And Now There’s Zelda: The Entertaining and Perfect Family Life Dramedy by Carolyn Clarke #Review / #Giveaway

And Now There’s Zelda: The Entertaining and Perfect Family Life Dramedy
Women’s Humorous Fiction/Family Drama
2nd in Series
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Black Rose Writing (May 15, 2024)
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 247 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1685135129
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1685135126
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 247 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1685134114
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1685134112
Kindle ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CRS9DCBT

It’s been five years since Allison Montgomery’s beloved father-in-law, George, passed away and her cantankerous mother-in-law, Margaret, moved in. After nearly killing each other during their initial adjustment period, Allie and Margaret have finally buried the hatchet and have even launched a thriving home staging business together.

Today, Allie is enjoying life. That is until her twenty-two-year-old son, Cameron, unexpectedly brings home Zelda, his new fiancé. The problem is, no one has ever met or even heard of her. And when Zelda’s first impression raises more than a few red flags, Allie finds herself in unfamiliar territory.

Facing the prospect of becoming a mother-in-law far sooner than expected, and to someone unworthy of her darling baby boy, Allie’s protective instinct kicks in. And who better to turn to for guidance and support than Margaret, her former nemesis and master of the mothers-in-law’s dark arts.

Allie and Margaret launch Project Zelda, an intervention of sorts designed to show Cameron who Zelda really is and to prevent him from making a catastrophic mistake. However, with Zelda’s ingratiating behavior, Margaret’s occasional disappearances, and Allie’s doubts about turning into her own mother-in-law, will Allie find a way to reconcile her protective instincts or will history repeat itself?

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Five years have passed since And Then There’s Margaret and Margaret has moved into her apartment in the basement of her son, Hank, and daughter-in-law, Allison’s home. It wasn’t easy but Margaret and Allie are not only getting along, they are business partners in a home staging business. There are a few little problems because Allison’s daughter Samantha is “galavanting across Europe” instead of working at the staging business and her replacement is totally incapable of handling the job, Allison hopes her daughter will be back soon.

So Allie was pretty happy with her life until her 20-year-old son Cameron comes home from college with his new fiancé Zelda. Now Allie becomes the over-the-top mother seeing bright red flags in almost everything the girl says and does. Basically, the same things Margaret saw when Hank brought her home. Now she needs Margaret as an ally as they launch Project Zelda to learn as much as possible about the young woman before her beloved son makes a humongous mistake.

I liked this book more than the first book in the series. Margaret is still opinionated and pushy but she has reeled it in a lot this time. In fact, she shows she can still be an independent woman and make plans for her life. Allie on the other hand turns into everything she hated about Margaret. Her precious baby boy has been hurt by another young lady and her mission is to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Hank is very easygoing but is tied up with a big project at work. Cameron is head over heels in love and is determined to make the relationship work. Zelda is an unknown factor that emerges as the story continues.

Allie was very close to her father-in-law George and she took his passing hard. He was the buffer between her and Margaret. She now writes letters or talks to him to tell him what is happening in their lives. It comforts her.

Allie had planned a family trip to Florida for her mother’s birthday but the plans go awry when Samantha has a new opportunity abroad and Hank can’t take the time off from work. Suddenly Margaret and Zelda are going on the trip. I do love Allie’s mother. The woman is full of life and so open to possibilities.

The author fills this story with so much humor and laugh-out-loud moments. Her detailed descriptions and the character’s interactions and dialogues take the reader on a fun journey with the Montgomery family.

If I am truthful, I saw a little bit of myself in Allie. Mothers and sons, especially if the son is the youngest child, the relationship can be complicated when they become adults and make big life decisions.

And Now There’s Zelda is an entertaining read with plenty of drama and humor, but heartwrenching and heartwarming moments too. I am not sure what the author has planned for the Montgomerys but maybe she can take them ahead another 5 years when the children have spouses and maybe a child or two.

*This book is from my private collection. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent

About the Author