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Au Pays de Rosie Maldonne #1
Queen of the Trailer Park
Rosie Maldonne is outspoken and sexy. She’s also unemployed, and, with three children and a cat, life is a little tough. The four of them—well, five, if you count the cat—live in the South of France, in a run-down trailer near a vacant lot. They make do, living off her part-time waitressing job and a little help from the state.
Rosie thinks things are finally turning around when she meets handsome police officer Jérôme—until she realizes that his appearance coincides with her friend Véro’s disappearance. Then, something even stranger happens: Rosie finds a package with a crazy amount of money in the trash can of a fast-food joint. With so much going on, Rosie has some big questions: Where is Véro? Is Jérôme too good to be true? Who put all that cash in the trash? And what happens when they want it back?
347 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 9, 2013
557 people are currently reading
1451 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 280 reviews
May 13, 2015
Find out how a really huge wad of found money can be a big morale booster. This novel is a quick and easy read, silly almost to the point of absurdity. A single mother tries her hand at amateur detective work amongst diaper changes, and dropping off and picking up toddlers from daycare. Although her mommy finds her little girl's lisp endearing, it became tiresome to me very quickly. And that little girl talked. A lot.
Too cozy for my taste, I would say it is geared toward a much younger audience, yet it was liberally laced with F-bombs. Hard to get a handle on it, and I'm not inclined to try any longer.
This was an Amazon First selection for the month of May.
Too cozy for my taste, I would say it is geared toward a much younger audience, yet it was liberally laced with F-bombs. Hard to get a handle on it, and I'm not inclined to try any longer.
This was an Amazon First selection for the month of May.
September 4, 2015
DNF early on. I disliked the title character immediately. I found her attitude,thought process,and "voice" galling.
I found the author's use of the "trailer trash,baby mama on the dole" really offensive and stereotypical.
Won't recommend.
I found the author's use of the "trailer trash,baby mama on the dole" really offensive and stereotypical.
Won't recommend.
June 5, 2015
This was a funny and entertaining read. I admit at first glance I thought trailer park hmmm. But amazing how a trailer park in France can seem so much more exotic. Rosie snags you and keeps you going through out the book. Will read more in her series.
May 1, 2015
Queen of the Trailer Park by Alice Quinn is the first book in the Rosie Maldonne's World Mystery series and is translated into English by Alexandra Maldwyn-Davies. When I got the chance to read an advanced e-copy, it was not the expectation from the book that got me into it but the hope that I would be one of the first to review it that really had me going.
While Queen of the Trailer Park is not necessarily the kind of book I usually nudged myself to read, I must admit that I spent a delightful time going through it, but left me wondering if I really knew the main character Rosie Maldonne by the time I turned the last page. Certainly not a great read that you’d love to read again, yet Rosie is an engaging character and the story is an easy and light read with a lot of twists and turns – leaving you shell-shocked to the very end.
To give you more idea of what to expect, Rosie is an enigmatic character who always suffer from one incurable disease – lack of money but found herself with a stash of money that will bring the mafia close on her heels. Funny, exciting, lovable and endearing but foul-mouthed, Rosie will leave you mad with the craps of her life and her adventure. If you are looking for a cross between comedy and thriller, Queen of the Trailer Park just might be the book you are looking for. But mind you, it is lively, fun and not at all boring.
While Queen of the Trailer Park is not necessarily the kind of book I usually nudged myself to read, I must admit that I spent a delightful time going through it, but left me wondering if I really knew the main character Rosie Maldonne by the time I turned the last page. Certainly not a great read that you’d love to read again, yet Rosie is an engaging character and the story is an easy and light read with a lot of twists and turns – leaving you shell-shocked to the very end.
To give you more idea of what to expect, Rosie is an enigmatic character who always suffer from one incurable disease – lack of money but found herself with a stash of money that will bring the mafia close on her heels. Funny, exciting, lovable and endearing but foul-mouthed, Rosie will leave you mad with the craps of her life and her adventure. If you are looking for a cross between comedy and thriller, Queen of the Trailer Park just might be the book you are looking for. But mind you, it is lively, fun and not at all boring.
