Tag Archives: Family

Otherwise Engaged by Susan Mallery – a Review

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Otherwise Engaged by Susan Mallery – a Review

 

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Description:
When Shannon gets engaged, her beloved mom, Cindy, is the first person she wants to tell—and the last. Cindy’s engaged, too, and has already hinted at a double wedding. The image of a synchronized bouquet toss with her mom fills Shannon with horror. She’ll keep her engagement a secret until Cindy’s I-dos are done.

Victoria has never been proper enough for her mother, Ava, so she stopped trying. She lives on her own terms and amuses herself by pushing Ava’s buttons. Ava loves but doesn’t understand her stuntwoman daughter. When a movie-set mishap brings Victoria home, Ava longs to finally connect.

Chance brings the four women together at a wedding venue, where a shocking secret comes tumbling out. Twenty-four years ago, desperate teenager Cindy chose wealthy Ava to adopt her baby—then changed her mind at the very last second. The loss rocked Ava’s world, leaving her unable to open her heart to the daughter she did adopt, Victoria. As Shannon and Victoria deal with the fallout from the decisions their mothers made, they wrestle with whether who they are is different than who they might have become.

 

 

 

Review:

Otherwise Engaged by Susan Mallery is a standalone novel. The story flashes back 24 years, when a girl (Cindy) was pregnant; and she became close to a couple, Ava & Milton, who wanted the unborn child. When the baby was born, Cindy changed her mind and decided to keep her baby girl. A few months later, Ava and Milton adopted a baby girl.

Now all those years later, when Cindy is planning her own wedding, and Ava’s wants to plan her husband’s birthday; they accidentally run into each other, at the venue.  Both Ava and Cindy, with each of their daughters, realize that they know each other; with Victoria and Shannon learning the secrets about their parents.

Cindy is engaged and happy, and her daughter Shannon has a boyfriend, who she plans to marry; keeping a secret till after her mother gets married. Ava and Milton are also happy, with Victoria being a stunt women/ scriptwriter. Victoria was injured on the set and is forced to recover at her parents’ house; not thrilled about having to stay with them.

It was depressing, due to when the former friends ran into them, and the revelations of the past, that separated Ava and Cindy. As the four of them face problems with both mother and daughters struggling with the knowledge of current situations. Shannon and Victoria must deal with the fallout from decisions with their mothers made in the past.

Otherwise Engaged was a rocky emotional story, with all four women needing to heal and forgive. All four ladies carried secrets that were intense.  Otherwise Engaged by Susan Mallery was so very well written. Great book that I suggest you read.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

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Christmas at the Nantucket Restaurant by Pamela Kelley a Review

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Christmas at the Nantucket Restaurant by Pamela Kelley a Review

 

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Description:
Three sisters, each at her own crossroads in life, inherit a Nantucket restaurant and must work together for one year before they can move on.

Mandy, Emma and Jill O’Toole are as close as three sisters who live hundreds of miles apart can be. They grew up together on Nantucket, but have scattered around the country. When their beloved grandmother passes peacefully in her sleep a week before her ninety-ninth birthday she leaves them quite a surprise. In addition to her Nantucket home, they learn that they’ve inherited Mimi’s Place, one of Nantucket’s most popular year-round restaurants. They had no idea that she was the silent owner of a restaurant, and no idea how they’re going to handle this kind of inheritance.

There is of course, a catch―she left the restaurant equally to Mandy, Emma, and Jill―and also to Paul, the executive chef for the past fifteen years.

And before they can sell, all three women need to work at the restaurant for a period of one year. Now they have to examine their priorities and figure out a way to make it work, all while discovering that Mimi’s Place is in serious need of a facelift. The restaurant hasn’t changed in years, and its finances are challenging. Meanwhile, Nantucket is a special place, a tight-knit and insular upscale beach community, both supportive and challenging.

Three sisters, each at a crossroads in her own life, facing the challenges of a surprise inheritance in the close-knit community of Nantucket.

 

 

Review:

Christmas at The Nantucket Restaurant by Pamela Kelly is a wonderful sweet story focused on three sisters. Mandy, Emma and Jill are very close sisters, with two (Jill and Emma) living many miles apart, with Mandy the only one who still lives in Nantucket. The ladies learn that their grandmother passed away, and to their shock, they have inherited the restaurant Mimi’s Place, which they did not know their grandmother owned the place; with the chef Paul who also inherited. The will provides that they must work in the restaurant for one year, at which time they can sell or share.

Jill lives in New York city, and owns an executive search firm with her partner, Billy; who are best friends. Jill’s job is hectic, and now she needs to stay at Nantucket to help with the restaurant, and she travels to New York every Friday/Saturday. Emma is a school teacher, who was married to her husband for 15 years, and he now wants a divorce, since he plans to marry his boyfriend. Mandy is married to Cory, who is a wealthy hedge fund investor; and they have 2 children. Mandy discovers an invoice of Cory, and realizes that he has been seeing other women; she files for a divorce, and makes him move out of the house.

The girls split up, taking turns to learn everything about the restaurant. Mandy works the day shift, until when the children come home. Whenever Cory takes a turn with the kids, she may help later hours. Jill mostly works at nights, helping at the bar or serving dinners; which allows her to work in the afternoon remotely. Emma will work different shifts, and becomes close to Paul, who was her first love years ago; and both begin to long for each other. Billy, Jill’s partner, also begins to realize that he has strong infections for her.

I really enjoyed this story, especially the three sisters who were so close and great together. It was nice to see the different kinds of food, that was terrific. Christmas at The Nantucket Restaurant was a sweet, wonderful, family oriented and great sisters, who I did enjoy following them. Christmas at The Nantucket Restaurant was very well written by Pamela Kelly. This was a fun story that I suggest you find time to read this book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

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A Merry Little Lie by Sarah Morgan – a Review

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A Merry Little Lie by Sarah Morgan – a Review

 

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Description:
This Christmas, the Balfour family will have more secrets to unwrap than presents…

Becky is stranded at the airport, so when she bumps into her brother’s best friend, Will, and he suggests they drive home together, Becky reluctantly agrees. For the first time, Becky is dreading Christmas, and only Will knows why. Can she trust him to keep her secret?

Her twin sister, Rosie, married Declan after a whirlwind romance, and now the cracks are starting to appear. Rosie and Declan have agreed to hide their problems from her family, but Rosie’s insecurities are growing. Will this Christmas bring them closer or drive them apart?

Hayley can’t wait for her first Balfour family Christmas with Jamie. The Balfour Christmas traditions sound wonderful, but she’s worried about her place in this close-knit family. Will there be room for her too? And how will they react to the secret she and Jamie have been keeping?

Despite everyone’s best intentions, all the chaos and confusion could derail their normally happy holidays. Can they tell each other the truth in time to enjoy a perfect family Christmas?

 

 

Review:

A Merry Little Lie by Sarah Morgan is an enjoyable story during the Christmas holidays; which follows the Balfour family.  This is a delightful story surrounded by those who return home for the holiday, family relationships, love and life. Becky is stranded at the airport, when she sees her brother’s best friend, Will. At first, she is determined to find a different way, but ends up that Will has a car, and she agrees to drive home together.

Becky is single, and does privately have a crush on Will.  She is also a twin to Rosie, who was recently married to Declan. James is the older brother, who brings his girlfriend Hayley (they are already married, and soon will tell their secret).  Will is James’s best friend, and he too has a crush on Becky. Jenny and Martin (the parents) have been married for many years, and they look forward for all the family to arrive at their place.

We follow the four main ladies, with Jenny who always worries about her kids, and her husband, Martin. Rosie is struggling with her marriage, constantly concerned to Declan is having possible issues.  Becky, who is trying to keep a secret from her twin, Rosie; which is not the real truths. Hayley, the woman none of them have met who is coming with Rosie and Becky’s older brother, James; and to the family’s surprise, they are married.

