The Great Unexpected by Dan Mooney - TLC Book Tour & GIVEAWAY

The Great Unexpected by Dan Mooney

Hardcover: 384 Pages
Publisher: Park Row; Original edition (June 25, 2019)

A curmudgeon and his eccentric new roommate join together to plan an epic escape in this charming, poignant tale.

Joel lives in a nursing home, and he’s not one bit happy about it. He hates being told when to eat, when to sleep, when to take his pills. He’s fed up with life and begins to plan a way out when his new roommate, a retired soap opera actor named Frank, moves in and turns the nursing-home community upside down.

Though the two men couldn’t be more opposite, a fast friendship is formed when Frank is the only one who listens to and stands up for Joel. When he tells Frank about his burgeoning plan, they embark together on a mission to find the perfect escape, and along the way will discover that it’s never too late for new beginnings.

Filled with colorful characters, sparkling humor and deep emotion, The Great Unexpected is the story of friendship, finding oneself later in life and experiencing newfound joy in the most unexpected places.

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

 

About Dan Mooney

Dan Mooney is an amateur filmmaker and air traffic controller, and a friend to many cats. He wrote his first piece of fiction for a child-operated local newspaper at age ten and has been writing ever since. He lives in Ireland.

Connect with Dan

Website | Facebook | Twitter

My Thoughts:

The Great Unexpected is one of the cutest, sweetest, funniest stories I've read in a really long time.

Picture if you will a 70 year old living in a nursing home, hating every single moment of it and planning his escape.  Joel used to share a room with his beloved wife Lucy, until the day she passed away and left him in a state of sadness and depression.  Although his family still visit him, Joel can't help but feel a disconnect towards them.  He has essentially given up on everything. 

When a new roommate arrives, Joel couldn't be more irritated, especially since the person is Frank, a retired soap opera actor, outspoken, loud and completely different to Joel. 

Joel and Frank are quite the opposite personality wise, but as they get to know each other, they quickly develop a strong bond and soon become partners in crime.  They often breakout of the nursing home to go to town, which in turn provides some rather funny moments in the story.

As they spend more time together, the two elderly men became the best of friends, sharing secrets, life experiences and thoughts and dreams. 

This book made me think of my grandparents.  They so often would say that they would hate to be in a nursing home, away from family and having strangers dictating what they ate, when they slept and what they could do.  I often feel for the elderly as I do think that they are treated quite unfairly at times, and Dan Mooney brings those thoughts right to the forefront as he touches on some serious issues like suicide, while providing some thought provoking moments.

The Great Unexpected reminds us that age is nothing but a number, and that deep below the wrinkles and aging bodies, lie human beings still yearning for love and respect. 

This book has so far, been one of my favorite reads in 2019.

GIVEAWAY:  One lucky winner will receive a copy of The Great Unexpected.  Contest is open to US only.  Please leave a comment down below and be sure to include an email where I can contact you if you are chosen.  Good Lucky!!!


Thank you to TLC for providing me with a review copy.