May 31, 2024 – My Sanctuary

Big Wild Love Adventure By Julianna Keyes

After being ditched at the altar, Emmy Shaw’s heart, like her dented food truck, is definitely not open for business. Deeply in debt to her parents and evicted from her apartment, she takes a friend’s drunken dare and fills out an application for a new dating-adventure reality show. She never expects to be chosen—or to get a chance at the show’s huge cash prize, which could put her life back on track.

But when she’s abandoned in the middle of the jungle two months later wearing only a bathing suit and a backpack, she questions if being on the show might be even worse than the #emmytrashtruck hate brigade she left back home. Then she meets her fellow cast members—including sexy, inscrutable Wes—and starts to reconsider, wondering if maybe money’s not all she stands to gain from this experience.

After a year of abysmal failures, this summer of cave treks, jungle hikes, impromptu talent shows, and a sexy flirtmance turns out to be just the thing to help Emmy rebuild her shattered confidence. She signed up for the show to hide from the mess her life had become, but this escape from reality might be just what she needs to find herself.

When did having it all become doing it all?

Penny Baker is coping. Just about.

Three kids, one dog, one lovely but sometimes oblivious husband. Tick, tick tick.

She is even managing to hold her own among the competitive school mums – if you don’t look too closely. But when she finds herself also caring for her elderly mother, diagnosed with dementia, the household is thrown into disarray and Penny finds herself stretched to breaking point trying to meet everyone’s needs.

Can she make the new family situation work? And is there any chance of finding some space in it all for herself?

About The Author

My Review

Penny, the protagonist, is a relatable figure for many middle-aged women who juggle multiple responsibilities, including caring for aging parents. The book deftly blends comedy and pathos, capturing the struggles and joys of being part of the “sandwich generation.” As Penny cares for her mother, who has dementia, and juggles her other responsibilities, readers experience moments of laughter and tears. The story offers a realistic portrayal of the challenges faced by caregivers while also delivering messages of hope, humor, and the importance of self-care. It sheds light on the realities of dementia caregiving while emphasizing the need for support and acknowledgment of one’s own limitations. Despite the heavy subject matter, the book is uplifting and leaves readers feeling seen and understood.

My Rating