Review: What a Delightful Book with GREAT Characters, Friendship, and Faith!!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 09 30, 2013
My CommentsThere were two things that grabbed my attention about this book...first, my mom enjoys frequenting hair salons and once in a while I join her for my own hair cut needs as well as mother-daughter time; this book mostly takes place in a hair salon *how fabulous!* and second, I LOOOOOVED the book trailer :)  So even though I know nothing about the latest hair trends and usually stay far away from all that girly stuff, this book made me think of my lovely mom (and her passion for hair treatment) and the trailer immediately convinced me that this book was not to be missed!This is such a well written story, but I had trouble connecting with Shira for the first hundred pages.  She has high hopes of managing her own salon in glamorous California, she's dating a model type actor who is way too superficial for my taste, and she wants nothing to do with her family because of past hurts.  Readers, do not be fooled...this is just the START of Shira's journey and there's so much more to Shira's character than this initial first impression.  When she learns she has inherited a hair salon she is devastated about the death in her family, but it is just the first step in God reaching out for her as He does for each of us.There are references to Willy Wonka, Dancing with the Stars, and Ghostbusters.My favorite characters in the story are Edna (Shira's aunt and the "mom" who raised her after her mom passed away), Cari (Shira's best friend and all around great person), and Melly (one of the characters who makes this story so precious).  This story reminded me of the movie The Beautician and the Beast; lighthearted, with precious moments, comedy, some romance, and depth.Meet the Mavens!!(cue the trumpets)Shira-most experienced beautician and fearless leader of the bunch.  When she realizes she's now the owner of this rundown beauty parlor her dream of managing her own place must be amended as she adjusts to small town life versus being in the big city.  She inherits more than a beauty salon, she becomes part of a family and community, and she discovers how much God loves her.  Her #1 rule, keep the client happy and dry.Harriet-Edna's best friend, hates it when people are late, smokes, has beehive hair, is very bitter (I disliked her nicknames for Shira and Sam), and gets angry easily.  Harriet is the character that has the BIGGEST transformation in the story and she is brilliantly written.  She truly reminded me of Edmund from The Chronicles of Narnia...I couldn't stand him in the wardrobe story but his redemption made him my favorite character for the rest of the series.Beulah-let me just say that I love this name and kept trying to pronounce it in my head properly :)  Gillespie does a stand up job of explaining the meaning of names in this story adding even more richness to the characters in doing so.  Beulah is the peacemaker in the story, was very close to Edna, and stands by Harriet even when she disagrees with her.  She loves being a hair dresser, is so much stronger than she realizes, she¡ very loving, and her faith in Christ makes her admirable throughout the story.  She never loses faith in Shira, gets along with everyone, and helps guide Jesse in the story.Kathy-another great character in the story that has her own secrets.  She is the youngest of the Mavens and also loved Edna very much.  Kathy is amazed that she gets an inheritance in the story, but what she gets serves her well.  Kathy is nicknamed the Mouse by Harriet because she acts very timid, fidgety, and reacts in questionable ways when she's uncomfortable.  There are signs of abuse in her demeanor, but she is a huge blessing to the salon and also gradually learns her worth in the story.Edna-her presence is tangible throughout and it's clear from the start that she creates an unshakable foundation for the hair salon and the Mavens.  She "sees"  people from the heart, keeps things balanced, and never stops reaching out to her niece who is also the daughter of her heart.  She brings the faith, the joy, the love, and imparts blessings that turn into miracles.  She is the original Hair Maven, her memory keeps the salon alive, and she brings inspiration to Shira on how to make it better.Some of the issues the Mavens have to overcome in the story: division, sabotage, gossip, one nasty rumor, an ailing husband and financial woes, a secretive past, and heartbreak from the past.These are attacks that are planned in the story that would make a funny blooper reel is this were a movie (some are written out, some I added):Attack One-do not answer phonesAttack Two-do not do the laundryAttack Three-do not sell productsAttack Four-change appointments around without marking appointment bookAttack Five-bash talk boss behind her back with clients (this one isn't funny but it does happen)I don't have a kindle, but I was able to read this on my laptop as a pdf file.  I also have the kindle application which allows me to read ebooks.  I prefer print books, but I don't want to miss out on great ebooks like this one!This story had me captivated far more than my initial impression and the last 100 pages I couldn¡ stop crying because of how deeply touching the story is!  The Mavens have an impossible situation in front of them, but with prayer and help from unexpected places miracles big and small occur for each of them.  The presence of God is deeply felt, celebrated, and acknowledged in various ways that makes this story become real for the reader.  I believe any woman who has been to a hair salon will relate to the characters within and they will enjoy the journey Shira's on because it affects all her loved ones in touching ways.  Get a copy of She Does Good Hair and watch the sassiness, friendship, and different lifestyles found inside The Mavens' salon...you'll be changed as they are and you'll be eager to see what's next in the sequel!I want to thank Terri Gillepsie for the review copy provided.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions expressed are my own.