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Dressing Myself
Meet Jessie Harleman in this contemporary women’s novel about love, lust, friends, and family. Jessie and Kevin have been happily married for twenty-eight years. With their two grown kids now out of the house and living their own lives, Jessie and Kevin have reached the point they thought they longed for, yet slightly dreaded. But the house that used to burst at the seams now has too many empty rooms. Still, Jessie is a "glass-half-full" kind of woman, eager for this next period of her life to take hold. The problem is, nothing goes the way she planned. This novel that explores growth and change and new beginnings is written by the authors of The Val & Kit Mystery Series.
337 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 14, 2014
23 people are currently reading
56 people want to read
About the author
Rosalind Burgess
10 books13 followersCo-authors Rosalind Burgess and Patricia Obermeier Neuman, aka Roz and Patty, met in Minneapolis through mutual friend Lee (a REAL character, in the best sense of the word).
Now a proud and patriotic U.S. citizen and Texan, Roz grew up in London and currently calls Houston home. She has also lived in Germany, Iowa, and Minnesota. Roz retired from the airline industry to devote all her working hours to writing (although it seems more like fun than work).
Patty spent her childhood and early adulthood moving around the Midwest (Minnesota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana), as a trailing child and then as a trailing spouse (inspiring her first book, Moving: The What, When, Where & How of it). A former reporter and editor, Patty lives with her husband in Door County, Wisconsin. They have three children and twelve grandchildren.
With five books in The Val & Kit Mystery Series now published, Roz and Patty--along with characters Val and Kit--have another mystery up their sleeves (and on their computers). All four women agree that friendship, humor, and love are as compelling as solving murders.
Roz and Patty are also the authors of DRESSING MYSELF, a contemporary women’s novel that explores the mystery of marriage. They write a blog, Roz and Patty Write, at rozandpattywrite.blogspot.com.
Contact Roz and Patty at roz-patty.com. We write back :)
Now a proud and patriotic U.S. citizen and Texan, Roz grew up in London and currently calls Houston home. She has also lived in Germany, Iowa, and Minnesota. Roz retired from the airline industry to devote all her working hours to writing (although it seems more like fun than work).
Patty spent her childhood and early adulthood moving around the Midwest (Minnesota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana), as a trailing child and then as a trailing spouse (inspiring her first book, Moving: The What, When, Where & How of it). A former reporter and editor, Patty lives with her husband in Door County, Wisconsin. They have three children and twelve grandchildren.
With five books in The Val & Kit Mystery Series now published, Roz and Patty--along with characters Val and Kit--have another mystery up their sleeves (and on their computers). All four women agree that friendship, humor, and love are as compelling as solving murders.
Roz and Patty are also the authors of DRESSING MYSELF, a contemporary women’s novel that explores the mystery of marriage. They write a blog, Roz and Patty Write, at rozandpattywrite.blogspot.com.
Contact Roz and Patty at roz-patty.com. We write back :)
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
August 22, 2016
I wanted to like this book more that I actually did, mainly because after the grueling hours of getting herself together and finding a way to go on after a terrible betrayal, the heroine takes the betrayer back with nary a word.
It is depressing to root for a genuinely likable woman for 300 pages and in the last 35 watch her throw every thing she has gained away on a man who will NEVER appreciate it. She doesn't care, she has her "One True Love" (and that is meant to be sarcastic,) back and she will crawl over broken glass to keep him.
I am so tired of reading about these decent woman who really suffer to get their sense of self-worth back and then the minute the man who dumped them faster than a pile of manure beckons, they are ready to go right back to the status quo. There was little explanation, no hints of how this piece of excrement is going to change or make things any different in his life with the heroine. No recompense for the immense wrong done to this woman and even worse, a really decent man gets the boot for a user who is basically all about himself and it seems like always has been.
Sad, depressing and pretty much sorry I read it.
It is depressing to root for a genuinely likable woman for 300 pages and in the last 35 watch her throw every thing she has gained away on a man who will NEVER appreciate it. She doesn't care, she has her "One True Love" (and that is meant to be sarcastic,) back and she will crawl over broken glass to keep him.
I am so tired of reading about these decent woman who really suffer to get their sense of self-worth back and then the minute the man who dumped them faster than a pile of manure beckons, they are ready to go right back to the status quo. There was little explanation, no hints of how this piece of excrement is going to change or make things any different in his life with the heroine. No recompense for the immense wrong done to this woman and even worse, a really decent man gets the boot for a user who is basically all about himself and it seems like always has been.
Sad, depressing and pretty much sorry I read it.
August 23, 2016
I should have paid attention the one star review I read.
