Over the years, Melody Carlson has worn many hats, from pre-school teacher to youth counselor to political activist to senior editor. But most of all, she loves to write! Currently she freelances from her home. In the past eight years, she has published over ninety books for children, teens, and adults–with sales totaling more than two million and many titles appearing on the ECPA Bestsellers List. Several of her books have been finalists for, and winners of, various writing awards. And her “Diary of a Teenage Girl” series has received great reviews and a large box of fan mail.
She has two grown sons and lives in Central Oregon with her husband and chocolate lab retriever. They enjoy skiing, hiking, gardening, camping and biking in the beautiful Cascade Mountains.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Once upon a time in a little town on the Oregon coast lived four Lindas—all in the same first-grade classroom. So they decided to go by their middle names. And form a club. And be friends forever.
Decades later, they’re all back home in Clifden and reinventing their lives, but the holidays bring a whole new set of challenges. Abby’s new B&B is getting bad reviews and husband Paul is acting strange. Still grieving for her mom, Caroline is remodeling the family home, but boyfriend Mitch keeps pressuring her to go away with him. Artist Marley, distracted by a friend’s family drama (and a touch of jealousy), can’t find her creative groove. And Janie’s drug-addicted daughter has just appeared up on her doorstep! When a long-planned New Year’s cruise turns into a bumpy ride, they learn once again that, in your fifties, friends aren’t just for fun—they’re a necessity!
If you would like to read the first chapter of Here’s to Friends, go HERE.
Learn more about Melody and her books on her Website.
MY REVIEW:
Although I somehow missed the second and third installments of The Four Lindas series, I had very little trouble following the story. I did feel that I missed some important events of the women’s lives but Here’s to Friends pretty much brought me up-to-date as I read.
Here’s to Friends documents the ups and downs in the daily lives of Abby, Caroline, Marley, and Janie. As they deal with such issues as low self-esteem, marital problems, financial set-backs, business difficulties, uncertain romantic relationships, career challenges, etc., the one thing each lady can count on is the support of her three closest friends. Their longstanding friendship is based on mutual trust which allows each of them to speak into the others’ lives with openness and honesty.
Here’s to Friends is not a particularly exciting book nor is it filled with romantic scenes, drama, or suspense. However it is a beautiful illustration of friendship that will make the reader thankful for her own friends or leave her wishing for deeper relationships of her own.
