The Big 5-OH!

by Sandra D. Bricker

Olivia Wallace has a birthday curse . . . or so she thinks. It was a broken heart on her 16th, a car accident on her 21st, pneumonia on her 30th, and a fall down a flight of stairs on her 35th. There were Ohio blizzards on her 38th, 39th, and 40th; and six days before her 45th, she lost the love of her life to a heart attack. Numbing grief stole that birthday and a couple more to follow and, on the morning of her 48th birthday, she received the call she'd dreaded ever since losing her mom so many years ago . . . she was diagnosed with stage-3 ovarian cancer. The doctors didn't hold out a lot of hope, but Liv survived and maintained her faith. Months of surgeries and chemotherapy and radiation treatments followed. But now, as her 50th birthday creeps up the icy Ohio path toward her, her hair has grown back, her energy level is up, and she is officially cancer free. It makes her nervous. After everything she's gone through, Liv hates the idea of driving on icy roads and returning to work as an O.R. nurse in a local Cincinnati hospital. Her best friend Hallie knows just the thing to break Liv out of the winter doldrums, while providing a safe haven of warmth, sunshine, and a time to regroup: a holiday in the Florida sunshine!

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Christian Fiction, Christian, Chick Lit, Contemporary, Humor

290 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 2009

About the author

Sandra D. Bricker was an entertainment publicist in Los Angeles for more than 15 years, where she attended school to learn screenwriting and eventually taught the craft for several semesters. She became a best-selling, award-winning author of Live-Out-Loud Fiction for the inspirational market, authored books such as the Jessie Stanton novels, and was best known for her Emma Rae Creation series. Over the years, as an ovarian cancer survivor, she spent time and effort toward raising awareness and funds for research, diagnostics, and a cure. Sandra lived in Toledo, Ohio before her passing in 2016.

Reviews

[Debra Ullrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous, fabulous, fabulous! Did I mention, The Big 5-OH was fabulous? *smiling*

The Big 5-OH, is probably Sandra Bricker’s funniest most romantic story yet. Yep. You heard me. I didn’t think she could get any funnier or write a novel with even more romance in it than her other ones. But she’s outdone herself with this one.

Once again, my husband made me stop reading in bed because I laughed so hard I was keeping him awake. I was so bummed since I normally do most of my reading in bed. Then I thought, I can do this. I can control my laughter. I know I can. Well, I was wrong. I couldn’t contain myself. So when hubby gave me that look, I read him one of the scenes that had me guffawing uncontrollably, and the two of us laughed until our laughter sounded as wheezy as Snidely the cartoon dog.

In, The Big 5-OH, you will meet some of the funniest, coolest, orneriest, interesting characters ever. Take for example…

Olivia Wallace. All her life her birthday ends up with some sort of catastrophe or another. And she doesn’t expect the Big 50 to be any different. When her next door neighbor finally convinces her to take a vacation, to spend her 50th birthday, in Florida, Olivia heads out to Florida, where she meets some really interesting people and pets.

First we’ll start with Jared…aka…Drop-dead-gorgeous, M.D., neighbor extraordinaire.

Next there’s Boofer who has, well, let’s just say a problem that no one would want to subject themselves to. Not on purpose anyway. And the space collar it wears adds even more character to the pet’s many charms. And I won’t even mention the rest of the critters she encounters. Human or otherwise.

And we mustn’t forget the trespassing old man who swims laps in Olivia’s pool at the most ungodliness hour ever no matter how many times she asks him not to.

And…I think I’ll stop there. Read it for yourself to discover the rest of the cast.

Let me leave you with this thought…when I buy a romance book, I want it to be filled with romance. And if it has a good dose of humor in it, that’s even better. Well, this book, The Big 5-OH, by Sandra Bricker is loaded with humor and sweet romance throughout the whole novel. So, if you’re looking for a great read, then look no further. The Big 5-OH, will not disappoint.

[R.A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my goodness!!! I burst out laughing at so many things in this book, it was actually quite refreshing! :D

The main character is almost fifty years old, so it's a different kind of read than other books I've read. But I still loved it!!! Liv - the main character - is hilarious! I love all the other characters too ... even grumpy Charles. :D

I'd definitely re-read this sometime!

Content:
There were several kisses and hugs, but not detailed.

I recommend it for 16+

[Andrea Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

by Andrea Renee Cox

What a fun adventure! This story kept me laughing from beginning to end. I will definitely be looking for more books by Sandra D. Bricker.

