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A Lucy Bricker Novel
Blue State: A Lucy Bricker story
Love. Family. Growing Older. They’re all part of the state we live in.
Lucy has left her home in Seattle and possibly her marriage too, because her father’s stroke has turned things upside down. When she’s not at her dad’s bedside, she’s at her mother-in-law’s house, caring for her children while avoiding her husband’s calls. Re-examining her professional goals and staving off heartbreak is only part of it; Lucy has to decide where it is that she belongs. But when Monty returns early from his month-long trip to Botswana, she’ll also have to decide which is more important – the life she has made for herself, or the life she left behind.
Blue State is a short(ish) story written for fans of November Surprises blog (www.NovemberSurprises.blogspot.com), November Surprise the novel, and the novella Campaign Promises. As a special bonus the first two chapters of The Hold Out are previewed in the back, which continues the saga of the Bricker family, this time with Jack and Monty’s younger cousin, Robin.
Lucy has left her home in Seattle and possibly her marriage too, because her father’s stroke has turned things upside down. When she’s not at her dad’s bedside, she’s at her mother-in-law’s house, caring for her children while avoiding her husband’s calls. Re-examining her professional goals and staving off heartbreak is only part of it; Lucy has to decide where it is that she belongs. But when Monty returns early from his month-long trip to Botswana, she’ll also have to decide which is more important – the life she has made for herself, or the life she left behind.
Blue State is a short(ish) story written for fans of November Surprises blog (www.NovemberSurprises.blogspot.com), November Surprise the novel, and the novella Campaign Promises. As a special bonus the first two chapters of The Hold Out are previewed in the back, which continues the saga of the Bricker family, this time with Jack and Monty’s younger cousin, Robin.
53 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 11, 2013
2 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
Laurel Osterkamp
23 books530 followersLaurel Osterkamp is the award-winning author of roughly a dozen novels, such as Favorite Daughters and the #1 Amazon bestseller, Beautiful Little Furies. She is obsessed with writing and doesn't know how to stop. In addition to her novels, she has short fiction published in literary journals all over the web, writes a monthly column for Writer's Fun Zone, and runs her website, laurellit.com, with book reviews, lesson plans, and writing advice.
When she's not writing (which is rare) she's often teaching adult ESL or middle school enrichment classes, going running while listening to audiobooks, or educating her daughter about the OG teen soap opera, Beverly Hills 90210. She lives in Minneapolis with a family who loves to argue, and their cats, who love to hiss at each other. Ramona Quimby is her spirit animal.
Follow her on Instagram @laurel_osterkamp.
When she's not writing (which is rare) she's often teaching adult ESL or middle school enrichment classes, going running while listening to audiobooks, or educating her daughter about the OG teen soap opera, Beverly Hills 90210. She lives in Minneapolis with a family who loves to argue, and their cats, who love to hiss at each other. Ramona Quimby is her spirit animal.
Follow her on Instagram @laurel_osterkamp.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 3, 2016
Blue State (Lucy Bricker short story)
by Laurel Osterkamp
By this, the third entry in the Lucy Bricker series, the author has pretty much dropped the practice (which I very much liked) of tying her main character's IRL struggles to political candidates. Politics is still a main factor in how she relates to life, but the fun metaphors in chapters called "The Prom and Gary Hart" (from the Novella "Campaign Promises") are gone.
More's the pity.
I tend to be a died in the wool mystery and/or urban paranormal/fantasy reader, so I'm seldom drawn to what most might call chick lit. This series has proved to be well written, wonderfully edited and proofed, and had identifiable and likeable characters. While I enjoyed this journal style life story. I won't be purchasing the next book in the series when it is released. Once the political metaphors were gone, for me, so was the fun.
Your experience may vary.
by Laurel Osterkamp
By this, the third entry in the Lucy Bricker series, the author has pretty much dropped the practice (which I very much liked) of tying her main character's IRL struggles to political candidates. Politics is still a main factor in how she relates to life, but the fun metaphors in chapters called "The Prom and Gary Hart" (from the Novella "Campaign Promises") are gone.
More's the pity.
I tend to be a died in the wool mystery and/or urban paranormal/fantasy reader, so I'm seldom drawn to what most might call chick lit. This series has proved to be well written, wonderfully edited and proofed, and had identifiable and likeable characters. While I enjoyed this journal style life story. I won't be purchasing the next book in the series when it is released. Once the political metaphors were gone, for me, so was the fun.
Your experience may vary.
August 12, 2016
Loved this book about the trials of Lucy Bricker and a turning point in her life when her father's stroke adds the push and pull of family. I loved the story, the writing, and the recurring themes. Most of all, I loved the characterization of Lucy. This book is not for everyone. It's not for readers who just want to be entertained. But if you love characterization, family saga, and fine writing, then Laurel Osterkamp's Blue State is for you.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews