The Husband Habit

I love this author, Alisa Valdes Rodriguez. She is phenomenal!! The book was shipped promptly and arrived in great condition. I have read EVERYTHING Alisa has written and will continue to purchase everything she writes. She writes for the "female" audience and as a Latina I can identify and empathize with nearly everything she writes. She writes so eloquently and in a style that will "hook" you immediately! I usually read her books in a day or two because I simply can't put them down.

This book goes on the shelf next to "Joy Luck Club" and "Like Water for Chocolate". The lush, vivid descriptions made me drool. Peas never sounded so tempting until this garden scene. Vanessa is a chef, with complicated family relationships and a messy love life. Throw in a boss who takes credit for her creations, and it's no wonder Vanessa finds herself at wits end after a surprising trip. When Vanessa meets Paul, she is immediately on the defensive. He is everything she doesn't want - for starters, he's recently retired from the military. Paul gets into her face, into her space, creates nicknames that annoy Vanessa. Then she gets to know him. I cheered for Paul, understood Vanessa, and was relieved when they made it past all the obstacles, real and imagined. Don't ask me about politics - there's always a debate about that. Give me a man like an eggplant.

I read The Husband Habit within a week of purchasing it and very happily so. I have a few military members in my family and I did not find it to be offending in any manner. Instead what the write does is create a character who has an internal battle with himself. The main character also fights her own battles, though it is not concerning the war. A great love story with a memorable ending and overall great read.

I have been a fan of Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez's novels since the Dirty Girls Social club came out. I was easily engaged by the Husband Habit and thoroughly entertained from start to finish. Valdes-Rodriguez creates characters that one can empathize and identify with, as well as cheer for. Her novels are multi-culturally savvy and progressively intelligent. I recommend them to anyone seeking to enjoy some chica-lit with a kick.