Sappy and contrived...and so full of unlikely circumstances...a Florida hurricane in April? Only if you need one to advance the plot of a silly romance. And that's much of what makes up this story: silly, unlikely coincidences.But there are other things that make this an unbelievable story. The English professor son who speaks like a teenager? "hashing my mellow" is offered at least three times. The re-telling of the Resurrection of Fluffy the Bunny Rabbit (told for this book with all the same details, including blow drying and discreetly laying the dead animal on the porch) as Morey the cat dug up by little Shitzu Missy Boofer? Done better by stand-up comics on open mic night.The love interest doctor (who, though he appears to be the major partner in a medical practice in Sanibel, where old folks needing medical attention are abundant...), this doctor always seems to have time for a bike ride or cruise on the boat or a snorkeling adventure. Most disappointing is that he is so obviously written from a Christian woman's point of view...that dreamy, wouldn't-it-be-nice-if-wealthy-middle-aged-successful-men-were-really-like-this kind of portrayal. "Jared felt a flutter overtop his ribs when their eyes met and a smile spread across her porcelain face like warm butter on hot toast." Really? And his further contemplation of this marvelous woman who had finally dropped into his life: "Jared walked home with a grin plastered across his face the whole way. As he poured himself another cup of coffee, he realized his that his face kind of ached...Liv was what Jared would have created if given the chance to put together the perfect woman." YUCK.The story concludes predictably...but without the "major" conflicts (in quotations because that's what this story was missing--conflict) resolved. How did Liv work out her job? What about her retirement? What did she do with her house? How was she going to leave her friends behind? I did give this book 2 stars, mainly because the writing was better than the last contrived book I read, THE GUARDIAN. That one is the standard for poorly written books. But I have no interest in reading anything else from Sandra Bricker. I almost passed this book by - the cover looked too ... not sure, childish maybe - until I read it was set, in part, in Sanibel Island, Florida. Having been to Sanibel several times, and having read a couple other books by this author, I decided to give it a try. I'm glad I did. It's a very sweet, easy to read, romance. It's running over with eccentric characters, and laugh out loud scenes. Olivia is on a somewhat forced vacation in Sanibel Island, Florida. On the airplane she meets Dr Jared Hunt who, as it turns out, lives next door to Oliva's friend, Josse. Olivia is staying at Josse's house while she's in Florida. It's almost love at first sight, but there's just one problem. They're old enough to know better. Old enough to make sensible, rational, thought out decisions. Falling in love with someone you've only known a few days is not sensible, rational, or well thought out. The characters, crazy as they were, felt very real to me. The book was well written. Loved the ending - Jared's exasperation and Olivia's surprise.
What do You think about The Big 5-OH! (2009)?
Good characters in a warm setting. Good read during a winter storm.
—bldavis08
An enjoyable easy read with lots of interesting charactors.
—Skyz
