Stuck in the Middle (Sister-to-Sister, Book 1) (Paperback)

by Virginia Smith (Author)
Key Phrases: Joan Sanderson, Open Bible Church, Elmtree Drive (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Smith (Just As I Am) provides all the standard elements of inspirational chick lit in this first installment of the Sister-to-Sister series. Joan has been dumped by her long-term boyfriend, lives at home, has an unexciting job and can't quite figure out what to do with her life, until a single doctor (who is of course terribly good-looking and very serious about his faith) moves in next door. As the title suggests, Joan is the middle daughter and feels dwarfed by her older sister's happy family and her younger sister's beauty and success. She struggles with feeling abandoned by her father and angry that her mother forced him to leave when she was young. She wonders if there's more depth to her faith than she initially thought, and learns more about God from her new doctor friend. And she tries hard to take care of her elderly grandmother to prevent her from being sent to an assisted living home, though that may prove to be the best place for her after all. Naturally, this is the realm of happy endings, and readers won't be disappointed. The sisters are spirited and fun, and if the story takes a while to get going, it soon quickens the pace and entertains. (Feb.)
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Product Description
Joan Sanderson's life is stuck. Her older sister, Allie, is starting a family and her younger sister, Tori, has a budding career. Meanwhile, Joan is living at home with Mom and looking after her aging grandmother. Not exactly a recipe for excitement. That is, until a hunky young doctor moves in next door. Suddenly Joan has a goal--to get a date. But it won't be easy. Pretty Tori flirts relentlessly with him and Joan is sure that she can't compete. But with a little help from God, Allie, and an enormous mutt with bad manners, maybe Joan can find her way out of this rut. Book 1 of the Sister-to-Sister series, Stuck in the Middle combines budding romance, spiritual searching, and a healthy dose of sibling rivalry.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Revell (February 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800732324
• ISBN-13: 978-0800732325
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #306,738 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Virginia Smith lives up to her newly won title of Writer of the Year (Mount Herman Writer's Conference) in Stuck In The Middle, March 25, 2008

By	Susan Sleeman "Host of The Christian Suspense... (www.thesuspensezone.com) - See all my reviews

Stuck In The Middle is an aptly named book revolving around Joan Sanderson--whose life has been put on hold while she looks out for her Grandma, who is wedged between sisters that Joan thinks are far more gregarious and personable than she is, and who is stuck in a superficial relationship with God. Stuck, that is, until a handsome, single doctor with an intensely personal relationship with God rents the house next-door and involuntarily drags Joan out of her rut.

As Joan struggles to break free, the reader is blessed with the genuine interactions between sisters, and family as a whole that Smith has woven into the story line so well. The dialogue is strong and realistic, the situations true to life and sometimes quite comical, and Joan, though a dejected character in many ways, is likeable and one you cheer for right from the beginning.

This alone would have made the book an enjoyable read, but Smith along with entertaining the reader reinforces the need for a personal relationship with God. She takes Joan, a Christian who has had a superficial relationship with God into discovering how to connect on a deeper level. Smith also does an excellent job of portraying the fear that Joan's sisters have of the kind of Christian Joan wants to become simply because they don't understand it.

Stuck In The Middle is not different than many other Christian fiction titles in that is has a spiritual message, but often, that message is dealt with in heavy handed and stilted way. Not Stuck In The Middle. This is the sort of book that while you read it you find yourself pleasantly entertained, seriously not wanting to put the book down even when you should be doing other things, and in the end you are surprised when you come away with a strong spiritual message.

Stuck In The Middle has something for everyone--romance, shopping, dating advice, sibling rivalry, family and spiritual relationships, and real life issues like caring for elderly family members all wrapped up in an entertaining package. Pick it up, today. You won't be disappointed.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Characters Sparkle in "Stuck in the Middle", August 21, 2008

By	Keep Smiling "Smilie1" (Utah) - See all my reviews

Viginia Smith does it again in "Stuck in the Middle". Her characters are realistic, artfully crafted, and endearingly flawed (aren't we all?) and will pull you right into the story from page 1. Here's a warning, though -- don't give the book as a gift unless you're prepared for trouble. Now I have several friends calling to complain that they're chomping at the bit to read the next installment in the series. Please bring us book 2 soon!!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Haven't We All Been Stuck At One Time or Another?, March 14, 2008

By	Linda Rondeau "Author" (Malone, New York) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Joan Sanderson is stuck in the middle in more ways than one. She is the middle of three sisters, but she is the only one still living at home. Joan is envious of her sisters. Tori, so beautiful, and Allie, with the great husband and now expecting a baby. She likes her job in the furniture store, but wonders if maybe she should be doing more with her life. Joan seems caught in the middle regarding her Gram, too. Even though Gram's memory and health are failing, Joan thinks Gram should stay in her own home while, Joan's mother thinks Gram should be in assisted living. Joan fears her mother will send Gram away just like Joan's father had been sent away, a childhood issue that keeps Joan stuck in the middle of mediocre faith. When a handsome doctor, available too, moves into the neighborhood, Joan finds herself attracted to him, but is pitted against a very pretty sister who has also set her sights on the doctor. Joan is stuck in the middle yet again. The doctor with the strong religious views, challenges Joan's stuck faith. Author Virginia Smith has given us another wonderful read. And if this first book of the sister-to-sister series is any indication, more enjoyable sibling rivalry is on the way. Smith is a great story teller whose gifted use of humor is sure to please. The reader will readily identify with Joan's story. Haven't we all felt stuck at some time or other?