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The Jewel Box
Back in the Sixties while Motown music filled the airwaves, naïve Jill Novak acknowledged her knack for choosing losers when boring Husband Number One vanished, leaving her to support their two-year-old. Afflicted with planning deficit disorder, the perpetual daydreamer soon morphs from small town Jill to sophisticated big city Cherie, but a new name does not a new life bring. In 1969 Houston, Cherie encounters a rogue's gallery of strange, wonderful and sometimes dangerous characters; a suave salesman who turns brutal, a drop-dead gorgeous transsexual, a hairy cop who incorporates fondling girls into his job, a walleyed girl whose peepers inevitably park on men's private parts, a wannabe Mafia hit man, and a warped neighbor whose desire for friendship borders on stalking. But it is two distinctly different men—a middle-age gregarious gambler and a twenty-something gruff intellectual—who jump on board and share Jill-Cherie's rollicking roller coaster ride into the 21st Century and womanhood.
Filled with moments from the laid-back Age of Aquarius through the materialistic, high-speed Internet era, The Jewel Box music and references to the times/political climate reflect the rocky terrain of the country (and subsequent growth) parallel with that of its main character. This romantic family saga reminds us true love rarely runs smooth, true friendship never wavers, occasionally everyone screws up, and sometimes slipping off track leads to profound appreciation as we approach our destination.
Filled with moments from the laid-back Age of Aquarius through the materialistic, high-speed Internet era, The Jewel Box music and references to the times/political climate reflect the rocky terrain of the country (and subsequent growth) parallel with that of its main character. This romantic family saga reminds us true love rarely runs smooth, true friendship never wavers, occasionally everyone screws up, and sometimes slipping off track leads to profound appreciation as we approach our destination.
310 pages, Paperback
First published March 13, 2013
33 people are currently reading
714 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
December 6, 2014
WHY isn’t this a TV Drama?
This is a really super book, and I was very sad when it came to an end.
I’ve never met C. Michelle McCarty, but this book is written with such clear vision that at least part of it must be autobiographical, and I’d be willing to bet that the ‘C’ in her first name stands for Cherie.
Regardless of whether this is autobiographical or complete fiction, there are some great books in the realist tradition, depicting contemporary social realities and the lives and everyday activities of ordinary people, and Jewel Box stands strong amongst them. Mark Twain, John Steinbeck, Jack London and Henry James (who argued that a text must first and foremost be realistic and contain a representation of life that is recognisable to its readers) were masters at the art, and I can assure you Michelle McCarty is not far behind, not least in that she actually has the courage to kill off her darlings at various stages throughout the story.
Steinbeck is one of the few novelists to have the balls to kill his darlings when Tom Joad, hero of Grapes of Wrath, simply walked out of the book after killing Casey's attacker. Just like that, with about 10% to go, Steinbeck walks him out of the book. How brave is that?
Well, I’ve no intention of placing spoilers in this review, but with McCarty you just never know what’s going to happen next. This is a love story that kicks off in a strip bar, and without a shadow of doubt my favourite character is the avuncular bar owner, Beau, with his rugged Clark Gable looks, fatherly advice and dexterity with a pack of cards.
But the book is much more than a love story. It covers several decades and part of the joy of the story is McCarty’s references to popular music of the times which she skillfully weaves into the tale, including ‘Sugar Sugar’ by The Archies, ‘Fever’ by Peggy Lee, John Lennon’s ‘Imagine,’ ‘Mercy Mercy’ by Marvin Gaye, ‘Raindrops keep Falling on my Head,’ ‘La Grange’ by ZZ Top, ‘Can you mend a Broken Heart’ by the Bee Gees, ‘Yester-Me Yester-You Yesterday’ by Stevie Wonder and many more.
This is a clever ploy for it takes the reader right back to the era so you’re no longer reading a story concerning something that happened in the past but you actually feel yourself living it. McCarty is an accomplished wordsmith and she uses these skills to draw the reader back in time with vision.
Back in the 70’s you were defined by the music you listened to and the clothes you wore. You wouldn’t find a skinhead listening to King Crimson, or a Rocker listening to blue beat or reggae. You weren’t allowed. But Cherie’s tastes cross all divides listening to Tamla Motown, heavy rock, soul and even on occasion bubblegum pop.
McCarty’s writing is graceful and exquisite, even when touching on raw subjects such as drug addiction and domestic violence. This is a love story with battle-scars, and even though I’m a bloke who doesn’t read many love stories I cannot wait to pick up the next offering by Michelle McCarty. Right now, I can’t imagine it topping this one, but there’s a feeling in my bones that there’s much, much more to come from this talented writer.
Please somebody turn this into a TV drama.
This is a really super book, and I was very sad when it came to an end.
I’ve never met C. Michelle McCarty, but this book is written with such clear vision that at least part of it must be autobiographical, and I’d be willing to bet that the ‘C’ in her first name stands for Cherie.
Regardless of whether this is autobiographical or complete fiction, there are some great books in the realist tradition, depicting contemporary social realities and the lives and everyday activities of ordinary people, and Jewel Box stands strong amongst them. Mark Twain, John Steinbeck, Jack London and Henry James (who argued that a text must first and foremost be realistic and contain a representation of life that is recognisable to its readers) were masters at the art, and I can assure you Michelle McCarty is not far behind, not least in that she actually has the courage to kill off her darlings at various stages throughout the story.
Steinbeck is one of the few novelists to have the balls to kill his darlings when Tom Joad, hero of Grapes of Wrath, simply walked out of the book after killing Casey's attacker. Just like that, with about 10% to go, Steinbeck walks him out of the book. How brave is that?
Well, I’ve no intention of placing spoilers in this review, but with McCarty you just never know what’s going to happen next. This is a love story that kicks off in a strip bar, and without a shadow of doubt my favourite character is the avuncular bar owner, Beau, with his rugged Clark Gable looks, fatherly advice and dexterity with a pack of cards.
But the book is much more than a love story. It covers several decades and part of the joy of the story is McCarty’s references to popular music of the times which she skillfully weaves into the tale, including ‘Sugar Sugar’ by The Archies, ‘Fever’ by Peggy Lee, John Lennon’s ‘Imagine,’ ‘Mercy Mercy’ by Marvin Gaye, ‘Raindrops keep Falling on my Head,’ ‘La Grange’ by ZZ Top, ‘Can you mend a Broken Heart’ by the Bee Gees, ‘Yester-Me Yester-You Yesterday’ by Stevie Wonder and many more.
This is a clever ploy for it takes the reader right back to the era so you’re no longer reading a story concerning something that happened in the past but you actually feel yourself living it. McCarty is an accomplished wordsmith and she uses these skills to draw the reader back in time with vision.
Back in the 70’s you were defined by the music you listened to and the clothes you wore. You wouldn’t find a skinhead listening to King Crimson, or a Rocker listening to blue beat or reggae. You weren’t allowed. But Cherie’s tastes cross all divides listening to Tamla Motown, heavy rock, soul and even on occasion bubblegum pop.
McCarty’s writing is graceful and exquisite, even when touching on raw subjects such as drug addiction and domestic violence. This is a love story with battle-scars, and even though I’m a bloke who doesn’t read many love stories I cannot wait to pick up the next offering by Michelle McCarty. Right now, I can’t imagine it topping this one, but there’s a feeling in my bones that there’s much, much more to come from this talented writer.
Please somebody turn this into a TV drama.
December 16, 2013
The Jewel Box
When I started this book I was a bit nervous about the setting and the implication of where the story started for the general theme of the book!
Turns out I was both correct and wrong.
The book starts out in a top-less bar but it is in no way an erotic story. Frankly it has no scenes in it that might offend. So this fear was negated.
I was however correct in the setting becoming a theme although the theme was one of hope, love and bumpy starts true to real life.
The characters are mostly well formed and the reader gets to know the true nature of the main character by her interactions with other characters. I loved this since never do the author assume I should love her characters because she does. In the end you get to know a person not a book character.
So why only a 3* rating? For I know talent when I see it and I look forward to see this talent grow and explore more! I will be waiting to applaud all new offers with higher star ratings and even more respect!
http://www.amazon.com/The-Jewel-Box-C...
When I started this book I was a bit nervous about the setting and the implication of where the story started for the general theme of the book!
Turns out I was both correct and wrong.
The book starts out in a top-less bar but it is in no way an erotic story. Frankly it has no scenes in it that might offend. So this fear was negated.
I was however correct in the setting becoming a theme although the theme was one of hope, love and bumpy starts true to real life.
The characters are mostly well formed and the reader gets to know the true nature of the main character by her interactions with other characters. I loved this since never do the author assume I should love her characters because she does. In the end you get to know a person not a book character.
So why only a 3* rating? For I know talent when I see it and I look forward to see this talent grow and explore more! I will be waiting to applaud all new offers with higher star ratings and even more respect!
http://www.amazon.com/The-Jewel-Box-C...
December 18, 2013
Don’t let the awful cover fool you. It hides one magnificent, intelligently-written, unforgettable story about enduring love! And those who’ve been following my reviews know by now that I avoid love stories like the plague. One of my fellow bookworm friends who have the same taste in books I have, insisted I read this gem of a novel, and no matter how skeptical I was at first (mainly due to the cover), I agreed to read and review The Jewel Box...and I was hooked and totally in love with this book halfway through the first chapter!
It follows the life of Jill, aka Cherie, who after a failed marriage starts right at the bottom to build a life for her and her daughter, Nikki. She unexpectedly falls in love with the last man she imagined she could form a connection with in the very last place she expected to find her Mr Right, and thus begins a tale of two people having to overcome a multitude of obstacles in their quest for everlasting happiness and contentment. Sounds simple and cheesy, right? I can guarantee you it’s not like that at all, even though my short summary sounds like every other romance out there.
McCarthy brings 1960s Texas to life with her colorful and diverse cast of flawed characters. Using familiar pop culture and historical events, she firmly grounds the reader in the story’s timeline from the sixties all the way through to present day Houston. No detail is spared as the reader slips into Jill and Gabriel’s lives as we see these characters grow, constantly forming new connections and friendships, and eventually having to let go as some of these, what becomes much-loved characters, pass away. In this book it was not a question of me liking or not liking the characters, but more a matter of them feeling familiar to me as some of their characteristics I recognized as those I see in many of the people I know in real life. You have the kooky neighbor across the hall who mouths off to anyone and everyone and who always picks Mr Wrong in an attempt to change him into Mr Right (her uproarious antics made Delilah one of my supremely favorite characters in this book!); and then there’s the meddling, manipulating mother-in-law; as well as that one person whose wisdom and encouragement bring along life-altering changes – to name only a few. In all honesty every single character touched my heart in one way or another. Even the not-so-nice ones had their redeeming qualities. The only person, surprisingly, I had a hard time connecting to, was Gabriel. He was rather icky. I’m completely put-off by men like him, but maybe it was Jill’s fascination with his moustache that fueled my dislike for him. I’m grossed-out by moustaches (or any facial hair for that matter). It’s the one reason I never watched Magnum P.I.
I honestly enjoyed this book a lot more than I initially thought I would (it being a romance and all that), but the writing is phenomenal and the characters’ voices makes it a read that’s impossible to put down. The dialogue is clever and infused with razor-sharp wit and gave the story that authentic edge. I am wholeheartedly looking forward to reading more of this extraordinary writer’s books!
It follows the life of Jill, aka Cherie, who after a failed marriage starts right at the bottom to build a life for her and her daughter, Nikki. She unexpectedly falls in love with the last man she imagined she could form a connection with in the very last place she expected to find her Mr Right, and thus begins a tale of two people having to overcome a multitude of obstacles in their quest for everlasting happiness and contentment. Sounds simple and cheesy, right? I can guarantee you it’s not like that at all, even though my short summary sounds like every other romance out there.
McCarthy brings 1960s Texas to life with her colorful and diverse cast of flawed characters. Using familiar pop culture and historical events, she firmly grounds the reader in the story’s timeline from the sixties all the way through to present day Houston. No detail is spared as the reader slips into Jill and Gabriel’s lives as we see these characters grow, constantly forming new connections and friendships, and eventually having to let go as some of these, what becomes much-loved characters, pass away. In this book it was not a question of me liking or not liking the characters, but more a matter of them feeling familiar to me as some of their characteristics I recognized as those I see in many of the people I know in real life. You have the kooky neighbor across the hall who mouths off to anyone and everyone and who always picks Mr Wrong in an attempt to change him into Mr Right (her uproarious antics made Delilah one of my supremely favorite characters in this book!); and then there’s the meddling, manipulating mother-in-law; as well as that one person whose wisdom and encouragement bring along life-altering changes – to name only a few. In all honesty every single character touched my heart in one way or another. Even the not-so-nice ones had their redeeming qualities. The only person, surprisingly, I had a hard time connecting to, was Gabriel. He was rather icky. I’m completely put-off by men like him, but maybe it was Jill’s fascination with his moustache that fueled my dislike for him. I’m grossed-out by moustaches (or any facial hair for that matter). It’s the one reason I never watched Magnum P.I.
I honestly enjoyed this book a lot more than I initially thought I would (it being a romance and all that), but the writing is phenomenal and the characters’ voices makes it a read that’s impossible to put down. The dialogue is clever and infused with razor-sharp wit and gave the story that authentic edge. I am wholeheartedly looking forward to reading more of this extraordinary writer’s books!
December 16, 2013
I was recommended this book, so I thought I would give it a try.
Jill Novak is a divorced woman and a single mother of one child. She is a woman trying to make a living to keep herself and her child off the streets. She moves to the city of Houston and changes her name to Cherie. The rest, they say, is history! I really liked this character and enjoyed watching her grow throughout the book.
I must admit that I wasn't sure what I was getting into when I began reading this book. I was expecting a romance, but what I got instead was a whole lot more! I don't know if this is a fictional story, or whether these events really did take place, but this book reads like a memoir. There are some memorable characters that shape Cherie's life. I really liked Beau Duvale (the owner of The Jewel Box - the topless bar she worked in - and Cherie's mentor and friend). He is a charming man with a knack of hiding Jack of Clubs cards in strange places!
Gabriel O'Quinn is a taciturn, intense and charming man, but he is not perfect. I liked this character, but I wanted to give him a swift kick every so often - He can be a little blind to what's going on around him!
This is a story that covers over 20 years of Cherie's life, so there is a lot of history from 1969 to 2003 (political events, music and people) that peppers the book and shows the changing landscape of the years. I did find it interesting, but there was so much to digest, I felt my head would explode! However, this gives the story a "real" feel that made the book come to life.
C. Michelle McCarty is a debut author with a talent for writing a captivating story that I struggled to put down! Although some of the book felt a bit long in places, it felt like I was journeying through time! I look forward to following her career with interest.
I recommend this book if you love contemporary fiction or memoirs. - Lynn Worton
Jill Novak is a divorced woman and a single mother of one child. She is a woman trying to make a living to keep herself and her child off the streets. She moves to the city of Houston and changes her name to Cherie. The rest, they say, is history! I really liked this character and enjoyed watching her grow throughout the book.
I must admit that I wasn't sure what I was getting into when I began reading this book. I was expecting a romance, but what I got instead was a whole lot more! I don't know if this is a fictional story, or whether these events really did take place, but this book reads like a memoir. There are some memorable characters that shape Cherie's life. I really liked Beau Duvale (the owner of The Jewel Box - the topless bar she worked in - and Cherie's mentor and friend). He is a charming man with a knack of hiding Jack of Clubs cards in strange places!
Gabriel O'Quinn is a taciturn, intense and charming man, but he is not perfect. I liked this character, but I wanted to give him a swift kick every so often - He can be a little blind to what's going on around him!
This is a story that covers over 20 years of Cherie's life, so there is a lot of history from 1969 to 2003 (political events, music and people) that peppers the book and shows the changing landscape of the years. I did find it interesting, but there was so much to digest, I felt my head would explode! However, this gives the story a "real" feel that made the book come to life.
C. Michelle McCarty is a debut author with a talent for writing a captivating story that I struggled to put down! Although some of the book felt a bit long in places, it felt like I was journeying through time! I look forward to following her career with interest.
I recommend this book if you love contemporary fiction or memoirs. - Lynn Worton
December 10, 2015
The Jewel Box by C. Michelle McCarty left me wondering why this author isn't a NYT best seller? This contemporary romance novel is astounding with such rich characterizations and descriptions of Texas that reminded me of McMurtry. In fact he is often mentioned during the 60s and 70s stages of this epic novel in the life of one woman. I am so in love with McCarty's writing.
Jill Novak's turbulent life makes gripping reading in this wonderful romance, the author is a master of her use of words so effortlessly connecting them to create magical sentences that will live on far beyond the end of the novel. Jill falls foul of bad relationships and ends up working in The Jewel Box, a place she is so afraid of she makes herself sick with anxiety. She grows from timid mother to mature and confident woman as every glorious page burns with her struggles.
A literary masterpiece worthy of this 5 star review and very highly recommended to romance lovers.
Jill Novak's turbulent life makes gripping reading in this wonderful romance, the author is a master of her use of words so effortlessly connecting them to create magical sentences that will live on far beyond the end of the novel. Jill falls foul of bad relationships and ends up working in The Jewel Box, a place she is so afraid of she makes herself sick with anxiety. She grows from timid mother to mature and confident woman as every glorious page burns with her struggles.
A literary masterpiece worthy of this 5 star review and very highly recommended to romance lovers.
July 11, 2014
The Jewel Box is a love story that is told over a few decades. It tells the story of single-mum Cherie, who meets Gabriel in a bar she is working in. This begins their rollercoaster of a love affair, destined to be together but life keeps pulling them apart. As the years go by something keeps pulling them together but will it is strong enough not to tear them both apart.
This is a beautiful storyline, a romantic love story that is not too mushy, true to life and a really good read. I liked the characters and I liked the way the story was set over the years, like in the film The Way We Were. It is really well written and I liked the way the story does a full-circle at the end.
This is a beautiful storyline, a romantic love story that is not too mushy, true to life and a really good read. I liked the characters and I liked the way the story was set over the years, like in the film The Way We Were. It is really well written and I liked the way the story does a full-circle at the end.
December 6, 2014
At the end of the book, embedded within the acknowledgements is the revelation that this is the author’s first published novel. Until I reached that point, I had no clue that that was the case. The dialog is snappy, the metaphors are clever and the characters are sometimes cranky, other times charming but at all times interesting. It is a love story where two people are the love of each other’s lives, yet seem unable to stay with each other and compensate by being involved with people that are completely unworthy.
Cherie is a divorced woman with a darling daughter Nikki and her father has left the country leaving behind no contact information. Therefore, with no possibility of receiving any child support, she is forced to find whatever employment is available. Her desperation leads her to “The Jewel Box” a nearly topless bar where the reason for the nearly is the Texas law that requires the wearing of pasties so that not even a hint of a nipple is visible.
It is at this bar where Cherie meets two married men. Beauregard Phillipe Duvalé (Beau) is the owner and a lover of literature and a true friend to the girls that work there. This leads to some notable quotes from and discussions of some major and minor literary works, for Cherie is also a reader and follows Beau’s literary recommendations. Gabriel is a regular patron with his friend Al, Gabe is a carpenter and seemingly not worthy of any attention beyond what is needed to hustle some more money out of his wallet.
However, her presence at the “Jewel Box” leads Cherie into a convoluted love affair that is made up of fire, ice, passion, longing and the establishment of alternate relationships that make the reader mentally scream “No you idiot!” Through it all there are a few constants in Cherie’s life, some of which are friends a little wilder than she is. Delilah is an especially amusing character with her wit, open sexual references and general kookiness.
The setting is Texas in the sixties and seventies, so if you are a fan of music from that era, you will appreciate the references to songs from that time and how their lyrics are incorporated into the story. This is a humorous romance, at times tender, other times sad and dark and then there will be a bright light of humor. I generally do not read romance stories, finding them too formulaic and with a predictable happy ending. This one follows no formula at all; there are many unhappy events in Cherie’s life from many different sources. There is closure in the story as well, but there is some major tragedy on the road to that point.
This review appeared on Amazon.
Cherie is a divorced woman with a darling daughter Nikki and her father has left the country leaving behind no contact information. Therefore, with no possibility of receiving any child support, she is forced to find whatever employment is available. Her desperation leads her to “The Jewel Box” a nearly topless bar where the reason for the nearly is the Texas law that requires the wearing of pasties so that not even a hint of a nipple is visible.
It is at this bar where Cherie meets two married men. Beauregard Phillipe Duvalé (Beau) is the owner and a lover of literature and a true friend to the girls that work there. This leads to some notable quotes from and discussions of some major and minor literary works, for Cherie is also a reader and follows Beau’s literary recommendations. Gabriel is a regular patron with his friend Al, Gabe is a carpenter and seemingly not worthy of any attention beyond what is needed to hustle some more money out of his wallet.
However, her presence at the “Jewel Box” leads Cherie into a convoluted love affair that is made up of fire, ice, passion, longing and the establishment of alternate relationships that make the reader mentally scream “No you idiot!” Through it all there are a few constants in Cherie’s life, some of which are friends a little wilder than she is. Delilah is an especially amusing character with her wit, open sexual references and general kookiness.
The setting is Texas in the sixties and seventies, so if you are a fan of music from that era, you will appreciate the references to songs from that time and how their lyrics are incorporated into the story. This is a humorous romance, at times tender, other times sad and dark and then there will be a bright light of humor. I generally do not read romance stories, finding them too formulaic and with a predictable happy ending. This one follows no formula at all; there are many unhappy events in Cherie’s life from many different sources. There is closure in the story as well, but there is some major tragedy on the road to that point.
This review appeared on Amazon.
November 17, 2014
“Life is a lesson. Take notes…” on page 33. I love this line from the Jewel Box, and to me, it sums up the storyline in a wonderful way. The Jewel Box is an absorbing, well-written story of a young woman struggling to overcome and learn from her mistakes while living her life to the fullest.
I loved this book! There were so many things within its pages that took me back in time. I love it when a book can make you cry as well as laugh and even get angry with a character.
The story begins when Jill, aka Cherie, accepts the delivery of a beautiful antique bar to her antique shop. This antique piece will never be sold. The beautiful bar, that hosts the initials carved by the love of her life so many years before, brings with it a rush of cherished memories that span her lifetime.
The story unfolds as her memories take her back through her life filled with tremendous tests of her will, more than one heartbreaking loss, and a once in a life time love to a beautiful conclusion that will warm your heart and have you wiping a tear .
The Jewel box captured me from the first page. Ms McCarty’s talent shines as the characters and situations jump right out of the pages and into your imagination. Every character is so well developed you just know she must have known some of your beloved and sometime corky friends.
I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys Romance. I will be anxiously awaiting her next book. I now have a new author to add to my “Favorites list”.
I loved this book! There were so many things within its pages that took me back in time. I love it when a book can make you cry as well as laugh and even get angry with a character.
The story begins when Jill, aka Cherie, accepts the delivery of a beautiful antique bar to her antique shop. This antique piece will never be sold. The beautiful bar, that hosts the initials carved by the love of her life so many years before, brings with it a rush of cherished memories that span her lifetime.
The story unfolds as her memories take her back through her life filled with tremendous tests of her will, more than one heartbreaking loss, and a once in a life time love to a beautiful conclusion that will warm your heart and have you wiping a tear .
The Jewel box captured me from the first page. Ms McCarty’s talent shines as the characters and situations jump right out of the pages and into your imagination. Every character is so well developed you just know she must have known some of your beloved and sometime corky friends.
I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys Romance. I will be anxiously awaiting her next book. I now have a new author to add to my “Favorites list”.
June 17, 2014
McCarty's The Jewel Box is an interesting cross between irreverent romp and heartfelt women's fiction that manages to combine laughter and gritty realism, often on the same page. I found myself laughing out loud (literally - people stared) in the first couple of pages and on the whole, enjoyed the book very much.
On the downside, the book makes the classic first person error of having only one fully fleshed character - the narrator. Towards the middle of the book I got a bit frustrated with main character Cherie's apparent lack of growth and the flatness of other characters, such as Nikki, her daughter, whom I would really like to have known more about.
I was never tempted to stop reading, though, because the writing style is engaging and the plot line entertaining. McCarty brings us a tale most of us can relate to, regardless of the decade we were born in. Too real for a genre romance, the book takes you on one woman's journey from the wild sixties into the modern era. In a number of ways, the plot twists reminded me of Forest Gump (the movie - I never read the book). Though Cherie does not appear to be mentally challenged, she does make her share of iconic errors. Some are funny enough to make you snort, others will make you sad, but all of them will have you identifying with a protagonist you quickly come to feel you have met, and liked, somewhere along your own journey.
On the downside, the book makes the classic first person error of having only one fully fleshed character - the narrator. Towards the middle of the book I got a bit frustrated with main character Cherie's apparent lack of growth and the flatness of other characters, such as Nikki, her daughter, whom I would really like to have known more about.
I was never tempted to stop reading, though, because the writing style is engaging and the plot line entertaining. McCarty brings us a tale most of us can relate to, regardless of the decade we were born in. Too real for a genre romance, the book takes you on one woman's journey from the wild sixties into the modern era. In a number of ways, the plot twists reminded me of Forest Gump (the movie - I never read the book). Though Cherie does not appear to be mentally challenged, she does make her share of iconic errors. Some are funny enough to make you snort, others will make you sad, but all of them will have you identifying with a protagonist you quickly come to feel you have met, and liked, somewhere along your own journey.
December 31, 2013
I received my copy of "The Jewel Box" from the author herself for my enjoyment, and to follow is my fair and unbiased review as to my view ofthis novel.
Wow, what a wonder blast into the past as I drove through the pages of this amazing debut novel by Author C.Michelle McCarty. Love, love the Motown era.
Michelle has woven such terrific characters for us to fall in love with throughout this story. It's a story of many live choices, some good, and some bad. But the thing is that as we make those choices in our life we try to learn and grow through and with them.
So as Michelle tells her story we are taken along the trials and tribulations of each character, seeing ourselves in them (our at least I did in some cases).... boy those were the days of learning and growing.
Author Michelle McCarty has created an "blast into the past" with a remarkable story detailing every aspcet along the way. I truly enjoyed this refreshing break from my normal genre, thus I have marked Michelle as an author to watch for in the future and hopefully many more amazing stories to follow this one!!!!
Thank you so much Author Michelle McCarty for the wonderful opportunity to be able to read and throughly enjoy your debut novel "The Jewel Box".
Well done on this your debut novel..
Recommend: YA and up
Rating: 4/5 angel stars
Angel Anne Reviews
Wow, what a wonder blast into the past as I drove through the pages of this amazing debut novel by Author C.Michelle McCarty. Love, love the Motown era.
Michelle has woven such terrific characters for us to fall in love with throughout this story. It's a story of many live choices, some good, and some bad. But the thing is that as we make those choices in our life we try to learn and grow through and with them.
So as Michelle tells her story we are taken along the trials and tribulations of each character, seeing ourselves in them (our at least I did in some cases).... boy those were the days of learning and growing.
Author Michelle McCarty has created an "blast into the past" with a remarkable story detailing every aspcet along the way. I truly enjoyed this refreshing break from my normal genre, thus I have marked Michelle as an author to watch for in the future and hopefully many more amazing stories to follow this one!!!!
Thank you so much Author Michelle McCarty for the wonderful opportunity to be able to read and throughly enjoy your debut novel "The Jewel Box".
Well done on this your debut novel..
Recommend: YA and up
Rating: 4/5 angel stars
Angel Anne Reviews
December 20, 2013
The Jewel Box
I was thrown head first into a world of romance that exceeded my expectations of this book. Grant it, it was out of my genre's comfort zone, but never judge a book til you have dove into it's pages.
This book blew me away and took me by surprise. I felt as if I was living the words in the story with a clear picture in my head. I absolutely loved the humor, the characters, and the plot. The story just poured through and left me wanting to take my time and actually enjoy this story and let my feelings flow within its pages. I also loved the spunk of the main character, Cherie and her vivacious and amazing friends and family who brought forth a lifetime of lots of emotions that had me laughing, crying, and angry.
This is a book that will be a part of my soul and spirit for as long as I live. I was absolutely enchanted by this author's unforgettable writing style. This is definitely a story that I will re-read again for just the pure pleasure of reading my favorite parts in this story. I highly recommend this book to all romantics who love to fall in love with a happy ending.
