Reviewer: Connie Payne
Title: A Mile in My Flip-Flops
Author: Melody Carlson
Publisher: WaterBrook Press
ISBN-13: 9781400073146
Release Date: June 2008
Genre/Sub-genre: Inspirational Fiction
Year/Setting: Present day - El Ocaso CA
Overall Rating: 4.5
Sexual Content Rating: None
Language (Profanity/Slang) Content Rating: None
Violent Content Rating: None
Melody's Website:
www.melodycarlson.com
After a break-up with her fiancé, Gretchen Hanover has become somewhat of a recluse. Other than teaching Kindergarten all she needs is a carton of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, HGTV, and her dog, Reilly.
One day, however, she realizes that Reilly is quickly growing. So much so that her small one-bedroom apartment, packed with items bought while she was still engaged, has shrunk. Shrrrr-unk! She feels trapped. Ben & Jerry and HGTV are no longer the comfort they were just yesterday.
What’s she to do, though? Living in El Ocaso isn’t cheap, especially on a teacher’s salary, not to mention a depleted bank account, thanks to the above mentioned shopping. But wait! She can become a house flipper! If people on HGTV can do it, so can she.
Maureen goes at it with gusto. Once she has her retired contractor father on board (free advice and contacts), a short term loan secured, a needy house (boy is the house needy!) picked out…well, six weeks is nothing (she has watched LOTS of HGTV you know)! School will be out and she’ll have all day every day to devote to the flip. It will be ready before the six weeks is over.
Ha! Not only does everything possible go wrong, but her father is trying to fix her up with Noah Campbell. Again. Yes, he’s a carpenter, but she can do this herself. She doesn’t need her father taking over, and she doesn’t need Noah’s interference. She doesn’t even need God’s help. After all, where was He when she desperately needed Him when her mother passed away, or when her engagement was broken?
But soon, Gretchen sees that God works in amazing and unexpected ways. Not only with the flip, but with her heart, too.
First person present tense, not my favorite at all. But there’s something about the way Melody Carlson writes, you just seem to become absorbed into the story and characters, the struggle with the present tense forgotten.
Gretchen’s emotions, thoughts, and actions trigger unplanned for situations, all of which are very human and very relatable. While trying to protect her heart, she wears it on her sleeve making her not only vulnerable, but a good person, a good character to get to know.
Melody Carlson writes with humor, warmth, and compassion. Not only does her writing entertain the reader, but it offers a bit of inspiration, the expectation that our lives can become richer if we remember to leave it all at His feet.
Connie
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