SLEEPING WITH WARD CLEAVER

Author: Jenny Gardiner ISBN: 0505527472 2/2008 CONTEMPORARY Publisher: DORCHESTER

CLEAVERED Wham, bam, no-thank-you, ma'am. That about sums up the sex life of Claire Doolittle. Not-so-happily married to Jack—once the man of her dreams but now a modern-day version of the bossy, dull Ward Cleaver of ’50s sitcom fame—Claire is at the end of her rope. Gone are the glorious days of flings in elevators and broom closets. Jack? All he needs is a cardigan and a billowing pipe to become the domineering father figure Claire never wanted. And looking at her body in the mirror, Claire would cast herself as Lumpy. They’d once had a world of color, of wanton frivolity. Now, life’s black and white: a sitcom in reruns. A not-very-funny sitcom. Cue an old boyfriend—the "one that got away"—throw in a predatory hottie who's set her sights on our leading man, and watch Claire's world spiral out of control. In the old TV show, the Beaver always got a happy ending. Stay tuned.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

SLEEPING WITH WARD CLEAVER by Jenny Gardiner is a laugh-out-loud contemporary romance. It is indicative of what, I'm sure, goes on in many suburban households. Jenny's Gardiner's tone is fresh and fun, and turns a less-than-great situation into a sharp, witty tale.

Claire and Jack Doolittle used to be wildly romantic, brazenly sexy and perfectly attuned to each other. But now that there are five little Doolittles in the house, Claire and Jack are anything but. In fact, with their missionary-style, calendar-mandated sex life and kid vomit, dinner arguments and frantic lunch deliveries, there is barely anything remaining of the life they once had. Claire's love for her husband is just another thing that has gotten buried. And Jack's for Claire? It's obvious that it's hidden somewhere. maybe in the striped pocket of his Ward Cleaver-ish pajamas?

An email from one of Claire's past lovers and the appearance of a over-stimulated colleague in Jack's life brings the couple's marital issues to the boiling point. Thankfully, it all happens in Miami. Hopefully what happens in Miami stays in Miami, right?

If you're looking for a candid, side-splitting comical take on modern relationships, SLEEPING WITH WARD CLEAVER is the book to read. I devoured it in one sitting, smiling from beginning to end. Bravo!

Kay James