Gambling for Good Mail by Evelyn Cole

Product Description
Take a romp through contemporary Southern California culture self-help groups, weird addictions, drive-in religion, romance novel contest, time-share sales, serial marriages, chiropractic manipulations, and stuffed pets all shadowed by an unusual and tragic love story. A Connecticut transplant in King Disney's Court, Felicia Wood gambles for good mail that comes from catalogue orders. She runs from memories and skims the surface of life, cluttering her home with bonus gifts. "Sometimes I think I should think, "Felicia says, "But now is not the time," and she plunges in. So should you.

My thoughts
This book is not just about Felicia Wood’s obsession with buying everything from catalogues in the hopes of winning the big prize, but also about family. Felicia is a five time divorced woman whose naivety doesn’t help her. But when her niece, Caitland Thorpe reenters her life, then the roller coaster ride begins. Caitland is a young confused woman, whose suicide attempt landed her into a psychiatric hospital. Can these two help one another with their individual idiosyncrasies? When I began reading the first few chapters I hated Felicia and her obsession with catalogue buying. I wasn’t sure if I could continue, but when Caitland was introduced I felt a kinship to this young woman who had problems with her father and life itself. I read more and when the two of them shared Felicia’s condo, I was rooting for them both. I think they were good for one another and help each other. I don’t want to ruin the ending but I was somewhat saddened to the otherwise light hearted feel of the rest of the book.