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Certainly Sensible
Sensible Caroline, the eldest Benedict daughter, is determined to help make ends meet. But in order to do that, she must consider leaving not only the job she loves, but the man who has her heart—a man engaged to someone else. Her mother Susan, whose social skills and volunteer work helped make her husband rich and successful, is booted out of the family home when her ex's trophy wife wants the social status the address will bring her. Caroline's two younger sisters, Megan, the artist and Alison, the musician, are yanked from their private schools when Daddy pulls the financial plug.
All four women doubt their ability to make the transitions necessary to enter successfully into their new life-style, but deep within each lies a well of strength only adversity can uncover.
All four women doubt their ability to make the transitions necessary to enter successfully into their new life-style, but deep within each lies a well of strength only adversity can uncover.
312 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2011
14 people want to read
About the author
Pamela Woods-Jackson
8 books35 followersI am a former high school English teacher, so writing for and about teens comes naturally to me. I live in Noblesville, Indiana, and work part time at a museum. I'm excited about my newest upcoming release from The Wild Rose Press, TEENAGE PSYCHIC ON CAMPUS, a followup to my first novel CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE PSYCHIC. If you like history, check out GENIUS SUMMER, and if you are a romantic Jane Austen fan at heart, I hope you will enjoy CERTAINLY SENSIBLE. Please feel free to contact me with comments or post reviews.
Please visit me at Facebook and Goodreads. Check out the video trailer for CERTAINLY SENSIBLE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zqu0...
Click here to read the Literary Classics reviews of CERTAINLY SENSIBLE and GENIUS SUMMER:
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 1, 2012
Originally posted at:http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.c...
Money, like a crippling disease, had stymied the maturation of the four intelligent and talented Benedict women. Susan and her three daughters had played their parts well in her ex-husband Daniel’s rise to success—success that proved to a stumbling block for the whole family. Of course, the stumbling block was manipulated by the new wife Sharlene.
Susan, married at twenty-two years of age, had never had a “real” job. Even though she had a teaching degree, she’d chosen to support Daniel in his ambitious climb to success. She’d organized and helped with charity events, did volunteer work, gave perfect dinner parties for Daniel’s business associates, and seen to their three daughters having the best schools and rearing of any of the children in the upscale Belford society—none of these endeavors earned a salary. Daniel had provided the money. Now, three years after the divorce he is taking away the Belford estate and the generous allowances for each of them.
Susan and the daughters: Caroline, Allison, and Megan must vacate the big beautiful home, find alternate housing, and manage on what Susan can earn, child support for Megan, and tuition for state school for Megan and Allison—no more expensive private schools.
How the four cope with their change in social status and life style is much like a “rite of passage” long delayed.
The smart, “I-will-fix-it”, and supposedly sensible Caroline with a marketing degree works for a minuscule salary to stay close to Richard, the love of her life, who is engaged to Misty, his childhood friend. Caroline’s angst over his upcoming wedding and her need to earn a wage to support herself is a stress-filled sub-plot that forces her to “grow up”.
Allison, so talented, has pursued her music education in the prestigious private Bryce Anthony Music Conservatory in Chicago. Her temperament, that got her labeled “drama queen” early on in her life, makes her an unsympathetic character at times. Her blindness to see anything but what she wants gets her into a heartbreaking situation. Yet, hope waits in the wings for her to “grow up” and see the admirable worthiness of others.
The youngest, Megan, still in the prestigious, private Willowby Preparatory school, is an artist who wants to be an architect. However, she has neglected to keep her grades up and she acts out in an effort to get her dad’s attention. At one time he had lavished attention her—before Sharlene. Megan is a miserable, self-centered, spoiled teenager. Her adjustment makes for some heartbreaking reading.
The male characters recede into the background most of the time, even though they are instrumental in the “growing up” of the four Benedict women. None of the men seem to have that modern, polished alpha male quality, yet a couple of them are quiet, gentle heroes to be admired.
While I longed for a more in-depth development of the characters, and more romance, Certainly Sensible kept my attention—not in a breath-holding, page-turning way but in a wanting-to-know way—wanting to know how the Benedict women overcome such a devastating change of fortune. Getting to see all four women find an inner strength, a sense of purpose, accomplishment, and self-worth is most satisfying.
