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The Girl Made of Clay
An emotional exploration of the frayed bond between a father and daughter…and what it takes to mend it. After Sara’s father, famous sculptor Thomas “TR” Harlow, is badly injured in a fire, she’s suddenly forced to care for a man who is more of a stranger than a parent. Once known as his muse, Sara long ago lost her father to his desire to live the celebrity life. Now TR’s abrasive and unpredictable presence in her home is reopening old wounds―and causing the rift in her already-strained marriage to deepen. As her young son begins bonding with the grandfather he never knew, Sara must decide if she can find it within herself to forgive the man who broke her heart all those years ago. Will she walk away from a chance to rebuild what was lost, or will she find, by bringing her father back to health, that healing can come in many forms?
304 pages, Paperback
First published September 25, 2018
148 people are currently reading
2043 people want to read
About the author
Nicole Meier
4 books236 followersNicole Meier is an author and certified book coach living with her family in the Pacific Northwest. Her novels include The House of Bradbury, The Girl Made of Clay, and The Second Chance Supper Club.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
September 19, 2018
A woman’s journey from anger to forgiveness
First, let’s talk about the amazing cover artwork for this book. I just love it when authors and publishers put time and thought in the book cover. This was the entire reason I wanted to read The Girl Made of Clay.
Sara has a full life as a mom, wife, volunteer and her time is filled from morning until night. The last thing she needed was for her estranged father to re-enter her life, but enter he does after a devastating fire left him in the burn unit at a near-by hospital. TR, the father, is a sculptor whose most famous piece was based on Sara as a child. They once shared a very close relationship until he abandoned Sara, leaving her to care for her mentally ill mother. Caring for TR puts a further strain on Sara’s marriage which already was in trouble. How can she care for the man who left her – her husband or her father.
The author has given us an emotional story that explores the question of forgiveness and its healing powers. Unfortunately the characters that were drawn In The Girl Made of Clay were predictable and uninteresting. I never was able to fully connect with Sara and I couldn’t tolerate her husband, Charlie, or her father, TR. I did like her dog, Acer, very much. However, for the life of me, I couldn’t understand why she wanted to forgive this man who was and had been terrible throughout his life. So, her son wanted to connect with his grandfather… so what. In the real world it isn’t always beneficial to “connect” or to “forgive” and yet we, as women, often are asked to do just that – for our own good. Perhaps it’s time to write books where men are not contemptible in the first place so that women didn’t have to spend their time learning about “forgiveness. There are many good books out there about dysfunctional families and the restorative power of forgiveness, unfortunately this is not one of them.
This was an advanced read from #Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing.
First, let’s talk about the amazing cover artwork for this book. I just love it when authors and publishers put time and thought in the book cover. This was the entire reason I wanted to read The Girl Made of Clay.
Sara has a full life as a mom, wife, volunteer and her time is filled from morning until night. The last thing she needed was for her estranged father to re-enter her life, but enter he does after a devastating fire left him in the burn unit at a near-by hospital. TR, the father, is a sculptor whose most famous piece was based on Sara as a child. They once shared a very close relationship until he abandoned Sara, leaving her to care for her mentally ill mother. Caring for TR puts a further strain on Sara’s marriage which already was in trouble. How can she care for the man who left her – her husband or her father.
The author has given us an emotional story that explores the question of forgiveness and its healing powers. Unfortunately the characters that were drawn In The Girl Made of Clay were predictable and uninteresting. I never was able to fully connect with Sara and I couldn’t tolerate her husband, Charlie, or her father, TR. I did like her dog, Acer, very much. However, for the life of me, I couldn’t understand why she wanted to forgive this man who was and had been terrible throughout his life. So, her son wanted to connect with his grandfather… so what. In the real world it isn’t always beneficial to “connect” or to “forgive” and yet we, as women, often are asked to do just that – for our own good. Perhaps it’s time to write books where men are not contemptible in the first place so that women didn’t have to spend their time learning about “forgiveness. There are many good books out there about dysfunctional families and the restorative power of forgiveness, unfortunately this is not one of them.
This was an advanced read from #Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing.
June 23, 2018
Rich and vibrant, The Girl Made of Clay is a heartfelt story about family, forgiveness, and second chances. Meier’s emotionally charged writing, vivid settings, and crisp dialogue weave a powerful tale that brings her characters to life and draws in the reader. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
October 11, 2018
I received a free e-copy of The Girl Made of Clay by Nicole Meier from Goodreads for my honest opinion.
I give this book 3.5 stars. I really love the cover of this book, nicely done. The Girl Made of Clay is a book of second chances. Learning in life to forgive and move on.
Sara, who grew up having a rough childhood. Now, as adult, she is married to a pilot but because he is gone so much for work she has to everything on her own. One day, Sara gets a phone call, telling her that her father is in the hospital. Sara has to decide quickly if she is going to go visit him and forgive him for her childhood or to keep holding a grudge. At the same time she has to decide if she wants to try to save her marriage from falling apart and work on rebuilding it.
I give this book 3.5 stars. I really love the cover of this book, nicely done. The Girl Made of Clay is a book of second chances. Learning in life to forgive and move on.
Sara, who grew up having a rough childhood. Now, as adult, she is married to a pilot but because he is gone so much for work she has to everything on her own. One day, Sara gets a phone call, telling her that her father is in the hospital. Sara has to decide quickly if she is going to go visit him and forgive him for her childhood or to keep holding a grudge. At the same time she has to decide if she wants to try to save her marriage from falling apart and work on rebuilding it.
December 17, 2020
I won Girl Made of Clay in a GoodReads giveaway. I'm reading it as part of my December "Get It Done 2020" challenge where I am working towards completing reading tasks and tidying up my TBR.
