Free to a Good Home by Eve Marie Mont
Eve Marie Mont's Free to a Good Home is a delightful read about Noelle Ryan whose husband, Jay, has finally told her his deepest secret -- he's gay -- effectively obliterating her dream and forcing her to reassess her life. Noelle has a successful, if stressful, career as a veterinary technician, but she occupies most of her time with her family and the dogs at the shelter, rather than coping with her own problems. She'd rather solve everyone else's problems and be the good person that everyone leans on when they need consoling or help.
"'Sure,' I say, handing him my cup. He's cute. Messy brown hair, crinkly eyes, and that sexy clenched jaw thing. Too cute. A turn-your-brain-to-clotted-cream cute." (page 32)
Noelle is passionate about saving animals and finding them homes, but she's also passionate about helping people, including her WASP ex-mother-in-law, Margaret, who made her marriage miserable. However, what will get to readers is how much of a doormat Noelle is when it comes to Jay; he asks her to do many unthinkable favors including taking care of his mother. Many readers will want to scream at this character and beat her back to her senses. While Jay is not a bad guy per se, he crosses the line in his relationship with Noelle, which effectively prevents her from moving on with her life even after she meets a gorgeous musician named Jasper.
"'Luxwood Victorian Gardens.'
'They make it sound so pleasant. Like you're staying in some luxurious estate, Blithewold Mansion for the physically impaired.'
'Well, they have to do that to get people in the door. They can't very well call the place Let-Us-Steal-Your Independence Gardens.'
'Feed-Us-Flavorless-Food-Courtyard.'
'Watch-Jeopardy-Until-You-Die-Village.'" (page 193)
However, Mont's writing is engaging and dramatic and even humorous. If you love animals and a bit of romance in your summer reading with a good dose of drama, Free to a Good Home will fit your needs.
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About the Author:
Eve Mont lives with her husband, Ken, and her shelter dog, Maggie, in suburban Philadelphia, where she teaches high school English and creative writing. Free to a Good Home is her first novel, which was released on July 6, 2010. She is currently working on her second novel.
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This is my 37th book for the 2010 New Authors Reading Challenge.