Nonfiction Intrigues Veteran Reviewer

Title: From Zero to Four Kids in Thirty Seconds (2011)

Author: Amy L. Peterson

Book link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006NQHFGC

Nonfiction

ISBN: 978-0-615-55589-8 (Smashwords)

 

Reviewed by Joy V. Smith originally for Amazon

5 out of 5 stars

I came across this book online; it sounded intriguing--and fun, so I got it. I enjoyed it from Amy and Mark's first meeting in the workplace when he rejects her proposal (for a study grant), their tentative attempts at getting to know each other and date--despite her understandable reluctance to get involved with a man with four children. She gives us the background too on why--though they worked there for five years--they never connected. (He was married; now he's divorced.) He persists, and together they overcome a variety of challenges. This story illustrates those challenges--her family, his children, the ex-wife, and the usual speed bumps, but Amy makes meeting them a fun read, while at the same time not being afraid to expose her conflicting feelings along the way. See Tip #11: "If your first meeting with the kids doesn't go well, rest assured that it won't be the last thing that won't go well." And that was why I wanted the book--for the funny takes on her life--reminding me of Erma Bombeck--and for what happened along the way and how they survived the challenges and succeeded. This is a romantic story, btw, and I sympathized with both of them as they felt their way along the path to marriage and beyond.

The tips for step-parents are helpful and funny. #1 sets the stage: "Behind every successful stepmother is a man with at least one child." There are 70 tips; #70 introduces the epilogue: "You won't be able to predict what the kids remember, or what they'll like the most. So try to enjoy it all." I believe she and her new family did enjoy it; and I enjoyed their story. Highly recommended.

Note: I read the paperback edition, which I received directly from the author.

~Learn more about the reviewer and helpful house and ecorating hints on her blog at http://pagadan.blogspot.com.

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