Mindy Starns Clark

I've had this on my TBR shelf for awhile because every time I picked it up and read the back, I was turned off by what seemed like another canned, melodramatic chick lit story. I finally decided to read it a couple days ago and I was right. However, from the very beginning it was obvious there was a mystery and I was sucked in. It also helped that, as a French-Canadian descendant, I've always been intrigued by the Cajun people, even though my own people migrated to New England and not Louisiana.

The book is full of annoying and ridiculous stereotypes. Miranda is detached from her husband and daughter for all the "acceptable" reasons---a very unlikable character. Plus, we get the not-as-common stereotypical "helmet-haired" and ditzy Southern woman, and blanket statements/assumptions about thugs, Cajun people, handicapped people, and more.

The book is not at all fantastically written, but it does contain plenty of surprises at the end. Too bad it all wraps up so neatly. It's definitely a tell not show when it comes to emotions.

Biggest eye roll: Miranda complains that the press attended the final event of the story but she didn't have to tell anyone it was happening. Everything that was done in the last chapter
could have been done quietly and privately and the secret would have been safe forever in the PRIVATE family cemetery. Also, there's no way I would have made the decision about the property that she made in the end.

Redeeming bits: The Christian message, though trite and tropey at the end of the book, is a meaty gospel message earlier in the story through the character of uncle Holt.

Overall, I'm not super impressed but it was a nice, fluffy read to add to my longer-than-normal list of books read this month.… (mere)