キャミー・タング著「戌年」連載小説 プロのドッグトレーナーであるマリ・ムトウは、厄年を迎えている。 犬小屋と訓練所の改築をしながら、いつも不服そうにしている家族と同居することになった。母と姉に言わせれば、犬の毛とよだれかけにまみれる仕事は、家族にとって恥ずべきものだという。彼女は元カレを説得し、数ヶ月間犬を預かってもらうことにした。しかし、彼の兄は、数週間前に彼女が誤って車に追突した、怒り狂ったセキュリティ専門家であることが判明する。 アシュウィン・ケイトウは十分な問題を抱えている。叔母が玄関先に現れ、同居を希望している。彼は彼女にすべてを借りているので、断ることができません。母親が家を出て行った後、ネルおばさんはアシュウィンと弟を引き取り、愛のあるキリスト教の家庭で育てた。しかも、弟のダスティもアパートを追い出され、居場所を求めている。しかし、彼は犬を飼っている。そして、その犬の飼い主は誰だと思いますか? しかし、旧友でオアフ島のノースショアでデイスパを経営する私立探偵のエディサ・ゲレロから依頼を受ける。マリの施設で奇妙な破壊行為があり、3年前に失踪したエディサの妹の財布を発見する。エディサはマリが危険な目に遭っているのではと心配する。警備の専門家であるアシュウィンがすでにマリを知っていることを知ったエディサは、忙しい若い女性を密かに監視することを彼に依頼する。 アシュウィンは、活発でのんびりとしたドッグトレーナーに不本意ながら惹かれていく。彼女は、幸せそうな母親を思い出させる。その母親の裏切りによって、彼は人と距離を置くようになったのだ。マリは、アシュウィンの冷たい外見を見抜き、彼が家族に忠実な男であることを認める。彼は、彼女のキャリア選択を批判するだけの母親や姉とは違う。 マリのバラバラな家庭とアシュウィンのバラバラな家庭の中で、過去を隠そうとする人たちから、彼らの周りに危険が迫ってくるようになる。彼らは、影で動く秘密に光を当てることができるのか? 過去に発表されたパートへのリンクはこちら。 *** 第8章 - 恐ろしくも真っ白な不動産書類 『みんな仲良くできないのかな?』 マリは無用に力を込めて箱に本を投げ入れた。最近、なぜ彼女は人生の中で全員と言い争いをしているのだろう?もしかすると、これは本当に悪いアイデア
BAD HEIRESS DAY by Allie Pleiter
From the back cover:
What would you do with $1 million?
That's a question Darcy Nightengale never thought she'd need to answer. But a sudden inheritance of just over $1 million begs a more immediate response. And when Darcy learns of her father's last request that she "give it all away," she discovers just how quickly big money makes big problems.
Her husband believes that charity begins at home. His home. And her children are sure it's only a matter of time before the presents start rolling in. Right? Darcy wants to do the right thing--as soon as she can figure out what it is. Can the path of righteousness be paved with gold? Darcy's surprising answer turns her world on end.
Camy here:
This was a well-written novel, and I think the powerful theme of this story would appeal to a majority of readers quite well. I don't have children and I haven't yet lost a parent, so I personally didn't quite relate as well to the heroine.
The novel starts with the death of the heroine’s father. Readers who have lost a parent will deeply relate to her feelings and actions as the book opens.
I like how the author touches on some of the very human—but not often discussed—aspects of grief, like the anger and bitterness.
The main theme is how hard it is for caregivers—physically, emotionally, spiritually. There’s a great line that sums it up: If you pour everything into it, there’s nothing left over.
The novel will speak deeply to those from all walks of life who serve as caregivers to parents and children, whether at home or in hospice.
The problems that come between Darcy and her husband are real and deep. No fluffy, frivolous conflicts. As a reader, I felt Darcy’s pain and Jack’s worry.
