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Almost Heaven
Cody Keaton truly believes that money doesn't buy happiness. She believes this so strongly that when she hits big in the lottery she considers throwing the ticket away. Once she talks herself off that ledge she vows to use the money only for security, a decision that she honestly believes she can follow. She’s not going to be one of those people who blows it on houses and cars and loses it all.
Her aunts, uncles, cousins and extended family don't share her view—but most of them itch to share her money.
The local bank manager, Maddie Osborne, quickly sees that Cody's going to be in a world of trouble if she doesn't make some tough financial decisions. Given that Cody's never been inside a bank, her learning curve is steep. Maddie finds herself drawn to protecting the unsophisticated woman from the people who are trying to separate Cody from her fortune—even her nearest and dearest.
Her aunts, uncles, cousins and extended family don't share her view—but most of them itch to share her money.
The local bank manager, Maddie Osborne, quickly sees that Cody's going to be in a world of trouble if she doesn't make some tough financial decisions. Given that Cody's never been inside a bank, her learning curve is steep. Maddie finds herself drawn to protecting the unsophisticated woman from the people who are trying to separate Cody from her fortune—even her nearest and dearest.
352 pages, Paperback
First published October 4, 2012
24 people are currently reading
206 people want to read
About the author
Susan X. Meagher
59 books372 followersSusan X Meagher was born in southern Illinois and grew up in East St Louis. She attended college in Chicago and started her working career there. She and her partner moved to the Los Angeles area in the late 80's. It was there that she started to write. Her first few books were simply posted on the web and became the I Found My Heart in San Francisco series. In 2002 she moved to New York and divides her time between Manhattan and the Jersey Shore. She has published thirteen books in the series and has gone on to write many individual books as well. She has partnered with other authors on two short story books and has written many stories that have been published in other mainstream anthologies. Susan is active in the lesbian author community and loves to attend Women's week at Provincetown and the GCLS annual conventions. Her stories revolve around the relationships that two women can build when given a chance and how those relationships can strengthen the individual and the partnership. Her genre is lesbian romance/fiction and she believes strongly in the happy ending that we all so deserve. Susan X Meagher was awarded a 2011 Lesbian Fiction Readers’ Choice Award for Favorite Lesbian Fiction Writer. She is the recipient of the 2014 Alice B. Medal for her body of work.
From the author's website: I live in New York with my spouse, Carrie. We've lived in Chicago and Los Angeles for significant periods, but New York fits us very well. I love to discuss my work and fiction in general. My goal in writing is to explore feelings. I want to entertain, but I also want to make people think. I've heard that life is all about finding out who we are. To me, life if about finding out who other people are. I'm interested in the small details of life, that's how a story about two young women in college is slowly becoming a 26 book series. The joke in Seinfield was that it was about nothing. I feel the same about most of my books. They are about the many things that happen when nothing is happening. The small joys and sorrows of everyday life can be fascinating, especially if you care about the people involved. I try to create characters that will make a reader care deeply. I'm always interested in hearing how close I am to that goal. So please drop me a line whenever you have a comment or a question about a story. Writing is a pretty solitary pursuit and it's great to know that I'm not alone.
From the author's website: I live in New York with my spouse, Carrie. We've lived in Chicago and Los Angeles for significant periods, but New York fits us very well. I love to discuss my work and fiction in general. My goal in writing is to explore feelings. I want to entertain, but I also want to make people think. I've heard that life is all about finding out who we are. To me, life if about finding out who other people are. I'm interested in the small details of life, that's how a story about two young women in college is slowly becoming a 26 book series. The joke in Seinfield was that it was about nothing. I feel the same about most of my books. They are about the many things that happen when nothing is happening. The small joys and sorrows of everyday life can be fascinating, especially if you care about the people involved. I try to create characters that will make a reader care deeply. I'm always interested in hearing how close I am to that goal. So please drop me a line whenever you have a comment or a question about a story. Writing is a pretty solitary pursuit and it's great to know that I'm not alone.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
November 14, 2017
3.4 stars. My fourth book by the author. In some ways I really liked this book but in others not so much. This is probably the weakest of the bunch I've read so far from Meagher.
Spoilers ahead.
The fact is that Maddie would never stay with Cody if she hadn't won the lottery. Money quite literally equals love in this case. Cody wouldn't be able to fix her teeth, dress nicely and build a house without that money and Maddie would leave for the big city. Furthermore all their differences - social/economic class, education, interests in general - where glossed over once the "I love you" was dropped. Before that Maddie still wanted to be a big city girl yet that one sentence fixes all problems, that's just too hard for me to believe.
Furthermore as another reviewer highlighted, Maddie doesn't have any friends or family contact which would stand in the way of her staying with Cody. It's like she was made for that one specific purpose and I have to agree. It's all too convenient.
Then there's the issue with Cody's character. Sometimes she's a wise master and sometimes she's a complete child. I didn't buy her apparent hillbilly persona, it's too inconsistent in the way she speaks and what she does.
But other than that the setting is once again something new and fresh - it's always a great joy for me when nature and especially forests are included in my lesfic. The mains have an incredible chemistry and a nice love story if you can ignore the facts I've mentioned previously. I do love how Meagher writes and I'll always be a fan but this is one of her lesser offerings unfortunately.
Spoilers ahead.
The fact is that Maddie would never stay with Cody if she hadn't won the lottery. Money quite literally equals love in this case. Cody wouldn't be able to fix her teeth, dress nicely and build a house without that money and Maddie would leave for the big city. Furthermore all their differences - social/economic class, education, interests in general - where glossed over once the "I love you" was dropped. Before that Maddie still wanted to be a big city girl yet that one sentence fixes all problems, that's just too hard for me to believe.
Furthermore as another reviewer highlighted, Maddie doesn't have any friends or family contact which would stand in the way of her staying with Cody. It's like she was made for that one specific purpose and I have to agree. It's all too convenient.
Then there's the issue with Cody's character. Sometimes she's a wise master and sometimes she's a complete child. I didn't buy her apparent hillbilly persona, it's too inconsistent in the way she speaks and what she does.
But other than that the setting is once again something new and fresh - it's always a great joy for me when nature and especially forests are included in my lesfic. The mains have an incredible chemistry and a nice love story if you can ignore the facts I've mentioned previously. I do love how Meagher writes and I'll always be a fan but this is one of her lesser offerings unfortunately.
January 4, 2016
This book surprised me. I wasn't totally sold on the premise and I actually put it down for several weeks when I hit the 20% or so mark, but I picked it back up yesterday and had a very hard time putting it down. I loved both of the lead characters and solidly believed in their HEA. I'm sure I'll be coming back to this one.
November 15, 2023
A book I reread at least once a year. One of my all time favorites
November 28, 2017
Still love this book, even if I was a bit more frustrated with Cody the second time around.
March 1, 2015
I normally enjoy Meagher's work, and have rated some 5 stars. But this one didn't do it for me. It was a bit of a chore to read, largely because I didn't believe the premise or that the characters would behave the way they did.
Cody Keaton is a hillbilly who wins millions of dollars in lotto. Normally broke, but working hard to trade what she can collect and hunt in the local forest, this offers a huge change for Cody and her family. As a result of the win, she walks into a bank for the first time and has to discuss how a bank works, and how to deposit and withdraw money, etc. This, frankly, wasn't at all believable. It is like Meagher believes that the people who live in 'them thar hills' are highly functional animals who don't engage at all in normal society. Cody walking into the bank forces the local bank manager, Maddie Osborne, to have to instruct Cody in how to manage even the most basic of banking services, and thus positions two very different lesbians in the same vicinity in time for the romantic aspects of the book.
Normally Meagher's characters are really well written, and the plot works well to serve her characters. 'The Crush' is a ripper read. This time, however, I didn't believe that either of the characters would do what they did in the book, or that the bank manager character who loves the city would choose to stay in the hills. It felt like Maddie was used as a plot device to show us how different this knuckle-dragging hillbilly Cody is to the rest of us, as Maddie has no friends, almost no contact with family (with whom she gets on well), and therefore no reason not to completely abandon all her dreams and plans for her future.
I was really disappointed with this book. 2.5 stars.
Cody Keaton is a hillbilly who wins millions of dollars in lotto. Normally broke, but working hard to trade what she can collect and hunt in the local forest, this offers a huge change for Cody and her family. As a result of the win, she walks into a bank for the first time and has to discuss how a bank works, and how to deposit and withdraw money, etc. This, frankly, wasn't at all believable. It is like Meagher believes that the people who live in 'them thar hills' are highly functional animals who don't engage at all in normal society. Cody walking into the bank forces the local bank manager, Maddie Osborne, to have to instruct Cody in how to manage even the most basic of banking services, and thus positions two very different lesbians in the same vicinity in time for the romantic aspects of the book.
Normally Meagher's characters are really well written, and the plot works well to serve her characters. 'The Crush' is a ripper read. This time, however, I didn't believe that either of the characters would do what they did in the book, or that the bank manager character who loves the city would choose to stay in the hills. It felt like Maddie was used as a plot device to show us how different this knuckle-dragging hillbilly Cody is to the rest of us, as Maddie has no friends, almost no contact with family (with whom she gets on well), and therefore no reason not to completely abandon all her dreams and plans for her future.
