1105 Yakima Street

flat, predictable story and writing. The writing itself was just impossible for me - I couldn't stand it.

Overacting. I guess it went with the cutesy-ness of the story.

This was a nice, sweet story very much in line with the other Debbie M books.

Happy ending and relate-able

no

no

I've enjoyed some of the Macomber books, but this one, well.....maybe the author is running out of steam -- it is the second to last in the series. However, I hung in there just to enjoy happy endings, and listening was a friendly background to some tedious household tasks! It is pleasant to hear people caring for each other.

On the other hand, the book rested on some pretty standard formulas such as concealing true romantic feelings and eventual happy-happy declarations of the truth. There are pregnancies and puppies and a confused teenager. And aging parents as well as adults soldiering on recovering from this that and the other.

A pleasant book read by a pleasant reader.

The book is like a soap opera, day to day life good and bad times. I enjoyed the book it had me up and down with so many emotions. I would highly recommend it

At the risk of upsetting die-hard Debbie Macomber fans, this was the least favorite of her books that I've read. I found myself rolling my eyes most of the time. Why do these characters play such games? Grace, refusing to fall in-love with a puppy. I can't even remember the characters names anymore, and I just finished the book-- the whiny pregnant girl who ditched the hunky doctor (in the last book). Will and Miranda... good Lord, that was a boring and predictable thing waiting to happen. Worst of all was the whole Rachael fiasco-- with the bratty daughter. My eyes almost rolled permanently in the back of my head, when Rachael refused to accept money from Bruce, while pregnant with his child. Really? It seems like all the characters are just playing games-- heaping on the guilt and stubborn pride. All the story lines wrapped up in a neat little bow-- as predictably as I figured they would. This is good, clean reading. Nothing wrong with that, but I guess I've outgrown the Harlequin romance type of novels. Now, for an exciting history fiction-- with knights sweeping damsels onto the back of their horses, swords, fights, and all that stuff-- I'd rather read about women of character who have guts and courage. You won't find it here.

This book isn't about one couple, but is about an ensemble of several couples with equal attention. It also felt like it should fall into the 'inspirational/religious' category even though religion wasn't mentioned. It strongly emphasized traditional roles: the women do the cooking and the cleaning, and the men take care of the women. With so many stories going concurrently, with similar dynamics, it quickly felt like I was being preached to about the ideal family and the proper, responsible behavior of each person in that family.

The reader did a very good job, and if this type of story appeals, then it would be enjoyable. For me, it was not what I was expecting, and I found it pushy and increasingly annoying.