April 25, 2012

Review & Giveaway : On the Island By Tracey Garvis Graves

On the Island

Paperback329 pages
Published October 11th 2011


When thirty-year-old English teacher Anna Emerson is offered a job tutoring T.J. Callahan at his family's summer rental in the Maldives, she accepts without hesitation; a working vacation on a tropical island trumps the library any day. T.J. Callahan has no desire to leave town, not that anyone asked him. He's almost seventeen and if having cancer wasn't bad enough, now he has to spend his first summer in remission with his family - and a stack of overdue assignments - instead of his friends. Anna and T.J. are en route to join T.J.'s family in the Maldives when the pilot of their seaplane suffers a fatal heart attack and crash-lands in the Indian Ocean. Adrift in shark-infested waters, their life jackets keep them afloat until they make it to the shore of an uninhabited island. Now Anna and T.J. just want to survive and they must work together to obtain water, food, fire, and shelter. Their basic needs might be met but as the days turn to weeks, and then months, the castaways encounter plenty of other obstacles, including violent tropical storms, the many dangers lurking in the sea, and the possibility that T.J.'s cancer could return. As T.J. celebrates yet another birthday on the island, Anna begins to wonder if the biggest challenge of all might be living with a boy who is gradually becoming a man.

          My Review 


     Have you ever picked up a book that by time you finish it, it leaves you like "Wow"? I know a book is good when I finish reading it and I'm still thinking about it days after. That's what On the island did to me. This book consumed me! So much that I read it in less than one day. Now that's a record for me. I just could not stop reading until I was done. And when I was done, I wish I could continue reading the story. I didn't want it to end.

     When Damaris first gave me this book to review, I was extremely hesitant. But only because T.J. had cancer. Reading books with characters going through cancer is something that hits to close to home. So I hardly ever pick one up. But when I did pick it up, I couldn't put the book down at all. I read it everywhere I went. That's how good this story is. You become an eyewitness to the obstacles Anna and T.J. go through in this story. And you can see how their relationship blossomed. There was nothing ugly or malicious about their relationship. They both grew stronger as individuals and as a couple in the island. On the Island is beautiful love story that took my breath away.

     If you're someone that can put aside the difference of age between the two characters, You will love this book. It is like "Survivor" but with only two contestants and a sweet romance twist to it. I give this book a huge 5 stars. A definite Good (Great) Choice for Reading. This is definitely one of my favorite books of this year.



                                        Giveaway:

Ms. Tracey would love to do a giveaway here. There will be two winners. The first place winner will get an autograph paperback of On the island and the second place winner will get an ebook.

                                         
                              Here are the rules:

1. Leave a meaningful comment below along with your email address on this post.
2. Feel free to ask Ms. Tracey a question, she'll love to hear from you.

54 comments:

  1. You convinced me. I just went and bought it. smiles....

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  2. This book sounds amazing. I would absolutely love to read it. It sounds very adventurous and heartwarming. I love books about couples falling in love. I'm always looking for new books to read. Even if I don't win a copy I would still go out to buy it. It has definitely captured my attention. Thank you for offering readers the chance to win a copy of your book. It means a lot when authors do things like that. smiley317537@yahoo.com

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  3. I do love island survivor type stories and I love that there is a romance to go along with it. I am eager to see how the age difference plays out during their time there. Great review! This definitely sounds like a book I would enjoy! :)

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  4. This book sounds very interesting to me, the age difference does sound a little weird but it depends how the story develops. I would love to read this story and see if I like it as much as you did!!!!

    bridget.howard@hotmail.com

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  5. Have read it twice and bought it for three friends. Would LOVE a signed copy!! My email is meghanlelly77@comcast.net

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  6. Ahhhh.. I entered my email wrong! It's meghankelly77@comcast.net

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  7. would love o read it.The age difference fascinates me.lomazowr@gmail.com

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  8. A friend told me to read this book and so I downloaded it onto my kindle and read it in one day! One of the best books I have ever read! And for a new author Tracey did Superb!! I cant wait for another book to come out! :D

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  9. My email is mistymarie18@hotmail.com!

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  10. My email is esandell2000@yahoo.com

    I absolutely LOVE this book!! I read it twice in a month!! I would love a signed copy, as I already have the ebook for my Kindle!!

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  11. I've read this book and told my friends about it. Great story. I would love a signed copy!

