THE VINEYARD AT PAINTED MOON by Susan Mallery

HQN Books
February 9^th, 2021
978-1335912794
Women’s fiction, Contemporary Romance
Hardcover
Reviewed by Dawn (love2read28@gmail.com)
Obtained by Self-Purchase
4 Hearts




Mackenzie Dienes loves her life. Her job is fun and interesting in the family winery as an elite winemaker. Her close friends are her in-laws, and she has a beautiful home. But the family in charge of the winery isn’t her family, she just married into it and now her marriage is coming to an end. When her husband agrees that their marriage is over, the pain is unavoidable and Mackenzie is on the brink of losing everything she has come to love about her life: family, job, and friends. But sometimes when one door closes, another opens and when Mackenzie finds the strength to move out on her own, she will find something even more beautiful in her future if she has the strength to just reach for it.

Susan Mallery delivers another stirring story about changes, what makes a family and more in THE VINEYARD AT PAINTED MOON and I can’t help but root for Mackenzie right off the bat. She is plucky, feisty and is very relatable especially as she tries to figure out how to move forward when her life seemingly falls apart. Ms. Mallery is a top-notch writer who captures her characters essence completely within her pages of the book and delivers a wild and heartfelt story in her latest women’s fiction novel. I love how Mackenzie finds the strength to move on and make something for herself instead of just maintaining the status quo with her soon to be ex-husband’s family. Within the pages we find Mackenzie finding the strength to move past the pain to see what the future holds even as her life becomes even more chaotic as her divorce moves forward and a surprise ends up giving her something to ponder and embrace.

THE VINEYARD AT PAINTED MOON is a fast-paced story filled with amazingly complex characters and a setting so lush, it makes me want to go visit the place. Her characters are surprisingly relatable, and I found myself enjoying all of them even the soon to be ex-husband even if he is a dog at the end. This is truly one of her finest books to date and one I look forward to reading again.

If you enjoy a wonderful story filled with unique and entertaining characters and a setting that will make you long for a wine tour in Napa Valley, then grab THE VINEYARD AT PAINTED MOON and get ready for an adventure that will leave you hooked from start to finish. I look forward to seeing where this author goes next as well as hoping we see more about Mackenzie and her endeavors in the future if possible.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement

THE FRIENDSHIP LIST by Susan Mallery

 

HQN Books
March 30^th, 2021
978-1335652965
Contemporary Romance, Women’s Fiction
Paperback
Reviewed by Dawn (love2read28@gmail.com)
Obtained by Self-Purchase
3.5 Hearts

For single mom Ellen Fox, raising her son was a joy as well as hard work but as he starts his senior year at high school and decides on a college, Ellen overhears him say he can’t go to his dream school as his mom needs him way too much. When Ellen hears that she is determined to make it a reality for him as well as show her son that she will be just fine without him as he begins to figure out how to achieve his best life.  So, her best friend, Unity Leandre, creates a list of challenges for them both to do as each is stuck in their lives and this just might get them the motivation to move forward again. But as these two best friends discover, when they find who they are again, they discover that life is more than just staying still, it’s meant to be lived with joy and love even with regrettable tattoos.

I adore Susan Mallery’s books and her latest book, THE FRIENDSHIP LIST delivers a story filled with humor, love and more as two women try to rediscover who they are again even as they work on a bucket list of challenges that will give them motivation beyond their wildest dreams even as they try to move forward with themselves. The story is more about single mom Ellen it’s also about Unity’s life or her life stuck in the past even as the future beckons. Both women need courage to take the risk of moving forward and with Ms. Mallery’s trademark style, the reader is transfixed as these two go on their journey, complete with sexy men wanting them and regrettable tattoos aside. It’s a fast-paced ride from start to finish with captivating characters and a story that will steal your heart.  What I loved about this book was the love between Unity and Ellen as well as the cast of characters that just made me giggle at times with complete abandon. I know I am not the only one who just loved Unity’s retired friend, Dagmar the most.

THE FRIENDSHIP LIST is more than two friends finding out who they are again but about taking a chance- on love, on life and a future even if that future is a bit murky at the moment. Susan Mallery delivers another standout story that I highly recommend and can not wait to see if she writes more in this little town as it was so entertaining.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement.

