Gracious Living Without Servants by Brenda Cronin

Juliet has done the right thing all her life, and where’s it gotten her? She’s a thirty-year-old widow who’s had to move in with her parents.

Things start to look up when her glamorous—but married—neighbor Seth seems to be flirting with her and helps her land a job at a local paper.

Then she’s assigned to investigate Seth’s wife. Juliet is quickly immersed in lies, manipulation, and a deepening sex scandal. But she feels alive for the first time in a long time.

Maybe she needs to do the wrong thing for once. Or maybe she’s headed for disaster.

Paperback, 378 pages

Published October 7th 2013 by Stoneslide Books 

Kristine's Thoughts:

* I received a copy of this book though a goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review*

This book is basically about a woman (Juliet) who is lost after becoming a widow at the age of thirty and the direction her life takes as she tries get back on her feet and create or start a new life..

I had mixed feelings about this book. I really didn't understand or feel Juliet's attraction and subsequent affair with Seth, a married neighbour thirty five years her senior. I saw no appeal in the man, could not feel any chemistry between the two of them and thought they were quite boring together. Even their secret rendezvous's were dull and lacked sexual chemistry. Perhaps if Seth had a personality or positive attributes I could have understood the attraction but he really wasn't a good person. On the other hand, I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that Juliet was investigating his wife and that entire part of the story line. I loved the conflict that it created and was very pleased with the outcome.

This book is Juliet's story of the events, people and situations that help her to figure out who she is and what she wants out of life. It was a solid first novel for Cronin and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.

About the Author

 Brenda Cronin writes for The Wall Street Journal, where she has worked since 2001. Her short fiction has been published on both sides of the Atlantic. This is her first novel. Born in Washington, she was raised in Connecticut and lives in New York City.

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