    My email is julie67114@gmail.com

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  12. I didn't even get through the whole blurb and I'm looking for my B&N gift card to order it. lol the only thing is that I need to find it... Darn kids!
    Lmackesy @ gmail.com

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    1. Give them a reward if they find it for you. LOL. I really really LOVE this book. I am one that falls in love with certain books and this one is one of them.

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  13. GREAT review...and after reading the book blurb, this sounds like a book I'd really like to read. FAB cover too, btw. Thx for this AWESOME giveaway op! :)

    barbbattaglia @ yahoo.com

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  14. Ok - I was going to comment on this line 'a working vacation on a tropical island trumps the library any day.' I have worked in libraries for almost 20 years so I was going to say something about libraries being a great place to work. Then I read further and found out what this book is about and added it to my TBR list. This story sounds great and I can't wait to read it! Thanks for the chance to win a copy.

    And Tracey - have you ever vacationed (working or not) on a tropical island? And if so, where? Thanks!

    suzebomb(at)gmail.com

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    1. Hi Susan!

      My husband and I honeymooned in Jamaica but that's the only tropical place I've been to. I would love to go to the Maldives someday, just to see if it's as beautiful as I think it is :)

      Tracey

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  15. Thank you for the chance to win, the cover is beautiful and the story sounds great! edysicecreamlover18@gmailDOTcom

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  16. This sounds like it has so much to love in it! A young man who has faced his mortality head on with his cancer and having to do it again on the island, survival among the elements for both characters, a grown woman having to keep it together for both of them....I am interested to see how the relationship develops. Thanks for the giveaway!

    candc320@gmail.com

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  17. I loved this book and glad you did too.

    Thanks for sharing your review!


    Please do not enter me for the contest since I already have it.

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  18. Sounds like a very good book! Great review and thanks for the chance to win!
    natasha_donohoo_8 at hotmail dot com

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  19. Your book had me trying to hide my tears on a cross country flight and I never cry?!? Love happily ever afters, thanks for writing a wonderful story and letting me lose myself in it. johnjgroganii@yahoo.com

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  20. This definitely sounds like a book I would like to read. It poses some interesting issues, more than just the usual paranormal romantic type. I guess the question I have for Tracey
    is if she has had any personal connection, for lack of a better word, with someone who had cancer. That element really adds to the dangerous elements of the story. Of course I would love to win this book but I will buy it if I don't!

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    1. Hi Putt Putt,

      My brother's best friend died of colon cancer about 4 years ago and it was especially devastating because he left behind a wife and two-year-old son. Other than that I really don't have a lot of personal experience with cancer; I definitely had to do my research to learn all I could about Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

      Tracey

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  21. Write sounds really good! I would be hesitant to read it too...but I like your review and really wanna read this book! Adding to my tbr list right now:)

    andieleah78@gmail.com

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  22. I really want to read this awesome book. It sounds very good.Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com

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  23. I love finding books that can open my mind. I will not be passing up on this read. Thank you for the review and giveaway.

    Jnmt3@hotmail.com

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  24. This book sounds so intriguing. I love finding new to me authors and books, and this sounds like one that definitely needs to be added to by TBR pile.

    ledoty1 at gmail dot com

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  25. Tracey,

    I have to admit that I was leery about purchasing a book about a 16 year old boy and a 30 year old woman beginning a relationship on deserted island. I didn't know if it would creep me out too much to finish it. But I bought it and I LOVED IT!! I loved the characters, the dialogue, and your description of the island made me feel like I was right there with them fighting off the bugs and starving. It was a wonderful book and I can't wait until your new book comes out this fall.

    Thank you! Cindy

    cindyd@cinci.rr.com

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    1. Wasn't it amazing? I felt like I was right there with them as a silent third character.

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  26. Oh! It sounds like an adult version of Island of the Blue Dolphins, with added tension! Now I really, really want to read this. I wonder- what was the inspiration, especially for the age differences and the cancer threat? It would be a difficult enough thing on its own, without those added complications....
    Thanks for sharing this find with us, and for the giveaway!

    bethwade1 at gmail dot com

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    1. Hi Beth,

      The inspiration, or maybe I should say the challenge for the book, was to place two people who really *shouldn't* be together in a survival situation and then sit back and see what unfolded. I knew if I could make the readers fall in love with the characters, they'd be more accepting of anything that happened between them.

