Theodora's Baby

Theo and Kevin have just gotten married and now are expecting a baby! Being pregnant isn't all fun and games for the couple. It means Theo can't stand the sight of chocolate! The couple are going through their first days of marriage and already they are having issues. From Kevin not wanting Theo to write in her diary to Theo leaving for a few days because Kevin wouldn't fix the bathroom, the newlyweds sound like their having lots of fun in their new life. With Theo's pregnancy comes cravings for weird food, having to wear Charity-like maternity clothing (gasp!), trying to find a job that will take her in her "condition" and her sister-in-law getting pregnant at the same time. Plus Declan keeps showing up. Thank goodness Kevin lets Theo have her diary back. She'd be lost without it. Theodora is one of my favorite characters as of lately. I love everything that she goes through and how she handles situations. I thought it was pretty arrogant of Kevin to refuse Theo to write in her diary. His reason is that he wants her to talk to him instead of writing. Really though, guys stop listening after a while. If Theo had really stopped her diary and talked to him all the time, I guarantee Kevin would have gotten fed up and been like "why don't you talk to you friends about this stuff?" I mean Theo gets frustrated with him and football but she never asks him to quit it completely. Arrgh, men. I do like how Theo and Jeremiah finally sort of get along. Although I really didn't like his earlier viewpoint on her especially when he think they've gotten married after she got pregnant. I hate people who jump to conclusions and especially Christians who think they are better than everyone else. I'm glad she took a stand though and I'm glad they were able to make up. There's not much Charity in this book but her and Theo have settled down and are more friendlier with each other. It's also interesting to read how Charity's oldest son has started to rebel against their conservative lifestyle. I hope this isn't the last we'll hear from Theodora and her diary. I want more!

Theodora and Kevin return from their honeymoon with more than trinkets for the family and Theodora can't eat chocolate. What is a newlywed to do? I have read all of the books in this series and I must honestly say that I have enjoyed all of them. I think that each book gets better partly because you know the characters. Everyone is up to their usual antics and there is hilarity that ensues as a result along with lessons for the characters. It was also good to see Digger return briefly. Of course, we are left with a slight cliffhanger which lets me know that there will probably be another book which I will happily buy when it comes out.

Reviewed by Kim Peterson for Reader Views (3/06) In the third book of the series, Theodora continues her diary. And her husband Kevin doesn't want her to document their lives. But how is the newlywed wife to give up the tradition of recording her thoughts, feelings and hilarious opinions on paper? He tore out the description of their Greek honeymoon, but the outcome of their time in paradise is about to fill the pages. Theodora and Kevin are expecting a honeymoon baby! Theodora, who isn't drawn to babies, feels ill-equipped to be a mother. She is also unprepared for how her single friends change their interaction with her, or how some members of the congregation at St. Norbert's church respond. And, her life's altered timeline interferes with her desire to engage in a ministry. Her commentary as she moves from shock to acceptance to excitement will delight female readers who have been there, done that. Never having been a parent I couldn't relate to Theodora's maternity woes. But I have been around enough pregnant relatives to appreciate her sense of humor about the inevitable changes in body and lifestyle. Oh, the horror of chocolate-induced nausea! Do friendships really have to change so much once a little one is on the way? Set in England, occasional terms like wellies, spuds and bangers, joggers, and jumpers had me searching the context to determine what the author meant. But, all in all, the book is great sport dishing up chick lit attitude from across the pond. Quirky, irrepressible Theodora comes to terms with God's plan for this baby and reunites with chocolate.

There's a surprise bun in Theodora's oven. Theodora's Baby is the third book in the series by Penny Culliford, with Theodora's Wedding and Theodora's Diary being the earlier two. Theodora loves writing in her diary, but her husband Kevin isn't so fond of being replaced by a book with blank pages. He doesn't understand why she can't spell out her thoughts and concerns to him. This doesn't stop Theodora's journaling, though. Whether she's faking a bowel problem or simply lying through her teeth, she just keeps writing and readers won't want to stop reading. Readers can't help but feel like an important part of this vibrant woman's life, being able to read the secret diary not even her husband is allowed to touch. She's a convincing character, brutally honest, and three-dimensional. The dialogue is snappy and true to life. Each character Theodora comes across is memorable. Expect to meet loveable, fun people as Culliford finds witty ways of introducing the characters into her story. The author portrays married life the way only an experienced individual can, with high energy and genuine humor. If you've ever been afraid of asking God for direction in your life, or if you can sympathize with the demands of a chocolate addiction, or you need a good laugh, then Theodora's Baby is right for you. Penny Culliford's creation is a literary work after the Christian woman's heart, as she addresses the everyday struggles of Christian life. Readers won't need to read the previous books to lose themselves in this one, but I don't see how it could hurt; especially if Culliford's earlier works are as enjoyable and clever as this one. Expect high quality entertainment and nothing less. - Stephanie Simpson, Christian Book Previews.com

I've read the two previous books in the Theodora series and was eagerly anticipating the release of the third. Theodora's Baby was everything I was hoping for and more. Kevin, Theodora's family, and the people from St. Norberts were all back and as quirky as ever. I was also pleasantly surprised to see how much Theodora had grown; I'd always enjoyed reading her funny journal entries, but was glad to see that in this book she seemed to be maturing somewhat, both spiritually and personally. A fantastic book that I would recommend to anyone.