Unexpected Gifts

by S.R. Mallery

Can we learn from our ancestral past? Do our relatives behaviors help mold our own? In Unexpected Gifts, that is precisely what happens to Sonia, a confused college student, forever choosing the wrong man. Searching for answers, she begins to read her family's diaries and journals from America's the Vietnam War, Woodstock, and Timothy Leary era; Tupperware parties, McCarthyism, and Black Power; the Great Depression, dance marathons, and Eleanor Roosevelt; the immigrant experience and the Suffragists. Back and forth the book journeys weaving yesteryear with modern life until finally, she gains enough clarity to make the right choices.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Amazon, Book Club, Fiction, Contemporary, Adult

250 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2013

About the author

S. R. Mallery has worn many hats in her life. Starting out as a classical/pop singer/composer, she moved onto the professional world of production art and calligraphy, followed by a long career as an award winning quilt artist/teacher and an ESL/Reading instructor. Her short stories have been published in descent 2008, Snowy Egret, Transcendent Visions, The Storyteller and Down In the Dirt. Unexpected Gifts is her debut novel. Sewing Can Be Dangerous and Other Small Threads, a collection, is due out late 2013.

Reviews

[Effrosyni Moschoudi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exhilarating storytelling that makes history come alive.

Oh my. After finishing this book I feel like I've gone around the world. In a time capsule. Once again, Mallery unfolds her talent with masterful storytelling that makes history come alive. Soldiers fighting the Vietnam War, hippies in Woodstock, suffragettes, emigrants arriving on Ellis island and so much more come to life in this compelling family saga, making it a spell-binding treat you will never forget.

I have read all of Mallery's books now and I am astounded by her unique gift to make history feel like it's happening today. She takes historical events and figures from the faded-out, misty past and turns them into living, breathing things that she then, somehow, projects in striking colors onto the mind of her readers. That is a truly magical talent to have and I urge you to sample it.

[S.R. Mallery]

“S.R. Mallery has caught the defining moments in the lives of one working class, upward striving family, as each one of them benefits from and contributes to the growth and setbacks of America itself…A rich and involving book, the author has written a gem.
––Dorothy Salisbury Davis, A Gentle Murderer, Lullaby of Murder, The Pale Betrayer, etc.

“S.R. Mallery, with her strong sense of history and deft narrative skills, shows us one American family’s fascinating journey through flashpoints of American history, as a modern day young woman discovers the spirited narratives of her forbears, and is inspired to take charge of her own life…. an impressive, wonderfully thought out and well-told first novel.”
––Carla Davidson, former Senior Editor at American Heritage Magazine

“In S. R. Mallery’s fine first novel, the past is a trunk in her parents’ attic. Open it and a dozen vibrant, real characters, each with a distinct voice, leap out. The book covers decades––a stroll, a run, a skip through American history as the author adroitly rewinds and replays the greatest hits of those times, making sense of the present by experiencing the past. And who mattered.”
––Dan Vining, The Quick, The Next, and Among the Living

[Rick Mallery · Rating 5 out of 5]

S.R. Mallery (no relation) has written a fascinating novel about Sonia, a young woman struggling to break the cycle of bad choices that have run in her family. As a college psychology student, Sonia is actively involved in her psych study group where she explores her OCD behavior and where her study partner, Harry, frequently causes her to examine her relationship with her erratic and neglectful boyfriend. Sonia's boyfriend is the front-man in a rising rock band, and the band's growth in popularity creates drama that complicates Sonia's life.

Sonia finds solace in the contents of a trunk in her parents' attic. Keepsakes from the Sixties tell the story of her parents' early marriage and her father's experience in Vietnam, and journals from her ancestors give Sonia a new perspective on her personal history.

Interwoven with Sonia's narrative are first-person narratives of Sonia's ancestors going back four generations to the beginning of the twentieth century. Effectively, the collected narratives of Sonia's family history parallels U.S. history over the whole of the twentieth century. Her family is involved in the women's suffrage movement, the sinking of the Titanic, the rise of the assembly line, building of the Empire State Building and the Great Depression. World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. The Civil Rights movement and the cultural revolution of the Sixties.

