Reviewed by A. Jarrell Hayes
We’ve all heard the saying, “There are two sides to every story.” In Trice Hickman’s new novel Playing the Hand You’re Dealt, readers discover four sides to the same story. The story revolves around Emily Snow, an all-around good girl, as she deals with being in love with the father of her best friend of twelve years, Samantha Baldwin.
Emily and Samantha meet in college, where they were roommates freshman year and nearly inseparable since. The same day Emily meets her best friend for life, she also meets the love of her life: Samantha’s father, and successful attorney, Ed Baldwin. Not only is Ed the father of Emily’s best friend – and old enough to be her father – he is also married to Brenda Baldwin, a high-maintenance socialite. Emily was raised to play it safe, taking the paths acceptable by society, and never rocking the boat. She lost her father at a young age to unnecessary violence, and she definitely has daddy issues to deal with.
The death of Emily’s mother prompts her to move from Atlanta to Washington, D.C. – and right into the Baldwin household. Although time has passed since Emily had last seen Ed, her attraction to him hasn’t diminished; she doesn’t know if she can remain the “good girl” living under the same roof as him.
Everyone else is wrapped up in their own affairs – Ed with an important case, Samantha dealing with baby-daddy drama, and Brenda with her various schemes to climb the social ladder – that Emily is sure no one has noticed her attraction to Ed. But she still wonders if Ed feels the same about her, and what would happen if he and Emily were to get together. The only person that seems to have picked up on the chemistry between the two is the Baldwin’s maid and cook, Gerti – but she’s just the hired help and won’t say too much, right?
Hickman spins side tales into the novel – involving lust and love, secrets and affairs – and weaves them into the main storyline like Rumpelstiltskin turning wool into gold. The characters are alive and dynamic – especially the loud-mouth, firecracker Samantha; who, despite being raised in a wealthy and prestigious family, is as no-nonsense and street-savvy as they come. Where Emily is quiet and unassuming, Samantha is loud and obnoxious.
Although they are as different as night and day, Emily and Samantha are like sisters. The key word is “like”; Emily has to decide whether to take a chance of losing her best friend, the only family she really has left, and go after Ed – who’s married, old enough to be her father, and she doesn’t even know if he likes her! Playing the Hand You’re Dealt is thought-provoking and riveting.
Emily and Samantha meet in college, where they were roommates freshman year and nearly inseparable since. The same day Emily meets her best friend for life, she also meets the love of her life: Samantha’s father, and successful attorney, Ed Baldwin. Not only is Ed the father of Emily’s best friend – and old enough to be her father – he is also married to Brenda Baldwin, a high-maintenance socialite. Emily was raised to play it safe, taking the paths acceptable by society, and never rocking the boat. She lost her father at a young age to unnecessary violence, and she definitely has daddy issues to deal with.
The death of Emily’s mother prompts her to move from Atlanta to Washington, D.C. – and right into the Baldwin household. Although time has passed since Emily had last seen Ed, her attraction to him hasn’t diminished; she doesn’t know if she can remain the “good girl” living under the same roof as him.
Everyone else is wrapped up in their own affairs – Ed with an important case, Samantha dealing with baby-daddy drama, and Brenda with her various schemes to climb the social ladder – that Emily is sure no one has noticed her attraction to Ed. But she still wonders if Ed feels the same about her, and what would happen if he and Emily were to get together. The only person that seems to have picked up on the chemistry between the two is the Baldwin’s maid and cook, Gerti – but she’s just the hired help and won’t say too much, right?
Hickman spins side tales into the novel – involving lust and love, secrets and affairs – and weaves them into the main storyline like Rumpelstiltskin turning wool into gold. The characters are alive and dynamic – especially the loud-mouth, firecracker Samantha; who, despite being raised in a wealthy and prestigious family, is as no-nonsense and street-savvy as they come. Where Emily is quiet and unassuming, Samantha is loud and obnoxious.
Although they are as different as night and day, Emily and Samantha are like sisters. The key word is “like”; Emily has to decide whether to take a chance of losing her best friend, the only family she really has left, and go after Ed – who’s married, old enough to be her father, and she doesn’t even know if he likes her! Playing the Hand You’re Dealt is thought-provoking and riveting.
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