Premise is the h plans on meeting her husband at the airport, nude under a trench coat, in order to sex things up. Sadly, he has other plans; he wants a divorce but not because he's having an affair with a younger co-worker or anything, the mid-life crisis to end all mid-life crisis cliches.
The h goes through all levels of grief interspersed with begging him to come back. Her children are so supportive. To dad. The worthless daughter says the mom was too much of a nag and has NO sympathy. The college aged son who still has mommy do his laundry pitches a fit.
No bueno.
The h is lucky enough to find herself a hunky guy with a beard who's good with his tools. He redoes her kitchen. She also has great sex with him. Guy's name is Heck. Awesome name.
Guess what? Once the doormat starts dating, guess who gets jealous and concerned? Soon to be ex-hubbie. Unlike Beauty and the Beast, this is the other story that is as old as time.
Guess what else? Who gets used like an toothbrush? Yep, poor old Heck: the cool, faithful bearded guy she has the hottest sex of her life with that is thrown out like last week's trash.
Premise is the h plans on meeting her husband at the airport, nude under a trench coat, in order to sex things up. Sadly, he has other plans; he wants a divorce but not because he's having an affair with a younger co-worker or anything, the mid-life crisis to end all mid-life crisis cliches.
The h goes through all levels of grief interspersed with begging him to come back. Her children are so supportive. To dad. The worthless daughter says the mom was too much of a nag and has NO sympathy. The college aged son who still has mommy do his laundry pitches a fit.
No bueno.
The h is lucky enough to find herself a hunky guy with a beard who's good with his tools. He redoes her kitchen. She also has great sex with him. Guy's name is Heck. Awesome name.
Guess what? Once the doormat starts dating, guess who gets jealous and concerned? Soon to be ex-hubbie. Unlike Beauty and the Beast, this is the other story that is as old as time.
Guess what else? Who gets used like an toothbrush? Yep, poor old Heck: the cool, faithful bearded guy she has the hottest sex of her life with that is thrown out like last week's trash.
November 22, 2020
2 ⭐⭐ - Meh!
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The only positive thing was that she had sex with another man who in my opinion was much better in every way than her cheating husband.
And I think it's very weird that her daughter accepts the homewrecking-whorebag at her house and places the blame for separation only on the heroine. Since it was her father who destroyed their family.
And the scene where the daughter asks the heroine to leave her house on Thanksgiving was unforgivable.
Our heroine was a fool to take the cheater back after he had fun with a younger woman and rub it in her face, since everyone knew about their affair, except our heroine.
She was humiliated in every way possible and still forgives everything, for me it is unacceptable.
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R
A
N
T
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The only positive thing was that she had sex with another man who in my opinion was much better in every way than her cheating husband.
And I think it's very weird that her daughter accepts the homewrecking-whorebag at her house and places the blame for separation only on the heroine. Since it was her father who destroyed their family.
And the scene where the daughter asks the heroine to leave her house on Thanksgiving was unforgivable.
Our heroine was a fool to take the cheater back after he had fun with a younger woman and rub it in her face, since everyone knew about their affair, except our heroine.
She was humiliated in every way possible and still forgives everything, for me it is unacceptable.
January 21, 2024
Loved the story and the writing, but I wanted more insight into when and why Kevin decided he wanted to reconcile with his wife. It seemed pretty abrupt...one moment he couldn't get away fast enough from her, and the next he was begging her to take him back. Otherwise it was very well written and I like the h. Her kids sucked though...they were the opposite of supportive of their mom, they were pretty horrible. Their selfish father left her without any warning and they saw fit to heap blame on her. Kids like that I'd want to disinherit.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 18, 2020
This book is really good and could have gotten 5 stars , but I didn't like Kevin. I didn't understand why he wanted his wife back. Kevin leaves his wife of 28 years for another woman and tells his wife he's in love with OW. Now, from this point in the book, Jessie starts to heal and find herself and a new man, a good man .
Kevin eventually gets tired of OW and wants his wife back, I think, the authors never bothered to tell/show us what happened with them. Now, Jessie doesn't say ," Nah, bruh I gotta man hittin' 2, 3 times a night !, you go on back to Fluffy." She says let me think about it!And goes to new man, Heck, to get his blessing to go back to her husband!
Jessie the decides she needed to get to know her husband because she didn't know the new man. She did. He was the same man that had a year long relationship that he his so well you did have an inkling the affair was happening.
Kevin eventually gets tired of OW and wants his wife back, I think, the authors never bothered to tell/show us what happened with them. Now, Jessie doesn't say ," Nah, bruh I gotta man hittin' 2, 3 times a night !, you go on back to Fluffy." She says let me think about it!And goes to new man, Heck, to get his blessing to go back to her husband!
Jessie the decides she needed to get to know her husband because she didn't know the new man. She did. He was the same man that had a year long relationship that he his so well you did have an inkling the affair was happening.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 23, 2016
Did not enjoy Dressing Myself as I wanted to. First the husband lied, cheated after 28 yrs, got mad at wife for talking to OW and kids seems to wanna blame her or at least didnt support her fully at first. I usually want the H & h together at the end but I sort of was hoping for Heck (om) to be the winner. Husband did not grovel, did not offer enough of a reason especially after having ungoing affair. I think it would have been better with his POV, harder with just wife's perspective. Great supporting friend and sister though - that was nice. The ending was quite rush, felt bad for OM who ws so sweet and understanding. Well still looking for that one great cheater romance that leaves me feeling satisfied with the ending - you know genuine remorse and lots of groveling that makes me think he wont do it again!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 15, 2025
I really didn't like the writing. I never really felt her pain and she moved on just as fast as he did, so did she really care? Also, she hurt Heck, so what's the difference between the two? Desperately needed H POV, maybe then I could've felt something ~ even rage would've been welcome. Everyone felt one dimensional.
November 17, 2019
This was a very well-written story- kind of the “same old story”, but a good read anyway. Heck was a great guy, but, sadly, it’s hard to compete with 30 years of history. I’m not sure Jess made the right decision, but that point doesn’t change my appreciation of the novel.
My only complaint- I don’t think the cover fits the story.
My only complaint- I don’t think the cover fits the story.
November 19, 2019
Didn’t hate it, but didn’t love it either. Not a fan of the cheating husband/rebound relationship/love triangle tropes mash up. It’s well written, but am left feeling a little meh over the ending. Could this be anymore vague—LOL 😂🙄😂
January 3, 2021
So so bad.
Definition of a doormat with horrible kids who are adults but are the type you would want to send to military school.
Definition of a doormat with horrible kids who are adults but are the type you would want to send to military school.
September 3, 2023
Dislike this story. H was pathetic. 3 star because I was dying to know if she went back to her cheating selfish husband.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 29, 2023
2.5 stars
The book was easy to read and pretty entertaining. But Jessie’s kids were terrible and Heck was done dirty. Heck was, roughly, a thousand times better than Kevin. But Jessie chose the comfortable, easy route, which is what usually happens in these books.
The first 50%+ of the book was painful… Jessie was pathetic and couldn’t accept her husband wasn’t running back even though he’d done nothing to give her hope. Of course she eventually pulls herself together and gets together with Heck (but weirdly insists on kicking him out at 4am for awhile?), but then that’s when her cheating, lying husband comes back into the picture. At this point I was too in love with Heck to care about Kevin, and then the book just ends without a satisfying resolution. Presumably Kevin still works with the woman he cheated with.
There was an excessive amount of drinking in this book. Coffee is mentioned 90 times, and that’s on top of all the wine, beer and eggnog, etc. Kind felt like Jessie didn’t do anything but consume or offer beverages sometimes lol.
The book was easy to read and pretty entertaining. But Jessie’s kids were terrible and Heck was done dirty. Heck was, roughly, a thousand times better than Kevin. But Jessie chose the comfortable, easy route, which is what usually happens in these books.
The first 50%+ of the book was painful… Jessie was pathetic and couldn’t accept her husband wasn’t running back even though he’d done nothing to give her hope. Of course she eventually pulls herself together and gets together with Heck (but weirdly insists on kicking him out at 4am for awhile?), but then that’s when her cheating, lying husband comes back into the picture. At this point I was too in love with Heck to care about Kevin, and then the book just ends without a satisfying resolution. Presumably Kevin still works with the woman he cheated with.
There was an excessive amount of drinking in this book. Coffee is mentioned 90 times, and that’s on top of all the wine, beer and eggnog, etc. Kind felt like Jessie didn’t do anything but consume or offer beverages sometimes lol.
April 1, 2020
I had read this previously, though had forgotten.... wish I hadn't!. I remember thinking that I would come back to rate it, as at the time I was struggling with where my feelings were regarding this book.
I think the writing is good, however I hate all of the characters.... with the exception of, Hank, oh and Alex. Hank even managed to raise my heckles at times. I found them all to be selfish in every decision they made.
I've settled on 3 stars as I really loved the way it was written. However I would have loved to hear some of Kevin's thoughts as to why he allowed this to happen without discussing his feelings with his wife. I can't understand how he can claim to love his wife yet hurt her the way he did... I needed more from him.
I guess that's why I settled for 3 stars as the whole book left me wanting more, in every way.
I think the writing is good, however I hate all of the characters.... with the exception of, Hank, oh and Alex. Hank even managed to raise my heckles at times. I found them all to be selfish in every decision they made.
I've settled on 3 stars as I really loved the way it was written. However I would have loved to hear some of Kevin's thoughts as to why he allowed this to happen without discussing his feelings with his wife. I can't understand how he can claim to love his wife yet hurt her the way he did... I needed more from him.
I guess that's why I settled for 3 stars as the whole book left me wanting more, in every way.
February 8, 2024
Not impressed with a woman who was so obsessed with her cheating husband it made me question why I bothered with finishing this book! Her kids were awful to her and she strung a very good man along with her while she decided on what she was going to do. I absolutely disliked the way Jessie’s character was written. She came across as immature and the way she used Heck, (who was the only decent person in the story), was just heartbreaking. But I think he dodged a bullet at the end!
July 4, 2021
Good book!
I liked Dressing Myself. The authors really know how to write about how women think, feel, & act. The book kept me reading without wanting to stop. I was eager to know what happened with Jessie, the main character. I was disappointed in the final choice she made, but I understood it.
I liked Dressing Myself. The authors really know how to write about how women think, feel, & act. The book kept me reading without wanting to stop. I was eager to know what happened with Jessie, the main character. I was disappointed in the final choice she made, but I understood it.
January 5, 2024
Rage Read For Me
Well, the writing was good and I enjoyed it a lot, but the heroine was a door mat and it really ticked me off. This book did not go the direction that I thought it should.
Well, the writing was good and I enjoyed it a lot, but the heroine was a door mat and it really ticked me off. This book did not go the direction that I thought it should.
August 27, 2020
Well written, disliked the adult children for blaming their mother, husband got off too easy. I would have chewed him up and spit him out. She made the wrong choice.
January 6, 2021
This book was well written and I did enjoy it, I just really disliked the ending. She should have ended up with OM.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 12, 2025
Very Engaging
Wow, what a story! Would love to read both Kevin and Heck’s point of view. I may have been the only one rooting for Heck.
Wow, what a story! Would love to read both Kevin and Heck’s point of view. I may have been the only one rooting for Heck.
July 3, 2014
A departure from what I'm used to from these authors, but equally good
I became a fan of these authors after reading their mystery series featuring Val and Kit. I love their writing style and I think it suits that genre well. So when I heard that they'd also written a more contemporary romance type of novel, I was both intrigued and a little bit scared.
Why scared? Sometimes when authors try to branch out, it comes off being a big let down. Considering that there wouldn't be any crazy murders to solve and zany antics while doing it, I wondered if I'd be disappointed. I was anything but.
This story focuses on Jessie, whose husband Kevin has just let her know he wants a divorce. They've been married for decades and have two grown children. Jesse's blindsided, but eventually realizes that the signs that he was unhappy had been there for quite some time. His leaving breaks her and she wants nothing other than for him to take her back.
That is, until she starts looking at the contractor doing her kitchen remodeling, Heck, in a different light. He's there with a sympathetic ear and life experience of his own to help her through the darkest hours.
Jessie's torn between these two men. Without giving anything away here, the authors have crafted what I see as a believable love triangle. There's plenty of drama here, along with the humor that I've grown to expect from their books.
Whether or not you agree with the choices that Jessie makes, you tend to understand where she's coming from. I can't say that the ending was a shock, but that's because they did such a good job of fleshing out this cast of characters.
So for fans of Val and Kit who also like a good drama/romance, this is a no-brainer.
I became a fan of these authors after reading their mystery series featuring Val and Kit. I love their writing style and I think it suits that genre well. So when I heard that they'd also written a more contemporary romance type of novel, I was both intrigued and a little bit scared.
Why scared? Sometimes when authors try to branch out, it comes off being a big let down. Considering that there wouldn't be any crazy murders to solve and zany antics while doing it, I wondered if I'd be disappointed. I was anything but.
This story focuses on Jessie, whose husband Kevin has just let her know he wants a divorce. They've been married for decades and have two grown children. Jesse's blindsided, but eventually realizes that the signs that he was unhappy had been there for quite some time. His leaving breaks her and she wants nothing other than for him to take her back.
That is, until she starts looking at the contractor doing her kitchen remodeling, Heck, in a different light. He's there with a sympathetic ear and life experience of his own to help her through the darkest hours.
Jessie's torn between these two men. Without giving anything away here, the authors have crafted what I see as a believable love triangle. There's plenty of drama here, along with the humor that I've grown to expect from their books.
Whether or not you agree with the choices that Jessie makes, you tend to understand where she's coming from. I can't say that the ending was a shock, but that's because they did such a good job of fleshing out this cast of characters.
So for fans of Val and Kit who also like a good drama/romance, this is a no-brainer.
May 19, 2015
very enjoyable and easy to read. Set in Indianapolis with familiar landmarks. These co-writing authors have a good backstory; this book is a nice departure from their Val and Kit mystery series. This was an Amazon kindle freebie.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews