From Booklist
Mapson combines larger-than-life characters and earthy dialogue in a story with more suds than substance. It's been three long years since Lainie Carpenter's four-year-old son died from heart disease, and none of the Carpenters has fully recovered from the loss. Patriarch Charles Russell Carpenter II, a thrice-married cowboy-millionaire who resides in a dilapidated Frank Lloyd Wright house, can't fix his family's problems with money no matter how hard he tries. Granddaughter Lainie, awash in unpaid hospital bills and chronic depression, is at odds with both her grandfather and her husband. Lainie's brother, Russell, feels trapped by a soulless relationship with a divorcee. Their luck begins to change when Charles weds his fourth wife, a brash former stripper who helps the family reconcile. Mapson creates likable characters and has a breezy, readable style, but she loads down her characters with more than their fair share of life's problems. Still, even as readers grow weary of the onslaught, the relentless pull of her narrative will keep them glued to the page.

Sending to LGinder today. Thanks for trading with me for Gods in Alabma!

Book came in todays mail, thanks!

I sat glued to my couch for the better part of two days absorbed in this little book. I enjoyed it for it's supposed location - Huntington Harbor, CA which is next door to our first home after we married. The author is from Costa Mesa (i.e. the town of Harper I assume) and the geographical references to Triangle Square (in Costa Mesa), the Turtle Lady (another real person although it's a fact she rescues and rehabilitates turtles I'm not sure if she's a foster mom), references to the Golden Bear and Jacks Surfboards in Huntington Beach all bring back memories. I had friends in high school that had one of the apartments over Jacks ... memories ... The Shadow Ranch's location, 3 hours south of Huntington Harbor, is fictional as you'd be in Mexico by that time. And there really is a Slab City but it's north east of there. Obvious that the author knows her way around southern CA. The story was a bit long I think but the characters were well defined. Good ending as it wouldn't have been right any other way! I'll definately keep my eye open for more of her books. Thanks for the trade. Book is being set aside for a Womens Fiction book box coming my way in the next few months.

RELEASE NOTES:

Releasing into peaceofpi's women's only bookbox. Happy travels little book!

RELEASE NOTES:

Releasing into peaceofpi's women's only bookbox. Happy travels little book!

I took this out of the bookbox!

This was a long, slow read for me. I enjoyed the characters for the most part, but there just wasn't enough to keep me really interested. At least it has a good ending!

Given to a non-bookcrossing friend