Tiger Lillie
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5.0 • 2 Ratings
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
Always the wedding coordinator, Lillie Bauer makes brides' dreams come true, but when it comes to her own love life, she's never the bride.
Fifteen years after the mysterious disappearance of her childhood sweetheart, Ted, Lillie --bungee-jumper, book addict, and delightfully offbeat coordinator of “extreme” high-concept weddings--is ready to find love again. As she boldly but reluctantly braves a disastrous dating scene, Lillie is caught between two images of married life-- the rich, lifelong partnership shared by her parents and the troubled marriage of her younger sister, Tacy.
Faced with long-buried feelings, fears for Tacy, and concerns about her father’s failing health, Lillie finds strength in an unlikely community of loved ones, including Cristoff, her epileptic, florist business partner; Pleasance, a sassy clothing designer; and her Hungarian Grandma Erzsébet. When Lillie stumbles across a danger that threatens those she loves most, she'll need more than friends and family to get through it– she's going to need a miracle.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
This is a breakthrough novel for the award-winning Samson, whose exuberant prose, zany characters and willingness to tinker with some cherished boundaries of Christian fiction make this story memorable. One of the most enjoyable characters is Cristoff, an epileptic, celibate gay man who loves Kay Arthur Bible studies and old movies with equal passion. He's best buddies with Lillie Bauer (think My Best Friend's Wedding), or "Tiger Lillie" as she's nicknamed, a big-bosomed, size-16 Hungarian Episcopalian asthmatic who celebrates her birthday each year by bungee jumping in an evening gown. Together, she and Cristoff run Baltimore's most offbeat business, Extreme Weddings and the Extremely Odd Occasion. The perspective snaps briskly back and forth between Lillie and her little sister, Tacy, married to the rather one-dimensional fundamentalist Rawlins McGovern, which adds intriguing tension to the plot and some spiritually spooky moments. Samson pushes the boundaries of sexual innuendo and spirituality farther than in her earlier work, which gives her writing more authenticity. Those with weak stomachs will find a few short paragraphs about the crucifixion gruesome, and Samson's writing occasionally drifts over the top ("The humidity of the estuary coats my throat, wrapping my tongue in the taste of summer's end and the dark settling of the day"). However, this talented novelist isn't afraid to take risks, and she gets more inventive with each book.
Customer Reviews
Great book!
I really enjoyed reading Tiger Lillie! Samson does a great job maneuvering around some touchy subjects. It has a fun plot and brings up some strong emotions with the main character's sister. Great read.