Book Review: She's Gone Country by Jane Porter

published August 23rd, 2010

  

She's Gone Country

by Jane Porter

Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: 5 Spot
ISBN-10: 0446509418
ISBN-13: 978-0446509411

She's Gone Country by Jane Porter is a delightful read about a 39 year old high-fashion model, mother of 3 teenage boys who returns home to her small Texas town after her husband leaves her....for another man.  How can one go up against that fight? 

Her boys have been raised in private schools, field hockey and lacrosse in their upper eastside home in New York City.  Shey Darcy, wife, model, mother has been to all the A-list parties on the arm of her adoring husband throughout their marriage and her career. 

Now she is living on the family ranch existing in jeans, t-shirts and muddy cowboy boots.  Her boys are giving her fits about living in a hick Texas town and want to move back to New York City.  Her family, especially her mother are threatening to move in with her to help her get back on her feet.  And in the midst of all this Shey runs into the man she loved ever since she was a child - her brother's best friend, Dane Kelly, national bull-riding champion and now neighbor. 

Shey learns of a serious falling out between her brothers and Dane and must decide if her intervention can repair the damage done by male egos.  Shey also has to learn how to handle her 3 teenage sons halfway across the country away from their father in an environment that relies on hard work and pitching in to help rather than giving in to demands for another Playstation game.....(oops did I say that out loud - I must have been thinking about my situation and how easy it is to give in just like Shey had to deal with....ugh! parenting is hard sometimes!)

I liked this book.The twist was that Shey was devastated about her husband leaving her for another man, yet she was so incredibly beautiful, desired by so many, and funny, friendly, kind.  Sometimes being perfect just isn't enough.

The best parts of the book were the interactions between Shey and her mother. Those sections were laugh out loud funny!  And, I could so relate!

First Lines:

"Shey Lynne, you've been here three months now and not once have you taken those boys to church."

I look up from the bacon frying on the 1950s-era Sears stove to see my mother standing in the kitchen doorway with her blue wool coat over her arm and her ancient black vinyl purse on her wrist. It's hot out and humid, yet Mama's hot her coat--and it's an old coat, not one of the gorgeous ones I've given her. My mother has a closet ful of designer pieces she's never worn. I don't know why she won't wear them, but I swear it's as if she takes pride in rejecting everything nice I give her.

Oh the power struggle between mother and daughter. Jane Porter has it down perfect!  The rest of the dialogue is somewhat stilted and off a bit. But like I said, I thoroughly enjoyed She's Gone Country!  Shey Darcy was flawed, damaged, beautiful but not tragic.  She rose above....and, hey, I like the country!

  

Have you read She's Gone Country? Do you know anyone who changed their life dramatically after a divorce by moving across country, into a different atmosphere, changing jobs, etc.? How did it turn out?

Sites of Interest:

Jane Porter's site

She's Gone Country Cover Girl Contest

Enter Girlfriend Cowgirl Getaway Contest with Jane Porter & Woman's World

Final Thoughts:

For a solid, fun and slightly deep and thoroughly interesting chick-lit read, pick up She's Gone Country from your favorite Independent Bookseller. I give it 4 Quills from my ink pen! Let me know what you think!