Liz TalleyReseñas
Autor de Room to Breathe
Reseñas
Adulting: A Novel por Liz Talley
Like the book’s title, Liz deconstructs the lives of her main characters and reassembles their existence into something greater than the sum of individual experiences.
Deconstructed is the tale of Cricket, a woman raised with the rigid set of manners and expected station in life only an omnipotent Southern matriarch demands from her debutante daughter, who faces the metaphorical ‘burning down of her house’ with both an impending divorce from her first love, Scott, coupled with her perceived loss of financial stability. And it is the story of her relationship with Ruby, a young woman who wears her piercings like a survivor’s scars and makes exquisite creations from couture cast-offs, an Ugly Duckling whose hopes and dreams tragically squashed on the cusp of womanhood turned into the Swan she was meant to be. A “pioneer tough” heroine described as “sinewy, strong, and designed to withstand hot Louisiana summers ...[who] might as well be a walking advertisement for a pickup truck” transformed into “an edgy, dramatic, dark Cinderella” at the appropriately named Gritz & Glitz ball.
Both Cricket and Ruby rise like Phoenixes from the ashes of their respective dumpster fire lives to prove in another memorable line from the book that “paper people are consumed by fire, dissipating into ash before scattering to the wind… but others, those made of steel use the fire to form an edge… melding them into something stronger.”
These Southern women are truly ‘Steel Magnolias.’
The supporting cast is richly drawn displaying the disparities between the rich and ruined. I adored the potential suitors: Griff, Ty and Dak who despite their socio-economic differences shared one thing in common: the love and support of the brave women in their lives learning to own their strength. They are my new favorite book boyfriends.
Ms. Talley’s story has a depth that remains light-hearted as Cricket notes “let us never forget cute as a qualification for everything in life.” Each page brought a chuckle or grin to my face as when Cricket reminds us “a smile [is] your best accessory.”
Like Ruby’s description of Gram at her birthday party, this book felt “like home to me.” Ms. Talley has shared this story has been gestating for nine years. It was worth the wait. I hope we don’t have to wait nearly as long for her to revisit these characters or themes again.
Anyway, on the book itself: Very fun, but also very deep. The two main characters - Olivia and Chase - are dealing with similar events in their worlds, neither of them realizing at first just how similar they are even if their perspectives on the events in question are very different. Along the way, many, many hijinx are had, including one very scared and borderline feral kitty cat. It is hard to note a particular trigger warning that is relevant enough to probably mention (even though I am not a fan of the practice generally, it is that significant here - though off screen, discussed by the characters as past events). So I'll note that it ties into #MeToo and leave it at that. Truly a very balanced book about taking control of your own life and being open to possibilities that don't seem obvious at first, and a very fun read. Very much recommended.
Chase is the stereotypical grown up and messed up child actor. Olivia is the hired life coach. The novel takes place at that pivotal moment when a person actually wants help. The twist is that Olivia has her own demons that need to be dealt with, so the reader gets two life changes for one. Taking control of the hard and hurtful things in ones past is never easy, but the rewards are worth it.
This book is a love story and an inspiring book about how date rape is precieved by young men even in the 21st Century
Liz Talley's books are like warm cobbler with ice cream, pure comfort for the senses. A fun, sweet book with characters one can relate to and a bonus recipe of Jingle Bell Fruitcake Cookies.
To pursue the program away from the bright lights, they journey from urban Hollywood to rural Cotter’s Creek in Northern California. Fortunately, Chase adapts to the program well and learns basic life skills like cleaning, laundry, and grocery shopping – all for herself. Through conversations with Olivia, she confronts defining moments in her life story and begins to find out who she is. During this time, Olivia also has to confront some of her own life and family issues, and the tables are turned as therapist becomes subject. Adulting works both ways as women learn sisterhood and healthy lifestyles.
Given Talley as an author, this book would not be full without some romance. Chase gets to know her neighbor in Cotter’s Creak, and they spend much time together. Olivia also has an ex who plays a leading role in the story along with Chase’s actor-friend Spencer. This book should not be categorized as a pure romance – it’s main theme is women taking responsibility for their own lives. Nonetheless, romances play a significant role in the story. Talley, who has won awards for her writings in the genre of romance, weaves together multiple themes nicely in a more sophisticated tale.
This book will find an audience especially among women who like romances that also address other life stories. The tale of getting one’s life in order (i.e., adulting) transcends gender, however. I honestly would have liked this theme to have been even stronger in the book, and the romance, less expansive. As titled, this book has the potential to appeal to all types of people who want to take charge of their lives. Child actresses aren’t the only ones whose parents have pushed them down a particular professional path. For leading characters Chase and Olivia, romance plays a leading role in that story. Adulting, however, has many more facets than one’s love life. Regardless, Talley provides a light and constructive tale that stands to provide fodder for entertainment and personal growth in the coming years.
I picked this book up solely to finish a challenge from Book Riot's Read Harder list; romance is not really my preferred genre so I went in to this thinking I wouldn't like it per se. From the outset, I liked Daphne on the whole and while I have no problem with the older woman-younger man dynamic, I did think it was a bit odd she was interested in a man who she actually knew when he was a young boy. Ellery, on the other hand, was really hard to care for as she was so very entitled with her bills paid by her parents (and her bills consisting of designer clothes, spa treatments, a fancy townhouse, etc.) and what seemed like a stubborn refusal to realize medical school would eat up a lot of her fiance's time. As the novel progressed, it became apparent that was all part of the story ... Ellery was learning how to become an adult, not a spoiled child. Still, I found myself frustrated with her quite a bit ... although I guess that's an argument that the author did a good job in creating the character so fully.
Unlike many formulaic romances, I have to admit there were times I was wondering where this story was going to go. It was clear from very early on who Ellery was going to end up with, but it was less obvious for Daphne. Although their endings are in theory happy, I do have to question it a bit. Due to their new relationship status,
While there is some of the steamy in this book, especially in the beginning, I appreciated that it wasn't all heaving bosoms and rock-hard bodies. Rather, a lot of the story was about the relationship between Daphne and Ellery, as well as other relationships they had such as with a family friend/neighbor, co-workers, etc. It was very much about how both of them grew as people. On the whole, I liked this book far more than I thought I would. That being said though, it still really wasn't my cup of tea.
The audiobook narrator did a good job of navigating the two different points of view and giving characters enough of a vocal distinction. Her tone always seemed conversational, which made it a pleasant read.
The book started with a hilarious scene involving a sweater-wearing hen being chased by a large dog, who is being chased by a young woman. I loved the first encounter between Kris and Tory, who captivated him with her somewhat nerdy self. Tory is the head of the high school science department, a volunteer tutor at the local community center, and a woman who looks at life in a very practical way. She is also avoiding as much Christmas celebration as she can, as a recent breakup with her fiancé has killed her Christmas spirit.
Aunt Tansy is thrilled to have Kris home. She has missed him dreadfully and regrets the argument that they had. Though he only plans to stay a few days, she hopes to convince him to stay through Christmas. When she stumbles on his plan to move her off the farm, Tansy is first heartbroken, then angry. She can see that Kris has lost his connection to his roots and is determined to show him where he has gone wrong. Tansy is a pretty devious old lady, and I loved watching her efforts. When she notices the sparks between Kris and Tory, that gives her more ammunition to break through Kris's defenses. It was great fun to see her find ways to throw Kris and Tory together, while at the same time reminding Kris of the importance of family.
I liked Kris, in spite of his blindness when it came to Tansy. He has a good heart and hasn't let fame go to his head. I liked how he did the work around the house and farm himself instead of paying someone else to do it. I ached for him with the problems he had with his music as it left him feeling somewhat lost. He is so focused on getting to Texas for his self-imposed isolation that he has trouble seeing that what he needs is to remember where his love of music started. He is unexpectedly drawn to Tory, something he tries to resist because he isn't going to be there for long.
Tory is equally attracted to Kris but has her own reasons to resist. She knows he isn't going to stay around, so getting involved is not a good idea. She's still recovering from the end of her engagement, and a new relationship is not in her plans. Plus, why would a good-looking, talented guy like Kris be interested in a nerdy girl like her? It just wouldn't make sense. Besides, she has her hands full with the Christmas fundraiser for the community center.