This story opens up with a terrible fire in which TR Harlow, famous sculptor and artist, is burned over a significant part of his body. But he has burnt all of his bridges and he's lost most of his money. Instead of living this celebrity life that he's led in his heyday he's now pretty much by himself. We also get the sense that he is not telling the authorities the truth about how the fire got started. It's obvious that he is hiding something. When he's asked who will come to the hospital to retrieve him and act as his caretaker, in a medicated stupor, he gives the name of his estranged daughter. These opening moments are tense as Sara is unsure of what to do. She hasn't seen her father in years. When he left the family when she was young and vulnerable. She was his muse. And yet he left her with a mother who suffered from mental illness. Most of her formative years were in distress. If her mother didn't abuse her, in the very least she neglected her. Knowing this, how could TR simple walk away? For her there are deep wounds. And each time she saw him celebrating his successes it felt like he was purposefully rubbing salt into these wounds.
Sara is not sure if she can forgive TR for her lost childhood. She had to grow up really fast and usually her mother's needs came first. Now in her present life as a wife and a mother she still puts herself last. She still is finding herself in a position where other people aren't putting her first either.
Does she leave the past to rest and reconcile with her father? How does she express the pain and abandonment issues she has to this stranger who shares her blood? Can she trust him enough to be vulnerable and open up her heart to a second chance?
Meier takes her time showing us this emotional journey. We get to see how these past transgressions affect both father and daughter and the long lasting ripple effects these wounds have on their current relationships. Personally, I feel like there should have been more said by TR. I don't feel as if his explanation was enough or that his character was held accountable for his actions in the past or the present. I also feel as if Sara's husband was lacking as well. I truly think that Meier took the easy way out with these men, oversimplifying their behaviors and not holding them to task.
This story opens up with a terrible fire in which TR Harlow, famous sculptor and artist, is burned over a significant part of his body. But he has burnt all of his bridges and he's lost most of his money. Instead of living this celebrity life that he's led in his heyday he's now pretty much by himself. We also get the sense that he is not telling the authorities the truth about how the fire got started. It's obvious that he is hiding something. When he's asked who will come to the hospital to retrieve him and act as his caretaker, in a medicated stupor, he gives the name of his estranged daughter. These opening moments are tense as Sara is unsure of what to do. She hasn't seen her father in years. When he left the family when she was young and vulnerable. She was his muse. And yet he left her with a mother who suffered from mental illness. Most of her formative years were in distress. If her mother didn't abuse her, in the very least she neglected her. Knowing this, how could TR simple walk away? For her there are deep wounds. And each time she saw him celebrating his successes it felt like he was purposefully rubbing salt into these wounds.
Sara is not sure if she can forgive TR for her lost childhood. She had to grow up really fast and usually her mother's needs came first. Now in her present life as a wife and a mother she still puts herself last. She still is finding herself in a position where other people aren't putting her first either.
Does she leave the past to rest and reconcile with her father? How does she express the pain and abandonment issues she has to this stranger who shares her blood? Can she trust him enough to be vulnerable and open up her heart to a second chance?
Meier takes her time showing us this emotional journey. We get to see how these past transgressions affect both father and daughter and the long lasting ripple effects these wounds have on their current relationships. Personally, I feel like there should have been more said by TR. I don't feel as if his explanation was enough or that his character was held accountable for his actions in the past or the present. I also feel as if Sara's husband was lacking as well. I truly think that Meier took the easy way out with these men, oversimplifying their behaviors and not holding them to task.
October 5, 2018
Sara and her mother were abandoned by her father when Sara was a young girl and she was left with an emotionally unstable mother and too much responsibility on her young shoulders. Sara’s father, known as “TR”, was a famous sculptor and his fame pulled him away from his family. Sara is now a grown woman with a husband and a young son. Her marriage is not doing well and Sara needs no further complications when she receives a phone call from a hospital telling her that TR was severely burned in a fire and was asking for her. Old wounds are reopened.
While I well understand that family dynamics can be very complicated, this book just didn’t ring true to me. I could have been in Sara’s shoes in my own life and I know I would have responded quite differently than she did. Not wanting to give away the plot, it’s difficult to explain but forgiveness is one thing and being used is another. I also had a hard time connecting with these characters, maybe because I felt out of sync with them. It was also too drawn out at times.
I did enjoy the artistic parts of the book and the creative passion that Sara never lost despite her father’s abandonment. I felt compassion for Sara but it wasn’t enough to make this book a really special one. It was an OK read and I never wanted to give up on it. It just isn’t one that I will long remember.
This book was won by me in a Goodreads giveaway.
While I well understand that family dynamics can be very complicated, this book just didn’t ring true to me. I could have been in Sara’s shoes in my own life and I know I would have responded quite differently than she did. Not wanting to give away the plot, it’s difficult to explain but forgiveness is one thing and being used is another. I also had a hard time connecting with these characters, maybe because I felt out of sync with them. It was also too drawn out at times.
I did enjoy the artistic parts of the book and the creative passion that Sara never lost despite her father’s abandonment. I felt compassion for Sara but it wasn’t enough to make this book a really special one. It was an OK read and I never wanted to give up on it. It just isn’t one that I will long remember.
This book was won by me in a Goodreads giveaway.
November 1, 2018
When Sara's estranged father, TR, reaches out to her while healing from a fire, how will she respond? Will she give him a second chance? Or has she moved on?
I'd recommend this one for fans of stories about forgiveness and second chances!
Location: Portland, Oregon
Audiobook
I'd recommend this one for fans of stories about forgiveness and second chances!
