Lone Star Book Blogger Tour: WHEN THE MEN WERE GONE by Marjorie Herrera Lewis ***BOOK REVIEW & GIVEAWAY***

WHEN THE MEN WERE GONE

by

MARJORIE HERRERA LEWIS

  Genre: Historical / Biographical / Sports Fiction

Publisher: William Morrow 

Date of Publication: October 2, 2018

Number of Pages: 240

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A cross between Friday Night Lights and The Atomic City Girls, When The Men Were Gone is a debut historical novel based on the true story of Tylene Wilson, a woman in 1940s Texas who, in spite of extreme opposition, became a female football coach in order to keep her students from heading off to war.

Football is the heartbeat of Brownwood, Texas. Every Friday night for as long as assistant principal Tylene Wilson can remember, the entire town has gathered in the stands, cheering their boys on. Each September brings with it the hope of a good season and a sense of unity and optimism. Now, the war has changed everything. Most of the Brownwood men over eighteen and under forty-five are off fighting, and in a small town the possibilities are limited. Could this mean a season without football? But no one counted on Tylene, who learned the game at her daddy’s knee. She knows more about it than most men, so she does the unthinkable, convincing the school to let her take on the job of coach. Faced with extreme opposition by the press, the community, rival coaches, and referees -- and even the players themselves -- Tylene remains resolute. And when her boys rally around her, she leads the team -- and the town -- to a Friday night and a subsequent season they will never forget. Based on a true story, When the Men Were Gone is a powerful and vibrant novel of perseverance and personal courage.

PRAISE FOR WHEN THE MEN WERE GONE:

"Sublimely ties together the drama of high school football, gender politics, and the impact of war on a small town in Texas.” – Best of Books, 2018, Sports Illustrated

“A beautiful story that stays in your heart long after you finish reading.” - Jodi Thomas, New York Times bestselling author “Based on a true story that most people probably don’t know, readers will find plenty to love in Herrera Lewis’ debut.” -- Kirkus Review

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When the Men Were Gone by Marjorie Herrera Lewis is a remarkable story about a woman who against all odds, and practically everyone in her town, coached high school football for a city that lived and breathed the sport for generations.  Based on the true story of Tylene Wilson, the assistant principal of Brownwood High School in 1944, When the Men Were Gone is not only a story of strength amid great opposition, but one of incredible courage.  

War World II was a heartbreaking time for many families with young boys.  When so many were coming home in either a wheelchair or a casket, the loss and pain of the families were nearly palpable throughout the story.  Whenever Tylene heard an airplane fly overhead, knowing someone was coming home to be buried, you could feel the loss right alongside the grieving families. The tension between the men in the town and Tylene was almost shocking, but it is an accurate portrayal of gender roles during this time period.  I was actually surprised that her husband was so supportive of her coaching, and it goes to show what a loving and understanding husband Tylene had.  Their dynamic in the story was very heartwarming and beautiful.  I think he was a great source of her strength in getting through all the push-back she was receiving for wanting to coach a male-dominated sport.   

Lewis does an excellent job weaving Tylene's backstory on how she learned so much about football as a child.  She created such an authentic connection between the love of the game and the childhood memories she had with her father.  I literally couldn't put this book down! I just had to see what happened in the end.  I was blown away by the courage and perseverance of Tylene Wilson and I think everyone needs to know her story.   I wouldn't be surprised if they made a movie based on this book.  What an amazing read!

5 Hearts!

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Marjorie Herrera Lewis is an award-winning sportswriter, named the first female Dallas Cowboys beat writer when she was with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. She later joined the SportsDay staff of The Dallas Morning News, where she continued to cover the NFL and professional tennis. She is currently a contributing sportswriter for PressBoxDFW.com. 

While writing When the Men Were Gone, she became inspired to try her hand at coaching football herself and was added to the Texas Wesleyan University football coaching staff in December 2016. Marjorie has degrees from Arizona State University, The University of Texas in Arlington, Southern New Hampshire University, and certificates from Southern Methodist University, and Cornell University. She is married and has two grown daughters and one son-in-law.

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****GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!****
THREE SIGNED COPIES OF WHEN THE MEN WERE GONE

June 18-28, 2019

(International)

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