I loved seeing Kris get more deeply involved with life in Charming every day. He keeps telling himself that he'll be gone in a few days, but can't stop himself from volunteering to help Tory. I especially enjoyed seeing him work with the girl Bria, whose home life is a mess. She has the most beautiful voice, but no confidence in herself. It was sweet to see how both Kris and Tansy worked with her to give her the confidence to perform at the show. There were a couple of exciting twists that had me on the edge of my seat as I waited to see how it was going to turn out.
The hardest thing was watching Kris try to force himself into the role he thinks he has to fill, even though he knows it's a bad fit. I disliked his manager and the way that he blew off Kris's concerns over the new album. I was especially disgusted at the way he ignored Kris's wishes for his return to Charming after his television interview. I was pleasantly surprised by the talk show host and his candid conversation with Kris after the interview. It made a big impression on Kris and got him thinking about what was really important. I loved Kris's meeting with the record label people the next day and seeing him finally stand up for himself. I held my breath, hoping that he would make it back in time.
It warmed my heart to see the changes that Kris experienced during his stay in Charming. I liked seeing his eyes opened to the importance of family and roots and having someplace to go when you're hurting. I loved his big moment at the end, especially showing Tory that not everything has to make sense, especially love.
Tori lives next door to Kris’s aunt. Ever since she had purchased the house with her fiancé, she’s been busy renovating it. Now, her fiancé broke off the engagement & left town. Tori is determined to ignore the holiday until Kris’s aunt pulls her into her plans.
This was a very heartwarming emotional story. Kris has forgotten the good things about his childhood & being raised by his aunt. Tori feels embarrassed & depressed & wants to ignore all of the emotional aspects of the holiday. Kris & Tori both bring out the good in each other & you can tell they belong together. Wonderful story!
I received this book for free through Goodreads Giveaways.
I liked that Shelby was determined to do the right thing and tell John about the baby, even though she planned to raise it by herself. She didn't expect John to want to be involved. When a possible crisis with the pregnancy threw her plans to leave right away into chaos, John invited her to stay for a week to rest and recover. He also looked at it as a chance to change her mind about leaving.
I liked Shelby a lot. She never acts like a victim but has a positive attitude about her plans for the future. She doesn't have a whole lot of self-esteem, thanks to her treatment by her ultra-successful parents and siblings, and what she sees as her poor judgment in men. She's determined not to be a burden on John, but she is ultimately willing to listen to what he wants. She is also down-to-earth and honest, and I really enjoyed her interactions with the people she met. Being from Seattle, rural Louisiana is a whole different world for her, but she fits in unexpectedly well.
I liked John, too, though there were certainly times I wanted to shake him - hard. I ached for his grief and guilt over Rebecca's death. His self-blame was a little overdone; I thought since it was in no way his fault. His grief was deep, and he had cut himself off from really living, spending most of his waking hours working. His encounter with Shelby was one more rock in the pack of guilt that he was lugging around. But when she told him about the baby, it lit a small spark of hope and light in him that he didn't want to lose.
I enjoyed the development of their relationship. Though still strongly attracted to each other, Shelby and John are determined to keep their hands to themselves. John because he still feels that it's betraying Rebecca, and Shelby, well, she's just tired of John apologizing every time he kisses her. I loved that John invited Shelby to stay with him so that they could get to know each other, even though he knew it would cause talk. They developed a pretty good friendship along the way. Shelby realizes fairly quickly that has fallen hard for John but doesn't know how he feels. John is confused by his feelings for Shelby. She is so different than Rebecca, and what he feels for Shelby isn't anything like what he felt for Rebecca. How can it be love? Unfortunately, Shelby overhears a discussion John has with his dad, and coming on top of a threat to John's livelihood, Shelby believes it is best for her to leave. An enlightening conversation with his sister and John realizes what he has to do. I loved his big moment at the end. It was sweet and romantic with a hint of vulnerability.
I loved the family dynamics of the book. First, I ached for Shelby and her feelings of never belonging or being wanted in her own family. I thought her sister was especially obnoxious. Shelby's mom seemed pretty oblivious, but she redeemed herself quite well in the end. I loved John's family. They were loud, fun, friendly and accepting, and Shelby felt at home with them immediately. His sister, Abigail was a tad overprotective and suspicious, but in the end, she was one of Shelby's biggest supporters. I loved his dad, a preacher who was the quiet, thoughtful kind rather than in your face hellfire and brimstone. The one family member who was completely unlikable was Rebecca's mother, Carla. I understood that she was grieving, but her whole attitude toward Shelby was awful. The things she said were uncalled for, and her threats to John were unforgivable. I loved Shelby's plan to deal with them. Though Carla redeemed herself a little at the end, I'm not sure I would have been as forgiving to her.
Though the depth of pain and loss was heartwrenching at times, there was also some fantastic humor to add some relief. Young Birdie and her "birdwatching" was hilarious. I also loved some of the turns-of-phrase that came out in some of the conversations. The small town attitudes and events added extra layers to the issues that Shelby and John had to deal with, but overall it was a wonderful setting.
I received a digital copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received a digital copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Love Me Cowboy by Terri Osburn is about Claire and her second chance with the now all grown up rodeo star Tyler. Tyler has always loved Claire and finally gets the chance to prove to her his feelings are real.
Kiss Me Cowboy by Liz Talley is Georgia's story. Georgia has always felt a bit inadequate but Reed thinks she is perfect just the way she is. Getting Georgia to believe that is the real challenge.
Marry Me Cowboy by Kim Law is Mary Catherine's story. She is about to marry the man of her dreams. Well he should be the man of her dreams but her heart has other ideas. Stupid heart. Bad boy Jax should not be in her heart or her head. Hopefully she makes the right choice in the end.
Leif is an artist, tall, handsome, with blond hair that reaches his shoulders. He is also a vegan, wears unusual clothing, and the essence of a hippie. He has also broken three engagements, indicating that he has some trouble with commitments. He is the son of an artist who used to live in Magnolia Bend. She had left town, pregnant, when a local man died, afraid she'd be accused of his death. On her deathbed she confessed to Leif that his father didn't know about him and begged him to make things right. She died before telling Leif his name. So he applied for and got the job as the new art teacher at the local school, planning to search for the truth while he was there.
In spite of being complete opposites, there is a strong attraction between Abigail and Leif. He doesn't understand why he's so drawn to her, because she is nothing like the women he's usually with. He does know that he enjoys ruffling her feathers. But he's also really sensitive to her feelings. I loved the way that he showed up at her place after witnessing her ex-husband's arrival back in her life, Abigail isn't happy about her attraction to Leif at the beginning, and she can't see him wanting any kind of involvement with her. But he's sweet and funny and brings a passion and excitement to her life she hasn't felt in a long time.
I loved seeing how their no-strings relationship grew and changed. Leif has spent most of his adult life searching for something to fill the void the lack of a father has caused, a sense that he doesn't belong anywhere. Even his three fiancees have never been able to reach that part of him. But he finds himself letting Abigail get closer than anyone else ever has. He goes from wanting no strings to realizing that he's in love with her, and wanting more than the secret affair they have going on.
I loved seeing the effect that Leif has on Abigail. She is so wrapped up in appearances at the beginning, and by the end she has finally seen that she needs to live the life that's right for her. I loved the way that his appreciation of who she is gives her the confidence to stand up for herself. The one thing that she is still fighting is the fear of risking her heart again. When Leif wants more, she backs away. An unexpected event shows her that she has the courage to go after what she wants after all.
The characters all felt very real to me, with realistic emotions and actions. Abigail's ex-husband's reappearance added another layer to her stress and also showed her changes. I loved the way that she tried to make clear to him that he had no chance with her. His selfishness and the way he tried to manipulate Abigail via Birdie was pretty bad. Birdie herself was pretty realistic as a preteen. Her attitude toward her mother was typical of many her age, but she seemed to take it to a new level. Her part in the events at the end was especially cruel to her mother. I liked what Abigail says to her, but would like to have seen more of what the consequences were.
Leif's search for his father was a big part of the book and I enjoyed how it progressed. I loved the characters who helped him, especially Hilda. Much of his insecurity could be laid at his feelings of loss, not having known his father. I liked Abigail's support of Leif and his search. I liked the ending and the realistic progression that it showed.