May 10, 2015
I got to the end of this book and found out that it was translated from another language and suddenly it became clear why the style and everything was a little bit different than most anything else that I've read. This book just didn't flow as well as I would have liked. Certainly the narration of the book is the reason because the action and storyline are pretty interesting. Go in with your eyes open.
I picked this book up free from Amazon first reads program.
I picked this book up free from Amazon first reads program.
August 3, 2019
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Single mom Rosie Maldonne lives in a trailer that had seen better days with her three children and their cat. Mostly unemployed she depends on government assistance to keep food on the table. She waitresses at a nearby restaurant and begs loans from friends when the money runs out. That is until she makes a bizarre discovery in a trash can on her way home – A huge amount of money in several envelopes.
During this time her friend Vero and her son go missing and the police come to Rosie for answers she just doesn’t have. One police officer Jérôme is particularly nice and starts to be around wherever she goes. She also meets a very nice older man that wants to take care of her and the children.
While Rosie tries to find her friend and tries to decide what to do with the found money, she also has to deal with a new development that would evict her from her home. Finding help in unique places she fights to keep what’s hers and save Vero and her son.
____
I was looking for a book to fill the “Q” spot for a reading challenge. The synopsis sounding interesting and felt close to the cozy genre I love so I quickly snapped it up. I was a little nervous when I realized it was a French story translated to English, but after reading the first few pages I knew that was not going to be a problem at all. The book cannot be classified as a cozy though due to the explicit language used throughout the story.
The lead character Rosie, who would rather be called “CriCri” is a very interesting character. She is very open about her life and has a huge heart. She takes in one child of a friend quickly and is ready to welcome in another even when she is as poor as can be. She doesn’t let it get her down. She gets her children to school each day and tries to have as much fun with them as possible. The kids are happy and well cared for. Rosie has a quick mind and can put anyone in their place immediately, even men who have come to hurt her. She is always one to two steps ahead of everyone and really can think on her feet. She also has a continuous inner dialogue that is absolutely priceless. She uses unique terminology, calling her children lovingly “crib lizards” and “chickadees” along with other phrases that may only be unique because of the translation from French. She also appears to be a very sexy woman.
The flow of the story has a few issues but I know that is due to the translations. There are a few mysteries to solve and some twist together while others don’t. While most are solved by the end of the book they are things unresolved that will have me reading the next book in the series.
The Queen of the Trailer Park is an entertaining/hilarious story. Rosie’s antics will have you in stitches and shaking your head. I enjoyed following her exploits all around town. I am so glad I was looking for a “Q” book and found this author and this series. This was a great little escape to France.
Single mom Rosie Maldonne lives in a trailer that had seen better days with her three children and their cat. Mostly unemployed she depends on government assistance to keep food on the table. She waitresses at a nearby restaurant and begs loans from friends when the money runs out. That is until she makes a bizarre discovery in a trash can on her way home – A huge amount of money in several envelopes.
During this time her friend Vero and her son go missing and the police come to Rosie for answers she just doesn’t have. One police officer Jérôme is particularly nice and starts to be around wherever she goes. She also meets a very nice older man that wants to take care of her and the children.
While Rosie tries to find her friend and tries to decide what to do with the found money, she also has to deal with a new development that would evict her from her home. Finding help in unique places she fights to keep what’s hers and save Vero and her son.
____
I was looking for a book to fill the “Q” spot for a reading challenge. The synopsis sounding interesting and felt close to the cozy genre I love so I quickly snapped it up. I was a little nervous when I realized it was a French story translated to English, but after reading the first few pages I knew that was not going to be a problem at all. The book cannot be classified as a cozy though due to the explicit language used throughout the story.
The lead character Rosie, who would rather be called “CriCri” is a very interesting character. She is very open about her life and has a huge heart. She takes in one child of a friend quickly and is ready to welcome in another even when she is as poor as can be. She doesn’t let it get her down. She gets her children to school each day and tries to have as much fun with them as possible. The kids are happy and well cared for. Rosie has a quick mind and can put anyone in their place immediately, even men who have come to hurt her. She is always one to two steps ahead of everyone and really can think on her feet. She also has a continuous inner dialogue that is absolutely priceless. She uses unique terminology, calling her children lovingly “crib lizards” and “chickadees” along with other phrases that may only be unique because of the translation from French. She also appears to be a very sexy woman.
