Stranger in Paradise (A Carson Springs Novel, Book 1)

Rating:
Summary: Not Even in the Soaps!
Review: Okay, this has got to be every bored suburban housewife's ultimate fantasy--hot young hunk falls inexpiicably in love with the most ordinary woman in the neighborhood! She's not particularly witty or charming or confident. She's never been anywhaere or done anything--so aside from a mother figure, what does sexy YOUNG Ian want with her? She likes to bake and sew and play bridge; she wants a man who'll curl up and watch Masterpiece Theater with her--wow! Sounds like Saturday nite at the retirement home! Toss in a bag of Depends and you have one sexy package. Her tastes in music, pastimes (honeymoon bridge, for crying out loud!), manner of speaking and attitudes all add up to OLD. I found myself wondering if she was 48 or 68! The author gives Samantha attributes that never come through in her character; she describes her as being high-spirited and humorous, but we the readers never SEE it. Ms. Goudge contradicts herself in many places. She says Samantha felt unlovedby her late husband, who made her feel like she was the only person in the world. Huh? Her sister can't imagine this earth mother sewing curtains. Huh? Samantha and Ian are supposed to be in love, she's insulted when other sugest it's ony about the sex--yet that's all they ever do when they're together. They spend less than one-fourth of the story together, and all he wnats to do is have sex with this gal who doens't seem to know which end is up in this regard, but they're madly in love. Huh? And ona final note...Ms. Goudge, an artist WOULD know the difference between peach and pink!!!

Rating:
Summary: Escape to the orange-groved lushness of Carson Springs!
Review: Stranger in Paradise is the endearing story of 48-year-old widow, Samantha Kiley, who has lived her entire life in Carson Springs - a town nestled in a valley surrounded by orange-groved hills and home to a convent of beekeeping nuns. Sam, as her friends call her, finds she falling deeply and, in her opinion, inappropriately in love with a much younger man - the son of her younger daughter's much older husband.
Ian Carpenter, a handsome artist, nearly 20 years Sam's junior, turns life in Carson Springs upside down and soon, complications arise, not least of which is Sam's unexpected pregnancy.
Sam's youngest daughter, Alice, feels Sam's involvement with any man, but especially Ian, betrays her father's honor, a man she idolized and who in her eyes could do no wrong. The older sister, Laura, is divorced and struggles with the knowledge she is barren, a fact that only makes the realization of her mother's late-in-life condition, all the more painful for her to accept. However, Laura creates her own makeshift family, which includes a runaway teen, an elderly woman whose cruel son has all but disowned her, and the hired hand, who has held a special place in Laura's heart since her teens.
A murderer on the lose in Carson Springs, provides the story with an added bit of suspense, as well as an unexpected twist which wraps up part one of this trilogy series.
I feel Stranger in Paradise effectively captures and maintains the reader's interest because the story moves along at an even pace and the scenes unfold and flow together nicely. I believe the main character, Sam, is certain to capture the hearts of all who read this novel because she's real - there is nothing phony about her. She's someone the reader would want for a best friend. One can relate, not only to her lifestyle, but also, the difficulties she has faced throughout her lifetime, including those that took place in her marriage. She stands firm in her beliefs and attacks her problems head-on, rarely backing down. She has her doubts, but this just makes her all the more believable as a character.
Some of Sam's conflicts in part one of the Carson Springs trilogy are: her unexpected pregnancy, being unmarried and with child (and, in a town which still, in this day and age, upholds tradition and high morals), her daughters' disapproval of her love interest, her own doubts as to whether or not Ian is ready for a commitment, let alone, a child, deciding whether or not to step down and hand over the family business to her oldest daughter and instead of a career, tackle raising an infant at a time in life, when she should be as free as a bird, to come and go as she pleases, and the only babies in her life, should be grandchildren.
The story, which is told in third person, takes place in the present era. The location for this story; it's lushness, lends an added dimension to the storyline. One can almost smell the orange blossoms, see the vivid sunsets and feel the coolness of the night air on their face.

Rating:
Summary: Another winner!
Review: Well, Eileen Goudge has done it again! She never fails to delight me with each new novel. I think this is the best yet (although the ever-so-famous "Garden of Lies" is hard to beat!). Her characters are so real, and you really care for them. Sometimes I wanted to ring the daughter's necks, but they had reason for their feelings - we could just see things more objectively than they could, which is so true to life. I am on pins and needles waiting for the sequel. I know it will take some time, as her skillfully written books are not ones that can be just churned out over night! We can always find books like that elsewhere if we so desire, but I personally would not want to. It will be well worth the wait, I'm sure!

Rating:
Summary: Another winner!
Review: Well, Eileen Goudge has done it again! She never fails to delight me with each new novel. I think this is the best yet (although the ever-so-famous "Garden of Lies" is hard to beat!). Her characters are so real, and you really care for them. Sometimes I wanted to ring the daughter's necks, but they had reason for their feelings - we could just see things more objectively than they could, which is so true to life. I am on pins and needles waiting for the sequel. I know it will take some time, as her skillfully written books are not ones that can be just churned out over night! We can always find books like that elsewhere if we so desire, but I personally would not want to. It will be well worth the wait, I'm sure!