Earthly Pleasures

by Karen Neches

When Skye Sebring, a hospitality greeter inside the pearly gates of Heaven, meets lawyer Ryan Blaine during his brush with death after a motorcycle accident, she falls so deeply in love that she follows him back to Earth, a world with strange customs she knows nothing about -- until she discovers that all of life's lessons can be learned from the lyrics of five Beatles songs.

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit, Paranormal, Angels, Romance, Fantasy, Contemporary

320 pages, Paperback

First published February 5, 2008

About the author

Karen Neches is the author of EARTHLY PLEASURES, a Booksense Notable for February 2008.

Reviews

[Jennifer Wardrip]

Reviewed by Marta Morrison for TeensReadToo.com

"All you need is love, love. Love is all you need." -- Lyrics to a very famous song by The Beatles.

This is the fifth easy lesson of the world's five greatest philosophers. The first four are also Beatles songs. I laughed when I read this but I think that Karen Neches has something there.

The story of EARTHLY PLEASURES is about an angel--or soul--named Skye Sebring, who is a hospitality greeter inside Heaven. She greets and helps orientate the souls of the newly departed. The objective of many of the angels in heaven is to get back down to Earth, but not Skye. She loves being in Heaven and working with the newly departed. I would, too.

The citizens of Heaven have Wishberrys which grant their every wish, can make their own schedules, and they are very peaceful. But in walks Ryan Blaine, the son of a former president of the United States. He comes into Skye's blissful life and now she is obsessed with him. He can't stay in Heaven and returns to his earthly body. Now how is Skye going to be with him while she is in heaven and he is on Earth?

This was a light read but oh so fun. Heaven is a funny place to be yet exactly where many of us would like to one day end up. But the fun thing about this book is that it has so many characters that tie into each other and you don't know it until you are about three-quarters of the way through the story. I also couldn't predict the ending. I had a general idea, but there were so many surprises that I was blown away. I want you to know that I stayed up late (for me) on a school night to finish this book, so that in itself tells you how much I enjoyed it.

Remember that all anyone needs is love!

[(Mellifluous Grant) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I need more books like this in my life.

[Mimi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A blog friend recommended this, and I thank them. It's definitely fluff, but clever and inventive fluff. Quick, easy read that tied up well and was a sweet story.
All you need is Love.

[Christia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Initially disappointing, although the final 1/3 of the book got much more interesting. Parts of it reminded me of another book, God on a Harley. I'm not sure that I agree with Neches' theology and oversimplified perspective in general, but I did chuckle over her representation of God.

Skye is a greeter in the Hospitality section of heaven, welcoming the newly dead and helping them adjust to their new celestial surroundings. After falling for Ryan, whom she meets after his brief death following a motorcycle accident before he returns to life on earth, Skye is selected to visit earth herself. Although resistant (her visit to earth is not a direct result of her encounter with Ryan as the book's back cover would have you believe) she prepares for her transition and is taught in part by the "SB" - Supreme Being - herself (yes, God is female!) that everything she will need to know can be summarized by 5 Beatles lyrics: I get by with a little help from my friends. Help! Listen - Do you want to know a secret? Let it be. Love is all you need. (Ah, if only life were that simple. . .)

All in all, I think I would prefer the company of her best friend Rhianna to Skye herself. There are several subplots that quite honestly were more interesting to me than Skye's adventures in heaven (particularly the one about Caroline and Emily), although they all tied together neatly at the conclusion of course. A nice little "love conquers all" read which is probably better appreciated if you can tuck any cynicism away while reading.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun book, set partly in heaven and partly on earth. It was a romance and a mystery and just plain entertaining. I laughed in a number of places and held my breath in one or two.

The first heroine works in the Hospitality Sector of heaven, welcoming and orienting the newly dead. In the first few pages, Skye has to help a 13 year old girl, Chlesea, who died skateboarding and who definitely does not want to be in heaven, especially the soothing Hospitality sector. Two great characters with lots of room for conflict and humor.

The second pair of heroines are new roommates in a long term care facility, read: nursing home. One of them is not conscious. And, yet, there is a great story and interaction there, too.

Highly recommend this book, if only for the glimpses of the Supreme Being (SB) who likes to channel the Divine Miss M.

