Lyn Cote, Carly

Carly

Lyn Cote

Warner, April 2006, $10.99

ISBN: 0446694363

Leigh is a strong individual, so her daughter Carly Sinclair feels overwhelmed and subdued by her intimidating but loving mom. By high school, Carly feels like a failure, as she always tries to please her demanding mother, but believes she has never succeeded, as she fears failure not for her sake but for her mom's.

Leigh wants Carly to attend college, but though timorous, Carly finds backbone as she tells her mom no. Instead she enlists with the army over the objections of Leigh. Military demands prove difficult, but Carly faces her fears and meets the requirements. She and her unit mobilize and deploy to Kuwait as part of Desert Shield where she is wounded. Sent home to convalesce, the women of Ivy Manor provide their youngest with the healing power of love.

The latest Women of Ivy Manor (see CHLOE, BETTE, and LEIGH) is a fine family drama starring the fourth generation who needs to "escape" from her relatives, especially her overbearing mom. The deep look at this reticent young woman seeking her wings to fly from the coop is well written with the wonderful backdrop of Desert Shield, the first war with Hussein. Though the ending feels contrived, fans of the miniseries will enjoy the coming of age of CARLY.