WELCOME HOME, MRS. JORDAN by Janet Lambert

 

I found it interesting that this book doesn't appear to have one of the 60s style covers that most of the other Tippy books have. Maybe because it is about young marrieds, they didn't rerelease it. This cover is bonkers. Peter looks like a giant, Tippy looks like she is made out of pipe cleaners and the dogs look completely demented - particularly Rollo.

So it turns out Tippy and Peter are to be married and the preparation is very fun to read. Tippy assumes they are going to Germany right after the wedding (which will be as soon as Peter gets his orders) but it turns out they are going to Panama! That wacky army!

The wedding is lovely and there is a nice bit about Susan Jordan - Peter's half-sister, about whom the next book is going to be written. 

The wedding takes up the first six chapters and there is a lot of exposition about who is who and how they are all related. You get this a LOT when the Jordans are involved because there are so danged many of them. 

The next section is the transport to Panama. Tippy and Peter get to have a stateroom to themselves, despite him being a lowly lieutenant, because of nepotism. They meet some other young military types and it seems fine. Tippy is straight-up army, Peter is so lucky to have her because she can take care of herself while he is doing his job.

But once they get to their cute little house, things go off the rails a bit. Tippy is bored by the other wives, she throws a party for the brass and it goes kerflooey (although her guests find it delightful) and worst of all she is desperately homesick. She writes to Penny, but Penny tells her to suck it up. Harsh!

Peter is a little nervous that Tippy is still missing Ken and it takes a while for him to realize that is not the case. 

But then a hero shows up. And, shockingly, it is the worst character in all of Lambert - it's Gwenn! Her stupid husband Bill is a movie star and he tells her that he doesn't want her to work, because she is his wife. But actually, she just sucks. Anyway she has had a tantrum so she runs off to Panama, as one does. 

Well, this is just what Tippy needs! She loves solving other people's problems and she is off to the races with Gwenn. She ends up spending something like $18 on long distance to call Bill to tell him to call Gwenn and beg her to come back. Which is just what Gwenn was planning on happening. 

It works - Gwenn leaves without saying goodbye (and takes one of Tippy's outfits with her) and Tippy realizes how much more wonderful her life is that nasty old Gwenn. Her attitude changes about the other young military wives and finally makes some good friends. She comes clean with Peter about the homesickness, which she had been trying to hide. Classic Tippy... He understands and they share a chair and talk it out. 

You know, I think these crazy kids just might make it work!

As always, Carly of Carly's Malt Shop has a great take on WELCOME HOME MRS. JORDAN here.