Taylor and Nathan Young had the perfect life. Living in a five million dollar house designed and furnished by Taylor in the most perfect and enviable taste. Wardrobe to die for. Three adorable daughters and a host of very socially elite friends who shared her interests in volunteering for fundraising events. Who would know that lurking beneath Taylor's perfect appearance is the insecure girl formerly known as Tammy Jones. Her flight toward perfection leaves her stressed and harried but this is how they all live isn't it? At first glance Taylor seems to be very one dimensional with all her energies directed toward her volunteer responsibilities. Household and family chores are provided through the hired help. All she has to do is keep up her youthful appearance and her life with Nathan will continue in perfection. However the Young's perfect world is about to crumble like a house of cards with the simple pronouncement of "your cards been declined" the four words no upper mobile, fashion and social conscience woman ever expects or wants to hear.

Waiting for the next shoe to drop Taylor retreats to the sanctity of her bed in her extravagant lingerie. But when she is left to provide basic needs for her daughters, in the unexpected absence of Nathan, with no cash, no checking account, no credit cards -- she has to draw on strengths and resources hidden deep within. She quickly realizes that she does not have the luxury of escaping into food and shopping obsessions that have plagued her most of her life. As her support group starts to diminish she is also faced with the realization that those she called friends were not willing to overlook the financial straits she faced. Their respect for her diminished on a plane with her financial future. Armed with a new found inner strength Taylor becomes proactive in order to save her family. As her independence and resolve increases her relationship with Nathan gets even more strained. Now she is also faced with helping her husband recover from his own sense of failure.

At first glance Jane Porter has created a very unlikable character in Taylor Young as she flits from one self indulgence to another. You are immediately aware that her value is based on what she creates for others. She judges herself solely on how well she accomplishes each fundraising and volunteering task. She is so one dimensional that you want to dismiss her. But then Porter allows you to grow with Taylor as she must grow when faced with life's curves. And you are also made painfully aware that Taylor's problems are all too real in this world of amazing debt and the harsh choices people face when reality hits home. No easy solutions, just hard work and inner strength will hopefully bring resolve to the Young families problems. Good lessons for us all.

Book Summary

As a young California girl growing up in a blue collar neighborhood, Taylor Young dreamed of being popular, beautiful, and acquiring a wardrobe to die for.

Not to mention marrying a handsome, successful man and living happily ever after in a gorgeous house with three wonderful children.

Now, at 36, Taylor has reached the pinnacle of her dreams, but is it all about to unravel?

As the new school year approaches, Taylor prepares herself for playing the perfect alpha mom: organizing class activities, fund-raising, and chairing the school auction. But the horror! Her archrival, bohemian mom Marta Zinsser, is named Head Room Mom of Taylor's daughter's fifth grade class.

As tensions rise at committee meetings and school activities, the two rivals seem to be destined for a final confrontation. But as Taylor plans her next move, she is floored by a more serious blow at home-her husband has been secretly unemployed for the past six months. With her posh lifestyle crumbling, Taylor struggles to maintain her alpha image-but could Marta, who cares little about appearances, be her only true friend?