The Swallow’s Nest

Published by: MIRA
ISBN13: 978-0778320005
Buy the Book: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound, Books-A-Million, Apple Books, Kobo

 
Reading Guide: View
Excerpt: View/Download

OVERVIEW

Some Children Are Gifts, and Some Are Possessions

When Lilia Swallow's husband, Graham, goes into remission after a challenging year of treatment for lymphoma, the home and lifestyle blogger throws a party. Their best friends and colleagues attend to celebrate his recovery, but just as the party is in full swing, a new guest arrives. She presents Lilia with a beautiful baby boy, and vanishes.

Toby is Graham's darkest secret—his son, conceived in a moment of despair. Lilia is utterly unprepared for the betrayal the baby represents, and for the love she begins to feel once her shock subsides. Now this unasked-for precious gift becomes a life changer for three women: Lilia, who takes him into her home and heart; Marina, who bore and abandoned him until circumstance and grief changed her mind; and Ellen, who sees in him a chance to correct the mistakes she made with her own son, Toby's father.

A custody battle begins, and each would-be mother must examine her heart, confront her choices and weigh her dreams against the fate of one vulnerable little boy. Each woman will redefine family, belonging and love—and the results will alter the course of not only their lives, but also the lives of everyone they care for.

PRAISE

Since The Swallow's Nest features a lifestyle blogger, I thought you  might enjoy what real life bloggers have to say about it:

"I read, on average, more than thirty books a month and review 40-50 percent of those. Most books I remember in general terms—a sense of characters and an overview of plot; fewer leave me with these plus vivid fragments—favorite lines, particular scenes, an apt image or two. Rare books haunt me, pushing themselves to the forefront of my mind even as I read other, very different books. The Swallow’s Nest belongs in that last group. I highly recommend it."
—Janga at The Romance Dish

"This novel offers genuine compassion, forgiveness, and selflessness as the real meaning of motherhood."
—Nancy Carty Lepri in the NY Journal of Books

"This book explores the love of a mother for her child and the different forms it can take.  It looks at what happens when children don't feel loved and the different ways love can be expressed.  I loved this book and highly recommend it.  Grade: A."
—This That and the Other Thing

"The Swallow’s Nest is a beautifully rendered novel that quite poignant yet ultimately uplifting.  Emilie Richards tackles very difficult subject matter with ease and the resulting story tugs on readers' heartstrings."
—Book Reviews and More by Kathy

"Would The Swallow’s Nest end in a way that would serve the child best? Would the characters come to accept the decision? I couldn’t stop turning the pages, so this one earned 5 stars from me."
—Serendipity, Life's Unexpected Treasures

"This is a wonderfully written novel. The Sparrow’s Nest is a novel that will you need to sit, relax, read and soak up the words.  One of the best women’s fiction I have read in quite some time."
—Comfy Chair Books

"In short, a well written, heart and mind engaging story that had me from page one until the very end."
—Book Date

And from RT Book Reviews:
"Richards writes about sensitive subjects with style and respect."

TRAILER

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Only a few novels I’ve written have required more research than this one. But certainly the best part of days spent reading books, making phone calls and exploring the internet was enjoying the websites of home and lifestyle bloggers, like Lilia, the main character in this book.

For fun let me share some of my favorites, as well as links to projects and recipes similar to those Lilia debuts in the novel.

Just a few of my favorite research blogs and projects:

Cottage Decorating

  • The Lettered Cottage (I particularly liked this one because she also shares stories of her adoption from Haiti.)
  • The Lily Pad Cottage (Kelly also provides recipes in addition to how-tos from her renovation of a Michigan lake cottage.)
  • An Oregon Cottage (Jami and family turned their 1982 ranch house into a cozy cottage. Decor, nourishing recipes, organic gardening.)

Recipes

Lilia’s Projects

Do bloggers really share intimate details of their personal lives online the way Lilia does? They certainly do. Here’s one example to consider.

Did I miss something you wanted to know more about? Check my Pinterest Board for The Swallow’s Nest to find more links and ideas. Or drop me an email using “contact” above, and if I have something I can share with you, I will.

The internet is filled with great projects, recipes, and decorating advice. Ask Google for help. I certainly did. Enjoy.