Alligators in the trees

by Cynthia Hamilton

Frank’s Coffee Shop on Manhattan’s Lower East Side becomes a safe haven for Tobias Jordan, a paparazzi-phobic 90s rock star, drawn to the obscurity of the dingy hole-in-the-wall, and Philip Glessner, a disgraced architect, who ducks inside to elude a posse of blood-thirsty reporters. What keeps both coming back is their waitress, Priscilla Vanderpool, who becomes an improbable paragon of virtue to the shell-shocked Philip, and an unwitting muse to gifted and jaded Tobias. But neither man sees her as she really is: a philosophical hard-luck case with a quick wit and a twenty-year habit of penning insightful and haunting lyrics that no one has ever heard. Alligators in the Trees—a line from one of Priscilla's songs—symbolizes the bugaboos that lurk in the minds of all three characters: in Tobias, the fear he's lost his talent, and that his string of model-mistresses will be the downfall of his soul; in Philip's guilt-ridden conscience as he struggles with the collapse of his most touted building and the prospect of losing custody of his daughter if he doesn't meet his estranged wife's demands; in Priscilla, the fear of actually making a decision about her life instead of always taking the path of least resistance. Fate intervenes and forces all three to act on their true desires.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

390 pages, Paperback

First published December 3, 2011

About the author

Cynthia Hamilton started writing 2000 as a means of coping with a debilitating illness. Writing gave her lifeline and a way to channel her overly-active imagination. Late-stage Lyme disease turned out to be a blessing in disguise, giving her a career she never imagined for herself, one that constantly inspires her.

Cynthia writes in a variety of genres: mysteries/general fiction/memoir. She is currently working on the 9th book in the Madeline Dawkins Mystery Series, and is still finding tremendous inspiration from her protagonist.

FINDING RUTH, the book she wrote to understand her mother's life from her POV, was the 1st Place Winner in the Firebird Book Awards in the Women's Fiction and Relationships categories.

Cynthia recently attended a book signing Q & A at Chaucer's Bookstore in Santa Barbara. You can click on the link below to watch the interview:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEaLu...

During an interview on SPEAK UP TALK RADIO hosted by Pat Rullo, she spoke about her books and the role writing has played in her life:

https://www.speakuptalkradio.com/cynt...

Cynthia lives in Santa Barbara, California with her husband and their extended family. She loves reading, writing, discussing books with other book lovers, and walking for hours, especially on the beach. She considers herself immensely fortunate.

You can also find her at http://cynthiahamiltonbooks.com, Twitter (@AuthorCynthiaH), and Facebook: http://bit.ly/2IDnLcF

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting story about two men and one woman whose lives become intertwined. Priscilla, a woman who cannot get her life together, provides inspiration for these two men and helps them straighten out their lives before she figures out what to do with hers.

[Letisha Stanton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fascinating read. I found once I sat down and started to read, I was completely addicted to the characters. Being wrapped up in a book has never been easier.

[Candy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Priscilla is a waitress at Frank’s Coffee Shop, a dive in Manhattan. She is in her early 30’s and is going nowhere fast. Her track record with boyfriends is lousy, to say the least. She seems to only attract guys that are unable to find direction in their lives.

Enter Phillip and Tobias. Separately they both find their way into Frank’s Coffee Shop and into Priscilla’s life.

Phil has been eating breakfast, if you can call it that, at the coffee shop for months now. By the way he dresses, Priscilla knows he doesn't belong there. She suspects something must have gone terribly wrong in his life to bring him to a dump like Frank’s.

Priscilla recognizes Tobias Jordan, singer, songwriter and musician for the band Absent Among Us. She wonders what misfortunes have brought him to venture into Frank’s seedy coffee shop.

Three interesting characters whom fate has brought together.

Phil persuades Priscilla to go out to dinner with him. During the course of the evening, Priscilla learns about Phil’s troubles. He is a well known, award winning architect, whose building The Phoenix started to collapse and is scheduled to be demolished soon. His reputation is gone and now no one will hire him. He is in terrible financial trouble since he has invested all his money into this project. To top it off, his wife is divorcing him!

