Good Things [Paperback]

Mia King (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 6, 2007

A charming debut novel about a lifestyle maven who learns that living simply isn't simple.

Deidre McIntosh became famous teaching women to live simply, and simply live-ironic for a woman who thrives on the chaos of a television career, and shares a home with her best friend, the one man she can count on-who happens to be gay.

But when her Seattle cooking-and-lifestyle show gets bumped off the air, and her best guy moves in with his boyfriend, she's left trying to figure out the next segment. Seizing on a chance encounter with an attractive stranger, Deidre accepts his offer to use his country home. She hopes to get away for a while and learn to practice what she preaches. To appreciate life without voice mail. To gain the courage to start again, and take the first slow, cautious steps toward a new kind of success-and maybe even love.

It seems like a simple task. But it may be the hardest thing she's ever done...

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A domestic diva goes from princess to pauper in King's mushy debut. Deidre McIntosh, the 40-year-old host of Seattle television show Live Simple, has had a successful five-year run, but, as with all cookies, hers too must crumble. The show gets canceled, her gay best friend and roommate moves in with his boyfriend, and her investments tank, forcing her to sell her designer clothes and land a cheaper place to live. By chance, she meets the dapper and wealthy Kevin, who, after an exceedingly serendipitous second encounter, offers her the use of his vacation home in remote Jacob's Point. It takes her a little while to warm up to the backwoods, but Deidre finds a friend and retail outlet for her gourmet baked goods in Lindsey Miller, the owner of the local diner. After a few months at Jacob's Point, Deidre, armed with a proposal for a new TV show, returns to Seattle, but getting back on the air isn't as simple as she'd hoped. There's never a doubt that Deidre will find her professional and romantic happy ending, and readers' patience may be stretched while the earnest heroine orchestrates her comeback. But the plucky protagonist and sweeter-than-syrup ending will please those willing to wait for the inevitable. (Feb.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

In one fell swoop, Seattle's answer to Martha Stewart, Deidre McIntosh, is sent into a tailspin. Her popular show is cancelled and she loses her gay roommate and confidante, William. To top off her bad luck, she has to move because her name isn't on the lease. Amid this chaos appears the hunk of her dreams, Kevin Johnson. After a one-night stand, he offers Deidre the use of his country retreat, which she reluctantly decides to use. As she stays in Kevin's rustic cabin far from her life in the city, Deidre tries to figure out what really matters to her, and how to recapture the experience of helping people that she'd achieved on her show. She would also like to capture Kevin. The bucolic setting and King's interesting characters create a fresh and thoroughly enjoyable story as enticing as the delectable recipes at the end of the book. Patty Engelmann
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Trade (February 6, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425213714
• ISBN-13: 978-0425213711
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (60 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #210,366 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mia King is the national bestselling author of three novels, GOOD THINGS (2007), SWEET LIFE (2008), and TABLE MANNERS (2009). Her books have been printed internationally and are selections of the Doubleday, Literary Guild, Rhapsody and Book of the Month book clubs. Her fourth novel, FRIENDSHIP BREAD, will be published by Ballantine Books in 2011 under the name Darien Gee. Mia lives and writes from the Big Island of Hawaii.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reminds You to Appreciate the Good Things in Life, February 6, 2007

By 

M. Fellenstein Hale "MarieFH" (Kamuela, HI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Good Things (Paperback)

Deidre McIntosh loves her hectic and full city life--and within a few days, everything that defines her is gone. She is forced to reevaluate her life and decide what truly matters--in essence, she must live her motto (and the name of her show): "Live Simple, and Simply Live!"

When life gives Deidre lemons, she not only makes lemonade, she also makes Lemon Chiffon Cake. She does so many things with style and relish, she seems unlikely to be phased by problems.

But starting over is a huge challenge. Luckily a few key elements fall into place: she meets Kevin, who offers her a place to stay and the possibility of a new relationship. And she meets Lindsey, who shows her a different yardstick by which to measure her success, and that they each can learn and benefit from the other.

Deidre discovers that living simply means that you can also live richly by surrounding yourself with what you love and need. She also learns to value all the good things in her life, including the wonderful food that she whips up (recipes are at the back of the book).

Mia King's first novel is fun, contemporary, and full of energy. Good Things ends at a point where the characters are looking forward to a new phase of their lives, leaving you hungering for the next course.

Reviewed by Marie Fellenstein Hale, author of The Childbirth Kit

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good idea, but not fully developed, May 23, 2007

By 

AnnieBanannie (Fort Wayne, IN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Good Things (Paperback)

Mia King's book had a good story line/plot and the recipes were really great. However, I don't think the characters, outside of Deidre's roommate and his lover, were fully developed. I think Deidre and her love interest had very little development. The lack of development didn't make me root for them and their relationship seemed implausible. Some of the story lines (such as the Marla vs. Deidre thing and the diner) needed to be fleshed out more. Mia King has the talent to write an intriguing and captivating story and I think she will blossom with her second book.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars fun contemporary romance, February 7, 2007

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Good Things (Paperback)

In Seattle, TV show host of the successful Live Simple, forty years old Deidre McIntosh feels on top of the world. Her show is on a five year run that looks like it will continue indefinitely and she shares a terrific apartment with a close friend. On top of that her investment portfolio is blooming.

Her world crumbles rather quickly as her show is canceled, her investments tank, and her friend moves in with his gay lover. She had no job, no money and no place to live as she can no longer live in her current abode. She meets Kevin Johnson, who offers her his vacation home in rustic Jacob's Point. Thinking this will buy her time to regroup, she travels to the backwater town. Though feeling like a fish out of water, Deidre brings in income by selling gourmet goods to Lindsey Miller, owner of a local eating spot. After a few months of hiatus, Deirdre has a plan to get back on the air in Seattle, but that means leaving behind friends particularly Kevin, who is beginning to own her heart.

Deirdre is a combination energizer bunny-Pollyanna as she believes she will be back on top of the game shortly. The story line focuses on her I will return; but the second time around she has a new dilemma, Kevin. During her five-year stay at the top, she had no personal life and assumes that is the norm. Will she pick career or love in spite of Kevin insisting she can have both, Deidre thinks otherwise. Though perhaps too sweet, GOOD THINGS is a fun contemporary romance that fans who enjoy a lighthearted fare will appreciate.

Harriet Klausner