When adored town spinster Joy Talley ends up in a coma after a peculiar accident, she is surprised and incensed to hear what is being said in her hospital room, including plans for her funeral. When she finally wakes, her well-meaning, but bossy, brothers and sisters dismiss her claims, thinking her accident has knocked her off her rocker, but Joy has never felt better, and is determined to set the past right.
Now Joy must face her darkest secret and risk reopening wounds caused by an old flame who rejected her more than twenty years ago. But taking risks brings change, as well as a new, younger man into Joy’s life, making her feel like a teenager again. Suddenly Joy’s once humdrum life is anything but boring and routine and the future beckons, exhilarating and bright.
Tina Ann Forkner is an adjunct writing instructor and school librarian. Her novel WAKING UP JOY was a HOLT Medallion finalist from Virginia Romance Writers. She is also the author of RUBY AMONG US, ROSE HOUSE, THE REAL THING, and NASHVILLE BY HEART.
“Filled with warmth and vividly drawn characters, and laced with intrigue, it captured my imagination and tugged at my heartstrings. I am a fan of author Tina Forkner, and she does not disappoint with Rose House. More, please.” -Eileen Goudge, New York Times bestelling Author of Garden of Lies
“Tina Forkner is an insightful, engaging storyteller. If you’re a fan of Jodi Picoult, you won’t be disappointed.” ~ Susan Meissner Author of A Fall of Marigolds
“Book clubs will be hooked!” -Kristy Woodson Harvey, New York Times bestselling Author of The Wedding Veil
“With layers of secrets and regrets set among the lush vineyards of the Sonoma Valley, this intergenerational tale will capture the hearts of readers who enjoy escaping to a setting that’s as sweeping as the story itself.” – Julie Cantrell, New York Times bestselling Author of Perennials
"Tina Ann Forkner has given us a wise and tender story full of the kind of transcendence our daily lives need so desperately right now. —Kimberly Brock, bestselling author of The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare
"Slip this one into your beach bag!”— Sonja Yoerg, Washington Post bestselling author of True Places and The Family Ship
This is going to be hard for me to review. I don't quite understand my feelings about this book. It took me a lot longer than it would normally take me to read this length of book, but that's not because I didn't like the story...I did. And I didn't dislike the characters, but I guess if I'm being honest I also didn't feel very attached to them.
So, what I liked: The family dynamics, Joy's relationship with her niece Ruthie, Joy's description of her surroundings during her coma, Doc (he's actually the only character besides Ruthie I felt attached to, and I mostly just feel bad for him), the house and history of the house/property.
What I didn't like: The "mystery" of what happened long ago was dragged out far too long. I actually figured it out for the most part pretty early on so all of the hinting and alluding to it just annoyed me after a while. For some reason the physical description of the characters did not fit their personalities to me. I don't know if the author waiting too long to give descriptions or what it was, but when Joy's physical appearance was mentioned it threw me off because it's not what I had in my mind.
What it comes down to is this; I really enjoyed the concept and storyline. We just visited Joy's inner turmoil a bit too much for my taste. Too many words with not enough substance. If you're good at skimming over parts without missing out on key elements of a story, dive right in! If not, proceed with caution...this one may take you a while.
When I started this book I felt very amused and often found Joy and her family very colorful, comical and full of southern-style charm; I was drawn in by the story of Joy's "fall" and her family's response, as well as the resulting scenes during her hospitalization. Can you imagine being stuck in a situation where you could hear the...well, let's call them lovingly tumultuous...comments of your family members while they are under the impression that you can not hear them? Wow. That scenario alone made the book worth reading!
As I continued on, I swiftly discovered that there was much more to this story than Joy's accident. All of that southern charm, as we southerners know very well, is often hiding something larger, more meaningful and often filled with old, unexpressed emotion. Joy and her family experience the destruction of a tornado, shortly after her hospitalization (they are, after all, living in tornado alley), and that tornado seemed to serve as an excellent metaphor for the unfolding events throughout the rest of the novel.
After the tornado, and subsequent damage to the family home, lots of family "stuff" is exposed, damaged and brought to the surface; at this point, both Joy and her family realize they have quite a bit of work to do...both at home and with each other. Some long and securely-held secrets are uncovered, wounds opened, and relationships realized; I was completely drawn in by the way Tina Ann Forkner created characters whose depth continued to expand, page by page.
Definitely more than I'd expected, I was delighted by this whimsical, funny and downright relatable tale of a small town family, their friends and their story; already featured on a recent must-read holiday list, I would highly recommend Waking Up Joy as an entertaining read for any fan of meaningful, heartfelt fiction!
Waking Up Joy is such a charming tale! Author Tina Ann Forkner is a gifted storyteller. Forkner had me at “I’m still breathing, so I obviously didn’t kill myself.”
I fell in love with the small town of Spavinaw, Oklahoma, and the quirky, down-to-earth Tally family. Count me in with the others whose favorite characters are Joy and Ruthie. But don’t think this novel is all whimsical fun…Forkner’s characters have depth and you’ll find yourself cheering for Joy as she fights to put the past behind her and move forward with her life. Forkner manages to keep readers turning the pages, until the very end when secrets are revealed and Joy claims her heart’s desire. I highly recommend this feel-good story!
Waking up Joy is the perfect title for this novel. I don't want to give spoilers, but I love how the "hospital time" worked to push the story forward and tied in with the title. This novel has that air of expectation and magic, similar to a Sarah Addison Allen novel.
Joy, a middle-aged, unmarried main character (whose head I loved being in--very Southern gal!), wakes up to her life bit by bit, realizing the cobwebs she needs to sweep away before she can move forward. I enjoyed the progression of events and the love triangle...I was drawn to both men and wondered which one would steal Joy's heart. I'm not a huge romance reader, but some just grab hold of me and won't let go, and Waking up Joy was one of those enjoyable, memorable reads. Joy, her family, and the other characters felt like real people, and I felt like this story brought me a new perspective on some things. I was impressed with this whimsical, endearing story, and I will be reading more of Tina Forkner's books!
I had stepped away from reading romance or contemporary stories for a bit. Yet, this book sounded good so I took a chance. So glad I did. I not only had a pleasurable time reading this book but I also found and discovered a new author. Not going to be new to be any longer as I will be checking out more books by Mrs. Forkner.
Everyone in this story was fun and eccentric. Which made them entertaining. Although I do have to say that my favorites were Joy and Ruthie. They came from two different spectrums of the age gap but the way the story was written, it was like they had role reversals with Joy awaking and being young again ad Ruthie imparting words of wisdom through her diary and Joy's mother. Of course, then there was all of the rest of the Talleys. They were a dysfunctional family but in a good way. They came together when it really counted. The ending was a happy one.
From the first chapter, I was loving this spunky, quirky story that is just full of life. Forkner takes a simple character and makes her into someone who keeps the reader entertained throughout the whole story. With her first person storytelling, Forkner brings Joy Talley, a 40-something, southern spunky redhead into existence. Joy is living in the small town of Spavinaw, Oklahoma with her four siblings, nieces and nephews.
Soon, upon the start of Waking Up Joy, the main character, Joy Talley, gets into a very bizarre accident and she ends up in a coma. Joy is single and has been single since her first love, Jimmy, the town mayor, dumped her over twenty years ago. Jimmy is now a widower. He comes and goes out of Joy's life, leaving her at times confused and other times with a craving desire for what they once had.
This book is lots of fun, witty, and at times completely hilarious. I tried to take nothing in this book seriously but the author does have an agenda and you get a feel for it through Joy's emotions. With this in mind, there were times when I felt real sadness for Joy who lost a couple decades just hanging on, waiting for her life to happen. Other times, I felt lightheaded and dizzy, completely happy for her and even experiencing her feeling of those fluttering butterflies.
I liked how all the chapters just flowed together seamlessly. They are simple and easy to relate to. I like the dynamics of this family, whatever happens they are always there for each other through thick and thin. Even if they don't always agree with each other, they work it out.
Waking Up Joy is full of laughter, lots of secrets, and total amusement. Overall, this book was completely entertaining. It's one of those stories where you can just get lost in and completely forget about the stressors in your life. This book is everything and exactly what I needed when I needed it most. Then again, that's what a good book is all about!
"Waking Up Joy" is the story of Joy, a never married woman who finds herself in a bit of a predicament at the beginning of this book. After freak accident, she finds herself in a coma. Although the rest of the world thinks that she can't hear them including her big, comedic family, she can most definitely hear them and all of their different thoughts about what happened and what she meant to them.
At the beginning of the book, we know that Joy has a difficult past that she has been struggling with. The author gives us details little by little, which at times I found very frustrating because it was hard to get emotionally involved with the character without really knowing what was going on with her until towards the end of the book. We get to see you Joy as she wakes up and is determined to make the past right. It was really interesting to me to see how did Joy goes about doing this. In a way, it was interesting that such an event had affected her so much even though she was far removed from when it actually happened.
The writing of the book was okay. Joy's family was a lot of fun to read about. She comes from a huge family filled with a lot of different characters. We definitely got to know Joy the best out of all of her siblings; however, we also get to know one of her nieces pretty well too, which added to the story. Overall, I thought this book was interesting. If you like family stories and don't mind not knowing a lot of details in the beginning, this book might be a good pick for you.
Joy, a forty-something spinster in a small town, falls into a coma because of a freak accident. While unconscious, she hears conversations by her somewhat dysfunctional family. Jimmy, her love interest from twenty plus years ago, attempts to kiss her while she's unconscious.
This book was deep. Told in the first person, you learn all about Joy's life, how she's pined after the same man for twenty-plus years. Her old beau, Jimmy, ended up marrying someone else. But, their love was shattered one day and a dark secret haunts Joy, and initially, she can't get over her pain.
But, this book is about Joy's journey, as she learns to deal with her pain. You also see her interacting with her weird family, as well as her ex, Jimmy. Sparks still fly between Joy and Jimmy, and Joy wonders why Jimmy has not made an attempt to befriend her since his wife died five years ago.
This book also shows that we can't rely on charms, magic apple trees, and superstitions for happiness. We need to rely on our Heavenly Father for happiness.
What a great read it reminded me of a Modern day Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood. The quirkiness of the family yet fierce loyalty. Joy goes on a journey of her life both past and present. I commend her for finding the strength to do so, I'm not sure if this is classified as a feel good book or self help but it entertains and makes you the reader think of choices you have made, and how just maybe you can put the past at peace and move forward to happiness. Matilda Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More
I enjoyed Joy's story of finding herself and the crazy Tally family. Living in a small town means that everyone knows your business and that most of what you will hear from others will be nothing but rumors. The rumor being that the Tally family is crazy, has a magical apple tree, and that their mother may have been a witch. Dealing with their mothers passing, Joy's comma, and other troubles life has thrown their way. The family bands together with their charms, baking, and superstitions to find a way to make it through with their heads held high.
I loved this book and the main character Joy from the very first sentence. Who hasn't wanted to be a "fly on the wall" to hear and know what people think of them? Well, Joy gets just that after an accident, and I love what she does with that knowledge and her life afterwards. The fun intriguing backstory of her family was great, and I had a number of laugh out loud moments reading their antics together. Tina did a great job drawing the reader into Joy's secret from her past, and didn't reveal anything till the very end. I would recommend this book, and look forward to reading more from this author.
The Tulley's are a eccentric family, that are bound by memories, secrets, but most importantly faith.
Watching Joy, the adorned town spinster, come to life both physically and emotionally, and learn how to love herself was beautiful to see.
This is a wonderful book that shows how freeing secrets are once everyone knows the truth. A great read about family and how important family is to each of us and we should never take them for granted.
I loved this quirky storyline. I enjoyed the characters from the start and the original way the book is scripted out. Joy Talley is in unfortunate accident which leads to small minded gossip and a love in interest from anew and old. I would love to own the Talley household it creates the most wonderful image of all those secret passageways and doors. a good romance with quirky but loveable characters!
A refreshingly candid look at the ties that bind. From dark secrets and magic charms to deep faith and a touch of romance, this book was somewhat reminiscent of the magical realism that I’ve enjoyed in Sarah Addison Allen’s books. Tina has an enchanting way of weaving lively prose and heartfelt humor into a great story. I fell in love with the Talley family. Bravo, Tina!
This book was a guilty pleasure for me! I read it in one day because I loved the spunk and personality of the Talley family and other characters. I found myself impatient at times as I waited for her choices to be revealed and the mystery solved but that's a positive thing. I thought it was a great summer read!
This is the first book I have read from this author and I thought the story was very interesting. It a second chance feel good story, with humor, drama and romance in the mix. Once I got involved in the story, which was almost immediately, I didn't want to put it down. I look forward to reading more books from this author.
i enjoyed this book. I was not expecting the secret of the story at the end of the book. I wasn't sure who Joy ( a middle age woman) was going to end up with, and was almost rooting for "the other guy".
I started reading this before I realized the author is local. When I found out that information, the draw was even more. Her writing is fun and moves quickly. It was entertaining and adult level without being explicit or crass.
This was a sweet and humorous book detailing main character, Joy's, time in a coma, and the aftermath. She has an eclectic family whose humorous escapades will keep you chuckling. However, there is an underlying secret that keeps the reader intrigued and anxiously awaiting when it will be revealed. Author, Tina Ann Forkner, does an excellent job hinting about this secret and holding the reader's interest. Of course, no story would be complete without a little romance, and there is a love triangle that will find you rooting for first one man, and then the other. I believe readers will enjoy the author's quick wit and divinely crafted story!
The opening of this book was one of the most interesting and memorable beginnings I've read. A near-fatal accident assumed to be a suicide attempt by family members and told from the point of view of someone who is in a coma from the very beginning of the story. It's really hard to beat that. The protagonist, Joy Talley, was a compelling character worthy of being the one to convey the story. This story was humorous, contained intrigue, love and longing, along with old wounds that shaped the characters' lives. And just when you think that all of the secrets have finally been revealed, Tina Ann Forkner adds a couple of additional surprises to carry the story to the satisfying conclusion.
This book is a lovely layered confection of lost love and family secrets. We meet Joy Talley as she fights to communicate with her loved ones while in a coma. As odd as the beginning is, by the end you know everything and it is as surprising and as satisfying as a lemon strawberry cake. The characters are well defined and even the most unlovable are written to be only human after all. This book is well worth giving your heart and time to.
This book was well written. It looks at family life in a small rural town where being different can cause you to be looked at in a different view as not as good or right as the other people in the town when a freak accident happens, causing joy to become injured. Will this be the end of the family or is there happiness at the end of this family’s tragic tale?
This book took me a very long time to finish. It was a free Amazon book. The pace was so slow in the middle I just had to stop. I did a good deal of skimming when I picked it back up so that I could finish it.