Blue Straggler [Kindle Edition]

Kathy Lynn Harris (Author)

Book Description

A blue straggler is a star that has an anomalous blue color and appears to be disconnected from those stars that surround it.
But this is not a story about astronomy.

Bailey Miller is "disconnected" from the cluster of her rural south Texas family. She has never quite fit in and now in her early 30s, she finds herself struggling with inner turmoil and a series of bad choices in her life.

"... The characters made me laugh, cry, and wish that the story went on forever."

Bailey's drinking too much (even for a member of her family), has a penchant to eat spoonfuls of Cool Whip, works in a job that bores her beyond description and can't keep a relationship longer than it takes for milk to expire in her fridge.

Even with the help of her two outspoken friends, Texas lass Idamarie and her quirky college pal Rudy, she's having a hard time.

"... every single Texas reference Kathy Lynn Harris made was so descriptive that I knew exactly what she was talking about. I felt as if I was living the story."

So she packs up her Honda and heads out of Texas in search of herself and answers to secrets from her great-grandmother's past. The novel takes readers on a journey from San Antonio, Texas, to a small mountain town in Colorado and back again, as Bailey uncovers not only the secrets of her great-grandmother's life, but also some painful secrets of her own. All while finding love along the way.

"... both thoughtful and laugh-out-loud funny! I also hope that the author is working on a sequel."

"... I laughed till I cried, then cried till I laughed. This is one I will read over and over again."

If you have ever wondered why you got stuck with the family you did, what you are doing with your job and your life, or had a sudden desire to run off to the mountains, sit back and join Bailey for this laugh-out-loud, yet poignant ride.

"... Ms. Harris ⚊ I'm ready for the next installment!"

Editorial Reviews

Review

Wonderful!

I loved Bailey, the main character in Blue Straggler. She is a misfit in her own family, searching for her future through her long-hidden past. That she creates meaningful connections wherever she is - and tackles life with a wry sense of humor - makes her an endearing character and this novel a must-read.       

 

--- Best-selling author Kaira Rouda, author of HERE, HOME, HOPE 

A Must Read Debut Novel

I loved Blue Straggler by Kathy Lynn Harris! It had it all - amazing and quirky characters, laughter, tears, love...

Bailey is a 30 something single woman living in South Texas that feels disconnected from everything. When she unexpectedly loses her job she decides to leave it all behind and head to Colorado. Her goal is to research why her great grandmother had abandoned her husband and children and moved to the small mountain town of Gold Creek. She hopes that she will find some insight into her own inner turbulence.

The quirky people and unexpected events she encounters along the way to self discovery make this book a delight. Ms. Harris has created well drawn, believable characters and a story that you will care about.

--- 5 Stars! Kate Farrell, from The Kindle Book Review       

Product Details

• File Size: 378 KB
• Print Length: 337 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0983170142
• Publisher: 30 Day Books; First Edition edition (August 6, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B005G9ZNF2
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #182,160 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Page-turner August 10, 2011

By Kathy H

Format:Kindle Edition

Ms. Harris has a great ear for dialogue, and a keen eye for character in this sweet novel. I laughed out loud in parts, and many of the images stayed with me a long time. Just the thing for today's discerning fiction reader. (BTW I am not the same Kathy H who wrote the book! just a coincidence of our similar names)

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Still laughing, and smiling August 10, 2011

By Leslie

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

As a Texas girl who packed up her Honda and got out of the state as well, I loved this book. The characters are so richly drawn, and the story humorous yet poignant. Harris is one of those rare writers who has real affection for the people she creates--no judgment, no disdain--and because of that you warm to the characters quickly, flaws and all. She has a cinematic gift for dialog, scene, and atmosphere that keeps you reading. I found myself picturing scenes in that Texas cafe, high in those Rocky Mountains, long after I finished the last page. And Mac, well he's a Colorado version of Sex and the City's Aidan. Need I say more??

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Delightful Read February 27, 2012

By Dan R Beck

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I kindled the Blue Straggler because a friend suggested it. I prefer history and politics, so I started reading it out of a sense of loyalty to a friend. I'm glad I did. It was a great read, fun and delightful. I was amused by the characters I recognized, not in a personal sense; but, in the sense that I kept saying to myself, "I know people just like that." The five-star rating other reviewers have given this book seems spot on to me. The dialogue was fascinating. The author's manipulation of thoughts and suggestions into the ebb and flow of conversation was compelling. Sometimes, I stopped reading the story and thought about her style, the mechanics of how she was telling the story. The mechanics she employed during dialogues gave each of the characters a certain sense of spontaneity that enhanced their already carefully crafted appearance of being alive. Her constant-------and never boorish--------insertion of the "cliches" common to south Texas always fit precisely into the flow of the story and the accretion-like layering of her characters. Her use of humor, throughout, helped me tolerate the early darkness of the Bailey character. Bailey's evolution was gratifying. At first, I certainly had my doubts whether I could like her. As she evolved, reached satisfaction about Annie and herself, I was reminded of the existential quest withing us all, the human individual seeking harmony in a transient life.
The "cherry on top" for me was the Bailey character' ability to separate from the pull of colloquialisms of her early environment without dismissing their relevance in her quest for harmony. The Texas/Colorado metaphor was brilliant. Texas, who she was,loved; but, ultimately did not want to be-----represented her family, her home, all that was familiar in her formative years, her placenta. Colorado was the detachment, the cutting of the umbilical cord. When she looked out over the valley on her Colorado landlord's property, didn't we already know that she had found her harmony.
As an aside, I always look for certain things when I read. I like respect for human dignity, fairness, caring for others. I like books that carry the water for good people and good causes, books that find worth in human beings for the sake of human beings. The courage to be kind, the strength to say that wealth and power are not worthy quests, all the while maintaining a sense of balance and realism---difficult to balance,for sure----but a sheer delight to me when juxtaposed. I found that personal quest for harmony in the Blue Straggler.

More About the Author

Hi there! Thanks for reading more about me via amazon's Author Central.

I grew up in rural South Texas and come from people who work hard, love the land and know how to have a good time on a Saturday night. As a writer, I'm lucky to have been surrounded by exceptional characters throughout my life, many of whom have lived their lives exactly the way they wanted. The rest of the world could take `em or leave `em! I only hope that I have one ounce of the gumption they had.

In 2001, I made the move from Texas to the Colorado Rockies to focus on my writing and soak up All Things Mountain.

By day, I work for a healthcare analytics firm as a senior creative writer and project manager. By night, after 11 years living at the top of a mountain, I now make my home in a 1920s log cabin in the mountain-foothills west of Denver, with my husband and son, plus two fairly untrainable golden retriever mixes.

Mountain lions, bears, foxes, coyotes and other high-country animals are our neighbors, and we wouldn't have it any other way. It is here that I write -- I've completed two novels and three children's books. I have also published hundreds of magazine articles, poetry, short fiction and essays. My work has appeared in numerous published anthologies.

I love to hear from readers, so feel free to contact me at [e-mail]. Find out more about me and my writing at http://kathylynnharris.com.

You can find my Facebook page, titled after my debut novel, Blue Straggler, at:
http://www.facebook.com/BlueStragglerFiction

Join me on Twitter: http:twitter.com/KathyLynnHarris

I'm also pleased to join book discussion groups who choose my novel for discussion -- just ask!