Due to some of the language, humor, and sex scenes, reader discretion is advised.
I received an eARC copy of this remarkable story in return of an honest review.
~WaAr~
I was thrown head first into a world of romance that exceeded my expectations of this book. Grant it, it was out of my genre's comfort zone, but never judge a book til you have dove into it's pages.
This book blew me away and took me by surprise. I felt as if I was living the words in the story with a clear picture in my head. I absolutely loved the humor, the characters, and the plot. The story just poured through and left me wanting to take my time and actually enjoy this story and let my feelings flow within its pages. I also loved the spunk of the main character, Cherie and her vivacious and amazing friends and family who brought forth a lifetime of lots of emotions that had me laughing, crying, and angry.
This is a book that will be a part of my soul and spirit for as long as I live. I was absolutely enchanted by this author's unforgettable writing style. This is definitely a story that I will re-read again for just the pure pleasure of reading my favorite parts in this story. I highly recommend this book to all romantics who love to fall in love with a happy ending.
Due to some of the language, humor, and sex scenes, reader discretion is advised.
I received an eARC copy of this remarkable story in return of an honest review.
~WaAr~
December 22, 2014
The Jewel Box begins with dialogue between sophisticated shop owner Cherie and her low-brow, mouthy friend, Delilah. Then in flashback fashion, this story covers thirty years in Texas with three thoroughly developed main characters. Secondary players are well described, and McCarty uses humor to introduce a mixed bag of unusual suitors and various girlfriends from spunky best friend and sexually liberated Kat, to spiritual and intellectual soul-sister Patrice, clingy Delilah, hippie babysitter Rachel --- and others who shined in the spotlight, even if their time was short lived. This coming of age tale has grit with lead protagonist (Jill-Cherie) somehow managing to right a ton of wrongs she commits in earlier years. It was inspiring to see her daughter, Nikki, become a well-adjusted adult despite being dragged along on her mother's rocky roller coaster ride. Last of all, it is honorable and unforgettable Beau, Cherie's "spiritual guide through sin city" whose lasting impression makes readers wish they could bring a book character to life.
June 14, 2015
Phewee tiger!! I'm emotionally exhausted having read this gem of a book (pun intended!)!
A feisty young lady re-named Cherie does whatever it takes to survive. But not only does she survive, she thrives, despite her many ordeals.
This book is not for the faint hearted!
The characters are characters indeed! I was totally immersed in their world. Beau is my hero, and he in particular was beautifully written.
I (and my reviewers) dub my 'Rekindled Love' as an emotional rollercoaster, but this book makes that look like a merry-go-round!
I was crying at the end and holding my breath in parts all the way through, cheering Cherie on.
I would recommend this book to anyone with a romantic heart!
A feisty young lady re-named Cherie does whatever it takes to survive. But not only does she survive, she thrives, despite her many ordeals.
This book is not for the faint hearted!
The characters are characters indeed! I was totally immersed in their world. Beau is my hero, and he in particular was beautifully written.
I (and my reviewers) dub my 'Rekindled Love' as an emotional rollercoaster, but this book makes that look like a merry-go-round!
I was crying at the end and holding my breath in parts all the way through, cheering Cherie on.
I would recommend this book to anyone with a romantic heart!
May 20, 2014
The Jewel Box is a delightful character driven story that covers the life of Jill/Cherie over a 25 year period. From beginning to end, McCarty does a good job of engaging the reader with her characters' flaws and foibles. Her characters are easy to care about (even Delilah) and I eagerly turned the pages to learn their destiny. I enjoyed Beau's words of wisdom and his recurring jack of clubs trick throughout the story. The bottom line is, this is a flat out good read.
Great debut novel! I highly recommend The Jewel Box!
Great debut novel! I highly recommend The Jewel Box!
December 16, 2013
Jewelbox review
Cherie is having tough luck finding the one. Deep down she knows Gabriel is the man of her dreams, but something always gets in their way. There is alot of back and forth between the two, at times you just want to smack them!! I do believe the heart knows what it wants, even if its not time for it. I think the author did a great job easing us into the story and giving it proper closure. Great read for the romantic at heart. WaAR
Cherie is having tough luck finding the one. Deep down she knows Gabriel is the man of her dreams, but something always gets in their way. There is alot of back and forth between the two, at times you just want to smack them!! I do believe the heart knows what it wants, even if its not time for it. I think the author did a great job easing us into the story and giving it proper closure. Great read for the romantic at heart. WaAR
June 3, 2025
This is an easy read and some humor along the way. Unfortunately there isn't much of a plot or storyline other than someone who keeps using men and and can't let go of her one "true love". The main character makes a lot of really bad, impulsive decisions and even though she is a tough woman, it's hard to like or admire her.
September 9, 2019
Is it real love or isn't it ?
This writer sure knows how to grab your interest and keep on adding to the suspense and the love, keeps you wondering what could possibly happen next.
This writer sure knows how to grab your interest and keep on adding to the suspense and the love, keeps you wondering what could possibly happen next.
September 12, 2016
This is my review for The Jewel Box by C. Michelle McCarty. The opinions expressed are my own and were in no way influenced by anyone else.
This book surprised me. I'm normally not one for what could be described as "Chick Lit" but the description of this book had me interested. The description promised a cast of characters that wind their way through the life of a small-town girl who takes on big-city life. It promised a gorgeous transsexual, groping cop, ditzy quasi-stalking neighbor and a Mr. Higgins like adviser who is trying to help her in everything from learning the ropes to romantic advice to parenting advice. The story takes you through over 30 years of Jill a.k.a. Cherie's life.
The book begins in 2003 with Cherie sitting in her antique shop waiting on a special delivery. When the delivery arrives it launches a flashback that takes up nearly the entire book, taking you back to the beginning of Jill's small-town life. She grows up with an outspoken father, whom she takes after and her religious and prim mother who she can never seem to connect with. In her hurry to get away from her small town life, she marries young and has a daughter, Nikki. Her taste in men isn't exactly stellar and the marriage ends and she quickly needs to make a life for herself and her daughter. After connecting with her friend Kat and at her urging and the urging of her current disastrous boyfriend, she goes to The Jewel Box and ends up with a job as a waitress at a less than proper establishment. But here is where she meets Beau, the owner of The Jewel Box. Beau becomes her adviser and teaches her about life, love and everything in between. Jill becomes Cherie, out of necessity to keep her other life secret and separate from her family who she just doesn't think would understand.
The story really revolves around Cherie and Gabriel, who she meets while working at The Jewel Box. They are very obviously two people who are destined to be together and share a friendship and a love that many of us wish we could have. This isn't a fairy tale love, but one that's surprisingly real, raw and for the most part believable. Life throws everything possible at the couple and it seems that fate wants to keep them apart. Gabe's mother is particularly vicious and made me want to come through the book and throttle her. You may find yourself wanting to slap both Gabe and Cherie for being utterly stubborn and stupid when it comes to love, communication and just generally being rational human beings, but if you stick it out the story really is an engaging and human one.
The cast of characters are varied and vivid. You meet her Delilah, her neighbor, and are at once repulsed but still find yourself laughing at how you almost wish you had someone as brash and vocal as her around. She was a fun secondary character and one that added some much needed laughter to the story. Nikki is Cherie's daughter and you get to watch her grow from a toddler into an amazing young woman and she's the type of daughter that I think many of us would love to have. Gloria is Gabe's mother and trust me when I say she's a character you just love to hate. Evil mother-in-law indeed! Beau the spiritual adviser who stays with her throughout her life through thick and thin. So many characters come in and out of the story but they all feel real and all lend something to the story regardless of how long they stick around. Some you wish would stay longer and some you can't wait till they get shown the door.
The setting was great. You get to travel from the 60's all the way to 2000's and share in all the music, pop culture, politics and everything else in-between along the way. As the story unfolds through the decades, you are treated to a very vivid look at some of the most important events in our immediate past.
A solid 4 stars for The Jewel Box. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a decent romance book with just the right touches of sadness, melancholy and totally incredulous moments. It wasn't overdone, overblown or over sexed. It was just right.
This book surprised me. I'm normally not one for what could be described as "Chick Lit" but the description of this book had me interested. The description promised a cast of characters that wind their way through the life of a small-town girl who takes on big-city life. It promised a gorgeous transsexual, groping cop, ditzy quasi-stalking neighbor and a Mr. Higgins like adviser who is trying to help her in everything from learning the ropes to romantic advice to parenting advice. The story takes you through over 30 years of Jill a.k.a. Cherie's life.
The book begins in 2003 with Cherie sitting in her antique shop waiting on a special delivery. When the delivery arrives it launches a flashback that takes up nearly the entire book, taking you back to the beginning of Jill's small-town life. She grows up with an outspoken father, whom she takes after and her religious and prim mother who she can never seem to connect with. In her hurry to get away from her small town life, she marries young and has a daughter, Nikki. Her taste in men isn't exactly stellar and the marriage ends and she quickly needs to make a life for herself and her daughter. After connecting with her friend Kat and at her urging and the urging of her current disastrous boyfriend, she goes to The Jewel Box and ends up with a job as a waitress at a less than proper establishment. But here is where she meets Beau, the owner of The Jewel Box. Beau becomes her adviser and teaches her about life, love and everything in between. Jill becomes Cherie, out of necessity to keep her other life secret and separate from her family who she just doesn't think would understand.
The story really revolves around Cherie and Gabriel, who she meets while working at The Jewel Box. They are very obviously two people who are destined to be together and share a friendship and a love that many of us wish we could have. This isn't a fairy tale love, but one that's surprisingly real, raw and for the most part believable. Life throws everything possible at the couple and it seems that fate wants to keep them apart. Gabe's mother is particularly vicious and made me want to come through the book and throttle her. You may find yourself wanting to slap both Gabe and Cherie for being utterly stubborn and stupid when it comes to love, communication and just generally being rational human beings, but if you stick it out the story really is an engaging and human one.
The cast of characters are varied and vivid. You meet her Delilah, her neighbor, and are at once repulsed but still find yourself laughing at how you almost wish you had someone as brash and vocal as her around. She was a fun secondary character and one that added some much needed laughter to the story. Nikki is Cherie's daughter and you get to watch her grow from a toddler into an amazing young woman and she's the type of daughter that I think many of us would love to have. Gloria is Gabe's mother and trust me when I say she's a character you just love to hate. Evil mother-in-law indeed! Beau the spiritual adviser who stays with her throughout her life through thick and thin. So many characters come in and out of the story but they all feel real and all lend something to the story regardless of how long they stick around. Some you wish would stay longer and some you can't wait till they get shown the door.
The setting was great. You get to travel from the 60's all the way to 2000's and share in all the music, pop culture, politics and everything else in-between along the way. As the story unfolds through the decades, you are treated to a very vivid look at some of the most important events in our immediate past.
A solid 4 stars for The Jewel Box. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a decent romance book with just the right touches of sadness, melancholy and totally incredulous moments. It wasn't overdone, overblown or over sexed. It was just right.
February 5, 2014
Follow the life saga of a naive young, small town Texas girl from the late 1960's when she was a young newlywed looking to get out of town until the present. Jill Novak is pretty and spunky, but when it comes to the real world and life, she knows almost nothing. At 18 she marries the first guy that promises her a way out of the small town of Lake Jackson, Kent Novak and they are gone. Married life turns out to be a whole lot different than she expected or planned, and it's not all her fault, needless to say it ends in a divorce, but she comes out with Jacy Nicole, or Nikki, a beautiful daughter.
The box follows Jill, from her point of view, in fact this is her retelling her life to the reader of how she got to where she is today. It watches her grown and mature, learn and lose, love and hurt. She makes hard choices to do things that she never thought she would ever do, and she lives with the guilt and grief from them long after they have past. She blames herself for events she had no control over, don't we all sometimes, and yet through it all grows into a reliable able adult.
She is not always the greatest judge of men. She will met the willy boss who uses her, the oversure of himself administrator that thinks he can cure anything with marriage, the handsome rich guy who loves her but she can't love back, her one true love and all the problems that brings, and someone so like her true love that she can't stop comparing them enough to actually love him.
Throughout it all she keeps going, keeps moving and trying to make a life for herself and her daughter. Best of all Nikki grows to be a wonderful young woman, in spite of all she see's her mom go through, or maybe it is because of all she sees. She learns from her mom's mistakes and bumps and takes her time and she is a treasure.
You will cry along with the book as you watch her with her true love try to be together, time after time, only for them to allow children and family, and in-laws to come between them. It happens to so many relationships, and I personally have seen the exact thing happen to some friends, so I think I cried even harder, but that is part of what make the book so perfect. The whole story really could have taken place, you can really see this life unfolding, and you can see people you know and love in parts of the book, and people you recognize in other parts and even people you were when you were younger sometimes.
It is a curl up by the fire and take the time to read kind of book, because it will take you a bit to get through. Sometimes you will have to put it down to cry, but you will want to continue to read to see just where it ends. Does true love win in the end, or does the interferences of life keep them apart.
The box follows Jill, from her point of view, in fact this is her retelling her life to the reader of how she got to where she is today. It watches her grown and mature, learn and lose, love and hurt. She makes hard choices to do things that she never thought she would ever do, and she lives with the guilt and grief from them long after they have past. She blames herself for events she had no control over, don't we all sometimes, and yet through it all grows into a reliable able adult.
She is not always the greatest judge of men. She will met the willy boss who uses her, the oversure of himself administrator that thinks he can cure anything with marriage, the handsome rich guy who loves her but she can't love back, her one true love and all the problems that brings, and someone so like her true love that she can't stop comparing them enough to actually love him.
Throughout it all she keeps going, keeps moving and trying to make a life for herself and her daughter. Best of all Nikki grows to be a wonderful young woman, in spite of all she see's her mom go through, or maybe it is because of all she sees. She learns from her mom's mistakes and bumps and takes her time and she is a treasure.
You will cry along with the book as you watch her with her true love try to be together, time after time, only for them to allow children and family, and in-laws to come between them. It happens to so many relationships, and I personally have seen the exact thing happen to some friends, so I think I cried even harder, but that is part of what make the book so perfect. The whole story really could have taken place, you can really see this life unfolding, and you can see people you know and love in parts of the book, and people you recognize in other parts and even people you were when you were younger sometimes.
It is a curl up by the fire and take the time to read kind of book, because it will take you a bit to get through. Sometimes you will have to put it down to cry, but you will want to continue to read to see just where it ends. Does true love win in the end, or does the interferences of life keep them apart.
October 20, 2014
Even though Michelle McCarthy’s book ‘The Jewel Box’ in part plays out in an environment very few of us know many of us know her struggles as a single mom, who just tries to build a life for herself and her daughter Nikki. Jill/Cherie has been raised to look for the “right marriage material” but keeps on falling for men her mother would not have approved. After her first marriage fails she tries to build a better and independent life for herself and find the “right husband”. Michelle McCarthy brings this story to life by masterfully referencing historic events…
“… Houston’s unemployment rate soared in ’73, creating a shortage of homebuilding and erosion within Gabriel’s once booming business. While he pondered his future, I threw myself into my job while shooting for a normal life. So to speak. Attempting to bond with my own family, I made personal pilgrimages to Mother’s.
“Spray starch in a can doesn’t work nearly as well as the boiling method,” Lynn straightened her single strand of pearls.
“Really,” I replied to my persnickety mother. I hadn’t starched one article of clothing since I leaving home….”
Being a history buff but not having lived in the United States at that time I just loved how Michelle McCarthy incorporates these descriptions effortlessly.
“Wheel of Fortune made its television premier in January, Saigon surrendered on April 30th – unofficially marking the end to the Vietnam War, and on July 4th, I attended Willie Nelson’s annual picnic with 90,000 others in Liberty Hill, TX. Phil didn’t appreciate Willie and stayed home. After I eighty-sixed ice-cream from my diet for bikini season, we had zilch in common. The summer of ’75 sizzled while my marriage to Phil fizzled…”
Michelle McCarthy has talent for bringing her characters to life. I loved that Cherie devours books, and quotes them to her customers at the Jewel Box. I also loved Beau, who too reads and has much in common with Jill/Cherie; he seems like the guy all of us hoped to meet, but most of us never did.
“The Jewel Box” is a fabulously entertaining book, which I can highly recommend.
My absolutely favorite scene in the whole book came when one of Jill/Cherie’s lovers, the incompetent Wesley tries to make her stay in the relationship by taking her young daughter hostage and threatening Jill/Cherie at gun point. When Wesley briefly leaves the house with his young hostage, Jill/Cherie is able to call her mother, who likes to worry about posture, perfect manners, and how to starch laundry. I won’t give any spoilers but what ensues id one of coolest and most surprising elements of this novel.
5 stars for this award-winning book
Gisela Hausmann, author and blogger
“… Houston’s unemployment rate soared in ’73, creating a shortage of homebuilding and erosion within Gabriel’s once booming business. While he pondered his future, I threw myself into my job while shooting for a normal life. So to speak. Attempting to bond with my own family, I made personal pilgrimages to Mother’s.
“Spray starch in a can doesn’t work nearly as well as the boiling method,” Lynn straightened her single strand of pearls.
“Really,” I replied to my persnickety mother. I hadn’t starched one article of clothing since I leaving home….”
Being a history buff but not having lived in the United States at that time I just loved how Michelle McCarthy incorporates these descriptions effortlessly.
“Wheel of Fortune made its television premier in January, Saigon surrendered on April 30th – unofficially marking the end to the Vietnam War, and on July 4th, I attended Willie Nelson’s annual picnic with 90,000 others in Liberty Hill, TX. Phil didn’t appreciate Willie and stayed home. After I eighty-sixed ice-cream from my diet for bikini season, we had zilch in common. The summer of ’75 sizzled while my marriage to Phil fizzled…”
Michelle McCarthy has talent for bringing her characters to life. I loved that Cherie devours books, and quotes them to her customers at the Jewel Box. I also loved Beau, who too reads and has much in common with Jill/Cherie; he seems like the guy all of us hoped to meet, but most of us never did.
“The Jewel Box” is a fabulously entertaining book, which I can highly recommend.
My absolutely favorite scene in the whole book came when one of Jill/Cherie’s lovers, the incompetent Wesley tries to make her stay in the relationship by taking her young daughter hostage and threatening Jill/Cherie at gun point. When Wesley briefly leaves the house with his young hostage, Jill/Cherie is able to call her mother, who likes to worry about posture, perfect manners, and how to starch laundry. I won’t give any spoilers but what ensues id one of coolest and most surprising elements of this novel.
5 stars for this award-winning book
Gisela Hausmann, author and blogger
February 5, 2014
The Jewel Box is a novel based on the memories of main character, Cherie. It is largely composed of her fond recollections of her string of lovers and positive associations with a topless club called the Jewel Box where she was once a waitress in the late 60’s and early 70’s. It was at the Jewel Box that she met the love of her life, although their relationship was rather rocky with a lot of off again/on again drama.
