SEARCHING FOR PARADISE IN PARKER, PA

Author: Kris Radish ISBN: 9780553805307 4/2008 FICTION Publisher: BANTAM

After twenty-eight years of marriage to her husband Lucky, Addy Lipton feels anything but happily married. In fact, just thinking of their garage, filled to the brim with Lucky’s useless junk collection, drives Addy dangerously close to plowing her car through it. But when Lucky wins a trip to paradise—aka Costa Rica—Addy has a faint hope they may be able to turn things around. Or maybe they won’t. Either way, Addy never gets the chance to find out. On the morning of their departure, Lucky fractures his back tossing their luggage into his truck. Now, with the man she feels she barely knows anymore parked indefinitely on her couch, Addy can’t see their already shaky relationship surviving much longer. It’s time to make some big changes—and some drastic choices. With the love and support of her devoutly single sister Hell and her workout friends, the Sweat-hers, Addy begins a crusade to revive her dreams—and she takes the women of Parker along for the ride. Soon the men will realize they’ll have to step up to the plate to keep their wives and lovers happy. And Addy will have to decide if the paradise she’s creating in Parker is big enough for two....

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

SEARCHING FOR PARADISE IN PARKER, PA by Kris Radish is a delightful tale about finding Nirvana, even if it's in your own backyard. Written in a wonderfully fresh voice whose flavor could be "everywoman," this story is sure to touch the hearts of many readers. They may see themselves, or someone they know, in these characters. Who knows? There may be a little of Addy Lipton in all of us.

Addy thinks the time for renewal in her staid marriage is coming. Her husband, Lucky, has won a dream trip, and she believes the Costa Rican paradise they're headed for will be the answer to their matrimonial woes. But Lucky has an accident, the trip is cancelled and instead of paradise, Addy is left with a couchbound Lucky, something that would put a strain on even a good marriage. Instead of feeling sorry for herself, Addy takes her lemons and turns them into lemonade.

This is an emotionally gripping story in that Addy's thoughts and feelings are right there for the reader to dive into. It wasn't hard to identify with this gutsy woman or to applaud her when she finds her own path to happiness. The best part of it all is that Addy doesn't just improve her own life; she improves the lives of those around her, as well.

Me? I know my life has been enriched by reading SEARCHING FOR PARADISE IN PARKER, PA. This one's staying on my keeper shelf!

Kay James