My biggest problem is that this is not a chick-lit, or a mom-lit—not really hip-lit at all. I feel a little cheated. This is a wonderful women’s fiction novel with a terrific premise, but I feel the packaging is wrong. It looks like mom-lit, but I think it’s more of a lighter-hearted women’s fiction novel.
At times, the pace is a bit slow, but since I was expecting this to be a chick-lit, I think the slow pacing is based on my expectations and not the novel’s layout. It might not be as slow-moving as some other women’s fiction novels I’ve read—it seems to be in-between those and a faster-paced chick-lit.
Darcy has a very typical best-friends relationship with Kate, but the novel goes deeper into that to show how Kate supported her through the long illness of Darcy’s father. It touches on the roles of the friends and family around a caregiver both during the illness and after her patient’s death.
Darcy’s slow journey to faith is wonderfully real and not cheesy or hokey at all. It’s done with a skilled, light hand, without any preachiness or Christianese. It was a joy to watch her gradually come to rely more and more on God.
There’s a light, happily-ever-after ending in the tradition of inspirational romance. However, this book is Darcy’s journey rather than a love story.
I’m not quite certain if teens or younger women would relate as well to Darcy’s character, because she’s a little older with children of her own. However, most mothers and older women will definitely root for Darcy in the trials and tribulations of her stage of life.
From the back cover:
What would you do with $1 million?
That's a question Darcy Nightengale never thought she'd need to answer. But a sudden inheritance of just over $1 million begs a more immediate response. And when Darcy learns of her father's last request that she "give it all away," she discovers just how quickly big money makes big problems.
Her husband believes that charity begins at home. His home. And her children are sure it's only a matter of time before the presents start rolling in. Right? Darcy wants to do the right thing--as soon as she can figure out what it is. Can the path of righteousness be paved with gold? Darcy's surprising answer turns her world on end.
Camy here:
This was a well-written novel, and I think the powerful theme of this story would appeal to a majority of readers quite well. I don't have children and I haven't yet lost a parent, so I personally didn't quite relate as well to the heroine.
The novel starts with the death of the heroine’s father. Readers who have lost a parent will deeply relate to her feelings and actions as the book opens.
I like how the author touches on some of the very human—but not often discussed—aspects of grief, like the anger and bitterness.
The main theme is how hard it is for caregivers—physically, emotionally, spiritually. There’s a great line that sums it up: If you pour everything into it, there’s nothing left over.
The novel will speak deeply to those from all walks of life who serve as caregivers to parents and children, whether at home or in hospice.
The problems that come between Darcy and her husband are real and deep. No fluffy, frivolous conflicts. As a reader, I felt Darcy’s pain and Jack’s worry.
My biggest problem is that this is not a chick-lit, or a mom-lit—not really hip-lit at all. I feel a little cheated. This is a wonderful women’s fiction novel with a terrific premise, but I feel the packaging is wrong. It looks like mom-lit, but I think it’s more of a lighter-hearted women’s fiction novel.
At times, the pace is a bit slow, but since I was expecting this to be a chick-lit, I think the slow pacing is based on my expectations and not the novel’s layout. It might not be as slow-moving as some other women’s fiction novels I’ve read—it seems to be in-between those and a faster-paced chick-lit.
Darcy has a very typical best-friends relationship with Kate, but the novel goes deeper into that to show how Kate supported her through the long illness of Darcy’s father. It touches on the roles of the friends and family around a caregiver both during the illness and after her patient’s death.
Darcy’s slow journey to faith is wonderfully real and not cheesy or hokey at all. It’s done with a skilled, light hand, without any preachiness or Christianese. It was a joy to watch her gradually come to rely more and more on God.
There’s a light, happily-ever-after ending in the tradition of inspirational romance. However, this book is Darcy’s journey rather than a love story.
I’m not quite certain if teens or younger women would relate as well to Darcy’s character, because she’s a little older with children of her own. However, most mothers and older women will definitely root for Darcy in the trials and tribulations of her stage of life.
Comments
Thanks for these wonderful reviews.