The Bright Side of Disaster - Katherine Center

In this quick, light read, Jenny is thrown into single-motherhood in an instant when her fiance abandons her the day before she goes into labor. I found Jenny's character to be refreshing and honest, even funny at times. She never takes care of herself, and admits to looking sloppy, yet I really felt like I could identify with her. She was such a realistic character; I'm not a mother but I was a nanny for awhile and I know it's not easy to care for children. Exhausted and alone, she does absolutely everything she can for her new daughter, all while attempting to push her former fiance out of her mind. Jenny is lucky to make friends in a mommy group, and also with her charming, handy-man neighbor who is eager to help.

Since I knew her ex would eventually return, I just braced myself for the moment - and when it came, and Jenny took him back, I was furious! I get that she wanted him to know his daughter, but the fact that she so easily took him back into her bed really frustrated me. I'm glad she finally came to her senses and kicked him out for good - he was just too messy, too flaky, and too unhealthy for her.

This was a great debut novel, and I look forward to reading her next. According to the back of this book, her new one is titled Everyone is Beautiful and will be available in Spring 2009.