These Boots Weren't Made For Walking

Written by Melody Carlson

Narrated by Danielle Ferland

RITA Award winner Melody Carlson's sassy tale highlights the healing influence of family, friends, faith-and unexpected love-on a 31-year-old single gal who's down but not out. The day she dons her Valentino boots, Cassidy's life starts spinning out of control. Her boss fires her, her boyfriend dumps her, and someone steals her identity. And binging on chocolate doesn't help. "Any book by Carlson is worth encountering."-Booklist

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Aug 14, 2009
• ISBN: 9781440760020

Melody Carlson

Melody Carlson is the prolific author of more than 200 books for women, teens and children. The recipient of numerous writing awards including the Rita and the RT Career Achievement Award, she makes her home in Oregon with her husband.

[mrsjason · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I know that there will be quite a number of Christian readers who will not like this book. The book is quite edgy so I can understand if some conservative readers might be turned off after reading the first few chapters. However, this is one of the best books I've read this year and I enjoyed it so much, we might have some words if you don't agree with me. (j/k!) I absolutely adored Cassie, her boots, and her story. This is chick lit at its finest. I could not put this book down. You have a character who you grow to love in spite of her flaws. All the elements of a mainstream chick lit book are here plus the added benefit of what it means to be a Christian. Cassie grows and matures throughout the book. The reader goes along for the ride and it's sometimes painful (the gym scenes are torturous) and hilarious at the same time (cougars! and the bear costume!) I really liked Will, he seems like a really good guy, and he also sounds really cute because he's described as being very nice. I did not like Cassie's ex, I'm glad she dumped him, and I cheered when he did. He had a really bad reason for breaking up with her too. The writing in this book is top notch. It is very descriptive and you really get into what it's like to be Cassie and to travel back to her hometown. The first person narrative really gets you into the story.

One thing I would mention is that Cassie does drink some alcohol in this book. However she is not drinking to get drunk and she does not even finish her beer. I bring this up because I had problems in another Christian chick lit book that involved drinking. In this book, I did not find the drinking offensive because no one pressures Cassie to drink. It's her choice and it does not become a huge factor that changes her life.

Melody Carlson is one of the best authors out there. Her teen books are fantastic, her adult ones even more so enjoyable. This book is VERY HIGHLY recommended. If you love chick lit, I guarantee you will devour this book.

[mrshillreads · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Light reading that's fun and has a message! The shallow Cassidy undergoes transformation as bad things happen to her. Several parts were laugh-out-loud funny. This would make a good made-for-TV movie!

[sarahlouise_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

a fun romp.

[debs4jc · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It all starts with a $200 pair of boots. At least that's what Cassidy, the main character of this novel seems to think. She is perplexed by her run of bad luck--losing her job, finding out a neighbor has stolen a credit card and run up a huge balance, and buying the aforementioned boots--which look good but leave her with horrible blisters. So Cassidy ends up moving back home, with a mother who has undergone an extreme makeover and looks more like her sister. In fact, Cassidy is shocked to find out her mother is a former high school classmate of hers. All these changes throw Cassidy into a funk for a while, but with the help of God she will find out how to crawl out of her hole, improve her life, choose the right man, and ditch the wrong pair of boots.
This is a totally fun light read with a bit of a good message thrown in. Cassidy's over the top dilemmas made me feel better about my own. Definitely pick this one up if you enjoy chick lit.