Cherie is something of a tormented soul, always looking for the one silver bullet that will fix her life. The author’s talent lies in her character creation and ability to write complex characters. However, I will admit this gets a bit tedious at times, as she describes the string of dancers at the topless club in sort of mindless succession, and that translated to some of Cherie’s lovers as well. All of the characters she described were funny and quirky, but there were so many (both dancers and lovers) that the story moved along a little too slowly. Perhaps this was part of her painting the character of Cherie as someone you just wanted to shake into sobriety, as in many ways she was largely responsible for the predicament in which she found herself. She was a very real person, and as the novel spans the decades (yes decades from the late 60’s or so to the early 2000’s) you start to wonder when she will finally come to her senses. In this sense the author bit off a little more than she should have, because although she did a great job of fleshing out the character, the reality is life is boring sometimes, and it’s ok to skip to the good stuff. In addition, she sprinkles lots of Texas tidbits to the point where you start to think why yes, everything is bigger in Texas, including trivia and egos. At first it was charming, then it again got tedious, kind of the like the trivia about the various decades.
However, I was impressed when I found out that this was the first book for the Michelle McCarty, as the writing was good (with the exception of a view fragments scattered here and there) and as stated before, she really does a good job of character description. I could Cherie and supporting cast in my head as I read, which is possibly why I could also visualize myself slapping some sense into her at times. A good read, and hopefully the next one will be just as good, if slightly more condensed.
Cherie is something of a tormented soul, always looking for the one silver bullet that will fix her life. The author’s talent lies in her character creation and ability to write complex characters. However, I will admit this gets a bit tedious at times, as she describes the string of dancers at the topless club in sort of mindless succession, and that translated to some of Cherie’s lovers as well. All of the characters she described were funny and quirky, but there were so many (both dancers and lovers) that the story moved along a little too slowly. Perhaps this was part of her painting the character of Cherie as someone you just wanted to shake into sobriety, as in many ways she was largely responsible for the predicament in which she found herself. She was a very real person, and as the novel spans the decades (yes decades from the late 60’s or so to the early 2000’s) you start to wonder when she will finally come to her senses. In this sense the author bit off a little more than she should have, because although she did a great job of fleshing out the character, the reality is life is boring sometimes, and it’s ok to skip to the good stuff. In addition, she sprinkles lots of Texas tidbits to the point where you start to think why yes, everything is bigger in Texas, including trivia and egos. At first it was charming, then it again got tedious, kind of the like the trivia about the various decades.
However, I was impressed when I found out that this was the first book for the Michelle McCarty, as the writing was good (with the exception of a view fragments scattered here and there) and as stated before, she really does a good job of character description. I could Cherie and supporting cast in my head as I read, which is possibly why I could also visualize myself slapping some sense into her at times. A good read, and hopefully the next one will be just as good, if slightly more condensed.
November 6, 2013
Jill is a young woman from a small Texan town who wants to do something big with her life. She had gotten married too soon to a man it took her too long to realise was a stranger but at least she got her beloved daughter Nikki out of it. When her unsatisfactory marriage and dull house-bound life became too much for her to bear, Jill packed her meagre belongings (and toddler Nikki) in her car and headed for a new life in the city. Via circumstances that she would rather not go into, Jill ends up working at The Jewel Box, a better than average gentleman’s club, where owner Beau persuades her to change her name to Cherie and so triggers her path to a new life that occasions echoes patterns of the old.
The Jewel Box is an evocative novel of love, loss and dodgy decisions that is positively steeped in the language and characters of Texas. Michelle McCarty certainly has an ear for dialogue and a real love for the atmosphere of her home state – I’ve only been to Texas once but I loved reading about the accents and eccentricities of Texans as told by a native. I also thought McCarty made excellent use of music to bring Jill/Cherie’s story to life from the 60s through to her reminiscences thirty years later. Novels that involve time slips/flashbacks can be difficult to pull off but McCarty does a great job of keeping the story coherent while recreating the differences between the decades.
Jill/Cherie isn’t exactly an easy character to warm to but McCarty portrays her in the best way possible while still highlighting the foibles that all people are prone to. Some of the decisions that Jill/Cherie made were really infuriating – occasionally I found myself despairing that she would ever learn from her mistakes – but she is saved as a character by the obvious love that she has for her daughter, the warmth she feels for her friends and sister, and the undaunted hopefulness with which she pursues her romances. I didn’t always agree with her choices in men but I did respect the way that Jill/Cherie always followed the path that she believed was right.
I thought that The Jewel Box was an excellent first novel that was engaging and well-paced and featured truly relatable characters. I’m interested to see what Michelle McCarty’s next novel will be like.
The Jewel Box is an evocative novel of love, loss and dodgy decisions that is positively steeped in the language and characters of Texas. Michelle McCarty certainly has an ear for dialogue and a real love for the atmosphere of her home state – I’ve only been to Texas once but I loved reading about the accents and eccentricities of Texans as told by a native. I also thought McCarty made excellent use of music to bring Jill/Cherie’s story to life from the 60s through to her reminiscences thirty years later. Novels that involve time slips/flashbacks can be difficult to pull off but McCarty does a great job of keeping the story coherent while recreating the differences between the decades.
Jill/Cherie isn’t exactly an easy character to warm to but McCarty portrays her in the best way possible while still highlighting the foibles that all people are prone to. Some of the decisions that Jill/Cherie made were really infuriating – occasionally I found myself despairing that she would ever learn from her mistakes – but she is saved as a character by the obvious love that she has for her daughter, the warmth she feels for her friends and sister, and the undaunted hopefulness with which she pursues her romances. I didn’t always agree with her choices in men but I did respect the way that Jill/Cherie always followed the path that she believed was right.
I thought that The Jewel Box was an excellent first novel that was engaging and well-paced and featured truly relatable characters. I’m interested to see what Michelle McCarty’s next novel will be like.
January 29, 2014
`Regrets, I've had a few...'
C. Michelle McCarty lives in Texas, always has, and knows the twang of the accent well - as well as the style of living that comes only from being IN a place for so many years. Though she was born with a love of writing (`I wrote asinine poems and short stories'), events in her life such as school, marriage, childbirth, and divorce forced her to take jobs that actually paid simply to pay her way, jobs such as owning her own hair salon and employment agency to writing ad copy and editing for an online newspaper. Now, Michelle has finally settled into writing full time. THE JEWEL BOX is her debut novel, and quite a testy tale it is covering a period from the wild and uncontrollable 1960s to the early 2000s. But McCarty is in control all the way.
Though the setting of the book opens in 2003, the format is one of recollection and reflection about a life that goes from chaotically raucous to that of an insightful mature woman. Naïve Texan Jill Novak's first husband vanishes, leaving her to support their two-year-old daughter. Needing to survive she finds employment in a strip joint bar called the Jewel Box, fortunately owned by Beauregard Duvalé (or `Beau') who takes on Jill's mess of a life, to the point of changing her name to Cherie and serving as her surrogate father (Jill/Cherie's father is a severe alcoholic) and mentor, keeping her bumpy, drug altered life in line and supported despite his own life-threatening illness. The characters who populate this thoroughly Texan tale - ditzy women, lotharios, total crazies, good and bad choices of men in whom Cherie attempts to find her mate, her quiet grounded sister and her young daughter Nikki (whose take on reality is closer to realistic) - are all well sculpted. There is a lot of rank language as befits a topless bar, enough bed work to keep readers satisfied, a big dose of laughter at times and an equal dollop of tenderness.
McCarty manages her material well - especially the journey from the sixties to the present as it could only be realized in Big Texas. Yes, THE JEWEL BOX is Chick Lit, but that we all know means it is bound to sell many copies to women searching for outlets and their own reassurance of their identity. It is a feisty and colorful read.
Grady Harp
C. Michelle McCarty lives in Texas, always has, and knows the twang of the accent well - as well as the style of living that comes only from being IN a place for so many years. Though she was born with a love of writing (`I wrote asinine poems and short stories'), events in her life such as school, marriage, childbirth, and divorce forced her to take jobs that actually paid simply to pay her way, jobs such as owning her own hair salon and employment agency to writing ad copy and editing for an online newspaper. Now, Michelle has finally settled into writing full time. THE JEWEL BOX is her debut novel, and quite a testy tale it is covering a period from the wild and uncontrollable 1960s to the early 2000s. But McCarty is in control all the way.
Though the setting of the book opens in 2003, the format is one of recollection and reflection about a life that goes from chaotically raucous to that of an insightful mature woman. Naïve Texan Jill Novak's first husband vanishes, leaving her to support their two-year-old daughter. Needing to survive she finds employment in a strip joint bar called the Jewel Box, fortunately owned by Beauregard Duvalé (or `Beau') who takes on Jill's mess of a life, to the point of changing her name to Cherie and serving as her surrogate father (Jill/Cherie's father is a severe alcoholic) and mentor, keeping her bumpy, drug altered life in line and supported despite his own life-threatening illness. The characters who populate this thoroughly Texan tale - ditzy women, lotharios, total crazies, good and bad choices of men in whom Cherie attempts to find her mate, her quiet grounded sister and her young daughter Nikki (whose take on reality is closer to realistic) - are all well sculpted. There is a lot of rank language as befits a topless bar, enough bed work to keep readers satisfied, a big dose of laughter at times and an equal dollop of tenderness.
