YvonneThe problem with getting your life back on track is that there’s usually another catastrophe hurtling down the rails to knock you off again.
Case in point: in January my attorney fired the final volley in a running gun battle of a divorce that demolished my savings. Living single is lonely but also lower-priced. I figured I’d recoup. After all, I had a good job producing the Rick Rivers Radio Show, the number-one program in Reckless River, Washington.
Until March, when the downsizing axe separated me from my paychecks.
Being jobless isolated me even more then getting divorced, but I qualified for unemployment benefits and my motgage payments were low. I figured I was bound to find another job soon.
But the housing market crashed taking the economy with it.
In August, panicked by gloom-and-doom financial forecasts, I sold my house for an offer I was lucky to get, and moved to a one-bedroom condo. Then, in an effort to hoist myself back onto the rails, I signed on for a stop-gap job one notch above crash-test dummy.
Clicking on the book’s cover image, will take you directly to its Amazon page
To discover more about both book and author, click here
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Hope you enjoy this, Yvonne. Assume that’s Washington State rather than Washington DC? Not many books set in the state so it would make a nice change. Also it would do nicely for W for my ‘Where are you reading?’ challenge. Have a lovely weekend!
Hi Cath,
About half way through now and loving it so far, thanks. Nothing too heavy going, but quite a multi-layered story, full of complex emotions and issues.
You are quite correct in assuming Washington State rather than DC, a place from where author Carolyn J. Rose writes from personal experience of the crash-test dummy employment she has chosen to give her main protagonist.
There seem to be quite a few challenges this year which are focusing on following reading trends defined by books logged and assigned to either general country status, or on more regional locations within a country. ‘No Substitute For Murder’ surely has to be a contender for your ‘W’ selection!
Thanks for stopping by, I hope that all is well with you and have a good weekend 🙂
The opening definitely sets the scene for what’s happening in the character’s life! I’m wondering what her new job could be and would keep reading to find out.
My Friday post features The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.
Hi Sandra,
The full premise really gives away what her new job is, however if faced with just those few opening lines, it is very intriguing to know what she considers a job to be ‘one notch above crash-test dummy’. I could think of several jobs which might fit the description!
Her private life isn’t much better than that of a crash-test dummy either and the more she tries to get it back on track, the worse she seems to be making it. I know just how she feels!
Thanks for stopping by and I hope that you have a lovely weekend 🙂
As you know, I have this one sitting in my Kindle. The opening sounds good, so maybe I’ll finally get to it this year!
I’m currently reading Proxima by Stephen Baxter. It’s fairly hard-core Sci-Fi, so perhaps not your cup of tea. The 1st line: “I’m back on Earth.”
Hi Kelly,
You know what I am like for ‘series reading’, so I’m not going to guarantee that I shall read the subsequent books in the ‘Subbing Isn’t For Sissies’ series, but author Carolyn J. Rose has definitely created an excellent character for the leading role in Barbara Reed.
You have to be in the mood for a light hearted mystery to fully appreciated all the dialogue nuances that Carolyn has introduced into the story, but having so far read almost half the book, Barbara’s chaotic life is really drawing me in and I haven’t given much thought to the actual question of ‘whodunnit!’
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‘Proxima’ definitely isn’t one for me, although it might be something hubbie would enjoy. He isn’t generally someone who bothers with fiction, so it would probably depend on just how much fact was mixed with the fiction, to produce a credible storyline. He has always maintained that we can’t possibly be the only life form out there and definitely not the most intelligent and he can hold a lengthy conversation about his views and theories of the origin of life and the evolutionary process, with anyone who is interested of course!!
I hope that you are enjoying your book and have a good weekend 🙂
Wow! Things are not going well for the main character! I like the almost humorous tone in the beginning and will have to look for this one!
Hi Katherine,
Barbara isn’t having an easy time of things right now, hence the many changes which are going on in her life all at the same time. She is coping in the only way she can, with hard work and a little light humour in equal measure.
This is the first episode of a 6 part series to date, so I’m not sure how the tone of the storylines develop into the future, but so far this hasn’t been a ‘cozy’ in the truest sense of the word, as there are some quite serious issues being thrown up, with emotions running high at times,
I really enjoy Carolyn’s writing technique and abilty, so if you don’t want anythig too serious, her books may suit you very well!
Thanks for stopping by, I always appreciate your comments 🙂
I hope things get better for the main character, it sounds tough!
Happy reading and I hope you have been well. I’m doing some catching up today in blogland. Happy Sunday 🙂
Hi Naida,
Having read some way into the story, things seem to be going from bad to worse for poor Barbara and it’s all getting kind of personal!
All is well down here in deepest Somerset, except for the cold, wet and windy weather which has swept through today and the 80 mile roundtrip we have just driven to visit my father in hospital.
I hope that it is only work committments which have kept you away from blogland for what seems like an age and that you are all well. Welcome Back 🙂