fortunate harbor, a happiness key novel by Emilie Richards

So, while one of us headed to BEA, the other one put her nose in a book (or 3) and tried not to cry with jealousy.

First up for review: Emilie Richards' fortunate harbor, a happiness key novel.

I have to admit, I wouldn't have picked this book up in a store.  It's not my typical cup of tea, but I really enjoyed it.  Sure, it's kinda predictable and feels like most of the chick flicks I've watched. Sure, I could put certain actresses in each of the lead characters roles.  But i really had a good time with it and didn't want to put it down.In fact, I would get upset when I had to.  The women who make up this fantastic beach read are pretty funny, amazing, sarcastic....heck they could be my friends. 

There's Tracy, the landlady and most fish out of water.  She's recovering from her husband's imprisonment and the subsequent loss of all of their earthly belongings.  Well, all save a run-down plot of land known as Happiness Key. She's gone from the highlife in California to trying to figure out how to fix a roof on a budget in Florida.

There's Janya, who's trying to get pregnant with a nagging mother (who calls from India) and an absent husband.  Which would make it all the more difficult to get pregnant.

There's Wanda, the waitress/crazy lady.  She gives up her less than stellar waitressing career (helped along by the yuppie scum changing the family restaurant into something too chichi) for her true passion: pie baking.  of course the bakery in town is none too pleased to have the competition.

There's Alice, the grandmother thrust back into parenting when little Olivia comes to live with her.

And finally, there's Dana. She's hiding something.  Something big.  And it somehow involves her daughter.

Throughout this book, there's drama mixed with comedy: there's the return of someone thought long gone, there's the competition doing whatever necessary to best the new guy, there's the handsome handyman with a dark past of his own.  There's even a treasure hunt....of sorts.

So while not necessarily what I would have chosen for myself, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I would highly recommend it to EVERYONE looking to escape for a bit.

This book will be available on June 29th.