Nothing to See Here

Genre: Fiction

Lillian comes from poverty, but through grit and hard work she manages to get a scholarship to a top ranked boarding school where some of the wealthiest of families send their children. This is where she first crosses paths with Madison. The two will become very close and then will separate. They will return to each other years later when Lillian is 28 years old. Unfortunately, again, Lillian's prospects for success aren't great. She's living in her mother's attic. Madison is still on top of the world, with a Senator for a husband and a sweet, yet awkward, young son and a lavish life in a mansion with a cook and a butler, Carl. Madison's husband has some past history he would like to keep a secret, including a former marriage, which was the result of twins, Bessie and Roland. The twins' mother has recently died and they will need to be cared for, and this is where Lillian comes in. Madison has asked her to take care of the twins, while Madison helps her husband smooth the scandal over with the media. But, there's more. These children are what are called, fire children. When they are stressed, angry, sad or upset in any way, they combust into flames. Lillian's job is to make sure they remain happy so that they don't combust into flames, and to keep them hidden so the media doesn't get wind of who they really are. This is a story of friendship, love and motherhood, and that the desire for motherhood comes to us in different ways, sometimes, in entirely unexpectedly ways.

I love my audio books and this one is narrated by one of my favorite narrators, Marin Ireland. I listen to books often; while I walk the dogs, wash dishes, fold laundry. On my walk with my dogs one early morning while listening to this audio book, I found my thoughts drifting about half way through the book. I was wondering to myself if I know anyone who knows anyone who has fire children. I was giggling to myself when I caught that thought, as clearly such a thing doesn't exist. But that's how great this book was. You suspend reality for a short while, while you're reading or listening to it, and are transported into a world where there's a Lillian and a Madison and fire children. It's a lovely little adventure. Will the story stay with me? Probably not, but it sure was enjoyable while it lasted.