SWEET LIFE

Author: Mia King ISBN: 9780425221679 9/2008 FICTION Publisher: BERKLEY

What if you got away from it all—and then it all got away from you? When her husband gets a new job, Marissa Price leaves the island of Manhattan for the island of Hawaii. Paradise seems like the perfect place to find herself, save her marriage, and reconnect with her daughter. But Marissa discovers her new life is less about beaches and beautiful sunsets and more about cows and lava flows. Their new "home" is a fixer-upper. But what most needs fixing—her marriage—is the first thing to crumble when her husband announces he wants time apart to find himself. Pulled in opposite directions, Marissa is faced with the most important decision of her life—a choice that will define who she is, what she wants, and where her happiness lies.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Mia King's SWEET LIFE is unforgettable. The story of a woman who, realizing her life needs more attention than she's been giving it, agrees to leave behind everything and move to Hawaii, where she envisions she'll reconnect with her husband, get to really know her daughter, as well as herself, and begin to live the sweet life everyone longs for. But life hardly ever turns out the way we picture it, something Marissa learns soon after her feet hit the island.

There isn't one solitary thing I didn't like about this book. The characters are realistic, especially Pansy, Marissa's young daughter, the plot begins with a bang (considering running your husband over on Valentine's Day is something I haven't seen done before!) and the story is funny, honest and stirs all sorts of feel-good emotions. And if that isn't enough, there are recipes at the back of the book that are to die for! I have already tried the Midlife Mai Tai as well as the Mango Crisp and, believe me, they are like icing on a yummy cake!

SWEET LIFE is a book I'll be giving to family and friends this Christmas. It's that good!

Kay James