Tuesday, March 22, 2016

The Charm Bracelet Pub Day Review & Giveaway

Review by Melinda Garza
The Charmed Bracelet by Viola Shipman tells a unique story of one's life by the significance of each charm. This story tells the history of Lolly, Arden (Lolly's daughter), and Lauren (Lolly's granddaughter). It takes place in Scoops and in Lost Land Lake.

One day Arden gets word that her elderly mother is not doing well due to a mild cognitive impairment and so she and Lauren decide to take a trip to visit Lolly. The trip is to find out what is wrong with Lolly but turns out they learn of many other things about their history by listening to Lolly and the stories behind each charm.
Arden is finally able to find love again and Lauren learns to be honest about herself and where she wants her life to go. Lauren is a college student studying what Arden wants but that is not Lauren's passion. She finally gets the strength to voice what she wants to do. That strength comes from Lolly and her charms stories. Without this roadtrip to Lolly's, none of the women would have experienced what they did via the stories that came from the charms they proudly jingled around their wrists.

Each of them has their own charm bracelet and each charm has a significant meaning and story behind it. Several examples of the charms and their meanings are the half heart charm which means to a life where we are never separated, the puzzle charm which is to a life filled with friends who complete you, the ice cream charm which means to a sweet life filled with a passion for what you do, the book charm for a story that will never end, and the mustard seed charm which stands for a life filled with faith.
Lolly's experiences were best told by sharing the stories behind the charms. The charms are pieces that encompass love, loss, and life.
This story is so sweet and really shows how ones life has so many personal stories and how they shape our own journey through life.

On a personal note, I own a charm bracelet and each one has its own story behind it so I could truly relate on a personal level to this story.

Purchase the book at:

About the Author:
VIOLA SHIPMAN is a pen name for Wade Rouse, a popular, award-winning memoirist.  Rouse chose his grandmother’s name to honor the woman whose charm bracelet and family stories inspired him to write his debut novel, which is a tribute to all of our elders. Rouse lives in Michigan and writes regularly for People and Coastal Living, among other places, and is a contributor to All Things Considered.  To date, The Charm Bracelet has been translated into nine languages. He is at work on his second “heirloom novel,” which will be published in 2017.

Connect with the author at:

Thomas Dunne Books is giving one lucky winner a print copy of
The Charm Bracelet by Viola Shipman

a Rafflecopter giveaway

27 comments:

  1. No charm bracelet here or anything that tells my story. I guess I better get to work on that. I can't wait to read this book. I have been wanting it since I first heard about it.

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  2. I don't own a charm bracelet but I do have a charm necklace 21 charms that my husband has given me over the years. It is getting a little heavy to wear now. LOL

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  3. I do have a couple of charm bracelets.

    Denise

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  4. Yes. I have a tiny coin purse with charms on it that my Grandma gave me.

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  5. Don't have a charm bracelet, but I know they are back in fashion again.

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  6. Yes a vintage charm bracelet gift from my husband.

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  7. Yes a vintage charm bracelet gift from my husband.

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  8. No charm bracelet or anything in particular that tells my story, but so many things bring back memories and have a history. Love it when my granddaughter wants to hear those stories.

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  9. I do have a charm bracelet from when I was a little girl. I can't wear it now. I think it was given to me by my aunt and that she got it in Holland. I remember the charm of the wooden shoes. Now that I have a grandson, I think I will get myself a bracelet and start adding charms. :) *Marlene, I just wanted to mention that the spelling of the twitter name for Chick Lit Central needs to be corrected.*

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  10. No, I don't have a charm bracelet. I am allergic to metal of any kind against my skin. Frustrating but it saves me lots of money.

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  11. No, I don't own a charm bracelet.

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  12. I received my charm bracelet for my First Communion so many years ago. Over the years my parents added charms to it on special occasions. It means a lot to me.

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  13. My mother gave me a charm bracelet when I was very young and I still have this precious and wonderful treasure. Charms of different types which are sweet and memories.

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  14. Yes, my husband gave me a charm bracelet, and each charm commemorates something special - a trip we took together, our wedding; but my favorite charm is the guardian angel my husband got me that is a tribute to my late brother.

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  15. I wish I had a charm bracelet. Love the concept.

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  16. Yes, I do! I tend to wear it around the holidays, as it is rather jinglely!

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  17. I have a charm bracelet from high school that symbolizes everything special to me during that time in my life.

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  18. I had charm bracelets when I was younger that I added to for each trip the family took. Now, I collect salt & pepper shakers from places I visit.

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  19. I've never had charm bracelets, but I feel like my collection of mugs and teacups tell stories and memories of my life in a similar way.

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  20. yes i love it..i started before my children where born and cant wait to hand down to my daughter

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  21. When I left New Jersey in 1961, the kids in my neighborhood gave me a coin bracelet (sort of like a charm bracelet). I still have it and enjoy looking at it and remembering those kids I used to play with.

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  22. I have two charm bracelets! One is my Pandora that I received as a Christmas present from my ex-boyfriend that I still have because I love the bracelet. There is a fish charm for my last name, a 21 charm for when I turned 21, ladybug because I love ladybugs. The other charm bracelet is one I received as a gift from the author Luanne Rice with all her books as little charms. :)

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  23. No, I don't own a charm bracelet or anything that tells the story of my life.

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  24. No I don't own a charm bracelet. Thanks for the giveaway

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  25. I have a charm bracelet that I received when I was in High School which was a very long time ago. It has a lot of memories attached.

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  26. I do have a charm bracelet with things to signify special times in my children's lives. I have really been looking forward to reading this beautifully emotional story!

    Cnnamongirl at aol dot com

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  27. I do have a charm bracelet with things to signify special times in my children's lives. I have really been looking forward to reading this beautifully emotional story!

    Cnnamongirl at aol dot com

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