. Wesleyan College where she received a BA degree, summa cum laude, with a double major in English and history. In 1978 she left her position as Director of Public Relations and Vice President of Development at North Carolina Wesleyan College to write full time and develop her own manuscript evaluation and editorial service. In 1995 she established the Barbara Casey Agency and since that time has represented authors from the United States, Great Britain, Canada, and Japan. In 2014, she became a partner with Strategic Media Books, an independent nonfiction publisher of true crime, where she oversees acquisitions, day-to-day operations, and book production.
Barbara has written over a dozen award-winning books of fiction and nonfiction for both young adults and adults. The awards include the National Association of University Women Literary Award, the Sir Walter Raleigh Literary Award, the Independent Publisher Book Award, the Dana Award for Outstanding Novel, the IP Best Book for Regional Fiction, among others. Several of her books have been optioned for major films and television.
Her award-winning articles, short stories, and poetry for adults have appeared in both national and international publications including the North Carolina Christian Advocate Magazine, The New East Magazine, the Raleigh (N.C.) News and Observer, the Rocky Mount (N.C.) Sunday Telegram, Dog Fancy, ByLine, The Christian Record, Skirt! Magazine, and True Story. A thirty-minute television special which Barbara wrote and coordinated was broadcast on WRAL, Channel 5, in Raleigh, North Carolina. She also received special recognition for her editorial work on the English translations of Albanian children’s stories. Her award-winning science fiction short stories for adults are featured in The Cosmic Unicorn and CrossTime science fiction anthologies. Barbara’s essays and other works appear in The Chrysalis Reader, the international literary journal of the Swedenborg Foundation, 221 One-Minute Monologues from Literature (Smith and Kraus Publishers), and A Cup of Comfort (Adams Media Corporation).
Barbara is a former director of BookFest of the Palm Beaches, Florida, where she served as a guest author and panelist. She has served as a judge for the Pathfinder Literary Awards in Palm Beach and Martin Counties, Florida, and was the Florida Regional Advisor for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators from 1991 through 2003. In 2018 Barbara received the prestigious Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award and Top Professional Award for her extensive experience and notable accomplishments in the field of publishing and other areas.
She makes her home on the top of a mountain in northwest Georgia with three cats who adopted her, Homer – a Southern coon cat, Reese – a black cat, and Earl Gray – a gray cat and Reese’s best friend.
You can visit her book agency here and find her on the sites listed below.
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Purchase Slightest in the House online from a local bookstore.
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Easy Amazon Info Link
Amazon – OneLink for every country
If the above link does not take you to your country, here are a few more:
Please send me a note if your country isn’t listed and you would like to purchase using my links. Using my link does not change the price you pay. Amazon pays me a minimal amount out of their share.
Slightest in the HouseShop on Amazon
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Giveaway!
Barbara Casey will award a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter.
Visit more stops on this Goddess Fish tour for extra chances to win!
Official Tour Page for Slightest in the House
Full Tour Schedule:
August 14:
1: FUONLYKNEW
2: fundinmental
3: Locks, Hooks and Books
4: Hope. Dreams. Life… Love
5: Stormy Nights Reviewing & Bloggin’
6: Long and Short Reviews
7: Coffee and Wander Book Reviews
August 15:
1: Sandra’s Book Club
2: The Faerie Review
3: Read Your Writes Book Reviews
4: Our Town Book Reviews
5: Jazzy Book Reviews
6: Straight from the Library
7: A Wonderful World of Words
August 16:
1: Andi’s Young Adult Books
2: Candlelight Reading
3: Candrel’s Crafts, Cooks, and Characters
4: Fabulous and Brunette
5: Momma Says: To Read or Not to Read
6: My beauty my books
7: The Avid Reader
August 17:
1: Kenyan Poet
2: Books in the Hall
3: Westveil Publishing
4: Welcome to My World of Dreams
5: Author C.A.Milson
6: Country Mamas With Kids
7: Girl with Pen
August 18:
1: Gina Rae Mitchell review
2: It’s Raining Books
3: Joanne Guidoccio
4: Literary Gold
5: travel the ages
6: The Pen and Muse Book Reviews
7: Cats in the Cradle Blog
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This sounds like a book filled with interesting characters!
Thank you for your comment, Nancy.
Thank you for hosting today!
I can’t thank you enough for your wonderful, thoughtful review of SLIGHTEST IN THE HOUSE. I write because it is my passion, and not to would make me feel incomplete. But to have a reader understand and appreciate what I write is something that I truly cherish. Thank you for hosting me, and thank you for taking the time to review SLIGHTEST IN THE HOUSE. I wish you and your bloggers all my best. ~Barbara