Everything in Its Place

by Evelyn Palfrey

Book Overview

Bobble Strickland, an Austin elementary school principal, didn't really believe ex-army officer Ray Caldwell was coming on to her. She wasn't a young girl anymore, and, besides, she had bigger priorities than a relationship -- such as fighting her own daughter in court for custody of her grandchild.
Yet, strong, honest Ray had the "right stuff" to make her feel like a desirable woman again. He had come back to Texas to heal, stunned by a divorce...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0671042246
• ISBN13: 9780671042240
• Release Date: August 2002
• Publisher: Atria Books
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 10.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Taking Out a Little Time For Romance

Ray, fresh out of the military attends church at the insistence of his mother. Meaning to make a quick exit, he hears the voice of Barbara, aka, Bobbie stops in his tracks and is immediately smitten by this woman. He makes it his business to get to know her. Bobbie is a busy grandmother, school principal and is raising her granddaughter. The many distractions in her life makes it difficult for her to even think about establishing a relationship. Romance is the last thing on her mind, but Ray's persistence grows on her. This book has a little of everything: romance, mystery, child custody, grandparents raising grandchildren, the aftermath of sexual exploitation, and substance abuse. It is another signature novel by Evelyn Palfrey featuring a trip taken in a RV, characters whose appearances are left to your imagination, and always the marvelously mature woman. It has all the components that makes one return to reading her work again and again. JeanetteAPOOO BookClub

LIked it

I would say that this book was not as spicy as the other two I read, but that's ok, I still liked it. Neither of the two people (Ray and Bobbie) were looking for "love". It kind of just fell on their laps. Along the way they deal with wayward adult children,raising grandkids,custody battles,drugs, and the whole gamut.Buy and enjoy!

entertaining African-American contemporary relationship

In Austin, Texas, school principal Bobbie Strickland is a single mother who raised her twin children and for almost a decade her granddaughter, Monika "Monee" Strickland. Her daughter Darlene gave birth to the child when she was sixteen but never revealed the father's identity. Over the next few years, Darlene went deeper into the abyss, becoming a junkie. Now Darlene wants her daughter back, but Bobbie does not trust her to properly care and nurture Monee.Retired military officer Ray Caldwell returns to his hometown of Austin. At church, he meets Bobbie and is immediately attracted to her. As Ray tries to court Bobbie, she feels that she has too much on her plate though she genuinely loves the ex soldier. Bobby knows she will face her own child in court, but is unaware that Darlene is trying to regain her life and respect.EVERYTHING IN ITS PLACE is an entertaining African-American contemporary relationship drama that will touch the soul of every reader. The story line grips the audience as it focuses on the aftermath of everyone in the sphere of a baby having a baby. Evelyn Palfrey avoids turning the plot into a simplistic tear jerker by making her key cast seem real by filling each one with compassion yet struggling with distrust and a need to overcome flaws. Fans of modern day issue not tissue tale will relish this strong story.Harriet Klausner

And the winner is . . .

Evelyn Palfrey's "Everything in Its Place!" This is another sterling novel from the queen of the "marvelously mature" literary ranks. As an author, Ms. Palfrey takes seconds to no one who writes in this middle-age genre. She beautifully captures the nature, concerns and strengths of the new millennium grandparent; savvy due to experience, aware of future challenges and the wisdom to know and blend the differences.Although life hasn't been a crystal stair for Barbara (Bobbie) Strickland, she is still the epitome of the superwomen in today's society. She's competent professionally and personally, self confident and passionate about her family and friends. While still traveling life's rough roads Bobbie is challenged yet again with her twenty-five-year-old daughter's inability to persevere as an adult and mother; her granddaughter's preteen angst; her dedication to serve her community; and her insecurities about intimacy where men are concerned at her stage in life.Enter Raymond Caldwell (Lt. Col. Retired) and recently...Never expect an Evelyn Palfrey novel to fit into any niche. She's too talented to be tame.

When Does the Rain End and the Sunshine Appear?

After a parent raises her children, she should be able to stroll into the sunset and enjoy her twilight years in peace, and without the headaches of taking care of someone else's child. Unfortunately, this was not to be the case for Bobbi Strickland, the protagonist in Evelyn Palfrey's latest novel, Everything in Its Place. When Bobbi was barely out of her teens, she was a single-parent raising her twin children, Darcy and Darlene. Now in her middle years, she's raising her grandchild and Darlene's daughter, Monee. Monee has been with her grandmother since she was a tot; and now she is a normal, well adjusted but active preteen who keeps Bobbi busy shuffling her from one activity to another. Except for choir rehearsal and Bobbi's career, as the principal of an inner-city elementary school, Bobbi really doesn't have a life outside of taking care of Monee and worrying about Darlene. So when Ray, handsome, retired Armed Force personnel, newly divorced, and very handy around the house, enters Bobbi's life it is unexpected but can it lead to a pleasant surprise...riding into the sunset and living happily ever after?Once again Palfrey has graced the reader with an entertaining and compelling read about "marvelously mature" adult romance. Bobbi & Ray are characters that we can easily relate to as they deal with the drama of raising adult children and trying to get a little adult romance going on the side. As is her norm, Palfrey doesn't just bring us a relationship saga but she also gives us characters that are three-dimensional and have lives beyond the (bedroom) sheets. And finally, it just wouldn't be a Palfrey novel without mystique, intrigue and suspense...shocking and surprising plot twists and turns. Palfrey's Everything in Its Place is a solid page turner that held me captive and able to finish in one sitting. On the APOOO scale, its 4.5 stars, and I recommend it to others who like mature reads with realistic drama.YasminAPOOO BookClub