Cover2CoverBlog: Blog Tour: Review and Giveaway -- The Wisdom of Hair by Kim Boykin

The Wisdom of Hair by Kim Boykin

Publisher: Berkley Trade

Available: Now!!!

Format: Paperback
Source: From author

The Wisdom of Hair Purchase Links:

About the Book

Life can be beautiful, but it takes a little work...

“The problem with cutting your own hair is that once you start, you just keep cutting, trying to fix it, and the truth is, some things can never be fixed. The day of my daddy’s funeral, I cut my bangs until they were the length of those little paintbrushes that come with dime-store watercolor sets. I was nine years old. People asked me why I did it, but I was too young then to know I was changing my hair because I wanted to change my life.”

In 1983, on her nineteenth birthday, Zora Adams finally says goodbye to her alcoholic mother and their tiny town in the mountains of South Carolina. Living with a woman who dresses like Judy Garland and brings home a different man each night is not a pretty existence, and Zora is ready for life to be beautiful.

With the help of a beloved teacher, she moves to a coastal town and enrolls in the Davenport School of Beauty. Under the tutelage of Mrs. Cathcart, she learns the art of fixing hair, and becomes fast friends with the lively Sara Jane Farquhar, a natural hair stylist. She also falls hard for handsome young widower Winston Sawyer, who is drowning his grief in bourbon. She couldn’t save Mama, but maybe she can save him.

As Zora practices finger waves, updos, and spit curls, she also comes to learn that few things are permanent in this life—except real love, lasting friendship, and, ultimately… forgiveness.

My Rating:

Background: Zora needs to get away from her mother and has the chance to leave home and go to beauty school. With the help of a teacher, she moves to Davenport and lives in an apartment on the property of a very hot man, all she has to do is cook and leave him dinner every night. Zora starts to fall for this mysterious and sad man through her time leaving him plates but also makes a new friend in beauty school. All things seem to be going alright, ntil she realizes that she is falling for Winston.

Review: My grandmother taught me 2 important things growing up: 1. Always wear matching bra and panties in case you are in an accident and 2. Always look your best, because even if you are feeling like crap, looking nice will make you feel a little better. The reason that I bring these up is because The Wisdom of Hair is a self-searching journey with Zora all through the experiences she has in beauty school...making people look their best.

Zora is a nineteen year old who has already gone through a lot in her life. Her mother is an embarrassment of a woman, who is narcissistic and Zora is all she had left. Zora is just done dealing with her schemes. I think that when Zora move away she digresses a little, starts acing more like a teen again since she doesn't have to care for mom and I feel like that may have been harder to accomplish by any person.

I really like this book and it is rare that I read a book geared toward New Adult or Adult and this one really hit the mark. It kept me reading with its wit and charm on every page. Zora can be a bit of a prude but she is equally balanced by her friend Sara Jane.

I have been reading that the plot is a love story, and it is, but not in the romantic love kind of way. More like the love of those around you, your family, friends, and partners. I think it is a relief to read a book where it isn't all about the main character swooning over someone and trying to get in their pants...yes there is swooning but not like most books. Zora is a strong woman who is trying to understand what is best for herself and the love those around her are willing to share.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good/quick read and surprises every other page.

1 Winner will receive the Kindle pictured above. (WiFi, 6in Display)
4 Winners will get 2 ARCS each, on for them self and one for their hair stylist!

Shipping in the US only, no PO Boxes. Must be 13+ to Enter

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About the Author

Kim Boykin

I was born in Augusta, Georgia, but raised in South Carolina in a home with two girly sisters and great parents. So when you read my stuff if there is ever some deranged mama or daddy terrorizing the protagonist, I want to make it clear, it’s not them.

I had a happy, boring childhood, which sucks if you’re a writer because you have to create your own crazy. PLUS after you’re published and you’re being interviewed, for some reason, it’s very appealing that the author actually lived in Crazy Town or somewhere in the general vicinity.

What I did have going for me was two things. One, my grandfather, Bryan Standridge, was an amazing storyteller. He held court under an old mimosa tree on the side of his yard, and people used to come by in droves just to hear him tell stories. He told tales about growing up in rural Georgia and shared his unique take on the world. As a child, I was enthralled, but when I started to write, really write, I realized what a master teacher of pacing and sensory detail he was.

The other major influence on my writing is my ADHDness. Of course when I was a kid, nobody knew what that was. Compared to my older sisters, I knew something was “wrong” with me, so I learned to multitask like crazy and excel at things I did well to make up for things I couldn’t do like math and sitting still.

Today, I’m an empty nester of two kids with a husband, three dogs, and 126 rose bushes. I write stories about strong southern women because that’s what I know. I’m an accomplished public speaker, which basically means I’m good at talking.

If this doesn’t tell you what you want to know, check out my blog for a few laughs and some good stuff on writing, gardening, food, and, of course, hair.