Well, I’ve done it again. Brought home a book about knitting when I don’t knit. But in my defence I had read and enjoyed the first book, Spinning Forward by Terri Dulong. Monica is now running her mother’s yarn shop at Cedar Key and enjoying life with her new husband Adam.Monica and Adam have only been married a few months when suddenly they get a call that changes their lives. Monica is not sure she even wants children at all, certainly not at this stage of her life. But then Adam’s first wife is involved in an accident and suddenly Monica is being expected to take on her husband’s eight year old daughter, Clarissa Jo. I really enjoyed this story and the quirky characters of Cedar Key who never fail to provide help when needed, though I have to admit it took me a while to warm to Monica. But warm to her I eventually did. This is a feel good read that involves the reader emotionally and yes, I admit to a few tears. Clarissa Jo’s mother Carrie Sue is a character readers will love to hate. She is so completely self obsessed and irresponsible.The one thing I did was query was that a nine year old would still believe in Santa, but that was a minor quibble. While I thoroughly enjoyed the book it has not made me want to take up knitting. I’ll stick to reading about characters that do. Casting About is the second book in a series by Terri DuLong. Spinng Forward introduced the protagonist Sydney Webster and her daughter Monica Webster. In Spinning Forward Sydney ‘s husband is killed in a car accident. He has taken liens out on their home their home unbeknownst to her to finance his gambling habit. The bank repossesses her home, and Sydney finds herself moving to Cedar Key, Florida, to start her life over. Her best friend in college helps Sydney to relocate and eventually find her way. In the end she opens a knitting store, Spinning Forward, finds her birth mother, heals a strained relationship with Monica, and finds love. In Casting About the story continues with the lives of Monica and her new husband Adam Brooks. Monica is no longer an English teacher in Gainsville, FL. She had moved to Florida when her editing job at a publisher in Maine was eliminated. Monica buys her mother’s knitting store. Her future husband visits the establishment with his mother. Monica finds herself falling in love with the middle school teacher. The story opens with Monica and Adam as newlyweds. Their lives are turned upside down when Clarissa Jo, Adam’s eight-year-old daughter from a previous marriage, is sent to live with them. Her mother is found to be unfit, and custody is awarded to Adam. Several original characters from Spinning Forward return in Casting About: Sydney, Noah, Aunt Dora, Saren, and Grace. Even Sybille, Monica’s grandmother who passed away, makes several appearances in her spirit form. Sybille makes her presence known to Monica and Clarissa Jo. She is an encouragement to Clarissa Jo.Monica, who had never anticipated marrying let alone becoming a mother, finds herself floundering in her new role as a step-mother and caretaker to a shy, introverted child. Clarissa Jo is an unhappy, sullen child who has been neglected by her mother. Trust is a big issue for Clarissa Jo. The relationship Monica and Adam develop with Clarissa Jo is the focal point of the book. Slowly, they forge a relationship built on respect and trust and in time, love. Adam and Monica also have to deal with Clarissa Jo’s mother when she moves to the island. She gains visitation rights. They find her lifestyle has not changed, and she jeopardizes Clarissa’s safety.Towards the end of the story Clarissa Jo contracts spinal meningitis and recovers. The trauma of this life threatening event shows Monica how much her love has grown for Clarissa Jo. Clarissa Jo realizes that she is wanted and loved.With the help of her family and friend Grace, Monica secures a lasting relationship between Clarissa Jo, Adam, and herself. Adam and Monica solidify their relationship as a couple and now as parents. Monica was a difficult, grieving individual in Spinning Forward. Her life was torn apart by her father’s death and her mother’s move to Florida. Yet, by the end of the book Sydney and she have reconciled, and Monica is gainfully employed. In Spinning Forward I relished watching Monica develop as an individual, wife, and mother. Monica is not a perfect individual, but her desire to help Adam and mother Clarissa Jo cultivates a sense of well-being and unselfishness in her family. I truly enjoyed this book. DuLong created believable characters and realistic plots. My only desire was to see more of a segue between the first and second novels by DuLong.
What do You think about Casting About (2010)?
Fun potato chip read in a series of books set in a small coastal Florida town.
—angel
This has an interesting subtext about what it means to be a good mother.
—gamber92
