New Attitude

During the botched suicide attempt in the opening chapter, I thought to myself that this book wasn't for me. I'm glad I continued reading, because it quickly became apparent that Marilee was a surviver and she never really intended to take her own life. As dismal as her circumsances seemed, with the help of her quirky friends, she persevered and created a new and much more satifying life for herself. This book was a great lesson in working one's way out of a depression by keeping busy, doing things for other people and fighting back. Yet it wasn't heavy at all. In fact, some parts of the book whre quite silly, bordering on ridiculous, but that served to keep the tone light and hopeful! I thought this was a brilliantly written book, with a wonderful message!

When her minister husband deserts her for a floozy, and her adolescent son goes with him, staid Marilee Abernathy is so depressed, she tries to take her own life. Don't let that rather shocking idea dissuade you from reading this wonderful book, though. Marilee clearly is not deadly serious about killing herself, because she uses thin drapery cord slung over a weak, fake-wood ceiling beam in an extremely unsuccessful attempt to hang herself.When her sexy neighbor, Sam Brewer, rushes over in response to Marilee's screams, she is so humiliated at his witnessing the scene of her failed suicide, it sparks a determination in her to launch back into life. Many funny and touching situations ensue with the advent of Marilee's New Attitude: she finds a job in a funeral parlor in her small town of Chickpea, South Carolina, seeks custody of her son, takes in a pregnant teen, and, best of all, finds love with gorgeous Sam, the bad-boy-next-door she longed for in high school, who has matured into a warm, caring man.If you love romances set in a small town with a raft of engaging, colorful characters, you will really enjoy this comedy by a truly talented author.

I laughed and laughed and laughed until I was in tears. This book is so funny. I couldn't put it down. I can't remember when I have read something so funny. (It's been a long time and it's not like I haven't been looking) It's just hard to find writers that are really funny. She makes the people in the book come alive, and each has a personality of it's own.From the first chapter until the last you will laugh. And when you get to the part about the dead body you will laugh like crazy. Man I almost fell off my chair laughing so hard. Please buy the book. I tell you, you will have so much fun reading this book. Beware, if you're scared to laugh out loud don't read this book in public.

This is one of your good girl remeets your former bad boy "next door", with a twist. You have the good girl who botched up a suicide attempt,after having her husband,the minister runs off with the town tramp, and her son alienated from her, and meets up with the guy who had a crush on her since high school. This is not your typical romance book. Yet, in this book, you have Marilee stand on her own two feet and get TWO jobs, pay for her own divorce and custody battle, and save the proverbial day by taking in a pregnant teen, and saving the unwed teen home from going on. To me, that is personal empowerment,self-determination, and courage. The romance was there, but this was more than romance. A good read for those who want a little romance but with some feel good themes as well.

Marilee Abernathy's husband, the Reverend Grady Abernathy, decides to end their marriage when he moves in with the town's floozy taking with him their teenage son, Josh. Marilee is devastated to lose her marriage, son, and church. She decides to dress in her finest and end her life. What should be a simple matter of committing suicide ends up being more complicated than Marilee bargained for when things don't go as planned each time. Then to make matters worse, the handsome hunk next door hears her screams and rushes to the rescue her after another botched attempt. Marilee is mortified that someone knows what she was attempting. She is especially embarrassed that it is Sam Brewer. Sam was the bad boy during their high school years. He thought she was the prettiest thing, and she was told not to walk on the same side of the road as him if she wanted to keep her reputation. But it seems good old Sam is now something of a reformed bad boy since he sold his business and moved home to take care of his elderly mother. Reformed that is until he gets a good look at Marilee.Marilee decides to pull herself together. First thing on her agenda is to get custody of her teenage son, Josh. Josh reminds me of a typical teenager. He is taking the divorce hard and hurting the person he loves most. Second thing Marilee attempts is to get a job. It's kind of hard to reenter the workforce when you've been a minister's wife and only done charity work. Marilee finds the only job available with her skills is in a funeral home. Nothing wrong with this, unless you have a phobia of dead people and Marilee has one big time. To help Marilee readjust to life outside of marriage is a hilarious cast of secondary characters. The two best friends which are totally opposite of each other, the old lady next door (Sam's mom) who is manipulating her grown son to the point he is about to go crazy staying one step ahead of her, and my favorite Winnie. Winnie is a pregnant teenager who has been kicked out of her home and somehow ends up living with Marilee. You will love this character.I didn't know what to expect when I decided to buy this book. Just the thought of it starting out with someone attempting to commit suicide was almost more than what I wanted to read. But I have to say this book is fun. It's wacky, comical, and touching in some parts. If you want something different, this book should be right up your alley. Just don't expect things to proceed as planned because it won't happen.