Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes

How do you navigate life after your husband dies on the same day you were packing up to finally leave him? And the emotional turmoil you're in isn't grief, but guilt because you didn't love him, and everyone thinks  you're in deep mourning. 

That is Eveleth "Evvie" Drake's world, a year after her husband, a beloved local doctor, dies in a car accident. She's rattling around in a big house, hasn't worked much, and is stuck. Saturday morning breakfasts with her best friend Andy keep folks in the small seaside town of Calcasset, Maine gossiping about their  relationship (it really is platonic). 

Evvie's world gets a change when Andy's childhood friend, ex-baseball pitching star Dean arrives, looking for a place to get away for a year or so after a humiliating season of losing his pitching arm. He's left baseball and needs a place to just get his life together, away from the journalists, away from fans who think he lost it completely and didn't try hard enough to get his pitching mojo back. Evvie's house has an apartment, and Dean moves in, and their friendship begins, little by little, inch by inch. 

This is a quiet novel, full of good people, all just trying to find what makes them happy and content. It's a novel about pausing and realizing you have to work through some junk and come out the other side, or you'll never get to that place of peace and contentment. For Evvie, it's all about coming to grips with her unhappy marriage, and the emotional abuse she endured for years from a man that could do no wrong and was beloved by his hometown. For Dean, it's about accepting that his pitching arm just doesn't work anymore, and the one thing he lived for, and excelled at, is gone-so what does he do now? For Andy, it's about finding someone to love after a tough divorce-someone willing to love his two little girls as much as he does. Mostly, it's about friendship through easy times, and through those rough patches, and not being afraid to be happy. We've all had those moments of thinking "I'm so happy, something is going to ruin it". So you're afraid to be happy. But as Dean wisely says, bad things are going to happen, and being happy does not make bad things happen. But you live a happy life, and deal with the bad stuff knowing you're strong enough to do it. 

I started this novel a few weeks ago, and put it down as I continued my usual ritual of starting one book, picking up another, then another, then another. I finally circled back around and was able to hunker down and finish it. And I loved it. It's not a novel that has oodles of action, or big moments of drama. It's funny, sweet, and a little bit sad in parts, but it sneaks up on you. Evvie and Dean have a pretty wonderful friendship that turns into something even better, but as always, they have to work to find that happy ending. 

Rating: 5/6 for a novel that doesn't shout, but quietly reminds us that life is a journey, and it's a bit messy, and we don't have to have all the answers or be absolutely perfect. Dean, oh boy-you may find yourself with a bit of a crush on this guy. Evvie is a refreshing, honest, and funny character-you'll keep cheering her on her journey. 

Available in hardcover, ebook, and audio. 

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Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes

Audiobook Review: One Summer: America, 1927 by Bill Bryson

I am a big fan of Bill Bryson.  I've read most of his travel books and his hilarious memoir, but I haven't ventured into his science and history books until now.  One Summer: America, 1927 has been on my "to read" list since it came out a few years ago; my commute gave me the perfect excuse to listen to it--all 13 discs.  It took me two weeks of commuting to listen to it, but I am so glad I did because it is a fascinating look at an America that no longer exists.

I am always interested in the 1920's simply because my Dad was born in 1928, and I've wondered what the world was like when he was a child.  It's a way of connecting with him because there aren't a lot of photos of my Dad growing up.   When he met and married my Mom and had eight kids, well there are oodles of pictures of him as my Dad.  But as a small boy, I've only seen a few pictures of him.  I think about how much the world changed during his lifetime and I wish I had asked him what he thought of it all before he died in 2004.  

Back to 1927.  There was a lot going on, and Bill Bryson deftly weaves the stories all together to give the reader (or listener) a story of an America that was growing in leaps and bounds, and faced the same issues we face today.  There were times when I thought I was listening to news of today:  there were acts of terrorism with bombs all throughout the states; race riots, men who became heroes overnight (but ended up with feet of clay), and as always, the glamour of Hollywood.  Charles Lindbergh flies to Paris from New York and becomes an sensation who finds the crowds and relentless hero-worship extremely uncomfortable and annoying.  People loved him anyway.  There was Babe Ruth and the magical Yankees, and that year of 60 home runs.  Herbert Hoover was steadily moving up the ranks in government, while Calvin Coolidge preferred to be a president who didn't do much, because everything was ticking along just fine.  No need to fix what isn't broken.  

