Carry Yourself Back to Me by Deborah Reed is the story of singer/songwriter Annie Walsh. Annie has secluded herself at her home in Florida after being abandoned by her lover, Owen, six months ago. This also caused her to be estranged from her brother, Calder. Calder tries to mend their relationship but he is then accused of murdering his girlfriend's husband.

This is author Deborah Reed's first literary novel. She writes suspense fiction under the penname Audrey Braun. Reed includes several mysteries and questions that must be answered in this novel, as well as a lot of introspective musing, reflection on memories, and pondering the meaning of life. There is more going on under the surface than outward appearances would indicate.

Stylistically, Reed is a good writer. While I will effortlessly concede that the writing is thoughtful and contemplative, and that the descriptions evoke a real sense of place, I would be remiss if I didn't also confess that I had a few problems with Carry Yourself Back to Me. To be honest, I found all the characters whiny and too self absorbed. It was like a stereotypical country song where everything goes wrong, everyone is cheating, and then your dog dies. All of this made the plot feel contrived to me. Apparently bad things have targeted this group of people and they have had it all happen to them.

Carry Yourself Back to Me just felt way too morose and desolate to me. However, with a nod to Reed, the quality of the actual writing kept me reading to see what happened in the end. Once I reached the ending, it felt implausible, but I suppose it neatly tied up all the loose ends of the plot. My issues with the novel may be more indicative of my frame of mind than of the merits of the novel itself. I would say that this novel is a bit more "chick lit" than I normally read.
Recommended - especially if you tend to like introspective chick lit. http://shetreadssoftly.blogspot.com/

Disclosure: I received an advance reading copy of this novel for review purposes.
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Deborah Reed has written an engaging novel about relationships, accomplishing the rare feat of good prose and characterisation. Human, believable characters are rendered with an accomplished style.

Country singer, Annie Walsh is trying to pick up the shattered pieces of her heart - the result of her lover, Owen's, infidelity. But when her brother gets into trouble, the pressure on Annie to get herself together intensifies. Love is hard, and gives no respite wheresoever it grows.

I liked this book a lot. Reed has a beautiful understated prose; it's not ten dollar words fluttering across the page like rare hummingbirds, but it's very well-observed. The weather, the emotions, the people - they are all so real and tactile, and she does it with a pleasing economy. It's quite poetic in parts - apropos the country music - but never tips over into sentimentality or mawkishness.

The same can be said for the characters. In a lot of ways, there's not a whole lot new here; we've seen forms of these people in a lot of "relationship" novels, but Reed writes about them so well, so intimately, it feels very fresh. Annie, obviously, is the lead, but Reed's insight is equally penetrating with most of the cast. We know these people, and we feel their emotions.

The story in some ways is simply the fuel for this engine of characterisation and rumination. This is not to say that nothing happens, quite the contrary; there's a lot of narrative packed into Carry Yourself Back to Me, but it's the emotional stakes of the characters that give it heft.

Indeed, this closeness Reed has to her characters leads to the novel's only - and slight - flaw. Rather than finishing at a natural break in the book, Reed can't resist following her protagonists just a little further. It lessens some of the impact of the book, and bends it to a more classical narrative with its conclusion. Personally, I felt the book didn't need the extras and it was slightly weaker for it.

Nonetheless, this is a quibble in the face of very promising new voice. Recommended. ( )

Everybody knows that there is never good timing for heart ache. It can take the form of a fog, or a striking pain, it is different for everyone and has no miracle cure. Annie Walsh is a singer song writer, no longer fresh to the scene but with bated breath fans waiting for her next release. They will be waiting a longer than they expect though, as Annie has lost her muse and she is hermit-ted, seemingly a new person (broken).

Annie has been self medicating as only she can see fit. She has been hiding from the world for months. When her boyfriend Owen abruptly left her, her focus switched to the grove of Tangelos out front and ensuring that they are tended to. Her secondary focus is on sandpapering Owen out of her existence. Music no longer matters..

After sIx months of hiding out, wallowing in her pain, and seething in her anger.. Annie is just beginning to numb, to reach an internal understanding and start to heal. Because the universe is cruel (and authors are more so) this poor woman just cannot catch a break, Annie’s brother Calder is arrested for murder. This news brings her back into the celebrity spotlight, and brings Owen back into her town and knocking on her door. She is forced to come out into the light, and deal with her life.

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On the Novel – It is hard to go into too much detail on this book, it does not deserve to be critically analyzed or torn apart; it begs to be consumed to be embraced to be thrown across the room in a fit of “I hate you” and to be gently picked back up to continue consumption. Deborah Reed built it with layer upon layer of emotion and I am finding it hard to do it justice in any form of discussion.. It is painful to read and heart wrenching to put down. Reed’s book made my soul ache.

This is easily one of the best novels I have read in years. I am proud to have this book on my shelf. Folks who are into literary fiction, musician novels, being stabbed emotionally, and experiencing ambiguity as to your personal opinion of cheating lying men.. This book may be for you. If you are a cheating lying man, this may also be for you. If you like sad tales of like those of country story tellers past, this may be for you.

I say pick it up, even if you do not know if it is up your alley. You know 15 people you can give it to who will thank you for it and love it when you are done. It’s just that good.

On a slight aside note – You hear a lot of people ask authors “what did you listen to while you were writing this” or “what would be on the soundtrack for this book”. This book goes one further because it IS a soundtrack. The characters, being musicians make a number of references to great music, I highly suggest that readers who are unfamiliar with specific works mentioned should look them up. The prose of the novel is already melodic, and the strength of the characters provides a constant rhythm, backing it with real world music adds a depth, characters become real people.. Specifically check out Brush Prairie and the song “Carry Yourself Back To Me”. You will notice that the EP cover and the book cover are similar.. I do not know if the book inspired the song, or the other way, but both are excellent.

On the Author – I listened to Reed do some speaking at WordStock 2011. She was kind to the fat bearded man (me) who walked up and advised he had never heard of her, but was glad to have caught her round table discussion. She was incredibly nice and interesting insert other pleasant words here. I was pleased to be able to catch her at the convention and chat for a couple minutes. I highly suggest fans go to her events and say “Hi”, you won’t regret it. ( )

I know you should never judge a book by it's cover but the book was offered as a lightening deal on Amazon, I liked the cover and bought it without reading anything about it. Wise! Enjoyable read, nicely written, part mystery, part literature, part love story, needs to move up the charts as this is a good hot chocolate curl up with a book read. ( )

Singer, Carrie, has been deserted by her lover, Owen. She has taken refuge at her home in Florida and soon finds herself involved in the problems of her estranged brother, Calder, who has been accused of murdering his girlfriend's husband. This is an OK novel; nothing to rave about. The ending is fairly obvious. ( )