The flow of the story has a few issues but I know that is due to the translations. There are a few mysteries to solve and some twist together while others don’t. While most are solved by the end of the book they are things unresolved that will have me reading the next book in the series.
The Queen of the Trailer Park is an entertaining/hilarious story. Rosie’s antics will have you in stitches and shaking your head. I enjoyed following her exploits all around town. I am so glad I was looking for a “Q” book and found this author and this series. This was a great little escape to France.
October 7, 2015
For everyone trashing the book for its prose: One minute of research would have identified the issue. This book was written in French by an author who lives in France. Personally, I think it makes the book more colorful as certain phrases are more French than American (the book takes place in the South of France), but others assumed the author has only a 7th grade education.
Some things just don't translate well, I guess. Or some people aren't bright enough to realize they're reading a translation. Either way...
Queen of the Trailer Park is a fun beach read I might not have come across if it weren't for Amazon. Looking forward to the 2nd book in the series and Rosie's continued adventures.
Some things just don't translate well, I guess. Or some people aren't bright enough to realize they're reading a translation. Either way...
Queen of the Trailer Park is a fun beach read I might not have come across if it weren't for Amazon. Looking forward to the 2nd book in the series and Rosie's continued adventures.
May 3, 2015
Shades of Stephanie Plum
In her afterword, Ms Quinn thanks readers "who love easy novels, the ones we read to feel better, to smile a little, to move forward more easily, to put some sunshine in our lives." This book is truly for those of us who sometimes just want a light, humorous read. Ms Quinn's style and characters remind me a little of Evanovich's earlier books, and provided a fun evening's diversion. I would have liked a little more description of the setting (I know plenty about Rosie's clothes!). I look forward to reading the next book and hope the author doesn't feel the need to summarize this book in the next as authors sometimes do.
In her afterword, Ms Quinn thanks readers "who love easy novels, the ones we read to feel better, to smile a little, to move forward more easily, to put some sunshine in our lives." This book is truly for those of us who sometimes just want a light, humorous read. Ms Quinn's style and characters remind me a little of Evanovich's earlier books, and provided a fun evening's diversion. I would have liked a little more description of the setting (I know plenty about Rosie's clothes!). I look forward to reading the next book and hope the author doesn't feel the need to summarize this book in the next as authors sometimes do.
June 17, 2015
Rosie Maldonne is after your heart!
Cricri is after your heart, and she sneaks in and gets it, too. She lives in an old trailer that squats near an abandoned railway station some as here in France with an elastic number of children and an active inner dialog and somehow makes it all worthwhile. She has strange friends and meets interesting people in a world that is just bizarre enough to be more than mundane. I can't help wanting her to win, and Alice Quinn pulls it all together! Can't wait for the next one!
Cricri is after your heart, and she sneaks in and gets it, too. She lives in an old trailer that squats near an abandoned railway station some as here in France with an elastic number of children and an active inner dialog and somehow makes it all worthwhile. She has strange friends and meets interesting people in a world that is just bizarre enough to be more than mundane. I can't help wanting her to win, and Alice Quinn pulls it all together! Can't wait for the next one!
May 12, 2015
It was a fun read and I finished it within a day. It did take me a minute to get used to the fact the character lived in France and the culture is a little different. But the main characters antics were funny and kept me reading.
May 13, 2015
I give this book 2 1/2 stars because I finished it.
May 27, 2015
I enjoyed this fun romp through the sub-blue collar world of France. The mystery was fun, and the character was even more so. Pretty light-hearted and offered a great escape!
July 17, 2015
Queen of the Trailer Park: Rosie Maldonne’s World by Alice Quinn has been translated from the French by Alexandra Maldwyn-Davies. Rosie Maldonne lives in France although either most of the French-ness has been translated out of this book, or France and America are not as different as we all believe. Fortunately this means that the book will not present any cultural difficulties for American readers. Rosie likes to be called CriCri and she is a single mom who loves her babies. She has a number of pet terms for her children, among them “kiddos and tots and babas”. (I wonder how the synonyms she uses sound in French?)