Life was fast, people were on the move, and automobiles, motion pictures, and radio were fast becoming giants in the everyday life of Americans.  American culture began to spread around the world through radio and film--completely unintentional in the beginning, but a byproduct of the booming movie industry.  A lot of people think the American cultural influence didn't really start until much later in the 20th century, but it was the "talkies" that started it all in the 1920's.

This is a fascinating historical book, and so chock full of information it can make your head spin.  Bill Bryson narrates it, and it is full of his usual wit and little factual details that keep the story flowing.  My one beef, and this  was huge for me, was Bill Bryson's voice.  He has a very interesting mix of American Midwest accent coupled with a bit of British.  It made for some pronunciations that were a bit odd to my ear, and it really distracted me throughout the whole 13 discs and two weeks it took me to listen to this audio.  I can't help it!  I talked to a friend who also listened to the audio, and she said "I know exactly what you mean".  I feel bad about that, but there it is.  Bill Bryson has such a soft speaking voice that I had the volume turned way up in my car to catch it all.  Other than that, I enjoyed this look at 1927 America very much.  

Rating:  7/10 for a superb, historically fascinating tale of America after World War I, and before World War II; that time of prohibition, aviation, and baseball. What an amazing decade.  My only issue was completely personal in the occasionally jarring accent and quiet voice of the author.  But I can't imagine anyone else narrating this!

Available in paperback, hardcover, audio, and e-book.

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Audiobook Review: One Summer: America, 1927 by Bill Bryson

Big Girl Panties by Stephanie Evanovich

I received this ARC from work and was excited to read it--just the perfect escape novel for a stressful May.

I hate to say it, but I was disappointed.  I have been thinking about what left it flat for me, and I can't pinpoint exactly what it is about Holly and Logan that disappointed me.

The basic storyline is this:  Holly is overweight, and meets Logan on a flight back to New Jersey after she's been in Canada settling her late husband's estate.  Logan is a hot, popular personal trainer who is well known in the sports world and owns his own training center in New Jersey.  He can pick and choose who he works with, and makes a lot of money doing it.  He's also in incredible shape and doesn't have much sympathy for Holly, who barely fits into the seat next to him on the plane.

Holly quickly decides to crack jokes about the obvious, hoping to make the situation a little better for herself.  Soon Logan realizes she's overweight because of taking care of her ailing husband, and feels terrible for judging her appearance.  He offers to train her, and get her in shape.  Holly accepts, and the state is set for a possible romance.

But the romance doesn't move along for awhile--after all, Logan is an extremely fit stud who has one kind of woman--tall, blonde, and skinny.  Holly is short, overweight, and a red-head.  But she has a smart ass mouth and a laugh that soon has Logan looking forward to their sessions at the gym as their friendship grows.

Enter Logan's friends, Chase and Amanda.  Chase is a college buddy who's a famous baseball player, and Amanda is his adoring wife.  Their relationship takes up a huge amount of the book, which I thought took away from Logan and Holly.  And yes, Logan finds himself growing attracted to Holly, but only as she slims down.  He realizes she will never be a "skinny" type no matter how hard she exercises, but she has become much fitter and in great shape.  He begins to lust after her pretty much all the time, and can't wrap his head around it.  He's always picked a certain kind of woman, and Holly is the complete opposite.  He doesn't want to fall in love, and fights it every step of the way.  Of course Holly is head over heels for Logan, but afraid to show it.

As in all romances, misunderstandings abound, feelings remain hidden, and there's lots of hot sex.  The whole spanking thing was kinda dumb to me--not necessary at all.   I think it was the writing  that bothered me.  It felt stilted and had too much conversation between characters that was unnecessary.  Boo hoo!  I really wanted to like this one.

Rating:  4/10.  The intent was good, but the writing and the perfection of Logan was a bit off.  And too much attention was paid to his friends Chase and Amanda.

Available July 9th in hardcover, audio, and e-book format.

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Big Girl Panties by Stephanie Evanovich