Customer Reviews

Wonderful You

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Rarely do I decide to review a group of books instead of just one. And, while I believe each one of these books can stand on its own, readers will be so enthralled with the Enright family, they will want to read them all. Much like the wonderful family series by Nora Roberts, these books are to be savored as some of the best relationship novels of the 1990s.

DEVLIN'S LIGHT set on Delaware Bay is the story of criminal prosecutor India Devlin and the first Enright sibling, marine biologist, Nick. And although there is more of a mystery in this story as India attempts to find out who killed her brother, it's the relationship with Nick that's at the forefront.

WONDERFUL YOU, set in Chester Co, PA is tells Zoey Enright's story as she falls in love with Ben Pierce, a childhood friend. There are some light moments in this story when Zoey, would rather eat take out than cook herself, is required to prepare a few dishes in order to help demonstrate cookware in her job on-the-air at a home shopping network.

In MOON DANCE, Stewart tells the story of the youngest Enright, ballerina Georgia. Set in the Maryland countryside, we find Georgia who wants one certain barn as a dance studio, while her nemesis, Matt, has planned to use it as a veterinary clinic.

The settings of these stories are all so vividly described, it's hard to imagine they're not real places. Readers will want to visit Devlin's Lighthouse, Zoey's Garden, The Bishop Inn, and the farm at Pumpkin Hill.

A common thread running through all three books is the matriarch of the family, Delia Enright, bestselling mystery novelist, who loves her children but does interfere perhaps a little too much, but always in a caring manner. Many readers will wish they had a mother like Delia!!! Readers will also be happy to know that Delia gets a love interest of her own in MOON DANCE.

Mariah Stewart's books, like Nora Roberts' sibling sagas, are not about murder, espionage, or mystery (although each book has a bit of intrigue as well) but are instead about relationships - between a man and a woman, between a woman and her mother, between sisters. I can't think of many writers who can do this better. In all her books, strong secondary characters abound. She creates a world the reader is reluctant to leave after the last page is turned. Thankfully, readers can look forward to more of the Enrights in PRICELESS which will be out in 1999. It can't be soon enough for this reviewer. Reading each book has been like visiting an old friend.

The second book of the Enright Trilogy is Wonderful. It is full of people you want to get to know, wonderful relationships and descriptions of the locales that bring them alive. You do not want the book to end and can not wait to read the next to see what is happening to another member of the family. There are so many facinating secondary characters and you wish there could be a book about each of them to tell their stories. I have read several other Mariah Stewart novels and have all the rest in my "to read" pile. When I want a great story that explores relationships, I know her books will not disappoint me.

Mariah Stewart, in her second book on the Enright family focuses on middle child Zoey, as she tries to figure out what to do with her life. Her business is failing but fortunately, her natural talent for talking won her a spot as the new host of a home shopping network show.

Ben Pierce is a race car driver with a bleak childhood whose highlight seemed to be the four years he and his mum stayed with the Enrights, where she worked as their housekeeper, before she died. He stayed with his grandfather after her death and deliberately refused to maintain any contact with any of the Enright siblings to protect himself from yearning for what he felt he cannot have.

Zoey and Ben met again through his grandfather's machinations and are immediately attracted to each other. Mariah Stewart writes beautifully the relationships between the protagonists in the story. I only recently began reading her older books and have to say that they are definitely more charming, unforgettable and worth keeping compared to her more recent efforts at romantic suspense (which are also very enjoyable, just less so than her previous works.)

Mariah Stewart introduced the Enright family in DEVLIN'S LIGHT (Nick Enright's story). She follows it up with WONDERFUL YOU the story of Nick's sister Zoey. There are no villians in this book, just a bunch of people you'd like to know. Readers will love the story of Zoey and her childhood friend, Ben. There are some great scenes when Zoey, who works on-camera at a home shopping network, cooks for the audience. Zoey is no cook and makes no bones about it. There are great secondary characters, too. Stewart has another winner here. I can hardly wait for sister Georgia's story.

Zoey Enright is the twenty-eight year old middle child of a successful family. Zoey hates being good at many things, but not great at any of them. Especially galling is the fact that her mother is a dedicated best selling author, her brother is a marine biologist, and her sister is a superb dancer. However, Zoey still tries and she successfully auditions and becomes a popular hostess on a home shopping network.

Another bonus to Zoey is the CEO's grandson, Bennett Pierce, who is helping his relative take control of the company. Bennett is unaware that Zoey, a haunting ghost from his past, is employed there. When the two meet, their childhood friendship blossoms into an adult love. However, their divergent professional plans make a long term relationship almost impossible to achieve unless a compromise is found.

WONDERFUL YOU is a multi-layered novel that will appeal to fans of romance, mainstream fiction, and family sagas. Mariah Stewart exceeds her own high standards of excellence with a work that compares favorably with the best of Barbara Delinsky and Belva Plain. The romance between the two protagonists feels genuine and touching, but the heart of the tale lies with the secondary characters who populate the sub-plots. Hopefully, some, if not all, of them will have their own stories told.

Harriet Klausner

Each one of Mariah Stewart's books is different, although some are about a group of people. I loved this one it did not dissipoint me.

I have read all the books regarding this storyline. Usually read them in one day. But then, i really enjoy all of Mariah Stewart's books.
M. Wiedemer

Wow! What a refreshing read. I was so much a part of this book, I missed all the characters when it was over.

I found this book on the shelf and thought it sounded interesting. I was so much more that I had anticipated. It is the story of Zoey Enright who has always loved Ben who moved away when they were children. Fate and Ben's Grandfather brings them back together. Ben character is so real that he just assumes that Zoey knows what he thinks and all his plans. Zoey is strong person who finally knows what she wants in a career and in life. It's great off to read more by this author.

If she enjoy this genre I would also suggest, Falling For Gracie by Susan Mallery, Have Glass Slippers, Will Travel by Lisa Cach, Almost Perfect by Julie Ortolon, Saving Allegheny Green by Lori Wilde and Spirited Away by Cindy Miles.

I have to say that I read a few of the authors books in the past and found them thoroughly enjoyable. But in this case I cant believe the book got so highly rated. I dont think I have ever skipped so many pages in my life. The first half of the book was so slow and nothing happened. The main characters didnt even meet til halfway in which would be fine if the book found an interesting way to fill the pages which is didnt. After that it got a little better but although the characters were likeable enough i found nothing deep was ever developed. i was just left with a feeling of who cares. Hopefully if I do ever read another book by the author it will be a little more like the other two I have read and less like this one.