Customer Reviews

To Mother With Love 1993

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

 

 

From the back cover:

CALAMITY MOM by Diana Palmer

A mom for all calamities...that was what Faulkner Scott's young son wanted. The motherless twelve-year-old was determined to appoint Shelly Astor his new mom after she saved his life. Then she met his dad! Who was going to save Shelly's heart from a new accident waiting to happen--like falling in love with the boy's gorgeous father?

THE APARTMENT by Debbie Macomber

No matter that Hilary Sullivan was twenty-four years old, played flute for the Portland Symphony and had her own apartment--Hilary's mother was overprotective. So how was Hilary going to convince her that mother didn't know best when it came to having a macho army fly-boy for a roommate?

A SPECIAL REQUEST by Judith Duncan

Sarah Jeffries's son didn't want much--just a dog and a dad. Nat Anderson had the dog--and he'd be a prime candidate for dadhood, except Nat was just passing through. Sarah refused to fall for a sexy smile, but Nat wasn't leaving till he fulfilled her son's special request.

And my review:

CALAMITY MOM by Diana Palmer was a story I couldn't get into--mostly because it was almost impossible to follow. The story opens with a whole bunch of people talking and no explanation as to who's who or what's going on. I had to keep re-reading pages to try and keep everything straight. I shouldn't have to do that. I was left feeling as lost as if I'd been dropped into the middle of a jungle and left to find my way out without a map or a compass. Two stars.

THE APARTMENT by Debbie Macomber was the only enjoyable story in this anthology. While it uses a theme that this author has used in other books (a man and a woman end up accidentally renting the same apartment and are forced to live together until they can make other arrangements), it didn't feel cliched or boring. I really liked the characters in this one, even the overbearing mother. The author was able to portray the meddling mother in a way that she felt loving, rather than a control freak. Sure, she still drove the heroine crazy (and I could see why), but she was more than just a caricature. The only complaint I had about this story was that the reasons keeping the hero and heroine apart seemed rather trite. Their separation felt rather forced; manufactured for the sake of the story. It just didn't feel real. It was a shame, considering that the rest of the novella was enjoyable. Three stars, as this isn't a story I'd bother to read again.

A SPECIAL REQUEST by Judith Duncan didn't read like a romance to me. The majority of the story is told from the son Davy's point-of-view. It would have worked for a children's book or a young adult novel, but didn't really work for a romance. A few sections here and there would have been fine, but when it was big portions of the story it was overkill. Two stars.

Recommended only if you're a hard-core Debbie Macomber fan. Otherwise, skip this one. Even her story isn't all that outstanding.

All three romances in this book are very pleasant to read. I especially enjoy "The Apartment" written by Debbie MacOmer. It not only wonderfully dipicts the love relationship between a man and a woman who by chance become roommates, but also a mother's emotional strugle when it comes to her daughter's independence. It is a short and very well-developed story!