Through her understanding of where she came from, Sonia gains the insight and courage to confront her present challenges.

Highly recommend!

[Simon Okill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unexpected Gifts by S.R. Mallery is as the title suggests, totally unexpected and makes the perfect gift for all history buffs. Sonia is a troubled young woman in a destructive relationship with the lead of a popular rock group who finds solace and meaning to her life when her mother takes her to the attic and unleashes the family history from a chest of unexpected gifts - diaries, old family photos, cinema stubs, medals, newspaper clippings, the list is endless but engrossingly fascinating.
As Sonia's father Sam, lies disabled in his bed, stricken by the insidious after-effects of the Vietnam War, Sonia travels back in time and lives that conflict as Sam did, not the gung-ho movie version, but the blood and guts, stinking mud, torrential rain, jungle-rot version. And the after effects of her history lesson remain entrenched in her mind giving her the ability to re-evaluate her own life.
Sonia travels back to the Depression, helps build The Empire State Building, survives The Titanic, dances a marathon, becomes embroiled in racial hatred in The Deep South, Martin Luther King, race riots, Timothy Leary and drugs and so much more. She learns of the family heritage from Bulgaria and Ireland, but most of all she learns how to live.
If only my history teacher would have taught history like Sarah has, enriching it with living, feeling people that the reader can equate to, I would have been a better student.
This FIVE STAR historical drama is a must read of the highest order and I cant recommend this marvellous book enough.

[Christoph Fischer · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Unexpected Gifts” by S.R. Mallery is a great novel, comprising of an excellent dive into American history of the 20th century, with a hint of a very palatable family saga, a kind of personal memoir and a psychological journey into self-discovery by the main character Sonia.
Coming with her own set of problems Sonia is confronted with the ageing of her parents and when she finds diaries of family members in the attic she digs into her family’s colourful and intriguing past. Mallery takes us back to various eras of recent American history, as experienced by Sonia’s family members. With great attention to detail and intensive research the author transports us to the 1960ies, the draft lottery, draft dodgers and the actual fighting in Vietnam while in the US the hippies protest and the Beatles are all the rage. Bringing the personal into the political and showing how our characters are caught up in the spirit of the times this book does an excellent job at portraying the spirit of the times, to the author much more so than many other novels with similar subjects.
Another great sequence in the book takes us back to Ellis Island in 1913 as the first members of the family are immigrants from Eastern Europe and then settle in Detroit before the Great War.
Told out of chronological sequence and with much reflection by Sonia as she is rooted in the present the book serves as a history lessons for us non-Americans as well as a psychological exploration of a woman who tries to find answers about her family but more so about her own problems, her character and her identity.
Warm, thoughtful and with great insight this is a wonderful book that has a lot to offer. Well written and cleverly structured it shows great literary talent and comes highly recommended.

[Boyko Ovcharov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unexpected Literary Treasure

Apparently, I would not even dare to attempt at describing the great style of this real literary gem. I would rather share my personal experience of reading such a remarkable historical fiction novel.
First of all, I should disagree that this is only an 'American' novel. I feel it is a book about world history indeed. However, that is only the beginning and uppermost layer of this author's work. The personal, psychological, social and cultural insights of the story really thrilled me. They are both specific and universal. Her messages about war, evils of modern society and our civil responsibilities are clear, striking and looking into the human side of some inherently major global processes. At the beginning of the book, the reader is wondering if those bloody wars and military conflicts of the 20th century might be averted throughout the 21st, especially bearing in mind all the sacrifices and negative consequences people all around the world had to put up with.
By all means, the enormous research work the author has done is to be highly acknowledged and respected. Moreover, despite the huge socio-temporal diversity involved, the plot is so finely and unambiguously developed. Apart from being lively, exciting and deeply moving, the narrative of Ms. Mallery is strewn with such variegated linguistic devices, her vocabulary range is so wide that inevitably the reader would expand their own general knowledge as well; not mentioning the abundant historical remarks and background information. Therefore, I could bravely assume her book would make a brilliant movie.
On a more personal note, regarding the ancestry of Sonia, the protagonist, I was delighted to learn that her great-grandparents' roots were to be found in Bulgaria, a country which is a relatively small one in Eastern Europe, with a great history, but not as famous as her present homeland. In other words, an author from a big and famous country like the US, describing a lovely little one like Bulgaria, is intriguing in itself, at least for myself, as a Bulgarian and European.
Moreover, even a less known coincidence is that the author picked a seemingly random Bulgarian family name (or surname), i.e. Balakov, which happens to be a famous Bulgarian footballer's/(soccer player's) name, again with a history going back to the World Cup 1994 held in... the USA.
Finally, needles to say, I would definitely look for this author's next books with eagerness!

