Andes is looking for a place to live and she think she has found it in a houseboat that is for rent. She meets the boat's owner, Jay and his son, Chase. They really don't hit it off at first and it looks like she might have to look for another place to live. Some unusual things happen...Jay gets arrested and Andes somehow gets stuck with Chase. Andes and Chase end up in Sunnyside, Queens and then things get really complicated...

Some parts of this book I really loved and other parts I found totally unbelievable. I really enjoyed Andes-her story and her struggles. I had a hard time believing ANYBODY would agree to take care of Chase for any length of time. He is just a mess, but I guess that is why Andes felt for him. I didn't love the ending, didn't hate it either, but it was a bit disappointing. ( )

I have to admit that Sunnyside Blues was not one of those books that grab me right away. In fact, towards the beginning of the novel I found myself a little concerned that I wouldn’t like it. But once I started to get to know the characters, Andes especially, I fell in love with this charming story and I ended up really enjoying it.

I definitely felt for Andes throughout the novel. She has spent her entire adult life running from her past, from her abusive father and from one event which changed her entire life and basically forced her into hiding. And because of all this, she hasn’t had too many close relationships, too many friends she can really count on or any place where she can feel at home. So when she meets Jay and Chase in the beginning of the novel, I thought for sure it would be a story about the three of them becoming a little family (or something to that effect). What I liked about this novel is that it took a completely different turn – Andes suddenly finds herself responsible for this ten-year-old boy, on a quest to find a person who Chase believes may be very important to him. And through this journey of theirs, the reader gets to watch as Andes starts to really care about Chase, as Chase starts to trust and depend on Andes, and as they navigate the world together. Their relationship was just so fun to read about – it was sort of a love/hate relationship, but as they got to know each other better and better it just became so sweet.

Another thing I enjoyed about the novel is the fact that Ms. Carter truly had me guessing through most of the book. The plot was never predictable, at least I couldn’t predict any of it, and I definitely appreciated that element to this story. I enjoyed the idea of Andes taking Chase to New York, with no concrete plan other than they’d get there safely and try to find a place to live temporarily, and it all worked out so well for them once they got there. Maybe it wasn’t the most realistic of situations, but I certainly enjoyed reading about their adventure!

Sunnyside Blues is a sweet, charming story with several twists and turns and I truly enjoyed reading it. Mary Carter has crafted great characters and an entertaining plot that will leave you smiling and satisfied when all is said and done. ( )

The Review

This story’s heroine is running from her past and she’s hiding from herself. There appears to be no defined line between reality and her reality. She has changed her name and created a past that never existed. She suffers from nightmares and psychological disorders as a result of what her jacked-up parents did to her. And, as if she hasn’t had enough, her 4th of July turns into a near-death-by-fire experience and she has a kid dumped on her. How much more can this woman take? Well, she is resilient, although in great denial, and she faces what is in front of her. Despite all of the dysfunction in her life, she seems to have this strong moral compass and it shows in how she treats the people in her life.

The “kid” is more than a nightmare! Yet, our heroine tackles him head-on and refuses to leave him in any type of harmful situation. Perhaps it is because this child is also broken and hiding from the truths in his life. In many ways, these two spirits were destined to tangle as a life-long friendship would surely ensue.

The reader follows the heroine, Emily (aka ”Andes”), and the “kid”, Hector (aka “Chase”) from a sailboat home in Seattle to Sunnyside, Queens, New York. They are there to avoid the trouble at home and ascertain whether or not Chase’s birth father is really a hunky fireman named Dave (aka “Blazing Dave”). All the while, Andes and Chase are avoiding problems back at their homes… her past in West Virginia and his past in Seattle. There is an arsonist on the loose in Seattle and the suspicions lay on this child, Chase. Meanwhile, a reporter can’t seem to forget about a “snake girl” who once lived in West Virginia who was claimed dead. This reporter’s efforts were stirring up Andes’ well-buried past.

So, as you can see… there is a lot going on in this book. The beginning of this book was a bit confusing for me because there is that jumping from present-to-past thing going on. In addition, you’ve got sprinkled throughout the book the wicked thoughts of the arsonist and of Andes’ father. Throw in some of Andes’ memories and there are a few strands to keep straight so that you fully understand the book. Although the beginning was a tad confusing for me, I rather enjoyed “the meat” of the book until the end. Carter does tie up those loose strands at the end of the book as she does bring about the answers to the mysteries. However, I’m a bit disappointed with the ending. I don’t want to be a “spoiler,” so I won’t share what I would have preferred… but, just know that you may form opinions about this ending.

Win A Copy!

You can win a copy of this book by simply entering a comment below. For additional entries, let me know if you are a subscriber, if A Novel Menagerie is on your blogroll, if you’ve tweet’d about it on Twitter or if you’ve blogged about it. Entries will be accepted through June 12, 2009!

On Sher’s “Out of Ten Scale:”

Overall, I enjoyed the book and it’s definitely nothing like anything else that I’ve read all year. It’s a good, overall fiction novel that is easily read by either a man or a woman. It gives you that “what would you do?” mentality when you read it. I think this would make a great made-for-tv movie, as well. For the genre Fiction:General, I am going to rate this book an 8 OUT OF 10. ( )

The Short of It:

Multi-layered and rich with detail, this novel takes you to the heart of what it means to be different. It's a novel of acceptance and centers around well-drawn but deeply flawed characters. A quick, yet satisfying read.

My Thoughts:

I love it when you start a book and you know within ten pages that it's going to be a good story. I picked up Sunnyside Blues during a bout of insomnia and it was definitely the wrong book for me to have picked up because I literally stayed up all night to read it. Now, don't get me wrong, this is not a suspenseful book or even a thriller, but I wanted to know what happened next and so I kept reading.

Andes is a bit of a misfit. She's an outcast of sorts and recognizes herself to be one. When she heads to Seattle, she hopes to begin again. She finds a houseboat to rent but in doing so, also finds a father and a son that have been through quite a bit together and when the father ends up in jail, Andes end up with the kid.

Let's talk about the kid a bit. Chase is a ten-year-old boy. He's one of those extremely bright kids that you have to watch out for. He's been taking care of his alcoholic father for some time and doesn't appreciate having to be watched. However, this kid is trouble. I compared him to Damien a few times. You know, Damien from The Omen? That movie scares me to this day. Anyway, he's a tough kid to watch but Andes can relate to him, her being an outcast and all and they forge an unlikely bond to one another.

As the father sorts out his issues, Andes begins to wonder if she can make a life for this kid. However, Andes has her own issues and when Chase learns of them, she realizes that she either has to face them or risk never being whole again. In the mean time, she's met a guy that she thinks she might have a future with, but will he understand her need to tie up loose ends?

To me, this book was like a runaway train. It took off from the station and just kept going. I found the characters to be deeply complex, yet I found myself relating to each of them at different parts of the story. My only criticism is perhaps the age of Chase. For me, his mannerisms made me think eight-years-old or so, not ten but I have a ten-year-old so I perhaps compared him to my own son in this regard. ( )