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A Good Kind of Knowing
A Good Kind of Knowing is a novel about the power of music and friendship, the relationship two-steps that go on in old Texas dancehalls, and the secret to finding just a little bit of common ground in a world full of distrust. Sera Taylor's store is the one place in Lakeville, Texas, where individuals from all walks of life share a universal love for music and a respect for the gypsy-like woman behind the antique glass counter.
Readers get a taste of the unorthodox connection between Sera and Mack, a young local cowboy and musician, and Sera’s previously untested devotion to her husband Bill. They learn of her relationship with Ruby D., the vibrant but misguided mother of five; with Louie, the shy high school band director; with Beverly, the religious, upper-class socialite; with Antonio, a local bar owner striving to make a life for himself; with Tommy Lee, a rich and directionless gigolo; and with Wes, the only out-of-the closet gay man for miles.
As Sera battles a serious illness, the characters must overcome long-held stereotypes to save Sera’s store, and in the end, large parts of themselves.
Readers get a taste of the unorthodox connection between Sera and Mack, a young local cowboy and musician, and Sera’s previously untested devotion to her husband Bill. They learn of her relationship with Ruby D., the vibrant but misguided mother of five; with Louie, the shy high school band director; with Beverly, the religious, upper-class socialite; with Antonio, a local bar owner striving to make a life for himself; with Tommy Lee, a rich and directionless gigolo; and with Wes, the only out-of-the closet gay man for miles.
As Sera battles a serious illness, the characters must overcome long-held stereotypes to save Sera’s store, and in the end, large parts of themselves.
216 pages, Paperback
First published October 30, 2012
10 people are currently reading
210 people want to read
About the author
Kathy Lynn Harris
3 books52 followersKathy Lynn Harris was lucky enough to grow up in a ranching family in rural South Texas — surrounded by flat, dry land; mesquite trees; Larry McMurty books; and colorful, real-life characters who knew how to work hard, get their hands dirty, and drink straight whiskey on Saturday night.
She’s eaten fried rattlesnake, braised squirrel, and just about every part of a cow that’s edible, except the testicles. (A girl must have standards.) She attempted vegetarianism for two weeks in 1999, her spirit eventually broken by her dad’s barbecue sausage and her mom’s world-famous chicken-fried steak.
More than 10 years ago now, Kathy packed up her boots and left Texas to make the move to Colorado—to live out her dream of being a kick-ass, back-to-nature pioneer woman. Which sounds like she doesn’t shave her legs. But she totally does. Most of the time.
She bought a log cabin at the top of a mountain, at an elevation of 10,500 ft. above sea level, where electricity and running water are not givens, and it snows 10 months out of the year. But the trout are plentiful. The Continental Divide is right there in the backyard. The stars are so close you can almost touch them. And the closest (and nicest) neighbors are foxes, mountain lions and bears.
Kathy is the author of two Amazon bestselling novels, one of which won a national literary award in 2013. She’s also written children’s books, magazine articles, a nationally recognized online column on mountain living, short stories, essays and award-winning poetry. Her work has appeared in numerous published anthologies, as well.
Ice-cold Dr Pepper, good manners, and Texas A&M football are still part of her religion. According to Buzzfeed and Zimbio: Her celebrity lookalikes are Sandra Bullock and Catherine Zeta-Jones (in the curvy years). If she were a dog she’d be a pit bull. And her Big Bang Theory character is Penny, although her husband believes she’s really more like Sheldon. But that’s only because of her fear of germs. She does not, and never has, watched Star Trek.
Her greatest accomplishments to date include raising the world’s smartest and most beautiful little boy, marrying a handsome and funny husband who cooks up a mean taco, and adopting two untrainable golden retriever mixes who rack up so many food and vet bills she has to crowdfund them.
Be sure to check out Kathy’s blog, You can take the girl out of Texas, but …, where she writes about anything she damn well pleases at kathylynnharris.com/blog
Kathy loves to hear from readers, so feel free to email via kathy@kathylynnharris.com.
Find out more about Kathy's writing at http://kathylynnharris.com.
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/BlueStraggler...
Twitter: http:twitter.com/comtnliving
Kathy is also pleased to join book discussion groups who choose her novels for discussion — just ask!
She’s eaten fried rattlesnake, braised squirrel, and just about every part of a cow that’s edible, except the testicles. (A girl must have standards.) She attempted vegetarianism for two weeks in 1999, her spirit eventually broken by her dad’s barbecue sausage and her mom’s world-famous chicken-fried steak.
More than 10 years ago now, Kathy packed up her boots and left Texas to make the move to Colorado—to live out her dream of being a kick-ass, back-to-nature pioneer woman. Which sounds like she doesn’t shave her legs. But she totally does. Most of the time.
She bought a log cabin at the top of a mountain, at an elevation of 10,500 ft. above sea level, where electricity and running water are not givens, and it snows 10 months out of the year. But the trout are plentiful. The Continental Divide is right there in the backyard. The stars are so close you can almost touch them. And the closest (and nicest) neighbors are foxes, mountain lions and bears.
Kathy is the author of two Amazon bestselling novels, one of which won a national literary award in 2013. She’s also written children’s books, magazine articles, a nationally recognized online column on mountain living, short stories, essays and award-winning poetry. Her work has appeared in numerous published anthologies, as well.
Ice-cold Dr Pepper, good manners, and Texas A&M football are still part of her religion. According to Buzzfeed and Zimbio: Her celebrity lookalikes are Sandra Bullock and Catherine Zeta-Jones (in the curvy years). If she were a dog she’d be a pit bull. And her Big Bang Theory character is Penny, although her husband believes she’s really more like Sheldon. But that’s only because of her fear of germs. She does not, and never has, watched Star Trek.
Her greatest accomplishments to date include raising the world’s smartest and most beautiful little boy, marrying a handsome and funny husband who cooks up a mean taco, and adopting two untrainable golden retriever mixes who rack up so many food and vet bills she has to crowdfund them.
Be sure to check out Kathy’s blog, You can take the girl out of Texas, but …, where she writes about anything she damn well pleases at kathylynnharris.com/blog
Kathy loves to hear from readers, so feel free to email via kathy@kathylynnharris.com.
Find out more about Kathy's writing at http://kathylynnharris.com.
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/BlueStraggler...
Twitter: http:twitter.com/comtnliving
Kathy is also pleased to join book discussion groups who choose her novels for discussion — just ask!
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
October 27, 2013
It was a good read. Hit home. I lost a sister to colon cancer no too long ago so it was very emotionally charged to me.
December 6, 2012
If you were to read the book blurb, you would notice that the book promises to be a book of great depth, but the blurb really does not give you a clue as to how far you will be pushed (emotionally) by the characters in this book.
One woman, possessing a great kindness and ability to reach people, is a uniting force in a rural town. She runs a small music store, and thru music connects and earns the respect of everyone, from the town ruffians to country music stars. She is the epitome of the old saying, “Music is the universal language”.
The writer does a superb job in setting the scene in the small Texas town; people sitting on front porches, calling out to one another, music blaring from the local honky-tonk, filling the night air, and children running barefoot down the street. You have the town holy-rolly and the one down on his luck. Sera and the music store are the common denominator in all of their lives.
A Good Kind of Knowing by Kathy Lynn Harris is an emotionally charged book. I spent the last third, perhaps even half, of the book sobbing so hard I had to stop reading many times. Perhaps it was only my reaction. I found myself drawn in and completely immersed into the town, into the lives of the people, and especially with Sera. It is a book that reads as life happens. That is a sentence that may not make sense to anyone else, but it describes the book for me. The depth of emotion in the book is unlike anything I have ever read. It is an amazing book.