I was really disappointed with this book. 2.5 stars.
June 30, 2014
There is a lot to like here. Really brought to light the plight of many in deep rural areas-a whole alternative universe- whose rules of behavior are foreign and secretive. As unbelievable as the descriptions of day to day life, family loyalty, and codes of behavior were, this part of the book rang true, as least in my experience. BUT, the strong and independent protagonists, Maddie and Cody, were too far apart in terms of education, interests, aspirations, and life experiences to EVER believe they could take the leap into total lifelong commitment. I mean Maddie didn't even like the outdoors! So while winning the lottery was far-fetched, it was more believeable than Maddie and Cody making a life for themselves.
August 5, 2018
This was a fun read with some poignant examples related to economics, family, and love. Although some stereotypes were perpetuated, I thought some realism and situations that make you think were offered as well.
March 9, 2013
I loved this book, though I would not hold it in the same light as some other favorites I've read. It's sweeter and deeper than much pulp fiction, and certainly far more than just erotica. At the same time, it's simpler than some of my other favorites - though it would be a disservice if it were any other way.
The narrative, told in limited third person, follows the pattern and flow of the two protagonists. When focused on Cody, the storytelling allows the reader to feel like the simple girl from the hollows of West Virginia. With Maddie, the story flows a bit more smoothly, following the thoughts of someone raised in the suburbs of Washington D.C. and with longing for more in life than the middle of nowhere. The result is a story that can be stuttering and staggering to begin with, but creates a narrative that reflects the state between the two women - agitated when there is turbulence between them, smooth and silky when they are at peace.
I love this book for what it is, and thoroughly recommend it for those looking for a good story that happens to include erotic components (which are splendidly written and add to the texture and weave of the story, rather than subtract). It can be painful to read at times by virtue of the reader's third person perspective (and thus, dramatic irony), but it uses this to reflect the emotional states in the book and draw the reader in - should you let it.
The narrative, told in limited third person, follows the pattern and flow of the two protagonists. When focused on Cody, the storytelling allows the reader to feel like the simple girl from the hollows of West Virginia. With Maddie, the story flows a bit more smoothly, following the thoughts of someone raised in the suburbs of Washington D.C. and with longing for more in life than the middle of nowhere. The result is a story that can be stuttering and staggering to begin with, but creates a narrative that reflects the state between the two women - agitated when there is turbulence between them, smooth and silky when they are at peace.
I love this book for what it is, and thoroughly recommend it for those looking for a good story that happens to include erotic components (which are splendidly written and add to the texture and weave of the story, rather than subtract). It can be painful to read at times by virtue of the reader's third person perspective (and thus, dramatic irony), but it uses this to reflect the emotional states in the book and draw the reader in - should you let it.
November 12, 2012
This story was very well written. Susan is a very good writer, and the characters were very original. But.. but. I was bored to tears. I stuck with it, hoping it would change but it was just flat out boring. When I say original characters I mean that I've never read about a hillbilly and a bank manager lesbian relationship but all in all.. they didn't have much of a personality. Cody was frankly.. here i go again.. BORING. BUT.. it was a good romance book.. if you focus just on the relationship it wasn't half bad.
October 7, 2012
It is really 4.5 stars. Mainly because I have meet some hillbillies and crackers they know how banks work. So that was pretty hard for me to accept.
October 13, 2012
An extra star for original characters.
November 28, 2020
Interesting tale
Not my favorite of Ms. Meagher’s books, but a good read. It took me a while to really believe Maddie and Codie were in love, as it seemed like kind of a leap considering [*SPOILER*] they really weren’t spending very much time together when it happened. But eventually I felt they were very cute together.
Probably for the first time ever though, I was more interested in the larger story than the romance when reading a book in this genre. A sweet but overly-cautious hillbilly wins the lottery and has to figure out what the heck to do with the money in a way that benefits her huge, rough-around-the-edges clan without breaking them apart? Very intriguing premise. I liked it, and the questions and nuances that came with it all were well handled. My one complaint: [*ANOTHER SPOILER*] What the heck happened to Maddie’s county-wide clean-up initiative? A fair amount of one or two chapters was dedicated to the development of this project, then there was not a whisper of whether or not she ever implemented it and, if so, how it went over. Really would have liked to have seen if it had the positive impact she had hoped for, and especially if it created jobs in a community that sorely needed them. It was an oversight to leave that thread hanging, but it’s just disappointing rather than the kind of thing that can ruin a good story.
Overall, a solid 4 for the genre. Long, engaging, and packed with extremely well drawn characters, as you can always expect from this author. But if you want to read Ms. Meaghan’s phenomenal talent at its finest, “Arbor Vitae” and “All That Matters” are still her best works!
Not my favorite of Ms. Meagher’s books, but a good read. It took me a while to really believe Maddie and Codie were in love, as it seemed like kind of a leap considering [*SPOILER*] they really weren’t spending very much time together when it happened. But eventually I felt they were very cute together.
Probably for the first time ever though, I was more interested in the larger story than the romance when reading a book in this genre. A sweet but overly-cautious hillbilly wins the lottery and has to figure out what the heck to do with the money in a way that benefits her huge, rough-around-the-edges clan without breaking them apart? Very intriguing premise. I liked it, and the questions and nuances that came with it all were well handled. My one complaint: [*ANOTHER SPOILER*] What the heck happened to Maddie’s county-wide clean-up initiative? A fair amount of one or two chapters was dedicated to the development of this project, then there was not a whisper of whether or not she ever implemented it and, if so, how it went over. Really would have liked to have seen if it had the positive impact she had hoped for, and especially if it created jobs in a community that sorely needed them. It was an oversight to leave that thread hanging, but it’s just disappointing rather than the kind of thing that can ruin a good story.
Overall, a solid 4 for the genre. Long, engaging, and packed with extremely well drawn characters, as you can always expect from this author. But if you want to read Ms. Meaghan’s phenomenal talent at its finest, “Arbor Vitae” and “All That Matters” are still her best works!
October 23, 2023
3 stars. I’m just now getting out of this weird book reading funk so I just thought for sure that Meagher would help. She didn’t this time, not really. While this wasn’t absolutely terrible or anything it certainly was nowhere near a favorite of mine. The plot itself was intriguing. Cody is kind of a hillbilly who wins the lottery and falls in love with a bank teller, Maddie. Cool. But the characters themselves were so bizarrely inconsistent and kind of unlikable. I didn’t like either of them honestly. The romance between them was fine and they did have chemistry but I just didn’t like them as individuals. There were also no side characters that I liked either as I found Cody’s family to be just as annoying as her. Overall, I was only into this because of the plot but everything else fell very flat for me unfortunately.
August 31, 2017
Oh what a surprise! I was so sure this book would be a waste of time at the initial chapters of this book but somehow the writer wove in more plots and romance leading to a wonderful read
June 14, 2025
Cody's family are a bunch of horrible people. The author wrote Maddie into hell
October 12, 2015
Lucky in love...
This book is a heartwarming tale of life, love and family going from poverty to being full of riches. Country or rather hillbilly according to the book is not my typical read...I'm more of a contemporary city girl myself...but it was interesting to watch the slow evolution of Cody, Maddie and the Montgomery Clan.
It may not be set in the past but it definitely holds many elements that seem to be a throwback to the past, a much simpler time where people were connected to the land and their families more than highrises, fancy electronics and modern age "keeping in touch" through the likes of Facebook that is today's typical world.
I wasn't able to entirely relate to the story or the characters but this book certainly isn't without its charms. It's a nice long slow endearing read to pass the time.
This book is a heartwarming tale of life, love and family going from poverty to being full of riches. Country or rather hillbilly according to the book is not my typical read...I'm more of a contemporary city girl myself...but it was interesting to watch the slow evolution of Cody, Maddie and the Montgomery Clan.
It may not be set in the past but it definitely holds many elements that seem to be a throwback to the past, a much simpler time where people were connected to the land and their families more than highrises, fancy electronics and modern age "keeping in touch" through the likes of Facebook that is today's typical world.
I wasn't able to entirely relate to the story or the characters but this book certainly isn't without its charms. It's a nice long slow endearing read to pass the time.
December 5, 2024
Another Favorite from Susan X. Meagher While not all of this author's books are my cup of tea, Almost Heaven and All That Matters will always be a couple of my very favorite of the genre. I reread these two books regularly and probably always will.
I wrote a nice long review on my site after the first time I read it. I don't think I could add anything to it. Except that All That Matter is still my favorite and this would be second for SXM's books.
If you like lesbian romance and also like a good, long read that's not just a load of filler, you'll want to give this one a shot.
I wrote a nice long review on my site after the first time I read it. I don't think I could add anything to it. Except that All That Matter is still my favorite and this would be second for SXM's books.
If you like lesbian romance and also like a good, long read that's not just a load of filler, you'll want to give this one a shot.
September 15, 2015
I wanted to slap Cody at times during this book. I know they're her family but they didn't give me enough reason to feel that they deserved all they got from her! Got me really pissed at Cody at times. Anyway, there are better books by the author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 4, 2013
A tad boring in the middle.
December 16, 2014
It's a lovely book, I just loved it from the beginning to the very end.
I reread it and enjoyed even more!
I reread it and enjoyed even more!
January 23, 2015
Cute and funny. Different.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews