THE BIKINI CAR WASH

Author: Pamela Morsi ISBN: 9780778327813 7/2010 CONTEMPORARY Publisher: MIRA

After Andrea Wolkowicz abandons corporate life to help care for her sister, she quickly wears out the want ads in their rust-belt hometown. Time to be her own boss. Every mogul knows the best idea is an old idea with a new twist. So Andi proudly revives her father's business: an old-fashioned car wash…staffed entirely by bikini-clad women. That ought to get traffic—and blood—flowing on Grosvenor Street! This gutsy gimmick soon has the whole town in a lather, and not necessarily in a good way. Scandalized citizens are howling, neighboring businesses are worried. But straitlaced grocery-store owner Pete Guthrie is definitely intrigued. He knows it's hard to run a small business in a big-box world. To him, Andi's brains and bravery are as alluring as the bikini she calls business attire.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

THE BIKINI CAR WASH is a story about going home, finding peace, and making a difference. At first glance, I thought this might be a tear-jerker because it opens with a mother's death, but that is only the impetus to set things in motion. Yes, it was sad, but it wasn't the focus of the story so I was relieved.

Andi goes home to help her father care for her sister and learns that sometimes it is possible to go home and be happy. Jelly, her sister, is an interesting character. She is challenged in many areas but she excels in others. Particularly poignant is a scene where a doctor encourages the girls' parents to institutionalize Jelly before they grow attached to her. I held my breath, then breathed a sigh of relief when the father states that they're already "attached" to the little girl. Thank goodness! Jelly's life weaves beautifully with everyone else's, and she and Andi have a particularly special bond that is both heartwarming and poignant.

The plan Andi comes up with to earn a living in her small town definitely sets tongues wagging, something that I found comical. So many points in this book showcase small-town living, and the scandal surrounding the car wash is so well written and on-target it felt real.

From start to finish, THE BIKINI CAR WASH is an entertaining read. I highly recommend it, knowing I saw a bit of myself and my hometown on its pages. I believe others will see themselves, too—and enjoy every moment of it! Well done!

Kay James