Tobias is trying to make a comeback but has lost his ability to write a meaningful song. The day he stumbles into the diner and meets Priscilla changes that as she inspires him to write more. Looking for more inspiration from her, he tracks her down to her apartment and learns she writes amazing lyrics. He convinces Priscilla to sell him stacks of journals, filled with her writings. After reading through them he goes back to her apartment but she has moved out. He feels lost with out her; she has become his muse. Will fate bring them together again?
These two men feel like Priscilla is the answer to their problems. They persuade her to help them, but Priscilla has some issues she needs to work out in her life too. She is determined to start her life over and for once not take the easy way and cruise through life.

It was fun walking through the Manhattan, going into little dive bars to high class joints; seeing a variety of sides of life in the city.

This story was an interesting look at three very different lives. Each one of them has to look deep within themselves, which is not always easy. I enjoyed reading it and was really into it, when I thought it was cut short. I didn’t feel like Tobias’s story was finished at all and I would have liked to have a little more closure with Priscilla’s story. The good news is there is a sequel in the works that starts up right where Alligators in the Trees leaves off!

I was provided a copy of the book for review by the author.

[Melanie Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alligators in the Trees is an artfully written tale weaving together the lives of three New Yorkers from vastly different walks of life. Ms Hamilton has a true talent for creating her characters; I really felt like I got inside their world, got to know them and appreciate how they played out their story with one another. They are likable, interesting, sometimes ornery and best of all believable! I love this book as it is full of wit and charm as well as being heartfelt and truly unpredictable. I especially loved the all the song lyrics, very cool. I highly recommend this book!

[John M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Cynthia Hamilton's novel, Lucky at Love, and loved it. Being a serial reader when I discover an author whose work I admire, I moved next to Alligators in the Trees, and found myself similarly intrigued by her superlative writing.

A pair of serendipitous intersections captivated me in reading this fine book: the analysis of the creative process (in this case a singer-songwriter) and a character stalled at a crossroads in her life, desperate for a change. Priscilla, introduced as a diner waitress, deceptively is more than she first appears. Aren't we all? That's part of Hamilton's genius. She familiarizes us with people each of us could easily know in our own lives. These characters drive...and are sometimes driven by...the story, propelling it in directions we can't always foresee. I like that in a work of fiction. I enjoy well-defined characters who draw me into walking, running and tumbling lockstep beside them as they struggle with life's most exacting challenge: a relationship. Love is the ultimate quest. Hamilton understands this and carefully lets her characters guide us through their often circuitous pursuit of love.

Alligators is a love story, but it is so much more than that. Hamilton's writing...her exceptional talent for characterization, plotting and description...elevate this novel and imbue it with literary qualities that allow it to straddle several genres (the limitations of genres irritate me, just so you know). The fullness of Priscilla's character...each spiky, barbed imperfection and noble inclination...impressed me. Priscilla, a protagonist with depth, for most of her life found soulful expression through writing lyrics to songs only she heard. Whether consciously or unconsciously, I think we all crave creative expression, and Hamilton gives voice to that desire through Priscilla. She finds herself playing the role of muse to two wholly different men, and finding in each a sampling of the fulfillment she herself craves.

Striking a familiar chord (sorry for the pun, as an amateur singer-songwriter I couldn't help myself), she finds herself confronted with options. As any worthy choice should be, it is not an easy one, with stakes that are high, and risks that are great. Her choice might surprise you. It might surprise Priscilla herself. But one thing that I admire about Hamilton as a writer: the happy endings of her characters are earned. There are no casual gifts.

I'm drawn to writing that opens a character, that peels back the crust and bares the soul. Relationships, love: the most important connections we all make in life. Hamilton masterfully diagrams these for us, with descriptive force and insightful reflection. One such insight that had me nodding in agreement as a I read along with her writing is how people so often try to imbue another with the qualities they want that person to embody. When relationships fail, they do so sometimes because we establish in the other person a set of properties we're trying to find, rather than what we should have discovered.

Put Cynthia Hamilton's novels on your "to read" list. You will not be disappointed.

