I just finished writing Year of the Dog ! It had a massive plot hole that I had to fix which turned out to be more work than I expected. Here’s a snippet: “Hey, Auntie Nell.” He wrapped his arms around her, bussing her on the cheek and breathing in pikake flowers and shortbread cookies. And suddenly he was nine years old again, and her solid presence had made his chaotic world stable once more. “What are you doing here?” He usually took her to dinner on Wednesday nights, but today was Tuesday. The edges of her smile faltered a little before brightening right back up again. “What, I can’t visit my nephew?” She angled around him to enter his home. “Is this your new house? Looks lovely.” Which was a blatant lie, because the fixer-upper was barely livable, much less acceptable to a neat-freak like his aunt. She also left four matching pink and purple floral suitcases on the stoop behind her. Only then did Ashwin notice the cab driver standing slightly to the side of the walkway. “Can ...
Stardate 12/2/04 Captain's log
Yet another one finished today:
"She's Out of Control" by Kristin Billerbeck
From the back cover:
Ever been on the verge of buying your own engagement ring?
Ashley Stockingdale, the charming but always-in-over-her-head patent attorney from "What a Girl Wants" has finally found the man she wants to marry. But after nine months of dating, it seems her commitment-phobe boyfriend will never use the "M" word. And just when she thinks she's got it all together, Ashley is having trouble knowing where to put it.
A massive remodeling project, a hyperactive puppy, and an ex-boyfriend who wants to be part of her life again all keep Ashley's world spinning. As the mayhem escalates, Ashley's life quickly goes from What a Girl Wants to out of control.
Camy here:
This is a fun romp for those Post-Modern Generation women who know who Jimmy Choo and Lilly Pulitzer are, and want screwball comedy served with a bit of spiritual encouragement for single career women.
Heroine Ashley is highly intelligent and completely neurotic, in a giggling and endearing way. She reacts to the trials in her life out of fear--the same fears that many single Christian women face today and can relate to. She battles the safety of "the familiar," the temptation to compromise, the pull of self-pity, the pit of unworthiness. Ashley's bounce-back attitude and child-like, rock-hard faith in God is both encouraging and challenging. I wrestled with her over her control issues with God, and was reminded of the many times I've done the same thing.
The characters in this book, versus "What a Girl Wants," seem more rich, varied and distinct. The sparks that fly when different characters interact are hilarious and keep the pace moving smartly.
Much of the humor is very modern, for those of us with secret vices of subscriptions to Star and People Magazine in addition to our stash of Cosmopolitans. It may not appeal as strongly to the entire spectrum of readers as to the twenty-something and thirty-something urbanites, but it still zaps with humor reminiscent of old comedy films.
The novel captures the social and business atmosphere of Silicon Valley with its unique multiethnic aroma and science-heavy population. However, in defense of my own engineer husband, they are not all as absent-minded as some of the Reasons. ;-)
In all, a turbulent and ticklish look at the angst of singleness for Christian working women. An entertaining read I highly recommend.
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