Independence Day    by Amy Frazier Order:  USA  Can Harlequin, 2005 (2005) Paperback     Reviewed by Marie Hashima Lofton Amy Frazier's Independence Day is a light hearted comedy-romance about a woman so fed up with being taken for granted that she stages a big public scene. As her embarrassed family looks on, Chessie McCabe throws their dirty laundry onto the front lawn, claiming independence from being a neglected wife and mother. Chessie is tired of having catered to her family for the past seventeen years without anything in return. She sees no romantic gestures from her husband, and her needs as a creative artist have been put on the back burner. But she will suffer no more. From now on, her two teenage daughters, Isabelle and Gabrielle, along with their father Nick, are to help out around the house - preparing meals, cleaning, and doing whatever else it takes to keep things running, while Chessie spends time on her art. Nick is totally confused. He doesn't know where this anger is coming from. He wonders if there is something Chessie isn't telling him. Seventeen-year old Isabelle is the silent one in the family. She has a need to fix things, and wants to make sure her parents become happy again. Her younger, rebellious sister Gabrielle finds her mother's behavior a little more than embarrassing. She begins to act out, showing her defiance, and heading along a path that may lead her to trouble. I really enjoyed this series romance. It was very funny, despite serious themes about family and parenting. The two teen daughters were depicted realistically. The focus on a married middle-aged couple in need of a new spark in their romance worked. Though I did have a hard time seeing high school principal Nick as the leading man, I enjoyed Independence Day. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Romance books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews