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27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Aloha Happiness!, July 1, 2006
Jackie Laurens's life is as dreary as the rain that gives her beloved Seattle its soggy reputation. In the past year, her divorce and the required shuffling of two young children is painful all around. As her fortieth birthday approaches, she is constantly reminded of the social chasm between single parents and married families. When a close friend invites her to go to Hawaii, Jackie hesitantly agrees. She wonders if she'll find peace in the mini-vacation and decides to go, even though her friend backs out.
Alone in the Aloha State, Jackie finds much more than peace when she meets Kai, the gorgeous surfing instructor ten years her junior. A fiery affair opens Jackie's eyes to the meaning of happiness. Although the romance was meant to be short-lived, she can't forget the sun-kissed hunk who made her feel alive. She juggles her responsibilities as a mother and self-made businesswoman, all the while pining for her distant surfer.
Jackie is forced to weigh her happiness against the necessity for mature, adult life choices. None of her friends approve of her obsession with Kai. Her ex-husband refuses to take her feelings seriously. Her two children grow resentful of the changes they see in their mother. Eventually, Jackie must decide if her romance with Kai is worth the steep price.
With hip, intuitive grace, author Jane Porter shines. She goes beyond showing and makes the reader understand Jackie's story. Although Jackie seems to whine about being "too old" or "too afraid" more than is necessary, the language used is eloquent, insightful, and often witty. In one case, Jackie's narration reads: "I do remember what it was like in those early years when Daniel and I struggled... Then baby Jessica came, and it was William and Jessie and me killing time every day until Daddy came home from work."
It would have been nice to see more development of Kai's character, since he is so vital to this story. Although he is meant to be a bit mysterious, the reader doesn't get to see much deeper than the happy-go-lucky beach-boy lover. It is, perhaps, disturbing--even dangerous--that Jackie doesn't learn more about him before making certain decisions concerning their relationship.
Most women will find something to identify with in Flirting with Forty. Those who don't will, through Jackie, find their eyes opened to the feelings and issues faced by women they know and love.
Reviewed by Christina Wantz Fixemer
6/25/2006
4 1/2-Books (5-Stars for Amazon)
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23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
It's a make you smile book!, July 6, 2006
Jackie Laurens is newly divorced mother of two who is rapidly approaching forty. She's torn between the heartache of the way things used to be, the way life is now, and coming to terms that it'll never be the same again. Which completely stinks!
That is until Jackie's good friend Anne arranges a girls' trip to Hawaii to celebrate the big four-o. But fate steps in and Anne cancels at the last minute, leaving Jackie to decide if she'll take the leap of faith and travel alone or head back to her "safe" but slightly unhappy life.
Enter Kai--the oh-so-hot surfing instructor who is almost half of Jackie's age. Sure, protocol dictates and common rationale insist that Jackie stay away from this new man who makes her feel bold and beautiful. But Kai does what none of Jackie's friends could do: he challenges her to look at herself and life with a new set of eyes. As their relationship develops, Jackie's torn between wanting the newer, sexier, I-can-do-anything life that she develops with Kai in Hawaii against the traditional single mom life she leads in Seattle.
What makes this book truly enjoyable isn't just the setting (who doesn't love Hawaii?), and characters (good friends with well-meaning intentions, and a hunky surfer dude to boot!), it is the way Porter allowed her protagonist, Jackie Laurens, to suffer with the challenges of her life.
Sure this could've been a glossy, mid-life crisis book, but instead the author allows her protagonist to shine by way of heartache and change. Life isn't always easy, sometimes it's like a bag of garbage, filled with day-old decisions, moldy leftovers from days gone by and smelly indescribable emotions that leave us wanting newer, fresher, recognizable produce for our lives.
If you're hungry for a great read, where the heroine isn't Miss-I-can-do-it-all-with-a-smile-on-my-face-just-to-spite-my-ex sort of book, then I suggest diving into Flirting with Forty. You'll be glad you did.
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Full of heart - a wonderful read!!, July 25, 2006
I've been waiting for this book for a long time. I read an excerpt back in May and felt a strong affinity with Jackie Lauren's character. Mid-July seemed like a very long time to wait for the book to come out... But it was worth it. This book is fabulous.
FLIRTING WITH FORTY is a story about Jackie Laurens, a recently divorced, mother of two who is struggling with all the changes in her life. With her 40th birthday looming, Jackie's feeling sad and one of her best friends, Anne, convinces her the best way to celebrate is by taking a trip to Hawaii together. Unfortunately, at the last minute, Anne can't make it so Jackie decides to go on by herself. It's not long before she sets eyes on Kai, a gorgeous and much younger surf instructor and it's instant attraction for both of them. What woman could possibly resist a hard muscular body bronzed by the sun? Yum. Kai and Jackie have a wild, passionate fling but she can't forget this is just a holiday and she'll have to go home eventually. Will she be able to forget him? And even if she was daring enough to want more and pursue a relationship with him, what would people think and how could their feelings survive the distance? After all, he's younger than her and there are thousands of miles separating them.
I think every woman could find something to relate to in this story - whether it's relationships, friendship, being a mother, falling in love, or battling her conscience and the unwritten laws of society. As women we give up so much in the course of our lives, as we grow from being little girls to young women falling in love, getting married, becoming a mother and nurturing the ones we love. Somewhere along the way we lose a part of ourselves that wanted more than to be just a mother and wife.
Jane Porter's FLIRTING WITH FORTY is a book that shows us "wanting more" for ourselves isn't necessarily selfish or wrong.
If you pick up this book to read, I can promise you, the journey with Jackie will make you laugh and cry and appreciate your friends and relationships all the more. A wonderful book that's just perfect for the beach this summer!
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