********** THIS IS A GOODREADS WIN!!!**********

What such an amazing book. The author wrote a wonderful book. There is some jumping back into the past but the author has it written so the reader is not confused. This is a wonderful fast read. I honestly could not put it down. I can not wait to try the Gumbo recipe at the end of the book. ( )

I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy of LITTLE GALE GUMBO and WOW, am I glad I did! It took me a while to read, not because I’m a slow reader, but because like good home-cooking, (and speaking of which, there are great recipes at the back of it, which I’m definitely going to try) it needed to be savored and rolled on the tongue to get the full effect of its bouquets and textures. This book, about a woman and her two daughters who escape an abusive man and try to make a new life, is told in alternate scenes of present day 2002 and various flashbacks that layer this beautifully drawn story of family dynamics, love, heartache, loss and in the end, acceptance. With each chapter, more is revealed about the family and its history and though some of the secrets are shocking, never once does this book become overly dramatic or maudlin. This was an honest story of what really happens in some families and what strong, charismatic people do to not just survive and get by in this life, but to thrive and learn to love, both themselves and others. I can’t say enough how much I enjoyed this book and the subtle way I, as the reader, was taken by the hand and led through the twists and turns of the lives of the three Bergeron women. I think I need to read it again to fully appreciate the layers of the story and how beautifully it is written. I’ll get to that right after I whip up some gumbo and pralines. ( )