Authors: Liz Talley, Kim Law & Terr Osburn
Publisher: Peguin Random House
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: 4
Review:
"Cowboys For Christmas" by Liz Talley, Kim Law & Terr Osburn
Book Description...
Three all-new stories by Kim Law, Terri Osburn, and Liz Talley"Claire, Georgia, and Mary Catherine couldn’t be more different, but they promised they would be there for one another no matter what. And when they all gather in Holly Hills, Texas, for Mary Catherine’s Christmas wedding, they’ll find they have one thing in common: hearts that are about to be branded—by unforgettable cowboys.
In “Love Me, Cowboy” by Terri Osburn, wallflower Claire would be more excited about the wedding if it didn’t mean running into Mary Catherine’s brother—the bull rider she once had a scorching one-night stand with…
Ivy League volleyball coach Georgia never wanted to see Holly Hills—or another cowboy—again. But a sexy veterinarian is making her rethink her vow to never marry a Texas man in “Kiss Me, Cowboy” by Liz Talley.
Claire and Georgia both think that Mary Catherine is getting hitched to the wrong man, despite how perfect he is. And in “Marry Me, Cowboy” by Kim Law, a local rancher with a wild reputation gives Mary Catherine a glimpse of what might have been—and what could still be..."
What I liked about this novel....
These were three great Christmas stories that intertwined, however I found these stories centered around the holiday season and a wedding. I liked how the three stories are about three friends who are in town for a wedding. The reader will be presented with three anthologies ...Love Me, Cowboy by Terri Osburn featuring Claire and Tyler...then we move on to Kiss Me, Cowboy by Liz Talley featuring Georgia and Reed and last we have Marry Me, Cowboy by Kim Law featuring Mary Catherine and Jax. I found all three of these stories quite interesting in how these authors were able to give the reader such stories with humor and drama that complimented each other as they worked together in their collaboration between the reads. It was great how all three stories in the end interlocked and the reader is given a totally complete novel by these three amazing authors. And most of all what I liked was that the reader will get a happy ending! Opps, maybe I wasn't supposed to tell you that! But I will say this is one fantastic anthology to read about some sexy cowboys and yes I would definitely recommend this novel to you.
Addy is a woman who lives looking over her shoulder. As a teenager she was attacked and nearly raped by a man who is currently in prison. She frequently gets things in the mail that she knows are from him but it can't be proved. He is due up for parole and she fears what will happen when he gets out. She still participates in support groups and feels like she is doing well. She is still very cautious around men, especially large ones and Lucas's sudden appearance makes her nervous at first. Strangely enough for her that nervousness doesn't last and her sympathy for his distress takes over. I really loved seeing her step outside her comfort zone and spend time with Lucas and the kids. His obvious attraction to her, coupled with his patience, went a long way toward making her think that she had a chance at a normal life. But when the threats against her escalated she pulled away, not wanting her problems to create danger for Lucas and his family. Addy's strength really impressed me. In spite of her fears she was living a relatively normal life. She was cautious but had friends and activities that she participated in. I also really enjoyed her willingness to help Lucas. There were some pretty emotional parts where she was able to comfort one of his nephews and also where she was able to give Lucas a different way to look at things. I loved her strength of purpose at the end as she was determined to protect little Charlotte and her aunt.
Lucas had cut off all contact with his brother and sister-in-law years ago. Courtney had been his girlfriend while he was going to school, until she met and fell in love with his brother. He felt betrayed and couldn't forgive them. As a result he didn't know the kids at all when he suddenly showed up to care for them. He is used to living alone and having everything quiet and well ordered. His oldest nephew knows there is something going on with his parents that he hasn't been told about and is taking his anger and resentment out on Lucas. The other two kids just seem to be scared of him most of the time. His sister-in-law left very few instructions for him and he is totally lost about how to deal with all of it. When he met Addy he was instantly attracted to her. As much as he was interested in pursuing that attraction he sensed that it would not be easy to get close to her. He was, however, very appreciative of her offer to help him with the kids. I loved seeing him at the beginning trying to cope with doing Charlotte's hair, keeping Chris from destroying everything, and dealing with Michael's anger. Once Addy joined him he started having a better chance at keeping his sanity. His Saturday trip with Addy and the kids to show them places he and their father had liked as kids was a brilliant idea and marked a turning point with the children. I also liked seeing him start to realize that he didn't want his problems with his brother to continue and to try to figure out how to fix them. He was also trying to deal with his growing feelings for Addy and fighting the idea that it was love, and emotion he'd tried to convince himself didn't exist for him. I did have a problem with the way that he blew off her fears at the end, even though she hadn't told him everything.
