Mourning Becomes Cassandra [Kindle Edition]

Christina Dudley (Author)

Book Description

One wary young widow pairs up with one bent-on-disaster teenager... Whose brilliant idea was this?

You think you've got issues. Meet Cass Ewan.

After Plan A for her life falls to pieces, she moves in with single friends from church and reluctantly decides to mentor an at-risk adolescent. Never mind that Cass knows nothing about drugs, alcohol, or criminally-minded loser boyfriends. Once Nadina, the prickly, dog-whispering 15-year-old, enters Cass's life, everything is up for grabs. There's new employment at a video game company with a charming fellow mentor. There's the unlikely friendship with her womanizing, atheist housemate Daniel, because who else can she ask about sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll? And finally there's the epiphany about her own role in the universe. Where she once considered herself a cosmic unresolved plotline, Cass finds she still has a pivotal role to play.

(Be sure to read the anticipated sequel, THE LITTLEST DOUBTS, available now!)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A fun and highly recommended read that shouldn't be overlooked." --Midwest Book Review

"Heartbreaking and at times hilarious" -- July 2009 Book of the Month --LoveWebRadio.com

"Mourning Becomes Cassandra has some of the most well-developed characters of any contemporary novel." Chosen Top Four of 2010 --DailyCheapReads.com

"We've had well over a hundred sponsoring authors at Kindle Nation these past few months, yet I can count on the fingers of one hand the authors about whom I have written to my contacts among publishing industry editors, acquisitions people, and literary agents. Christina Dudley will be the sixth, and I will be surprised, when you've downloaded Mourning Becomes Cassandra and read it, if you disagree." --Kindle Nation Daily

About the Author

Christina Dudley's novel EVERLIVING was called "spooky and romantic" and chosen as a Staff Favorite by the University of Washington Bookstore. Her debut novel MOURNING BECOMES CASSANDRA was a LoveWebRadio Book-of-the-Month and chosen Top Four of 2010 by DailyCheapReads.com. At the urging of her readers, she penned MOURNING's sequel THE LITTLEST DOUBTS. For the younger readers, her MIA AND THE MAGIC CUPCAKES garnered a 2010 Zola Award for Best Children's Picture Book.

Her latest fictional adventure THE BERESFORDS updates Jane Austen's MANSFIELD PARK, re-envisioning the heroine as a young teenager in 1985.

When not writing, Dudley can be found crashing local books clubs, acting in Sunday school skits, and speaking for love or money to any large group that will have her. She also blogs for the Bellevue (WA) Farmers Market as the UrbanFarmJunkie. More than you ever wanted to know about her can be found at her eponymous website. She and her family live in Bellevue, Washington.

Product Details

• File Size: 559 KB
• Print Length: 434 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0615289770
• Publisher: BellaVita Press; 1st edition (May 10, 2009)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0029F2HJQ
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #306,370 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 37 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars An Entertaining Story with foul language October 5, 2010

By Karen B

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This was a believable and entertaining story about what a young widow does to move on with her life. Her thoughts and inner struggles are real. As an avid fan of Christian fiction, the only thing I had a problem with was the large amount of F-bombs in the book. Yes, I understand that a troubled teen would really talk that way. I just think if the target market is Christian readers, more will be turned off by this. And because of this, I probably would not recommend it to my friends, at least not without a word of caution.

Language aside, the story was very good and very difficult to put down. I particularly liked how the author used little one sentence snippets to give you a glimpse of something to come. This was a fantastically creative way to move the story forward.

So, readers, if you can stomach some offensive language, the story is worth it.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Honest and engaging Christian romance June 17, 2009

By C. Corneille

Format:Perfect Paperback

Since I haven't traditionally been a huge fan of Christian fiction (especially Christian romance) I was a bit wary about reading this book. I was intrigued by the subject matter, however, and I'm so glad I gave it a chance! My idea of a great book is one that makes me both laugh out loud and reach for the Kleenex, and this one delivered. It was in turns romantic, heart-breaking, hilarious, and inspiring. Not a bit of sentimental cheese in sight, just the genuine emotional rollercoaster of a woman trying to re-establish her life after a devastating loss. Cass was so well developed I feel like I've known her my whole life, and her gang of friends was so much fun I wanted to claim them for my own.

Dudley doesn't shy away from Christian truths, but the book never feels forced. Rather, the characters' various walks with God are fully integrated into the plot without conforming to any literary formula. In fact, the realistic depictions of disappointment with God and the many struggles of at-risk teens are what set this book apart from most Christian fiction.

Great read- I can't wait for the sequel!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Can I Give It 6 Stars?? June 17, 2009

By Marie D. Cummings

Format:Perfect Paperback

Christina Dudley has hit a home run in her first at-bat with Mourning Becomes Cassandra. Brilliantly funny and simultaneously touching, the "moral of the story" comes with none of the in-your-face preaching that I would have associated with a book labeled as "Christian fiction," but with such power and conviction that even the most jaded agnostic would have to pause and ponder its message.

From the very beginning, the characters are warm, real, and fun; people I would definitely want in my life. I truly felt invested as they all grew and discovered the truths about themselves.

This is a book I will read multiple times, and I look forward to the sequel.

More About the Author

The Seattle Times called Christina Dudley's latest novel THE BERESFORDS "ingenious and entertaining" in its modern retelling of Jane Austen's MANSFIELD PARK, and Austenprose's Lisa Galek declares, "I would rank The Beresfords with some of the best Austen updates I've ever read or seen."

Dudley's previous novel EVERLIVING was chosen as a Staff Favorite by the University of Washington Bookstore, whose reviewer described it as "spooky and romantic," while her debut was selected as a LoveWebRadio Book-of-the-Month and chosen Top Four of 2010 by DailyCheapReads.com. At the urging of her readers, she penned MOURNING's sequel THE LITTLEST DOUBTS. For the younger readers, her MIA AND THE MAGIC CUPCAKES garnered a 2010 Zola Award for Best Children's Picture Book.

When not writing, Dudley can be found crashing local books clubs, acting in Sunday school skits, and speaking for love or money to any large group that will have her. She also stuffs herself blogging for the Bellevue (WA) Farmers Market as the UrbanFarmJunkie. More than you ever wanted to know about her can be found at her eponymous website. She and her family live in Bellevue, Washington.