Disappointmentville: Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos

Format: Paperback | Pages: 307 | Release Date: December 2006 | Publisher: Plume | Obtained: Friends of the Pasquotank-Camden Library - Fall Book Sale

"Love Walked In" by Marisa de los Santos

My Book Summary : When Martin walked into the cafe that Cornelia managed she didn't realize but her life was about to change forever. Cornelia definitely is smitten with him; especially since he's exactly her, type and looks just like Cary Grant (whom she has a crush on for years). Nevertheless, their relationship isn't an easy one especially when Martin takes a while to open up and he has a few secrets, Clare being one of them.

Clare is Martin's eleven-year-old daughter who is dealing with her own issues that seem to be getting out of control. She and her mother (Viviana) used to be a duo that always worked together. Yet recently Viviana has been acting strangely, not her normal-self, and not being a very good mother either.

Soon Cornelia, Clare, & Martin's lives will change in ways that none of them expect and in some ways that make them better people. If only everything else could work out the way, they want it to.

My Book Review : 2.5 out of 5 stars, this is a moving story about what happens when love comes to you in unexpected ways. I really did not enjoy this story, mostly because I hated Clare's parents (Martin & Viviana). They were both too self-involved for my liking. Plus, even though the ending was sweet and I liked who Cornelia ended up with, it still didn't end the way it should have.

I don't recommend this book but it you decide to read it then I say I hope you'll enjoy it more than I did.

On a side note -- I loved Cornelia and the way she was described. Since she's described as being quirky, a small woman, with dark short hair, and all I kept thinking about was how she was just like Kristan Higgins' Cordelia from "Until There Was You."

Author's Novel Extras : Acclaim | Excerpts | Reading Group Guide

Book Teaser(s) :

I brought up the previous tweaked quotation mainly to discuss how it's only partly accurate because, as far as I can tell, no matter what the circumstances, parenthood is thrust upon a parent. No one is ever quite ready; everyone is always caught off guard. Parenthood chooses you. And you open your eyes, look at what you've got, say "Oh, my gosh," and recognize that of all the balls there ever were, this is the one you should not drop. It's not a question of choice. ~ within Chapter 11

For more information on this book and/or any other books by Marisa, then please check out her website.