It reminded me of Beth K. Vogt's first book, Wish You Were Here, with its lightheartedness and crazy adventures.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with Sandie's writing when I read Always the Baker Never the Bride so I was eager to read The Big Five-OH! While my preference is literary fiction, there's nothing like a just plain funny book once in a while to lift the spirits. I laughed out loud many times. The characters are totally relatable and enjoyable, and I couldn't wait to see how it would all turn out in the end. I wasn't disappointed! A very fun read!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: THE BIG 5-0H!
Author: Sandra D. Bricker
Publisher: Abingdon Press
February 2010
ISBN: 978-1-4267-0235-8
Genre: Inspirational/contemporary romance

Olivia Wallace is nearing a landmark birthday—the trouble is that all her birthdays have been bad luck. There was the year her boyfriend was caught making out with another girl at Olivia’s birthday party, the year her husband died, the year she had a broken leg, and the list could go on.

This year, Liv’s best friend decides to help Liv escape the doldrums of the Ohio winter, and sends her down to Florida to house-sit her mother’s house. On the flight down, Liv meets handsome passenger, Jared Hunt, and is stunned to discover Jared is her next door neighbor in Florida. But then Jared’s twenty-five year old son decides to pursue Liv. Liv is flattered, but not interested in a boy half her age. Nor is she interested in the flirtatious octogenarian chasing her.

Jared Hunt’s wife died from cancer several years back, and he has never found another woman who measured up to her until Liv catches his eye. Liv keeps him laughing with her actions, but is there anyway that he can convince her to pull up roots and settle in Florida?

THE BIG 5-OH! is an adorable story that will keep your interest from page one. Liv is a realistic heroine who has a rough road, including a bout with cancer, including radiation and chemo. Cancer survivors will relate, especially with how unattractive Liv feels after having gone through that ordeal.

Add a dog with a lampshade collar, a rogue alligator, and a crazy cast of characters and you have a story that will keep you laughing. Ms. Bricker definitely knows how to write a romance that will have you laughing out loud while cheering the characters on. Don’t miss THE BIG 5-OH! Discussion questions are included at the end of the book. $13.99. 273 pages.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet story with a lot of middle-aged and over fifty humor that was cute. I enjoyed the way each chapter started with a completely different tale that mirrored the story...about a donkey named Prudence. That was especially fun. I also enjoyed the comedy of mishaps and that the characters weren't perfect. There were a lot of great secondary characters in this story including secondary romances. They were fun, too. SO if you like a sweet, contemporary romance with cute humor and imperfect people, this story may just pick up your mood. I enjoyed it.

[Loraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This contemporary Christian romance is filled with love and laughter when a widow and widower meet and fall in love. If you like humor and romance, this delightful novel with each chapter introduced by a parallel children's story will definitely catch your fancy.

[Carly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Olivia Wallace, or Liv, as her friends call her, is a widow and she has just won a battle against ovarian cancer. As her fiftieth birthday approaches, she can’t help but think about her “birthday curse”. For as long as she can remember her birthdays have included some sort of tragedy or misfortune. Liv’s best friend suggests that she take a vacation to Florida to get away from the cold Ohio weather and the birthday curse. What Liv finds in Florida will change her outlook and her life forever.
I could not have read this book at a more perfect time. The day and a half it took me to read this book was cold and snowy and the escape to Florida was the perfect setting. I could almost feel those warm Gulf breezes. Liv travels to Sanibel Island, which is one of my favorite places in Florida. In addition to the perfect setting of this book, I found everything about this book to be a treat. The cast of characters were a delight, especially Liv. We could all learn a lot from her as she learns a lot from God and from those who care about her.
If you are looking for an escape from the cold winter or if you are looking for a book that will warm your heart and leave you feeling happy, you must read The Big 5-0h! It is a nice, light and easy read, but it will leave a lasting impact on your heart. And you will have several laughs along the way. I highly recommend this book.

[Sally906 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Olivia (Liv) Wallace’s 50th birthday is fast approaching and she is getting nervous. Liv is convinced she has a birthday curse. Over the years on her birthday she has had her heart broken, a car accident, blizzards, her husband died and the last disaster was being diagnosed with cancer. What on earth would her 50th bring? Her next-door neighbour and best friend forces Liv to go and house and dog sit in Florida to escape from the winter and the birthday curse and to look at life from a different perspective. And what a perspective it is! Starting with meeting a very lovely man on the plane flight down to Florida, who turns out to be her new temporary next-door neighbour. There is the dog she has to look after who has a temporary lampshade collar and an extreme ‘wind’ problem, an elderly neighbor who swims in her pool every morning at the crack of dawn and wakes her up, a rogue alligator and an early hurricane. Looks like the birthday curse is not going to go away anytime soon.

The BIG 5-OH is a lovely feel good story. There is a gentle old-fashioned romance, solutions to problems and a light touch of Christian faith that doesn’t intrude but leaves a message for the reader.