[Anita · Rating 1 out of 5]

I only read the first chapter of this book, but I disliked it enough to immediately give up on it. If you happen to like heaven/angel stories in the Lifetime TV special kind of way (think "Touched by an Angel"), you might like this novel. If you are a paranormal romance/urban fantasy reader who's favorite series have plenty of sex and violence, this isn't for you.

[Jeanne Woodward · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun quick weekend read.

[Jennifer Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

In these days it's some times hard to believe in life after death but in this wonderful story you can not just imagine but live how life is not the end! I love this book!!

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I pick up books by the bundles when libraries empty out their collections, and this happened to be among one of the bags of books I've picked up over the years. I found it on my kitchen table, likely placed by my small children in one of their flurried playtimes. I picked it up, and it didn't look like anything I would ever pick up to read (even though I read a great deal), but I entertained the thought and read the back. The description didn't interest me much, a bit cliché for my taste, but the first review by Julie Kenner prompted me to read the first page. The next thing I know, it's the next day and the book is over. Never has a book grossly captived me. The originally thought cliché descriptions were actually fantastically well-written and not overdone in the slightest. The plotlines and twists were well intertwined, and overall this was an absolute joy to read. I'm grateful my kids tossed this book on my table, or I may not have read this gem otherwise.

[Gracie O'Banion · Rating 1 out of 5]

honestly boring af but that’s ok

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Skye Sebring, a hospitality greeter in Heaven, is perfectly content with her life. She’s got great friends, the best boyfriend—a perfect life. But all that perfection starts to slip away when Skye meets Ryan Blaine, whose near death motorcycle accident propels him into the Heavenly dimension for a few moments. Neither can forget the other, Ryan for the love of his life he believes he’s lose and Skye for some mysterious connection she feels for this stranger. Skye’s ultimate decision comes when she is chosen to go to Earth by the Supreme Being. Things are not what they seem to be, and Skye will have to find the courage to leave behind all she knows to enter the realm of old and new beginnings, risk and hope, and Beatles songs.

Earthly Pleasures is a beautifully and cleverly crafted story. I love the uniqueness of Neches’ vision of Heaven, a synergy or modern technology and spiritual elements; it is a model of perfection without being too religious besides the incorporation of a Supreme Being. Much of Neches’s writing challenges traditional beliefs in a subtle and not too provocative way: the Supreme Being is actually female, everyone goes to Heaven, and souls live many lives on Earth. This provides for an interesting backdrop for Skye’s story, which is complicated but easy to understand and get used to. Neches definitely proves herself to be an incredible and skilled storyteller through her manipulation of events and details from the perspectives of so many different characters. The switching points of views are sometimes confusing, because the reader may wonder what the significance of this obscure character is, but the gradual unraveling of the truth of Skye and Ryan’s relationship makes the story so satisfying to read. My favorite part by far was the love story and the fact that one man refused to give up on the woman he loved, no matter how much time passed and how circumstances change. Earthly Pleasures is such a fantastically put together story and novel that will be completely enjoyable for all readers.

Fans of novels regarding the afterlife involving love stories, such as Kissed by an Angel by Elizabeth Chandler, Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin, and Reincarnation by Suzanne Weyn will probably love Earthly Pleasures as much as I did.

reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com

[RJ McGill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karen Neches’ new novel, Earthly Pleasures is a light, fun read that is filled with equal amounts of humor and heart. At the conclusion of this wonderful novel, readers are left to hope that the eternal forever place will be as lovely, fun-filled and exciting as Neches’ brilliantly designed and thoroughly developed fictional paradise.

As the story begins we are introduced to Skye Sebring, a greeter in Heaven’s Hospitality Division. Her assignment is to help Earths recently departed through the transition. Meaning, she meets and greets all the newcomers, takes them on a tour of their new ‘home’ and answers their questions. While the main objective of Skye’s fellow angels is to return to Earth, Skye is quite content to remain right here in Heaven.

That is until the day a motorcycle accident brings Ryan Blaine to Heaven. Son of a former president, attorney, star of Heaven’s reality show Earthly Pleasures, Blaine is popular, handsome and engaged. Skye is immediately taken in by Ryan, so when he is jolted back to his physical body on Earth she becomes almost obsessed with the show and with finding a way to be with Ryan. There was something between them…he appeared to know her…how could she remind him of someone? Skye was a ‘new soul,’ she had never been on Earth or had she?

