Unravel Me

- Christie Ridgway -

Usually enjoy this author, and this was no exception.

Second in a series, following "How to Knit a Wild Bikini".

Loved the two main characters, Juliet and Noah, they were very believable both as characters and as a couple attracted to one another. The writing is also good enough, and the story engaging enough, that the dead first husband, 30 years Juliet's senior, who seemed to be a daddy replacement for her (they seem to have re-met, and gotten together at the funeral of her parent's, who died tragically early and unexpectedly), and even to some extent, him, was fairly believable and non-creepy.

I like the relationship between the sisters - mostly seemed realistic from a group of women with no family to speak of who want to develop that family bond with each other (ie: unconditional love and good-natured teasing which seems to equal happy families, romance novel style).

The third books deals with the middle sister, Cassie, and I hope to see a couple of things in that book:

- Comeuppance. Juliet's stepdaughter has the sub plot in this book, and the B-romance story and, while I liked that pairing and ultimately would like to see that story resolved, Marlys needs to face some consequences and acknowledge her totally heinous and unjustified behaviour in "Unravel Me". I also want to see some sort of resolution and maybe friendship develop between Marlys and Juliet, just because I am a sucker for that "enemies realize they have lots in common and become friends" thing. Cheesy, but oh well.

- Consequences - I like Cassandra as a character and am dying to read her book, because the naive Susy Sunshine and the tortured "hero" is one of my favorite tropes, and this looks like it could be a good one. But I also REALLY want to see someone, preferably multiple someones, call her out on her nosy interference into other peoples lives. She, albeit fairly innocuously, forces her sister into her life (not that they object ultimately, but still...) and then goes against their wished in establishing contact with their biological (sperm donor) father, all apparently in pursuit of some idealised dream of a big family. I would like to see some mention of the way she turns people's lives upside down, in pursuit of what she wants.

Overall, enjoyed this read a lot.