SilkyDreamGirl [Paperback]

Cris Burks (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 10, 2002

Katie has reached the end of her rope. Her fourth marriage is falling apart, she’s drowning in debt but can’t find a job, and now she has to care for the sons of husband number four. To top it off, her mother won’t stop harping on Katie’s weight, as if the scale held the answer to all these troubles.

Like millions of women, Katie decides to tune out her real-life woes by tuning in to the Internet. There, she sheds her plus-size wardrobe and emerges as SilkyDreamGirl, an identity as luscious as the desserts she craves. Soon Katie's imaginary self, who is persuasive, in control, and very sexy, starts taking charge in Katie's off-line world. Inspired by her sultry chat-room dates, she turns the tables on her badgering ex and starts enjoying the sweet life. She even turns her affection for confections into a lucrative baking business. Clever, fast-paced, and good for the soul, SilkyDreamGirl is a terrific treat that’s low in calories and high in fun.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

How does a woman meet a man when she's already dispensed with four husbands by the age of 37? If she has anything in common with the likably down-to-earth heroine in Burks's debut tale of Internet romance, she goes online. Katie Coomers has had enough of her quixotic fourth husband, Clarence, his failed investment schemes and his $100,000 debt. When Clarence announces that he is leaving her (for the third time in their seven-year marriage), Katie can only say hallelujah. Clarence moves to California and leaves his two boys, Darious and CJ, in Chicago with Katie. But the stress of four failed marriages, two stepsons and constant criticism and advice from family and friends overwhelms Katie, and she balloons to a hefty 190 pounds. Her only comfort is eating, sipping secret shots of tequila and taking care of the boys. One lonely night, she goes online and becomes "SilkyDreamGirl," her chat room alter ego. At first, she's only looking to make friends, but soon she's become a take-no-prisoners cyber-siren-and she takes her newfound confidence offline, starting her own catering business and settling old scores. The guarded, charmingly self-deprecating Katie is something like a cross between Bridget Jones and Stella Payne. Her sharp-tongued commentary gives a touch of comedy to this sexy and satisfying story of self-discovery.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

The author's first novel is about Katie Coomers, a thirtysomething Chicagoan struggling with some unpleasant realities. When her fourth husband strikes out for California and a new life, she finds herself overwhelmed with responsibility for his two sons and debt from his disastrous business ventures--and then she loses her job. To cope with her emotional turmoil, Katie bakes all her favorite confections and eats them until she transforms from petite to plus-size. To escape this new problem, she begins visiting Internet chat rooms. Through her pseudonym, SilkyDreamGirl, she becomes a sexy woman who takes charge and is in control of her life. As Katie's confidence blooms, she is able to shed her excess weight and turn her love of sweets into a catering business. She finally becomes the self she wants to be and the woman others have wanted her to be. A down-to-earth and engaging tale. Lillian Lewis
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Harlem Moon; 1 edition (September 10, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0767912950
• ISBN-13: 978-0767912952
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,596,887 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Cris earned her Masters of Fine Arts degree from Columbia College where she taught fiction writing for more than seven years. She considers herself a Chicagoan although she was born in Mississippi and has lived in several states including Ohio and South Dakota. Currently she resides in Sacramento, California.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Katie Who?, October 12, 2002

By 

Shelia Dansby Harvey "Shelia Dansby Harvey (I... (Houston, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: SilkyDreamGirl (Paperback)

Why doesn't anyone care about Katie? Cris Burks has done an outstanding job of depicting the Katies of the world--women whose friends, husbands and other family members take for granted in the extreme. Katie's that reliable pair of shoes or ragged sweater that one loves enough to keep around but not enough to take care of or to mend. My favorite Katie-hater is Donna, Katie's 'best friend.' She constantly insults and hurts Katie under the guise of being frank for Katie's own good. I think that Donna and Mamma Jeffries, Katie's mother, really do love Katie, but they abuse her, simply because Katie's no good at playing the game of survival of the fittest. At least not in the beginning.

I love it that Katie's boys, even her oldest son, are crazy about her. They know that she's a jewel, and treat her accordingly. The scene between Katie, her sister-in-law and the boys had me laughing so hard that I almost choked!

I really do like everything about SilkyDreamGirl, and I can't wait for Cris Burks next offering.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars fabulous, October 20, 2002

By 

Kimberley Wilson (VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: SilkyDreamGirl (Paperback)

Katie Coomers is 37. She's fat, her 4th husband has just left her with a mountain of debt, she's been fired and almost everyone from her mom to her best friend thinks it's all her fault. Katie is also smart, funny, and tougher than she realizes. Watching Katie pull herself together and fight for the good life she deserves is wonderful. Although it doesn't sound like it at first this is one of the funniest (not smiling funny but laugh out loud funny) books you will read all year.
I can't believe this is Chris Burks's first book. It's just that good.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Survival Book!!!, October 3, 2002

By 

BD Jeffries (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: SilkyDreamGirl (Paperback)

What makes Katie Coomers unique? She survives all the tragedies in her life. This book is well-written. Ms. Burks transcended ethnicity to write about universal issues faced by women regardless of race, age, or any other label. I can't wait for her next book!