Money, like a crippling disease, had stymied the maturation of the four intelligent and talented Benedict women. Susan and her three daughters had played their parts well in her ex-husband Daniel’s rise to success—success that proved to a stumbling block for the whole family. Of course, the stumbling block was manipulated by the new wife Sharlene.
Susan, married at twenty-two years of age, had never had a “real” job. Even though she had a teaching degree, she’d chosen to support Daniel in his ambitious climb to success. She’d organized and helped with charity events, did volunteer work, gave perfect dinner parties for Daniel’s business associates, and seen to their three daughters having the best schools and rearing of any of the children in the upscale Belford society—none of these endeavors earned a salary. Daniel had provided the money. Now, three years after the divorce he is taking away the Belford estate and the generous allowances for each of them.
Susan and the daughters: Caroline, Allison, and Megan must vacate the big beautiful home, find alternate housing, and manage on what Susan can earn, child support for Megan, and tuition for state school for Megan and Allison—no more expensive private schools.
How the four cope with their change in social status and life style is much like a “rite of passage” long delayed.
The smart, “I-will-fix-it”, and supposedly sensible Caroline with a marketing degree works for a minuscule salary to stay close to Richard, the love of her life, who is engaged to Misty, his childhood friend. Caroline’s angst over his upcoming wedding and her need to earn a wage to support herself is a stress-filled sub-plot that forces her to “grow up”.
Allison, so talented, has pursued her music education in the prestigious private Bryce Anthony Music Conservatory in Chicago. Her temperament, that got her labeled “drama queen” early on in her life, makes her an unsympathetic character at times. Her blindness to see anything but what she wants gets her into a heartbreaking situation. Yet, hope waits in the wings for her to “grow up” and see the admirable worthiness of others.
The youngest, Megan, still in the prestigious, private Willowby Preparatory school, is an artist who wants to be an architect. However, she has neglected to keep her grades up and she acts out in an effort to get her dad’s attention. At one time he had lavished attention her—before Sharlene. Megan is a miserable, self-centered, spoiled teenager. Her adjustment makes for some heartbreaking reading.
The male characters recede into the background most of the time, even though they are instrumental in the “growing up” of the four Benedict women. None of the men seem to have that modern, polished alpha male quality, yet a couple of them are quiet, gentle heroes to be admired.
While I longed for a more in-depth development of the characters, and more romance, Certainly Sensible kept my attention—not in a breath-holding, page-turning way but in a wanting-to-know way—wanting to know how the Benedict women overcome such a devastating change of fortune. Getting to see all four women find an inner strength, a sense of purpose, accomplishment, and self-worth is most satisfying.
January 18, 2016
GREAT STORY OF STARTING OVER!
I really loved this story. Each woman showed her true strength that they had within. Susan was a mom of three who hadn’t worked since her husband was wealthy but had to start over basically. She got a job and then found a house for them to live in. She had to deal with the moans and groans of the younger girls because one had to go to public school and the other couldn’t continue at the Music School she was attending. It was very hard on her but she made it through.
Megan was the youngest and even though she initially didn’t like the public school she learned that the friends she made there were truly her friends. Not her friends because she had money.
Allie was always trying to find love and she would be pushy even with the guys. When she finally has a nice neighbor professor willing to let her use his piano to practice she blows him off for another guy who only went out with her for the money he thought she had. Soon enough Allie realizes what she did to the neighbor. They decide to take things slow and continue their friendship. She knows that she doesn’t want to rush into anything with him because it feels right. He is someone she can trust.
Caroline was the oldest and decided to interview for another job to get more money to help her mom out. Even though she loved what she did and she was in love with her boss. He was blind to that fact even though he liked her too. He was promised to a woman who was a society woman who was horrible. He didn’t even remember proposing to her. He had been drunk. Caroline gets an offer to leave the company and he decides to take matters into his own hands and gets his grandmother to help him hire Caroline on fulltime to have the job that she deserves.
He couldn’t live without her in the office.
