New Uses for Old Boyfriends
By Beth Kendrick
ISBN# 9780451455863
Author’s Website: http://bethkendrick.com/
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Kayt
Synopsis:
After growing up in privilege and marrying into money, Lila Alders has gotten used to the good life. But when her happily-ever-after implodes, Lila must return to Black Dog Bay, the tiny seaside town where she grew up. She’s desperate for a safe haven, but everything has changed over the past ten years. Her family’s fortune is gone—and her mother is in total denial. It’s up to Lila to take care of everything…but she can barely take care of herself.
The former golden girl of Black Dog Bay struggles to reinvent herself by opening a vintage clothing boutique. But even as Lila finds new purpose for outdated dresses and tries to reunite with her ex, she realizes that sometimes it’s too late for old dreams. She’s lost everything she thought she needed but found something—someone—she desperately wants. A boy she hardly noticed has grown up into a man she can’t forget…and a second chance has never felt so much like first love.
Review:
New Uses for Old Boyfriends is an interesting and fun read. Lila Alders is headed home with her tail between her legs. The once golden girl of Black Dog Bay is now at loose ends with no path in front of her except getting home. She is recently divorced after her husband finds someone else and has no use for Lila. She is left with nothing except her huge SUV she bought in a hurry when her husband left. Her celebrity job of selling products on TV is gone as well. No job, no husband, and very little money, Lila drives to her family home to live with her mother. She is not even able to get much money from her wedding ring since the pawn shop personnel advise her they loose retail value immediately.
When Lila arrives home, she sees that her mother, Daphne, has been busy redecorating and adding things to the family home. Lila’s father’s death has pushed Daphne to be even more of a spendthrift. Things are even worse than she can imagine when they speak to the family lawyer. With selling the house being the only thing left to do to dig out of the pit they now find themselves in, Lila is in an uphill battle trying to convince her mother. The depth of Daphne’s spending is not even truly realized until Lila does some more investigating and searching in the home.
Daphne, a former model, is a bit irritating and off putting for me in the first part of the book. I just wanted to smack her, sorry to say. Lila may not have been the best person when she first arrives to her home town, however thankfully she has several eye opening revelations as she assimilates to Black Dog Bay life. The new friends Lila makes are enjoyable and wonderful people. Lila’s dream of meeting up with her old boyfriend and living happily ever after is not to be. But Ben and Lila become friends. As events unfold in Lila and Daphne’s effort to save the family home, life takes several twists and turns for both of them. In the end I think they all do have their happily ever after.
New Uses for Old Boyfriends is well written, with interesting and enjoyable characters and a fun setting. The idea of Black Dog Bay being the best town for survivors of breakups sets things up for some different businesses and past times. I was not sure I would enjoy this book as much as I did. It is a great get away book. Perfect summer read on the beach, sitting by the fire in the winter, or an anytime escape from the day. There is truly a fun time to be had when you sit down with this entertaining novel.
