RECOMMENDED READING: One Step over ther Border by Stephen Bly

Popping in here for a second to tell you about a FABULOUS book I just finished.

One Step over ther Border by Stephen Bly is one of the most delightful reads I've had in a couple years. This book reminded me SO much of my upbringing when my family lived in New Mexico. We frequented rodeos, and my dad is still a cowboy. This book brought SO many fond memories of times out West.

But even without the close-to-my-heart setting, this book will live on my keeper shelf to infinity. Well...infinity of my life, or the life of my shelves that is. LOL!

The character of Hap was so unique and differently put together, I found myself talking to him out loud in portions of the book. LOL! He became SO real. I loved, loved, loved the exchange between Hap, and his friend Laramie. The way Stephen penned the adventures of these two and their quest across the West to find a woman named Jauanita made me both feel like I was traveling with them, and made me want to go back and visit.

Hap is such a quirky character, I find myself smiling at some of his antics, and many portions of dialogue (which I could "hear" in the book as I read..thanks to Bly's excellent prose) is ringing in my head. Such rich sensory details, but the dialogue drove this book in my opinion and made this character come to life. Emotive, witty writing. Simple, down-to-earth yet like nothing I've ever read before.

Bly's choice of wording throughout the entire book had me praying that I can craft stories with such unique word pictures. Some novels read the same as other novels. I tend to see the same old beats and tags over and over in fiction. Bly comes up with stuff outside the box and it really worked to make this book one of the most special I've ever read. I'll keep it as a reader. I'll keep it as an author who wants to study how to craft an unforgettable book with characters who will stand out in my mind for decades. I won't go into the plot because I don't want to spoil things for you. Seriously one of THE best books I've ever read.

I'm getting every book this author writes from now on....and hopefully I'll be able to get his older releases too because I LOVE the prose and the characterization.

Hope you pick up your copy today. You can order it off Amazon, or go to Stephen Bly's website:

http://www.blybooks.com/

Or click the title of this blog post to be taken directly to the author's website.

"Hap"py reading. :) :) :)

PS...I love this book so much, I'm going to give away a free, new copy to someone who signs my comment page here on the blog. Be sure to leave contact info in the form of an email address. (Leave spaces before and after the "@" sign so internet spiders don't phish your email addy though.)

I will draw a winner's name on Aug 15th. So sign THIS post's comment section if you're interested in receiving a free book.

That said, this book is reasonably priced and worth the money. So pick up your copy today!

Squirrel