Nancy Robards Thompson Beauty Shop Tales

Beauty Shop Tales

Nancy Robards Thompson

Harlequin Next, Sep 2007, $5.50

ISBN: 9780373881420

With the death of her husband sports reporter Chet, thirty-five years old widow Avril Carson leaves Hollywood as a stylist to the stars to return to her hometown of Sago Beach, Florida to work at her mom's beauty shop. While doing the hair of the stars, Avril learned that "appearance is everything" and that "reality is the biggest illusion of all"; consisting of 99.9% perception. Of course the plane flight has too much reality especially since she is carrying Chet's ashes although the cowboy Max Wright sitting next to her is nice. Still she is going back to do hair in a town whose population is 212.

However, in spite of at times feeling overwhelmed by the warmth of the customers at her mom's shop, Avril feels welcomed. She struggles to keep the secrets that her clients share with her as if they confess to her as a holy person, but she tries her best to not divulge who is doing what to whom to others. Max wants to see her, but she still grieves Chet and must forgive others as well as herself for there is ailing Kally, hurting Zane, and the little child Sam to take care of before Avril can move on.

Told in the first person by Avril, BEAUTY SHOP TALES is a warm contemporary relationship tale. Avril is terrific as she holds the story line together by learning to forgive transgressions that hurt her so that she can once again live life to the fullest. Readers will appreciate this well written story with a small dose of sidebar chick lit commentary to add lightness to a deep poignant family drama.

Harriet Klausner