McCarty manages her material well - especially the journey from the sixties to the present as it could only be realized in Big Texas. Yes, THE JEWEL BOX is Chick Lit, but that we all know means it is bound to sell many copies to women searching for outlets and their own reassurance of their identity. It is a feisty and colorful read.
Grady Harp
February 4, 2014
The Jewel Box, by Michelle McCarty, is a unique and interesting romance novel. I was hooked by the first quote…”A wise man once told me the universe drops bizarre beings into our lives for the purpose of developing our souls”…and then main character Cherie’s response: “Apparently the cosmos deems my soul a work in progress, because here comes another dose of crazy.” And herein starts the story, with Cherie having an extended flashback of her full and more-than-interesting life in which she has come full circle (which makes for a nice rounded ending, but then I’m getting ahead of myself).
Set over a thirty-year timespan, we relive her journey from a young twenty-something timid and self-deprecating Jill Novak to the independent and mature Cherie of now, from the late 1960s through to the year 2013. Along the way, we meet the characters who have shaped the person she becomes, including her spiritual guide ‘Beau’, her soul-mate ‘Gabriel’ (with whom, at one point, she describes her relationship as being “an emotional downpour of unsalvageable love”…love it!), her beloved daughter ‘Nikki’ and her crazy friend ‘Delilah’, amongst others.
The main focus of the story is on Cherie’s on again-off again relationship with Gabriel…turbulent, to say the least, and probably not helped by the fact that Cherie herself describes herself as ‘Little Miss Dysfunctional’ and him as the ‘Heartbreak Kid’. However, the story is padded out enough so that it’s not just a one-dimensional look at their romance alone, and I appreciated the author’s attempts to bring life and interest to the story by building up the other characters and paying attention to the settings (with some great references to music and the current events of the times being described).
Although I found the story slightly long-winded at times (believing it could have been cut down in parts to flow seamlessly), overall, I enjoyed it and was surprised to read it is the authors’ first published novel. I particularly liked the use of ‘kismet’ and the Jack of Clubs cards which never failed to turn up at opportune moments.
An authentically real, warts-and-all look at the progression of a young mum and woman who, like the rest of us, battles the ups and downs of life in search of happiness.
Set over a thirty-year timespan, we relive her journey from a young twenty-something timid and self-deprecating Jill Novak to the independent and mature Cherie of now, from the late 1960s through to the year 2013. Along the way, we meet the characters who have shaped the person she becomes, including her spiritual guide ‘Beau’, her soul-mate ‘Gabriel’ (with whom, at one point, she describes her relationship as being “an emotional downpour of unsalvageable love”…love it!), her beloved daughter ‘Nikki’ and her crazy friend ‘Delilah’, amongst others.
The main focus of the story is on Cherie’s on again-off again relationship with Gabriel…turbulent, to say the least, and probably not helped by the fact that Cherie herself describes herself as ‘Little Miss Dysfunctional’ and him as the ‘Heartbreak Kid’. However, the story is padded out enough so that it’s not just a one-dimensional look at their romance alone, and I appreciated the author’s attempts to bring life and interest to the story by building up the other characters and paying attention to the settings (with some great references to music and the current events of the times being described).
Although I found the story slightly long-winded at times (believing it could have been cut down in parts to flow seamlessly), overall, I enjoyed it and was surprised to read it is the authors’ first published novel. I particularly liked the use of ‘kismet’ and the Jack of Clubs cards which never failed to turn up at opportune moments.
An authentically real, warts-and-all look at the progression of a young mum and woman who, like the rest of us, battles the ups and downs of life in search of happiness.
May 19, 2013
I interrupted my usual mystery reads for this humorous fiction with an equal blend of passion and compassion. I found a real treasure in The Jewel Box and read it in less than three days. The book begins with witty dialogue between sophisticated shop owner Cherie and her low-brow friend, Delilah. A bond that ties their friendship is mouthy Delilah teasing about digging up bones from Cherie's past. The story covers thirty years in Texas with three main characters who are thoroughly developed by Ms. McCarty. Even secondary players are well described and I was hooked by the writer's humor as she introduced a mixed bag of unusual suitors, and girlfriends as varied as night and day. From spunky best friend and sexually liberated Kat, to spiritual and intellectual soul-sister Patrice, clingy Delilah, hippie babysitter Rachel --- all shined in the spotlight, even if their time was short lived.
As stated, my normal genre is not romance, but this was one with grit, and one in which the protagonist (Jill-Cherie) somehow manages to right a ton of wrongs she commits in earlier years. I was super impressed with her daughter, Nikki, who became a well-adjusted adult despite being dragged along on her mother's rocky roller coaster ride.
I believe everyone adored (and many female readers fell in love with)Beau, Cherie's "spiritual guide through sin city."
The Jewel Box highlights moments from the mystical, laid-back Age of Aquarius through the materialistic, high-speed Internet era, which offered interesting insight. I loved the fabulous background music and references to the political climate, which conveyed the nations rocky terrain and subsequent growth, paralleling it with that of the main character. Kudos to Ms. McCarty's for her extensive research (yes, I double check facts)!
This is a fun, touching and enlightening read for everyone, not just women, not just Texans, and not just romance readers. It's really more about girlfriends, father-daughter relationships and characters so believable and enduring you either want to kiss them or hiss them!
Put it on your must read list!
As stated, my normal genre is not romance, but this was one with grit, and one in which the protagonist (Jill-Cherie) somehow manages to right a ton of wrongs she commits in earlier years. I was super impressed with her daughter, Nikki, who became a well-adjusted adult despite being dragged along on her mother's rocky roller coaster ride.
I believe everyone adored (and many female readers fell in love with)Beau, Cherie's "spiritual guide through sin city."
The Jewel Box highlights moments from the mystical, laid-back Age of Aquarius through the materialistic, high-speed Internet era, which offered interesting insight. I loved the fabulous background music and references to the political climate, which conveyed the nations rocky terrain and subsequent growth, paralleling it with that of the main character. Kudos to Ms. McCarty's for her extensive research (yes, I double check facts)!
This is a fun, touching and enlightening read for everyone, not just women, not just Texans, and not just romance readers. It's really more about girlfriends, father-daughter relationships and characters so believable and enduring you either want to kiss them or hiss them!
Put it on your must read list!
May 31, 2013
Chick lit for smart chicks, an equal blend of compassion and passion, and wicked humor strategically placed. Although the setting is Houston, Tx with a pinch of Galveston thrown in, this not just for Texans or women. Character descriptions are vivid, and non-stop action grabbed me by the seat of my pants and held me enthralled from start to finish. Ms. McCarty shot this story out of the park.
The Jewel Box is about a naïve girl itching to leave her small Texas town and move to more glamorous and exciting places. She does this by rushing into marriage at an early age and moving to Houston. Not an easy transition and certainly one that didn't come without headache and heartache. A failed marriage soon throws lead character into strange environments, that quickly transform small town Jill into big city Cherie. In Houston, Jill-Cherie encounters situations she doesn’t handle with finesse --- characters like a suave salesman who becomes a brutal boyfriend; a transvestite; college girls moonlighting in unlikely places; a low-brow neighbor who douses herself in perfume and flirts shamelessly; a gruff intellect who really confuses her, especially in matters of the heart; a thoughtful, laid back sister offering stability no matter how many mistakes our heroine makes; her levelheaded daughter always trying to keep her on track; an intellectual world traveling friend who claims her as a soul-sister; a disco-dancing blue-blood who tries to buy her love; a charismatic Latino boss fluent in Texas trivia; and most importantly, her surrogate father who sticks around during her 30 year journey doling out advice he hopes will eventually penetrate her skull. Although Cherie finds her one true love, things don’t run smoothly, and the men who come into her life during the interim are amusing in their own right.
It's tough to cram thirty years into three hundred pages without a story seeming rushed in parts, but ignore the few rough spots. Looking for a fun read in a witty novel that also tugs at the heartstrings? This is for you.
The Jewel Box is about a naïve girl itching to leave her small Texas town and move to more glamorous and exciting places. She does this by rushing into marriage at an early age and moving to Houston. Not an easy transition and certainly one that didn't come without headache and heartache. A failed marriage soon throws lead character into strange environments, that quickly transform small town Jill into big city Cherie. In Houston, Jill-Cherie encounters situations she doesn’t handle with finesse --- characters like a suave salesman who becomes a brutal boyfriend; a transvestite; college girls moonlighting in unlikely places; a low-brow neighbor who douses herself in perfume and flirts shamelessly; a gruff intellect who really confuses her, especially in matters of the heart; a thoughtful, laid back sister offering stability no matter how many mistakes our heroine makes; her levelheaded daughter always trying to keep her on track; an intellectual world traveling friend who claims her as a soul-sister; a disco-dancing blue-blood who tries to buy her love; a charismatic Latino boss fluent in Texas trivia; and most importantly, her surrogate father who sticks around during her 30 year journey doling out advice he hopes will eventually penetrate her skull. Although Cherie finds her one true love, things don’t run smoothly, and the men who come into her life during the interim are amusing in their own right.
It's tough to cram thirty years into three hundred pages without a story seeming rushed in parts, but ignore the few rough spots. Looking for a fun read in a witty novel that also tugs at the heartstrings? This is for you.
November 15, 2013
This is so hard for me to review. I was on the fence once I started reading about if I wanted to continue. But it was more of a me thing than an author thing. I enjoyed how Michelle makes you want to read even though my mind kept wanting to be bored. This is a little bit longer than my average read but it felt a lot longer. Kindle and their dang 5000! But every time I went to put this down something would happen and I would read another chapter or two and keep with it. And I wound up being very glad that I did.
