I have read Jo Goodman's novels for many years. She is absolutely one of my top 5 favorite romance writers. JG's books have everything one could wish for in a quality romance. Her writing is head and shoulders above 90% of the genre. Having read over 30 of her books, I cannot say there is one that I didn't enjoy. Perhaps the best dialogue I've ever read in a romance novel can be found in her wonderful book, If His Kiss is Wicked. She is one of the few writers left on my ever-shrinking auto-buy list. All of the above is my long-winded way of saying that I like this woman and her books. That said, my reaction to the publication of her latest, A Place Called Home reminds me that while I adore her, I obviously don't trust her.
Why wouldn't I trust a writer who has so consistently delivered such amazing results over the years? I never fail to start a JG book without thinking to myself, this is the one I'm not going to like. I won't be able to enjoy this, even though it is so well-written, because I am going to HATE the heroine! Yep. I consistently start out hating her heroines. While they are almost always, witty, intelligent and clever women, they also appear to be cold, calculating and snarky. Of course, because Goodman is a master of the complex and angsty romance, there are always reasons for her heroines apparent indifference and rudeness. JG's latest, A Place Called Home, started much the same way; I hated the heroine. Now, I thought this one might be different because it is her only contemporary romance, thus far. Turns out that it did not matter a bit, I still started out hating the heroine!
A Place Called Home opens with Mitchell Baker and Thea Wyndham arguing over how to care for their dead friends children. They have been named co-guardians and they need to come to terms on who the children will live with and how they will share responsibilities. Mitch proposes a shared custody and Thea declines. Grudgingly, Mitch agrees to assume primary custody and Thea agrees to visitation. My thinking at this point was basically, Mitch is sweet and Thea is a major bitch. She not only won't share responsibility for her friend's children, she is snarky, sarcastic and seemingly pretty cold about the whole affair. Turns out that their friends have tried to push these two together in the past and it didn't work. Thea would like to avoid Mitch at all costs, mainly because she senses that she could care for him a lot if she isn't very careful. Mitch assumes custody of the three kids and sets about trying to change his lifestyle to accommodate them. As with all Goodman heroes, Mitch is wonderful. Oh he has all the normal manly quirks, but overall he is a warm, witty, smart and sexy guy. As they are thrown together because of the kids, the chemistry between Mitch and Thea starts to heat up and we slowly begin to get a sense of what lies beneath these two characters.
As with all Goodman books, the storyline unfolds incrementally and we eventually learn why Thea is the way she is. This is where Goodman excels. Her characters are incredibly layered. As she carefully puts them in situations and relationships that challenge them, they are forced to peel back their outer layers and show an amazing amount of vulnerability beneath. Goodman characters are always flawed. Sometimes in a big, big way. It is the way that they overcome those flaws and deal with the deep and often terribly disturbing causes of them, that makes a Goodman book special. And that is why I ended up not only liking, but respecting Thea. Because Goodman heroines may start out as cold, snarky and bitchy, but there is always a reason that they are the way they are. It is never about some sort of coy flirtation or spoiled princessy behavior. These chicks have often been through the emotional wringer and the triumph of a Jo Goodman novel lies in the way that they deal with their issues and ultimately, overcome them.
Even though it is her first contemporary, you'll find many of Goodman's traditional strengths on display in A Place Called Home. Her amazing ear for sharp and snappy dialogue, her layered and intelligent characters, the ability to let her plots unfold at a careful, even pace. I am almost positive that, in the hands of a lesser talent, I would not have liked this story half as much. A Place Called Home is a warm and charming book about two people who prove themselves to be better than they thought they could be and find themselves sharing a wonderful relationship, both romantically and as part of a large, ready-made family. I happily recommend it to anyone looking for a contemporary romance with just a bit more depth than usual. And from now on, I promise to trust Jo Goodman, no matter what I think when I am 20 pages into her next book.
ps. If you haven't read Goodman, be sure and pick up If His Kiss is Wicked and/or The Price of Desire to fully experience the glory that is a Goodman historical romance! She is a master of the deep, dark, sexy, meaty, angsty romance! Trust me on this...
