Love Walked In

Love Walked In

by Marisa de los Santos

A Plume book, published by Penguin Group

2005

My Rating: 8/10

Language: around 10 "F" words. A few deity usage. Around 20 of the combined "Sh", "D", "H" and a few others.

Violence: None

Sexuality: A brief scene where a child walks in on her mother and a man, non-descriptive. Other alluding points in the book.

This is my first post here! How exciting! Please be patient with me as I start this and try to really get into it. I watch movies and read books way more than I blog, so hopefully I will have all the time I need! (And I'll encourage James to get on here too, he watches movies like crazy!)

This was a book selected for my book club for the month of November. It was the perfect book for the month of November.
Back of the book blurb:

When Martin Grace enters the hip Philadelphia coffee shop Cornelia Brown manages, her life changes forever. But little does she know that her newfound love is only the harbinger of greater changes to come. Meanwhile, across town, Clare Hobbs—eleven years old and abandoned by her erratic mother—goes looking for her lost father. She crosses paths with Cornelia while meeting with him at the café, and the two women form an improbable friendship that carries them through the unpredictable currents of love and life. Invoking classic movies to illuminate the mystery and wonder of love in all its permutations, Love Walked In is an uplifting debut that marks the entrance of an enchanting literary voice.


My review:


Yes! I love when I read a book and end up totally and completely falling in love with it. Marisa de los Santos has an amazing way of writing that is so fluid and pulls you right into the book. She uses descriptive language so vivid, you can almost picture the scene in your head. I was captivated to say the least. The book had so many twists and turns throughout the story, I never knew exactly what to expect. I loved that about her book! Unexpected deaths, unexpected love. 


As far as characters, I feel they were well developed. Some more than others. The main character, Cornelia (great name right?) is a small woman, who is very intelligent. I liked to picture myself as her...if I were about 60 pounds lighter. :) She was a strong character, yet so gentle at the same time. When Clare falls into her life, she picks up the pieces her mother and father have dropped. Her character was a great example of pure maternal instincts within every woman, just waiting to have the opportunity to surface. 


Martin, the man whom Cornelia is dating, is a suave and debonair fellow...and Cornelia uses so many classic movie references, that you almost feel he really is Cary Grant with a different name. Cornelia even compares his looks to Grant. I wanted to love Martin and then hate Martin...and in the end feel compassion and pity for him. He was the perfect out-of-the-movies character...who ends up being deeply flawed in one very important respect.


Clare is the eleven year old girl who's mother has gone crazy and left and whose father is not a part of her life. Her character makes you fall in love with her. She is a smart, brave and strong girl for only 11. But she is not without her childish qualities as well, which make her more believable. I first thought the author hadn't done well by making an eleven year old more mature that reality. But then I thought...I have an eleven year old cousin and an almost eleven year old brother...and the author was spot on. 


Teo is a lovely spanish man, with the appearance to take a normal woman's breath away. He is kind and gentle, smart (a doctor!) and humble. He is Cornelia's brother-in-law...and through the whole book you just wish he weren't married! Did I completely fall in love with him? yes, I sure did. 


The rest of the characters are also those whom you love and hate at different points in the book, but make you happy they are there because they add the color to the story.


My favorite side character is Cornelias best friend, Linny. I love the relationship they have. Linny is extreme and over the top, and teases Cornelia. And yet Cornelia loves and craves her. Linny has a way of knowing exactly what Cornelia is thinking, that makes their friendship so special. It reminds me so much of my best friend from college.


Overall, very pleased with this book. It has a semi-happy ending, that is truly happy and perfect if you think about it.

Would I recommend this book to a friend? Yes! Absolutely yes...with the language disclaimer.
Would I read this book again? Yes. It is one worth reading again, and purchasing!