[Christi · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is the story of Sonia's ancestors with her current problems in between. I loved the historical aspects. Each of her ancestors stories were beautifully written and showed a glimpse into that time period. But I just didn't care about Sonia's story. The writing wasn't as good and the conversations very hard to read. They just didn't flow. It was almost as if two different people wrote the book.

[Piper Templeton · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Unexpected Gifts” by S.R. Mallery is an engaging, informative historical fiction novel that centers on psychology student Sonia reading her ancestors’ journals. Women’s suffrage movement, Vietnam, Woodstock, immigrants’ experience and challenges, and The Great Depression are some of the historical events covered through the journals. Sonia also discovers personal behaviors and patterns of her family that tie into her own experiences, such as her compulsiveness.

As Sonia delves into the journals, she also copes with her self-absorbed rock star boyfriend, Mike, her new friendship with kind-hearted Harry and his friend Martha, and her parents’ fractured relationship as her father never overcame his Vietnam experience. The writer expertly weaves parallels between Sonia’s present and her ancestral past.

Sonia is a conflicted, caring young woman trying to figure life out. She gets stuck in patterns and behaviors and is at times self-destructive. Her journey of finding her center is satisfying and interesting, and she is a character I really cared about.

[P.C. Zick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unexpected Gifts by S.R. Mallery lives up to its name. And the wrapping on that gift peels off layer after layer until the final beautiful gift reveals itself.

The book takes the reader on a journey through one young woman's legacy left by her ancestors. Sonia feels adrift in her life as she continues her relationship with an up and coming rock star and pursues her degree in psychology.

Starting with her parents' lives in the 1960s, she goes back through the years of the twentieth century as she "unwraps" the gifts left her. It's not always a glittering and shiny gift, but there's always a secret revealed as Sonia applies the lessons from her parents, grandparents, and great grandparents to her own life.

The book revisits some of the most significant events of the 1900s going back to its earliest years. Immigrants and Ellis Island; Detroit and the assembly line; the Great Depression and the climb out of it; women's suffrage; the rumblings of race relations prior to the Civil Rights Movement; Woodstock and Vietnam—it’s all in this gem of a book.

Ms. Mallery shows the connection to our family ties and the lessons that should be learned from the painful experiences of those who went before.

I felt the scenes with Sonia's great aunt Adriana were the strongest ones—or at least the ones that held an important meaning for me. Adriana is caught up unwittingly—or so it seems—in so many important causes in the first half of the century. Yet, Adriana's sensibilities are all there in the movements, but not finely tuned until she experiences firsthand what it meant to be black in the United States. She relates through the prejudice she witnesses and through her own experiences as a woman as she fights for the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment.

The most compelling part of Unexpected Gifts comes from the perspectives presented. We are shown the worst side of the characters through the eyes of another. Then a short while later the perspective switches as the author changes point of view. Then we begin to understand, if not wholly condone, the behaviors and thoughts behind some of the worst characters. Sam, Tony, and Andrei, the fathers in each of the decades portrayed, are human, fallible, and often times cruel. But when the telescope delves into their minds, the reader is shown that judging others without living their lives, does a great disservice to us all as humans. Ms. Mallery shows us that the ones to suffer the most are the ones inflicting the most harm on others.

If you love history, particularly of the twentieth century in the United States, and if you love family sagas that connect the generations, then Unexpected Gifts is the perfect read, and the perfect gift to give someone unexpectedly.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is engaging on so many levels! First, it’s a journey of personal exploration as Sonia, the young protagonist, struggles to find her own identity and to help her wheelchair-bound father fight the demons of his own past in Vietnam. That alone would have made for a great novel. But this is just the topmost layer of this deeply engaging novel. Sonia’s journey into her family’s past involves an examination of her family’s memorabilia that, in turn, leads to an interesting look at many events that shaped the history of the United States in the 20th century.

The way S.R. Mallery presents that history is absolutely brilliant: from Woodstock to the Vietnam War battles, from fascination with the Beatles to the Great Depression, she shows these historical events as an integral part of Sonia’s family history. Not for a second does the book feel like it’s presenting history for its own sake, but it’s always integrated into the main story line. With each historic event, Sonia takes a step closer to understanding herself and making her own life better.

Many aspects of the US history that have fascinated me for a long time are shown here through the perspective and experiences of well-drawn and realistic characters: from 1913 Ellis island experience to the draft lottery and attempts to dodge the draft, to McCarthyism to the construction of the Empire State Building and to many others. But none of these events ever take over the story. The story is clearly and unmistakably about Sonia.
The structure of the novel is unique and interesting, its narrative following Sonia’s exploration and moving seamlessly between different times and different family members, all of it enhancing the overall effect of the novel.

Another aspect of this novel that I really enjoyed is the author’s vivid and mesmerizing writing. Just take a look to get a tiny taste of S.R.Mallery’s style:

“In 1930, the big city breadlines expanded by the hour, snaking around buildings like a cobra slowly choking the life out of its victims…”

“…the sky was an ominous, mottled-gray, and all at once she envisioned the gigantic Dust Bowl of the 30’s.”

“The sun flickered through the trees, invading my eyelids with tiny flashes of memory…”

A wonderful book. Highly recommended.

[Murielle Cyr · Rating 5 out of 5]

S.R. Mallery has written a captivating novel that revisits several pivotal periods of American history. Sonia, a bright young psychology student, is far from being in control of her life. Her dead-end relationship with a controlling musician who demands she be at his beck and call reflects her own dysfunctional family: her father, a bitter paraplegic of the Vietnam war who abuses his wife both emotionally and verbally and turns to alcohol to bury his past. Her mother, who is basically a slave to her husband���s needs, understands the importance of their Irish and Bulgarian roots and has kept all the family journals and mementoes boxed up in the attic. So when Sonia confides her feeling of being lost, her mother suggests she read the family journals to find an answer to her problem.
The more Sonia reads, the more emotionally connected she becomes to her ancestors. It is by learning about her past that she is able to understand her present reality and discover her inner strength.
The journals go back several generations and bring us to a different era in American history, all depicted with great accuracy and warmth. Her story of her Irish ancestor Daria���s escape from an abusive alcoholic family in the old country to relive an identical one in America was extremely poignant. There are many stories of hardship in this well crafted
historical novel, and Sonia is the product of all their pain and suffering. She must learn to be inspired by the resilience of those that came before her, and honour the sacrifices they made so she can be who she is today. A great thought provoking read from a master writer.

[Kathleen Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am sure everyone at one point in their lives has wondered about the lives of their ancestors. I know I have and have often thought about what my ancestors did in their lives, of course I will never know because my family was not known for sharing events to me as a child. But can you imagine having a whole trunk full of mementos and journals?? How awesome would that be? Sonia is a college student who is dating the wrong man, has a crippled angry father, a submissive mother and is very confused as to what the future holds for her. Her mother shares a trunk with her and there she learns about her ancestors through the journals. The journals take us to the Vietnam era and what it was like to be a soldier in that war, Woodstock, the drug culture. The journals go back even further to the the Depression era, and even further back to the Suffragette movement and what it was like to be an immigrant in a country that was supposed to be the land of opportunity.

As I am of an age for a lot of the scenarios in the story, I could relate to a lot. I grew up during the Vietnam era, very familiar with Woodstock, Timothy Leary and I even lived the hippie life for awhile. I found this story to be a remarkable in how it was written, to some it may seem like a lot of going back and forth with the different ancestors of Sonia's, but it is written is such a way that the different journal entries flow together seamlessly to tell a very poignant tale of a very normal family with hopes and dreams. A bit of nostalgia for me, loved it! I highly recommend this book.

