Sleepover/ Serena Bell/ 242 pgs

Sleepover is a short little romance that packs an emotional punch. Sawyer and his son Jonah move in next door to Elle and her son Mason. Sawyer's wife died two years ago and Elle's husband left her for his high school sweetheart. Things aren't great for either of them, but their kids hit it off and soon enough Sawyer and Elle do too. I liked that both characters made mature decisions and weren't afraid to let their emotions show.

The Last Original Wife/Dorothea Benton Frank/352 pages

Leslie and Wesley, known to all as Les and Wes, are still on their first marriage. Death and divorce ended their friends' marriages, and the husbands replaced the first wives with much younger versions  (the Barbies as Les calls them) within months. Wes' loud and abusive nature makes him less of a prize than one would think. Their adult children seem to lack motivation and financial stability. An accident resulting in injury on a vacation and the subsequent discovery of bank statements showing untold wealth have Les fleeing back to her childhood home in Charleston for an extended visit to her brother while she sorts out her life.

An engrossing novel that deals with what do you do when you realize you are unhappy and have no one to blame but yourself.

Lies You Wanted to Hear/James Whitfield Thomson/401 pages

Lucy and Matt are set up by mutual friends. Lucy is still getting over Griff, her on again, off again lover who wants to live in the moment, preferably with lots of drugs. Matt is a nice guy police officer who can't seem to find "the one." They decide to settle for each other even though it's pretty clear that Lucy is still pining for Griff and Matt knows it. He is willing to believe her lies because the truth isn't pretty. When their marriage implodes, their children become pawns in their war.


I was disappointed in this book. I'm pretty sure I was suppose to like and sympathize with Lucy, but I found her character very distasteful. Matt wasn't a gem, but he was light years beyond Lucy. There's nothing worse than a book where there isn't one character you can embrace. Give this one a pass. Longest 400 pages I've read in quite a while.

Mrs. Kimble / Jennifer Haigh / 400 p.

This is a personal look into the lives of three women who were all married to the same man over the course of 25 years in the 1960s to the 1980s. It is the pitiful story of how one man can affect the lives of the women who put their trust in him.

Analysis
Author Jennifer Haigh is possessed of impressive literary talent, although it took me halfway through the book before I appreciated what she was trying to do. What she does is create honest, individual characters who all deal with their life circumstances in unique ways. One woman is handles things with maturity while another totally loses control of her life. There are no cookie-cutter characters here.

The historical depiction of American in the late-90s is interesting. The author presents an America that is not perfect but is very different from the one we have today. And the portrayal of the children in the story is heartwrenching.

Recommendation 
Another person who read this book called it a "manhater" book, but I disagree. It is true that this book will likely appeal more to women than men, especially to women older than 30. But, rather than a novel about gender issues, this book is a depiction of how the decisions of one person can affect the lives of those around them. While one of the male characters is truly worthy of some ill feeling, not all men  (albeit few) in the book  are so bad. The book shows women strong and weak and children affected by abandonment.

If you are seeking a feel-good story, this is not it. It is a serious book for readers looking for a novel that deals with the consequences of human dishonesty.

The Whole Enchilada/Diane Mott Davidson/ 372 pages

Goldy Schulz is catering the birthday party for her son and one of her best friend's son. They were born on the same day in the same hospital where Goldy and Holly met. The party has several uninvited guests, including Holly's ex-husband and his new wife. When Holly drops dead of an apparent heart attack after leaving the party, Goldy is devastated. Later, when two more people are attacked, the whole town is upset by the tragedies.

Throughout it all, Goldy still manages to cater meals without missing a beat. Luckily, she has Julian whose only role seems to be to help her cater, hang around her house and provide gourmet meals for her family at the drop of the hat, and, of course, willingly wash every last dish. I wish I had a Julian! Unfortunately, all that help just gives Goldy more time to snoop into everyone's business and find herself in hot water.

Scarlet Thread / Francine Rivers 462 p.

Sierra Madrid seems to have the happy life-- married, two children, nice home in their hometown. Then her husband, Alex, comes home and says he is taking a new job where he can fully use his talents. Sierra is a homebody. She moves but with loads of resentment. Alex never discussed this move. Alex seems to miss her concerns about money. This new company is young. He's going for all the perks, big house, top interior designer, and private schools for the children. The family starts to fall apart, she and her husband separate, and divorce is eminent. She comes to read her ancestor's diary and study the ancestor's quilt with scarlet thread. Mary Kathryn, too, had to move against her will with her husband. Sierra has several personal revelations that drive her to changes as she moves towards faith and redemption. Rivers works scenes that seem so authentic. A worthwhile Christian fiction read, one that bears re-reading.