But throughout the whole story I wondered if the absentee father would ever figure out what he was missing. I believe in the end he finally understood what he had let his new wife do. He had abandoned his children and they wanted nothing to do with him. They weren’t comfortable going back to their childhood home and he never seemed to have time for them.
I loved this story. There were several small stories going on at the same time and it kept the story flowing smoothly and effortlessly. I liked Caroline’s boss’ grandmother. She tried several times to talk to her grandson about marrying someone he loved and not out of a promise from years ago. She tried to get him and Caroline together. She actually set them up on a dinner date and they decided to stay and have dinner together. It was a wonderful evening but Caroline knew he was going to go through with the wedding anyway.
You will have to read this story to see what happens to the Benedict women on this journey for them. Each one has such a strong spirit and I admire that.
I highly recommend this book.
I really loved this story. Each woman showed her true strength that they had within. Susan was a mom of three who hadn’t worked since her husband was wealthy but had to start over basically. She got a job and then found a house for them to live in. She had to deal with the moans and groans of the younger girls because one had to go to public school and the other couldn’t continue at the Music School she was attending. It was very hard on her but she made it through.
Megan was the youngest and even though she initially didn’t like the public school she learned that the friends she made there were truly her friends. Not her friends because she had money.
Allie was always trying to find love and she would be pushy even with the guys. When she finally has a nice neighbor professor willing to let her use his piano to practice she blows him off for another guy who only went out with her for the money he thought she had. Soon enough Allie realizes what she did to the neighbor. They decide to take things slow and continue their friendship. She knows that she doesn’t want to rush into anything with him because it feels right. He is someone she can trust.
Caroline was the oldest and decided to interview for another job to get more money to help her mom out. Even though she loved what she did and she was in love with her boss. He was blind to that fact even though he liked her too. He was promised to a woman who was a society woman who was horrible. He didn’t even remember proposing to her. He had been drunk. Caroline gets an offer to leave the company and he decides to take matters into his own hands and gets his grandmother to help him hire Caroline on fulltime to have the job that she deserves.
He couldn’t live without her in the office.
But throughout the whole story I wondered if the absentee father would ever figure out what he was missing. I believe in the end he finally understood what he had let his new wife do. He had abandoned his children and they wanted nothing to do with him. They weren’t comfortable going back to their childhood home and he never seemed to have time for them.
I loved this story. There were several small stories going on at the same time and it kept the story flowing smoothly and effortlessly. I liked Caroline’s boss’ grandmother. She tried several times to talk to her grandson about marrying someone he loved and not out of a promise from years ago. She tried to get him and Caroline together. She actually set them up on a dinner date and they decided to stay and have dinner together. It was a wonderful evening but Caroline knew he was going to go through with the wedding anyway.
You will have to read this story to see what happens to the Benedict women on this journey for them. Each one has such a strong spirit and I admire that.
I highly recommend this book.
May 11, 2016
Susan Benedict and her three daughters have been ousted from the mansion they call home. It seems Susan’s ex-husband, Daniel, has just been remarried and his new wife seeks the social status which comes from living in their high-end neighborhood. Adding insult to injury Daniel has pulled the plug on his daughters’ allowance and private school tuitions. So with little warning, the Benedict ladies must learn to fend for themselves, making do with the few resources they have at their disposal. Along the way, they learn to lean on each other while finding an inner strength to become better versions of themselves.
While set in modern times, this book felt slightly reminiscent of some of the stylized romance films of the 50s and 60s; but it also bears a striking resemblance to Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility. For those who love a good romance (or two or three) along with a feel-good happy ending, this book will hold great appeal.
While set in modern times, this book felt slightly reminiscent of some of the stylized romance films of the 50s and 60s; but it also bears a striking resemblance to Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility. For those who love a good romance (or two or three) along with a feel-good happy ending, this book will hold great appeal.
March 2, 2016
Pamela Woods-Jackson's Certainly Sensible is a great story of tenacity and determination. The Benedict women are faced with life-changing circumstances and they come together to overcome them with inspiring poise and strength. The characters are well-developed and relateable. This book is an excellent young adult novel that can be enjoyed by a large audience. I greatly enjoyed it!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews