Rating: 
Summary: Unpredictable, fresh,satisfying, five star romance novel
Review: While vacationing in southern Maine, I purchased "Maggie May's Diary". I was drawn to the book by its high recommendation by the clerk in the bookstore and also by its setting. I was quick to learn that this book was far from a formula romance. The strong character of Maggie May Keough was so unlike any other female protagonist I could remember! It was only through her relationship with the book's other principal character, Brian Kelly, and with her daughter, that I could see the framework of a decent human being. Driven by her career and social standing, she represented everything I've come to detest in a personality; it was in the character of Brian that I found a decent human being to root for in this unpredicatable romance between a CPA and Maine motel operator.The author has a gift for writing dialogue as evidenced in the many spirited exchanges between Maggie May and Brian - intelligent compared to the conventional romances. Coughlin also goes a few notches above the norm in a steamy, sexual interlude. I get the impression that he puts more effort into this book than the standard romance writer following some cookbook formula. Many of the plot twists and ideas were fresh and unexpected. I would theorize that the author gives us Maggie May and Brian to represent symbollically materialism and humanism at odds. The quandry, you want Brian to be happy but he's only going to be happy if he gets his Maggie May. The novel's ending is unpredictable and most satisfying. I feel like I stumbled onto something a little special in this book. I look forward to a sequel perhaps, but certainly many more pleasurable hours of reading in future books by this author!
Rating:
Summary: Unpredictable, fresh,satisfying, five star romance novel
Review: While vacationing in southern Maine, I purchased "Maggie May's Diary". I was drawn to the book by its high recommendation by the clerk in the bookstore and also by its setting. I was quick to learn that this book was far from a formula romance. The strong character of Maggie May Keough was so unlike any other female protagonist I could remember! It was only through her relationship with the book's other principal character, Brian Kelly, and with her daughter, that I could see the framework of a decent human being. Driven by her career and social standing, she represented everything I've come to detest in a personality; it was in the character of Brian that I found a decent human being to root for in this unpredicatable romance between a CPA and Maine motel operator. The author has a gift for writing dialogue as evidenced in the many spirited exchanges between Maggie May and Brian - intelligent compared to the conventional romances. Coughlin also goes a few notches above the norm in a steamy, sexual interlude. I get the impression that he puts more effort into this book than the standard romance writer following some cookbook formula. Many of the plot twists and ideas were fresh and unexpected. I would theorize that the author gives us Maggie May and Brian to represent symbollically materialism and humanism at odds. The quandry, you want Brian to be happy but he's only going to be happy if he gets his Maggie May. The novel's ending is unpredictable and most satisfying. I feel like I stumbled onto something a little special in this book. I look forward to a sequel perhaps, but certainly many more pleasurable hours of reading in future books by this author!
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