John M. McNamara

[Kimberly Raimondi-rinyu · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure how to express my feelings for this book. It was one of those books I didn't want to put down - it held my curiosity, wanting to know the next move of each of the 3 main characters. As the story progressed , I had torn feelings for how I thought it might end, or which direction it would go. I loved this book until the end. It left my empty, confused and questioning. - what happen? Without giving away spoilers, I'm sitting here wondering what happens next for one of the main characters ? I did love this book and will prob read others by this author- just wished she gave me a little more at the end.

[Pernette · Rating 2 out of 5]

The characters are likable enough. Though they had problems dealing with other people and indecisive about what they wanted to do. The story line is not bad. However, this book just dragged. I could not wait for it to end.

[Carolyn Injoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free kindle copy of Alligators in the Trees by Cynthia Hamilton from Amazon. Sadly, I rated it a three.


I did like the characters. Priscilla is a lyric writing waitress. Phil is a down on his luck architect who had a daughter that is his saving grace. Tobias is a former rock star. They intersect at Frank's a dive of a restaurant. It started out with a lot of potential but have to admit it DRAGGED. I kept thinking it would improve but there was too much introspection & chatter that ruined it for me.

"'Greed & resentment make for strange bedfellows,' Philip replied." He's discussing his pending divorce with his attorney.

"Naturally, Martin's reasons were purely self-serving." That is in reference to the amoral attorney helping Philip in regard to his collapsed building & in his divorce proceedings.

"...sometime before Priscilla figured out Brawny was yet another emotional defective. She realized now that she was a beacon for misfits, a safe refuge for those unqualified to navigate life's twists & turns." She was ready to journal more about these qualities she discovered but seemed unable to change her actions.

"It didn't surprise her she'd been given half a talent. It was just another cosmic joke to keep the fates amused." She was a prolific lyric writer but didn't know how to write music to go with them. That's where her encounter with Tobias, a has-been rock star hoping for a comeback made a difference for both of them.

"Had he gone soft living the good life, turning himself into the butt-end of one of his own jokes? She laughed, appreciating the irony of the scornful becoming the scorned." This is after she met Tobias while she was working as a waitress at Frank's, a cook who could ruin coffee.

"He saw the girl she had been and the woman she'd never be." This was an impromptu lyric that came to mind.

"Because of the way the chair forced him to sit, any impetus remaining in him to do anything else was easily overcome by the sheer force of gravity. It would take more energy than he could muster to get out of the thing, so he decided he'd just have to sit there all night." This was Philip describing his bout with depression. This is an apt description.

"...decades--concentrated doses of creative brainstorming mixed with the stirring vibes of female nearness, what Tobias referred to as 'cosmic purring.'"

Tobias knows his marriage is ending. "Nor did he believe she [Monique] had any emotional dependence on him. They were simply keeping their feet on the treadmill, going through the motions of marriage"

"Tobias filled the Jacuzzi tub and submerged himself. He was as crinkled as a gherkin when he emerged, but the static drone in his brain had cleared & his flesh was showing signs of life. This was the new lifestyle he had made for himself by moving into a hotel suite.

Back to Priscilla & her introspection. "She had reached the point in the honest assessment of her life where she had become immune to the sense of humiliation or failure. Everything now struck her as hopelessly absurd & every new revelation made her shake her head with weary wonder."

This was the place in the story line that made me begin to hope things would improve. And of course there was much more of the same. I wished she would follow through on her goal to leave New York for Florida & be done with the nonsense. She didn't.

I would recommend this book for anyone who wants a lot of 'dialogue'.

The following video has nothing to do with the book other than the aliigator title. It's more exciting.



Link to purchase: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006...

[Cristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Il lettore perdoni il mio inglese che nonostante tutti i miei sforzi non raggiunge il livello che vorrei. Sigh.

Here are the stories of Priscilla, a waitress, Phil, an Architect in a dire financial situation (he's also divorcing) and Tobias, former Rock star, with the required wife, model girlfriend, expensive and superficial life style, and creative crisis. All of them are at the verge of a tourning point in their lives.

In a way, this is the same old story: girl meets two men, Mister right, and Mister not so right (but hot). Whom will she choose? But the three characters are interesting and compelling, and Priscilla is - imho - a strong heroine, that grows a lot and becames a better person. So does Phil, and, in a way Tobias (I didn't like him so much, he is a little too selfish for my testes, but his story is not finished, yet, as the book ends with a little cliffhanger).

All in all I liked this book but, I must admit, I skipped trough the pages at times.

****

Il libro racconta la storia di tre personaggi, Priscilla, una cameriera che lavora in una bettola in cui il cibo è a stento edibile (mi ricorda molto l'ambientazione di un telefilm famoso negli anni Ottanta, Alice, con cuoco pataccato e cibo altamente insano), Phil, un architetto talentuoso e famoso, in disgrazia e divorziando, Tobias, ex famosa rock star in crisi creativa.

Phil e Tobias - separatamente - cominciano a frequentare il locale dove lavora Priscilla e ne vengono colpiti. Phil ha quasi una cotta per lei, e Tobias la fa diventare la sua musa. Priscilla, in breve e senza troppe motivazioni, diventa la soluzione ai vasti problemi di entrambi. Ma Priscilla stessa ha i suoi problemi e sta cercando di trovare il coraggio di cambiare vita.

Al fin della fiera, il racconto (pur dettagliato, pur approfondito, pur interessante) di queste tre vite si può riassumere in "ragazza incontra uomo giusto, ma prima di arrivare a capire che è l'uomo giusto, deve finire nel letto dell'uomo sbagliato". Dalla sua ha dei bei personaggi, come detto interessanti e ben descritti, e la capacità di descrivere - a me pare bene - una New York affascinante e complessa.

Contro, è un poco tanto lungo, e il finale è aperto (il che dopo tutte quelle pagine lascia un poco così @_@).

[John Dolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Alligators in the Trees’ is a gentle meditation on relationships and self-doubt, and centres around three main characters living in New York City. Priscilla is a thirtysomething waitress in a greasy spoon restaurant presided over by its volatile owner, Frank. Lacking in confidence, and disillusioned by too many unsatisfactory relationships, Priscilla appears to have reached a dead end in her life and dreams of heading south to start anew – but to start what exactly? Philip is an architect whose sinking building project appears to have scuppered his high-flying career. On top of that, his wife is suing for divorce, and he risks losing access to his beloved daughter. Tobias is a middle-aged rock star with a penchant for younger women, and is plotting a comeback but suspects his muse may have deserted him.
When fate throws these individuals together, all their lives are changed forever.
Ms. Hamilton has an engaging style, and although her characters are in some way damaged, the writing never becomes gloomy or heavy-handed. She also carefully avoids proselytising, letting the reader make up his own mind about the protagonists. Unusually for a writer in this genre, the author gives us time to get to know her main characters, while the minor players are sketched with a few deft strokes of the virtual pen. The alternating points of view provide interest to the narrative, and give texture and variety to the proceedings. The novel is nicely paced (mirroring the various areas of NYC), and one is never entirely sure how the various plotlines will resolve themselves.
I highly recommend this feel-good book. It’s just the ticket to restore a jaded mind.

[Stacye · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting, if somewhat predictable story about well-developed characters. It's clear the author did her homework. My only dissatisfaction was with the dialogue. I found it stilted and peppered with words and phrases not usually used in casual conversation. Several times I actually stopped and read the passage again, just to be sure I didn't add a word or something. There were also a couple of misspelled words and words used incorrectly. These things made me wonder just how much editing this book received before it was published.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars

Alligators in the Trees is such a wonderful story from the ever-talented Cynthia Hamilton. I have read many of Ms. Hamilton’s books now and she never ceases to amaze me by how versatile a writer she is. From mysteries, to romance, powerful non-fiction, and even humorous chick-lit- she masters them all. Ms. Hamilton’s clever and creative stories never fail to cast their spell on me, easily pulling me in and keeping me engrossed from beginning till end.
I really didn’t know what to expect going into this book- the title was intriguing but really didn’t give too much away. Even after reading the blurb, I still wasn’t sure that I would be blown away by the story. Of course, I knew it would be a ‘good’ read- because Ms. Hamilton wrote it, but I still had my reservations. But boy-oh-boy did she show me- I should never have doubted her for even a second. This was brilliant, the story captured me right from the get-go, and I couldn’t believe how easily I became invested in the story and the wonderfully quirky, interesting, and strangely endearing characters.
This is what I would class as a character study story- a character driven plot woven around the lives of three mismatched, struggling characters who all happen to end up at the same grungy diner, for different reasons. Little do they realise that ending up at the grimy dive that is ‘Frank’s Diner’ will impact them far more than they ever imagined.
Prolific poetry writer Priscilla Vanderpool took on a job waitressing at Franks as a way of avoiding challenging herself, taking risks, or expecting too much from her life. Her fears have held her back for such a long time. Waitressing is merely a means-to-an-end for her- as she basically stumbled into the job and stayed because she didn’t have anywhere else to be.
Philip Glessner had a thriving architectural firm and a stellar reputation, until one of his buildings collapsed thus throwing his well-ordered world into chaos- drowning him in a bottomless pit of debt and a mountain of legal woes. It was pure chance that led him to the diner, looking for a place to hide out from pushy reporters. That was months ago, but he returns daily, not for the food- but because he’s developed a crush on Priscilla. So, while his world falls apart, his business fails, and his wife tries to squeeze him dry- Phillip finds some solace in Priscilla's steady and calm demeanour.
Then we meet Tobias Jordan, the reclusive, aging, world-weary, former Rockstar who’s desperately trying to recapture his mojo and recreate his former success. Hiding out from the paparazzi, he ducks into the diner to find a quiet moment to focus his thought and maybe write some new lyrics. But what he never expected was to find a muse there, in the form of Priscilla, who unknowingly ignites his creativity and inspires new songs.
What Ms. Hamilton has managed to create is a beautifully balanced story- with a focus on character development, but not at the expense of the intriguing story that she engineers so beautifully. This story may seem simple, but it is deceptively complex- with many layers, a high degree of detail, a few surprises to keep things unpredictable, and all so vividly descriptive- including the song lyrics that pepper the story and add extra interest. All the elements are cleverly choreographed into quite an impactful read, which I certainly didn’t anticipate- making this all the more memorable.
A true unexpected pleasure, and another glistening gem to add to Ms. Hamilton’s crown.

Thank you, Cynthia Hamilton!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title of the book had me intrigued from the start and it is a line from one of the main characters songs that she has written. The story focuses on three main characters all of whom frequent Frank’s Coffee Shop on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Priscilla Vanderpool works at the coffee shop as a waitress but her passion lies in music and song writing. She has written many insightful and haunting lyrics but she’s the only one who’s ever heard them. The Coffee shop is described as a ‘dingy hole-in-the-wall’ by paparazzi phobic Tobias Jordan who was a rock star in the 90’s, however it soon becomes a safe haven for him. The third main character is disgraced architect Philip Glessner who found Frank’s one day as he was trying to avoid reporters. Both Philip and Tobias keep returning to the shop as they both see something in Priscilla. To Tobias she becomes his unwitting muse and to Philip she is an improbable paragon of virtue, however neither see her for who she really is.
All three main characters are hugely likeable but each has their own demons that they are battling with which also makes them very realistic and relatable as characters. The novel is very character driven and the author has a way of making you become really immersed in their world and invested in their outcomes. It was the characters and the need to know their fates which had me hooked and turning the pages. It’s an original read and an interesting plot that all three are strangers but also connected via Frank’s and how this influences each one of their lives. It’s a rather lengthy book but it’s an easy read as the storyline has enough twists and unexpected moments to keep you guessing and the narrative flows along at a good pace.

[Laura Furuta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alligators in the Trees
By Cynthia Hamilton
5 out of 5 stars

I loved reading the book Alligators in the Trees by Cynthia Hamilton. It is a story that pulled me in from the beginning and didn’t let me go until the final page. It is a book that has amazing characters and had my emotions going up and down the entire time I was reading it. I loved reading about the characters of Tobias Jordan, Philip Glessner, and Priscilla Vanderpool. Each of them has a starring role in this book and the author does an amazing job in making them come alive on the page. Their stories and how their lives intersect kept me turning pages wondering how it all would come out in the end. I found myself caring about Tobias, Philip, and Priscilla with each chapter that I read and wanted them to find happiness. There are moments of sadness as well as touching moments in this story. The three main characters find themselves reflecting on their lives and also sharing their stories. Don’t miss out on a story that grabs your attention from the beginning. It is an intriguing and entertaining tale. I highly recommend it.

[Kerry carr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lovely story and keeps you gripped. The three characters are well written and you can't help but feel every emotion they go through. It's also really good how their lives intertwine with each other considering they are 3 strangers.

Priscilla is a waitress in a run down restuarant. With her boss Frank on her case 24/7 she feels so worn down. She is disillusioned by life and failed relationships. She needs to make a change but doesn't know how.

Philip is an architect who's career was great until one failed project brings his company and his reputation down. Added to this his wife filing for divorce and suing him for everything she can Philip finds comfort in his attraction to Priscilla.

Tobias is a middle-aged rockstar who is trying to rebuild his once budding career but with him losing his muse he is worried that his days of being a popular rockstar is over.

These three strangers with 3 different storys and problems all come together in this book. Can they help to repair each other or are they just 3 strangers who eat/work at the same place.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never found a Cynthia Hamilton novel I didn’t thoroughly enjoy and Alligators in the Trees is no exception to the rule. I loved this one and the adventure it took me on to New York City. I wasn’t sure with a title like Alligators in the Trees what we would be getting but this was a deep, thought provoking read that drew me in right from the start until the very last page.

We meet Priscilla, the main connecting point of three main characters, and the seedy dive bar style coffee shop she works at in New York. She herself has a life she wishes could be better in a lot of ways but when Tobias and Phil walk into the shop things will take off in ways she never expected. Both Phil and Tobias have dark pasts that are currently haunting them and making it difficult to move forward in their lives. They will all have to work hard at their own lives to move forward and the journey is one you won’t want to miss out on following. I am also excited to hear there will be more of this novel in a sequel and I am so here for it.

[Tausha Treadway · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alligators in the Trees by Cynthia Hamilton. I LOVED this book! Its the best story about fate and how things are meant to be happen. Its the story of Priscilla Vanderpool who works at a Frank's Coffee Shop in Manhattan's Lower East Side. Priscilla loves her job but her heart and soul is in music & song writing. She has written several songs but no one has ever heard them. Tobias Jordan is a 90's rock star who is middle aged and trying to rebuild his career. Phillip Glessner is a down and out architect who found Frank one day trying to avoid reporters so they end up in Frank's Coffee Shop and meet Priscilla. Phillip is very attracted to Priscilla and since his wife is divorcing him he feels like she may be just what he needs. As they continue to learn about each other they have connections that could only be fate. Each character has flaws and yet they tend to bring out the best in one another. This is such a fun, sweet book about chance meetings and how life just works out sometimes.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alligators in the Trees
By Cynthia Hamilton
4 stars

When I first saw the title for this book I wasn’t quite sure what to expect but the synopsis sounded interesting so I thought that I would give it a try and I have to say I was quite captivated by what I read. I have read work by this author previously so I knew the writing would be good but I really enjoyed the characters. The way the author wove them together and their stories was really great, I felt like I really got to know them throughout the story. They were all different characters but I really liked all of them and they were believable as people, for me this really helped me connect with them. I liked that the book was really character orientated, it was about them more so than a story – this made the book really enjoyable and different to read.
Overall I really enjoyed this story and would absolutely recommend it to other readers.

[Kerry Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alligators in the Trees by Cynthia Hamilton is a great story about 3 people who all find themselves thrown together as they try to figure out “what next”. This book is an insightful and interesting read. For me this was all about the characters. They all had such differing experiences and yet still all found themselves at the same place, all a little bit lost.
The way the author has written their stories really draws you in. They are so relatable which I think just makes them even better to read about.
Cynthia Hamilton is such a diverse author as well. Every book I have read by her has been different but great. This book is no exception at all. I would love to know whah happens to these characters after the end of the book and the fact that I am still thinking about them now shows just how much they capture your attention. This is a brilliant book and one I would highly recommend.

[Bobbi Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story. This is a story of chance meeting and fate stepping in. This is one of my favorite stories from this author. I found this story to be well written with characters that make the story easy to read and engaging. This is a story about three people who all live in New York and end up meeting each other at Frank’s Diner. How will fate interfere in each of their lives? I enjoyed how they each have their own story but yet fate brought them together for a reason. I also enjoyed watching them grow throughout the story and become the strong characters they are. I won’t say too much about this as I highly recommend reading this book to find out. Find out why fate brought a waitress, architect and a rock star together.

[Erica Fish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can a chance meeting of people change the outlook of people? In this book, there are three people who meet and it changes their life. In a big city like New York, strangers meet and it was fate. Cynthia Hamilton’s story-line is engaging. I was interested to see three strangers meet together and what fate has in store for them. Her characters are engaging and easy to follow. I feel as if I was right there in the story with them. I found myself having many emotions while reading this story. I highly recommend reading this story but will caution you may want to set enough time to read it in one sitting.

[Sunday · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alligators in the Trees by Cynthia Hamilton
Four Stars

Alligators in the Trees was a great story following three different people who work or frequent Frank’s Coffee Shop. All are unique characters and the plot is extraordinarily detailed, and so very interesting. Once I started reading I couldn’t put it down until the end. I enjoyed meeting and following Tobias, Philip and Priscilla through their problems, decision making and life changing processes as they find a way to love their lives again. This story was a truly enjoyable adventure. Cynthia Hamilton did a great job with this book and I look forward to reading more books by her in the future.

[Betsy Melano · Rating 4 out of 5]

The three main characters, Priscilla, Phil, & Tobias, meet in a diner in Manhattan. Each of them have different life experiences and issues they are struggling with and this chance meeting starts their healing process. There were some parts that seem to take it slow, which make it a little hard to keep reading but it didn’t make me stop.

I have read several books by Ms. Hamilton. I love how she creates characters who are interesting, believeable, and hook you into the story because you can connect with them so well.

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the vulnerability this book displayed of each character and not even just the main character. It showed depth to their inner emotions, their drive, ambition and what made them who they are. This book takes us deeper into each characters' lives propelling forward to seek their own inner happiness without falling purely for and through lust. Very captivating read: I very much enjoyed how deep it kept getting because it's human nature to want to be our best selves. Very beautifully done, Ms. Cynthia Hamilton. Bravo!

[Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this novel! The title is amazing and fits the rest of the novel itself. While reading, I found the humor in this novel and it wasn't lost on me either. Cynthia Hamilton has a wicked witty side and she shows it in this novel. Join in on some fun when two male character meet the female lead character. Alligators in the Trees is not only amazing and witty but so different from the other novels I have read that I enjoyed it so much that I thoroughly recommend it for something a little different/

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alligators in the Trees by Cynthia Hamilton is a romantic love triangle story. It is an interesting, and complex read. There is a lot of dialogue as the characters reflect back on their lives and how they got to where they are. Cynthia has a talent for creating complex characters with lots of layers and as the layers are peeled back like an onion, we get a view into their minds and world. The book as it is full of charm and wit but is also full of heartache and regret.

[Jeanne Brewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coming of age at 32?

This is a complex story about a complex life. Lucky for us readers, it was handled with compassion and firmness and love. Characters are beautifully drawn, with all-too-human strengths and weaknesses. Watching Priscilla wend her way to her answers is painful yet instructional. Recommended

[Heather Lovelace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hamilton continues to surprise me in the best possible way. I’ve enjoyed several of her books to date and love how versatile she is skipping between genres. This story is filled with fantastic characters and just a truly touching story line. This book cements Hamilton’s addition to my must read list. If she writes it, I’m buying.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually they are everywhere!

I enjoyed reading this book but it seemed to loose something in the last chapters! I was dissappointed in the character's actions. I felt the ending just came up way too quickly and no real reason why she chose the way she did?

[Kathleen J Kunkle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unusual story but good!

This story is about a young woman trying to find herself. The plot takes her in many different directions in a short span of time. She learns a lot about herself and ends up staying in the city she was trying to escape! Great writing by the author.