Nicki Daniels, a single mother to 16-year-old Cody, has her life together in some major ways. Except for her relationships with men. Her current boyfriend, Jake, is eleven years younger, and even she knows that it won’t be long until it’s over. Because she keeps picking the wrong kind of guy.
Could her “daddy issues” have something to do with those choices? Her father, Ronnie, has been in and out of prison most of her life, with his last stint being seventeen years. Abandonment is definitely one of her emotional issues.
But life is about to change for them all: Ronnie is being paroled, and is on his way to Nicki’s house.
Before everything can get better, though, there will be a lot to sort through.
Multiple Listings is not what I expected. Yes, there is the real estate angle, since Nicki has a business as an appraiser. Plus, she loves going to Open Houses, and is in escrow for a big, beautiful dream house. But our story is mostly about making changes, learning how to deal with issues and relationships, and starting over. Our alternate narrators, Nicki and Ronnie, show us what is going on in their interior lives, and just when I think I am very annoyed with one of them, the other takes over, and we get to see another view of things.
Peaches is Nicki’s best friend, and she is another very annoying character who is blunt, abrasive, and makes a lot of mistakes. But instead of being remorseful, she acts judgmental with Nicki, as if she has all the answers. What will happen to change her attitude and behavior?
Then there is Melissa, the parole officer, who is totally unfit for her job, crossing all kinds of boundaries, but not accepting responsibility for her part in anything that happens. Until something brings her up short.
A novel full of realistic characters, set in the gorgeous Portland area, I felt myself completely immersed in this story until the very last page. Not predictable, although there were familiar moments that reminded me of life itself. 4.5 stars.
*** My e-ARC came to me from the publisher via NetGalley.
AN INTERIOR JOURNEY 
This sounds like a really interesting book. I think I’d really enjoy it. Thanks for sharing!
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Thanks, Ms, M, it was truly a nice change of pace for me.
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Hmm sounds absorbing with plenty of dysfunctionalism! I enjoy books like this!
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Definitely! I do love a good family drama with issues, and even with a few annoying characters. Thanks for stopping by, Kathryn.
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This sounds really good even though you found the characters annoying. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
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Oh, ha-ha! Yes, I probably should have said that I love to read about annoying characters, as I can take my animosities about real-life annoying people out on them.
Thanks for stopping by, Pat, and I hope you enjoy this one, too…if you read it.
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I think that because they are so annoying…annoying characters really make a book come alive!
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I completely agree, Patty….they arouse all kinds of feelings…thanks for stopping by.
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