Meet Martha Scott Cummings: an interior designer, an abandoned wife, and a newly single mother to her daughter Meadow. Now, she must begin an interior journey to reexamine the life she had, the choices she made, and find the strength to begin again.
Meet Martha Scott Cummings: an interior designer, an abandoned wife, and a newly single mother to her daughter Meadow. Now, she must begin an interior journey to reexamine the life she had, the choices she made, and find the strength to begin again. She could wallow in self-pity amongst the detritus that is her life, or she could explore her feel-ings, study her behavior, and figure out how to redesign her life by changing the way she reacts to disappointments, betrayal, and insecurity. Along the way to rediscovering who she was and who she can be, Martha reconnects with her best friend Maeve, who has been there for her in the past, but was somehow missing from her life during her darkest hour. Martha now realizes that she built walls around herself, shutting out those who could have sustained her. There is strength in numbers, and her old BFF can help Martha retrieve the lightheartedness of her earlier life and even learn to laugh at and love herself again, flaws and all. Lots of girl talk, a girlfriend getaway, and new relationships characterize the days and nights of the newly rede-signed Martha. But will she find a new love? And if she does, how can she prevent herself from destroying it all? Taking risks, learning to trust her judgment, and finding out that mistakes are part of the learning process, Martha takes a leap of faith and finds unexpected treasures.
Excerpt
When the alarm went off, I was not ready to jump out of bed. I groaned, turned over, and glared at the clock.
Why did I have to wake up so early, anyway? I was my own boss. I could certainly change those hours for myself and for Caroline, too. Or maybe she could start at 8:30 and I could meander into the office an hour later.
But then I remembered Meadow. School would not be out for another couple of months. Since when had I been marking time this way? Once upon a time I used to revel in each day and look forward to the moments with Meadow. Or had I?
Maybe the secret in my life was how much I had always hated the obligations and the pretense. Maybe I, too, wanted to be a slacker, or even run off to the city to experience life. Perhaps I would like to find myself, too. Enjoy decadent nights and love affairs.
Well, I had done that part, anyway. That thing with Zach, who, by the way, hadn’t called me back. I’d left the message for him days ago. What was up with that?
Before I could allow myself to go there, though, I stumbled out of bed and into the shower. I could already hear Meadow stirring in her room. Sometimes she actually read or watched TV in there before she came to my room. I enjoyed the time to begin the day without the pressure.
When had I started feeling stressed and pressured by my own daughter?
Guilt slid over my shoulders along with the shower spray. It sluiced across my body and covered me like a thin skin of doubt and shame. In moments like these, my mind traipsed along memory pathways again, and I was back there, plotting evil with Miranda Templeton. And that had turned out very badly.
Professional Reviews
Enjoyable Story of Second Chances, by Rita, at My Home of Books
This is the second book I have read by Laurel-Rain Snow, and in full disclosure, I will admit that she is a fellow book review blogger that I chat with. She and I have very similar taste in reading material. However, I purchased this e-book myself without telling Ms. Snow I was buying it, and was under no pressure to rate/review it less than honestly. The only reason I didn't rate it a 5/5 is because it is not one of my typical, go-to genres, not any reflection on the author. Her other story, Web of Tyranny, covered a woman's journey of self-discovery from the '60's to present day, and as a woman of a certain age, I could relate to it well. In the books I have read so far, and by reading her other books' blurbs, I get the sense that Ms. Snow includes a bit of her own life's story into each work of fiction. This enables her to write believable story lines.
"Interior Designs" is a well-written contemporary romance, what I used to call "women's fiction". I was not familiar with the main characters, as this is a continuation of "Embrace the Whirlwind", and apparently the MC has "changed her stripes" in this newest outing. However enough back story is supplied that it can be a stand-alone read. Though Martha is the focal point of the story, the ongoing theme is relationships between females: Martha and her daughter, with her mother, her best friend, her employee. Martha is also testing the waters with her new-found freedom after her divorce and dating some new male acquaintances. I particularly liked her relationship with her best female pal, Maeve, and with her boyfriend, Duane.
All in all, an enjoyable romance for those who are fans of the genre. Recommended for: contemporary "women's fiction" readers, clean romance fans, those who like stories about women's relationships with other women.
4.5/5 bookmarks
A Woman's Journey to Her True Self
Some novels tell the story of a physical journey from one place to another. In INTERIOR DESIGNS Martha Cummings' journey is internal. Author Laurel-Rain Snow delves deep into her character’s psyche, revealing her doubts, fears, beliefs, and triumphs after her divorce. With the help of her friend Maeve (everybody should have a best friend like Maeve!) Martha leaps out of her comfort zone. This book is more than a romance, although there are romantic elements in it. Laurel-Rain Snow's background in psychology and social work is evident in this insightful story of a woman who slowly uncovers her true self.
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