Customer Reviews

Turning the Paige (A Getaway Girls Novel: Book Two)

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The Getaway Girls are back! Turning the Paige by Laura Jensen Walker is the second book in the Getaway Girls series. I love this series. Friends, book club, travel and God all make for good reading. In Turning the Paige, Paige Kelley is 35 years old, working a dead end job and having to take care of her aging, and controlling, mother. With the help of her book club friends, The Getaway Girls, and God , Paige learns to trust God and follow her dreams. After a much needed trip to Scotland, Paige begins to put her life back on track and realize her dreams.

I have to say that I loved this book. Having already read Daring Chloe (the first Getaway Girls book) I was looking forward to Turning the Paige. I was not disappointed. Being almost 35 myself and feeling like some of my dreams have passed me by, I could relate to Paige in many ways. I loved how important her friendships with the other Getaway Girls were. Good friends are so important and can be hard to come by. This book had so much emotion, I found myself reaching for the tissue box more than once. When I finished, it left me feeling like there is so much hope even when things don't go as we plan, if we just trust God and His timing. I highly recommend it and Daring Chloe. You will find yourself wanting your own Getaway Girls group!

I wish I could give this book 4.5 stars!

One of the best first lines from a book I've read in a long time comes in Laura Jensen Walker's Turning the Paige: "My mother killed my marriage. Stomped all over it with her Pepto-Bismol pink pumps and ground it to divorce dirt." Thus begins life with Paige, a thirty-something divorcee who longs for children, doesn't know what she wants to be when she grows up, and manages life with a needy, widowed mother, a missing brother, and a pain-avoidant sister. Her journey take the reader through her daily struggles with a cast of supporting book club sisters who help Paige see her life for what it is. Walker handles the tension between mother and daughter, their needs and wants, beautifully--not offering pat answers but allowing the book to naturally display Paige's frustration. Clean writing, comedic timing, and a fully-blown character makes this book stick with you.

I loved Laura's take on whole mother-daughter guilt that complicates the best of relationships. She captured it perfectly and kept me turning the pages long after I should have turned out the lights. Bravo, Laura, for another great book, and for reaching into touchy territory with a light, but firm hand.

This novel was the perfect combination of fun, wit, romance, and emotion. I don't normally like "girl group" type books, but this one felt so natural that I was drawn in. Turning the Paige addresses some universally relatable issues such as responsibility toward family versus living your own life. I loved the inner dialog and the cute self-deprecating humor that was right on target but totally tongue-in-cheek at the same time. The book club idea was also pretty intriguing. And I adored Marc the florist. (Yay for sensitive guys who know the names of flowers.) I appreciated the subtle theme of being friends "first" as necessary for building a foundation for romantic relationships.

Turning the Paige even made me cry a few times. But I laughed a whole lot more than I sniffled. After experiencing this author's engaging style and writing voice, I know I'd pick up anything she's written and enjoy it. She's great at drawing you in to the characters' lives. I wanted to taste some of Paige's cooking after reading about how amazing it was! I rejoiced when broken or strained relationships healed, and especially enjoyed when Paige was able to move on with her life. I felt her pain when she held on to it and I sensed her relief when she finally let it go. This book wasn't overly spiritual, but the faith element was present and a natural part of the story, which is not always the case.

Laura Walker Jensen has done it again! After reading "Daring Chloe" I couldn't wait to read the next book. Laura took serious issues - divorce recovery, caring for parents, finding a place in life, and created an interesting and great read.

Paige is a divorcee who is struggling to find a balance between her personal life and caring for her widowed mother. Through the encouragement of her book club friends, her highly successful sister, a new florist, and her relationship with Jesus, she starts to find that balance.

I definately suggest this book, and whole series, if you are looking for an easy but thought provoking read! I personally can't wait until the next one is released.

What an awesome book! Laura Jensen Walker does it again! Turning the Paige is a fantastic story about a 35 year old divorcee struggling with who she is, she was, who she wants to be, and her relationship with her mother.

There is something that every single woman in the world can relate to in this novel. So many parts of me are a part of who Paige is and it definitely hit me right in the heart. Paige struggles with life and she recognizes that God has a plan for her life and that she's willing to trust that, even if that means she needs to let go.

Thank you Laura, for writing a story that captures so much of my heart.

Paige Kelley is a people-pleaser with a huge problem setting boundaries, especially with her medically fragile, emotionally manipulative and controlling mother. As a dutiful daughter Paige struggles to meet all her mother's needs at the expense of living her own life. When she realizes her extreme devotion is causing her to miss out on the things she wants most, marriage and a family, she decides to set boundaries and step out of her mother's shadow and into the light of her own life.

Paige discovers an inner strength as she places the demands of her heart above the demands of her needy mother. And she will need that strength as she embarks on a new relationship with her estranged sister and opens her heart to the possibility of love.

If you have ever struggled to find a balance between fulfilling your duties and pursuing your dreams, you will enjoy Turning the Paige.

Laura Jensen Walker has awakened her characters from "Daring Chloe" in the second novel of The Getaway Girls series entitled "Turning The Paige". I was convinced that Walker wouldn't be able to top the opening of Chloe's story where she is dumped the morning of her wedding by text message. But this book begins just as dramatically. The author has once again made me love the idea of starting a book group similar to the group of ladies in these novels.

In Paige's story, her marriage crumbles for several reasons, the least of which is certainly not her overbearing and demanding mother. But Paige's sense of duty to care for her mom is a beautiful picture of how we Christians should care for our aging loved ones. There were times early in the book that I wanted Paige to let her mom have it by being honest with her about how she didn't appreciate her mom's guilt trips and manipulation. Paige taught me so much about how to treat my own mom.

But the best part of this book is the different aspects of love that are portrayed. First, between mother and daughter. Then, between girlfriends. Finally, between man and woman. Plus, the inspiration that plays out within the book club to organize events to enhance the reading of their chosen read gets my creative juices flowing. And I love visiting other countries with these gals! This is absolutely pure and wholesome literary entertainment.

It's a stay-cation for me this year. One look at the budget (despite my best efforts at denial) and I realized my three week road trip isn't going anywhere. However, after a long winter (and in the inland Pacific Northwest, this year we gave new meaning to the term long winter) ... all I really want to do is GET AWAY! And have fun. Perhaps that is why I enjoyed Turning the Paige so much ... or it could be the really great writing. In typical Laura Jensen Walker style, Turning the Paige winds her trademark humor around a great plot that goes beyond engaging to dealing with the socially relevant, often emotionally wrought issue of aging parents. This Get Away Girls book made me laugh out loud (I looked around even though I was alone in the room) made me cry (didn't even bother looking around) and made me stay up late ... Turning the Paige has something for everyone -- adventure, romance, family ties (or tangles in this case). It is a great read -- inspiring and funny. I highly recommend it.

What a book! Love it! Laura writes about a situation many find themselves in- caring for an elderly parent, but adds the issue of singleness (divorced) and wanting a family into Paige's emotional mix. She wants to live her life, but feels she has no choice but to take care of her mother. I laughed and cried along with Paige, and marveled at the scenery in Scotland. Paige learned about friendship, family, and faith, and so did I. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!