Monday, September 8, 2008

Sweet Talk by Susan Mallery


28 year old Claire is a famous Piano Player who was sent away when she was 6 years old. She has a twin sister Nicole, who runs the family's bakery, and they have a younger sister, Jessie. Nicole is sick and Jessie asks Claire to come back and take care of Nicole, much to Nicole's Dismay. Nicole always resented the fact that Claire went away and she thinks Claire took their mother away from her. Nicole also thinks Claire is the reason their mom is dead. As time goes on, Claire and Nicole make amends and bridge the distance between them, and become friends. Meanwhile, Nicole catches Jessie in bed with her husband, and after, catches Nicole selling cakes using their cake recipe from their bakery online. Nicole says she never wants to speak to Jessie again.




Claire hasn't done a performance since her last show ended with her having a panic attack. She's almost afraid to do another show, but she really misses playing. While visiting Nicole, she starts playing again, learns how to cope with her anxiety.




Also while she's visiting, she falls in love with Wyatt, the stepbrother of Nicole's husband, Drew. Wyatt has a daughter named Amy, who's deaf, and she becomes great friends with Claire. It takes Wyatt a long time to admit his attraction to Claire, especially since Amy's mom, Shanna left him. He's not sure he can trust another woman not to hurt him again. Also they sleep together, and do not use protection, and Wyatt doesn't learn until later that Claire is a Virgin. Claire ends up pregnant, much to her delight, and much to Wyatt's dismay.




After Claire goes back to New York, Wyatt finally realizes how he really feels about her. Claire is performing at a concert, which Wyatt attends. He tells Claire that he's willing to move to New York so Claire doesn't have to give up her career. Claire tells him she wants to move back to Seattle to be with him and Amy.




Claire also stands up to her Manager, Lisa. Lisa has realized that Claire is not a child anymore and deserves to have control over her life and when and where she performs. Lisa also realizes that she wants to start her own life and do some things she missed out on.



~~~~~~~MY THOUGHTS~~~~~~~~~~


I really felt for Claire, she was blamed/resented for a lot of things that were really beyond her control. I couldn't imagine being taken away from my home and the only family I've known at just 6 years old. I thought Nicole was a snot at first, but I did come to like her and see things from her perspective toward the end. I could see why she felt the way she did, but that doesn't excuse some of the things she said. Now, Jessie...I'm not so sure. She was obviously pushed aside so it's really no wonder she is the way she is. It seemed like maybe there was more to the whole "sleeping with Drew" story but she was never able to speak for herself.


This was my first Susan Mallery book and it won't be my last!!!


Finished: 9/8/08

Reading Next: Return by Karen Kingsbury

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