I adore this newer trend of creating older heroines.  Kate is nearing her thirtieth birthday.  Her parents were killed by a drunk driver during her college years.  She's lived with her boyfriend, Graham, for quite some time.  Unfortunately, Kate feels she's missed out on something.  She needs a change of pace and a change of scenery.  Kate decides to head to Tulane Law School.  The first plan is that Graham will join her, but he soon is offered a job in Arizona and wants her to go with him.  His pushing leads to their breakup.  Kate is single and heading back to school.

On the way to Louisiana, Kate's rental truck breaks down.  She misses orientation and arrives for her first day with a maxi-pad (unused thankfully) stuck to the back of her skirt.  And she is unprepared to answer the question her criminal law professor from hell asks.  She's not off to a good start.

Things do improve when a number of older students ask her to join their study group.  Suddenly, Kate has friends, a life, and the possibility of a romance with the hunky Nick Crosby.  That is until Graham decides he wants back into her life.

Fresh, vibrant stories seem to come easily to Whitney Gaskell.  I've yet to pick up one of her books and find myself disappointed.  TESTING KATE is a delightful story.  Kate is a flawed, realistic woman who finds life a little hard to take some days.  Who among us hasn't?  Yet, she trudges on.  Despite the ups and downs, the story retains its sense of humor and never becomes depressing.

Kate and her friends are delightful and the type of people I with whom I would enjoy sharing a meal or round of drinks.  TESTING KATE is an excellent book for those blah type of days that require something to change your mood.  I heartily recommend any of Whitney Gaskell's novels!