"You gave me what I wanted and Needed in my life. All I desired was a world that wouldn't fall apart on me - and my sweet carpenter man, you gave me that."
Once I finished the book, I was so emotionally drained I just sat for a while. Then, I realized that I needed to write a review. My next thoughts were – how do I begin to tell anyone about what this book did to me. It is easy to tell you what the book is about, but it doesn’t stop there. It is a book that exceeds five stars.
"I just realized what peace is. Bill, it was you. You gave me peace."..."You know, I would've been okay with a few minutes here and there of happiness. But you gave me entire years of it, baby."
"And the, with the pain found only when one soul is being torn from another, this man who hid emotion like family secrets, wept. Open, gut-wrenching near-howls. The kind that echoed..."
"See these shoes? Sera always said red could bring you luck. But for me, it was Sera who brought the luck. And now, I guess we're all going to need a little more red in our lives. I know I will."
One woman, possessing a great kindness and ability to reach people, is a uniting force in a rural town. She runs a small music store, and thru music connects and earns the respect of everyone, from the town ruffians to country music stars. She is the epitome of the old saying, “Music is the universal language”.
The writer does a superb job in setting the scene in the small Texas town; people sitting on front porches, calling out to one another, music blaring from the local honky-tonk, filling the night air, and children running barefoot down the street. You have the town holy-rolly and the one down on his luck. Sera and the music store are the common denominator in all of their lives.
A Good Kind of Knowing by Kathy Lynn Harris is an emotionally charged book. I spent the last third, perhaps even half, of the book sobbing so hard I had to stop reading many times. Perhaps it was only my reaction. I found myself drawn in and completely immersed into the town, into the lives of the people, and especially with Sera. It is a book that reads as life happens. That is a sentence that may not make sense to anyone else, but it describes the book for me. The depth of emotion in the book is unlike anything I have ever read. It is an amazing book.
"You gave me what I wanted and Needed in my life. All I desired was a world that wouldn't fall apart on me - and my sweet carpenter man, you gave me that."
Once I finished the book, I was so emotionally drained I just sat for a while. Then, I realized that I needed to write a review. My next thoughts were – how do I begin to tell anyone about what this book did to me. It is easy to tell you what the book is about, but it doesn’t stop there. It is a book that exceeds five stars.
"I just realized what peace is. Bill, it was you. You gave me peace."..."You know, I would've been okay with a few minutes here and there of happiness. But you gave me entire years of it, baby."
"And the, with the pain found only when one soul is being torn from another, this man who hid emotion like family secrets, wept. Open, gut-wrenching near-howls. The kind that echoed..."
"See these shoes? Sera always said red could bring you luck. But for me, it was Sera who brought the luck. And now, I guess we're all going to need a little more red in our lives. I know I will."
January 23, 2013
I received a copy of A Good Kind of Knowing by Kathy Lynn Harris in exchange for an honest review. Sera Taylor is our main focus, and is a woman who can bring people together. She lives in the small town of Lakeville, Texas and runs a widely popular music store. She’s friends with almost everyone, and the town is hit hard when Sera is diagnosed with cancer. The book weaves Sera’s story and her battle along with the town’s reaction and how they all pitch in to help save her store – and themselves.
This book is really one to pull at heartstrings. I lost my grandmother to breast cancer just a few years ago, and watching someone with an illness is an incredibly hard thing. The book brought me back to the time while reading, and I shed quite a few tears throughout the way. I enjoyed the Texas setting, Sera’s spirit, and the supporting cast who really added a lot to the book overall. At times I felt a bit of a disconnect with the characters, practically Sera and Mack. I’m not sure if I just didn’t get enough of their story to understand their connection or what it was, but something was missing there for me. I adored Ruby D. (and the name!) even though she didn’t always make the best decisions. While Sera’s husband could seem infuriating at times, I got it. I got his way of dealing with his wife’s diagnosis, and overall I thought this novel was extremely well-written. One I recommend – as long as you have some tissues handy!