Location: Portland, Oregon
Audiobook
September 17, 2018
3.5 stars rounded up.
When TR is wounded in a fire, the hospital calls his estranged daughter, Sara, as his emergency contact. Sara is incredibly conflicted as TR abandoned her and her mother when she was a child, however, with his home currently unlivable, he convinces her to let him stay with her for a while as he recovers. Sara is experiencing problems with her husband, bringing TR home does nothing but add fuel to the fire.
As TR struggles to mend his relationship with his daughter and forge a bond with his grandson, tensions are high, hidden secrets are revealed and the opportunity for forgiveness is put into question. The Girl Made of Clay is an emotional story and reminds us that it's never too late to try again when it comes to family.
I received an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
When TR is wounded in a fire, the hospital calls his estranged daughter, Sara, as his emergency contact. Sara is incredibly conflicted as TR abandoned her and her mother when she was a child, however, with his home currently unlivable, he convinces her to let him stay with her for a while as he recovers. Sara is experiencing problems with her husband, bringing TR home does nothing but add fuel to the fire.
As TR struggles to mend his relationship with his daughter and forge a bond with his grandson, tensions are high, hidden secrets are revealed and the opportunity for forgiveness is put into question. The Girl Made of Clay is an emotional story and reminds us that it's never too late to try again when it comes to family.
I received an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
September 24, 2018
Rating: 3 stars
HEA:
“Sometimes folks don’t know what they’re doing until it’s too late.”
This novel was pure honesty wrapped up in 304 pages. However slow-paced and tamed in terms of angst, it was an interesting character-driven story, full of family drama. There were different things that surprised me, in a positive way: for instance how the author chose to portray TR, the father who, once upon a time, forgot about his daughter and unstable wife. She could have easily turned him into the villain of the story, but she decided not to. It was a wise decision, because as a reader, I was forced to acknowledge his failures and shortcomings as collaterals of his human nature, not his evil plans. Sarah, the heroine, who was constantly torn between her role as a neglected wife and as an estranged daughter, made me feel for her. Every time she tried to talk to her husband, Charlie, begging for his attention, my stomach was in knots. I wanted to scream at him. I happen to have a great dislike for men like him and this time was no exception. I couldn’t stand his behavior and the way he neglected Sarah and his son, I just couldn’t. An overall 3 stars for me.
Thank you NetGalley, Nicole Meier and Lake Union Publishing for granting me this copy in exchange for an honest review.
HEA:
“Sometimes folks don’t know what they’re doing until it’s too late.”
This novel was pure honesty wrapped up in 304 pages. However slow-paced and tamed in terms of angst, it was an interesting character-driven story, full of family drama. There were different things that surprised me, in a positive way: for instance how the author chose to portray TR, the father who, once upon a time, forgot about his daughter and unstable wife. She could have easily turned him into the villain of the story, but she decided not to. It was a wise decision, because as a reader, I was forced to acknowledge his failures and shortcomings as collaterals of his human nature, not his evil plans. Sarah, the heroine, who was constantly torn between her role as a neglected wife and as an estranged daughter, made me feel for her. Every time she tried to talk to her husband, Charlie, begging for his attention, my stomach was in knots. I wanted to scream at him. I happen to have a great dislike for men like him and this time was no exception. I couldn’t stand his behavior and the way he neglected Sarah and his son, I just couldn’t. An overall 3 stars for me.
Thank you NetGalley, Nicole Meier and Lake Union Publishing for granting me this copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 13, 2018
Finished reading: September 12th 2018
"For the majority of their lives, they were two lost souls twisting in the wind."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
October 17, 2018
A man leaves his family, cutting off contact with his little girl who adores him. Many years later, he needs her and she has hard choices to make.
I What I liked about this book: The story. I looked forward to seeing what would happen next and I never felt disappointed.
What I loved: The dialogue was flawless. When these characters spoke, I heard real people with real emotions. There was much too little of it though.
What I didn't like: For me, the book sometimes felt like a swamp of words. I felt stuck in too many unnecessary words and repeated thoughts. From the prologue:
It wasn't long before flashes of bright orange lunged in hungry strokes across the pale horizon.
Flashes of orange lunged across the horizon.
I liked it and finished reading it but sometimes I could only keep going by mentally editing out parts that worked as obstacles to seeing the action.
I won this book in a giveaway.
September 25, 2018
Honestly I never used to be into books like these, about normal life situations, until very recently. Books like this, have really turned me onto the idea, and gotten me reading them more and more, and really just enjoying them when I thought I couldn't before. I think that's the idea of this book, also. That the things you want, you have to work for, even if they're hard at first, and just keep trying until you figure something out.
Check out the rest of my review here!
https://radioactivebookreviews.wordpr...
Check out the rest of my review here!
https://radioactivebookreviews.wordpr...
September 24, 2018
"Watching her father sculpt was like witnessing a magician produce something out of air. TR was the enchanted wizard, and Sara was his little fairy muse. At least, that was the story she used to tell herself."
In Nicole Meier's new novel, GIRL MADE of CLAY (LakeUnionPublishing), Sara remembers watching her famous father, Thomas Richard Harlow (TR) create art as a little girl, but that was then and this is now. Sara hasn't heard from her father since he left decades ago, leaving her with her unstable mother. Now in her forties, she gets a call out of the blue from a hospital asking if she's the daughter of Thomas Richard Harlow. At first, she hangs up saying no, but then she calls back. Suddenly, TR is back in her life.
TR has been living only an hour away for the better part of her life, but now that he's been burned in his house fire, he needs her help. TR enters her house, more a stranger than parent and disrupts the already tense atmosphere between Sara and husband, Charlie and their ten-year old, Sam who is interested in bonding with this very strange old man. Now that TR is in her house, old wounds open. She must decide if she's willing to forgive the man who broke her hear all those years ago.
