Foxy's Tale

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book- after all, the whole vampire thing is getting to be a bit much. At its heart though, this is a story about families and relationships not about blood sucking creatuers of the night. Foxy is a former beauty queen recently dumped by her former NFL-star husband and struggling to parent her daughter when she is barely a real grownup herself. She's a shopaholic who worries constantly about her daughter Amanda's goth style and only has a decent business because of the work of Knot Knudsen, a guy who basically wandered in off the street to rent a room only to become her antique store's savior. Add in a third boarder, weird Myron who keeps blood in the fridge, and Amanda's wish that her Mom was more show more like June Cleaver, and you have an amusing cast of quirky characters that are surprisingly compelling.

The book is well-written and funny, and I enjoyed it more than I anticipated. The book resonates because it has heart, and the oddball characters all have a pathos that make their stories compelling. All in all an excellent summer read; I look forward to the next installment in this unusual series. 4 stars. show less

I was already a fan of Karen Cantwell when I downloaded Foxy's Tale for my Kindle so I was eager to discover the first in The Reluctant Vampire Series co-written with L.B. Gschwandtner. I expected more of a paranormal story but what I found was a delightfully charming family story with plenty of wit - and just a touch of vampires.

Foxy Anders is a former beauty queen, former wife to a football player, and former all around success. Down on her luck she ventures to Washington D.C. to open an antique store, run a boarding house and try to bridge the ever widening gap between her and her teenage goth daughter Amanda. Though the book bears the title Foxy's Tale I felt that Amanda definitely stole the show. It is through her eyes (and her show more sardonic blog "Amanda's Life in Hell") that Foxy's selfish tendencies are unveiled, and through Amanda's perspective that the reader becomes better acquainted with Foxy's eccentric boarders: shoe addict and amateur chef Knot Knudsen (pronounce the K's) and the elderly foreigner Myron Standlish who might just be stocking his refrigerator with blood.

As Foxy struggles to get her business off the ground she's saved by Knot's eye for antiques but she's also tempted to rationalize blowing her profits on "business" vacations and a new wardrobe. Meanwhile, Amanda gets sidetracked out of her disdain for Foxy by the entrance of Nick - a boy at school who's harboring some nasty secrets. Mother and daughter have never seen eye to eye but when the supernatural enters the picture, they just may find a way to pull together against a much scarier common foe.

I really enjoyed this novel and loved that it contained the same elements of quirky characters, funny plot, and engaging dialog that I saw in Cantwell's other work Take the Monkeys and Run. Though I would have preferred a more solid ending, I liked the story arc and I'm excited to see where Cantwell and Gschwandtner take the series in future entries. show less

Foxy's Tale is the story of Foxy an ex beauty queen. She has just divorced her pro ball player husband who was caught in flagrante with another woman in a Las vegas fountain. She and her daughter, Amanda, have moved into an old building and opened an antique store.

First, what I liked about this book:

1. the cover - very cool

2. it was autographed - very, very cool

What I didn't like:

1. pretty much everything else

I know, kinda harsh but, in the interest of full disclosure, chick lit and vampire stories are probably my two least favourite types of literature which begs the question, wtf was i thinking reading this novel. Well, fair question, and I guess it goes back to the cover. I thought this was gonna be a spoof of these two genres bit if show more it was, I missed the whole spoof part.

For one thing, I didn't like the characters: Foxy,the ex beauty queen who is obsessed with shopping and whose only interest in her daughter is to make her more like herself ; Knot (pronounced Kuh-not), the stereotypical gay guy who is more obsessed with shoes than Foxy and runs screaming when something is spilled on the toe of one; Myron Standlish, a funny (in a weird, creepy way) old man who lives upstairs; Amanda, the Goth daughter who is the only character who makes sense to me; and Nick, Amanda's boyfriend, who is being pursued by a bunch of older women who may be vampires.

For another, it felt like the authors had started writing two different books and, for some reason, decided to jam them together and, at least for me, it didn't work. However, judging from all the other reviews I read (I was trying to figure out what I was missing), this book worked for most readers.

So all I can say to Foxy's Tale is, "It's not you, it's me. We were just not meant to be and I think we should move on - I know you will find lots of readers who will love your story and your quirky sense of humour and me, well, I'm going back to my old love - books that are not chick lit vampire stories." show less

I must say that this book definitely had me guessing the whole time. I just could not figure out what the big mystery was even with the few hints that were given by the author. Well done, very creative! I like the characters who I didn't expect to be too memorable but they manage to linger in my mind after wards. I can't even imagine what the author will have in store for us in the sequel but I can't wait to find out!

From Lilac Wolf and Stuff

Let's see, cover has that cute cartoon thing going on again. It's a paranormal novel but it's so unique. Really that's the best word I can think to use here. I've read so many over the last two years that sometimes I cringe for the first few pages. Thank God for the good paranormal writers out there - you know who you are!

There is just a hint of vampires in this book, nothing out in the open. Foxy is running an antique business, luckily one of the first tenants Knot Knudsen (pronounce the Ks) has a flair for her business and really she would have been lost without him. Next comes in this old Jewish man Myron Standlish. You know I spent half the book reading Standish until a character pointed out that Standlish show more was a little off if he was hoping to sound more American. I almost went back to re-read the book. I probably will someday. LOL

Amanda hates the new house, living with strangers and mostly her mother. I don't blame her. Foxy gets on my last nerve. She spends money as fast as she gets it and doesn't try to connect to her daughter and just tries to change her. Amanda has this Goth thing going on and I love the point made in the story that Amanda is hiding her true self, not trying to make some obnoxious statement. I'll never look at a strange teen the same again.

She becomes friends...and a little more...with Nick, a normal teen boy. Until we find out some crazy lady vampire and her sisters are trying to make him a vampire and have been feeding off him. The only person he can trust is Amanda.

Well you'll never believe how this works out. First I was in shock...it was so unexpected...I mean you'll never ever guess. And then after I got over my shock I laughed and laughed. It's a different book, very quirky, very fun. show less

The book opens with Foxy's divorce and new life in DC with her coming of age goth daughter, who's first boy friend is being targeted by vampires. Foxy has a new business in a building she got in her divorce. She has two tenants. One is her gay counterpart, who lives to shop and sell antiques to DC's wealthy. The second tenant is the older, Yiddish accented Myron who is on a quest for something in this building. Cute, light read.

After reading take Take the Monkeys and Run I was expecting this to be better than it was. Not that the story isn't cute and worth a look but I found the Foxy's character just a little (ok maybe a lot) annoying. i'm in way saying that this book is not worth taking a look but I found it hard to get into. Not a bad way to spend an afternoon in the sun.