Stuck in the Middle

by Virginia Smith

Book Overview

While her sisters are making lives for themselves, Joan Sanderson helps Mom care for Gram. When a hunky guy moves in next door, life gets interesting. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0800732324
• ISBN13: 9780800732325
• Release Date: February 2008
• Publisher: Fleming H. Revell Company
• Length: 335 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.7" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

Characters Sparkle in "Stuck in the Middle"

Viginia Smith does it again in "Stuck in the Middle". Her characters are realistic, artfully crafted, and endearingly flawed (aren't we all?) and will pull you right into the story from page 1. Here's a warning, though -- don't give the book as a gift unless you're prepared for trouble. Now I have several friends calling to complain that they're chomping at the bit to read the next installment in the series. Please bring us book 2 soon!!!

Virginia Smith lives up to her newly won title of Writer of the Year (Mount Herman Writer's Conferen

Stuck In The Middle is an aptly named book revolving around Joan Sanderson--whose life has been put on hold while she looks out for her Grandma, who is wedged between sisters that Joan thinks are far more gregarious and personable than she is, and who is stuck in a superficial relationship with God. Stuck, that is, until a handsome, single doctor with an intensely personal relationship with God rents the house next-door and involuntarily drags Joan out of her rut. As Joan struggles to break free, the reader is blessed with the genuine interactions between sisters, and family as a whole that Smith has woven into the story line so well. The dialogue is strong and realistic, the situations true to life and sometimes quite comical, and Joan, though a dejected character in many ways, is likeable and one you cheer for right from the beginning. This alone would have made the book an enjoyable read, but Smith along with entertaining the reader reinforces the need for a personal relationship with God. She takes Joan, a Christian who has had a superficial relationship with God into discovering how to connect on a deeper level. Smith also does an excellent job of portraying the fear that Joan's sisters have of the kind of Christian Joan wants to become simply because they don't understand it. Stuck In The Middle is not different than many other Christian fiction titles in that is has a spiritual message, but often, that message is dealt with in heavy handed and stilted way. Not Stuck In The Middle. This is the sort of book that while you read it you find yourself pleasantly entertained, seriously not wanting to put the book down even when you should be doing other things, and in the end you are surprised when you come away with a strong spiritual message. Stuck In The Middle has something for everyone--romance, shopping, dating advice, sibling rivalry, family and spiritual relationships, and real life issues like caring for elderly family members all wrapped up in an entertaining package. Pick it up, today. You won't be disappointed.

Breaking out of my shell

As part of a three sister family myself, this book really reached out to me. I could totally relate with how the sisters acted and all the drama that goes on between them. The rivalry, the arguments, the late night gab fest- been there, done that. Anyone who has at least one sister will definately relate to this book. Joan started off at first as a sort of martyr-ish character who gave up everything to help out everyone else. Then as the story progresses she allows herself to do things that will make her own self happy. I really liked how Joan allowed herself to come out of her shell regarding church. She was attending her old church simply because of tradition and not really getting much out of it. Even thought it was new and different for her, I'm glad she let herself become open minded to help update her own church. The same went for her relationship with her mother and grandmother. I could understand the arguments from both sides but there were times when I felt that Joan was not looking at the situation too clearly. I loved her relationship with her own McDreamy doctor. The chemistry between the two of them is wonderful and you can really feel the sparks fly. This book has it all with the romance, drama and hilarious moments.The dinner scene competition between Joan and Tori was a hoot. It's just one of the many laughs in the book. I love all the characters in this book. It was really hard to put down and I found myself having a great time while reading it. I am looking forward to the other books in the series especially Allie's because like her I am the oldest sister. This series starts off with a bang with this wonderful gem of a book.

Moving story about one woman's quest to break free

Stuck in the Middle by Virginia Smith is the story of Joan Sanderson and her boring, going-nowhere life. She's been dumped by her long time boyfriend, Roger the Rat, her older sister is pregnant, and her beautiful younger sister has a terrific job. Joan lives with her mother and grandmother, who is becoming increasingly fragile. When a hunky doctor moves in next door, Joan sees what she's been missing, but little sister Tori also wants him. This book is far more than just chick-lit. Joan feels alienated from everyone around her. Her father left her as a young teen, and she resents her mother for his departure. She can't relate to God, because she doesn't feel like He is reaching out to her, but when she hears a missionary speak at her church, she feels the need to know God personally. Joan is a Christian like so many; she believes in God and has faith; she attends church regularly and does all the right things. But she's not connected to Him and hasn't experienced His wonder, until some chocolate ice cream shows up at just the right moment. Joan realizes that she can't get things right with her mother, sisters, or even the cute doctor, until she makes things right with God, and that means examining things in her past. Joan is believable and sympathetic, her heartache shows on every page as she struggles to do what's right without really knowing what that is. Very often our relationship with God has been influenced by our relationship with our earthly father, and this book is an excellent lesson on how to break free from the bonds of the past and security to find God.

Realistic Fiction

This is a well-written, delightful story. It kept my attention throughout the entire book. The sisters in this book were like true sisters and they reminded me of my relationship with my own sisters. Gram was a delightful character that added so much to the book. This very well could have been a true story about loving family. I thoroughly enjoyed it.