"Fascinating family drama"
In Carson Springs, California, change is everywhere for the
Kiley females. Alice marries Wesley Carpenter, a kind
person older than her mother. Alice's sister, recently
divorced Laura, looks sad as the happy couple exchanges
their vows. Following the church ceremony, the widowed
mother of the bride, Samantha, needs a ride to the
reception when her car fails to start. The son of the
groom, Ian provides a lift to the party hosted by Sam. Ian and Sam share a banter that leads to an attraction,
dating, and a hot affair. Alice is mortified that her mom
is stepping out on her deceased but idolized dad. Laura is
stunned more when her mom becomes pregnant something that
she wants but her body cannot accomplish. Instead, Laura
brings into her home Brooklyn teenage runaway Finch. The
goings-on of the Kiley women shock the residents of this
coastal town. STRANGER IN PARADISE is an interesting look at third and
fourth generation Californians. The story line consists of
three subplots that tie together through the relationships
of the Kiley trio. The lead women are fully developed
while the key secondary players are refined enough to
supplement the Kiley females. However, the effort to
compare reactions to the younger woman-older man vs. the
younger man-older woman theme seems obsolete in today's age
of so many couples pairing with both types of backgrounds.
Still Eileen Goudge is so talented that her tale will send
her fans to reader's paradise because she provides another
entertaining tale. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Posted July 4, 2001
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