Rosie’s biggest problem is that she is poor. She works sporadically because she has to work when her “chickadees” are at school or day care. Luckily she found a place that will let her waitress for a few hours at a time and even sing sometimes if someone can take care of the “crib lizards” (she cracks her children up with that one). Rose lost her mom when she was sixteen and has been on her own now for nine years. She is resourceful and colorful and apparently pretty, despite her style choices which tend towards “red leather miniskirt and orange satin corset with fluorescent pink wedges.”
When we meet Rosie she is out of food and out of money and she is trying to find a friend she can hit up until her welfare check arrives. As she visits with her friend Veronique in front of McDonald’s, her eldest child, Stephanie (5) starts making a racket near the McDonald’s trash cans. She has apparently unearthed a Happy Meal toy, a princess. When CriCri (Rosie) goes over to investigate her fortunes change almost immediately. She finds an envelope full of Euros, lots and lots of Euros. She wanders by more trash cans with her “rug rats” and in every trash can is another envelope.
Of course, she realizes that this money represents some kind of pay off or dirty money, but she is so needy and, she reasons, finders keepers. Besides every day recently her mom has sent her a song that has somehow been prophetic and today was no exception. The song for the day was about money. She does, however, know better than to become a big spender. After this dubious stroke of luck Rosie’s life starts moving very fast.
Next her friend, Veronique loses her baby boy, Pierre, and then Veronique also goes missing. Rumors of murder trouble Rosie even though she wants more proof. Then she meets the two policemen investigating the case and feels an attraction to the younger cop-in-training. She meets Gaston, an elderly, wealthy and famous (and exceedingly nice) poet. She meets the mayor. The mafia gets involved and Rosie’s trailer gets trashed.
This is almost a murder mystery and Rosie is sort of a sexy, wacky, maternal, French Stephanie Plum, making Alice Quinn an oo-la-la Janet Evanovich. Queen of the Trailer Park is an enjoyable little amuse bouche or perhaps a palate cleanser between heavier tomes. You gotta love a woman who loves children as much as Rosie (CriCri) does. Rosie is a force of nature. I don’t think we are done with Rose Maldonne.
Rosie’s biggest problem is that she is poor. She works sporadically because she has to work when her “chickadees” are at school or day care. Luckily she found a place that will let her waitress for a few hours at a time and even sing sometimes if someone can take care of the “crib lizards” (she cracks her children up with that one). Rose lost her mom when she was sixteen and has been on her own now for nine years. She is resourceful and colorful and apparently pretty, despite her style choices which tend towards “red leather miniskirt and orange satin corset with fluorescent pink wedges.”
When we meet Rosie she is out of food and out of money and she is trying to find a friend she can hit up until her welfare check arrives. As she visits with her friend Veronique in front of McDonald’s, her eldest child, Stephanie (5) starts making a racket near the McDonald’s trash cans. She has apparently unearthed a Happy Meal toy, a princess. When CriCri (Rosie) goes over to investigate her fortunes change almost immediately. She finds an envelope full of Euros, lots and lots of Euros. She wanders by more trash cans with her “rug rats” and in every trash can is another envelope.
Of course, she realizes that this money represents some kind of pay off or dirty money, but she is so needy and, she reasons, finders keepers. Besides every day recently her mom has sent her a song that has somehow been prophetic and today was no exception. The song for the day was about money. She does, however, know better than to become a big spender. After this dubious stroke of luck Rosie’s life starts moving very fast.
Next her friend, Veronique loses her baby boy, Pierre, and then Veronique also goes missing. Rumors of murder trouble Rosie even though she wants more proof. Then she meets the two policemen investigating the case and feels an attraction to the younger cop-in-training. She meets Gaston, an elderly, wealthy and famous (and exceedingly nice) poet. She meets the mayor. The mafia gets involved and Rosie’s trailer gets trashed.
