Rating: 
Summary: A Great Trip to Paradise!
Review: After becoming a devoted fan of Eileen Goudge with her first novel Garden of Lies. I could not wait to get started with her latest. Stranger in Paradise was a joy to read from beginning to end. I cannot wait for the 2nd book in this trilogy to come out. She took me to a place called Carson Springs and into the lives of Samantha Kiley and her two daughters. On the day of her daughter Alice's marriage to Wes, none are aware how much each of their lives will be changed by this event. Widowed for 2 years Sam finds love where she least expects and upsets both the community where she lives and the relationship she has with both her daughters. This leads them all down the path to growth and understanding. This story has it all. From family conflict, love and mysetry it grips from the beginning to the end in hopes that it all will come together and the end is no disappointment.
Rating:
Summary: Goudge At Her Best!
Review: Carson Springs is the pictue-perfect setting for the cast of characters in this small-town story. Fourty-eight year old Samantha and her somewhat quirky, but likeable daughters will keep readers comfortably ensconsed in this book until the very end, where they will not be disappointed. Ms. Goudge creates unforgettable characters and images without going into a lot of unnecessary detail. This "summer read" will be wonderful all year long!
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Summary: Vintage Goudge
Review: Eileen Goudge never disappoints her readers. She delivers well-written, engrossing books about characters you come to feel are friends. STRANGER IN PARADISE offers all this and something more--an inside look at small-town California life--which is very different from life in L.A. or San Francisco. I especially enjoyed the bee keeping nuns and the descriptions of the lush countryside. Thanks, Eileen, for another great read. Can't wait until the next book in this series.
Rating:
Summary: Vintage Goudge
Review: Eileen Goudge never disappoints her readers. She delivers well-written, engrossing books about characters you come to feel are friends. STRANGER IN PARADISE offers all this and something more--an inside look at small-town California life--which is very different from life in L.A. or San Francisco. I especially enjoyed the bee keeping nuns and the descriptions of the lush countryside. Thanks, Eileen, for another great read. Can't wait until the next book in this series.
Rating:
Summary: A thoroughly satisfying read!
Review: Eileen Goudge really knows how women think and feel. Her well-developed characters are easy to identify with -- they feel like family. The relationships are real and intriguing. Her descriptions make you feel like you're there... I can't wait to read the sequel, and the one after, and the one after... If you're not familiar with her books, try any of them -- you won't be disappointed. How nice to find an author who produces consistently outstanding novels.
Rating:
Summary: Fabulous Summer Read!
Review: I loved this story of the 48 year old widow, Sam Kiley, and her intriguing, beautiful town of Carson Springs. That she 'takes up' with a MUCH younger man, Ian, who is her daughter's new husband's son, is an added plus to this juicy tale of a family and its secrets. I was drawn into the story very quickly and had trouble putting it down. A great plot with lots of twists. I'm thrilled that it's part of a trilogy.
Rating:
Summary: How Lucky Can A Girl Get?
Review: I was the lucky winner of a random drawing from Eileen's website, and my prize was an autographed copy of this book. I had it read before it was released for sale. Eileen did a great job of introducing all the characters, and bringing them to life. At times I was frustrated with one or more of them, then I was cheering them on. Stranger in Paradise has elements of romance, family conflict, familial love, mystery, and humor. I can't wait for the sequel. Great job, Eileen, and THANK YOU!!!
Rating:
Summary: How Lucky Can A Girl Get?
Review: I was the lucky winner of a random drawing from Eileen's website, and my prize was an autographed copy of this book. I had it read before it was released for sale. Eileen did a great job of introducing all the characters, and bringing them to life. At times I was frustrated with one or more of them, then I was cheering them on. Stranger in Paradise has elements of romance, family conflict, familial love, mystery, and humor. I can't wait for the sequel. Great job, Eileen, and THANK YOU!!!
Rating: 
Summary: delightful storyline
Review: In Carson Springs, California, change is everywhere for the Kiley females. Alice marries Wesley Carpenter, a kind person older than her mother. Alice's sister, recently divorced Laura, looks sad as the happy couple exchanges their vows. Following the church ceremony, the mother of the bride, a widow Samantha, needs a ride to the reception when her car fails to start. The son of the groom Ian provides a lift to the party hosted by Sam. Ian and Sam share a banter that leads to an attraction, dating, and a hot affair. Alice is mortified that her mom is stepping out on her deceased but idolized dad. Laura is stunned more when her mom becomes pregnant something that she wants but her body cannot accomplish. Instead, Laura brings into her home Brooklyn teenage runaway Finch. The goings-on of the Kiley women shock the residents of this coastal town. STRANGER IN PARADISE is an interesting look at third and fourth generation Californians. The story line consists of three subplots that tie together through the relationships of the Kiley trio. The lead women are fully developed while the key secondary players are refined enough to supplement the Kiley females. However, the effort to compare reactions to the younger woman-older man vs. the younger man-older woman theme seems obsolete in today's age of so many couples pairing with both types of backgrounds. Still Eileen Goudge is so talented that her tale will send her fans to reader's paradise because she provides another entertaining tale. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: delightful storyline
Review: In Carson Springs, California, change is everywhere for the Kiley females. Alice marries Wesley Carpenter, a kind person older than her mother. Alice's sister, recently divorced Laura, looks sad as the happy couple exchanges their vows. Following the church ceremony, the mother of the bride, a widow Samantha, needs a ride to the reception when her car fails to start. The son of the groom Ian provides a lift to the party hosted by Sam. Ian and Sam share a banter that leads to an attraction, dating, and a hot affair. Alice is mortified that her mom is stepping out on her deceased but idolized dad. Laura is stunned more when her mom becomes pregnant something that she wants but her body cannot accomplish. Instead, Laura brings into her home Brooklyn teenage runaway Finch. The goings-on of the Kiley women shock the residents of this coastal town. STRANGER IN PARADISE is an interesting look at third and fourth generation Californians. The story line consists of three subplots that tie together through the relationships of the Kiley trio. The lead women are fully developed while the key secondary players are refined enough to supplement the Kiley females. However, the effort to compare reactions to the younger woman-older man vs. the younger man-older woman theme seems obsolete in today's age of so many couples pairing with both types of backgrounds. Still Eileen Goudge is so talented that her tale will send her fans to reader's paradise because she provides another entertaining tale. Harriet Klausner
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