The only thing Jenna Chamberland ever wanted in her life was to be a good wife and a good mom. In death, she’ll find that she still wants the same things.
With stage-four breast cancer, a terminal diagnosis and six months to live, Jenna fears what awaits her family after she is gone: Her husband, Gabe, will be left to raise their daughter alone, and Mia, only seven years old, will be forced to face a world without her mother.
Ten blank tapes to teach her daughter everything she’ll ever need to know. Dead before Mia ever really got to know her, Jenna exists now only in pictures and watercolored memories, and Mia finds herself struggling to remember her mother in a way that feels real. But on the ninth anniversary of Jenna’s death, she will return to her daughter through a series of audiocassettes. One tape each of the milestones of Mia’s life, and with them, a letter explaining that Mia should only listen to the tapes when the time is right.
With the help of her mother’s long-gone voice, Mia may just learn how to embrace the challenges and triumphs of her ever-changing life with humor, grace and a lot of hope.
Rereleased for its second anniversary, the novel that book bloggers have called “beautiful” and “unforgettable” returns with new content and tapes never before read.
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Excerpt:
“The recycled air of the plane hummed between them. “I’m not saying I’m dying.” Jenna spoke softly, “I’m thinking about my mom. I’ve been doing that a lot lately. And I’m just saying, the cards, that’s a nice thing to do. I would have loved something like that.” Especially now, she thought, thought she didn’t say that to him.
“All you need to focus on,” Gabe cleared his throat and continued, “Is figuring out how you want to work the treatment schedule. First things first.”
Jenna turned towards the window and the the wide, beautiful world below. The incision in her left breast ached. Hovering over her heart. The place where the oncologist’s needle punctured her pale flesh had flowered with a dusky bruise and throbbed exquisitely behind the lifting veil of numbness.” – The Milestone Tapes
(I apologize for there not being a review–I neglected to write that down, but it will be up soon!)
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Ashley Mackler Paternostro is the author of The Milestone Tapes and the Amazon Best Selling novel In The After. Her shorter works can be found in Holiday Wishes – An Anthology for a Children’s Charity and on the blog ww.onepagelovestory.com Ashley lives in a suburb of Chicago with her husband and their three dogs.
Ashley will be awarding The Book Bag, a Glass Fishing Float, a Keychain, Cassette Tape Note Cards, Mug, Paperback & a digital copy of The Milestone Tapes (US only) to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour, and a signed copy of The Milestone Tapes to a randomly drawn host.(US ONLY). Be sure to enter on the rafflecopter and follow the entire tour for more chances to win!
5 Comments
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What a wonderful book! Thanks for sharing.
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This sounds like an incredibly moving book! I definitely want to read this!!! Thanks!!!
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Ruth,
Thank you so much for hosting The Milestone Tapes! I just read your bio and I have to say, you live in my *favorite* place! The Pacific Northwest is my “heart home.”XO,
Ash-
Author
Yes, my interest was piqued when I saw Port Angeles. I am enjoying the read so far!
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Thanks for hosting!