Skinny Dipping [Paperback]

Connie Brockway (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2, 2008

Go skinny dipping with Connie Brockway IN her latest NOVEL

Mimi Olsen is crushed to learn that her family's Minnesota retreat is up for sale. Unless someone can get the cash to save it, the house that's served as a peaceful anchor for generations will go under the hammer. A free spirit like Mimi has the will, what she needs is a way. Moving back into Chez Ducky is a start. But when she meets the man next door, her life is going to change direction in ways she never imagined.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Set once again in Minnesota and chock-full of eccentric characters, Brockway's latest (following Hot Dish) centers around the fate of Chez Ducky, the Olson family's century-old summer retreat on the shores of Fowl Lake. With Chez Ducky in desperate need of repair, property taxes rising and palatial homes defiling the once pristine shoreline—like the one next door built by millionaire whiz kid Prescott Tierney—the family decides to sell. Mimi Olson thinks selling is a bad idea, but 40 years of skirting responsibility, organization and commitment of all kinds keeps her from getting it together, despite fond memories of the family's annual skinny dipping. During her farewell visit to Chez Ducky, Prescott and his dad, Joe, have a run-in with a Minnesota snowbank, and suddenly Mimi's in charge of two injured men, three dogs and her pregnant half-sister, who shows up unannounced. While the book moves along at an entertaining pace and the narrative is lively, readers might have a tough time empathizing with the apathetic heroine, even as she discovers her purpose in life. (Jan.)
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Review

"Connie Brockway is simply the best."
-- Teresa Medeiros

"Connie Brockway writes sheer magic."
-- Elizabeth Bevarly

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Onyx (January 2, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451412443
• ISBN-13: 978-0451412447
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #510,937 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Connie Brockway has received starred reviews from both Publishers Weekly and the Library Journal which named My Seduction as one of 2004's top ten romances.

An eight time finalist for Romance Writers of America prestigious RITA award, Brockway has twice been its recipient, for My Dearest Enemy and The Bridal Season. In 2006 Connie wrote her first women's contemporary HOT DISH, which won critical raves.

Today Brockway lives in Minnesota with her husband, a family physician, and two spoiled mutts.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Feeling quirky? Go "Dipping", February 1, 2008

By 

Carla G (Lanham, MD USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Skinny Dipping (Paperback)

Brockway's Skinny Dipping has a bunch of terrific eccentric characters and quite a few laugh-out-loud moments. The main character is a professional medium, the hero sort of a neat freak. Both of their families have so many issues that "quirky" is way too tame to describe the total package. Warning: You will identify at least one of your own family members in this, and wonder if Brockway's been spying on your backyard barbecues!

This book defies category. It's certainly not strict romance, although there are elements of that. I don't think it's chick lit, either. I can only say that it IS a page turner for me, and that's becoming harder and harder for me to find these days. And for those who read Brockway's first venture away from straight romance/historicals, Hot Dish, and still weren't convinced you'd love her new work, you really want to go "Dipping." It's a lot funnier and deeper, IMO.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I want to be an Olsen, January 31, 2008

By 

Jill (Lamar, MO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Skinny Dipping (Paperback)

Mimi Olsen , Queen of the Slackers, works as a medium. She spends summers at the Olsen retreat on a Minnesota lake-Camp Ducky. Joe is King of the Universe of Overachievers . They meet when she is ducking out of the lake after losing her bathing suit while skinny dipping and he is on his way to visit his brainiac son. These 2 should never have an HEA . They do and Brockway eases you to that with fun and adventure. This is one of those "it's late but I cannot put his book down " books.

Jill

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Delightful. Quirky. Fun read., January 12, 2008

By 

Armchair Interviews (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Skinny Dipping (Paperback)

NY Times best selling author, Connie Brockway has a new book! Her second women's fiction novel is titled Skinny Dipping. You smiled at the title, didn't you, because it smacks of the rollicking good romp that it is.

Mimi Olson is a tele-medium (she speaks to the dead) and comes from a long line (depending on which side of the family tree one happens to be discussing) of slackers or type A personalities. Mimi falls, no, willingly wallows in the slacker department. She's never met a decision she really wants to make, until it comes to a run-down northern Minnesota lake enclave called Chez Duckey.

Chez Duckey has been jointly owned by the various Olson family members for over a hundred years. And now there is talk of a sale! Not if Mimi has anything to say about it. She may be a slacker and may not want the role of leader, but there is the bigger issue of family, summers vacationing at `the lake' and saving the land from the dreaded McMansions beginning to spring up around the lake.

Things are complicated enough in Mimi's life what with her trying to save Chez Duckey and searching for her long-time missing father. When Mimi loses her swim suit, she burglarizes a car looking for the blanket that every self-respecting Minnesotan keeps in the back seat or trunk. Muddy and naked, she meets the car's owner, Joe, a control freak extraordinaire, who has an estranged son who owns one of the McMansions. Now this story will keep you turning the pages and belly laughing. Add in all the Olson relatives (including that 82-year-old skinny-dipping matriarch Birgie), a little romance, some greed, some growing up-and you get more laughter mixed with a healthy dose of chaos.

Skinny Dipping is delightful. You'll enjoy the quirky Mimi and the hilarious band of characters Brockway has created. If you're from Minnesota and every summer you trek `up to the lake' to the cabin, you've got a leg up on everyone else. You know what she's talking about because you live it.

Armchair Interviews says: Skinny Dipping is a wonderful start to 2008. Buy it, you'll love it and then check out Brockway's other titles--all as good as Skinny-Dipping.