Reviews for Once in a Blue Moon

The average rating for Once in a Blue Moon based on 2 reviews is 2.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2009-07-14 00:00:00 Rog For Ms. Goudge has quite a following as I saw by the extensive line at BEA. But after reading "Blue Moon" she strikes me as a chick lit-ish writer that likes to reference contemporary pop culture and overuse cliches. Not that there's anything wrong with chick lit, but reading about the story of Lindsay and Kerrie Ann (sisters separated by the foster care system when Lindsey was almost an adolescent and Kerrie Ann only three years old) had many parts that reminded me of the basic structure of the chick lit genre. Lindsay, since being adopted, has lived a pretty privileged life with a nice home and her own business. Kerrie Ann was a throwaway child in the foster care system bouncing from place to place. Ending up not valuing herself but throwing her body at men she thought were interested in her. In the end she ended up getting together with a guy who was bad news, got pregnant, and lost her child due to a bad drug problem. As Kerrie Ann tries to clean up her life she finds out she has a sister who could help her turn things around as she fights an uphill battle to regain custody of her bi-racial daughter, Bella. Bella has ended up with a well-to-do African-American family and is being well looked after. "Once in a Blue Moon" has your classical bad boy that Kerrie Ann is attracted to, in addition to the lackluster but successful boyfriend that Lindsay has wasted years away with. On the opposite end of the spectrum are the two perfect guys (with slight hitches) that of course (SPOILER) both sisters are destined to be with. The Black father of Bella, Jeremiah, turns out to be the typical druggie bad guy who almost causes Kerrie Ann some serious trouble near the end of the book. While the only other people of color (The Barthholds, Bella's foster parents and Abel, Kerrie Ann's lawyer) represent the better end of the African-American personification. The prose isn't that strong that sucks you in. At times Goudge gives some pretty basic descriptions of people (eye color, hair color, sometimes a key physical characteristic) in addition to focusing too much on clothing (as the sisters dress). Yes, we got it after the first couple of chapters that Kerrie Ann dresses raunchier than her more conservative sister Lindsay. And the cliched references to great sex and being treated like a lady during intimacy as well as how thoughts of this guy over that guy tend to be repetitive and none too interesting. If you're already a fan of Ms. Goudge's work then perhaps you may like this one. Since this was my introduction I doubt I'd read some of her other books if they have the same formulaic plot and outcomes.

Review # 2 was written on 2019-07-19 00:00:00 Ian Davison A good read with great characters that follows two sisters who find each other after years apart. As they battle their demons and help one another they also find love along the way. Recommended for women's lit fans who don't mind an edgy story with some twists.