These Boots Weren't Made for Walking

April 30, 2007
In a fun specimen of Christian chick lit, popular novelist Carlson (Homeward; Finding Alice) introduces a charming new protagonist, Cassidy Cantrell. As the novel opens, Cassidy is having a disastrous week: first she gets fired, and her beau of three years dumps her for a sweet young thing he met in church. Next, Cassidy’s neighbor steals her credit card and runs up thousands of dollars on it. Pretty soon, Cassidy has no choice but to give up her swanky apartment and move back home to rural Black Bear, Wash. She finds a surprise there, too: her 55-year-old mother, who used to be frumpy and overweight, got a new look after Cassidy’s dad flew the coop and is now dating men half her age. Gradually, Cassidy comes into her own, joining a gym and finding a new job and romance. Indeed, before she knows it, eligible men are chasing her. She’s a terrifically likable character, and readers will enjoy following her exploits. Cassidy’s Christian faith plays a significant yet refreshingly subtle role in this novel. And if the overarching plot—the transformation from plump, unemployed and depressed urbanite to svelte, desirable hometown princess—is predictable, Carlson manages to keep readers guessing about which man Cassidy will pick.

Starred review from June 1, 2007
Thirty-one-year-old Cassidy Cantrell is convinced that buying a fashionable pair of boots she can't afford will help her secure a long-awaited marketing promotion, but her world is about to crash around her. Not only does Cassidy lose her job, but she also gets dumped by her long-term boyfriend and discovers that her poshly dressed neighbor has stolen her credit card and racked up nearly $5000 in charges. Tired of drowning her sorrows in chocolate and other junk food, Cassidy decides to reevaluate her life and reinvent herself. RITA Award winner Carlson, author of more than 100 titles (e.g., "Homeward"), has written a great summer read that's first-rate chick lit. Think Bridget Jones with a Christian flavor. Highly recommended for public libraries and women's fiction collections. Carlson lives in Oregon.

Copyright 2007 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.