Tuesday, September 02, 2008

Review: Back to Life


Lindsey realized when she married Ron, a man 17 years her senior, that the odds were he’d see heaven before her, but she never expected to be a widow at 35. There’s too much of life left for her to just sit around in mourning. But she can’t seem to kick start the rest of her life.

That is until she gets some help from Ron’s first wife, Jane, who shows up unexpectedly at her door one day as the executor of her husband’s estate. Jane is everything Lindsey’s not… independent, stubborn… and a lot older. Plus she has one surprise after another… including a son named Ron Jr. (she insists he’s not “really” Ron’s son). But an unlikely friendship develops as each woman begins to reevaluate what is really important, and owns up to the mistakes they’ve made in the past.

Told in the alternating voices of Jane and Lindsey, and with the return of many of the witty characters of The Trophy Wives Club, this book is a lighthearted, relatable read for when life goes in a direction you never planned. With faith and friends, there’s always light at the end of the tunnel.

I was so excited to get Back to Life in the mail. Kristin simply doesn't write fast enough for me :-) Lindsey was one of the strong characters in the Trophy Wives Club. Here her life has fallen apart and she's unable to put the pieces back together. Then her husband's first wife lands on her doorstep. This book flows seamlessly back and forth between Lindsey's and Jane's perspectives. It's so easy to tell who's telling the story because they are so different. Yet at foundational levels they each are unwilling to face the past and move forward.

Lindsey needs to move beyond her husband's death. She needs a purpose. Often I want to slap people like this upside the head and point them in a direction. Um, I don't think I've had many aimless moments in my life. But because I could see what was going on in Lindsey's mind, I cared about her struggles to find herself.

Jane has run from her past for more than thirty years. Now her ex has sent her to confront her issues. Even in death he controls her actions. In Lindsey she sees everything she isn't. Their interactions are filled with humor and misunderstanding that leads to more. In reality, they are very much alike and need each other.

Haley is back -- and brings a flash of sparkle and fun to it. And Bette brings her wisdom to the pages. Then there's Ronnie's son who isn't -- Lindsey isn't sure what to do about anything in her life. But with the help of her friends, she's pulled back to life.

If you would like to read an excerpt of chapter 1 of Back To Life, go HERE. I can't wait for the next installment.

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