Customer Reviews

Back to Life (The Trophy Wives Club, Book 2)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Highly entertaining read, very well written, good enough I went and bought her Spa Girls series!

Although one year has past since her fiftyish husband Ron died, thirty-five year old Lindsay remains stunned and unsure of what she wants in life. Residing in a senior citizen condominium, Lindsay still grieves as she feels her life is rudderless.

Ron's first wife Jane arrives at the condo. She is the executor of his estate and needs to complete the documentation to distribute the assets in accordance to the will. Accompanying Jane is their adult son Ron, Jr. whom the first salad days wife insists to the second trophy wife that he is actually someone else's junior. The two wives loathe one another yet to their mutual shock soon begin to understand what the other brings to the table and brought to Ron.

The second Trophy Wives Club is an engaging tale that enables the audience as well as the two wives to see deep into the souls of Jane and Lindsay. The chapters rotate their points of view, which initially focuses on amusing scorn as both feel the other is an irritant, but slowly turns to respect. Readers will appreciate this fine inspiring tale as each of Ron's wives learn much about themselves through understanding the other spouse.

Harriet Klausner

As I said after reading the first book in this series, I never would have thought to see a Christian fiction book about Trophy Wives. This is because this subject is practically taboo to most Christians and also because a lot of these wives suddenly find themselves divorced.

Why did I really like this story? It's because the characters are flawed and realistic. I am one of those readers who gets really tired of reading about cookie cutter Christians who do all the right things and are practically perfect in every way. While some of those people may exist, it is not real life. The characters in this story have been hurt and are confused about how they should react to that pain. It would be have been very unrealistic for them to immediately turn everything over to God and become happy and forget about their past. It's a little bit odd at first that Jane and Lindsay get along with each other. I'm not sure if I was either woman if I would have wanted to be near the "other woman" in my husband's life. Granted they didn't like each other in the beginning and both were wary and suspicious of each other. Eventually they learn to trust each other and, while not being the best of friends, have been able to become able accept and confide in one another. While this book is not overtly preachy, it is because of faith that these two are able to do this. Otherwise, this story would have taken the path out of a plot from a Desperate Housewives episode.

I really enjoyed reading this book. The cover looks like it's fluffy chick lit but I don't think it fits that genre since the subject matter is more serious. It's not for everyone. Those who think that Christians shouldn't be flawed or that marriages will always have happy endings won't like this book. However if you want a realistic work of fiction that looks deeper at issues that aren't normally talked about in Christian fiction but with a light touch, this book will be perfect for you.

Every woman wants to know that she is loved for who she is not what she looks like. Lindsey Brindle is no different. After losing her husband, she has to get her life back on track by figuring out who she really is and what she wants to do with her life.

This book is the second in the Trophy Wives series. I loved every book Billerbeck has written and this one is no different. She keeps your attention with humor and plot twists. It's full of life as each character has a way to help Lindsey weather the storm. I finished this book in a very short time as I could not put it down. Definitely read this one and share it with your friends.

In this second book of her latest series, The Trophy Wives Club, Kristin Billerbeck cleverly reveals thoughts, emotions and irrational behavior of her female protagonists. And, many women love drama, especially if it's not their own!

Lindsay is a young widow searching for her future like a purring cat seeks a lap. Hungry for affection and attention, she is bound by the uncertainty of what lies ahead. The unannounced arrival of the suitcase-toting ex-wife of her late husband rattles Lindsay's world. She thought she had problems before--now what?

Not only is Jane, the ex, old enough to be Lindsay's mother, she's also different from Lindsay in every way. The one thing they have in common--each had been married to Ron. Unpacked secrets complicate the story--holding the readers' attention.

I enjoyed the contrasting viewpoints of Jane and Lindsay through the alternating chapters. I empathized with first one, and then the other, as they unwittingly helped one another discover how their lives had stalled out a long time ago. Eventually they make necessary changes to get "back to life."

Finding new love in an unsuspecting and at times unbelievable character refocused Lindsay's future. Jane longed to return to her home in Mexico, packing a new faith and freedom for brighter days ahead.

Lindsay had been in love with a man old enough to be her father before she found love in a man her age, and a little too close to Jane. This did not keep me from wanting to turn the page; I just wrestled with this reality.

I'm a fan of Billerbeck's style. Great character development, dialog and writing voice!

Armchair Interviews says: Kristin knows how to write about women's lives.

Back to Life by Kristin Billerbeck is the second book in the Trophy Wives' Club series. Lindsay married a man, Ron, seventeen years her elder for his money, but came to love him in time, so she is devastated by his sudden death, leaving her a widow at the age of 35. She's living in a condo with old woman who have lots of cats and trying to get her feet back on the ground when her husband's first wife, Jane, shows up to execute his will, bringing with her a handsome son, Ron Jr, who she swears isn't Ron's son. Billerbeck takes what could be a typical chick-lit plot and gives it life and zing. Lindsay has used her beauty to get by for so long, that she doesn't even notice when she's doing it, and Billerbeck is careful not to let the reader in on it too soon, so when Lindsay is stunned by the revelation, the reader is as well, but it makes all of the pieces of the entire novel fall into place. The chapters alternate between Lindsay and Jane, both of whom seem lost and are flailing about for what to do next. The highlight of the book for me was Lindsay's confrontation with Haley. Lindsay's attempt to control the argument and use of twisted logic was hilarious and extraordinarily well done. I've been on the both side of arguments just like that; to capture that in print is amazing. I'm looking forward to see which Trophy Wife Billerbeck tackles next.

"With faith and Friends there is always light at the end of the tunnel"; this is Lindsay Brindles' hope, in the book Back to Life by Kristin Billerbeck, as she deals with burning guilt and realizes that it is in her own hands to let her conscious be clean. Lindsey Brindle, the main character of the book, is the widow of the wealthy Ron Brindle. Lindsay is not able to cope with the death of her husband even though it has been over a year. The members of her beloved Trophy Wives Club all encourage her to get her life back and start meeting new people. Lindsay can't seem to kick start her life due to the secret that fills her up with guilt even after Ron's death. Lindsay has been trying to justify that she did not marry Ron for money, which she did. She realizes that she learned to love Ron and now knows that money did not buy her happiness. The reader is wound up to Lindsay's apprehension as she lives trapped with this guilt that she keeps to herself in fear of rejection from everyone she cares for.
Lindsay's life takes a turn into more complications as Jane, the executor of Ron's estate and his ex wife, shows up at her doorstep. Jane is a much older women who posses qualities that Lindsay does not have. Along with Jane her charming son, Ron Jr enters the picture and develops a most unlikely friendship with Lindsey. Not to mention the return of Jake, her high school sweetheart, who she left for Ron only puts her heart in the front seat of a roller coaster train of emotions.
Jane and Lindsey help each other discover a way to own up to their past mistakes and to reevaluate what is really important. Billerbeck tells this encouraging story in the alternating voices of Jane and Lindsay weaving the reader into both characters minds. Back to Life is summer must read as it grasps the attention of any reader who can relate to life's unexpected turns; Showing that when life takes a turn for the worse, faith and friends are an excellent source of aid.