      I knew T.J.'s battle with cancer would mature him a bit faster than his peers and give him a stronger will to live. The cancer threat added some tension because the possibility that he would suffer a relapse while on the island definitely existed.

      I loved Island of the Blue Dolphins :)

      Tracey

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    2. Tracey, I think you did an amazing job with your story. Not only did you challenge your characters by being stranded in an island but the fear of T.J's cancer returning was even more intense. You also took your time before throwing them together. You made us love them as individuals before you made us fall in love with them as a couple. A job perfectly done.

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    3. Thank you, Wanda!! And thank you to everyone who stopped by and entered the drawing :) I appreciate all your kind words!

      xoxo,

      Tracey

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  27. ON THE ISLAND sounds like an amazing read. Yes please!!

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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  28. I'm curious about the tense (present or past?) and POV (third or first with only one or both characters?) of this book. I wonder which combination of tense and POV would make me most sympathetic to the characters. Of course, I'm wondering if they'll get off the island and if T.J.'s cancer returns. (extemter at hotmail dot com)

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    1. Hi there!

      On the Island in written in a past tense alternating first person POV. The two main characters take turns narrating the chapters.

      Best,

      Tracey

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  29. Im new to your blog :)
    Thank-you for such a great giveaway! Im very interested in reading THIS book.. I have read only GOOD reveiws on it

    lzamudio02@hotmail.com

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  30. Question..
    I search for the book in my local Library catalog and was bummed to find out they did not have it? Will they be getting copies? Or is this a question to direct towards them? Thanks :) Can't wait to read it!
    lzamudio02 @ hotmail .com

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    1. Since Tracey is a indie author, you must likely won't find it there unless she donates a book to that library. Your best bet is probably buying a kindle version for 2.99 if you have kindle. But wait till this contest is over. You never know, you might win it here.

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  31. I've been hearing a lot about this book and the love story appeals to me. It's different and I like that.

    Cambonified[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  32. Loved your review. It is a bittersweet thing here. Your review made me want to read it more. I don't know why, can't describe it. I don't think you could help not to it's a lonely life just the two of you.
    delivery.RN at gmail dot com

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  33. The premise of the book sounds very interesting. Nice review.

    bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  34. The book sounds really interesting. It is definitely something that I would love to read. Very nice review!

    I've yet to read a book where one of the main characters has cancer, which is something that I'm familiar with not just because a couple of my family members have passed due to cancer but because I had skin cancer, albeit a treatable form. So I'm curious about this story and how it plays out.

    Pam
    vanillaorchids69(at)gmail(dot)com

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  35. I read this book a few months back...and I read it in like 12 hours....I could NOT put it down. I think Tracey is a genius and I'm so excited for her next book! If I won an autographed copy I would seriously display it on my shelf in the living room...that's how proud I would be! I love this book!

    TaraTagli at gmail dot com

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  36. I am always looking for my next favorite book to talk about with my friends. THIS is my new favorite book! On the Island is an amazing story of how two people bond when they are put in the most difficult situation of their lives. The whole time I was reading I tried to put myself in their shoes. It was such an emotional read for me. It doesn't even matter what type of relationship they formed while they were stranded. If it were me I could not go on with my life without having the other person in it as either a lover, best friend, or brother. When you go through something like that it changes you forever. The only person that could possibly relate to you is the one you experienced it with. That is Anna and T.J. They are two genuinely GOOD people, and Tracey does a wonderful job of making them seem so real.

    Tracey, thank you for a phenomenal read! What inspired you to write about a couple with such an age difference?


    Adrienne

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    1. Hi Adrienne,

      Thank you!! Your awesome feedback has put a big smile on my face.

      To answer your question, I wanted to write a book that would put two main characters into extreme survival situations, and I knew the pairing needed to be both compelling and interesting. Putting two people on an island that really *shouldn't* be together - and watching what unfolded - was a challenge too intriguing to pass up. I also thought if I could make the reader identify and sympathize with the main characters, they'd be more likely to support whatever happened between them.

      Best,

      Tracey

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    2. Well, it worked! I definitely sympathized with them. I've got my co-workers reading too. They love the book so far!


      Adrienne

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    3. email address: adgedefo27@yahoo.com

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  37. This giveaway is now over. The winners will be announced on our Facebook Page and Twitter Page @gcreading & @gcrwanda.

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