This book is really one to pull at heartstrings. I lost my grandmother to breast cancer just a few years ago, and watching someone with an illness is an incredibly hard thing. The book brought me back to the time while reading, and I shed quite a few tears throughout the way. I enjoyed the Texas setting, Sera’s spirit, and the supporting cast who really added a lot to the book overall. At times I felt a bit of a disconnect with the characters, practically Sera and Mack. I’m not sure if I just didn’t get enough of their story to understand their connection or what it was, but something was missing there for me. I adored Ruby D. (and the name!) even though she didn’t always make the best decisions. While Sera’s husband could seem infuriating at times, I got it. I got his way of dealing with his wife’s diagnosis, and overall I thought this novel was extremely well-written. One I recommend – as long as you have some tissues handy!
January 21, 2013
First word that comes to mind - Heartbreaking. Followed by fantastic! Kathy Harris needs to put the warning label right on the front page -- You will get sucked in and you will run a gauntlet of emotions. Sera Taylor is that woman that everyone loves (well except the crazy religious socialite, Beverly). She is genuinely interested in everyone and how they are doing, forming strong bonds with many of the patrons of her music store. When her world is torn apart by a devastating illness, the bond between Sera and the people in her world become everything to her. As all the characters struggle to deal with mortality, love, and loss, you are going to be completely enraptured with the story that is being laid out before you. Husband, Bill, struggles to show his emotions while young singer Mack seems to have a new set of feelings. Best friend, Ruby, provides some sass while Tommy Lee provides the aggravation that keeps Sera going. When Kathy Harris approached me to do a review for her, I had told her it sounded like a heartwarming and heartbreaking story that I couldn't wait to read. It was just that. The characters are not always likable. They are raw and emotional and sometimes human reaction is just not good. They are, however, all based on their love for Sera and their true feelings shine through in the end.
I give this five stars and warn you that you will need to have the Kleenex handy.
I give this five stars and warn you that you will need to have the Kleenex handy.
December 6, 2012
A Good Kind of Knowing by Kathy Lynn Harris is a truly gentle and inspiring love story. The characters really drive the plot with their array of character traits, quirks and interwoven lives. The relationships between the characters are lovely to follow as well as entertaining.
There are many humourous, witty moments in the novel that had me smiling and several tender moments that allowed me to bond with the collection of characters. This was all possible because of Kathy Lynn Harris' meticulous craft and character development and interaction.
The plot moved a little slow for me at times, hence holding back from 5 stars, yet I'm sure readers who enjoy tender romances and stories that are driven by friendships and relationships would rate it higher.
A lovely and somewhat emotional 4 fluttering fairies!
Disclosure: A Good Kind of Knowing was received for free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
There are many humourous, witty moments in the novel that had me smiling and several tender moments that allowed me to bond with the collection of characters. This was all possible because of Kathy Lynn Harris' meticulous craft and character development and interaction.
The plot moved a little slow for me at times, hence holding back from 5 stars, yet I'm sure readers who enjoy tender romances and stories that are driven by friendships and relationships would rate it higher.
A lovely and somewhat emotional 4 fluttering fairies!
Disclosure: A Good Kind of Knowing was received for free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
February 12, 2013
A Good Kind of Knowing is full of warm and wonderful characters that you'll soon feel as if you you've known forever. I enjoyed the descriptions of Sera's music shop and the goings on set in the heat and humidity of the Texas summer. The author gives us a true insight into small town Texas and it's colourful people. This book deals with a sad theme, but somehow leaves you feeling uplifted and warm. 4 stars.
*Disclaimer: I was given a complimentary copy in exchange for a review. This by no means affects my words or rating.
*Disclaimer: I was given a complimentary copy in exchange for a review. This by no means affects my words or rating.
