Getting New Mexico

by Rhenna St. Clair

Aaron Schuyler is a ne'er-do-well, a cheat, an exploiter, a drunk, and a lifelong New Yorker. New Mexico is about to change everything about Schuyler, in this fresh and witty comedy about second chances and redemption.

At 52, Aaron Schuyler has destroyed his life and doesn't care. Professionally ruined, flat broke, and estranged from his ex-wife and children, Schuyler's only concerns are sponging free drinks by crashing funerals and staying on the good side of his primary money supply, his formidable British mother, Clementine.

But Clementine has a plan. Praying for divine aid from her personal god, Winston Churchill, Clementine creates a Winston-inspired scheme to reform her worthless son. Clementine presents Schuyler with an ultimatum--she'll bail him out one last time, if he moves from New York to Santa Fe, New Mexico, and takes a job at the local Sam's Club.

In New Mexico, Schuyler meets people unlike any he's ever known--the enigmatic Indian artist Lone Goose, the blue collar Sam's Club workers who accept him as one of their own, and the beautiful and no-nonsense Anita Chatterjee, with whom Schuyler is immediately smitten.

For the first time in his life, Schuyler wants to be a better person--and as he rereads his diary of his past life, he realizes the extent of his failures and his misdeeds. Can Schuyler adapt to a life of responsibility? To a mature relationship? To New Mexico? To shaking scorpions out of his boots? Winston help him!

Unknown Binding

Published December 1, 2019

Reviews

[Vicky Ramakka · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are you tired of books about characters that do dishonorable deeds because they are victims of circumstances beyond their control, then give Getting New Mexico a read.
A century ago, people moved to New Mexico for their health. Not Aaron Schuyler. He is sent for rehabilitation, by his own mother. At age 50 plus, Aaron Schuyler’s chosen life of self-serving debauchery may not be reversible.
Schuyler’s mother arranges a job for him at the SAM’s Club in Santa Fe. With no other choice, he struggles to figure out why he’d been sent to a state where the scenery is comprised of dirt, sand, and sagebrush.
He discovers the people he meets have previous connections to his family. Is it karma? Perhaps it’s simply that is what happens when one moves to New Mexico—known as the Land of Enchantment for good reason. Gradually, Schuyler sheds the self-imposed pile of chips on his shoulder.
You’ll enjoy author Rhenna St. Clair’s elegant descriptions of the characters and settings in Getting New Mexico. She draws on her travels to India and other parts of Asia, as well as her love of New Mexico, to produce this sometimes humorous, sometimes soul-searching, and definitely unconventional novel.

[Rebecca Larivee · Rating 5 out of 5]

52 year old Aaron Schuyler starts out in this story as a down-on-his-luck, victim-of-the-world, first class shmuck! Thank goodness Clementine, his no-nonsense British mother, sees Aaron as a diamond in the rough. With the help of the late Winston Churchill, Clementine’s spiritual guide, an elaborate plan is hatched to relocate Aaron to the wilds of New Mexico. Aaron also must do as Mom says in regards to home, job, even the car he drives, or forever lose his inheritance. While there, Aaron learns about life, love, and family connections. He also learns that the dusty, sometimes dreary state, is also a Land of Enchantment.

[normand larivee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly inspirational story depicting a mother's final and cleaver attempt to turn her shameful fifty years old son around, and the inner struggle that her son Schuyler must now endure to confront not only his selfish past but to win the admiration of the love of his life. You'll fall in love with the characters, the New Mexico life style, and the human struggle of Schuyler in moving beyond himself to realizing the great joy of having meaningful others in his world. This is a book that will warm your heart and bring encouragement to the fact that we all can slide from time to time, but with the help of good friends, we can still grow!

[Vicki Holmsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very entertained by this book. Quirky is a good word for the characters and the plot points. A spoiled Eastern trust-funder, well into middle age, Aaron Schuyler is banished to the high desert of Santa Fe by his mother in her last-ditch attempt to help him find redemption. His collisions with northern New Mexico are funny and realistic. Quirky is also a good way to describe the range of people who live in northern New Mexico, and so this book “gets New Mexico” on a fundamental level as the main character bumbles his way to his new life.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the hilarious, laugh out loud journey of Schuyler, a 52 yr old louse living with IBS, who has been banished to Santa Fe, NM in order to keep his inheritance. Schuyler has abused everyone in his life, including his ex-wife, children, former partner and even his mother. But the quirky and odd characters he meets in NM provide him the opportunity for some soul searching and salvation. If you have been to NM you will recognize the scenery and the strange, wonderful folks who choose to call this area home. An enjoyable read!!

[Ed · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to read this because it is about the magical state fifteen miles south of where I live here in Colorado. It is a good story of a wasted self serving life of the protagonist and how grew up at the age of 53 to find a happiness he had always avoided.

[Marilyn Hickman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

Good character development, pulled you into the story. I could not put this down. Well written, great details, rich vocabulary.

[Judy Johnson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I looked forward to reading this, because the setting is my neighborhood. Unfortunately, I found the characters annoying, not just Schuyler, and the situations not credible. I think it was supposed to be funny, but I didn't find it amusing. Overall, it was well-written. However, when an author chooses a particular setting for a novel, the details should be accurate. Otherwise, just make up a fictional town, as many authors do. For example, one cannot drive north on I-25 from Santa Fe to Nambe, New Mexico. There are many other errors like this.

[Joe Stack · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun read even if you anticipate the ending. Take a likable ne’re-do-well, a bit of a scoundrel, and move him from the big city to a small hamlet in New Mexico, and readers are in for an easy going, sometimes humorous read about 2nd chances, guilt, growth in personal character, redemption and love.

The author is skillful drawing likable characters and believable dialogue. This reader enjoyed in particular Bella, the dog, and the parents of the Ms. Chatterjee

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a fun read. 😊

[Toni Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

nice story. character growth is great and not forced. liked how the main character was connected unknowingly to the others in the book.