Rating: 
Summary: Good, but not as good as Julie and Romeo
Review: I just finsished reading Step-Ball Change. I couldn't wait for it to come out in paperback since I loved Julie and Romeo so much. The story was good, funny, entertaining. The relationship between Caroline and her sister Taffy was typical of two siblings....it had it's moments. It was nice to see that even though they were so different all theirs lives, in their later years became so close. It had the families intertwined as did "Julie and Romeo". But I felt there was something missing. I also was not thrilled with the inter-racial relationship of Caroline's son George and the Contractor's "Woodrow's" daughter Erica. As was Woodrow himself, not eactly thrilled but was accepting because he knew the whole family well and respected them.
The story on a whole was good and a fast read. But those of you who loved Julie and Romeo (her first book)as much as I did, might be a little dissapointed in Step-Ball Change. I'm still looking forward to her next book.
Rating: 
Summary: Such a wonderful story
Review: I loved this book so much, I started re-reading it immediately. I thought the characters were a hoot and so real. I don't often laugh out loud when reading a book, but I surely did with this one. Having been involved with 5 children/stepchildren's weddings, I found the whole deal really humorous. I thought Woodrow was the best character. Such a great book!!
Rating:
Summary: Kept me up all night laughing!
Review: I picked this book up on a whim and have never been more pleased. I read it straight through laughing the whole time. A lighthearted, sincere read.
Rating:
Summary: She'd better not quit...
Review: I read somewhere that Jeanne Ray only plans to write three books and then quit. I hope not! I don't know what it is about her writing, but I adore it. I polished this in a day, most of it spent in a room full of miserable people at H&R Block. I laughed so many times it was rude, but I couldn't help myself. As a wife, a daughter, a woman who planned many weddings only to elope herself and the mother of a nine-year-old who lives to dance, this book was the best. (not to mention that it was full of lawyers and I'd just polished off Grisham's KING OF TORTS). I love all Ray's husbands too. Probably because they're so much like my own--hard-working, hard-loving everyday guys with kids and bills and regrets who still know how to make you laugh. Sure there were a few dips here in there in this story, but I loved every moment of the ride. It's what I love about her books, I know exactly what I'm getting, but I'm never quite sure how I'll get there. And the characters... George was a dream. What better son, brother, fiance' could you have? And Kay, well, let's just say I couldn't be a bit mad at her. Been there, done that. Picked the right guy. Taffy probably made the longest trip of anybody in the book, much like Ruth's mother in EAT CAKE, but in a different way. I would have liked more flesh on Woodrow. (He was at the table but didn't seem a full partaker? I felt he had more to give) All in all though, it was great, refreshing and I hope she never quits. If she does, I'll keep writing drivel. She's one of the few people who make me consider quitting all together.
Rating: 
Summary: Cool read for a hot summer day!
Review: I really liked Julie and Romeo and couldn't wait for Ray's latest Step-Ball-Change. This is truly a delightful read. We meet Caroline and her husband Tom who are trying to save the foundation of their house which has developed a few cracks in it.
All of a sudden their personal lives seem to take on the same aspect. Caroline's sister Taffy calls to say she is coming for a visit as her husband has left her for a woman younger than their daughter. At the same time Caroline's daughter calls to tell her parents she is engaged to the wealthiest boy in town. From there on the story starts to roll. Caroline and Tom begin to see their retirement fly right out the window as they invision having to pay half of a million dollar wedding. The quiet contractor Woodrow, training Taffy's viscious tiny leg biting dog into being a calm house pet and trying to fix their house before it totally gives way. I love the way dance is brought into this book. Caroline has been a dancer all her life and this book tells the story of how one family learns to dance together. That time goes by too fast and that you have to speak up and say what you feel and always dance.
