The Wildwater Walking Club

By Terri Shlichenmeyer


No matter how hard you’ve tried, you know you can’t do it yourself.

You’re determined to shed those winter pounds. You will wear that swimsuit. You’re going to lower your blood pressure if it… well, if it kills you. And you’re determined to de-stress before summer arrives, even if it takes ‘til next summer to do it.

But you can’t do it yourself. What you need is an exercise buddy, someone who will encourage you, inside and out.

In the new novel The Wildwater Walking Club by Claire Cook, three women find friendship and lose inches.

Noreen Kelly wasn’t looking to quit her job, but when the acquisition went through and the buyout was offered, Balancing Act Shoes made a too-irresistible offer.

Besides, Noreen’s boyfriend, Michael, painted such a glorious picture of their life after job. Although he worked for the new company – in the exact same position that Noreen had – he told her that he wouldn’t be there long, either. Once they each accepted a buyout, they could travel cross-country together.

Nice thought. But on the morning after Noreen took the cash, Michael was mysteriously AWOL. He refused her calls. He walked out of her life.

Bereft, jobless, and boyfriend-less, Noreen took stock of her situation.

The mirror wasn’t kind. Late nights at the office and on-the-fly eating took their toll. She was forty-something and fat. Exercise and a new project – maybe yard work – was what she needed. She began exploring her Massachusetts neighborhood. Walking was good exercise, right?

It was, and it led Noreen to her neighbors, who vowed to help keep her on the right path and keep her company on her walks. And as they walked, they talked and hashed out the issues of their lives. Tess had a rocky relationship with her daughter. Rosie had an ailing father and a lavender farm that needed constant tending. And Noreen still had Michael-on-the-brain.

But sometimes, taking extra steps makes you lose pounds and gain perspective. Sometimes, a trip, a skip, and a few steps in the right direction are exactly what every woman needs to see things in a different light.

From your first glimpse of the cover to the end of the story, The Wildwater Walking Club practically screams “Girlfriend Book.” You know when you’ve got it in your hand that you’ll want to pass it on when you’re done with it. You know your friends will love it as much as you will.

Though it’s light, breezy, and quick to read, what I found most appealing about this book is the real-ness of the three main characters. Author Claire Cook didn’t make Noreen, Tess, or Rosie rich, fabulously wealthy, or model-beautiful. They’re just women trying to get through life without too many bruises. Haven’t we all walked in similar shoes?

Perfect for book groups, a late-Mother’s Day gift, or for tucking in your suitcase or overnighter, The Wildwater Walking Club is a girlfriends’ delight. If you’re someone who loves to share her favorite reads, take steps to get this book soon.

The Wildwater Walking Club
By Claire Cook
c.2009, Voice / Hyperion
$24.99
239 pages

Terri Shlichenmeyer has been reading since she was 3 years old and never goes anywhere without a book. She lives on a hill in Wisconsin with two dogs and 11,000 books.