Happily Ever After

by Elizabeth Maxwell

"At forty-six, Sadie Fuller's life isn't exactly romantic. A divorced, overweight, somewhat sexually frustrated mother of an eleven-year-old, she lives in the suburbs, shops the big box stores, makes small talk with her small-minded neighbors, and generally leads a quiet life. But while her daughter is at school, or when Sadie is up late at night, she writes erotic fiction under the name KT Briggs. Then, during a routine shopping trip, Sadie runs into someone familiar . . . too familiar, in fact. She encounters a man exactly like the one in her imagination -- and her latest novel! Is Aidan Hathaway really one of her characters? And if so, what is he doing at Target? As Sadie tries to negotiate this strange new world, her eyes begin to open to romantic possibilities in places she never dreamed of looking . . . places where Happily Ever After might not be so far-fetched after all" --

• ISBN10: 1476732663
• ISBN13: 9781476732664
• Publish Date: 18 March 2014
• Publish Status: Active
• Publisher: The Gallery Press
• Imprint: Gallery Books
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 336
• Language: English

Reviews

[Whitney @ First Impressions Reviews]

When I began Happily Ever After I immediately pegged Sadie as "the Bridget Jones type." Single and middle-aged, she is sifting her way through life with back-handed humor and an obsession with word counts. The only difference is that Sadie has a head on her shoulders and a little more responsibility. Now picture Bridget in an episode of Bewitched and poof, you have Elizabeth Maxwell's Happily Ever After.

I explained my Bridget Jone's theory but why Bewitched? Sadie's characters literary jump off the pages with Sadie trying to keep Aidan and Lily on the down low. This reminded me of Mr. Tate having dinner at the Stephens' with Darrin and Samantha doing everything in their power to hide the elephant in the room.

Aidan and Lily were very believable and well developed characters. They made me feel. There were times where I did want them to evaporate but at others Lily and particularly Aidan wore their hearts on their sleeve and found it endearing.

I felt the ending to be reminiscent of Dorothy spraying the Wicked Witch of the West with water and destroying her beautiful wickedness. Dorothy heads back to Kansas, and despite the fact that Hunk, Hickey and Zeke were there life went on as normal.

Like the conclusion to The Wizard of Oz Happily Ever After was just that, a happily ever after.

I received a copy from the publisher

Read all My reviews at my blog: She is too fond of books

[kimbacaffeinate]

3.5 Sadie Fuller is a pudgy, successful, divorced, mini-van driving Mom. She wakes one morning to find that the word count on her newest manuscript has increased. Not only that but the story has taken a new direction and she cannot remember writing it. A trip to Target goes wonky when she stumbles upon a disoriented man who looks vaguely familiar. She suddenly finds her little piece of the universe turned upside down and anything but dull as she aids this man. The tale that unfolds is cute, funny and unique.

The characters in Happily Ever After are very realistic, aside from those in her novel. Maxwell does a wonderful job of fleshing out Sadie, and I think most woman will identify with aspects of her character. I found myself laughing aloud at her thoughts and actions. Her characters resemble the ones she has written but suddenly they are taking on their own characteristics and creating their own memories. Ooo and there is one pissed off witch. Sadie’s Friday “lunch date” was an interesting thread, and I liked how the relationship developed. The romance was real, awkward, sweet and genuine.

Happily Ever After was a story within a story, as we followed both Sadie and her characters. We get tidbits of the erotic novel that Sadie is writing, and it steamed up the pages but then the story shifts to Sadie’s life, and it was refreshingly realistic. Well aside from her characters running around. Maxwell gives us a raw and up-close look at the life of a middle age single Mom from dating to sex. Sadie’s snarky attitude just made me giggle. From dealing with noisy neighbors to spandex support Maxwell is blunt and hilarious. One cannot help but feel sorry for Sadie as we see how her life has unfolded. It was delightful watching Sadie find herself as she worked to help her characters. While it is necessary to suspend belief regarding the “character element” Maxwell kept me entertained.

Copy received from publisher in exchange for unbiased review that originally published @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer