The Mistake I Made by Paula Daly 347 pages

Roz is desperate. She’s lost her business, her parent’s nest egg, her husband to another woman and her child is acting out at school. If that wasn’t bad enough she’s two weeks from being evicted. So when a possible solution presents itself, Roz jumps on it without really considering possible consequences. So begins the first mistake and from there they snowball until Roz’s life spirals out of control.

Perhaps, Daly should have named it, ‘All the Mistakes I Made.’

Despite the fact that Roz’s actions set matters in motion, and she only spends the briefest of time being remorseful before she moves on to the next silly choice she’s still a  character that you can’t help but root for. A page turner and read in one sitting kind of a book. Can’t wait until the next one.

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy by Helen Fielding, 496 pages

Helen Fielding is a great comic writer.  In this story, Bridget Jones is now 51 and a single mother.  Her husband, Mark Darcy, died five years ago when son Billy was 2 and daughter Mabel was 2 months old.

Bridget is just emerging from her grief and trying to live again.  I read other reviews on Amazon and Good Reads and many people disliked this book.  I didn't.  I also did not read the other two Bridget Jones books, though I really enjoyed the movie version of "Bridget Jones."

During the book Bridget loses 40 pounds and begins dating a 30 year old Toy Boy named Roxster.  They are perfect for each other, except for the 21 year age difference.  I laughed out loud a lot as I listened to the book.  Bridget is not perfect, but she is perfect for her kids and her life.  I give this a definite thumbs up.

Calling Me Home by Julie Kibler 325 pages

This was a beautiful novel.  It was recommended to me by a patron, and I owe her big for it!  The story is told in present time and flashback.  Initially we meet Dorrie, a black woman in her 30's, and Isabelle, a white woman in her late 80's.  Dorrie is Isabelle's hair stylist, but over the years they have become very good friends.  Isabelle actually feels like Dorrie is a daughter to her.  One day Isabelle asks Dorrie if she'll drive her from Texas to Ohio.  Dorrie, being a single mother and business owner, realizes that it must be very important for Isabelle to ask her to do this, so she works it out.  Along the long drive, the two women discover that they really didn't know as much about one another as they had taken for granted.  Isabelle fills Dorrie in on her youth in a very segregated town.  This book has a lot of heartache in it, but it is absolutely beautiful.  I think the only thing I didn't like about it was when the author was trying to write in Dorrie's voice. That felt a little forced at times.  I definitely recommend this book to just about anyone.  I don't usually go for this genre...whatever it may be, but I loved this book!