Rating:
Summary: A delightful family to spend time with
Review: I think everyone reading this book will wish they had a family like Carolina (Minnie) has -- even when her family is creating problems for her, the warmth and love in the household shines like light coming from a Kincaid cottage painting. For those prepared to dismiss the book as simply being about a series of love stories, I would say that while this is true, the same criticism could be made of Jane Austen. This is a book that women will particularly warm to, about the relationships and struggles that form our lives. The theme of this book is love -- mother/daughter relationships, husband/wife relationships, boyfriend/girlfriend relationships, sister/sister relationships, etc. Although Carolina/Minnie has a great marriage (after 40 years), her sister Taffy does not. When Taffy learns that her husband has been having an affair with a much younger woman and wants a divorce, Taffy calls her sister and is invited up for a visit. She arrives with a lot of luggage and no definite time period for the visit. The two sisters have never been close -- they're very different and rivalries have left a strained relationship between the two. But family is family, so Taffy is welcome, although the undisciplined fox terrior she brings with her is not so welcome, particularly after he starts biting people. At the same time, Carolina's daughter Kay becomes engaged to Trey, a wealthy man from a prominent family. His family expects a wedding well beyond the means of Carolina and her husband George. Where will such a large amount of money come from? Then there is Woodrow, the contractor who has been working on their house for quite a long time and shows no signs of ever finishing. What started out as an addition has turned into major repairs on the cracking foundation of the house. The workmen are often off working on some other job, and the work shows no sign of completion. The contractor Woodrow makes himself at home and seems to be a fixture at their kitchen table. This is a very funny book with some great lines. It's well written and the kind of book you can't wait to get back to. It is perhaps only a certain tidiness in the ending that prevents me from giving the book 5 stars -- everything falls perfectly in place, and although some readers may like this kind of ending, I don't think Jane Austen would have ended a novel quite so neatly.
Rating:
Summary: step ball change
Review: I was reading slow, I didn't want it to end. I am now looking for more books of Jeanne Ray's. I normaly only read book dating in the 1800's. I loved it
Rating:
Summary: She did it again!
Review: I wish I could give this book more than 5 stars. I loved it, I could not put it down.I knew that I wanted to read it because I enjoyed her first one so much. By the way, if you havn't read that one, Julie and Romeo, you will enjoy that one as well. I was supposed to be packing for a trip, but I found myself just sitting and reading, and reading. I loved this family, warts and all, I wanted to introduce George to one of my nieces, and I wanted to take tap dancing lessons, even though I cannot dance at all, and I mean any kind of dancing! I just wanted to feel the joy the author was describing. I love watching old Gene Kelly movies, well all the old dance and song movies, and I was envious I could not ever really feel the joy you get from the actual dancing, not just the watching. This was a funny book, warm and sentimental book, and a hopeful book. This is a book I would buy as a gift for a friend, what better compliment is there,than that!
Rating:
Summary: Don't Miss This One
Review: If this were a movie, it would be one of those wacky screwball comedies from the 30's. Some of the scenes are so funny, you find yourself laughing out loud - particularly when food is involved. The cast of characters includes: The husband and wife who just want to make it to retirement and a well earned quiet existence by a lake who find their lives turned upside down by ... The sister whose husband has left her for a woman younger than their daughter who arrives for a visit (of undetermined length) with her little dog who loves to bite ankles. The daughter who becomes engaged to a man whose mother is planning a reception for 900 ("And how many do you have on YOUR list, dear?") but who gets distracted when her ex-boyfriend (who always seems to be around - especially at meals) becomes attracted to her exotic cousin. The contractor who is adding a Florida room on their house. Major foundation problems have come up and he also always is around - eating and giving advice. Read it, enjoy it and share it. This book is a keeper.
Rating:
Summary: Warm & Witty
Review: It was charming from beginning to end, never dull, never over-the-top and I'm so glad I had the opportunity to read it. Having recently read two very lackluster "chick-lit" type books this story was a refreshing change of pace. There was no bitterness, no over the top shenanagins, no ridiculous situations and no 20 or 30-something nitwit heroine. Instead the story is told from a happily married 60-ish heroine (Caroline) whose life is turned upside down when she receives two phone calls simultaneously from hysterical woman. One is her daughter, Kay, who is crying tears of joy because she's become engaged to the catch of the century and the other is from her sister Taffy whose husband just ran off with a very younger woman. Taffy & her nasty little dog Stamp temporarily move in with Caroline and Tom while she decides what to do with the rest of her life. Caroline is less than thrilled with the fact that her daughter is marrying into such a wealthy family especially when she learns that they intend to invite 900 guest. Poor Caroline sees her retirement plans flying out the window. This story is about life's little (and bigger) bumps and all of the interwining relationships. I also really enjoyed the way the author incorporated dance into the story ~ it read like it was her true passion and added a lot of depth to Caroline, Taffy & George. There are many touching moments and wise observations about love, romance and marriage. The characters were all terrific and came alive for me and I hated to let them go when the book ended (something I rarely say about a book these days!). At times I wanted to shake some sense into Kay and felt like she was totally insensitive and selfish but it turns out she's only human (and really not so bad in the end) just the rest of the folks in this book . I smiled and my eyes teared up quite a bit while reading this and I'm adding this author's other books to my wishlist when I find a few spare minutes. My only complaint? This book could've been longer as I felt it all ended too quickly but maybe that's just because I enjoyed it so much.
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