Herself

by Leslie Carroll

Forty is fabulous for Tessa Craig. Heck, she has it all--a glamorous job as a political speechwriter, a Manhattan duplex, and a handsome boyfriend, Congressman David Weyburn, whose integrity, charisma, and good looks have made him his party's rising star. But her fabulosity fizzles when scandal strikes, and Tessa watches helplessly as her seemingly happy love life and successful career collapse like a house of cards.

Tessa realizes it's time to embark on a new journey, one she should have made a long time ago. It's a trip that takes her to the Emerald Isle and back, leading her heart in unimagined directions. She makes new friends, unexpectedly adopts a new family (or do they adopt her?), and discovers unanticipated love with silver-tongued, green-eyed, aspiring pub owner, Jamie Doyle. And, most importantly, Tessa makes that uphill climb over the rainbow to find the ultimate pot of gold: "Herself."

Genres: Chick Lit

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 20, 2007

About the author

I used to tell people that I was born in Manhattan and raised in the Bronx; but the truth is that apart from the stellar education I received at the Fieldston School in Riverdale, much of who I am was shaped by my two grandmothers, who encouraged me to follow my bliss long before it became the sort of catchphrase you find on tee-shirts and new-age tchotchkes. My East Side grandmother took me to FAO Schwarz, the New York City Ballet, and afternoon tea at the Plaza Hotel, where I dreamed of becoming another Eloise. My West Side grandmother took me to the Central Park carousel and the zoo and treated me to colorful paper parasols and gummy, lukewarm pretzels from the vendors whose wares my East Side grandmother deemed too "dirty" for human consumption.

There are writers on both sides of my family, and although I always loved to write, I never anticipated that it would become my profession. I had wanted to be a ballerina; and though my club feet were corrected at birth (from the stilettos I adore now, you'd never know) and my short Achilles tendons made my toes turn in (corrected at the age of 9), I was never going to end up en pointe.

About a year later, I decided to become an actress when (if?) I grew up, and I never looked back. I majored in Theatre at Cornell University, worked in summer stock, and took classes with a couple of acknowledged masters. I performed a lot of Shakespeare and other classics in New York parks, basements, church choir lofts, and the occasional Off-Broadway theatre; then founded and ran my own nonprofit theatre company for several years. And when things got slow, and I found myself working three survival jobs simultaneously (one of them as a journalist and editor), I decided it was time to pursue an additional creative avenue.

Fast forward a decade. I'm now a multi-published author in three genres, as well as a freelance journalist. And I've also adapted a number of classic texts (Ivanhoe; The Prisoner of Zenda; The Scarlet Pimpernel; Mark Twain's The Diaries of Adam and Eve) for the stage. I began writing women's fiction and historical fiction simultaneously, but my first published novel was the urban romantic comedy Miss Match in 2002. In 2005, as I continued to write about feisty female New Yorkers, my first historical novel was published under the pen name Amanda Elyot. While keeping those literary plates spinning I made my historical nonfiction debut in the spring of 2008.

In what I laughingly refer to as my spare time, I'm still a professional actress, working when the scripts and the roles excite me.

I'm such a native New Yorker that I still don't have a driver's license, "Big Sky Country" means Central Park, and the farthest I've ever been from the Upper West Side for any great length of time was my four-year stint upstate in Ithaca, at Cornell, known for its rigorous academics and its equally harsh permafrost.

My birthday falls on the same day as two of my heroes—F. Scott Fitzgerald and Jim Henson. So I reread The Great Gatsby every year and number Miss Piggy among the great actresses of her generation. My favorite color is deep hydrangea blue, and it just kills me that it doesn't look good with red hair.

I live in Manhattan with my husband Scott—who is my hero and everything I ever dreamed of. For the past couple of years we've been considering an addition to the family in the form of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

Reviews

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tessa is dumped by her congressman boyfriend. She goes to Ireland to get some space and meets Jamie Doyle who falls madly in love with her.

A cute love story.

[Shelley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Insert Michael Scott dramatic screaming here.

I would call this fluff but that is insulting to jars of marshmallow fluff.

[Bostonlotus · Rating 2 out of 5]

So, this is a poor imitation of Under the Tuscan Sun?!...And then a whole lot of BS New York politics at the end, when we really didn't care about anybody anymore?!
Yeah, skip it.

[Pat O’Brien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it🍀

[Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a good story with no surprises . The last couple of chapters, during the election, were tedious to get through and seemed like an unnecessary add on.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Forty is fabulous for Tessa Craig. Heck, she has it all—a glamorous job as a political speechwriter, a Manhattan duplex, and a handsome boyfriend, Congressman David Weyburn, whose integrity, charisma, and good looks have made him his party's rising star. But her fabulosity fizzles when scandal strikes, and Tessa watches helplessly as her seemingly happy love life and successful career collapse like a house of cards.

Tessa realizes it's time to embark on a new journey, one she should have made a long time ago. It's a trip that takes her to the Emerald Isle and back, leading her heart in unimagined directions. She makes new friends, unexpectedly adopts a new family (or do they adopt her?), and discovers unanticipated love with silver-tongued, green-eyed, aspiring pub owner, Jamie Doyle. And, most importantly, Tessa makes that uphill climb over the rainbow to find the ultimate pot of gold: Herself.”

Having been to Ireland a few years ago this book really appealed to me. Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough of Ireland in it. Tessa goes to Dublin on holiday were she meets Jamie but she is only there for a week. The description of her first encounter with a trio of mates in a local Dublin pub is right on and I only wish there had been more scenes like that one.

I found the politics that were involved in the story very interesting, considering that we are in the midst of a presidential election.

