California Girl: A Novel

Alys Seagraves is twenty-seven, but looks as though she is sixteen. She lost her husband, Fred, to cancer one year ago. Her elderly, eccentric friend, Mame Emerson, had her take some classes at "Mame's School of Alternative Life Lessons", such as Yoga. Now the pair decide to embark upon an epic road trip along historic Route 66. They are going to relive Mame's honeymoon trip. Mame suffers a mild heart attack that throws a wrench into the plans. Hating hospitals, and knowing her nephew Elliott Roth "Doc Nice" (a famous radio doctor) would keep her from going, Mame tries to get out of the hospital before he shows up. She fails. But while Alys and her nephew are not looking, Mame sneaks out of the hospital, steals Elliott's black Range Rover, and off she goes! Of course, Mame gets someone else to drive since Alys is unavailable. Wiley Mame decides to do a bit of matchmaking while she avoids Elliott. At the same time she is helping one of her students kidnap a niece. Dr. Elliot Roth wants Mame off the road and resting in a hospital or nursing home. Since Alys has Mame's pink Cadillac "Beulah" and the travel route, he has to accept the fact that he must travel with her if he is to have any chance of catching up with Mame. Alys is finally feeling alive again and is determined to enjoy the journey. Elliot is patient despite his pragmatic tendencies and pops Tums often. Spending hours together in old Beulah makes sparks fly, just as Mame expected to happen. ***** A fun romantic comedy that will make you feel as though you are traveling the historic Route 66 with Alys and Elliott. The back of the book has Elliott's last name listed as Ross; however, the inside of the book showed the last name Roth. So do not let the cover and my synopsis confuse you. It is just a tiny oversight and in no way detracts from the story. Author Patricia Rice proves that she has a talent for creating realistic characters that readers cannot help but remember fondly for a long time after the story ends. ***** Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

In Springfield, Missouri Mame suffers a heart attack that sends her nephew radio talk show host "Doc" Elliot Roth scrambling form St. Louis to insure she is okay. Mame owner of Mame's School of Alternative Life Lessons worries about Elliot who she feels never fools around. He works out continuously and he only eats healthy foods. Elliot remains traumatized because his father died from a heart attack at thirty-five, the same age Elliot is now. In the hospital Elliot trips over Mame's disciple Alys Seagraves whose husband died last year from cancer and both her parents are dead. Mame fakes out Elliot and steals his car from the hospital lot. He worries about her and visits Alys for information. She also is concerned as she and Mame were going to go together to New Mexico. Elliot decides to follow his Aunt Mame, but Alys forces her way onto the trek. Like two pigeons, Mame has maneuvered her two favorite folks; as if on cue these opposites fall in love, but both fear commitment because people die. This modernization of Auntie Mame is a delightful contemporary romance starring two likable lead protagonists and a brilliant Machiavellian matchmaking technician who could have won the election for Kerry. The story line is fun as Elliot fears myocardial infarction, but Alys makes his heart beat faster and louder. Alys tries to live life to the fullest, but has also learned how death stalks love. Patricia Rice serves up an amusing yet serious tale of survivors struggling with love and death. Harriet Klausner