Official Website of Author Tamara Angela Grant

From the depths of the author's heart comes a riveting novel that introduces readers to the members who make up the Darling and Devereaux family of Regal City, Louisiana. As much as this clan is different, they are the same; each having forgotten the true worth of family. Some left Regal City in pursuit of a more worldly life whereas others remained in the small city where their family roots were firmly planted; but no matter the distance between them, LuLu Bell Darling Devereaux was the glue that bonded them together, and even following her untimely death, she is determined to mend her broken family. Can her love and compassion for family bring them together-from the grave?

Set in 1969 Louisiana, The Cooling Board is masterfully written by author Tamara Angela Grant. (Promises Made, Promises Kept) With a stroke of genius, Tamara breathed life into the characters who with a little push from 'Bell, blossom into the beautiful bouquet of flowers we call the Darling-Devereaux family.

I highly recommend this book because the author has surely reminded me that no matter where we travel in life, there is nothing more important than where our journey began-family.

-Linda R. Herman, author of Consequences

After reading Tamara Angela Grant's first book, "Promises Made, Promises Kept," I said I'd be looking for her next release and was extremely happy to see that she'd been published again.

In "The Cooling Board" we meet the Darling family in Regal City, Louisiana. Unfortunately, the family has come together to bury Lulu Bell Darling Devereaux, the stitch that held this madness called a family together. All hell breaks loose as the family forgets that in this time of bereavement they should lean on one another for love and support instead of viciously going on the attack. As the family prepares for the last will and testament, Lulu Bell has her final say. Will her crazy relatives utilize her words of wisdom and adjust themselves accordingly? Or has her loss caused an eternal rip for the Darling Devereaux family?

I sincerely enjoyed "The Cooling Board." Set in the late 60's it's easy to vividly transcend into the setting, wording and hot button topics representative of that time. Regal City, Louisiana, is just as much apart of "The Cooling Board" as is the very eccentric family that readers will lovingly embrace, and in many cases relate to. Secrets, lies, jealousy and stubbornness have prevented them for so long to truly operate as a real family. I guarantee that in reading this you're sure to reflect on your own family ties, the mending of fences, tears, laughter, all the while anxiously awaiting the turning of the pages. Now that I'm married, I realize that my husband's family, despite our differences, is my family as well. Initially that was not my understanding and I didn't plan to blend, mix or settle into his family because I felt like they were just that, his family. Besides, I had my own nutty family to deal with. Needless to say, I was wrong. While you can't choose your relatives, you can elect not to overindulge in some of the more outlandish parts. Now that I'm wiser, married, and a mom, I can fully appreciate all of the drama that makes up my uniquely crazy family and respectively have learned to value the time that we have.

Kudos, Tamara, for shining the light on families! Continued success!

-Nardsbaby 4.5 stars