This is almost a murder mystery and Rosie is sort of a sexy, wacky, maternal, French Stephanie Plum, making Alice Quinn an oo-la-la Janet Evanovich. Queen of the Trailer Park is an enjoyable little amuse bouche or perhaps a palate cleanser between heavier tomes. You gotta love a woman who loves children as much as Rosie (CriCri) does. Rosie is a force of nature. I don’t think we are done with Rose Maldonne.
March 9, 2015
http://lesangdeslivres.blogspot.fr/20...
La couverture attire tout de suite et grâce à la tétine, nous comprenons que nous allons rire.
Au commencement de ce roman, nous voyions que ce sont des petits chapitres, et nous sommes ravis car nous avons plus de facilité à nous immergés dans l’histoire.
Dès le début, nous sommes en compagnie de notre héroïne Rosie dites « Cricri » . Nous avons les premiers chapitres consacrés à elle pour apprendre à la connaître. Ce qu’on aime en premier lieu, c’est que c’est une femme actuelle dans une vie actuelle. Nous sommes face à une personne se battant pour sa propre survie mais surtout pour la survie de ses enfants. Nous sommes très touchés de voir qu’elle a un cœur énorme et que sa famille passera toujours avant elle. Ce qu’on apprécie aussi, c’est qu’elle est extravagante, elle a un très fort caractère et ne se laisse pas faire. Nous adorons aussi ses enfants même s’ils sont hyperactifs. Nous trouvons attachant les autres personnages qui viendront au fur et à mesure se greffer à l’histoire. Même les personnages mauvais, sont drôles et attachants. Pas un seul ne nous dérange dans cette histoire et ça fait vraiment plaisir et donne une grosse bouffée d’air frais.
Ce que nous aimons chez Rosie, c’est son courage et sa volonté d’aller jusqu’au bout pour résoudre des mystères. Nous apprécions aussi son parlé très actuel. Certes, il peut choquer certaines personnes qui peuvent trouver ça très osé mais quand nous lisons ce roman, nous ne pouvons pas imaginer Rosie parler d’une autre manière.
Très vite, nous comprenons que les enfants de Rosie et plus particulièrement un d’entre eux, sont très intelligents. Nous sommes très surpris de voir qu’il a des astuces dignes de MacGyver et ça nous fait beaucoup rire.
À la fin, nous sommes assez étonnés de voir de grands changements. Nous nous y attendions pas du tout et nous sommes stupéfaits de voir à quel point nous étions totalement à côté.
La toute fin nous fait sourire et nous avons vraiment hâte de retrouver Rosie dans ses prochaines enquêtes.
Est-ce que j’ai aimé ce livre ?
J’ai beaucoup aimé bien que ce ne soit pas un coup de cœur. J’ai adoré les personnages et toute l’histoire qui les entoure. J’ai hâte de lire la suite et je vous invite à lire cette saga vous allez bien rire avec Rosie !
La couverture attire tout de suite et grâce à la tétine, nous comprenons que nous allons rire.
Au commencement de ce roman, nous voyions que ce sont des petits chapitres, et nous sommes ravis car nous avons plus de facilité à nous immergés dans l’histoire.
Dès le début, nous sommes en compagnie de notre héroïne Rosie dites « Cricri » . Nous avons les premiers chapitres consacrés à elle pour apprendre à la connaître. Ce qu’on aime en premier lieu, c’est que c’est une femme actuelle dans une vie actuelle. Nous sommes face à une personne se battant pour sa propre survie mais surtout pour la survie de ses enfants. Nous sommes très touchés de voir qu’elle a un cœur énorme et que sa famille passera toujours avant elle. Ce qu’on apprécie aussi, c’est qu’elle est extravagante, elle a un très fort caractère et ne se laisse pas faire. Nous adorons aussi ses enfants même s’ils sont hyperactifs. Nous trouvons attachant les autres personnages qui viendront au fur et à mesure se greffer à l’histoire. Même les personnages mauvais, sont drôles et attachants. Pas un seul ne nous dérange dans cette histoire et ça fait vraiment plaisir et donne une grosse bouffée d’air frais.
Ce que nous aimons chez Rosie, c’est son courage et sa volonté d’aller jusqu’au bout pour résoudre des mystères. Nous apprécions aussi son parlé très actuel. Certes, il peut choquer certaines personnes qui peuvent trouver ça très osé mais quand nous lisons ce roman, nous ne pouvons pas imaginer Rosie parler d’une autre manière.
Très vite, nous comprenons que les enfants de Rosie et plus particulièrement un d’entre eux, sont très intelligents. Nous sommes très surpris de voir qu’il a des astuces dignes de MacGyver et ça nous fait beaucoup rire.
À la fin, nous sommes assez étonnés de voir de grands changements. Nous nous y attendions pas du tout et nous sommes stupéfaits de voir à quel point nous étions totalement à côté.
La toute fin nous fait sourire et nous avons vraiment hâte de retrouver Rosie dans ses prochaines enquêtes.
Est-ce que j’ai aimé ce livre ?
J’ai beaucoup aimé bien que ce ne soit pas un coup de cœur. J’ai adoré les personnages et toute l’histoire qui les entoure. J’ai hâte de lire la suite et je vous invite à lire cette saga vous allez bien rire avec Rosie !
May 15, 2015
Oh my, what a great book, rollicking fun with wonderfully flawed characters. This book was originally written in French (the author lives in the south of France, the setting for the novel) and then translated into English. The translation was masterful. Not for one minute did the narrative seem awkward. The French version rose to #1 in ebooks in France.
Rosie (she prefers being called CriCri, for Cricket, as only her deceased mother called her Rose) is a natural (single) mother, gathering children, her own and others, like stray dogs. By the end of the book she has 5, all with unique personalities, especially the older 2, Sabrina and Simon. She is living in a small trailer next to an abandoned railroad station with illegal hookups to water and electricity, living on welfare and proceeds from occasional waitressing jobs. But she always manages to feed her children and puts their welfare first even when life throws curve balls at her. Her deceased mother sends her advice in the form of songs she hears in her dreams, sometimes more cryptic than others.
The plot revolves around Sabrina finding bags of euro notes in a trash bin at McDonald's and Rosie finding more, totalling €150,000, money meant for bribes from the Russian mob to the mayor in exchange for allowing a casino to be built on the railroad station site instead of a library already approved by City Council. The resulting escapades of Rosie and the various supporting characters are hysterically funny, leaving me laughing out loud. The next book about Rosie won't be out till February, 2016. I look forward to the further adventures of Rosie Maldone!
Rosie (she prefers being called CriCri, for Cricket, as only her deceased mother called her Rose) is a natural (single) mother, gathering children, her own and others, like stray dogs. By the end of the book she has 5, all with unique personalities, especially the older 2, Sabrina and Simon. She is living in a small trailer next to an abandoned railroad station with illegal hookups to water and electricity, living on welfare and proceeds from occasional waitressing jobs. But she always manages to feed her children and puts their welfare first even when life throws curve balls at her. Her deceased mother sends her advice in the form of songs she hears in her dreams, sometimes more cryptic than others.
The plot revolves around Sabrina finding bags of euro notes in a trash bin at McDonald's and Rosie finding more, totalling €150,000, money meant for bribes from the Russian mob to the mayor in exchange for allowing a casino to be built on the railroad station site instead of a library already approved by City Council. The resulting escapades of Rosie and the various supporting characters are hysterically funny, leaving me laughing out loud. The next book about Rosie won't be out till February, 2016. I look forward to the further adventures of Rosie Maldone!
July 16, 2015
I usually enjoy reading European/Nordic/Foreign detective stories and cozy series. Unfortunately this one didn't feel like any of those. If it wasn't mentioned now and again that this was set in France, you'd really never know; with the exception of a few names, this was singularly Amerucan in tone. The other big problem is that none of the characters are remotely likable, and they're all pretty cardboard. The only remotely likable characater is the protagonist's dead mother, who doesn't even actually appear other than as a dream. The mystery itself is unnecessarily convoluted and makes little sense, and I came this close at least twice to dropping the book, but I gave it the benefit of the doubt that it would get better. It didn't.
May 24, 2015
At first I was frustrated by what seemed like Rosie or Cricri's blinders, but after awhile I realized that the author had conned us as much as Rosie conned others. It also helped me realize how focused people can be when they just need money for food for their kids. This was NOT a deep book about poverty though, at all. It was a light, easy beach read that was funny and fast paced at the same time. It was a good entertainment book!
April 3, 2017
I enjoyed this book once I truly got into it. It's light hearted and a bit of fun. The lead character is hilarious. Dirt Poor and slightly trashy but with a heart of gold (mostly). Loved her kids...and the other stragglers so fiercely.
June 9, 2020
This was great fun, as our penniless single mother heroine discovers some unexpected cash and works her way through 10 days of adventure in the South of France.
December 8, 2015
I'm hoping that the concept of this book was lost in translation from French to English. This has to be the worst book I've read so far this year, or attempted to read. I DNF and usually I don't give a rating for what I don't finish unless what I've read is really horrible. The main problem is that it seems like the majority of this is babbling. The MC starts to talk and then goes off a tandem on a complete and different subject and then whatever she initially started to talk about is ignored and she's off on another subject. Is it supposed to be the character's flaw, the way it was translated, or purposely done by the author to make the character look even more like the loser she already was? I didn't like the MC and I didn't see any way I could like here. Have you ever met someone and there is something about them that just turns you off and you find it very difficult to be around them. That's how I felt with the entire novel. Something about seemed off and I just didn't want it anywhere near me anymore.
June 20, 2015
Rosie Maldonne is an unemployed part-time, when-she-feels-like-it waitress who lives with three children and a cat in a run-down one bedroom trailer. She has no money. No money, that is, until she finds an envelope with cash in it. Lots of cash just hangin’ out in a trash bin behind a fast-food joint.
This is the first time I’ve read Alice Quinn so I didn’t know what to expect. I was drawn-in by the cover, and the blurb was kind of intriguing, ’how bad could it be?’ I thought. Well, let me tell you, this book is a roaring good time. A light fare set before me with nothing better to do than to entertain. And entertain it does.
Rosie is an outspoken character who only wants what we all want in life, love and happiness. But things just keep tripping her up - like that stash of cash and a cop just a little too good to be true.
If you get on this ride, be sure to tell Rosie the Wordman said, hey!
June 10, 2015
Miss Rose "CriCri" Maldonne is constantly stating how classy and sophisticated she is; however, she is anything but. Inbetween dodging Child Services and looking after an ever growing brood of small children, Rosie manages to fall headlong into outrageous circumstances and land smack in the middle of a twisted conspiracy. Alice Quinn's debut novel is excellently written, and well translated, but I found myself constantly rolling my eyes at the heroine's ridiculous antics. This is a charming little story, but would be much more entertaining with any other protagonist at the helm. I'm sure there are readers who will adore this novel, but I found the narrator too unrelatable to really enjoy the story.
May 26, 2015
Entertaining.
This is a very quick read. Different for sure, but entertaining. I like Rosie, and love her cubbies. This book is worth the time to read it. I was a bit taken back by the over the top enthusiasm of the writing, which I understand is the French style. A trampy Madonna with 3, whoops, now 5 little ones to care for at 25 years old? No job, no income, other than welfare? I don't know. And living in a trailer next to an abandoned rail station. It is definitely a stretch. I will read the next one, though. It's sorta like a comic book, you have to keep reading to see what happens.
This is a very quick read. Different for sure, but entertaining. I like Rosie, and love her cubbies. This book is worth the time to read it. I was a bit taken back by the over the top enthusiasm of the writing, which I understand is the French style. A trampy Madonna with 3, whoops, now 5 little ones to care for at 25 years old? No job, no income, other than welfare? I don't know. And living in a trailer next to an abandoned rail station. It is definitely a stretch. I will read the next one, though. It's sorta like a comic book, you have to keep reading to see what happens.
May 1, 2015
QUEEN OF THE TRAILER PARK
I can sum this book up in two words- oddly entertaining. Rosie who goes by the name of CriCri survives in a very dysfunctional life. She and her kids live in a broken down trailer without much in the way of food- yet somehow she seems to give them some sense of normalcy.
