Cheri on Top
By
Grade : B+

Contrary to the title of Thomas Wolfe’s classic novel, you can go home again—just be prepared to weather the memories, heartache, and family that will ambush you, Donovan’s novel advises.

After accountant Cherise (AKA Cheri) Newberry and her best friend Candy Carmichael escaped Bigler, North Carolina, they made a new life for themselves in Florida, flipping houses and wheeling and dealing during the real estate boom. When the boom exploded in everyone’s face, the two were left penniless and in debt, wondering what they were going to do next.

Now Cheri’s grandfather begs her to come home and run the family-owned newspaper. Since her sister Tanyalee got pregnant by Cheri’s high school sweetheart J. J. DeCourcy and consequently married him, Cheri’s not sure going home would be good for her heart, even though Tanyalee and J. J. consequently divorced after she miscarried. But since family is family and her grandfather sounds desperate, she agrees.

As she pulls up near the town, she comes across a police scene where a car is being pulled from the lake bottom. Realtor Wim Wimbley has big plans for a retirement community around the lake, but seeing the car poking its rusty, old tail above water is ruining the ambiance.

The police and community are shocked when the car with decayed body is resurrected. It looks like the town’s only unsolved case is about to become news again. As the local police and FBI look into the killing of Betty Jean Smoot, Cheri works closely with her top reporter and managing editor, J. J., in the process reopening their torrid teenage romance.

Meanwhile, as an accountant, Cheri wants to know why the paper has been losing so much money so quickly. Digging through past unaudited end-of-the-year reports, she realizes that someone has been embezzling money, much to the shock of J. J. and her grandfather.

While some of Donovan’s book is totally over the top, especially parts dealing with the duplicitous, cartoonish, and off-the-wall Tanyalee and the caricaturish Wim, it’s still fun and lively, a great way to spend a few hours of vacation time without working up a sweat or going home again.

Reviewed by Pat Henshaw
Grade : B+

Sensuality: Warm

Review Date : August 17, 2011

Publication Date: 2011/08

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Pat Henshaw

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