Reviews for All booked up
Publishers Weekly
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A grieving widow opens up her heart and home in this cozy contemporary from Carlson (Welcome to the Honey B&B). Riva Owens, 61, has been struggling to pay off medical bills and keep up on her mortgage payments since her husband Paul died of cancer more than a year ago. Over the protestations of her daughter Kenzie, who wants her to move to a senior center across town, Riva decides to stay put in her Victorian home and rent out several rooms. As a result, she ushers plenty of drama into her quiet life. Her new boarders Laurel, Windy, Fiona, and Kitty—all independent, opinionated seniors—clash over the space, their secrets, and eventually their romantic interests. As Riva grapples with the challenges of sharing her home—including an incriminating secret one of the women is hiding, and the possibility of a new romance—she turns to God to help her make the most of her new beginning. Carlson’s cute, cheery premise gains depth from resonant descriptions of how grief strikes at unexpected moments and the conflicting excitement and guilt that can accompany a fresh start. This is sure to tug on readers’ heartstrings. (Mar.)
Library Journal
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A widow for more than a year, Riva has moved past her grief, but she cannot bear to part with her Victorian house full of books. However, she might not be able to afford to keep the home. A chance encounter at a grief support group brings free-spirit Windy into her life, and when her best friend Laurel also expresses willingness to pay rent for a bedroom in her dated dwelling, Riva becomes the landlord to a motley crew of women of a certain age. When clashing personalities break the fragile peace, the boarders almost come to blows over the attentions of Windy's widowed brother Marcus. Riva must seek the Lord's guidance on how to bring everyone together—and required reading from her extensive library may just be the ticket. VERDICT Filling a gap in the market both for novels focusing on friendship and for those featuring mature characters, Carlson (Welcome to the Honey B&B) pens a delightful tale of aging gracefully despite past struggles. In addition to her latest, Carlson's fans might also want to check out Rebekah Millet and Sara Brunsvold's books.
