Hannah's Dream Review and Giveaway

I just finished Hannah's Dream by Diane Hammond. What a beautiful story!!! First, here is a description of the book from the publisher:

An elephant never forgets...but can she dream?

For forty-one years, Samson Brown has been caring for Hannah, the lone elephant at the down-at-the-heels Max L. Biedelman Zoo. Having vowed not to retire until an equally loving and devoted caretaker is found to replace him, Sam rejoices when smart, compassionate Neva Wilson is hired as the new elephant keeper. But Neva quickly discovers what Sam already knows: that despite their loving care, Hannah is isolated from other elephants and her feet are nearly ruined from standing on hard concrete all day. Using her contacts in the zookeeping world, Neva and Sam hatch a plan to send Hannah to an elephant sanctuary — just as the zoo's angry, unhappy director launches an aggressive revitalization campaign that spotlights Hannah as the star attraction, inextricably tying Hannah's future to the fate of the Max L. Biedelman Zoo.

A charming, poignant, and captivating novel certain to enthrall readers of Water for Elephants, Diane Hammond's Hannah's Dream is a beautifully told tale rich in heart, humor, and intelligence.

**Disclaimer** I don't write reviews often. I just read for fun. I am not terribly good with words, and I tend not to explain myself very well. Just so you know...

I found this to be a completely charming story about a beautiful friendship. The conflict seems a bit predictable, but the characters really make the story. Each character brings with them their own history, which relates to the relationships they have formed with Hannah. These stories you read about each character add a tenderness somehow. For me, the story just seemed to have a nice flow to it. And while I wasn't surprised by the ending, I was touched - it even brought a little tear to my eye.

So, all that said - I enjoyed this book, and I am glad I read it! It touched me, and I was entertained, and really that's all that matters!

And now it's time for the giveaway!!! HarperCollins sent me a SIGNED copy of Hannah's Dream for one lucky reader!!! All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this post. One thing, though - if you don't leave an email address or an active blog link with your comment, then I will delete your comment and you will not be entered. I'm not doing this to be mean, but hey, I've got to have a way to contact you in case you win, right?

The last day to leave a comment is Tuesday, October 7, and I'll announce the winner on Wednesday, October 8th. This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only.