Review: 1105 Yakima Street

1105 Yakima Street (Cedar Cove)

About the Book:

1105 Yakima Street, Cedar Cove, Washington Dear Reader, You’ve probably heard that my wife has left me. Rachel’s pregnant, and she says she can’t handle the stress in our household anymore. My thirteen-year-old daughter, Jolene, is jealous of her. Maybe it’s my fault. As a widower I spoiled her — Jolene was reading over my shoulder just now and says that’s not true. She claims Rachel ruined everything. But that’s not true. The real question is: How can I get my wife back? I don’t even know where she is. She’s not with Teri Polgar or any of her other friends from the salon. The other question is... when will Jolene grow up and stop acting like such a brat? Of course, I’m not the only one in town with problems. Linc Wyse’s father-in-law is trying to destroy his business. And you know Charlotte Rhodes? Seems she’s becoming forgetful, and the family’s worried about her and Ben. Lots of other stuff going on — but Rachel is better at keeping up with it than I am. If you have any idea where my wife is, give me a call. Please. Bruce Peyton

My Comments:

This  is the  twelfth book in Debbie Macomber's continuing soap opera about the residents of a small town in Washington State.  Like tv soap operas there are plot threads carried from book to book, and time is taken to catch us up on characters from other books.  The primary thread in this book is the relationship between newlyweds Bruce and Rachel, whose nuptial bliss has been taken from them by his teen daughter (who used to really like Rachel--but if you hadn't read the other books you wouldn't know this).  The main sub-plot deals with an elderly couple making the decision to move to assisted living.  I couldn't list all the other subplots if I tried.  Together they make a book that is a satisfying read if you are a fan of the series, and one that will leave you perplexed about the inclusion of so many useless undeveloped characters and unrelated action  if you try to read it as a stand-alone.   To her credit, Macomber does begin the book with a list of characters and their relationships to each other, however, if you haven't read the other books in this series, I'd start at the beginning rather than here, near the end.  Grade:  B.

I'd like to thank the publisher for making a review  copy available via NetGalley.  I was not obligated to provide a positive review.