Here's to Friends

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Here’s to Friends David C. Cook (September 1, 2011) by Melody Carlson



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Over the years, Melody Carlson has worn many hats, from pre-school teacher to youth counselor to political activist to senior editor. But most of all, she loves to write! Currently she freelances from her home. In the past eight years, she has published over ninety books for children, teens, and adults--with sales totaling more than two million and many titles appearing on the ECPA Bestsellers List. Several of her books have been finalists for, and winners of, various writing awards. And her "Diary of a Teenage Girl" series has received great reviews and a large box of fan mail.



She has two grown sons and lives in Central Oregon with her husband and chocolate lab retriever. They enjoy skiing, hiking, gardening, camping and biking in the beautiful Cascade Mountains.





ABOUT THE BOOK

Once upon a time in a little town on the Oregon coast lived four Lindas—all in the same first-grade classroom. So they decided to go by their middle names. And form a club. And be friends forever.



Decades later, they're all back home in Clifden and reinventing their lives, but the holidays bring a whole new set of challenges. Abby’s new B&B is getting bad reviews and husband Paul is acting strange. Still grieving for her mom, Caroline is remodeling the family home, but boyfriend Mitch keeps pressuring her to go away with him. Artist Marley, distracted by a friend's family drama (and a touch of jealousy), can't find her creative groove. And Janie’s drug-addicted daughter has just appeared up on her doorstep! When a long-planned New Year's cruise turns into a bumpy ride, they learn once again that, in your fifties, friends aren’t just for fun—they're a necessity!



If you would like to read the first chapter of Here’s to Friends, go HERE.

Here's to Friends by Melody Carlson is the fourth book in the Four Lindas series. The four girls who made friends in school because they were all named Linda have carried their friendship through their lives and have now all returned to their hometown of Clifden, Oregon to deal with family crises together. Marley's painting career has come to a halt as she cares for her boyfriend's granddaughter. Abby is still struggling with her weight and trusting husband Paul. Janie's law firm isn't taking off as she'd hoped and worrying about her missing drug-addicted daughter, and Caroline is rebuilding her family home in hopes of selling it and finally beginning a life of her own, hopefully with boyfriend, Mitch. I wish I had known this was the fourth in the series before beginning the book, because I felt like I had walked in halfway through the story, not understanding the connections and complicated family histories. Carlson does a great job of portraying female friendships with the multiple layers and changing roles.