In the Bag by Kate Kilse

"He was adorable in every shot with his wide-open smile and rumpled hair. I, meanwhile, looked like a girl who wears granny panties and padded bras----which I don't. Not anymore, anyway."

~~~Page 192, In the Bag

Title: In the Bag
Author: Kate Klise
ISBN: 9780062108050
Publisher: William Morrow/2012
Pages: 306

After a long time, I finished a book in one go! I just couldn't put down In The Bag. Two similar bags get wrongly picked by two teenagers and rest, as they say, is history!! Webb and Coco, the two teenagers are frantic about their lost luggage and one of them finds an email id of the other and writes. There is a massive exchange of emails between the two. They feel some sort of pull towards each other. Webb comes to see Coco in Paris, without telling his father Andrew, who is in Madrid for work.

Coco's mother, Daisy leaves for Madrid to help out an old friend, Solange. She is a famous chef. There she meets Andrew and they hit it off! Now Andrew had slipped a note into her bag but she does not know that, thinking it is from some creep and he cannot tell her that it was him. 

Meanwhile, both the kids meet, without telling their parents and although they have a great day, both part somewhat sad, thinking they offended the other. Now Andrew and Daisy decide to meet again in Barcelona, along with their kids. Coco and Webb meet again. They are too shocked to talk to each at first. But soon they are chatting like old friends. And it is time for the parents to have misunderstandings!!

Both have the same flight schedule to Paris and both change that to avoid the other. No guessing. All end up in the same flight. What happens next? Well you gotta read the novel to find out!

The email exchanges are great, the interactions between the kids as well as their parents are witty, quirky and funny. Told in the voices of Coco, Webb, Daisy and Andrew, I liked the pace, the thought process of all four involved. Go for it! Who knows it might answer that big question, are there chance meetings or designed by Universe? Food for thought....

BTW, I learnt a lot about Jimmy Webb.......

The Good Father by Diane Chamberlain

"But what about....." I saw Savannah give a little nod in my direction.
"collateral damage, " Roy said a hushed voice, but I didn't miss it.
~~~Page 304

Title: The Good Father
Author: Diane Chamberlain
ISBN:9780778313465
Publisher: Mira/2012
Pages: 368

Travis Brown, at 23 has a 4 year old daughter Bella. He took a decision to raise her all by himself and does it very well. There may be shortage of cash flow but there is no compromise on love. He adores his little girl. Then tragedy strikes. His house gets burnt, his mother dies in the fire while saving Bella and They are left homeless as He loses his construction job too.

Then there is Erin, who has lost her 3 year old daughter and is grieving for her. We also see Robin, Bella's mother, who had a heart problem when Bella was born.

When Travis's job is lost, he comes to Raleigh as he has a good offer. But that is some short of criminal activity and he is not keen to take it. When he finds himself in dire straits, he has no option. He takes it knowing, he might lose Bella forever. He meets Erin a coffee shop and leaves Bella with her without informing Erin.

The Good Father touches us. We see that Travis might lack money but Bella does not lack anything. She is well brought up child. Travis's love for her shines through the entire novel, even when he takes a bad decision.....

Erin heals in the presence of Bella. She falls in love with this little girl and comes n term with her own grief. And Robin. She has had a heart transplant, is hale and hearty now, is engaged to rich and well known person. Yet she thinks of Travis and the girl she gave birth to. She knows what she has been missing.

Told in voices of Travis, Robin and Erin, the story impacts us, hits our guts and we all fall in love with the little girl Bella, not to forget the main three characters. Travis is indeed the good father.  Although the ending was predictable, I loved the book.