August 23, 2013
I felt as though I knew these characters. They were so well described, and true to what you'd expect from them, that they seemed like real people. When I saw the heartbreak coming, I had to put the book down for a while. I couldn't read the tragic ending of a vibrant life. Eventually, I was compelled to honor these characters by finishing the book. Really! Fictional characters were weighing on my conscience. Well done, Ms. Harris.
January 30, 2013
I picked this book up two nights ago thinking I would read a few chapters. After chapter 8 I knew that wouldn't be possible and continue to read about these wonderful characters till I finished the book early in the morning. Thank goodness I had off the next day. This book is so well written. I think all of us would love to have a friend like Sera in our life.
April 23, 2013
I received this book from a giveaway on Goodreads. I loved it. It was wonderful to see how Sera affected the people around her without knowing it. It had me reflecting on my own life and impact. I thought it was well written and I loved the characters.
January 7, 2013
This was a sweet and tender and moving story that was very well written. I was emotionally connected with the characters. At times I was smiling, at times I was sobbing. A Good Kind of Knowing is a truly inspiring and worthwhile read.
March 8, 2013
Second novel by author Kathy Lynn Harris. This is much more serious than the first one, and it took me awhile to get used to it. Harris evokes a keen sense of place...and later of loss. A beautiful book.
April 12, 2013
Loved it! A heart-touching story of a woman, a marriage, her friends and her town. Sera made a wonderfully huge difference in the lives of many people. A woman to be celebrated. Amazing characters. Amazing story.
November 15, 2012
I love this author!! This is the second book I've read that I just flew threw. It's do difficult for me to find a book I truly enjoy and don't want to put down, but she accomplished it again.
August 20, 2013
The author spins a really great story...engaging , good writing and plot, interesting characters!
December 11, 2012
Let me say that whenever I read a book about the realities of cancer, I am rather intrigued. So often people want to smooth over cancer and not make it seem like a big deal, but it is. And I knew nothing about pancreatic cancer. I would say I know somewhat how horrific it is now. I connected with this story, and Sera's attitude truly inspired me. If I die of cancer, I hope I can face it with the same determination and strength.
I wasn't sure about this book when I started it, but it wasn't long before I found myself into the story. I enjoyed the fact that it was about music, and I have to say that the "holy rollers" bit did not even offend me. In fact, I found myself rolling my eyes. These are the people who kick others when they are down, and it reminded me of how ashamed I am of people like this who do things in the name of the Lord. It's no wonder people are turned off to religion.
I was honestly only offended by one thing in the book--the profanity. I grew very tired of unnecessary profanity in the book, and it did contribute to my not enjoying the book as well as I could have. I also would have liked to have understood some more of the back stories on some of the characters, but that is just a personal opinion.
I can definitely give this book a 4-4.5 star rating. I didn't find myself as emotionally involved in the story as I sometimes am. I didn't feel I got really close to any character, but it was a definite worthwhile read. The different ways that the characters responded to the cancer truly covered a variety of responses. This was a point that the author covered quite well. I can definitely recommend this book to most adults. It is a fantastic reminder of what is truly important in this world.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
I wasn't sure about this book when I started it, but it wasn't long before I found myself into the story. I enjoyed the fact that it was about music, and I have to say that the "holy rollers" bit did not even offend me. In fact, I found myself rolling my eyes. These are the people who kick others when they are down, and it reminded me of how ashamed I am of people like this who do things in the name of the Lord. It's no wonder people are turned off to religion.
I was honestly only offended by one thing in the book--the profanity. I grew very tired of unnecessary profanity in the book, and it did contribute to my not enjoying the book as well as I could have. I also would have liked to have understood some more of the back stories on some of the characters, but that is just a personal opinion.
I can definitely give this book a 4-4.5 star rating. I didn't find myself as emotionally involved in the story as I sometimes am. I didn't feel I got really close to any character, but it was a definite worthwhile read. The different ways that the characters responded to the cancer truly covered a variety of responses. This was a point that the author covered quite well. I can definitely recommend this book to most adults. It is a fantastic reminder of what is truly important in this world.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews