Review: Small town, kids and a Toleffson - Love it
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 13, 2010
I am hooked on the Toleffson men and on this series that Meg Benjamin has created. After two visit to small town Konigsburg, I am back for a third time and this times it's Lars Toleffson turn in front of cupids arrow.Lars has not had it easy, with a litany of what if's in his past he is trying to build a new life for himself and his daughter - it's going well enough and could go better if he could find a sitter for his two years old, who was more interested in the child than in him or has some sense of health and safety.When he places an advert and Jessamyn Carroll turns up for the job, she does not look like a babysitter, but at this stage he was just about ready to try anything. Things goes better than he would have ever imagined and just when he thinks that the only thing he has left to worry about is his sisters-in-law trying to match make, someone tries to takes Jack the babysitters son. Lars sees only one alternative at hand - move in and take onboard Jess's battles.Jessamyn Carroll is working a job she doesn't particularly like but it allows for her to have a roof over her head and most importantly let her continue living under the radar.She needs this cover to hide from her in-laws and give her son every chance of normalcy as she can. When danger comes a calling Jess is place into a not so reluctant position of accepting help from Lars Toleffson.Jesse and Lars are not equipped to deal with all these challenges on their own and needs the help of all the Toleffson brood. Getting them involved only help them to a certain degree because Lars is sweet on Jess and Jess is most definitely sweet and Lars - but with Docia Toleffson and a precocious two years old to content with - Maybe meeting all those challenges head on did not seem so bad after all.Meg Benjamin and her Konigsburg series is another wonderful find for me this year. Third book in the series BE MY BABY is not only a wonderful addition but it is the best book of the series so far.The other two feels like a build up to this book. Firstly there are the characters While I only just met Jess, Ms. Benjamin gave me enough of a background on her to identify with her, to understand where she was coming from. Larson on the other hand is firmly in my heart - I have been through, the entire range of emotion with him through two books - so I was ready for a happily ever after for him.The regulars made an appearance as well and no visit to Konigsburg would be complete without the shenanigans that the residents are famous for happening, so I met the very butch waitress, got involved in a proposal gone wrong and a battle of the dogs that I can only guess at who won.The meat of this book centers on Jess past trying to catch up with her - the characters involved in those scenes of the book were really well done...I was trapped in this plot. It moved fast, the twist and turns kept coming and faceless and chilly mannerism took on a whole new meaning. The way the author swings between the scenes like a revolving door really was one of the highlights of the book. imageThe who done it also sneaked up on me and even now I am so impressed at how well Ms. Benjamin wove the mystery into the other storylines to the point that I was just as surprised at everyone in Konigsburg about the outcome.Another positive was how the author grew the Toleffson boys, they are totally different in their approach and their thought process from how I met them earlier this year, That said there is one more single brother left and if there was  anyone more deserving of a HEA it is Erik Toleffson - I eagerly await his story .....Bottom LineSmall town does not get much better, more convoluted nor more up in the air than Konigsburg. BE MY BABY is a solid read and in my opinion a better book than the past two in the series. While there is a mystery to content with in this book, the characters are better defined; they are more relaxed, it feels like Ms. Benjamin is more comfortable with her creations.I am loving the fresh blood she introduces to the town, because left up to their own device's Konigsburgers would not allow anyone to cross its boundaries.I absolutely love this book and although it can be read on it's own I wouldn't recommend it - it would be your loss to miss out on meeting a fantastic and dynamic set of people. Must read series and book...