From Library Journal
Michaels, a prolific and erratic writer, presents one of her lesser efforts here, a confusing story about class and race in South Carolina. An automobile accident on the eve of her wedding leaves Callie Parker in a coma. Her three childhood friendsABode, Brie, and SelaAgather to try to unravel the tangle of secrets and lies that this event has revealed. It seems that their revered princess has clay feet. Presiding over all is the ancient, ageless black woman Mama Pearl, whose life has revolved around "Miss Callie." The writing is very detached, with no sense of involvement, but what is worse is the teeth-clenching narration by Laural Merlington. The fake Southern accents coupled with the piping children's falsetto in the flashbacks jar the listener almost as much as the stupid plot twists (Bode is black? When did that happen?). Then, of course, there is the producer's trademark speedAget as much as possible on the least number of tapes even if the narrator has to rush all the dramatic fences. Libraries should pass on this one. Not recommended.ABarbara Perkins, Irving P.L., TX
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
About the Author
FERN MICHAELS is the USA Today and New York Times bestselling author of the Sisterhood series, Mr. and Miss Anonymous, Up Close and Personal, and dozens of other novels and novellas. There are over seventy million copies of her books in print. Fern Michaels has built and funded several large day-care centers in her hometown, and is apassionate animal lover who has outfitted police dogs across the country with special bulletproof vests. She shares her home in South Carolina with her four dogs and a resident ghost named Mary Margaret. --This text refers to the audioCD edition. From Publishers Weekly
Coming together for a wedding, four friends share memories of childhood in Michaels's (Vegas Sunrise) unevenly plotted latest romance novel, set in South Carolina. Blonde Southern belle Callie Parker is to wed arrogant Wynfield Archer, with her childhood friends in attendance: Brie Canfield, San Diego cop and prospective FBI agent; Sela Bronson, interior designer and recent divorc?e; and attorney Bode Jessup. Bode became Callie's foster brother when her father brought him home from an orphanage and made him promise to make sure Callie got what she wanted, always. Brie and Sela were "white trash" local girls brought in daily as playmates to form the rest of Callie's adoring court. Mama Pearl, an aging black woman employed at Parker Manor, lovingly cared for the poor waifs, but she also reinforced Callie's princess complex. Now, emotional turmoils rise to the surface when Bode evades attending Callie's wedding. Is Bode in love with Callie? The question fades in the wake of a car crash that leaves Callie comatose, an accident caused and covered up by an inebriated Wyn on the way to their wedding rehearsal. Brie explores her memories and her feelings for Bode, and maudlin nostalgia runs rampant as each character bemoans the perfection of "yesterday," leaving the reader to wonder why someone didn't slap silly Callie years ago. Stereotypes abound: Sela's a tramp with a heart of gold; Callie is a prima donna; and Mama Pearl is Mammy from Gone with the Wind. Michaels stirs up love-drama between the old friends and wangles revelations out of Mama Pearl about Bode and Callie's secret origins and racial heritage. Many disillusionments, impassioned tears and tearful confessions later, the puzzle pieces fall predictably in place. (Oct.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Kirkus Reviews
Paralyzingly prolific romancer Michaels has her ups and downs, from the total nonsense of Finders Keepers (1998) to the exemplary plotting of Celebration (p. 103), in which a wealthy woman's husband flees with her bank account after a 20-year marriage, only to return years later with a sob story but minus the eight million he ran off with. This latest finds the author working in her wildly unlikely mode, with a big mix of mind-bending plot turns. Callie Parker has been raised on a South Carolina plantation by her wealthy father, Clemson. During her childhood and adolescence, Dad and Mama Pearl helped Callie gather three close friends to bond with: the illegitimate orphan Bode Jessup, a kind of brother and idol for Callie; Brie Canfield, whose heart leaps when Clemson takes her in as Callie's playmate; and Sela Bronson, a poor girl famished for love and grateful for every attention from the Parker family. Comes the day of Callie's wedding to supremely wealthy Wyn Archer, promising a future afloat on every possible luxury. But the night before the ceremony, an auto accident caused by Wyn's careless driving puts Callie into a comaand from the vortex of the coma will rise many ``family'' secrets of parentage involving the bride-to-be and her friends. Bubble upon breaking bubble as the suds pop. Strictly for the fans. -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
In a confusing, sometimes maudlin story about class and race in South Carolina, Michaels seems to forsake plot for rambling dialogue. Callie Parker of Parker Manor, the reigning princess, has gathered her childhood friends for her wedding to Wynfield Archer, her prince charming. Bode Jessup, raised in the house with Callie after he was taken from a foster home, has become a prominent lawyer; Brie Canfield, a poor girl invited to worship at Callie's feet, has been invited to join the FBI; and Sela Bronson, another poor child destined to remain at Callie's feet, has plans to become a real-estate broker. And caring for them all is Mama Pearl, an ancient, ageless black woman revered as a mother by Bode, Brie, and Sela, whose life revolves around "Miss Callie." Only after Callie lapses into a coma after a car crash on the eve of her wedding do her friends wake up to some harsh truths about the adored princess and their own lives. Michaels flits from character to character, having trouble deciding which traits belong to which character. Her usually heartfelt style lacks a sense of involvement, and some of her plot twists (Bode is black? Since when?) have no foundation built into the story to support them. Extensive publicity will fuel demand. Melanie Duncan --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Audiobook
