Carolyn Brown, 2019
I barely remember downloading this romance, and when I check back to my purchase history I see it was free at the time. I suspect that I was intrigued by the title. I ran across it while scanning my digital library a few days ago and decided I would read it.
A trio of military wives and ex-wives has lived on the same block for the last twenty years or so, each raising daughters on their own while their husbands are away on extended missions. They, in turn, have been taken under the wing of Tootsie, an elderly widow with no children. Tootsie invites the three women on a motorhome road trip as their daughters leave home, in part to soothe Tootsie’s grief at her husband’s passing and also to help the wives find some healing and comfort as they enter this new chapter. Tootsie’s handsome nephew, who drives the motorhome, provides the romance for one of the women on the trip.
I was pleasantly surprised. I would still call it a romance, but it doesn’t follow the strict romance trajectory (boy meets girl, girl hates boy, boy convinces girl, things heat up, misunderstanding separates boy and girl, boy and girl finally reunite). That’s because the romance is only one part of this warm love story of friendship, family, motherhood, marriage, loss, and one extra-evil nasty husband. To be honest, the reason I read (skimmed really) to the end of the book was to see if the evil ex would get his just rewards.
This is a fast read, and it’s not Shakespeare, but it’s very cozy. Think Debbie Macomber in a motorhome with a tiny bit more spice. As of this writing, it’s still free with Kindle Unlimited.