[Marsha Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever wanted to take a sneak peek into the lives of your ancestors, not just out of curiosity, but in hopes of gaining some insight into your own psyche? I certainly have wondered what those who went before me were really like - how did they feel and what part of them was passed on to me? This is the subject S.R. Mallery tackles in her sweeping saga: Unexpected Gifts.

Mallery weaves together a tapestry of family history and places it in a precious trunk hidden in an attic, waiting to be discovered by her main character, Sonia. A diary with bits and pieces of her heritage are revealed to her a little at a time. Like an old quilt, some of the sections are in wonderful condition, while others can never be mended. But, put together, they are intricately stitched into every fragment of her life.

And while telling the story of Sonia's family, Mallery tells the story of America, with all its splendor and its flaws. Her research is impeccable and she describes different periods of American history with vivid detail. But she never strays far from how these historical events affect the lives of everyday people. Which of course, is the point.

Beautifully and sensitively written, anyone who loves a good story interwoven with actual historical events will enjoy this very special novel. Well done Ms. Mallery!

[Amy Metz · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this moving novel, S.R. Mallery takes us from one historic event to another, weaving a family's history with American history and teaching us and the main character some valuable lessons along the way. From Ellis Island to the Great Depression, Eleanor Roosevelt, civil rights, Vietnam, Woodstock, to present day, Mallery gives us a fascinating, intimate look at these events, as seen through the eyes of her characters. The book left me wishing my ancestors had left diaries and letters that would help me know them just as Sonia got to know her family.

I'm in awe of how the author could write about the events so realistically, putting the reader firmly into different time periods in America's history. Unexpected Gifts is about human frailties and the impact choices have in our lives. It shows the ripple effects that someone else's actions and the culture of a nation can have on a person and ultimately an entire family--generation after generation.

This book is thought provoking and a lesson of the human spirit. I really enjoyed this book with its history lessons and life lessons. How interesting it was to get to know generations of one family through their births, deaths, courtships, and marriages woven throughout the book. Sonia's unexpected gifts are the attic treasures, letters, and diaries from the past. This novel is the reader's unexpected gift.

[Ellie Midwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this is one of the books you don’t want to miss! “Unexpected Gifts” is not your usual love story; it’s a complex mosaic of memories, emotions and feelings, all interconnected and interrelated and creating a unique world that you can’t help but feel immersed into.
Sonia is a psychology student struggling with OCD, even though she doesn’t want to admit it to herself. One day, visiting her father, who was left handicapped after the injury that he sustained in Vietnam, Sonia comes across “a treasure chest” together with her mother Lily, and soon her travel down memory lane begins, uncovering family secrets and providing so much needed insights into her own problems.
Slowly, day by day, diary after diary, Sonia starts understanding herself more and more, and not without her fellow student Harry’s help. I absolutely loved how the author made Sonia relate to her ancestors’ fears, troubles and shortcomings, and make her own right decisions based on their experience.
The events of the past, described in the diaries, are obviously meticulously researched and deal with many important themes, such as feministic movement, civil rights struggle, immigrants’ struggles, the Vietnam War and many more. All in all, “Unexpected Gifts” is a true gem that I’ll certainly be re-reading in the future. Great work!

[Brandt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This meaningful novel is rich with historical events making it as if we were reading the memoir of a family. The saga of what made Sonia’s (the protagonist) family and therefore made Sonia is unforgettable. Unexpected Gifts by S.R. Mallery is a rewarding read that dabbles in philosophy as the author paints with incredible detail that seems pulled from authentic diaries and letters. She places us into the story by connecting us to the context of our society’s memory. The characters and dialogue are reminiscent of eavesdropped conversations we want to hear, people we would like to know. And we do get to know them, and care, as the events crowd in on their lives and Sonia transforms (perhaps too strong a word). She does gain understanding and maturity through the experiences of those that came before her. This author has many skills beyond writing, research is one – the non google kind, the kind that comes from talking to people who were there or actually reading old journals (or at least making us feel that way). And then there is how she blends the past and the present with a seamless texture that only a “true” storyteller can manage. A remarkable debut novel – looking forward to more from this author. Highly recommended 5-stars.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this wonderful time period book – and it’s an especially great book for book clubs!

I was tasked with picking a book for our book club – and I began a search to find a time period fiction book that had very good reviews. I found it with Sarah Mallery’s book ‘ Unexpected Gifts’, and that’s exactly what the books was full of – gifts! It is a great story telling about many generations of a family that was an American (and even international) history trip as well. I enjoyed how the book switched point of views between the various characters. What a treasure trove of rich family history Sonia found in her parents attic. What’s especially great about the book is that it lent itself so well to book club conversation. It made all of us want to journal a book to our own children! Our book club was especially lucky in that we had the privilege of having Sarah Mallery join us (via phone from CA to our group in MA) – that was my ‘unexpected gift’ to our book club! We SO enjoyed and appreciated her taking the time to talk to us. What a special night that was!

[B.R. Snow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unexpected Gifts by S.R. Mallery is a terrific, multi-layered novel that combines family drama and dysfunction, a look back at America in the 20th century, and a personal journey of self-discovery. Using a collection of family memorabilia, Mallery takes readers on a journey with her protagonist, Sonia, a woman who is simultaneously trying to find answers to her own struggles as well as those of her family, especially her father; an emotionally crippled man trapped in the past.

As Sonia reflects on her family’s history, Mallery takes the opportunity to give all of us a chance to look back at several events and time periods that helped to shape American society. This is handled extremely well and the “history lesson” never overshadows the novel’s primary narrative.

A great find, a great read. And a great reminder that we should always keep an eye out for Unexpected Gifts ; you never know when they’ll show up.

[Robert Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historical fiction at its best ...

A beautifully constructed novel, which cleverly moves between the present day and significant events in 20th century history, incorporating turning points for the Balakov family. S R Mallery’s plot blends fiction with historical fact with sensitivity and a talent for conveying a real sense of the periods – the use, the imagery and the emotions. The characters are skilfully drawn and completely credible in their actions and speech. I thought the depiction of how the young Lily and her friends Sam and Leroy were first confronted with racism at the time of civil unrest in the early 60’s was very moving, and a powerful way of showing what was going on, by saying less.

The result is a work with strong visual images and a great sense of nostalgia which conveys the power of childhood memories.

[WTF Are You Reading? · Rating 5 out of 5]

S. R. Mallary uses a lyrical and highly descriptive voice to bring to life the panoramic tableau that is one young woman's family history.
The stories here are so rich and inviting that the reader quickly falls headlong into each. Whether the trials, tribulations, and harsh realizations of the Vietnam War; the brave and determined spirit of the Women's Sufferage Movement, or the bleak days of The Great Depression; Sonia comes to find herself in the voices of those she loves.
This book is a brilliant study of how a family's past, and the experiences, lessons, and mistakes of each of its members directly effect not only things such as a family's financial position and social standing, but their belief systems, morals, and idiosyncrasies as well.
This wonderful story is part history, part drama, part social and anthropological microcosm, and all great reading!

[Cynthia Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unexpected Gifts by S. R. Mallery is for anyone who has ever wondered what their parents, grandparents, and other ancestors were like when they were young. It is for anyone who wonders how life has changed over several decades. Sonia, the main character, goes up in the attic to find old diaries, photograph albums, and newspaper clippings about her parents. How did they meet, what was New York City like in the 1960s, what was her father like before and after he went to Vietnam, and what was it like for her ancestors to see the Empire State Building for the first time. This is an excellent story, fast-paced, and completely believable.

[Marisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unexpected Gifts was an unexpected book!

So many historical events and times are covered from Woodstock and Vietnam to the depression, emigration/immigration and the poor conditions people were forced to endure once arriving here. Even the Titanic is briefly touched on!

I have never read a book that wasn’t a textbook that was able to successfully cover so many time frames in such little space, with the accuracy you really would expect from reading the journals of those who had actually lived in those times.

[Avigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like historical fiction; it is the most I read. Maybe I can say it is one of my favorite genres.
"Unexpected Gifts" is a book I got for free through the mail sent to me a couple of years ago. I just finished the ebook I was reading and while browsing my kindle app. I decided to pick up my older ebooks.
The plot's premise is fascinating, going through Sonia's family history, the main character. At the same time, you get snippets of historical events that happened to the family through the time.
Notwithstanding these facts, I found myself quite confused at different times throughout the story. I wasn't always certain when the main character was reading from her mom's diaries and when real life was happening. I appreciated the different points of view, but I believe the author could have organized the information just a bit better. I did find the ending a bit rushed and unresolved, but that is just how I viewed it.
There were times that I thought it was a fictionalized memoir.

[Tamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unexpected Gifts is an absorbing and highly entertaining work of fiction by USA Today Bestselling Author, S.R. Mallery.

A college student studying psychology while in a supposed relationship with the leader of a rock band, Sonia feels as if she’s lacking direction in life. So, on one of her regular family visits, Sonia and her mother begin searching through boxes in the attic, discovering not only important mementoes from her disabled father’s past as a Vietnam Vet, but also her mother’s journals detailing her somewhat chaotic life as a young girl growing up in New York.

After discovering the Purple Heart her father was awarded, Sonia learns about his horrific experiences in Vietnam, while the diaries relate most particularly to her mother’s struggles when she’s left behind pregnant after her husband’s drafted into the Vietnam War. The arrival of the Beatles in America and her stay at Woodstock are only a few of several historical events that are revisited by Sonia through her mother’s eyes. The story covers numerous historical details relating to The Timothy Leary era, McCarthyism, the Great Depression as well as some of the social trends of the time—such as Tupperware parties and dance marathons.

But there are also some life lessons to be learned, as Sonia reads about both parents’ past experiences with racism as well as discrimination.

By bringing history to life, something that this award-winning author is acclaimed for, Sonia is able to make better choices in her life, by understanding her own ancestors’ experiences and flaws.

As with other stories written by this skilled author, the characters are realistic and well-drawn. The book is beautifully written, detailed, and researched with vivid descriptions of the past. As the present is meshed with the past, Sonia’s story proves to be not only interesting but highly entertaining.

I give it five stars!!

[Heather Lawson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally posted here: https://heatherreviews.wordpress.com/...
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When I find a book that has historical elements woven into the plot, I get excited because I love a good historical fiction when it’s executed well. I was particularly intrigued to see how Mallery would weave the present with the past in her story.

Sonia is having trouble in her life. She’s confused about where things should be going and lost in what she should be doing. Her relationship plays on her mind constantly as she explores the past of her ancestors through major historical events as she learns a little lesson from each one that she can apply to her life in the present.

My favourite part of this story was definitely the historical flash backs. Reading about various events – such as Woodstock – was really interesting. I enjoyed seeing how the ancestor’s adventures all had a tie-in to what Sonia was struggling with at that particular time.

The problem I had with this story was that the historical flash backs were more interesting than the main story. For me, Sonia didn’t seem to want to learn anything from the stories that were presented to her. She constantly makes the same mistakes over and over. The dialogue was stinted and unnatural during Sonia’s scenes, which jolted me out of the story, especially after immersing myself in the historical times. I found myself looking forward to her ancestors’ pasts more than what was happening during Sonia’s moments.

While the story fell flat in its present moments, it shone for its look into the past. An entertaining insight into past significant events that will keep you glued to the pages and wanting to find out more. While there are lulls in the plot, they don’t stick out so much as to make you put the book down.

Worth checking out for fans of historical fiction. A great read to unwind to.

[Dean C. Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not genre fiction, but something more literary and lyrical. The pace is calmer than I’m used to, but the depth of the character portrayal draws you in all the same. These are real life people facing real life challenges that most of us read to get away from, in order to grant ourselves a momentary respite. That being the case, it’s all the more curious what makes the magic of this story work. I surmise it’s because we discover the heroes in ourselves, which we might otherwise overlook, in the caring of an aging parent, in facing the shock and horror of a draft notice… and most of all, by taking the time to revisit all that has happened to us. One might say that is one of the underlying themes of the book, teaching the reader to see how even the most average of us are endowed with so many larger than life qualities and experiences, if only we’d take the time to recognize and celebrate them. And in cherishing those moments, become more truly who we are; otherwise we seldom glimpse the whole of the crystal, getting lost in one or another of the facets.

And for those of you who are fans of historical dramas (the book can also be read at this level), you’ll find the past enlivened in ways no social studies teacher could do. The flesh and blood characters, their emotions and heartaches help us to connect with some of the more poignant moments that shaped the American consciousness. You could say this book is as much a coming of age drama for America as it is for the heroine.

[Njkinny (Njkinny's Blog) · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://www.njkinnysblog.com/2015/08/u...

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Unexpected Gifts by SR Mallery is truly an unexpected gift to readers. A realistic and emotionally rich story that took me back to the times I had only read about in my history lessons in school, this story took me inside and made me feel a part of that era.

When I heard about the book, the first thing that appealed to me was the title that is intriguing and had me checking out the blurb which had me reading the book. Interesting and eye catching the blurb had me assuming that this would be an insightful historical story with a gripping story line and I am so happy that all my assumptions came true with this book!

The author merges lessons from the historical events beautifully into Sonia's present life and brings to life the history in technicolours in our minds. Her writing style is engaging and simple and it shows that she has done extensive research to write the book. The story is cohesive, crisp and held me engrossed right till the end.

A soothing, entertaining as well as a learning experience, I absolutely loved reading Unexpected Gifts by SR Mallery and strongly recommend it to everyone. 4.5 out of 5 stars to it. Go grab your copy and enjoy reading! SR Mallery has really won my heart with her soulful writing and I am sure to keep a lookout for her future books.

I received the book from the author and I am very thankful to her. The above review is my honest and unbiased opinion and in no way influenced.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Copy received from Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for an honest review.

"Unexpected Gifts" by SR Mallery was full of many unexpected surprises and twists and turns. Mallery's story was heartbreaking, sweet and fulfilling. The heroine, Sonia, was less than perfect. She was constantly making wrong decisions and choosing wrong people in her life. Aside from her bad choice in relationships she also struggles with addiction. Sonia is very lost and doesn't seem to be able to find her path. One mysterious trip to her families attic takes her on a journey to the past. When Sonia digs into her ancestral path she discovers that her family participated in the woman's suffrage movement. During this adventure Sonia is able to clear her mind and find her path. The author was able to skillfully transport Sonia from the past to the present and connect her journey with her families. I really enjoyed this story. I liked Sonia and found her to be very human and endearing. I also loved learning about this point in history where woman fought for equal footing. I highly enjoyed and recommend this story.

[Steven Ramirez · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, let me first say that I’m not really a fan of historical fiction. I’m more a horror-thriller kind of guy. That said, I had the pleasure of reading Unexpected Gifts and now have a new appreciation for this genre. The author has placed her protagonist Sonia in a contemporary setting, with all of the problems and pain of a nervous young woman trying to take control of her life. And things haven’t been going all that well. Doesn’t sound like the past, right? Well, here comes the historical part. Sonia is introduced to past generations of family and friends courtesy of letters that her mother shares with her over a series of days. These aren’t normal letters, mind you. They literally transport Sonia back to a time and place when these people were struggling with their own issues—many of which are tied to famous events. I thought this was a clever device that worked extremely well.

Unexpected Gifts is a book of longing, hope and wonder. Does Sonia ever reach that place of joy and contentment? You’ll have to read those letters to find out.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prepare to get comfortable before you begin this novel. You will be drawn in and won't want to be interrupted. From the deeply personal historical remembrances to the present day relationships and choices being made, your emotions will react to each page.
Watching how Sonia struggles with her personal demons and desires to help others deal with their struggles, you'll find yourself wishing you could lend a helping hand.

Having grown up in the 60s, the Viet Nam and Woodstock sections combined with my own memories making the scenes quite vivid. I appreciated all of the looks back into history and the parallels to Sonia's current life. This was an unusual approach to a main character with OCD.

I received this book in exchange for an unbiased review.