I enjoyed Nicole's new novel, very much. It made me take a long look at my own relationship with my father. How she used metaphor between healing relationships and damaged bodies could have been very obvious, but she used it with TLC. I appreciate how Nicole's writing continues to bloom. You can see that she's grown since her last novel, THE HOUSE of BRADBURY, which we also loved.
In Nicole Meier's new novel, GIRL MADE of CLAY (LakeUnionPublishing), Sara remembers watching her famous father, Thomas Richard Harlow (TR) create art as a little girl, but that was then and this is now. Sara hasn't heard from her father since he left decades ago, leaving her with her unstable mother. Now in her forties, she gets a call out of the blue from a hospital asking if she's the daughter of Thomas Richard Harlow. At first, she hangs up saying no, but then she calls back. Suddenly, TR is back in her life.
TR has been living only an hour away for the better part of her life, but now that he's been burned in his house fire, he needs her help. TR enters her house, more a stranger than parent and disrupts the already tense atmosphere between Sara and husband, Charlie and their ten-year old, Sam who is interested in bonding with this very strange old man. Now that TR is in her house, old wounds open. She must decide if she's willing to forgive the man who broke her hear all those years ago.
I enjoyed Nicole's new novel, very much. It made me take a long look at my own relationship with my father. How she used metaphor between healing relationships and damaged bodies could have been very obvious, but she used it with TLC. I appreciate how Nicole's writing continues to bloom. You can see that she's grown since her last novel, THE HOUSE of BRADBURY, which we also loved.
September 30, 2018
#FirstLine ~ If Sara had known what was waiting to greet her that morning, she would've stayed in bed.
Meier has done it again. She has written a book that has both moved me and made me think. She continues to write stories with characters that captive and enthrall. Each character lends themselves to the story and helps built upon the beautifully fleshed out plot. I love that the story is deep and multi-layered. I enjoyed it cover-to-cover and know the characters and story will stay with me for quite sometime. It is a story that is easy to relate to and oh so memorable. A hit and a must read!!!
Meier has done it again. She has written a book that has both moved me and made me think. She continues to write stories with characters that captive and enthrall. Each character lends themselves to the story and helps built upon the beautifully fleshed out plot. I love that the story is deep and multi-layered. I enjoyed it cover-to-cover and know the characters and story will stay with me for quite sometime. It is a story that is easy to relate to and oh so memorable. A hit and a must read!!!
September 29, 2018
After reading Nicole’s first book, THE HOUSE OF BRADBURY, I knew she was an author I would forever be a fan of. Her writing immerses you into the characters lives. The good, the bad, and the ugly. With vivid details, relatable characters, and emotions that run deep, you become completely invested. There’s an honesty to her writing and THE GIRL MADE OF CLAY is no different. It’s a powerful story about family, forgiveness (for yourself and others), and second chances.
I loved reading about Sara. A boy mom (Sam was such a sweet boy) who wasn’t afraid to admit she was wrong. Who was loyal, protective, and resilient. Someone who was so selfless for those she loved that she herself was often left depleted. Yet as time went on we got to see secrets unravel, love rekindle, and dreams reappear. This was such a heartwarming read.
I loved reading about Sara. A boy mom (Sam was such a sweet boy) who wasn’t afraid to admit she was wrong. Who was loyal, protective, and resilient. Someone who was so selfless for those she loved that she herself was often left depleted. Yet as time went on we got to see secrets unravel, love rekindle, and dreams reappear. This was such a heartwarming read.
October 8, 2018
This was my first time reading a book by this author. I very much enjoyed this story. It was heartfelt and beautiful.
July 31, 2018
“Sometimes folks don’t know what they’re doing until it’s too late.”
When TR’s house is ruined in a fire,he finds himself in the hospital with serious injuries.
He needs to find a person and place to live who will help care for him.
Can Sara give her father shelter and that care? Why should she? Sara has not heard from him in so many years. Sara has her own family that barely knows of this man.
Can she find forgiveness for the years he has been gone from her life?
How will they all move forward to rekindle their relationship and heal their family?
A wonderfully written book of family, truth and forgiveness. Well done!
When TR’s house is ruined in a fire,he finds himself in the hospital with serious injuries.
He needs to find a person and place to live who will help care for him.
Can Sara give her father shelter and that care? Why should she? Sara has not heard from him in so many years. Sara has her own family that barely knows of this man.
Can she find forgiveness for the years he has been gone from her life?
How will they all move forward to rekindle their relationship and heal their family?
A wonderfully written book of family, truth and forgiveness. Well done!
September 19, 2018
I received an ARC of the book from Lake Union Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. Make sure to read more reviews at Katherine's Book Reviews.
The Girl Made of Clay is a contemporary fiction novel by Nicole Meier.
SUMMARY:
After Sara’s father, famous sculptor Thomas “TR” Harlow, is badly injured in a fire, she’s suddenly forced to care for a man who is more of a stranger than a parent. Once known as his muse, Sara long ago lost her father to his desire to live the celebrity life.
Now TR’s abrasive and unpredictable presence in her home is reopening old wounds—and causing the rift in her already-strained marriage to deepen. As her young son begins bonding with the grandfather he never knew, Sara must decide if she can find it within herself to forgive the man who broke her heart all those years ago. Will she walk away from a chance to rebuild what was lost, or will she find, by bringing her father back to health, that healing can come in many forms?
