This turned out to be a far better and smoother read for me than the cover art and synopsis gave me to expect. The book is about a divorcee whose ex-husband tricked her into signing a property purchase prior his heading off to prison. So, from the lap of luxury to a worn-down group of beach houses, our Tracy Deloche, begins to learn what a 'landlady' is. There are five houses. Tracy is residing in one, an old gentleman in another, the rest is a wife who is a waitress with an interesting side job and husband who works as a policeman, A wife and husband from India, and the last is an older woman, her son-in-law, and her granddaughter. Quite the combination. All have attitudes and mysteries around them.Meanwhile, Tracy has to find a job. The federal/state police seized all property and bank accounts except for this cove, which Tracy finds out she can't sell, due to it being a wetlands. She needs to eat but what does a 'trophy wife' do? For now, she learns to rely on herself and others.Each person turns out to have an interesting tale behind them. Each story plot blended into a finely woven novel that makes friends out of the women and new relationships flourish.I will find Ms. Richards next book in the series as I really enjoyed this one. Happiness Key begins the story of four women who could not be any more different. First, there is Tracey Deloche, a former socialite still dealing with the consequences and figurative punches that come from her now ex-husband’s con dealings that landed him in one of California’s finest jails. The main consequence: having to live in and deal with Happiness Key, twenty-five acres of Florida Gulf Coast where five cottages and its residents reside. As for the residents, there’s Janya, an India transplant dealing with her troubled past and her arranged marriage to a man she barley knows, as well as headstrong Wanda who is watching her marriage slowly fall apart, and Alice, a widow living with her son-in-law and granddaughter. At first, these women are ones who don’t get along at all, but when their fifth neighbor, Herb, is found dead and alone in his cottage, they are brought together to find his family as well as the secrets he left behind. It will not be an easy journey, especially when another destructive danger lies in their path. Will they be able to save the day? More importantly, will these they ever call a truce? Find out in this first fun and fast-paced addition in the Happiness Key trilogy.If there’s one thing I love in a book, it’s well-developed characters, and thankfully enough Happiness Key had that and even more! When I first discovered that the story would be told through reversing third person, I was a bit wary, but even with that, these four characters (Janya, Alice, Tracy, and Wanda) were able to thrive and come alive within their passages becoming four characters I could not help but root for and adore. Best of all, this book contained not only a fabulous mystery that constantly kept me guessing, but the kind of friendships I love to read about: strong and supportive ones that allow for the characters to learn new things about themselves as well as others. Emilie’s writing was also great because of the way she constantly fleshed out the plot and storylines.In all, if you are going to give a contemporary fiction read a try, pick up Happiness Key. It’s sure to bring a smile to your face and keep you on the edge of your chair, guessing until the very last page. And if you're lucky, it may even become a new series to read!Grade: A+
What do You think about Happiness Key (2009)?
Just finished reading and enjoyed it. A good break from murder and mayhem!
—smurphy
I enjoyed it, but it is a bit on the sappy side. Chick lite.
—Cassy