As I read this I was nervous it was going to turn into a typical “romance” novel, which I am not a fan of. Ms. Carroll surprised me though with just the right amount of romance, politics and humor as well as some shocking twists and turns.

Herself, is a great lazy weekend or vacation book.

[Kelly Driver · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Forty is fabulous for Tessa Craig. Heck, she has it all—a glamorous job as a political speechwriter, a Manhattan duplex, and a handsome boyfriend, Congressman David Weyburn, whose integrity, charisma, and good looks have made him his party's rising star. But her fabulosity fizzles when scandal strikes, and Tessa watches helplessly as her seemingly happy love life and successful career collapse like a house of cards.
Tessa realizes it's time to embark on a new journey, one she should have made a long time ago. It's a trip that takes her to the Emerald Isle and back, leading her heart in unimagined directions. She makes new friends, unexpectedly adopts a new family (or do they adopt her?), and discovers unanticipated love with silver-tongued, green-eyed, aspiring pub owner, Jamie Doyle. And, most importantly, Tessa makes that uphill climb over the rainbow to find the ultimate pot of gold: Herself.”
Having been to Ireland a few years ago this book really appealed to me. Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough of Ireland in it. Tessa goes to Dublin on holiday were she meets Jamie but she is only there for a week. The description of her first encounter with a trio of mates in a local Dublin pub is right on and I only wish there had been more scenes like that one.
I found the politics that were involved in the story very interesting, considering that we are in the midst of a presidential election.
As I read this I was nervous it was going to turn into a typical “romance” novel, which I am not a fan of. Ms. Carroll surprised me though with just the right amount of romance, politics and humor as well as some shocking twists and turns.
Herself, is a great lazy weekend or vacation book.

[Krystal · Rating 2 out of 5]

this book is dragging ass for me. I cannot get into this character, and the journal entries that the main character writes just randomly pop up, and it's like this forced thing that annoys the crap out of me. I don't get the connections these people have together, I'm not involved with the story line. I may give this up to the "probablywon'tfinish" shelf.
I'll give it another go, but I'm not holding out much hope.

In my hour of desperate need I finished this book. It wasn't as bad as my first impression, though it still had all those problems that I found in the beginning, I was able to finish it.

[Clem · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book. Part of the book took place in Ireland which sold me hands down. However, it was also one of those books that I happend to need right at that particular moment. One that gives you little reminders about life, relationships, and yourself.

Tessa lost herself for a while which I am sure most of us can relate to. She happened to have lost herself in a relationship, but the lessons learned can easily be transfered to anything you loose yourself in, in everyday life. The story is her jouney to find herself again, to believe in herself and along the way she just so happens to find a handsome young Irishman. Someone that loves her for HERSELF.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun chick lit. Okay, okay, the Irish folks were semi-stereotypical, Jamie was just far too perfect (being a slight slob is his only character flaw? come on...), and I've never seen someone win a political position that fast in my life, but hey, it's a fairy tale! And a darn good one, at that. And the descriptions of Irish places and family life were actually quite accurate (from my experiences there). Very enjoyable.

[Sharlita Olaleye · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was okay. Presented with the storyline issue of conquering "self", I was curious to see what the protagonist's solution would be. It was also cool to read a book set in Ireland. That was a first, so it was interesting to see how the author presents the Irish dialect. Mmmm...while reading, one gets the feeling the book is meant to be highly insightful, about an awakening and awareness, but it failed to get that deep. Okay read though.

[Heather love · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh a smart story. Had three of my FAVORITE elements.....sex, politics and Irish Men. Yummy. It's not your typical Chick-Lit love story. A bit smarter. Fun and quick read. Cynical types need not pick it up.....it will only disappoint you with its sweet story of girl gets the guy. Go back to reading something boring.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really cute book. The story was light and fun, and the characters were interesting. It wasn't a total bit of fluff, either - there was actually some depth to the storyline - but there was enough fluff to make it enjoyable. Besides, it's always fun to read a book which features good-looking foreign men with an accent ;)

[Tracy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I generally like fluffy books, especially in the summer, but this one was a little too fluffy. I read the entire book in a few hours. I knew half way through the book how it would end, and I was right.

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

You wouldn't think an Anti-Defamation League was necessary to defend against deeply offensive stereotyping of the Irish. Well, 'tis. This book is catastrophically terrible and gives both the good people of Ireland and chick lit a bad name, something like O'Forchristsake MacThatneverhappened.

[Whitney · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another one that started out promising and engrossing, but lost its way. The narrator is on a quest to find herself, but along the way, I found I didn't want to "find" her and put the book down.

[Britta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun read, in a no-brainer sort of way. If you are tired of ridiculous unbelievable happily ever after stories, you should skip this one. But it did make me want to go to Ireland.

[Chrissy Palko · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy & fun chic lit. I read this while on a long car ride.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very quick read. Nothing earth shattering, but nice summer read and cute.

[Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

unfinished

[Shannon]

It was a cute story of self discovery. It's not memorable but it's a good book to read to clear your head between better stories.

[Shelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

pretty decent, entertaining enough.

[Tara · Rating 2 out of 5]

fluffy

[Fort Lupton Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sharon recommends this book.

[Lisa (mrs.messi) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was your basic chick-lit read. Not that well-written or believable, but still a cute story.

[Delisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

ehhh. Could have been better

[Megan · Rating 1 out of 5]

terrible chic-lit; please skip

[Kaitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It would be a more appropriate read for a middle-aged woman (seems like they were the target audience), but I liked it nonetheless. Fun, funny, and easy to get through.

[Barbara Brockhaus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great beach read especially since it was over St. Patrick's Day.

[Marti · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a woman who keeps a journal, I appreciate the entries in this book. I am inspired to write more in my journal & document more details of my family & my feelings.