A Merry Little Lie is a sweet wonderful story that revolves around the family sharing struggles and worries with each of the couples; with secrets revealed. A Merry Little Lie experiences obstacles, emotional trauma revolving around the siblings.  But over all it was a wonderful sweet story throughout.  A Merry Little Lie was very well written Sarah Morgan.  I really enjoyed reading this book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

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The Sandy Page Bookshop by Hannah McKinnon – a Review

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The Sandy Page Bookshop by Hannah McKinnon – a Review

 

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Description:
After her publishing career and engagement fell apart in Boston, Leah Powell has no choice but to return to her sleepy coastal hometown on Cape Cod. Feeling lost and discouraged, she stumbles upon a once prominent historic sea captain’s home that now looks as dilapidated as she feels. Suddenly inspired, Leah decides to transform it into a bookstore and café she will call The Sandy Page.

Luke Nicholson, a life-long local and contractor, remembers Leah even if she doesn’t remember him. Intrigued by her return and her project, he agrees to help her bring the old captain’s house back to life. As they work together, The Sandy Page slowly becomes the town’s go-to gathering spot for locals, tourists, and anyone who is feeling adrift during this long, sweet summer. It’s a home for second chances. But will it be enough for Leah and Luke?

 

 

Review:

The Sandy Page Bookshop by Hannah McKinnon was a sweet heartwarming beach read.  We meet Leah Powell, who returns to her hometown of Chatham, MA.; have lost her job in publishing and dumped by her fiancé.  During her walk-through town, she stumbles upon an old abandoned Captain’s House, which is in disarray; the house calls to her, as she dreams to open a bookstore. 

Leah decides to rehab the place, and name it The Sandy Page; she has help from Brad, a student spending the summer at the cape, as well as Luke, a friend of her brother, who is a talented craftsman.  Also, Leah hires Lucy, a high school student, who loves working with Leah; who also hides that her sister is in rehab from a serious accident. A short time later, Eudora, a local widow and retired high school counselor, decides to help Leah; she is seriously trying to get past her anxiety due to her husband’s death.

The bookstore brings all of these people together, providing comfort and support for each of them.  Together they come up with ideas to expand the bookstore, which in other rooms, include knitting, book-club, and a café. The Sandy Page slowly becomes the town’s go to spot for locals and tourists; and getting to know each of the character’s POV.

Luke found himself very attracted to Leah, always helping her fix everything in the bookshop, as well as building different rooms for expansion. Leah also finds herself attracted to Luke, but she slowly backs away, since she is determined to concentrate on the shop. She did feel that she did not really have time for fun and flirting. Leah was happy with her co-workers, met new friends, connected to old friends, which was turning out to be a wonderful chapter in her life.

The Sandy Page Bookshop was a sweet, emotional, heartwarming romance that had a bit of everything.  The Sandy Page Bookshop was very well written by Hannah McKinnon. I really enjoyed this feel-good story, as it had my attention throughout. I suggest you read this book, as it was a great read.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

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Wayward Girls by Susan Wiggs – a Review

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Wayward Girls by Susan Wiggs – a Review

 

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Description:
It was a place frozen in time, an ancient fortress haunted by echoes that whispered against the gray stone in a mysterious, heavy rhythm, as though this place was entirely separate from the rest of the world. A sign by the inner door read Our Lady of Charity Refuge and Sisters of the Good Shepherd.

Mairin’s breath caught in her throat as comprehension crept over her. This place was the one mentioned in scandalized whispers from the older girls at school. It was the one people gossiped about when a girl suddenly stopped showing up to class. It was the place angry parents—like her own mother—threatened their daughters “I’ll send you to the nuns, just you see if I won’t.”

Amid the turbulence of the Vietnam Era, in the all-American city of Buffalo, New York, teenage girls were condemned to forced labor at the Good Shepherd, a dark and secret institution controlled by the Sisters of Charity nuns.

In 1968 we meet six teens thrust into confinement at the Good Shepherd—merely for being gay, pregnant, or simply unruly.

Mairin— free-spirited daughter of Irish immigrants was committed to keep her safe from her stepfather.

Angela—denounced for her attraction to girls, was sent to the nuns for reform, but instead found herself the victim of a predator.

Helen—the daughter of intellectuals detained in Communist China, saw her “temporary” stay at the Good Shepherd stretch into years.

Odessa—caught up in a police dragnet over a racial incident, found the physical and mental toughness to endure her sentence.

Denise—sentenced for brawling in a foster home, dared to dream of a better life.

Janice—deeply insecure, she couldn’t decide where her loyalty lay—except when it came to her friend Kay, who would never outgrow her childlike dependency.

Sister Bernadette—rescued from a dreadful childhood, she owed her loyalty to the Sisters of Charity even as her conscience weighed on her.

Wayward Girls is a haunting but thrilling tale of hope, solidarity, and the enduring strength of young women who find the courage to break free and find redemption…and justice.

 

 

 

Review:

Wayward Girls by Susan Wiggs is a wrenching but life-affirming novel based on a true story of survival, friendship, and redemption when six girls come together in a Catholic reform (Good Shepherd) school in 1960s Buffalo, NY.  These girls are sent by family (various reasons) away from their normal school, to the Good Shepherd, which is like a prison handled by evil nuns.  The six girls are treated badly, being punished either for isolation, emotional abuse, forced labor and suffering harsh conditions.

Mairin— free-spirited daughter of Irish immigrants was committed to keep her safe from her stepfather.
Angela—is raised by her illiterate Irish Catholic grandmother and was sent to the Good Shepard to be reformed. While at the school, she finds herself the victim of a predator.
Helen— is of Chinese descent; when her parents return to China for a couple of weeks; they are caught in the Chinese cultural revolution and are not allowed to leave China.  Her time at the Good Shepherd stretches into years.
Odessa—caught up in a police dragnet over a racial incident, found the physical and mental toughness to endure her sentence.
Denise—sentenced for brawling in a foster home, dared to dream of a better life.
Janice—deeply insecure, except when it came to her friend Kay, who would never outgrow her childlike dependency.

Mairin is the lead in this story, as she was spirited and rebellious, always determined to find a way to escape; no matter what punishment she receives. In time, she comes up with a plan for her and her friends to escape. They manage to escape in the school bus, and all six of them find themselves being chased by police; with each of them finding separate ways to escape.  Mairin could not find any of them, but she discovers three of them were captured. The story continues with Mairin finding work at a farm, falling in love with Flynn, and having children.  Decades later, Mairin sees Angela, and together they try to find the friends they lost during their escape; and they slowly reconnect with some of their friends. They begin to share their stories about something that was so much bigger; as they planned to fight for recognition and healing. Their friendship and bond were great.

Wayward Girls is a harrowing and gripping historical fiction, which covered many serious situations, such as abuse, foster system, racism and pregnancy. Susan Wiggs wrote a powerful story of these young women who were confined to forced labor at a dark institution controlled by nuns.  Though this was fiction, it was based on those homes where the children were reformed. Wayward Girls was so very well written by Susan Wiggs.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

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The Nantucket Restaurant by Pamela Kelley – a Review

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The Nantucket Restaurant by Pamela Kelley – a Review

 

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Description:
Three sisters. An inherited Nantucket restaurant. One year before they can sell.

Mandy, Emma and Jill are as close as three sisters who live hundreds of miles apart can be. They grew up together on Nantucket, but Mandy is the only one that stayed.

Jill lives a glamorous life in Manhattan as a co-owner of a successful executive search firm. Never married, she is in her mid-thirties and lives in a stunning, corner condo with breathtaking views of the city and Hudson river. Everyone thinks there’s something going on with her partner, Nick, because as a workaholic, she spends more time with him than anyone else. But there’s never been anything but friendship between them and Nick loves being a bachelor in NYC.

Emma lives in Arizona and is an elementary school teacher and aspiring photographer. She met her college professor husband, Peter, in grad school and they’ve been married for over fifteen years. In recent years, she’s noticed that Peter has grown distant. But when he shares a surprising secret, she doesn’t see it coming and her world is turned upside down.