The Girl Made of Clay is a novel that will remind you of the importance of your family. I was initially attracted to this book because of its cover and I was pleased to discover how much this book has to offer. I was surprised by how much the theme of forgiving your family is covered and handled so well throughout.The tension between Sara and TR is palpable at first, but soon they learn a lot from each other. They come to an understanding that it is never too late to start over again. It really made me reflect on my own relationships with my family, and what I would do if I had to learn to forgive them for their past.
I like this book a lot. Nicole Meier’s writing is wonderful. Her dialogue had me on the edge of my seat and her descriptions are fulfilling. The plot goes deeper than I expected and I am impressed with the way that the story flowed. I do feel at times the pacing was a little off; sometimes the narrative felt to me like it was going too fast, or too slow. But overall I think this is a great story and I really enjoyed getting to know Sara. She has been through a lot of hardships in her life, especially regarding the men in her life. But it was nice to see that she was still able to hold her head high and stand up for herself when she needed to. I suggest this book to anyone who has family secrets and wants to read an honest book they won’t want to put down until the finish. The Girl Made of Clay teaches you that it is okay to believe in yourself and believe in others even if they have let you down in the past.
The Girl Made of Clay is a contemporary fiction novel by Nicole Meier.
SUMMARY:
After Sara’s father, famous sculptor Thomas “TR” Harlow, is badly injured in a fire, she’s suddenly forced to care for a man who is more of a stranger than a parent. Once known as his muse, Sara long ago lost her father to his desire to live the celebrity life.
Now TR’s abrasive and unpredictable presence in her home is reopening old wounds—and causing the rift in her already-strained marriage to deepen. As her young son begins bonding with the grandfather he never knew, Sara must decide if she can find it within herself to forgive the man who broke her heart all those years ago. Will she walk away from a chance to rebuild what was lost, or will she find, by bringing her father back to health, that healing can come in many forms?
The Girl Made of Clay is a novel that will remind you of the importance of your family. I was initially attracted to this book because of its cover and I was pleased to discover how much this book has to offer. I was surprised by how much the theme of forgiving your family is covered and handled so well throughout.The tension between Sara and TR is palpable at first, but soon they learn a lot from each other. They come to an understanding that it is never too late to start over again. It really made me reflect on my own relationships with my family, and what I would do if I had to learn to forgive them for their past.
I like this book a lot. Nicole Meier’s writing is wonderful. Her dialogue had me on the edge of my seat and her descriptions are fulfilling. The plot goes deeper than I expected and I am impressed with the way that the story flowed. I do feel at times the pacing was a little off; sometimes the narrative felt to me like it was going too fast, or too slow. But overall I think this is a great story and I really enjoyed getting to know Sara. She has been through a lot of hardships in her life, especially regarding the men in her life. But it was nice to see that she was still able to hold her head high and stand up for herself when she needed to. I suggest this book to anyone who has family secrets and wants to read an honest book they won’t want to put down until the finish. The Girl Made of Clay teaches you that it is okay to believe in yourself and believe in others even if they have let you down in the past.
September 7, 2018
Thank you NetGalley, Nicole Meier and Lake Union Publishing for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.
Sarah has a busy life with her ten-year old son and her husband that is always jetting off for work. Her marriage is struggling, as is it with all the pressure she’s under while her husband is absent. She needs to focus on her marriage and son when she receives a call that changes her life. Her estranged father has been in an accident and needs someone to take care of him. She hasn’t heard or seen her father in years, but taking him in may help get the answers she has been looking for since she was a teenager, or it could end her marriage.
This book and what Sarah has to put up with from all the men in her life really aggravated me! I was immediately hooked on this novel and it became one of those books where I just kept saying only one more chapter and then I’ll do what I need to do, and suddenly I was 70% done! I just felt like I knew how Sarah was feeling and I felt like I understood their family and all they’ve been through. I enjoyed that she tried to hold both her husband and father accountable for the things that they put her through and stood up for herself and what she needed! This was a really well told and honest novel, one that is definitely believable.
I really enjoyed the whole story overall and how heartfelt everything was. I really could imagine many others going through similar situations and I really felt for every character in this novel. This really is a novel about forgiveness and admitting when you’ve made a mistake and trying to move on with those you love. I really couldn’t read this novel fast enough to see how it all played out and I was thrilled by the ending! I definitely recommend this novel!
Pick it up September 25th!
Sarah has a busy life with her ten-year old son and her husband that is always jetting off for work. Her marriage is struggling, as is it with all the pressure she’s under while her husband is absent. She needs to focus on her marriage and son when she receives a call that changes her life. Her estranged father has been in an accident and needs someone to take care of him. She hasn’t heard or seen her father in years, but taking him in may help get the answers she has been looking for since she was a teenager, or it could end her marriage.
This book and what Sarah has to put up with from all the men in her life really aggravated me! I was immediately hooked on this novel and it became one of those books where I just kept saying only one more chapter and then I’ll do what I need to do, and suddenly I was 70% done! I just felt like I knew how Sarah was feeling and I felt like I understood their family and all they’ve been through. I enjoyed that she tried to hold both her husband and father accountable for the things that they put her through and stood up for herself and what she needed! This was a really well told and honest novel, one that is definitely believable.
I really enjoyed the whole story overall and how heartfelt everything was. I really could imagine many others going through similar situations and I really felt for every character in this novel. This really is a novel about forgiveness and admitting when you’ve made a mistake and trying to move on with those you love. I really couldn’t read this novel fast enough to see how it all played out and I was thrilled by the ending! I definitely recommend this novel!
Pick it up September 25th!
