House and Home by Kathleen McCleary
By Angelia Menchan • Jan 4th, 2009 • Category: General •
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Ellen Flanagan has two beautiful daughters, Sara and Louisa, who she adores and a successful coffee shop, Coffee@home. She also has Sam, an almost ex-husband, who is an inventor. But, seemingly, most important she has a house, a yellow, clapboard, Cape Cod, that she seems to love more than anything. However, Sam loses their savings on one invention too many and he has to go. Unfortunately, they also have to sell the house and Ellen can not imagine not living in that house. Her children were conceived and raised there, she mourned a miscarriage there, and her best friend, Jo, is next door. But they are broke and the house has to be sold. Or, will Ellen risk everything to keep her house? Or, will she realize a house is not a home?
Upon sight, Ellen knows she does not like the perky Jordan, who is the new owner of her home. She is unsure if it is Jordan she does not care for or the fact that Jordan will own her house and change everything in it. One thing she does like is Jordan’s husband, Jeffrey, even before she knows who he is. For weeks he has just been a tall, orderly man ordering coffee at her shop. Once she discovers his identity, incredibly they become friends, confidantes. Of course, the closeness of the two can only lead to problems and the problems are all tied to the yellow house Ellen is unable to part with.
House and Home is an easy-to-read look at how people can obsess with property when they are unable to face what is really going on. The characters are so realistic it feels as if though the reader knows them personally. Ms. McCleary does a fine job of allowing us into the lives of the neighborhood, even if the ending is a little too predictable. I recommend this book to all readers who enjoy commercial fiction about family importance.
Angelia Menchan
APOOO BookClub
African American Literature
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Angelia Menchan is wife, mother, mentor and the author of five books, most recently, “Is No Not Clear Enough For You? She is a reviewer for APOOO Exchange Team. Angelia currently works as a Budget Officer, but her most rewarding work experience was as Job Corps Counselor. In her spare time, she loves spending time with her love and reading. Her motto is, “You Get from the Universe, What You Give to the Universe.” She can be contacted at www.angeliavmenchan.com and http://acvermen.blogspot.com
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