A Mile in My Flip-Flops: A Novel [Paperback]

Melody Carlson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 17, 2008

Thirty-something Gretchen Hanover is stuck. Seeking solace from a broken heart, she traded her wedding plans for home improvement shows and ice cream—but she knows she can’t live on Ben and Jerry’s forever. She also knows that her enthusiastic Lab puppy has outgrown her tiny apartment.

The perfect patch for Gretchen’s dilapidated plans? She’ll become a first-time house-flipper. As ideas go, it’s daring and genius. She’ll take out a short-term loan, buy a fixer-upper, renovate it, resell it, and use the profit for an adorable house of her own. What could be easier?

But Gretchen’s plans to flip quickly flop when the house turns out to be in worse shape than she expected. She is relying on her retired contractor-father, but he wants to draw in his carpenter friend Noah Campbell. And although Noah is handy with tools, Gretchen isn’t so sure about the baggage he brings with him. Will she be able to loosen her grip on the tools when it seems Noah may be her only help?

A whimsical look at color swatches, mismatched curtain rods, and the building of relationships, A Mile in My Flip-Flops reminds us that it takes faith to renovate the heart, as well as the home.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Gretchen Hanover has been jilted—not quite at the altar, but close enough. Her cramped studio apartment becomes the catalyst for this lonely 30-something to change her life in Carlson's latest inspirational chick lit novel. Gretchen decides to become a house flipper, just like the folks on her favorite reality show. Unfortunately, Carlson (Finding Alice) piles such high stakes onto Gretchen's decision to buy a disastrous house—Dad is on the verge of a heart attack, yet Gretchen wants him to do the contracting; the loan's low interest is only for six weeks; and her father's condo, his only asset, is collateral—that it hinders the author's attempt at lightheartedness. Though the house-flipping theme is unusual and engaging, Gretchen's willingness to gamble her father's health and financial security makes her seem selfish, and her negative attitude toward Noah Campbell (the handsome, kind, divorced contractor who predictably comes to her rescue) highlights Gretchen's judgmental side. Of course, God is the ultimate fix-it man who saves the day, but it's not enough to rescue this makeover romance. (June 17)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of more than 200 books for adults, children, and teens, including Finding Alice, Crystal Lies, On This Day, These Boots Weren’t Made for Walking, and the Notes from a Spinning Planet series. Melody has two grown sons and lives in central Oregon with her husband and her chocolate lab retriever. A full-time writer, she enjoys skiing, gardening, camping, and biking in the beautiful Cascade Mountains.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: WaterBrook Press (June 17, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1400073146
• ISBN-13: 978-1400073146
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.9 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #560,517 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Melody Carlson has written around 200 books for teens, women and children. That's a lot of books, but mostly she considers herself a "storyteller." Her books range from serious issues like schizophrenia (Finding Alice) to lighter topics like house-flipping (A Mile in My Flip-Flops) but most of the inspiration behind her fiction comes right out of real life. Her young adult novels (Diary of a Teenage Girl, TrueColors etc.) appeal to teenage girls around the world. Her annual Christmas novellas become more popular each year. She's won a number of awards (including the Rita and Gold Medallion) and some of her books have been optioned for film/TV. Carlson has two grown sons and makes her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and yellow Lab dog. To find out more about Melody Carlson, visit her website at http://www.melodycarlson.com/

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully heart warming, June 26, 2008

By 

Stacey (Las Vegas, NV USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: A Mile in My Flip-Flops: A Novel (Paperback)

In the novel "A Mile In My Flip Flops" by Melody Carlson, Gretchen Hanover has become a recluse. Seeking solace in front of the tube watching Home and Garden TV with a container of Ben and Jerry's and a spoon, this charming leading lady tries to heal the heart broken by her fiancé only four weeks before the wedding! With the help of friends and family and God, Gretchen rises like a phoenix from the ashes of broken promises to discover new life and new love.

Melody writes a beautiful story full of wit and wisdom that inspires and teaches as it entertains. Her loveable characters come to life in vivid color. Gretchen's strength and reliance on God really inspired me to get out of my own personal ruts and more actively pursue God's will for my life.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Smooth and satisfying, July 20, 2008

By 

Amy Leemon (North Fond du Lac, WI) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Mile in My Flip-Flops: A Novel (Paperback)

I really, really liked this book! The quirky cover made me pick it up, the easy to read format made me buy it and the story grabbed me from the first sentence!

Gretchen Hanover knows she's in a rut. Her fiance dumped her right before the wedding so she's living in a small apartment surrounded by the things she had planned to decorate her new home with. She's a kindergarden teacher who spends her spare time watching HGTV and eating ice cream. Even she realizes that SOMETHING needs to be done.

Inspired by HGTV she decides to "flip" a house. Buy one cheap, fix it up and then sell it at a profit which will allow her to buy a nice one for herself.

Gretchen is a great character. She's likeable and definitely not a know-it-all. None of the other reviewers has mentioned the humor in this book and believe me, there is plenty!!! Gretchen makes mistakes in her remodeling - sometimes one right after the other - and they put her in some pretty amusing situations.

The secondary characters add a lot to the book. Noah, a friend of her father's who helps her. Of course, its no secret where this is going. His daughter, Kirsten, is a real joy to the book. And I especially liked the scenes where Noah's ex-wife are in. She's not particularly nice but she adds a lot. Gretchen's dad (who has a heart attack early in the book) is a contractor but due to his health is not able to help Gretchen as he planned. The love between the 2 of them just comes right off the pages at you.

Obviously, I loved this book because it made me feel good. I learned some about remodeling and "flip flopping" too. I especially learned to stay away from sledgehammers!!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Romance + Faith= Perfect summer book, July 1, 2008

By 

Christina Lockstein "Christy's Book Blog" (Oconto Falls, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: A Mile in My Flip-Flops: A Novel (Paperback)

A Mile in My Flip-Flops by Melody Carlson is a perfect summer beach read! Gretchen Hanover has spent too much time (and gained too much weight) mourning the end of her engagement. All of the furniture she purchased to decorate the new house that wasn't is crowding her tiny apartment, as is her chocolate lab puppy. She decides to make use of her addiction to HGTV and tries to flip a house on her own. Her father, a retired contractor, is supposed to be her right hand man, until he is sidelined with a heart attack, and suddenly Gretchen is at the mercy of hunky carpenter Noah Campbell. Despite the sparks that fly between them, Gretchen doesn't want to get involved with a divorced man who has a child. The house turns into The Money Pit, and Gretchen can't seem to stop her heart from beating double time whenever Noah is around. Romance, drama, and faith: what more could you ask for in a summery book? Carlson mixes faith gently without ever overdoing it; the focus here is on Gretchen learning to trust again: herself, others, and God. With last winter's These Boots Weren't Made for Walkin', Carlson seems to have a shoe thing going on. I can't wait to see what's next!