Mandy followed her high school boyfriend, Cory to Boston College, and after graduation, they married and Cory joined a successful hedge fund in Boston, while Mandy stayed home and had two children, Blake and Brooke. They moved home to Nantucket when Cory opened a competing hedge fund. Now that the children are older, Mandy is eager to do more than coordinate local charity events. But Cory doesn’t want her to work. He thinks it doesn’t reflect well on him and appearances are everything to Cory. Though when Mandy finds a second cell phone in his gym bag, she begins to question what is really going on.

When their beloved grandmother, Ethel Ferguson passes peacefully in her sleep a week before her ninety-ninth birthday, she leaves them quite a surprise. In addition to her Nantucket home, they learn that she was the silent owner of Mimi’s Place, one of Nantucket’s most popular year-round restaurants.

There is of course, a catch–she left the restaurant equally to Mandy, Emma, and Jill–and also to Paul, the restaurant chef for the past fifteen years.

And before they can sell, all three girls must work at the restaurant for one year–or their shares of the restaurant will go to Paul.

The same Paul that broke one of their hearts many years ago.

 

 

 

Review:

The Nantucket Restaurant by Pamela Kelly is a wonderful sweet story focused on three sisters.  Mandy, Emma and Jill are very close sisters, with two (Jill and Emma) living many miles apart, with Mandy the only one who still lives in Nantucket.  The ladies learn that their grandmother passed away, and to their shock, they have inherited the restaurant Mimi’s Place, which they did not know their grandmother owned the place; with the chef Paul who also inherited. The will provides that they must work in the restaurant for one year, at which time they can sell or share.

Jill lives in New York city, and owns an executive search firm with her partner, Billy; who are best friends.  Jill’s job is hectic, and now she needs to stay at Nantucket to help with the restaurant, and she travels to New York every Friday/Saturday.  Emma is a school teacher, who was married to her husband for 15 years, and he now wants a divorce, since he plans to marry his boyfriend. Mandy is married to Cory, who is a wealthy hedge fund investor; and they have 2 children. Mandy discovers an invoice of Cory, and realizes that he has been seeing other women; she files for a divorce, and makes him move out of the house. 

The girls split up, taking turns to learn everything about the restaurant. Mandy works the day shift, until when the children come home.  Whenever Cory takes a turn with the kids, she may help later hours.  Jill mostly works at nights, helping at the bar or serving dinners; which allows her to work in the afternoon remotely. Emma will work different shifts, and becomes close to Paul, who was her first love years ago; and both begin to long for each other. Billy, Jill’s partner, also begins to realize that he has strong infections for her. 

I really enjoyed this story, especially the three sisters who were so close and great together.  It was nice to see the different kinds of food, that was terrific. The Nantucket Restaurant was a sweet, wonderful, family oriented and great sisters, who I did enjoy following them.  The Nantucket Restaurant was very well written by Pamela Kelly.  This was a fun story that I suggest you find time to read this book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

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The Lost Book of First Loves by RaeAnne Thayne – a Review

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The Lost Book of First Loves by RaeAnne Thayne – a Review

 

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Description:
Raised by her literary icon father Carson Wells, Allison Wells always felt loved, even though her mother died when she was a teen. But when she takes a DNA test on a whim and discovers she has a sister that she’s never heard about before, it’s clear there are things her father never told her before he died. Determined to meet Juniper—her half sister—and unravel the truth of what happened all those years ago, Ali finds herself taking a job as Juniper’s intern. She’ll eventually figure out a way to tell Juniper the truth of their relationship. But she never could have imagined what would happen next…

Juniper Connolly has always been incredibly healthy…until she wakes up in the hospital after experiencing cardiac arrest, with her new—and recently fired—intern to thank for saving her life. It’s clear June needs to de-stress her life a little, so when Ali offers her the use of her family’s cabin in a small Wyoming town, June has no reason not to go. But when she arrives in the small town, her life will never be the same.

Under the wide-open spaces of the Wyoming summer sun, Ali and June will untangle the secrets and lies their lives were built on to discover who they really are and what family really means. But even more than that, they’ll build a real relationship with one another and finally become sisters. 

 

 

Review:

The Lost Book of First Loves by RaeAnne Thayne is a sweet wonderful story set in Wyoming.  We meet Alison Wells, whose father, Carson (famous author) passed away.   Alison decides to take a DNS testing for her family, and when the results arrive, she is surprised that there is a female match that she never knew about.  Alison then goes to Seattle to become an intern at a company, and meets (the secret sister), June Connelly. June is one of the main leaders of the company partners, who have been friends from college.

After a few months Alison is fired, since she really did not know much about the system. However, the day she was fired, June has a major cardiac arrest that Alison, was able to use her ability and save her life.

While recovering in the hospital, Alison offers her father’s cabin in Wyoming for June to de-stress and slowly recover.  After some thought, June agrees and goes to Wyoming with Alison to spend the free time in their small town. June will meet some of Alison’s family and friends, especially her grandmother and Beckett Hunter.

After a short time, June and Beck become close, and she begins to feel the spark between her and Beck.  I loved Hank, Beck’s dog, who was so wonderful, and always coming to the cabin to bring June to Beck’s house. Adorable.

Alison also finds her special person, in Xander Scott, who have been best friends since grammar school.  They have a unique friendship, which will slowly see their relationship change after so many years, and love will find a way.

There was a unique situation with June reading all of Carson’s books, and discovers that there must be a missing manuscript, which they can’t find.  But in time, June will be the one who will find it.  During that time, June will also learn from Alison that she is her sister, as the manuscript kept revealing a lady in the books with the name E, which led to June’s decease mother; confirming that they are sisters.

The Lost Book of First Loves was a sweet, wonderful story revolving around two women, secrets, love, happiness and a missing manuscript that changes everything. Once again, RaeAnne Thayne gives us a fantastic story that was so very well written. I really enjoyed the book, and suggest that you read The Lost Book of First Loves.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

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Beach House Rules by Kristy Woodson Harvey – a Review

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Beach House Rules by Kristy Woodson Harvey – a Review

 

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Description:
When Charlotte Sitterly’s husband is arrested for a white-collar crime, she and her daughter Iris are locked out of their house by the FBI and—what’s potentially even worse—thrust into the spotlight of @JuniperShoresSocialite, the town’s snarky anonymous Instagram account. Cut off from her bank accounts and feeling desperate, Charlotte takes up an acquaintance’s offer to stay at a beachfront former bed-and-breakfast that’s home to a community of single mothers and draws plenty of gossip in the small coastal North Carolina town.

Charlotte and Iris find solace and are surprised by how much fun they’re having with the other families despite their circumstances. But when the women discover a secret link between them, it changes everything they thought they knew about the unconventional family they’ve created and leaves them wondering whether their coming together was a coincidence at all. Will the skeletons in the mommune closets help Charlotte and Iris reclaim their place in the Juniper Shores community—or shatter the sisterhood forever?

 

 

Review:

Beach House Rules by Kristy Woodson Harvey is a wonderful sweet story. We meet Charlotte Sitterly, who has been shut out of their home by the FBI, due to her husband, Bill being arrested for suspected fraud. Charlotte and her 14-year-old daughter, Iris, have lost her assets, and while trying to get some money at the bank, she hears a woman behind her offering a place to stay.

Alice invites them to move into her house (former Bed & Breakfast), where she also has two other women staying at her home with their children.  They call the home “Mommune”, which is a unique living arrangement with Alice’s wonderful Beach House by the beach. Charlotte and Iris are thrilled to have a place to stay; with a wonderful group that makes a family. Alice, a widow; Julie, single mom of three; and Grace, with two teens.  The women embrace living together and helping each other, and the children become close friends.

Charlotte is determined to find a way to prove her husband’s innocence.  The ladies and kids work together to help clear Charlotte’s husband’s name.  I really enjoyed the different POV’s from Charlotte, Iris and Alice.  Iris gets help from friends who gather around her, and she begins to work on solving the financial documents, that were not done by her father. Together everyone in the Beach House were able find a way to free Charlottes husband. 

Beach House Rules was a wonderful, enjoyable and heartwarming story; with friendship, women, community & found family.  I really enjoy this story, which was filled with love, compassion and intrigue.   Beach House Rules was very well written by Kristy Woodson Harvey.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

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