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Lucy
Olivera is cursed, with her family. She is thirty-eight years old and
engaged
to be married, to the most wonderful, handsome, sexy man alive. Her
heart overflows
with love for him every time she is near him. So why on earth can her
family
not be happy for her? The Olivera family curse, that is why! To date,
no
Olivera first marriage has ever worked out; they have all ended in
divorce. So,
they automatically assume that Ruben and Lucy’s nuptials will end in
disaster.
For goodness sake, at the bridal shower, she was given two of every
gift so
that there will be no argument over who gets what! So, while her family
thinks
that every Olivera first marriage is cursed, Lucy just thinks that she
is
cursed, with her family. With her upcoming nuptials, her crazy family,
and her
overwhelming fear that her marriage is doomed, Lucy turns to her
lifelong best
friends for a little love, understanding, support, and of course some
much
needed girl time.
Mercedes is
the founder of a nationally renowned magazine that teaches women how to
un-settle their lives. She, Lucy, Annette, and Christina have been
friends for
years. Lucy’s wedding is just what she needs to take her mind off her
own
problems. Her supposedly monogamous boyfriend has dumped her for a
daycare
worker named Sunshine of all things, and two of them have begun
spreading lies
to tabloids about Mercedes and her business ethics. She can’t wait to
spend
some quality time with Lucy and forget about her own troubles. Little
does she
know that all four of them have their own concerns about their lives.
Annette is
fed up with being a mother of five and a housewife. She feels like no
one even
knows that she exists anymore. Aside from taking care of the family, no
one
notices that she is there and that she is a human being. She can’t
remember a
time when she was carefree and young. Being able to go to Lucy’s
wedding, sans
kids and sans husband is a dream come true for her right now. A little quality private time amongst adults
who actually appreciate her and what she has to offer.
Christina’s
life is going down the tubes. She flees for the wedding after an
encounter with
the law, that she is scared to death to tell her newscaster husband
about. She
already feels unworthy of his affection and their upper class status,
now she
feels even more so. Lucy and the girls provide a much needed avoidance
for her
rapidly falling apart life. Who knew that when Lucy got married their
lives would
change so much?
After Lucy
runs out on her own reception, there is some much needed girl time and
damage
control needed. They all band together to help Lucy cope with her fears
and
doubts regarding her family, her marriage, and the supposed curse.
While
regrouping they decide to visit a curandera who lives in the mountains.
She
supposedly can help change people’s lives. While on a spiritual journey
to
change their lives, they all come to learn what is important to them.
UNSETTLING
is an absolutely delightful novel! Ms. Sandoval pens a novel that every
female
can relate to. It is funny, serious, sad, and loaded with attitude.
UNSETTLING
teaches how to do just that, un-settle. Anyone that has ever settled
for less
than what they wanted in life will learn how to never settle again. It definitely makes one appreciate what they
have, especially family and friends. After reading this one, you will
laugh at
your own family’s crazy antics and want to embrace their zaniness.
Moreover,
you will have a newfound appreciation and respect for your girlfriends
and what
they mean to you. This is a novel you can read over and over, loving it
more
every time.
Reviewed by Ansley
Velarde for The
Road to Romance
July 8,
2004
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