WEEK OF MAY 29 – JUNE 4
Sisters & Husbands
by Connie Briscoe
Fiction
Grand Central Publishing
June 2009
A great beach read comes with a picturesque beach, a cocktail or two, and of course, uninterrupted reading. And a secluded spot is one of the few places you can escape to with that tantalizing book you just can’t put down.
“Sisters & Husbands” by Connie Briscoe is one of those books. Entertaining characters, intimate details and an unpredictable plot makes this novel easy to devour in just a few hours.
Briscoe reintroduces readers to sisters Beverly, Charmaine and Evelyn (from her best-selling 1994 novel “Sisters & Lovers”) and 15 years later, these feisty and successful women seem to have it all – the flashy wardrobes, the new cars and the icing on the cake is the good-looking, successful men in their lives. But the one thing they crave most in life – successful marriages - is a quest that appears never-ending and at times elusive.
This sizzling fiction is by no means an “all men are dogs” anthem. It’s more of a “some men are dogs and some men are keepers” novel. And girls, there’s more than enough blame to go around! In this hot, romantic novel, women are not always portrayed as sweet and innocent.
Beverly, Evelyn and Charmaine (especially Charmaine) can change into diva mode in a flash, dishing out plenty of drama when necessary. Briscoe’s characters are more than just colorful attitudes, they are incredibly believable. Just about everybody knows someone with “man” troubles. And Beverly, Charmaine and Evelyn are no exception.
In the heart of Maryland, nestled between Baltimore and Washington, they maintain their posh lives and over analyze the trials and tribulations of marriage and their men, Julian, Tyrone and Kevin. Along with good loving, these guys sometimes catch hell.
The ups and downs of matrimony take center stage throughout this novel. It’s enough to make grown men cry, especially if they’ve ever crossed paths with Beverly. She is notorious for her last-minute disappearing acts. And she can’t help but notice that the few couples that she thought would “make it” may not last after all. Will Julian be the one to claim Beverly’s heart?
Evelyn is a successful psychologist, but when her spirits are low, does she heed her own advice? For comfort, she dons her favorite pajamas and attempts to block out the drama intruding her ”perfect” world.
Sassy Charmaine, the most outspoken of the three siblings, makes a promise that her marriage to Tyrone will be her last, and that blending families is hard work. But surprisingly, her biggest challenge is not her husband.
Keeping company with ”Sisters & Husbands” by Connie Briscoe is the next best thing to hanging out with a group of friends. But be careful. Drama is contagious.
MORE BOOKS PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT
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Grand Central Publishing
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My Sister’s Keeper
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Fiction
Simon & Schuster
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Basketball Jones
by E. Lynn Harris
Fiction
Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
January 2009