Maybe it’s the fact that this is so similar to real life and I enjoy being in a book where you forget about the hardships of life. This is about the hardships and life. There is so much that Jill goes through that I just wanted to curl into a ball and cry for her. But this girl is smart and once she starts getting out from under the influence of really bad people she starts to blossom, which I really enjoyed reading. Being human, she definitely still makes some foibles but she always grows from them which I always enjoy seeing.
And while you’re getting to know Jill’s story there are secondary characters that are just amazing. I fell in love with Beau from the second he was introduced. This guy needs to be around in real life for everyone! You ever have a book boyfriend? Beau is a book guru that needs to come to life. He always has the best advice, even if Jill doesn’t use it!
So, all in all it was a really interesting read. Even though my brain was trying to work against it. Michelle’s writing and character development are simply amazing. Even if you don’t like the characters you can see where they are coming from.
If you’re looking for something a bit different, romance with a trueness to the atmosphere, which I have to say is so nice compared to the love at first sight plots, try this one on for size. You may be surprised!
Oh… one final note. I don’t love the cover. I nearly turned this down because of it. But even if you’re like me and are a cover whore, go with it anyway. I’m sure you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Maybe it’s the fact that this is so similar to real life and I enjoy being in a book where you forget about the hardships of life. This is about the hardships and life. There is so much that Jill goes through that I just wanted to curl into a ball and cry for her. But this girl is smart and once she starts getting out from under the influence of really bad people she starts to blossom, which I really enjoyed reading. Being human, she definitely still makes some foibles but she always grows from them which I always enjoy seeing.
And while you’re getting to know Jill’s story there are secondary characters that are just amazing. I fell in love with Beau from the second he was introduced. This guy needs to be around in real life for everyone! You ever have a book boyfriend? Beau is a book guru that needs to come to life. He always has the best advice, even if Jill doesn’t use it!
So, all in all it was a really interesting read. Even though my brain was trying to work against it. Michelle’s writing and character development are simply amazing. Even if you don’t like the characters you can see where they are coming from.
If you’re looking for something a bit different, romance with a trueness to the atmosphere, which I have to say is so nice compared to the love at first sight plots, try this one on for size. You may be surprised!
Oh… one final note. I don’t love the cover. I nearly turned this down because of it. But even if you’re like me and are a cover whore, go with it anyway. I’m sure you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
December 9, 2013
This is a romance, the story of a Texan woman's love life over two to three decades, starting in the mid sixties. In fairness, I should add this is not the sort of book I would normally read, a fact the reader of this review should keep in mind. The story starts with Jill, or Cherie (her later nickname) being goaded by her boyfriend to earn lots of money in The Jewel Box, a topless bar. Needless to say, she saw very little of the money but got abused, and eventually she got rid of boyfriend, with difficulty. What follows is a chaotic sequence of events, with Gabe, a carpenter who had frequented The Jewel Box, always in the background, and sometimes in the foreground. The story is told rather than shown, but it is well told. At times it is raunchy, at times sad, McCarty has created some truly believable characters, even if I questioned whether they were appropriate. The likes of Voltaire being quoted in a topless bar? The plot is so chaotic that despite the assurances at the beginning that this is completely fictional, I cannot help but think this is really based on a true person, with some fictional additions.
All of which brings up the issue of what does the reader want? The plot is chaotic, and at times it simply wanders. We have no idea why Jill is doing some of the self-destructive things she is doing some of the times, so in a sense there are no lessons there. On the other hand, this is what life can be like – it wanders along with no purpose if the people have no purpose. If what you want is a romance in which the main protagonist almost wanders through the decades and experiences some truly emotional events, then this is a five star book. If you want something a little deeper, I did not see it. I have no idea how accurate the depiction of Texas at the times is, but even if it is wrong, it is highly interesting. It is a highly gripping book much of the time, but occasionally I found it a little frustrating. If this is truly fictional, though, you have here a writer to watch.
All of which brings up the issue of what does the reader want? The plot is chaotic, and at times it simply wanders. We have no idea why Jill is doing some of the self-destructive things she is doing some of the times, so in a sense there are no lessons there. On the other hand, this is what life can be like – it wanders along with no purpose if the people have no purpose. If what you want is a romance in which the main protagonist almost wanders through the decades and experiences some truly emotional events, then this is a five star book. If you want something a little deeper, I did not see it. I have no idea how accurate the depiction of Texas at the times is, but even if it is wrong, it is highly interesting. It is a highly gripping book much of the time, but occasionally I found it a little frustrating. If this is truly fictional, though, you have here a writer to watch.
February 5, 2014
Michelle McCarty knows how to grab a reader’s attention and heart strings. The Jewel Box is a work of fiction that allowed the reader to feel like they made a new friend. It is a sweet romance that spans through the life of a single mother trying to make a living and find Mr. Right.
The Jewel Box covers the twists and turns that Jill’s life takes when she decides to leave an unhappy marriage. When her friend talks her into working at a go-go club, Jill is paralyzed by fear. She starts using the name Cherie and so begins the quest to make something better of herself. While working at the Jewel Box, Cherie meets Beau and Gabriel. These two men will have a profound effect on the rest of her life.
Cherie sees Beau as her spiritual advisor through the rough road of life. Gabriel starts out as a patron of the bar but soon turn into a friend and eventually the love of her life. As with most things with life, there are numerous things that go wrong and work to keep Gabriel and Cherie apart. Will they ever get their chance at true happiness?
After a couple of hit and miss marriages, Cherie finally finds a path where she is content, sort of. She will have to learn to take chances and fight the fear that keeps her from reaching for something more. Beau is her lifeline in keeping her on track. His down to earth attitude and caring nature provide Cherie stability when everything feels like it is falling apart.
I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. I found myself wanting to reach out and comfort Cherie when times got tough for her. I also found myself wanting to shake her silly when I felt that she was not using common sense. These characters had so much depth that I felt like they would walk through the door at any second. This story so captivated me, I read it in one setting. You cannot help but want everything to turn out right.
The Jewel Box covers the twists and turns that Jill’s life takes when she decides to leave an unhappy marriage. When her friend talks her into working at a go-go club, Jill is paralyzed by fear. She starts using the name Cherie and so begins the quest to make something better of herself. While working at the Jewel Box, Cherie meets Beau and Gabriel. These two men will have a profound effect on the rest of her life.
Cherie sees Beau as her spiritual advisor through the rough road of life. Gabriel starts out as a patron of the bar but soon turn into a friend and eventually the love of her life. As with most things with life, there are numerous things that go wrong and work to keep Gabriel and Cherie apart. Will they ever get their chance at true happiness?
After a couple of hit and miss marriages, Cherie finally finds a path where she is content, sort of. She will have to learn to take chances and fight the fear that keeps her from reaching for something more. Beau is her lifeline in keeping her on track. His down to earth attitude and caring nature provide Cherie stability when everything feels like it is falling apart.
I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. I found myself wanting to reach out and comfort Cherie when times got tough for her. I also found myself wanting to shake her silly when I felt that she was not using common sense. These characters had so much depth that I felt like they would walk through the door at any second. This story so captivated me, I read it in one setting. You cannot help but want everything to turn out right.
December 29, 2013
I received this book to give an honest review.
Just by reading the blurb I probably would not have picked this book up only because it is not my normal type of a read. But I am so glad I was given the opportunity to read it because I was sucked into the story from the beginning.
You are reading into the life of Jill who later on goes by the name Cherie and the ups and down of her life. She honestly can not seem to find happiness and when she does it is like something that is forbidden. I have to say favorite character was Beau Duvale who was the owner of the Jewel Box that Jill first worked out. It is a topless bar and no matter how many times she would quit because of a man Beau still let her come back and kept giving her advice to help her out. Not only that he is a lover of books the classic kind.
While working there Jill finds her true love, Gabriel O'Quinn and let me say he is just a guy you would remember. But with Jill and Gabriel getting together it seems that fate is not ready for them two to be together at this time. They both go through ups and downs of their own, they end up finding themselves after an emotional roller coaster. I found myself at times wanting to put them both in a room and say your not coming out until you realize the love you two have for each other. The ending was a WOW! Loved it.
You are introduced to some pretty cool characters, some that will drive you just as batty as they did Cherie. This story takes place between 1969-2003 and it doesn't confuse you with that so that is a good. But there is a lot of information within the story. I really am going to keep my eye on this author as I like her writing style and story she can weave together.
Just by reading the blurb I probably would not have picked this book up only because it is not my normal type of a read. But I am so glad I was given the opportunity to read it because I was sucked into the story from the beginning.
You are reading into the life of Jill who later on goes by the name Cherie and the ups and down of her life. She honestly can not seem to find happiness and when she does it is like something that is forbidden. I have to say favorite character was Beau Duvale who was the owner of the Jewel Box that Jill first worked out. It is a topless bar and no matter how many times she would quit because of a man Beau still let her come back and kept giving her advice to help her out. Not only that he is a lover of books the classic kind.
While working there Jill finds her true love, Gabriel O'Quinn and let me say he is just a guy you would remember. But with Jill and Gabriel getting together it seems that fate is not ready for them two to be together at this time. They both go through ups and downs of their own, they end up finding themselves after an emotional roller coaster. I found myself at times wanting to put them both in a room and say your not coming out until you realize the love you two have for each other. The ending was a WOW! Loved it.
You are introduced to some pretty cool characters, some that will drive you just as batty as they did Cherie. This story takes place between 1969-2003 and it doesn't confuse you with that so that is a good. But there is a lot of information within the story. I really am going to keep my eye on this author as I like her writing style and story she can weave together.
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