The Secret of St. Claire by Robin Alexander

The Secret of St. Claire
by Robin Alexander
Pages: 222
Date: April 30 2012
Publisher: Intaglio Publications
Series: None

Review
Rating: 5.5
Read: October 11 2016

I do not know what it is about Alexander books. I always seem to have a certain amount of reluctance to start, I stumble a little in the beginning, but - most of the time (with a few exceptions), I end up giggling happily as I inhale the book. Also I like how Alexander seems to like people roughly around 37 years of age.

St. Claire Louisiana is, as the book description notes - 'straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting'. It's a lovely little town, off the beaten path, miles from hotels and highways, a more or less peaceful, calm, lovely . . . I'm repeating myself. Just a few things mar the perfection - there's one particular family that has some rather absurdly abusive and mean little shits . . um . . little boys who harass and terrorize the people around them. Plus the second imperfection - to live there one must be straight (or so thinks one Lindsay Juneau - owner and operator of the hardware store in town, mother of a small girl, and, secretly, a lesbian).

Into this 'perfect' setting comes one Nicole Allen, veterinarian and lesbian. Allen's there to take over the local veterinarian office.

Nicole and Lindsay meet almost immediately when Lindsay brings in her cat, Mr. Peepers, who had been terrorized by that earlier mentioned family of little shits. Caged in an abandoned house, and pelted with balloons filled with paint.

Their 'relationship' advances more through the pushing of Rose, Lindsay's mother, though both were quite happy to become friends.

The family dynamics, small town dynamics, cats and kittens, and budding friendships and relationships fill the book; as well as numerous moments of laughter. That and some neat holiday moments - Halloween and Christmas.

(Of note, as an aside, I need to stop listening to books while writing reviews, like I did with this one and the previous review. Listening to 'A Date with Angel' makes review writing hard).

October 12 2016