Hot Flashes and Cold Cream

by Diann Hunt

Book by Hunt, Diann

Genres: Christian Fiction, Christian, Fiction, Chick Lit, Humor, Contemporary

384 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Diann Hunt wrote romantic comedy and humorous women's fiction targeted to Christian women of the Baby Boomer generation. She'd lived in Indiana forever, had been happily married forever, loved her family, chocolate, her friends, her dog, and, well, chocolate. Her book "For Better or For Worse" is being made into a Hallmark movie, with production beginning in November, 2013.

After a four-year battle with ovarian cancer, Diann went home to be with her Lord and Saviour just after Thanksgiving, 2013. She leaves behind a legacy of words of blessing, love for her Lord, her family, her close friends, and fans the world over who have come to know and love her and call her their friend.

Reviews

[Dianne · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is a fun read by the author of Be Sweet. I throughly enjoyed Be Sweet and hoped for another gem by the same author. Hot Flashers didn't have the depth of character and storyline that her other book has, although I suppose if you were suffering through a similar experience one might get a real kick out of this story. I needed a light read after a heavy and long novel, but this book was too light and a bit whinny for my taste.

[Janene · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very real story...and Laugh-Out-Loud FUNNY!! Highly recommended to all women who want a good laugh at the changes we are facing or have faced as we age. :)

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny. Loved it - many laugh out loud moments.

[Heidi Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun read. I can really relate to Maggie Hayden. I won’t spoil the end but Maggie finally realized what is really important. “Keeping focused on my relationship with the Lord keeping Him first in my life. That leaves no room for self pity.” And then at the very end “Daddy, I’m home!” Love it!

[Connie · Rating 2 out of 5]

“I believe the hormone army came in, kidnapped the nice person I used to be, and left an evil twin behind.”

I managed to finish this book, but if you’ve never been a menopausal woman, don’t bother. Yes, I remember hot flashes being awful, but I hope I didn’t whine about my life as much as this woman did. Pity parties were her specialty, and I wasn’t particularly entertained by her misery.

[Denise Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute little read and I must add very true to fact in parts. it was funny and quirky with a host of characters a lot of us can relate to.

[Mary Keck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Christian read.

[Barbara Campbell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another fun read from Hunt, but this one dragged on a bit and had too much whining for my taste. That said.. it was nice and light and easy to read.

[Loraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

SUMMARY:

An eccentric best friend, a leaky Chihuahua, a teenager in trouble, and a workaholic husband with a gorgeous new colleague. Those are the ingredients for Diann Hunt's wise and funny story about growing...well, older...with grace.

Midlife isn't a crisis for Maggie Hayden until the day a former classmate fails to recognize her--and her world starts to spin out of control. With an empty nest, a body that's heading south (generating heat waves all the way), and a marital spark that seems to be sputtering, she knows she has to do something. But what? Exercise? Romantic dinners? Herbal supplements? A job? She tries them all, with mixed success-but nothing seems to squelch that underlying worry that her best days are behind her.

Can Maggie come to terms with her new life and learn to trust what she cannot see? Can she reclaim her marriage and find a new sense of purpose? Can she discover a miracle cure for the aging process?

Well, two out of three ain't bad!

And the fun of this particular journey is just the whipped cream on the double-shot mocha.


REVIEW: This book started out slow at first but I definitely could identify with the menopause moments reflected in the story line. The humor would definitely be appreciated by those of us who have "been there done that". All the feelings that go with it: am I still loveable, I look awful, does my husband still love me/think I'm beautiful, what do I do with my life now that the nest is empty etc. As Maggie struggles her way through this, she finds in the end what and who she needs most in life.

FAVORITE QUOTES: "Someone once told me there are two things wrong with a pity party..Number one, you're the only one invited. Number two, they don't serve refreshments.

"Isn't this one of the times you have to go on blind trust? You know when you can't see the truth, so you choose to believe the best anyway?"

"I realize I only have so much say in what I look like on the outside. The age thing is the fate of all humanity. But I do have a say on the inner me. I can choose to grow bitter or better."

[Melissa (Always Behind) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maggie Hayden thought life was going well at close to fifty - with her supportive husband Gordon, wonderful children, and a terrific best friend. But one day, the high school homecoming queen moves back to town and although she looks the same, the woman doesn't recognize Maggie at all. And Gordon has always worked long hours, but lately it seems like he's spending more and more time away from home. Maggie begins to get suspicious - he wouldn't turn from his Christian beliefs to cheat on her, would he?

With her kids away at school, Maggie doesn't really know what to do with her time. As she gets to know the young women who work at the local coffee shop, she is drawn to Jade. The two connect and as Maggie shares her Christian faith, Jade opens up to her. Is this where God wants her to be? Can Maggie learn to trust God in every situation, even her marriage? Hot Flashes and Cold Cream is chick lit for those over forty. Diann Hunt knowingly - and with well-placed touches of humor - gets into the heart and soul of her characters and her readers. Maggie is believable and deals with her shortcomings in realistic ways. We are able to feel her pain and frustration when she believes her husband could be having an affair. Yet just when things begin to get too heavy, Hunt inserts levity and has the reader laughing once again. The secondaries - from Gordon to Jade - add depth to the story and make these people seem like members of our own family or community.

The faith message is beautifully integrated. Though a prominent part of who Maggie and Gordon are, it doesn't come across as preachy. In fact, the plot as a whole makes Christians real and approachable. The one drawback is that this is a niche book. Reading about hot flashes and empty-nest syndrome won't appeal to a younger audience, which is a shame, because they will miss out on a treat. However, there's always room for a story that allows older women to reflect on changes relevant to them, and be encouraged by the fact that they aren't alone in their struggles.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the beginnings of "empty nest syndrome," Maggie has lots of "think time" on her hands. She meets up with 50 and struggles with self-esteem. "Does Gordon still want me," she wants to know. "Or is he interested in the newly-returned-to-Charming divorcee? "Or perhaps it's his young paralegal. She finds herself in one predicament after another.

5 stars the first time read; 3 stars the second -- for an average of 4

[K.J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book's cover is what sold me! How can you not pick it up, when there is a tiny Chihuahua on the front!!!!??
I'm a bit young to read a book about "hot flashes". That being said however, I really enjoyed this book! It was funny, over-the-top, heartwarming, and a good reminder for everyone to love themselves where they're at. Love the body you're in and take care of it. Great, feel-good book, and I'd absolutely recommend it (especially for women in their 40s, 50s, 60s)!!

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good read on a lucille and Ethel level. A lot of laughter when 2 chrstian girl friends deal with a empty nest workaholic spouse and a widower dating again through the Internet. Both girls r in their 50's and dealing with hot flashes and wrinkles,

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very funny, but real look at the menopause years and the transition that we go through. I laughed out loud (probably because it hit so close to home!)

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a funny, happy book. I plan to read others by this author

[Elisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be a pleasurable read during the holidays.

[Dianne Peeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was a great laugh, and laughing is good for the soul

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

woman hits menopause and has to deal with all the changes in life

[Samantha Espenschied · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hesitant to try a fiction book on the menopause topic. However, this book is too funny/comical to put down! Great read!

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very funny! I LOL'ed a lot.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. There were some very funny, laugh outloud parts, but it got a bit tedious and preachy by the end.

[Purplehayz53 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is soooo funny! I loved it!!!

[Star Forbis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Number 4 A Book Your Friend Loves.

[Janet Weise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not being one that cares about getting older, I felt it was about a lot of whining. I felt she could have said in about 200 pages what it took 300 to say.

[Lu]

#2

[Christe Harwood]

Fun read but with a great message