Bitmo Sunday book review

Sunday Book Review – Answering the Call by Parris Afton Bonds #womensfiction #romance

Published on by dgkaye

My Sunday Book Review today is for an addictive read by Parris Afton Bonds – Answering the Call. As if I don’t have over 1000 books weighing down my Kindle, a few weeks ago, Jan Sikes posted about this book she was reading and hooked on, the storyline grabbed me immediately, and there I was off buying yet another book and bumping it up to the top. The storyline grabbed me because protagonist Lauren seemed to be at the same crossroads in life that I am right now – wanting to pack up and move away and leave everything behind and start new – in Mexico no doubt! Lauren’s got a few years on me, and so I was curious to read how she picked up, left her nasty family behind who wants to wrap her nicely in a retirement home, and moved to Mexico. I had to know what spurred her to do so and how the chips fell once she was a senior, alone in a new country by herself.

What drew me in was the very beginning of this book, the author’s note. She relays that although this book is fiction, lots in the story was spurred by her own same decision she made in the later years of her life, just after Covid, she said she wondered, “if that’s all there is in this later phase of her life”, just like Lauren. She tells us she picked up and moved herself to Mexico instead of aging alone by herself at home – at 78 years old!

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Blurb:

It’s never too late to have the adventure of a lifetime

With her 70th birthday looming, Lauren Hillard is constantly thinking that there has to be an easier way. She has long felt that her family has simply stowed her away like a precious heirloom. She’s had it – she is done.

Lauren makes the snap decision to quit managing her daughter’s psychotherapist office and answer the call to adventure. It is a risk, she knows. But a risk she is more than willing to take.

She would move to Mexico – it’s affordable and exotic. Exotic, like the much younger David Escobar, attorney/former criminal, who informs her that a woman must be brave, smart, and very impulsive to get herself into as much danger as she has.

Lauren has to ask herself if it is wise to continue to answer calls from a treacherous family member who wants to have her committed, a ruthless organ harvester, and her captivating, but high-risk, attorney.

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My 5 Star Review:

This was a most beautiful read about 69 year old Lauren Hillard who has 22 years working for her domineering daughter Renita as office manager, and who has had enough of her daughter’s bossing her around, scrutinizing Lauren constantly for signs of dementia, and nagging her to move into a senior home – so Renita could feel like she’s tied everything up in a big safe bow. But Lauren feels that she is in the third and last stage of her life and is tired of the monotony of going to work and going home reading, rinse and repeat. She feels she has nothing to look forward to in life and not really a part of anyone’s life. I could so identify with Lauren. When Renita’s noose keeps tightening on Lauren, she makes the big decision to get out of Texas and move to Queretaro, Mexico where she knows nobody, the weather is beautiful and the health care is way cheaper. She doesn’t even care if she dies alone there, but will at least start a new life for as long as she can. Only, alpha daughter Renita can’t leave well enough alone and let her mother live her life.

Lauren’s young office mate, Andi back home, tracks her down for two reasons – one is to inform Lauren that her daughter will stop at nothing to get her mother back to Texas, and, Andi is pregnant with a guy’s baby she went out with a few times when he was visiting from, yes, Queretaro, Mexico. Andi asks if she can come and visit and if Lauren will help her find her baby father. Lauren’s got nothing exciting going on – yet, it’s only been a month, and she’s yet to meet anyone except the real estate lawyer, David Escobar, who she was sent to when it came to signing a rental lease. David is 53 and Lauren 69 is in terrific shape. And as if there isn’t enough crazy going on in Lauren’s life, thanks to her family chasing her down, and Andi updating her about Renita’s plans to get the Mexican authorities to hunt her down, she needs David’s legal help to fend off her daughter Renita, and to help Andi find her baby father. And in the midst of each with their own turmoils in life, both Lauren and David are secretly harboring curiosity about each other.

Midway through the book, there’s a big plot twist when David discovers that Lauren’s daughter has issued a subpoena and it expires in ten days for the Mexican authorities to find Lauren and have her committed. By now, Lauren and David have been through a lot dodging unsavory characters in David’s business life. And by this time, there are secret sparks flying between David and Lauren. And Lauren gets some shocking news from her younger daughter Sylvie that all is not right in the head with her sister Renita. Sylvie makes a startling discovery about her sister Renita’s state of mind. Renita is mad, and not the anger kind of mad. And she’s on her way to Mexico herself now to find her mother. Meanwhile, David has been moving Lauren around different safe houses, and at this point, things are heating up between Andi and David’s son,Tony. David comes up with a plan he thinks will spare Lauren from her daughter’s clutches. (No spoilers.) And before that tenth day arrives, the trouble arrives – the goons Renita has hired to follow and find her mother. Let’s just say, there’s plenty of action as we find ourselves rooting for Lauren, before the dust settles, and the author ties up this story beautifully.

Lots of goodies, emotions, self-reflection, hope, and love in this intriguing journey of self-discovery, later through life. And, definitely more than Lauren could ever imagine that would become of her supposed ‘quiet little life’.

56 thoughts on “Sunday Book Review – Answering the Call by Parris Afton Bonds #womensfiction #romance”

    1. A good storyline that touches on many of life’s elements and dilemma’s while keeping us cheering for Lauren to find and maintain her happiness – and freedom. 🙂 xx

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  7. This book sounds great, Debby. I’m not much of a romance reader, but like you, I LOVE the premise of a 69-year-old woman deciding there has to be more to life and then going for it. The element of adventure comes through in the blurb and in your review. Thanks for the recommendation!

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    1. Hi Diana. Like you, I’m not much of a romance reader either. I’d have to say the plot of this story is much more than the romance. What hooked me was the strength of a 69 year old woman who threw up her hands to ask, ‘Is that all there is?’ And her decision to start new at that stage of her life. ❤

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  10. Wow, what a web of characters and I can see how easy it is to admire Lauren who seems to have gotten herself tangled in the adventure of her life. I also admire the author for her own decision to pack up and leave. And I admire you too, Debby, for being so consistent in your book reviews, which means not only reading the book but also writing about it. Thanks for this review. 🙂

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  11. Not sure how I missed this one! I hurry out and added it to my Kindle. Great review, I’m intrigued 🙂 xo

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  13. I’m glad you found an author whose life experience “chimes” with your own. What are friends for if not to add richness to reading.

    Yes, “It’s never too late to have the adventure of a lifetime!”

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  14. A great review, Debby!
    The book sounds quite unique. I think that there could be more stories of empowerment written for this age group. Younger people would also benefit, a lot.
    Congratulations Parris! I hope you do well with this book.

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    1. Hi Res. Thanks for leaving your thoughts here. I agree. And maybe when my ‘new life’ finds the next chapter I can contribute to some stories of empowerment myself. ❤ xox

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      1. You probably will.
        I’ve only read 1 of your books, so far. I intend to read more. I’ve got my yes on “Have Bags Will Travel”.
        Anyway, there is something empowering in what & the way you write, as far as I can see.
        Sending hugs & ❤ xox

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  15. This woman has real chutzbah! My husband wants to move to Maine (this, after less than three years since our last move). He hates cold weather so I have no clue how he would manage there. And he wants to bring our kids and grandkids along. He talks about it all the time – but I think moving to a cold climate is not right at our ages (nearly 80!)

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    1. Wow Noelle. I know people move for the warmth, and many others enjoy the four seasons, – but moving to the cold in senior years is quite surprising. Keep distracting him! Lol 🙂 xx

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  17. Wow, Debby, your excellent review nudged me right over to Amazon to order my copy. Thanks for sharing this book that sounds intriguing. I also love the courage it takes to start a new life at the age of 69. Age is just a number. 🙂 🩷

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    1. Hi Lauren. Yay, I’m happy to hear my review enticed you. That’s what happened to me when I read Jan’s review. I look forward to your review. And yes, age is just an number until our bodies remind us how far we can go. Lol 🙂 ❤

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