THE STEPSISTERS by Susan Mallery

MIRA Publishing
May 25^th, 2021
978-0-7783-3180-3
Contemporary, Women’s Fiction
Paperback
Reviewed by Dawn (love2read28@gmail.com)
Obtained by Self-Purchase
4 Hearts

Once, Daisy and Sage were stepsisters when Daisy’s dad married Sage’s mom. But Sage was always the popular and beautiful one while Daisy always felt like the smart but socially awkward one and as Sage dealt with her beauty as a weapon and put Daisy down, always trading her looks for popularity. As their parents divorced, they drifted apart until Daisy married Sage’s first love and Sage fled the country. Now years later, Daisy and Sage are brought back together as sisters as their youngest sister, Cassidy, needs them more than ever. But Daisy is dealing with a fragile marriage and Sage is trying to grow up and deal with her choices-bad and good. As the three sisters’ bond and find themselves growing closer, friendship blooms between them. Until one careless act manages to destroy the fragile bond they have. As Daisy, Sage and Cassidy find out, sometimes families make mistakes, forgive and move on but it’s up to them to decide if forgiving is an option or drifting apart is better.

THE STEPSISTERS is Susan Mallery’s newest book that delves into the relationships of sisters-step and half siblings- and how the past can color the memories as well as taint the present lens we see people with. I really enjoyed how Sage and Daisy find their way to one another again as sisters as they help Cassidy deal with her issues. As with all families, sometimes the memories you hold fast to might not be the whole story as you have just one part of a whole. I really liked Cassidy and how she was like all annoying little sisters/siblings but also how much the bond and fragile truce that sprung up between the three girls helped heal some rifts even as they worked through things from the past to get to where they were in the present. The characters are quite vibrant and entertaining to me. I loved Esmerelda as a secondary character as her wit and caring came across wonderfully in the pages and I enjoyed how Daisy finally stood up for herself and put herself first as she dealt with her marriage ending. The story flows seamlessly and you get a sense of how each of the three sisters continued to grow and move on as they finally dealt with past mistakes, issues, etc.

THE STEPSISTERS is more than a book about siblings, it’s about family, forgiveness and how to move on when you make a mistake that hurts the one you love. I love how each sister is so different from one another and how their personalities really shine forth. Daisy- mother of two who is dealing with a troubled marriage that has her in knots, Sage, who was married and divorced three times but never truly in love before and Cassidy, so afraid of love she would rather be alone than take a chance on trusting herself and the man she is in love with. All three are wildly different but also the same. Each has insecurities, fears and at the core, a deep love for one another along with regrets of past mistakes. Each page showed me how dynamic these three are apart but together, they are exceptional people. Susan Mallery delivers a timeless classic that will resonate with the reader and deliver a satisfying ending that will leave you in tears and a wide smile on your face. The last half of the book moved really quickly, and I won’t spoil what happens but suffice to say I was even shocked by what went down. THE STEPSISTERS is a wonderful book to read on a lazy afternoon or at the beach. I look forward to seeing where Ms. Mallery goes next and if we will meet up with these three characters again in the future. I would love to know how all moved on and if they got their own happy ever after.

This is an objective review and not and endorsement.

SISTERS BY CHOICE by Susan Mallery

A Blackberry Island Novel, Book 4

Mira Publishing

February 11, 2020

978-0778309390

Contemporary Romance Fiction

Paperback

Reviewed by Dawn (love2read28@gmail.com)

Obtained by Self-Purchase

4 Hearts

 

Sophie Lang thought she had it all with her business, a cat toy company until it went all up in flames. Back on Blackberry Island, she struggles to control every aspect of her life and business. But when you have a stranglehold on something eventually, something must break.

Kristine has always been about her family but lately her dreams are starting to knock on her door, and she wonders why she can’t follow her dream of opening a bakery now that kids are older and in school. But when she is told to choose: her marriage or her dream, what way will she go?

Heather is determined to get ahead and move off the island but every time she gets one step further to her goal, her mother has another crisis that takes it all away. Will Heather be able to break free from a smothering and dominant mother and get where she longs to go, or will she be stuck on Blackberry Island forever?

Sisters in all but blood, cousins and more, these three women will find that sometimes you have to find the strength to go after what you want in order to get where you need to be, be it love, family and friendships.

SISTERS BY CHANCE is full of humor, love, friendships and more told in Susan Mallery’s trademark style and I for one am thrilled to be back here on Blackberry Island. I love this series with its quirky and wonderful characters, a gorgeous setting and small-town life with all its fun and foibles. I loved everything about this book from the three main characters to the way they overcame their issues to find everlasting happiness. Ms. Mallery tells a wonderful and charming tale full of humor, grace and full of strength that comes out when they need it most. The story flowed smoothly, and the characters were interesting yet also complex. I loved the mix between personalities and more with this book.

Sophie, Kristine and Heather are cousins by blood and are always there for one another so when each has a crisis then family comes to the rescue…or sometimes not. Each woman finds strength to go after their dreams, though not without a few bumps in the road and I loved each of the three’s journeys to get to their result. Each woman needed their bumps in order to see what was acceptable to them and not. I loved how different each were from one another and unique. The characters were spectacular like always with a Susan Mallery book and I was rooting for all three to get their heart’s desire in the end.

SISTERS BY CHOICE was a wonderful heartfelt read that will keep you entertained till the very end. I hope Ms. Mallery comes back to this wonderful island again in the future as it’s always a wonderful time here on Blackberry Island and I love meeting new residents there.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement

CALIFORNIA GIRLS by Susan Mallery

Mira Books

February 26^th, 2019

978-0-7783-5125-2

Contemporary Romance

Paperback

Reviewed by Dawn (love2read28@gmail.com)

Obtained by self-purchase

3.5 Hearts

 

Three sisters find themselves dumped on the same day and as they deal with the aftereffects, they find what has been missing in their lives.

Oldest sister, Finola is a popular TV morning show host who gets blindsided right before she goes on air with the news he is leaving her for a young pop star. Shattered, she is determined to show the world she is just fine even as she tries to pick up the pieces and hopes he comes to his senses, coming back to her.

Zennie is the middle sister who is athletic and is happy with her life. She doesn’t need a man or be part of a couple to be secure. When she agrees to be a surrogate for her best friend, she finds that being pregnant is a lonely thing when her support system all disapprove of her choice.

Youngest sister, Ali is used to being ignored as she isn’t the prettiest nor the favorite. When her fiancé has his brother call off the wedding, she is devastated yet Daniel, her ex’s brother, keeps showing up to help her through this tough time. But as Ali wonders, is Daniel seeing who Ali is in a way no one else has?

Three sisters, all very different yet all three find their way to one another in this time of crisis and change. Can they rebuild their lives after these setbacks?

CALIFORNIA GIRLS is a classic Susan Mallery story filled with intriguing characters and stories that intertwin with one another. I really enjoyed meeting and seeing the three sisters interact with one another as well as with other characters. The author does a great job in capturing the three different personalities in the sisters. I really enjoyed learning about each sister and their parents. I really liked Zennie’s storyline though Ali’s story was a close second but Finola’s story made it hard for me to empathize with in the beginning. The interactions with their mother made me laugh and I really enjoyed how they dealt with her in their own way. The story flows smoothly and kept my attention until the very end.

Meet the three sisters-Finola, Zennie and Ali. All three are different and unique but within twenty-four hours, their worlds change and explode. I loved meeting the sisters and how different they were together and apart. Finola is a TV talk show host with a great career and marriage. Zennie is independent and is an adrenaline junkie. Ali is the youngest sister and the overlooked one. She stirred my heart more than anyone as she kept putting herself down even as she had all these amazing qualities. She was the one sister I could relate to the most. This is an author who can deliver and create outstanding yet unique characters. I love how she puts three different personalities on the page, and you have no trouble keeping track of who was who. The secondary characters were just as enjoyable and entertaining.

CALIFORNIA GIRLS is a fun filled story filled with amazing characters and a story that will resonate with you long after you finished reading it. If you haven’t read one of this author’s books before, this is a perfect introduction to her writing style. I look forward to seeing where she goes next for her readers in the future.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement

<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=regatayl-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=0778351254&asins=0778351254&linkId=1a476f34e591bc6abdec9a13b98397ec&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>