Karen Neches’ new novel, Earthly Pleasures is a light, fun read that is filled with equal amounts of humor and heart. At the conclusion of this wonderful novel, readers are left to hope that the eternal forever place will be as lovely, fun-filled and exciting as Neches’ brilliantly designed and thoroughly developed fictional paradise.

As the story begins we are introduced to Skye Sebring, a greeter in Heaven’s Hospitality Division. Her assignment is to help Earths recently departed through the transition. Meaning, she meets and greets all the newcomers, takes them on a tour of their new ‘home’ and answers their questions. While the main objective of Skye’s fellow angels is to return to Earth, Skye is quite content to remain right here in Heaven.

That is until the day a motorcycle accident brings Ryan Blaine to Heaven. Son of a former president, attorney, star of Heaven’s reality show Earthly Pleasures, Blaine is popular, handsome and engaged. Skye is immediately taken in by Ryan, so when he is jolted back to his physical body on Earth she becomes almost obsessed with the show and with finding a way to be with Ryan. There was something between them…he appeared to know her…how could she remind him of someone? Skye was a ‘new soul,’ she had never been on Earth or had she?

The story takes off from the first chapter and soars right through to the conclusion. There are techno-gadgets that have their basis in reality, but Neches has souped them up. There’s a little of everything, but not so much of any one thing that it over-powers or detracts from the main theme. Well written fleshed out and delivered with a passionate voice that commands the reader's full attention. Earthly Pleasures will tickle your funny bone and touch your heart with a cast of clever characters carefully navigating multiple storylines that co-mingle perfectly to keep you guessing, wishing and hoping. Karen Neches has penned a truly original story that is absolutely brilliant in its’ creative simplicity. Delivering an interesting novel that maintains its’ entertainment level from beginning to end, allows readers to pass the time quietly turning pages…a pleasure, that to a book-lover, sure feels a lot like Heaven. I will be keeping my fingers crossed for a sequel.

Happy Reading! ( )

Earthy Pleasures is a delightful book unlike anything I've ever read. It's difficult to describe. At first, I would have said it was the intersection of chick lit and science fiction, but the more I read, I saw the novel went far deeper than simply chick lit and involved a bit of a mystery as well. (I don't mean to malign chick lit; I enjoy it, but my definition of chick lit is lighthearted. If it's weighty, it veers into literary fiction or contemporary (or historical) fiction for me. Simply having a main female characters or characters, or being written by a woman, does not make it chick lit.) Earthly Pleasures first introduces us to Heaven (the place). It's a fascinating idea of what heaven would be like, but as you might expect, the recently dead often have trouble adjusting to a place where they can have anything they want. Skye, our heroine of sorts, is a greeter in heaven; she helps new arrivals deal with their transition.

Just as I was enjoying the idea of a future WishBerry, which instantly delivers anything you desire, a new chapter from another point of view would begin. I soon realized this story was going someplace deeper. Indeed, it explores the connections between heaven and earth, and the living and the dead. I didn't find it to have a religious bent, and I'm still not quite sure how seriously I should take the novel, but I did thoroughly enjoy it. It was part escapist, but it was also thought provoking. Neches danced around a lot of issues, and I think plenty of readers could enjoy it and not dwell on it. I, however, keep thinking about it. The book itself has several humorous moments and is not necessarily weighty, but it certainly deals with weighty issues, albeit sometimes in a lighthearted manner. At the end of the book, I'm still a little unsure what the author's intentions were. I was certainly entertained, and there was a strong sense of seriousness as well. I'm curious how much of my reaction to the book was intended and how much is just me. The book is certainly smart and witty, and I loved it. If you're in the mood for a captivating, unique, partially science fiction read, then this book is for you. Karen Neches has a Web site, mostly devoted to Earthly Pleasures too. ( )

Reviewed by Marta Morrison for TeensReadToo.com

"All you need is love, love. Love is all you need." -- Lyrics to a very famous song by The Beatles.

This is the fifth easy lesson of the world's five greatest philosophers. The first four are also Beatles songs. I laughed when I read this but I think that Karen Neches has something there.

The story of EARTHLY PLEASURES is about an angel--or soul--named Skye Sebring, who is a hospitality greeter inside Heaven. She greets and helps orientate the souls of the newly departed. The objective of many of the angels in heaven is to get back down to Earth, but not Skye. She loves being in Heaven and working with the newly departed. I would, too.

The citizens of Heaven have Wishberrys which grant their every wish, can make their own schedules, and they are very peaceful. But in walks Ryan Blaine, the son of a former president of the United States. He comes into Skye's blissful life and now she is obsessed with him. He can't stay in Heaven and returns to his earthly body. Now how is Skye going to be with him while she is in heaven and he is on Earth?

This was a light read but oh so fun. Heaven is a funny place to be yet exactly where many of us would like to one day end up. But the fun thing about this book is that it has so many characters that tie into each other and you don't know it until you are about three-quarters of the way through the story. I also couldn't predict the ending. I had a general idea, but there were so many surprises that I was blown away. I want you to know that I stayed up late (for me) on a school night to finish this book, so that in itself tells you how much I enjoyed it.

Remember that all anyone needs is love! ( )

I loved this book!!I read it in one sitting!Skye is a hospitality greeter in heaven she greets the new arrivals with handouts and a dvd explaining all the wonderful things heaven has to offer.She is chosen to go to earth which is a huge honor she has to take classes to prepare her for her journey Earth 101.The teachers lesson plan is based her belief that all you need to know on earth is found in the lyrics of Beatles songs-and in one class the SB (Supreme Being)a she by the way-has invited special guests George & John to help her teach the lesson All You Need is Love!This authors idea of heaven was a hoot!The Wishberry-and heavens own reality show Earthly Pleasures where you watch people on earth edited for your viewing pleasure.The story takes place in heaven and on earth.I loved all the characters -you do figure out the story but I believe the author meant you to so enjoy watching it play out.I recommend this book wholeheartedly! ( )

This was a warm-hearted, sweet book partially set in heaven. There are three separate story lines that come together in an unexpected way. One character from heaven comes down to Earth and applies the lessons she learned in heaven, gleaned from five Beatles songs. I thought this book was clever and charming. ( )