Sandy M’s review of Love, Suburban Style by Wendy Markham
Contemporary Romance released by Forever 1 Jul 07

This is only my second Wendy Markham book, but I enjoyed it just as much as the first one. Her books are fun, light reads that give a reader engaging characters, everyday family struggles, lots of fun and lovin’, and always a bit of the paranormal thrown in to make everything really interesting.

Meg is a Broadway actress and is at the beginning of the end of her career, losing roles to younger actresses. Her daughter has gone the way of the Goth, becoming a child she no longer recognizes, a child she’s raised on her own since her ex-husband left before Cosette was born and never looked back. Needing a change for both of them, Meg moves them to her suburban New York hometown where she grew up happy years before. She learns very quickly, however, that you really can’t go home. At least not the way you remember it. Only one friend is left, who introduces her to mothers who drive Hummers, a town that now has a sushi restaurant, and a haunted house that scared her as a young girl but now calls to her to make it their home.

And her haunted house is right next door to the high school football player she had a huge crush on. Sam Rooney, though, doesn’t remember Meg. He does want to get to know the new Meg, at least when he’s not feeling guilty and thinking about his deceased wife. He has two kids of his own and is trying hard to raise them right, even taking offense when his daughter latches on to Meg for some girl shopping and other things that only a mom can do. But even that doesn’t keep Meg far from his thoughts. Just he’s always in Meg’s. They keep crossing paths dealing with their children – Sam’s son and Meg’s daughter even hook up – and dealing with Meg’s ghost, who keeps scaring her right into Sam’s arms.

I had fun with this book.  Sam and Meg are normal, everyday parents just trying to make things work for their kids. They’re attracted to one another instantly, though Meg has a head start on Sam, and I liked them together as a couple, even if they didn’t for a while. I enjoyed seeing the change in Cosette as she got used to suburban life, while Meg didn’t change for the town she no longer knows. Sam had his share of learning with his kids too, letting go when necessary. The interfering spirit residing in Meg’s house is also quite fun and I never guessed a thing about that friendly ghost until all is revealed at the end.

I have a few more books of Ms. Markham’s books in the TBR pile and I think I’m going to be pulling them out and placing them closer to the top when I need something light and intriguing all at the same time. For those of you not familiar with Ms. Markham, she is also Wendy Corsi Staub.

Grade: B+

Summary:
.
Fed up with her moody teenage daughter, Meg Addams decides what they both need is a good dose of suburban wholesomeness. But when they leave Manhattan behind for Meg’s humble blue-collar hometown, they find it crowded with wealthy strangers and upscale boutiques. Settling into a creaky fixer-upper, Meg finally spots a familiar face right next door–and it belongs to none other than Sam Rooney. The would-be love of Meg’s high school life is now a single dad, her daughter’s new soccer coach-and a neighborly ghost-buster whenever things go bump in the night. With three kids and an undeniable attraction between them, Meg and Sam are in for some heart-racing, wee-hour encounters that have nothing to do with spirits…but everything to do with hearts.
.
Read an excerpt.