The secondary characters were very well done. All three kids acted just like kids of that age would, especially under the stress they were under. I really enjoyed Michael and his teenage attitudes toward his little brother, especially when that little brother was so good at tormenting him. I also loved Addy's Aunt Flora. Her struggles with coping with the beginnings of her Alzheimer's were just heartbreaking. On the other hand her joy in experiencing so much of life was wonderful to see. I especially liked her coming to the rescue at the end - she was a hoot! The conflict with his brother and the possible resolution was believable, as was his brother's attitude when they talked.
I really liked Dez. Before Katrina he had been a rising star in the music world. Afterward he couldn't get it back. So he tried living a "normal" life, but that was killing his soul even faster. He's finding happiness in starting up his club, though the local opposition is frustrating. When he meets Eleanor there is something about her that he connects with. He doesn't care that she is older than he is, the chemistry is intense. I loved the confidence he had in himself and how he was sure he could convince Eleanor. I really liked the way that he was persistent about getting her to go out with him. He could see the passion behind her walls and once that passion was unleashed he found the inspiration he needed. Though they had started out as a no-strings arrangement, Dez finds that his feelings are changing. He wants more with Eleanor but he doesn't know if he can convince her that it's time for her to live her own life. One of the things I really liked about Dez was his passion for life. He had stopped sitting back and letting life come to him, he was ready to go after what he wanted - both his club and Eleanor.
Eleanor was an interesting character. She had married young, her husband was local upper class destined for politics and she had remodeled herself into the kind of wife she was expected to be. She went into a depression after Katrina and the destruction of her business. During that time her husband cheated on her and was killed by his mistress, plunging the family into scandal. Now she's dealing with a mother-in-law who hates and belittles her, a daughter who is being influenced by that mother-in-law, and an unwelcome attraction to a younger man. When she starts to accept that attraction and decides that dating Dez is just what she needs she gets a boatload of grief from that mother-in-law and her daughter (who actually wanted Dez for herself). Her daughter accused her of being old enough to be Dez's mother One of my favorite parts in the book is when she says this "First of all, unless I ovulated a seven years old, it's highly improbable I could have given birth to Dez. Second, I've spent my life taking care of you and your father, worrying about what everyone else wanted. I'm tired of being just a mother. I'm tired of being just Skeeter Theriot's poor cuckolded widow. And I'm really tired of trying to please everyone else and not myself. So, honestly, honey, I love you, but I couldn't give a rat's ass if you approve of who I date." That was the beginning of Eleanor finally going after what she wanted. I loved seeing the changes that Dez brought to her life. Her happiness was fantastic. Even when her family went after her again she had the growing confidence to stand up to them. She had a moment of backsliding when she panicked over Dez's feelings, but in the end she had the courage to go after what she wanted. One of the things that I really liked about Eleanor was that Dez's ethnic background was not an issue for her at all.
Besides the story of Dez and Eleanor, which was a beautiful rendition of the diversity of New Orleans, there were other characters that were just as vivid. Tre and Blakely showed the two sides of the city. Tre was on the "have not" side, trying to take care of his brother and cousin while avoiding getting into trouble. He had had so much bad happen in his life that he had trouble letting anyone get close to him or help him. I loved the way he met Alicia and the positive impact she had on him. I liked seeing him finally let Eleanor and Dez in and how it opened him up to music again. Blakely was on the other side of the coin. Through most of the book I really didn't like her. She really came across as a spoiled brat. And to side with her snotty grandmother against Eleanor really made me mad. I was glad to see a little growing up in her by the end.
Este sitio utiliza cookies para ofrecer nuestros servicios, mejorar el rendimiento, análisis y (si no estás registrado) publicidad. Al usar LibraryThing reconoces que has leído y comprendido nuestros términos de servicio y política de privacidad. El uso del sitio y de los servicios está sujeto a estas políticas y términos.