The story takes off from the first chapter and soars right through to the conclusion. There are techno-gadgets that have their basis in reality, but Neches has souped them up. There’s a little of everything, but not so much of any one thing that it over-powers or detracts from the main theme. Well written fleshed out and delivered with a passionate voice that commands the readers' full attention. Earthly Pleasures will tickle your funny bone and touch your heart with a cast of clever characters carefully navigating multiple storylines that co-mingle perfectly to keep you guessing, wishing and hoping. Karen Neches has penned a truly original story that is absolutely brilliant in its’ creative simplicity. Delivering an interesting novel that maintains its’ entertainment level from beginning to end, allows readers to pass the time quietly turning pages…a pleasure, that to a book-lover, sure feels a lot like Heaven. I will be keeping my fingers crossed for a sequel.

Happy Reading!

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karen Neches' Earthly Pleasures is aptly named--what a fabulous, fun, heart warmning book this is! The story centers on Skye Sebring, a hospitality greeter for Heaven --the Pearly Gates are just a thrill ride in the many attractions of Heaven, which also include Nocturnal Theatre, where you can view your dreams, Retail Rapture, the Universe's biggest mall (where, of course, everything is free) and so much more. Skye's job is to greet the newly dead, answer their questions, review their personal welcoming DVD with them, and get them settled in Newcomer Housing. She's a New Soul, meaning she's never been to earth, but she's good at her job (though it's felt she's too handy with Tranquility in a Can, which is used on the overly upset arrivals to help their adjustment). She's only existed a year, has this great job and a lovely boyfriend, and has no interest in Earth whatsoever. That is until a brief encounter with Ryan Blaine, who pops into her office after a motorcycle accident but is revived on Earth and pops back out, leaves her head over cloudy heels for him. Then she gets the call--she's going to Earth for her first life (and is taught the basics of living there with the help of 5 Beatles songs, complete with a solo from the Supreme Being Herself). Usually those sent to earth begin as babies, but Skye is no ordinary case. What happens to her--the story of love and friendship, faith and fate, will bring a smile to your face and more than a few tears to your eye as the book ends. Neches' creative, entertaining, funny and remarkable book is truly an earthly pleasure to read!

[Erika Forth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Skye Sebring is a hospitality greeter inside Heaven, a place where wishes come true at the press of a Wishberry button, where reality TV channel Earthly Pleasures spies on the lives of the living, and all of life's lessons can be learned from The Beatles' songs. But when Skye meets the gorgeous Ryan Blaine in a quick brush with death, she falls in love in love with him and decides to follows him back to Earth. But things are not as simple as they seem in Ryan's life. Something strange is going on with his wife, and Ryan just can't shake the feeling that Skye looked like someone he knew. So Skye begins to unravel some secrets about not only her life, but Ryan's and his wife's as well.


While this is technically a chick-lit book geared for adults, this is one read that young adult girls will love, too. I enjoyed it, and when I passed it on to my sixteen-year-old sister, she and her friends enjoyed it just as much. While the main character is an adult, there is another important character who is a teen, and the writing and plot in the book seems to be geared more towards young adults than adults. Earthly Pleasures is a light, amusing, and plain old fun read. The view of heaven it presents is charming and fun, and the characters are likable and interesting as well. The author successfully weaves in several interconnecting story lines that never get confusing, but add an air of mystery and give you some ah-ha moments at the end. This is one light, quick read you can simply enjoy.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karen Neches/Earthly Pleasures
# 0743292480
# ISBN-13: 9780743292481

Skye Sebring works in the Heaven’s Hospitality Department. She welcomes the newly departed hoping to make their transition into heaven as easy as possible. In her spare time she watches the Reality show Earthly Pleasure. She is drawn to Ryan Blaine’s life for reasons she can’t explain. There’s a connection but what could it be?
Ryan Blaine is lonely for his wife, Susan—the wife he remembers before her accident. He feels he’s living with a stranger, a woman he could have never fallen in love with. When Ryan has a near death experience for brief moment he comes face to face with Skye. He’s drawn to her as Skye is drawn to him, but before either one can find out why, Ryan returns to earth.
Earthly Pleasures is a sweet story about star-crossed lovers with a mystery to unravel, and the journey to find each other again. The premise of the story has a serious underlining tone with people dealing with the loss of a love one—grieving and healing, but there is also times you’ll chuckle like when the new teenager arrives at heaven’s gates and oh so typical teenage attitude and how God teaches life’s lessons through the lyrics of the Beetles songs. I especially loved how Ms. Neches intertwined the ‘souls’, connecting them in someway. Truly a delightful tale.
Karen Michelle Nutt,
PNR Paranormal reviews

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute, feel-good book. And I don't feel like I can describe it too much without giving spoilers! A greeter in Heaven - someone who greets the newly dead and helps orient them to their new surroundings - thinks her life in Heaven is perfect. She has a cute boyfriend, a good job, good friends...and well, it's Heaven, so everything is perfect. But she falls hard for a guy on earth (who pops into her office when he has a motorcycle crash for a second, but returns to his body back on Earth, and who is visible on the reality TV channel in Heaven called Earthly Pleasures, where residents of Heaven can essentially spy on anyone on Earth). Her crush eats away at her, and I don't want to tell you how or why, but she eventually ends up on Earth too. Anyway - it's not a great huge thinker, but it is cute and fun. I enjoyed the effort Neches put into developing a sort of mythology of Heaven - those touches are fun. I enjoyed it, would recommend for a good summer read!

[MissSusie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!!I read it in one sitting!Skye is a hospitality greeter in heaven she greets the new arrivals with handouts and a dvd explaining all the wonderful things heaven has to offer.She is chosen to go to earth which is a huge honor she has to take classes to prepare her for her journey Earth 101.The teachers lesson plan is based her belief that all you need to know on earth is found in the lyrics of Beatles songs-and in one class the SB (Supreme Being)a she by the way-has invited special guests George & John to help her teach the lesson All You Need is Love!This authors idea of heaven was a hoot!The Wishberry-and heavens own reality show Earthly Pleasures where you watch people on earth edited for your viewing pleasure.The story takes place in heaven and on earth.I loved all the characters -you do figure out the story but I believe the author meant you to so enjoy watching it play out.I recommend this book wholeheartedly!

[Jaylia3 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book imagines Heaven's Hospitality Sector for the newly dead, who are eased into the Great Beyond with "What to Expect When You're Expired" pamphlets handed out by computer literate, cubicle-bound, well intentioned but sometimes short-tempered, pre-angel Greeters. Though she tries to squelch what she fears is a wildly inappropriate feeling, one of these Greeters, Skye Sebring, falls for an Earth guy--she watches him on Earthly Pleasures, the most popular reality show in Heaven, and they have a brief but intense exchange when he pops in and then abruptly out of her cubicle during a near death experience. By the end all the obvious and not so obvious problems that come with being in love with someone from another dimension are solved. I read this the same day Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson died--it was nice to believe briefly in a happily ever after.

[Keris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karen Neches' Earthly Pleasures begins in Heaven, where Skye Sebring is a hospitality greeter. She meets Ryan Blaine, who has a brush with death following a motorbike accident. Unbeknownst to him, Ryan is one of the stars of Heaven's soap opera, Earthly Pleasures, and, after meeting him, Skye is more than intrigued.

Is that not a completely brilliant idea? I love everything about it ... but there's more. When Skye starts training to return to earth, all of life's lessons are contained in the lyrics of Beatles songs. Fabulous, no? Oh yes, there's more...

To read the rest of this review (and more!), please visit Trashionista

[Dorlana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was immediately drawn to the book because of the blurb, “When Skye Sebring, a hospitality greeter inside the pearly gates of Heaven, meets lawyer Ryan Blaine during his brush with death after a motorcycle accident, she falls so deeply in love that she follow him back to earth…”
Now, after reading it, my reflection is a little contradictory:
* Surprised me in a couple of places – yet clichéd in other areas (“Alone in Atlanta” really?).
*Fun, easy read – but sometimes really cheesy.
* It took too much time to get me to care for one of the main the characters – but once I did (3/4 of the way in) everything fell into place. (But if it hadn’t have been such a “fun read,” I don’t know if I would have bothered to wait for the reveal.)

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karen Neches (aka Karin Gillespie) is such a wonderful person, one of the nicest in the book biz, IMHO. I was so looking forward to chilling during the hot summer weather with EARTHLY PLEASURES. It was a lovely read, sweet and funny with a little bit of mystery. There was a lot to enjoy: the descriptions of a Heaven that includes a WishBerry, greeters who make you feel welcome upon your arrival, and angels watching episodes of "Earthly Pleasures" (aka real-life scenes from Earth). One of my favorite characters was Caroline, a very sharp widow living in a nursing home, who realizes her comatose roommate has gotten a second chance at life. The writing is smooth and enjoyable, and I enjoyed kicking back before bedtime and reading a few more chapters every night.

[Shea · Rating 3 out of 5]

A definite "fluff" book. It was a fun, quick read. I thought the author was creative, although her views on heaven and God were so far from mine, and so silly that I almost thought they bordered on sacrilege. :) This is just because I hold heaven and God in my heart as sacred. But I realize it was supposed to be funny, and it did make me laugh. It was a cute love story. I did not, however, like the several small sexual references. They were totally unnecessary to the story, and bothered me quite a bit. Even though the ending does resolve, it leaves you hanging a bit--I would have liked a little more detail.

[Ilona · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's frivolous fluff, delivering a happily happy-ever-after ending, after just enough, but not too much, suspense. I gulped the book down in a day and a half, enjoyed every page, and sighed happily at the ending.

My only quibble: with the sole exception of the Beatles, every cultural reference is to 20th-C United States. No other culture, no other page in history makes the remotest appearance. Seems heaven is a cleaned-up version of the United States of America, circa 1995. A tad ethno-centric on the part of the author, perhaps, but it's happy fluff aimed at an American audience, so no harm done.

[Kourtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very surprised by how much I enjoyed this book! I picked it up at a sale and wasn't too impressed by the back of the book. Lesson's in Beatles songs? Meh. But I decided to buy it since all of the author's who gave quotes are some of my favorites. I'm glad I listened to their advice because I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this story. Great beach read with a "who-dun-it" quality to it that had me turning the pages humming along to "All You Need is Love" amongst other songs. And I laughed when it was revealed who the Supreme Being sounds like (I won't give that part away!)

[Rorie Villanuevaa]

A book with turns and swerves that you will surely love.

I got interested with the synopsis of this book when i first saw this in a bookstore. It was okay, i said. Maybe i'll give it a try. Yet, when i read the first page, i can't seem to put it down. I was hooked i want to finish it but at the same time, stall towards the end. Every chapter, i got the surprise of my life! You're in for a twisted roller coaster if you read this one. Expect the Unexpected.


But at the end of the book, you're going to yell. "WHERE'S THE SEQUEL TO THIS!?"

[Amie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love, love LOVED the first two-thirds of this book. If for reading her take on heaven alone, I highly recommend–it’s a RIOT. The last 1/3 was good but not as much fun and there was a secondary storyline that felt forced and didn’t work for me. Overall, I’d still recommend it because it’s such a fun read. (It’s Paranormal WF w/a romance). I’d LOVE to see another book set in the same heavenly world.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adored this book and I didn't want it to end. Although the jacket description may make it sound like run of the mill chick-lit, it has an original plot that elevates it above many of the formulaic entries in this genre. Part mystery, part romance, part "fantasy", but all together a great story with lovable characters. The author also has a neat sense of humor and a wild imagination! Now if I could just get my hands on a "Wishberry"...

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Skye works in heaven, greating the new arivals. She's never been to Earth, but why does she have dejavu when she sees pictures of Ryan who's still on there. I loved this book, and yelled when I came to the last page because I didn't want it to be over. This is one I want to buy and recomend to anyone. Her view of heaven and gardian angels was interesting and I couldn't put it down. I read the whole book in four hours.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you ever wonder what Heaven will be like? doubtful it's like the book pictures it but it sounds delightful. there is plenty to keep you wondering-a greeter who doesn't remember being born, a handsome man who comes to her greeter desk who reminds her of someone but he is zapped back to earth, his wife who had an accident but doesn't seem the same, a woman in a coma and a hot dog vendor.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. That TWO great books in a row this week. Anyway, this was much much better than the synopsis leads you to believe. I teared up a couple times. I did feel slightly cheated at the end which is why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5. Still, the ending was appropriate. I can't say more on that without giving anything away. Very good read.