[Deanna Lynn Sletten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Olivia Wallace has had a rough few years losing her husband and then fighting cancer. She's lost her joy for life. On top of that, she is turning 50 and is fearful of her "birthday curse" because many terrible things have happened on her birthday through the years. Her best friend insists she take a vacation to Florida so she can relax, get some sun and feel refreshed. When Olivia meets a handsome doctor in Florida, her outlook does get brighter and that's when the fun begins!

The Big Five-OH! is a fun romance novel and a lighthearted read. If you enjoy a good, clean romance novel, this is the book for you. This is also a Christian novel, so don't be surprised when a few prayers pop up. Overall, I enjoyed this book and think it would be the perfect book to take along on vacation or to the beach.

[Hillari DeSchane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sandra Bricker's The Big 5-0' details the challenges standing between about-to-turn-50 Olivia 'Liv' Wallace and a new love and life.

Liv feels stuck and blue and just plain Eeyorish about the future course of her life. Excerpts from a children's book about a woebegone donkey present Liv's rationalizations with a light touch.

During a Florida vacation, Liv dares to open herself to one new experience after another, including the possibility of love with Jared. The headlong rush of Jared's 20-something son into marriage after a two-week courtship both shocks and exhilarates Liv and Jared. Could sensible, rational 50-somethings be as rash? Or brave?

General readers should know that Christian faith is a consistent element in this story. It is presented in a realistic way (e.g. no sudden drop-to-the-knees conversions) and is a natural part of the unwinding of the plot.

Yes, this is a light read. The characters are all really as nice as they seem (no hidden sociopaths here) and their problems are resolved by the end of the book. But that doesn't mean Bricker ignores reality. Liv has survived cancer; she has lingering health consequences and insecurities. Her quite reasonable concern about employment is part of the resolution of the story. The desire of mature and senior adults to love and be loved, and the challenges of aging alone, are presented in the romantic rivalry between Liv and Jared's ever-hopeful nurse, and by Liv's octogenarian suitor who suffers a health crisis.

The humor is light and unforced, and the ending left me smiling. Truly a satisfying and feel-good read.

[GoldenjoyBazyll · Rating 4 out of 5]

TOTALLY FUN READ!!!! Liv is turning 50 and she is dreading it. Well... not the turning 50 part.... just her birthday. Aomehow disaster strikes on every one of her birthdays.

She's been through a rough year when the book begins... just recovered from ovarian cancer/ chemo and is trying to getr psyched back up to go back to work as an OR nurse BUT.... she just cannot. So... like any self respecting woman... she takes the advise of her best friend and takes a holiday in Florida. Liv goes to her best friends mothers house and the mother goes to see the best friend. The only remenants left behind are a cranky/ hard of hearing elderly man that swims laps in the pool at ungodly hours in the morning.... a smalldog with a BIG farting problem AND a sexy next door neighbor (who she happens to meet on the plane going to Fla).

The book is often predictable however.... hillarious and heart warming quite often. This is just a nice way to pass a few hours when you are lookig to be entertained. After you read it you will want to take a break in Fla as well.... hummmmm maybe I should break down and just buy that condo I have been talking about! ;)

[Valerie Comer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Olivia Wallace is approaching her fiftieth birthday. Now probably this isn’t the kind of major milestone we look forward to–at least it wasn’t for me!–but we’re all going to get there sooner or later if we live long enough. But Olivia has a special dread for it, because she has a ‘birthday curse.’ Something has gone wrong around the time of many of her major birthday celebrations. Not little things, either. The death of her husband a few years back and, for her 48th, a diagnosis of cancer were only two of her birthday gifts.

Her next-door neighbor sends Olivia to Florida to house-sit the neighbor’s mom’s house, a great escape from both an Ohio winter and the birthday curse, or so Liv hopes. Whatever trauma Liv has gone through on previous birthdays, this one will be different. And it is, hilariously so.

From an elderly neighbor who swims in her pool every morning at the crack of dawn to the dog with the lampshade collar, Liv is not having quite the vacation she expected. Because there is also the man-next-door–and his flirtatious twenty-something son. And don’t forget the alligator.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am going to ignore the religious vein running through this book, which was for me just a needless distraction and obviously something the author felt desperate to include. Once I got over that there was this need I enjoyed the story.

As the title suggests Olivia is fast approaching 50, she has lost her husband and has survived ovarian cancer. But she has been convinced that every birthday is cursed so she doesn't look forward to this one.

Hallie is Liv's best friend and suggests that while her mother Josie is visiting her that Liv should look after Josie's house in Florida. She is practically pushed onto the plane and finds herself in Florida! On the plane she meets Jared Hunt, and discovers that he is Josie's neighbour, but seriously what is the point of letting her emotions win, she is cursed after all!!

A lovely story - 1 star off for the religiousness

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was ridiculous. Good thing it was a Kindle freebie. Christian fiction generally isn't my bag, and I didn't find this too over the top. But the story and the writing were just... silly. I know it wasn't supposed to be a Pulitzer prize novel or anything, but there were too many coincidences and cliches. How convenient that the heroine meets a handsome man on the plane who turns out to live next door to where she was staying?

And I found myself overly sensitive to the random Cincinnati references. I'm born and bred here, and most of the references seemed so odd, like the author had just looked at a map and decided to add random places. Is Winton Woods any Cincinnatian's favorite place? And are there beautiful old churches that overlook it? I don't think so.

[Bev · Rating 3 out of 5]

After tackling a few heavy-duty novels this summer, I decided to opt for a little fluff, and this jumped out at me while browsing in the library (most likely because I am about to turn "The Big 5-OH" myself in less than a month!). The book certainly is fluffy, and I found myself rolling my eyes at some of chance happenings surrounding the heroine, but it has a good message about taking risks to change your life for the better and how it's never too late to find a second chance at love. Duly noted.

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had never read this author before. Came across it on my kindle and thought I would try it. I loved the book and the characters. I will definelty look for more of her work. What a funny light hearted book. The main character goes to Florida to rethink life before she starts work again. She lost her husband and survived cancer and is getting to start her old life again. She goes to Florida and meets new friends and a new man. She comes home to her responsibilites but feels unsure about what to do. It all turns out in the end and they lived happily ever after.

[Catherine Richmond]

Everyone needs a girlfriend like Hallie, who will send you to Sanibel Island to meet a handsome man. The short passages of a children's book beginning each chapter reminded me of Susan Elizabeth Phillips' This Heart of Mine. Recommended for fun, but includes a deeper lesson about taking chances and breaking out of ruts.

[Agnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though I am not even close to fifty I picked this book up for free on my Kindle. Not once did I feel bored with Liv's life and her story. It was very down to earth writing with a little humor. A wonderful love story.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the other reviewers mentioned a few problems with the plot (the city is not actually in central Florida as mentioned in the book, one character goes from single to married in two weeks, and everyone is completely at peace with his choice, etc.) All of those are actually valid points--but the bottom line is that the main characters are likeable, the plot is fun and moves along at a nice pace, and the story was enjoyable enough to make me look forward to reading more every day.

Like several others, though, I skipped over the snippets from the children's book; they were odd and didn't add to the story.

Sandie Bricker was a fun writer; I was so sorry to hear of her death.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this sweet story of a woman trying to find her feet after a couple of tough blows. Liv is a nurse who has been recovering from cancer for several months. She is tired, worn, and cold. After all, it's winter in Ohio. Her best friend suggests she spend some time in Florida's Sanibel Island housesitting while the friend's mom comes to Ohio to visit. Liv finally agrees. What follows is a delightful story of finding love again, enjoying life, and taking chances. It is funny, heartwarming, and completely family friendly.

[Kara]

Overall, I enjoyed this read. Sandra D. Bricker really knew how to write good comedic scenes, for sure! Now, this story has a fast-paced romance, which the whole instant-love trope isn't necessarily my preference, so that being said, one might still enjoy this read because I did.

However, it did bother me that Liv compared her new love interest to her deceased husband in the chemistry department. Granted, the reader can infer that Liv truly loved her husband but still...

At times, the characters felt younger than people in their 50s, too, but I guess love will do that to people lol.

[Macy]

I downloaded the audiobook from a site that did not list as a Christian or religious book, which I was not looking for. I was disappointed as I was happy to see a storyline acknowledging people over the age of 30. If you’re okay with a lot of religion in your story than you’ll enjoy this. I stopped listening after a while as it just was too much for my particular tastes.

[Marti Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lighthearted yet compelling second chance romance

I'm not usually a romance reader, but received a recommendation from Avid Readers of Christian Fiction for this book. It was so entertaining while also speaking words of truth. It has just the right amount of romance with other storylines to keep you involved.

[Tari · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute read and a very appropriate one to read on my 50th birthday.

[Claudette Guay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very fast and light reading.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute Christian romance

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

grab the tissues

Great read absolutely loved
I’ve cried so much between happy and sad tears.
It’s funny and tearful and would recommend to a friend.

[Elisabeth Perkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so adorable and a lot of Character Development. The main character from putting trust in GOD again to finding love again with someone unexpected. Will definitely read again!

[Della · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun, light read.