I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Two women showcase the lengths that a woman will go to in order to willingly sacrifice for love in author Norma Watkins’s “In Common: A Novel of Love and Sacrifice”.
The Synopsis
Lillian Creekmore grows up at her family’s popular rural spa. She successfully runs an entire hotel, yet longs for a husband. Then she meets Will Hughes.
Velma Vernon accepts life on a small, struggling farm until a boy she barely tolerates proposes marriage. To accept means duplicating her parents’ hard life. Alone, she leaves for the city and triumphs, not as a wife, but by being the best at her job. Velma is content until the most beautiful man she has ever seen walks into her office.
This moving and darkly humorous novel follows the intertwined lives of women willing to surrender everything to a man.
The Review
This was a rich and character-driven narrative. The author did an incredible job of layering the description with rich history and culture that lent a heavy amount of background for the powerful themes presented in this narrative. The story honed in on the themes of love, family, independence, and identity throughout this novel, as the characters struggled to find that balance and what meant the most to them in their lives. The outside influences of the society they lived in and the historical events that impacted the world as a whole (WWII, JFK Assassination, etc) made these themes come to life in a natural yet powerful way.
The character dynamics in this book really defined the narrative as a whole. Both Velma and Lillian proved to be connected by one man in their lives. Yet, their lives continuously mirrored one another as they sought their own identity but could not conquer the expectations that society had for them, nor the emotional impact of the love they shared with the man in their lives. The sacrifices and struggles so many women endured and went through during the twentieth century in the United States were weighty and heartfelt, and yet the strength it took to face these struggles, along with bouts of unrequited love or hard-fought love, made the stories of these women soar and feel relatable to so many others out there who continue to live their lives in this manner.
The Verdict
Heartfelt, impactful, and engaging, author Norma Watkins’s “In Common” is a must-read family and women’s fiction novel you won’t be able to put down. The lengthy read feels both epic yet nuanced in its delivery, and the emotional impact of both women’s journey through the most important historical and culturally relevant events of the American 20th century serve as the perfect backdrop of the character’s internal struggles and emotions, making this a heartening and passionate read. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
About the Author
Raised in the South during the civil rights struggles, Norma Watkins is the author of In Common and two memoirs: The Last Resort, Taking the Mississippi Cure (2011), which won a gold medal for best nonfiction published in the South by an independent press; and That Woman from Mississippi (2017). She lives in northern California with her woodworker husband and three cats.
You can find her online by visiting her website or reading her blog.
Purchase a copy of In Common by visiting Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Bookshop.org. Make sure you also add In Common to your Goodreads reading list.
Blog Tour Calendar
February 13th @ The Muffin
Join us as we celebrate the blog tour launch of In Common by Norma Watkins. You’ll have the chance to read an interview with the author and win a copy of the book.
https://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com
February 15th @ Michelle Cornish’s blog
Visit Michelle’s blog to read about good food as reward and vengeance by Norma Watkins.
https://www.michellecornish.com/blog
February 18th @ A Storybook World
Join Deirdra as she features In Common and shares a guest post from Norma Watkins about writing truths about people who might be hurt by them.
https://www.astorybookworld.com/
February 20th @ Lisa Buske’s blog
Stop by Lisa’s blog to read a guest post by Norma about civil rights and growing up in the South during Jim Crow.
February 22nd @ Author Anthony Avina’s blog
Join us today for author Anthony Avina’s review of In Common.
http://www.authoranthonyavinablog.com
February 24th @ Fiona Ingram’s author blog
Stop by Fiona’s blog to read a guest post by Norma Watkins featuring a look at how women were treated in the South pre-feminism.
https://fionaingramauthor.blogspot.com
February 25th @ The Book Diva’s Reads
Visit Vivian’s blog for a feature of In Common by Norma Watkins. You’ll have the chance to read an excerpt too!
https://thebookdivasreads.com/
February 27th @ Mindy McGinnis’s blog
Stop by Mindy’s blog to read a guest post about bad sex.
https://www.mindymcginnis.com/blog
February 28th @ Seaside Book Nook
Join Jilleen for a spotlight of an excerpt of In Common by Norma Watkins.
http://www.seasidebooknook.com/
March 1st @ The Mommies Reviews
Join Glenda as she reviews In Common and shares a guest post from the author about sharing the hard stuff.
March 2nd @ The Frugalista Mom
Join us for a guest post from Norma Watkins on how you are unique and irreplaceable.
March 4th @ World of My Imagination
Stop by Nicole’s blog where Norma Watkins is a guest for “Three Things on a Saturday Night.”
https://worldofmyimagination.com
March 5th @ A Wonderful World of Words
Visit Joy’s blog for a feature of In Common by Norma Watkins.
https://joyffree.blogspot.com/
March 6th @ Life According to Jamie
Join us as Jamie reviews In Common
http://www.lifeaccordingtojamie.com
March 8th @ Author Anthony Avina’s blog
Revisit author Anthony Avina’s blog to read “What are Women Willing to Sacrifice for Freedom?” by Norma Watkins.
http://www.authoranthonyavinablog.com
March 9th @ The Knotty Needle
Stop by for Judy’s review of In Common.
http://knottyneedle.blogspot.com
March 10th @ Lisa Haselton’s Reviews and Interviews blog
Join Lisa for an interview with Norma Watkins.
https://lisahaselton.com/blog/
March 11th @ Reading in the Wildwood Reviews
Join us today for Megan’s review of In Common.
March 12th @ Jill Sheets’s blog
Stop by Jill’s blog to read her interview with Norma Watkins
Author Anthony Avina's Blog 
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