“Dial A for Aunties”

Arguments. Shouting. This sister, that sister. Aunties EVERYWHERE. Nowhere to breathe. No space to find who you are and how you fit into a world you want as your own.

A dead body. A multi-million dollar wedding. Love. Family. Business. Any one of these could cloud a person’s decision making abilities. How does this end well? Hoping for a “happily-ever-after,” yet disturbed by the blatant disregard for the law. Family coming to the rescue, who doesn’t want that? Being smothered by family…ugh. Laugh out loud moments.

In the end, love triumphs over evil. And the “happily-ever-after” ending I was hoping for, well, I guess I’ll have to read the sequels to see.

“The Tobacco Wives”

 

I didn’t even realize that I was holding my breath until I got to the Epilogue. 

1946. North Carolina.

How do we know when we should speak up for others? When do we make “their” fight, our fight? How do we live with injustice? Who will stand with us?

The haves vs. the have nots. Social dictates vs. economical need. Women’s roles vs. stereotypes. “Throw away” people. A male dominated world.

A period in time marred by grief, joy, and change. Challenges to the status quo. Looking for a future different from our past. Finding the courage to speak up.

The movie “A League of Their Own” (1992) came to mind while reading this novel. There was a specific line given by Madonna’s character when the women were no longer needed. I’m sure many women at the time must have felt the same after doing their patriotic duty, heading to the factories, only to be told there was no place for them once the war ended.

“So you go back there and tell old rich Mr. Chocolate Man that he ain’t closing me down.” 

Taking a stand. Making our voices heard. Changing the future for all of us.

“Counterfeit”

“Lie ‘til you get caught, then lie some more.” 

-K. Marsh

A criminal enterprise that uses stereotypes to its advantage. A “victimless” crime. This first person narrative gives one side of the story. Is it the truth? Will the other shoe drop? Who will be left in the wake if it all falls to pieces? 

“…that good-immigrant shit may work on white people, but it won’t work on me.” (267)

I’m still not sure who the antagonist was. Was it the straight A Stanford grad, or the Stanford drop-out who married for a green card? Could it have been the counterfeit manufacturer in China? The too busy husband? The nanny?

How will the characters reconcile all the deceit? Once a criminal, always a criminal? Or, will they see the error of their ways?  And what about Henri? What secrets has he been harboring in his silence?

“How To Kill Men And Get Away With It”

 

“It seems I could do anything when I’m in a passion. I get
so savage, I could hurt anyone and enjoy it.” - Little Women (VII)

This novel was like a train wreck…I so wanted to look away, but I just couldn’t. I was drawn into the drama and simultaneously repulsed by it. My moral compass was challenged from the start. Judge. Jury. Executioner. All while looking for love. Yikes! Righteousness. Misdirected passion. Anger. Abuse. Vigilante. Social media. Influencer.

Twelve dead. I kept a tally. Do serial killers even have a right to be in love and happy? 

“Fled”

What would you do to save your family? What would you do if it was all for naught? What risks would you take? What injustices would you endure? Escape. Pride. Jealousy. Capture. Empathy. Love. How does one move forward after so much loss? 

Set in 1783 England and the penal colony of Australia. A justice system that needs tweaking. A society that needs to recognize all her citizens, not just the wealthy. Broken people trying to survive. Can there be a happily-ever-after?