Sisterchick
n.: a friend who shares the deepest wonders of your heart, loves you like a sister, and
provides a reality check when you're being a brat. (from www.sisterchicks.com)
It’s 1983 and
when Hope’s now ex finance essentially ends their relationship by simultaneously
dating a local teen, the same time he’s engaged to her, Hope’s college roommate
declares a trip to Hawaii to take Hula
lessons is the exact tonic needed to mend Hope’s newly shattered heart. The only
thing needed is money.
That summer is
spent at Laurie’s folks restaurant waiting tables. They save the cash, but Hope has a
feeling Laurie and she won’t be making the trip to Hawaii – not
after she sees the way Laurie acts with local struggling artist Gabriel and his daughters.
Gabe begins to visit the restaurant every day and when the friends head back to college,
Laurie announces she intends to marry him.
Years later Hope
tells her husband, Denny, about the events of 1983. While the two friends never did make
it for Hula lessons, Hope is grateful that Laurie gave her a new dream and took her mind
off of the present pain. Denny, perhaps seeing the wistful look on his wife’s face,
tells her to look up Laurie. He knows a good friend is hard to find. But, Hope has no idea
what she would say, so she never follows up. God however had other things in mind.
Laurie and Hope may
have been separated for years but clearly, the bond of friendship was never severed. It
takes only one meeting before they are fast into friendship again and end up in Hawaii to celebrate
their fortieth birthdays in style. It is one fun surprising event after another.
The setting is
breezy hot with an aroma like coconut oil and fresh pineapple while the sand warms the soles of my
feet. The blue water truly does look as if diamonds have been cast upon it. I
seek shelter under the palm fronds before my luau and watch
Hula dancers story tell. Yes, yes, Ms.
Jones Gunn does a masterful job at keeping us enchanted as if we are
there instead of in our home, possibly in front of a fire to nip away at
the frost on our windows.
While SISTER CHICKS
DO THE HULA follows the first Sister Chick book, SISTER CHICKS ON THE LOOSE, I enjoyed the
second one so much more. There is a subtle faith thread sewn through the story that makes
it a comfortable yet touching read. Author Robin Jones Gunn also has a website
www.sisterchicks.com. Check it out.
Reviewed for The
Road To Romance by Linda Mae Baldwin
December 11, 2003 |
