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Heidi Elliott #2
Bottom Line
Heidi Elliott has joined the elite ranks of stay-at-home moms--a world of cartoons, toys, and a significant lack of grown-up conversation. When her husband's business experiences financial problems, Heidi decides to take a part-time job selling lingerie with her new (and very well-off) friends, Kylie and Russ Zimmerman. But in juggling the competing demands of home and high fashion, Heidi discovers that Kylie's faith may lack authenticity, while Russ's concept of marriage may lack fidelity. And with a precocious toddler distracting her--not to mention the niggling idea of having another!--she finds herself torn between living comfortably and standing on her principles. Irreverent and entertaining (how can motherhood be anything but?), Heidi Elliott's happily chaotic world is filled with colorful characters, including a clog-wearing legalist, a best friend who skips town to travel the globe, and a sassy four-year-old who always says whatever she wants. Bottom Line provides a humorous and knowing look at a mom's life.
272 pages, Paperback
First published May 2, 2007
3 people are currently reading
104 people want to read
About the author
Kimberly Stuart
11 books219 followersKimberly Stuart wants you to know that authors write their own bios and are hardly reliable sources. Nevertheless, there are a few facts that stand out:
1. Stuart loves a good story, both written and lived.
2. Stuart loves imported chocolate and her children, though the order of her affections sometimes gets muddled.
3. Stuart writes both non-fiction and fiction, always with an infusion of faith. However, she seems to make Christians nervous. Read at your own risk, then, and e-mail her publisher if you must.
1. Stuart loves a good story, both written and lived.
2. Stuart loves imported chocolate and her children, though the order of her affections sometimes gets muddled.
3. Stuart writes both non-fiction and fiction, always with an infusion of faith. However, she seems to make Christians nervous. Read at your own risk, then, and e-mail her publisher if you must.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
unfinished
February 16, 2017I read this one a bit farther than the first, partly because I was hoping there'd be a redeeming quality that would boost my rating of this book. But even though I love the style of writing and won this series in a giveaway, I just couldn't make myself finish this.
Three factors:
-Heidi references her husband as "gay". I was shocked by this and re-read the sentence several to be sure she wasn't using the word in the old-fashioned sense. But, no, she was stating something about her husband's "feminine" actions. While the sentence and word might be debatable for some, I was extremely bothered that the reference would be used so loosely in a Christian book.
-Several marriage intimacy scenes (mainly just talking about babies, but it was pretty direct), one in particular that was very awkward.
-A couple characters discuss that it's okay for Christians to drink wine because Jesus changed water into wine. I did not agree with that statement because wine in the Bible can sometimes reference grape juice or slightly fermented juice, while other times it is a stronger wine. There didn't seem to be a lot of clear reasons behind their argument.
There were also a few thoughts or outward statements that it is normal speech in the world today, but it was a bit too blunt for my liking. I didn't find it edifying and even though I adored Heidi's daughter and her sweet personality, I do not recommend this book. I doubt I'll even try the third in the series now!
Three factors:
-Heidi references her husband as "gay". I was shocked by this and re-read the sentence several to be sure she wasn't using the word in the old-fashioned sense. But, no, she was stating something about her husband's "feminine" actions. While the sentence and word might be debatable for some, I was extremely bothered that the reference would be used so loosely in a Christian book.
-Several marriage intimacy scenes (mainly just talking about babies, but it was pretty direct), one in particular that was very awkward.
-A couple characters discuss that it's okay for Christians to drink wine because Jesus changed water into wine. I did not agree with that statement because wine in the Bible can sometimes reference grape juice or slightly fermented juice, while other times it is a stronger wine. There didn't seem to be a lot of clear reasons behind their argument.
There were also a few thoughts or outward statements that it is normal speech in the world today, but it was a bit too blunt for my liking. I didn't find it edifying and even though I adored Heidi's daughter and her sweet personality, I do not recommend this book. I doubt I'll even try the third in the series now!
April 21, 2020
I really enjoy reading Kimberly Stuart books. I appreciate her humor and how relatable her characters are. Definitely would recommend for a light-hearted read. I didn't actual read the first book, but didn't feel lost at all reading this one.
July 25, 2017
What a bust!
This book barely has a plot, no character development, and is quite frankly just plain boring! I would skip this series. Loved her other book, Sugar.
This book barely has a plot, no character development, and is quite frankly just plain boring! I would skip this series. Loved her other book, Sugar.
January 21, 2019
Book 2 of 3
February 5, 2014
Another fun read. Heidi Elliott has been a stay-at-home mom for three years. Finances are tight and she worries about brain atrophy. Should she return to teaching? But what about another baby? Enter the beautiful and rich Kylie Zimmerman and the lingerie sales opportunity known as Solomon's Closet--the answer to Heidi's dilemma. But, of ciurse, all is not as it seems.
Kimberley Stuart is a gifted writer, able to paint the realistic circumstances of life--even the Christian life--with honest humor. But as a story w/a Christian outlook, I'm sorry that she missed the opportunity to paint a picture of grace and Christian correction. I realize the story's climax would have been dull, but what if Heidi had confronted Kylie w/her lie regarding start-up costs? What if Heidi had mentioned that Kylie's observations if Maybelle's home and marriage weren't shared? What if Heidi had stopped Kylie's berating of Marisa? I guess I just get tired of the games we play ala Lucy in order to avoid speaking truth.
Still...I will read any other offerings from Ms. Stuart.
Kimberley Stuart is a gifted writer, able to paint the realistic circumstances of life--even the Christian life--with honest humor. But as a story w/a Christian outlook, I'm sorry that she missed the opportunity to paint a picture of grace and Christian correction. I realize the story's climax would have been dull, but what if Heidi had confronted Kylie w/her lie regarding start-up costs? What if Heidi had mentioned that Kylie's observations if Maybelle's home and marriage weren't shared? What if Heidi had stopped Kylie's berating of Marisa? I guess I just get tired of the games we play ala Lucy in order to avoid speaking truth.
Still...I will read any other offerings from Ms. Stuart.
September 4, 2016
This is the second of her books that I have read. It is maybe a little more sophisticated than the first one. The only reason I read these is because she is a former student of mine -Kim Ruisch. This is the story of a mom with a young daughter who needs to make a little money, and she gets involved in selling a home party lingerie line. Very predictable, lots of Christian references. But she's good at writing dialogue. And I like that the main character is a former Spanish teacher, which I think Kim was.
January 28, 2013
This is the first book I've read of Kimberly's. I could relate to the book on the fact that I'm a stay-at-home mother. However, the book wasn't that good. There was never a plot to the story and the book ended abruptly with her friend coming back from Milan. I would not recommend this book to read as it was a waste of my time but if you choose to read it I'd love to hear your opinion on the book.
August 13, 2016
Easy read
Spanish teacher turned stay at home mom Heidi is second guessing her decision to stay home. She gets involved in direct sales even though she's not sure it is right. The characters were totally relatable and it was another fun story in the Heidi Elliott series.
Spanish teacher turned stay at home mom Heidi is second guessing her decision to stay home. She gets involved in direct sales even though she's not sure it is right. The characters were totally relatable and it was another fun story in the Heidi Elliott series.
September 18, 2012
I really enjoyed the story - it was fun to relate to the stay-at-home mom, especially when she started in direct sales. It was a very easy read, one of those mindless books we need sometimes! :)
September 2, 2009
Another book of Stuart's that I've passed around to my friends. It's nice to laugh at just life.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews