The Way Life Should Be

Rating:
Summary: A whole different world...more like the real one
Review: Finally an author who can write about gay people who aren't rich and living in New York! The result is much more interesting, and much easier to identify with for those of us who live in the real world (as opposed to the one described in gay magazines). The author describes life in a quiet Maine community, where the heroine happens to be lesbian. Adventures happen, and even romance, but the characters are seen as part of a larger whole community, not separate from it. Good, believable,absorbing plot points. An excellent read.

Rating:
Summary: "I loved It!"
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, because it involved characters who were well drawn and lived meaningful lives and only happened to be lesbians. The storyline was gripping and I couldn't put the book down. The people involved lived real lives and I cared what happened to them. I recommend this book to anyone who likes to read about women.

Rating:
Summary: What happened to the rest of the story?
Review: Okay, I like Braund and I think she's a great writer, but something is truly amiss this time. It's like the copy was submitted before it was finished. Where was the editor? There are a lot of unanswered questions. Not to give away too much here, but one of the characters in the story, Tina, who is the best friend of Kristan, the main character, mysteriously calls her one evening, saying she really needs to talk and wants to go out for dinner. It's not possible that particular night, but as the story unfolds these two characters never speak again. Readers never find out what the problem was, nor do we ever know what significance the missed conversation had to their friendship. Another missing piece is that Kristan's new girlfriend, Jennifer, has a woman named Pam (her ex-lover) who is desperate to get Jennifer back. At first we are treated to an in-depth view of their conversations, but later we miss out completely when Jennifer decides to forget about Pam. We never know what made her decide, nor do we understand how Pam could just give up. This is a thin little volume that could have been twice as thick. Or, maybe there's a sequel coming? In that case, I'll buy the sequel, as the story is good enough, but it could really use some finishing touches.

Rating:
Summary: underdeveloped--Braund is better than this
Review: The author keeps you interested by pulling you into two unlikely companions' lives. There are so many different turns of events. It kept me on the edge of my seat! This is a great book that will leave you smiling for hours.

Rating:
Summary: I couldn't put it down!!!
Review: The author keeps you interested by pulling you into two unlikely companions' lives. There are so many different turns of events. It kept me on the edge of my seat! This is a great book that will leave you smiling for hours.

Rating:
Summary: underdeveloped--Braund is better than this
Review: Wicked Good Time is the best of Braund, with attractive principal characters who have the right mix of opacity and introspection, and inhabit a keenly beautiful and challenging winter landscape. The Way Life Should Be (even the title drags a bit) seems totally resistant to inhabiting its characters' dilemmas, subordinating the romance to a relentlessly detached third-person voice that cannot even wring passion from such a horrific event as the bloody car wreck that destroys an entire family and dominates the final 3rd of the book. In truth, the novel reads like the expanded outline for a far juicier book yet to be written. Again, Naiad got lazy.