Overview

A story about finding hope in the face of hardship and connection in the face of crisis, Handle with Care is a novel for our time. ""Brimming with Southern charm, danger, and a complex cast of characters, Marybeth Mayhew Whalen masterfully blends suspense and emotion."" --Women's World ""Rich with complex characters, a tightly woven plot and natural suspense."" --Belle Burden, author of Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage Three women walk into a post office. This is no joke--it's the spark that ignites a life-altering crisis. On a quiet spring afternoon, an ordinary small-town post office becomes ground zero for a domestic dispute. A husband draws a weapon and seals the doors, holding four women captive: his frightened wife, a young woman searching for meaning amid uncertainty, a mother on the brink of letting go as her only daughter graduates, and an elderly woman concealing a secret that could shatter everything she knows. Outside, the negotiator works to keep a fragile peace, forced to confront her own issues as every word becomes a lifeline. Each of the three women who walked into the post office is carrying something that, if mailed, would profoundly change her life. As minutes become hours in this daylong siege, these strangers forge lasting bonds. Handle with Care shines a light on hope found even in the darkest moments, and illuminates how even strangers, thrown together by chance and hardship, have the power to change each other's lives. This heartwarming women's fiction novel is laced with depth and humor--it's perfect for book clubs. Discussion questions are included to prompt lively conversations. ""A deep breath of humanity and hope."" --Gin Phillips, author of Fierce Kingdom and Ruby Falls ""Life is fragile, love is fierce, and we are far more alike than we imagine."" --Elizabeth Bass Parman, author of Bees in June and The Empress of Cooke County

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9781400345052

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Reviews

'In HANDLE WITH CARE, Whalen delivers a heart-thumping story with her signature warmth and insight. This moving novel reminds us that every life is a balance of hope and heartbreak, resilience, and regret. With each twist and turn, Whalen reveals that life is fragile, love is fierce, and we are far more alike than we imagine.' * Elizabeth Bass Parman, author of BEES IN JUNE and THE EMPRESS OF COOKE COUNTY *

'I am a huge fan of Marybeth Mayhew Whalen and will read everything she writes! HANDLE WITH CARE manages to be a pulse pumping thriller but also a women supporting women heartwarming tale. I can't wait to sell this gem at Fabled.' * Elizabeth Barnhill, adult book buyer at Fabled Bookshop and Cafe * 'In HANDLE WITH CARE, Whalen delivers a heart-thumping story with her signature warmth and insight. This moving novel reminds us that every life is a balance of hope and heartbreak, resilience, and regret. With each twist and turn, Whalen reveals that life is fragile, love is fierce, and we are far more alike than we imagine.' * Elizabeth Bass Parman, author of BEES IN JUNE and THE EMPRESS OF COOKE COUNTY *

Author Information

Marybeth Whalen is the author of Handle with Care and 10 previous novels. Marybeth received a BA in English with a concentration in Writing and Editing from NC State University a long time ago and has been writing ever since. Marybeth and her husband, Curt, are the parents of six kids who are now all in various stages of adulting. A native of Charlotte, NC, Marybeth now calls Sunset Beach, NC, home. When not spending time with family and friends or working on her next novel, Marybeth can usually be found following all things true crime. You can find her online @marybethwhalen or marybethwhalen.com.

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