I've almost quit doing ratings on the books I'm registering here, but I really liked this one. Jeanne Ray is quickly becoming a favorite author.

Caroline and Tom have a happy long-term marriage and four successful grown children. What could go wrong? Well, you'll have to read this one to find out...

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

I'm sending this to bookczuk as a RABCK for being such a great bookcrosser! Hope she enjoys it!

Oh! This book was recommended to me by eyclady when I was complaining about being stuck in a bad patch of books. And here it is, read for me to Step Ball Change! I am absolutely gobsmacked and totally thrilled. Thank you sooooo much! Etherea seems to by my RABCK fairy godmother. I'm walking around with a big, stupid grin on my face. :)

I started reading this on Waltz Day (US only. In other parts of the world the date is written differently, so Waltz day would be 3 April elsewhere, not March 4 as it is here. You can march forth on March forth or you can waltz in 3/4 time. I prefer to dance.)

EycLady had said "Step, Ball Change is one of those books that I hated finishing because I loved the characters so much. It was actually traumatic for me when I finished it, because I liked the characters so much! I want them to come alive and be my friends!"

As for me, I loved the book, too. I always wanted to be part of one of those families that everyone dropped in to see, and where there were always people tumbling in and out of the house. In some senses we do, but it's never like I imagined it would be. I want to have Taffy cook me supper and Caroline teach me to dance (I'm a total clod) and Woodrow fix my house. Luckily, I have the good, solid love for and with my husband that Caroline and Tom seem to share. I look at him and just know that I am a better person for being with him, kinder, smarter and happier and that I do more good for the world (ie I pass Woodrow's test). Every single character in this book was real. So often there's an overblown good or bad guy. But every single one was real. And the story is real, as are the solutions to the problems. How absolutely refreshing.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Sending off soon to the sister I never had.

Thanks Czukie! I'm so excited to read this book, because I loved her Eat Cake. I love me a good feel-good book!

Read this this afternoon on the plane from DEN to EWR, in time to pass on to someone I know will love it. I took notes so I can write a journal entry later (this space saved for that), but need to go to bed now.

Exchanged books with Antof9 when I picked her up at EWR airport yesterday via ACS

The only thing in life more treasured than a good friend is a good friend who lends you books :-)

LOVED IT, LOVED IT, LOVED IT!!!

Favorite paragraph
The main character Caroline offers these thoughts on kissing-"A person has to be diligent about kissing. Kissing was the affirmation of the union...It was the difference between eating a great meal and looking at a picture of foos in a magazine. One made you feel full and the other only reminded you that you were hungry."

Sending this copy back to Antof9 along with the latest from Elizabeth Berg which I read in 24 hours.