Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Book Review of Turn Left at Sanity

Turn Left at Sanity
Turn Left at Sanity
Author: Nancy Warren
Genre: Romance
Book Type: Paperback
GeniusJen avatar reviewed on + 5322 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3


There's a reason Nancy Warren is a USA-Today bestselling author, and once you pick up a copy of TURN LEFT AT SANITY, you'll know why. Just in case you're not able to get to your favorite bookstore today, though, I'll go ahead and give you a clue, or maybe even three-a hot, sexy, corporate-minded hero; a twenty-something, bed and breakfast owning heroine; supporting characters who, although in their seventies, still believe they've got what it takes to be mistresses in a brothel; a small town with more eccentricities than an insane asylum; dialogue that will have you laughing so hard you'll need to wipe the tears from your eyes. And those are only a few of the surprises in store for you once you start reading TURN LEFT AT SANITY.

For Emmylou Sargent, being levelheaded, business-minded, and absolutely normal is the way things have to be. After all, she does own a bed and breakfast in Beaverton , Idaho , that just so happened to once be a brothel. And yes, some of the former "ladies of the evening" still reside with her, and many more seem to drop in all too often for tea. Someone has to have a good head on their shoulders, and it seems that Emmylou has been nominated for the position. Regardless of the seventy-somethings who still proclaim their prowess in the bedroom, or the lady who insists they should burn this modern-day Tara to the ground before the Yankees can get their hands on it, Emmylou is determined to lead as normal a life as possible. The only problem with that scenario is that in a town like Beaverton , normal adds up to a whole lot of boring. Boring, that is, until one Joe Montcrief shows up at her B&B, looking for a room.

Tall, dark, and undeniably handsome, Joe's making his way through Beaverton for only one reason-buy some land, make some deals, and get the heck out of dodge. What he never expects is to be almost instantly attracted to the demure innkeeper where he's bedding down-or to be asked what his sexual problems are by women old enough to be his grandmothers. Undeniably intrigued, however, Joe finds himself in no sudden rush to leave this small town; in fact, he's finding more and more reasons to spend time with Emmylou and her "family" of sexual fanatics. The only problem is, the more the former ladies of the night harp on his love life, the more Joe fantasizes about making some new memories with the very prim and proper Emmylou.

TURN LEFT AT SANITY is a hilarious romp through small town life, with characters just crazy enough to keep you entertained throughout the entire story. For Joe and Emmylou, the attraction might be strong and immediate, but these two characters are looking for different things out of life-and a short, one-night stand isn't it. Ms. Warren has done an excellent job, as always, combining a highly charged sexual attraction with real-to-life characters and witty dialogue, resulting in a story that's as heartfelt and genuine as it is amusing.