Review: A Dandy Chick Lit Work: Empowering Women, Dispensing Adventure
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 08 31, 2013
Ladies take note: Jeanne Meeks has created a first novel that puts her up in the company of fine adventure/mystery writers, especially those for whom the novel seems intended - women standing on the brink of decision about taking control of their lives. For a first time outing, Meeks certainly understands the too often ignored trait of spreading the seeds of an adventure novel throughout the first chapters, laying the ground for resolution of ideas and suspense filled tales that seem all too possible to ignore until novel's end.Amy Warren is a professional woman whose 50th birthday is awarded with divorce papers from her husband. Lost on many levels, and bathing in a sudsy bath of bathos she decides to reaffirm her independence by flying out to Arizona to hike the Grand Canyon with her friend Karen with whom she has been training. But trouble begins at the luggage stand in Phoenix when a tattooed young man grabs her luggage only to be rescued in his escape by a self-confident Sarah Rochon - seasoned hiker who plans the hike from the South Rim to the North Rim and through a series of substantial circumstances they end up as hiking partners. From the initial strange luggage lift to a near accident in the car the two women bond, Amy relying on Sarah's expertise, but nothing prepares them for the multiple dangers and bizarre occurrences they encounter.Well woven writing makes this an edge of the seat read that moves very quickly and serves as proof that an abruptly single woman can overcome daunting hurdles on the journey to finding inner strength and confidence. This is a well- composed first novel with much promise.  Grady Harp, August 13