November 30, 2018
The Girl Made of Clay is a great story that focuses on second chances, moving on, and ultimately forgiveness. I found myself in a lot of these pages; the author does a great job on a topic that 'm sure a lot of people encounter throughout their life. Although the story felt a little slow during some sections, the writing definitely made me want to keep reading.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 26, 2018
I really enjoyed the tough emotions that were portrayed in this novel! Sara finds out that her father has been injured in a house fire. She hasn’t seen her father since she was a young girl. She allows him to come to her house to help him with his injuries. This creates many difficult situations with Sara, as well as with her husband and her young son. The story is an intricate exploration of the relationship between a child and their long estranged parent. It also explores the relationship of a marriage. Old wounds and misunderstandings come to the surface for everyone involved as time goes on. Sara discovers more secrets about her father as well. Sara has to fight with her feelings that she has held on to for so many years.
October 14, 2018
An entertaining and emotional book with the possibility of trying to make amends after many years of being torn apart. A tragedy happens to be the catalyst to set this all into motion. It was a well written book which flowed easily.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced readers copy.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced readers copy.
September 11, 2018
I read an early copy of The Girl Made of Clay and I enjoyed it so much! It was such a great page turner and I loved the characters. Meier intricately told a deeply touching story of a broken family. The book takes you on a journey of several relationships and there is something so relatable in all of them. It is written with a hint of suspense that keeps you wanting more! Meier's writing is so detailed you can feel, taste and touch the details of the book.
September 11, 2018
This is the kind of book you want to own. It’s about family and forgiveness there is simplicity and elegance to this story, this is the kind of book you read at the beach with no interruptions. It keeps you rooted to your beach towel long after the sun goes down.
I was gifted this book by the author. Nicole, thank you for an afternoon of joy.
I was gifted this book by the author. Nicole, thank you for an afternoon of joy.
August 2, 2018
Sara has a busy suburban life with a ten year old son and a husband who is always traveling for work. In fact, her marriage is struggling with all of the pressure her husband's increasing absences have put upon her. She needs to focus on her marriage but instead gets a phone call that changes her life. Her estranged father, with whom she has had no contact since she was a teen, has been in an accident and needs her. Taking in her father could help ease years of pain and get answers she has been seeking, but it could also destroy her fragile marriage.
This book pulled all of my emotions. It was heartbreaking to see how much pain Sara had been in because of TR and how his abandonment affected her current relationship. The relationship between TR and his grandson was so sweet. The way that art was used to heal was beautiful as well. I
This book pulled all of my emotions. It was heartbreaking to see how much pain Sara had been in because of TR and how his abandonment affected her current relationship. The relationship between TR and his grandson was so sweet. The way that art was used to heal was beautiful as well. I
September 29, 2018
Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishers for this book. My review is mine and does not reflect the fact that I was given a copy.
This book was ok. It was very good in parts but in others I just had a hard time connecting. I do not understand how Sara could or should feel obligated to take care of a man who had not been there for her for the better part of her life. I know she wanted answers and closure. I can personally relate to that. TR was a big jerk to everyone. He was hard to like because of the way he treated people and the way he acted to Sara’s husband, Charlie. Charlie was no better in that he treated Sara like she was stupid for wanting to know her dad and brother, who she never knew existed. TR, Sara’s dad left when she was young. He left her with a very unstable mother and he knew she was unstable. There is no excuse for that. Why didn’t he just take her with him or get her mother help. He sure had the money. Why did TR think Sara owed him anything, much less help or forgiveness, when all he did was lie to her at every turn. Charlie, Sara’s husband should have been more understanding and though in ways I didn’t blame him either. They already had some problems before TR came but his attitude and not even trying to get to know TR was uncalled for on every level. I wanted to like Charlie and TR but both were jerks. My own dad left when I was almost six years old and I didn’t see him until I was 22 and married with a new baby. Then it was another 17 years before him and the woman he left for moved back to this area. He actually didn’t expect to just be welcomed with open arms. He asked for forgiveness for leaving me with a crazy mother who not only was abusive but let her sick husband moleste me. It took a while to forgive my dad but he was remorseful for what he did. TR was not until almost the end.
This book was told from Sara and TR’s points of view. I think it was an ok read. It could have been better but it was not the worse book I’ve ever read either. It seemed to go on a bit to much in some area and was predictable in areas. But overall it was a fairly good story. The ending was predictable and part of it was good. I truly did want to love this book but I have to be honest. It was just ok to me. I will read more by this author. I think Nicole Meier will be a good author to read. It was just parts of this book that I was disappointed in.
I gave it a 3.5 stars though all that it will show is 3. I’m sure a lot of people will like this book and from the reviews I did read there are lots who love it and lots who feel kind of the way I do. Give it a chance as you may love it.
This book was ok. It was very good in parts but in others I just had a hard time connecting. I do not understand how Sara could or should feel obligated to take care of a man who had not been there for her for the better part of her life. I know she wanted answers and closure. I can personally relate to that. TR was a big jerk to everyone. He was hard to like because of the way he treated people and the way he acted to Sara’s husband, Charlie. Charlie was no better in that he treated Sara like she was stupid for wanting to know her dad and brother, who she never knew existed. TR, Sara’s dad left when she was young. He left her with a very unstable mother and he knew she was unstable. There is no excuse for that. Why didn’t he just take her with him or get her mother help. He sure had the money. Why did TR think Sara owed him anything, much less help or forgiveness, when all he did was lie to her at every turn. Charlie, Sara’s husband should have been more understanding and though in ways I didn’t blame him either. They already had some problems before TR came but his attitude and not even trying to get to know TR was uncalled for on every level. I wanted to like Charlie and TR but both were jerks. My own dad left when I was almost six years old and I didn’t see him until I was 22 and married with a new baby. Then it was another 17 years before him and the woman he left for moved back to this area. He actually didn’t expect to just be welcomed with open arms. He asked for forgiveness for leaving me with a crazy mother who not only was abusive but let her sick husband moleste me. It took a while to forgive my dad but he was remorseful for what he did. TR was not until almost the end.
This book was told from Sara and TR’s points of view. I think it was an ok read. It could have been better but it was not the worse book I’ve ever read either. It seemed to go on a bit to much in some area and was predictable in areas. But overall it was a fairly good story. The ending was predictable and part of it was good. I truly did want to love this book but I have to be honest. It was just ok to me. I will read more by this author. I think Nicole Meier will be a good author to read. It was just parts of this book that I was disappointed in.
I gave it a 3.5 stars though all that it will show is 3. I’m sure a lot of people will like this book and from the reviews I did read there are lots who love it and lots who feel kind of the way I do. Give it a chance as you may love it.
November 23, 2018
Portland, OR. Pacific Memorial Hospital. Carrie, & Dr. Burke called Sara Young (wife/mother, Thomas’ daughter, nee Harlow) about Thomas Robert “TR” Harlow (69, father/grand, famous painter/sculptor).
Sam Young (10, son/grand) was off to school.
She had no idea where Charlie (45, husband/father, commercial airline pilot) was.
TR was in the burn unit.
The hospital insisted Sara come see him. She was 16 the last time she saw him.
Sara arrived with Samuel “Sam” Alexander Harlow Young.
Dr. Burke explained TR will need lots of skin graft surgery, & home health care after he is released.
He had no health insurance.
Detective John Hernandez (Sandpoint PD), & Detective Muth (partner, Sandpoint PD) wanted to speak with TR.
Later TR was rushed to the ER.
Sarah decided to go inspect TR’s 2-story home. It was on the edge of a steep rough rock cliff that overlooked the Pacific Ocean.
She met Robert “Bo”. Come to find out he’s TR’s /Merda (Marie, former photographer) son.
How will Sara & Charlie’s marriage end up?
What about TR?
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from pub
lishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written family adventure book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great family adventure movie, or better yet a mini TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free author; Goodreads; MakingConnections; Making Connections discussion group talk; Lake Union Publishing; Amazon Digital Services LLC.; book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
Sam Young (10, son/grand) was off to school.
She had no idea where Charlie (45, husband/father, commercial airline pilot) was.
TR was in the burn unit.
The hospital insisted Sara come see him. She was 16 the last time she saw him.
Sara arrived with Samuel “Sam” Alexander Harlow Young.
Dr. Burke explained TR will need lots of skin graft surgery, & home health care after he is released.
He had no health insurance.
Detective John Hernandez (Sandpoint PD), & Detective Muth (partner, Sandpoint PD) wanted to speak with TR.
Later TR was rushed to the ER.
Sarah decided to go inspect TR’s 2-story home. It was on the edge of a steep rough rock cliff that overlooked the Pacific Ocean.
She met Robert “Bo”. Come to find out he’s TR’s /Merda (Marie, former photographer) son.
How will Sara & Charlie’s marriage end up?
What about TR?
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from pub
lishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written family adventure book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great family adventure movie, or better yet a mini TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free author; Goodreads; MakingConnections; Making Connections discussion group talk; Lake Union Publishing; Amazon Digital Services LLC.; book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
September 21, 2018
Such a beautiful story of family, and all the disappointments and blessings that come with it. I really enjoyed reading Nicole Meier’s new book and I know you will too!
The old saying goes “ you can pick your friends but you can’t pick your family” stands true in The Girl Made of Clay. Sara is a stay at home mom to one little boy and a wife to a busy pilot husband. When she gets a phone
call from the hospital asking if she knows TR, everything in her life will change. She hasn’t seen or spoken to her father since she was a child, and she has no desire to change that. Her mother died and she has no family, so out of curiosity she calls the hospital to find out what happened to her dad. What she learns is that her dad was badly burned in a house fire, but he will recover. His home is damaged and the hospital cannot let him leave on his own, and because he doesn’t have health insurance, he cannot go anywhere but home with her. How could she take home this man who deserted her and hasn’t reached out to her once? A father she doesn’t even know, and she’ll have to nurse back to health? Sarah is struggling in her marriage and left home alone to raise her son most of the time, so taking on her father will be hard on her. Against her better judgment Sara agrees to take in TR about this man and what he’s been up to all these years, Sara agrees to take TR to her home and help him recover. Sara will start to do her own investigating to find out the truth about the fire, what TR is hiding, and start to rebuild her relationship with her father. Many secrets will be revealed, her marriage will be put to the test, and relationships will be mended.
The old saying goes “ you can pick your friends but you can’t pick your family” stands true in The Girl Made of Clay. Sara is a stay at home mom to one little boy and a wife to a busy pilot husband. When she gets a phone
call from the hospital asking if she knows TR, everything in her life will change. She hasn’t seen or spoken to her father since she was a child, and she has no desire to change that. Her mother died and she has no family, so out of curiosity she calls the hospital to find out what happened to her dad. What she learns is that her dad was badly burned in a house fire, but he will recover. His home is damaged and the hospital cannot let him leave on his own, and because he doesn’t have health insurance, he cannot go anywhere but home with her. How could she take home this man who deserted her and hasn’t reached out to her once? A father she doesn’t even know, and she’ll have to nurse back to health? Sarah is struggling in her marriage and left home alone to raise her son most of the time, so taking on her father will be hard on her. Against her better judgment Sara agrees to take in TR about this man and what he’s been up to all these years, Sara agrees to take TR to her home and help him recover. Sara will start to do her own investigating to find out the truth about the fire, what TR is hiding, and start to rebuild her relationship with her father. Many secrets will be revealed, her marriage will be put to the test, and relationships will be mended.