Things seem to happen to CriCri- her friend disappears, she meets some strange characters, finds a lot of money, gets involved in a city scandal. Somehow she just takes everything in stride. Not my normal read, but very interesting.
I can sum this book up in two words- oddly entertaining. Rosie who goes by the name of CriCri survives in a very dysfunctional life. She and her kids live in a broken down trailer without much in the way of food- yet somehow she seems to give them some sense of normalcy.
Things seem to happen to CriCri- her friend disappears, she meets some strange characters, finds a lot of money, gets involved in a city scandal. Somehow she just takes everything in stride. Not my normal read, but very interesting.
May 31, 2015
What a fun and funny read! Rose is someone whom I would love to sit down with and share some laughter. It is so refreshing to find a character who loves life and is thankful for even the smallest blessings of each day. Rose has so much love to share that she continues to add more children to her tiny home. I found myself cheering her on as she solves the mysteries of little Pierre's disappearance, his mother Vero's subsequent disappearance, and where did all of those Euros come from? I highly recommend this mystery!
June 6, 2015
Queen of the Trailer Park
5 STARS! I absolutely loved Queen of the Trailer Park. Rosie "CriCri" Maldonne is a single mother of five who was born with no luck. Until one day with no money or food to feed her munchkins, her little girl finds treasure in Mickey D's trash - 150,000+ in euro's (CriCri lives in a small town in France). Rosie's life changes drastically and dramatically as she becomes entangled with the Russian Mob, a corrupt town Mayor, a prize winning poet, kidnapping and a kind social services worker. Unexpected plot twists, great characters!
5 STARS! I absolutely loved Queen of the Trailer Park. Rosie "CriCri" Maldonne is a single mother of five who was born with no luck. Until one day with no money or food to feed her munchkins, her little girl finds treasure in Mickey D's trash - 150,000+ in euro's (CriCri lives in a small town in France). Rosie's life changes drastically and dramatically as she becomes entangled with the Russian Mob, a corrupt town Mayor, a prize winning poet, kidnapping and a kind social services worker. Unexpected plot twists, great characters!
July 3, 2015
I did not enjoy this book at all. I'm not sure if it was because of the translation or just because I couldn't stand the main character. I didn't like how she was poor, but faulted others for not giving her money. I didn't like how when she found someone willing to spend money on her she just took, took, took with no qualms. I didn't like how when she found money in the trash she spent it frivolously on crap & not for long term betterment. I didn't like how she referred to her children, although I'm pretty sure some of that was translation issues.
May 3, 2015
Welfare Queen, mystery
Rosie has it all kids, free trailer to live in, cat, and her deceased mother who sends her messages in the form of lyrics from songs. Rosie picks up kids , rich. benefactors, police boyfriends, friends, money, in an effort to keep her trailer and the kids in food and diapers. Fast paced with too much dialog. Translating the kids can be a mystery itself. Recommended for ages 16 and older due to violence and sexual content.
Rosie has it all kids, free trailer to live in, cat, and her deceased mother who sends her messages in the form of lyrics from songs. Rosie picks up kids , rich. benefactors, police boyfriends, friends, money, in an effort to keep her trailer and the kids in food and diapers. Fast paced with too much dialog. Translating the kids can be a mystery itself. Recommended for ages 16 and older due to violence and sexual content.
May 11, 2015
This was an enjoyable book. Somehow the author managed to make an entitled, non working lead character lovable. The reader forgets that she has stolen found money and cheers her on. The ability to take this second generation welfare family who matriarch is totally without ambition beyond her next meal and make her appealing speaks volumes about the author's talent. The plot was great too!
May 14, 2015
A breezy mystery novel with an infectiously positive main character. Rose "Cri Cri" Maldonne is a down on her luck trailer dweller with four kids who stumbles onto a load of cash. Led by clues sent in the form of pop song infused dreams, sent by her dead Mother, Cri Cri tries to make sense of her good fortune and the misfortune of her friend Vero. The book moves quickly and it's a fun little no-brain work book.
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