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Barbara Schnell has dedicated her life to full-time employment avoidance. She's been an actress, renovated a 1921 bungalow, set a cash-winning record on $25,000 Pyramid, and came in last on Jeopardy. First Year is her debut novel. Her second novel, Marianne Moves On, won a National Indie Excellence Award. She lives in Los Angeles with her patient husband and two cats. For more info go to: www.barbaraschnell.com
Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite
First Year by Barbara Schnell is a romantic comedy. Young actress Stevie O’Neill has married Robert and returned to his home in South Dakota. While her ancestry isn’t an issue, it would appear that her lack of domestic skills is, and her mother-in-law sets about trying to teach her. Her life is now packed to the hilt as her appearance in a beer commercial makes her a celebrity, and she becomes embroiled in a different way of living from what she’s used to. Her first year of a marriage driven by hormones is bumpy, as she discovers that marrying her Prince Charming doesn’t guarantee her a fairytale life. Through the ups and downs, minor bumps, and significant obstacles in the road, she must decide if she should stick by her decision or abandon everything and run for the hills.
First Year by Barbara Schnell is utterly compulsive reading, fast-paced, and full of action and hilarity. I guarantee you will laugh your way through it; it’s a joy to read an excellent account of the first year of a marriage that perhaps the protagonist didn’t give much thought to before jumping in blind with both feet. You’ll walk with Stevie as she navigates her way through the type of life she never dreamed of living, and you’ll be on her side through it all. The book includes excellent characters, which are original, sassy, and well-developed, and an action-packed plot that makes you laugh and cry. Many people will identify with the characters and, to a certain extent, the story itself, and the energetic writing style will draw you right into the heart of it. I highly recommend the author; this is an excellent book for those who want an escape from the realities of their lives for a while.