October 18, 2018
Sara has a busy family life with her husband and 10-year old son, but her marriage is a struggle and the pressure seems to be growing thanks to her husband's traveling for work as a pilot and increasing absences. She knows she needs to focus on her marriage, but instead, Sara gets a phone call that changes her life.
Her father, famous sculptor Thomas “TR” Harlow, is badly injured in a fire and in the hospital. He needs to find somewhere to live and someone who will help take care for him so he calls Sara.
Sara hasn't had any contact with her estranged father since she was a teenager. While taking her father in could help Sara with the pain she has been feeling for years and maybe even get the answers she has always been seeking, the truth is that taking her father in might just destroy her already fragile marriage.
This book was told from Sara and TR’s points of view. Readers see secrets unravel, love rekindle and dreams reappear. The Girl Made of Clay is a great emotional story that reminds readers that it's never too late to try again when it comes to family relationships.
I was provided with a complimentary electronic advanced reader copy from Lake Union Publishers through Net Galley in exchange for my post. I was not required to post a positive review, but have chosen to do so because this book was great! Thank you!!
Her father, famous sculptor Thomas “TR” Harlow, is badly injured in a fire and in the hospital. He needs to find somewhere to live and someone who will help take care for him so he calls Sara.
Sara hasn't had any contact with her estranged father since she was a teenager. While taking her father in could help Sara with the pain she has been feeling for years and maybe even get the answers she has always been seeking, the truth is that taking her father in might just destroy her already fragile marriage.
This book was told from Sara and TR’s points of view. Readers see secrets unravel, love rekindle and dreams reappear. The Girl Made of Clay is a great emotional story that reminds readers that it's never too late to try again when it comes to family relationships.
I was provided with a complimentary electronic advanced reader copy from Lake Union Publishers through Net Galley in exchange for my post. I was not required to post a positive review, but have chosen to do so because this book was great! Thank you!!
January 23, 2019
Nicole Meier’s The Girl Made of Clay is about family and building relationships and cementing hurt with forgiveness. The narrative is from the point of view of two characters: for the most part it is Sara and then on a smaller scale, it is her estranged father, Thomas “TR” Harlow.
I really liked the theme of forgiveness that is the center of the story here but had a hard time warming up to TR who is too curt, too escapist and just plain immature at over 60 years of age. Sara’s character on the other hand was caught up between anxiety over her husband and her father getting back in her life and then, just too forgiving. The narrative repeats patterns of putting blame, trying to work out issues and not succeeding till the first half. It is only in the second half that the story picks up and new characters pop in. I found that the story and the characters did not really make a place in my heart or my thoughts. The forgiving part with the father comes in rather abruptly and the happily ever after comes a bit forced given that half the book is about Sara’s hurt and anger over being abandoned by her father and having to pick up the pieces of her life. The same goes for Sara’s relationship with her husband with whom there has been a wall of silence most times with accusations when the silence gets broken. The resolution of the marital relation came too abrupt for me.
I really liked the theme of forgiveness that is the center of the story here but had a hard time warming up to TR who is too curt, too escapist and just plain immature at over 60 years of age. Sara’s character on the other hand was caught up between anxiety over her husband and her father getting back in her life and then, just too forgiving. The narrative repeats patterns of putting blame, trying to work out issues and not succeeding till the first half. It is only in the second half that the story picks up and new characters pop in. I found that the story and the characters did not really make a place in my heart or my thoughts. The forgiving part with the father comes in rather abruptly and the happily ever after comes a bit forced given that half the book is about Sara’s hurt and anger over being abandoned by her father and having to pick up the pieces of her life. The same goes for Sara’s relationship with her husband with whom there has been a wall of silence most times with accusations when the silence gets broken. The resolution of the marital relation came too abrupt for me.
January 30, 2019
This is a family drama that is so gripping from page one. It has that quiet tension that sucks you right in. You can really feel the conflict between an estranged daughter and her worldly father, while at the same time detect the philial pull.
Sara has been a victim of irresponsible parents, and forced to mature so early in her life. She carries a bitterness inside her that is so evident with her negativity when she reacts to her general environment. The father TR seems like a regular self-centered male, and I feel like I waited forever for a redeeming factor to his character.
Things did get a bit dragging at the middle. Chapters are told through two different perspectives of the main characters, but for me the alternating narrative does not seem to add value to the reading experience. This is definitely a character-driven story, and so if you are one who looks for a complex plot, maybe look somewhere else. The revelations were a bit anticlimactic and dull.
Overall, I still think that this is a novel with a heart. It is lovely to see Sara’s journey towards finding her artistic self again. It’s all about repentance and second chances. We are reminded that we always have to work for the things we love. The first step to reformation is to admit you are wrong and ask for forgiveness, and the rest will follow.
Sara has been a victim of irresponsible parents, and forced to mature so early in her life. She carries a bitterness inside her that is so evident with her negativity when she reacts to her general environment. The father TR seems like a regular self-centered male, and I feel like I waited forever for a redeeming factor to his character.
Things did get a bit dragging at the middle. Chapters are told through two different perspectives of the main characters, but for me the alternating narrative does not seem to add value to the reading experience. This is definitely a character-driven story, and so if you are one who looks for a complex plot, maybe look somewhere else. The revelations were a bit anticlimactic and dull.
Overall, I still think that this is a novel with a heart. It is lovely to see Sara’s journey towards finding her artistic self again. It’s all about repentance and second chances. We are reminded that we always have to work for the things we love. The first step to reformation is to admit you are wrong and ask for forgiveness, and the rest will follow.
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