Thursdays at Eight (A Blossom Street Story) [Kindle Edition]

It has long been my belief that when an author moves from mass market paperback originals to hardcover, the book needs to be something special - partly to justify the increased price and partly to attract a larger audience. THURSDAYS AT EIGHT is Debbie Macomber's hardcover release and there's no doubt about it being justified.

The very method she uses to tell the story is unique. Each chapter begins with a journal entry by each of the four main characters who have met in a journal-writing class but after the class is completed, they find they wish to continue meeting and their breakfast club, Thursday morning at 8 AM at Mocha Moments Café is born. In the first four chapters we meet each of the women: Clare Craig, Liz Kenyon, Karen Curtis, and Julia Murchison as they chose their word for the year and write it into their journals on January first.

Claire, who has just been through a devastating divorce after 23 years of marriage, choses the word "faithful." She wants the year to be one of new beginnings. She never expects how her faithfulness will be truly tested.

Liz, a 57-year-old widow and hospital administrator has begun the year alone for the first time in her life, both her adult children having moved out of towtn in the last three months. She choses the word "time" - accepting being alone and believing she should take time to learn how to live contentedly by herself. But can she achieve that contentment alone??

Karen Curtis is 28 years old and single. She has long dreamed of becoming an actress despite her parents' disapproval. Her word is "acceptance" that her mother will accept her for who she is and quit comparing her to her sister Victoria who is married to a successful attorney and has a young son. The word takes on a new meaning when Karen learns she needs to accept herself.

Julia is totally content. She has a happy marriage, two well-adjusted teenagers, and has recently opened her own business, a yarn shop which is doing well. She's chosen the word "gratitude" being happy with what she has. Will she be so grateful when, at age 40, she's faced with an unexpected pregnancy?

During the next year each of these four women face truths about themselves but with the love and support of the others, survive.

Heartwarming and emotional are words often used to describe the stories told by the talented Ms. Macomber and THURSDAYS AT EIGHT is no exception. Her stories are always enjoyable but this one is even more than that, it enables readers to take stock of their own lives and the people around them. What word would you chose?

Maudeen Wachsmith Charter Member, Reviewers International Organization (RIO)

Four very different women meet at a journaling class and form a strong bond. Though I was a little perplexed as to why such different women did decide to form a breakfast club, there is no doubt that they cared for one another and were there for each other in good times and in bad.

Claire is a woman whose husband Michael has left her for a much younger manicurist. Bitterness and anger have taken over her life, but a life-altering event leads her and her two teenage sons to re-evaluate their situation.

Liz is a smart and savvy hospital administrator. Can a mature and educated widow find lasting happiness with a womanizing doctor whose top priority is bedding her?

Karen is the youngest member of the group and is constantly at odds with her family. She yearns to be an actress, preferably star in her own sitcom. Her family thinks she needs to be realistic and become a teacher.

Julia is the happily married mother of two children who has just begun her own business. She seems to have it all when a surprise pregnancy disrupts the life she has planned for herself.

This book looks at one year in the life of these friends as they cope with joys and sorrows, romantic possibilites and career challenges. Through it all, they faithfully meet each Thursday morning for breakfast and give unwavering support and encouragement to each other.

Readers will no doubt long to join Claire, Liz, Karen, and Julia each week at Mocha Moments and take part in this warm and sincere support group.

In recent years a new genre has emerged which I refer to as friendship or bonding books.  These are those books which chronicle the lives of four or five characters who may meet through various venues.  They may meet as college roommates or in book groups or cooking classes, writing classes, or even as tourists on a holiday or the newest place, Internet discussion groups.  Titles like Talk Before Sleep by Elizabeth Berg, Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons by Lorna Landvik, Outer Banks by Anne Rivers Siddons and Evening Class by Maeve Binchy are fine examples of these kinds of books.  And to this list I now add what I think is one of the best among them, Thursdays at Eight by Debbie Macomber.

Four different women at four different points in their lives and four different ages meet during a journal writing class. While the class proves to be less than worthwhile, these four women bond together and decide to meet weekly. Thus begins these weekly meetings Thursday mornings at 8 am at Mocha Moment a popular coffee shop to continue their friendships. And it is through these weekly meetings the four women learn more about each other, support each other through good times and bad times and ultimately learn more about themselves as well.

Karen is a 28 year old women struggling with her desire to become an actresses and a disapproving mother. Working as a substitute teacher seems to suit her for now as she continues to audition, but is this going to be the sum of her future? Julia at 39 has just opened a knitting shop and with two teenagers in the house can look forward to spending more time with her husband and on herself. But then a big surpass may change all of these plans. Clare is in her 40's and has just been divorced from her husband who fell in love with a 20 year old. Clare is angry and filled with hate for her former husband and can't wait till she can get some revenge. But then she learns that life can turn on a dime and feelings can and do change. And finally there is Liz, both the voice of reason and maturity among the four. At 57 and a widow for 6 years, Liz wonders if time is rushing by her and if she can ever find more meaning to her life now that her husband is gone.

Through the year this book takes place, these four women

lean on one another as they experience joy, pain, grief and profound changes in their lives. The book is told from each woman's point of view at the beginning of each chapter as each character write their journal entry. And then the focus shifts to the group at large as they connect with the event in each other's lives. And perhaps one of my favorite parts of this book is the way the author chose significant quotes as chapter headings. Some of these quotes were funny, some were poignant but all reflected events that were going to happen in this chapter.

Thursdays at 8 is a well written book from the heart that one hates to see end. Now, I would love to know how these four women, I think of as friends, are doing. I think this book will appeal to any reader who treasures her friends and finds they are a wonderful antidote to what life throws our way. Most of all the women Ms. Macomber describes could be any one of us. And in the end I couldn't help but think of the value of friendships in our lives. I highly recommend this book and I think you will find as I did that Debbie Macomber is a writer to cherish.