Hi there!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.
Today, we're joining a TLC Book Tours promotion already in progress featuring PART TWO of their two part bookish celebration for the latest release from none other than renowned author Susan Mallery. (Woo hoo!) I don't know about you, but I'm a fan...seriously. Loved pretty much everything I've read of hers thus far...but this one, well, I didn't not love it, I just didn't love it as fully as the others. I know...take a breath...it was hard enough for me to SAY it, let alone you to hear (read) it. Now, if you feel a little better, let's get on our way to the why and why not of it all, shall we? (Seriously, we're doing this either way, so just nod and scroll onward ^-^...) Ready or not, here comes the latest addition the Mischief Bay series via MIRA Books...
by
Susan Mallery
9780778330905
MIRA Books
About the book...
The grass is always greener on your sister’s side of the fence…
Divorce left Harper Szymanski with a name no one can spell, a house she can’t afford and a teenage daughter who’s pulling away. With her fledgling virtual-assistant business, she’s scrambling to maintain her overbearing mother’s ridiculous standards and still pay the bills, thanks to clients like Lucas, the annoying playboy cop who claims he hangs around for Harper’s fresh-baked cookies.
Spending half her life in school hasn’t prepared Dr. Stacey Bloom for her most daunting challenge—motherhood. She didn’t inherit the nurturing gene like Harper and is in deep denial that a baby is coming. Worse, her mother will be horrified to learn that Stacey’s husband plans to be a stay-at-home dad…assuming Stacey can first find the courage to tell Mom she’s already six months pregnant.
Separately they may be a mess, but together Harper and Stacey can survive anything—their indomitable mother, overwhelming maternity stores and exes’ weddings. Sisters Like Us is a delightful look at sisters, mothers and daughters in today’s fast-paced world, told with Susan Mallery’s trademark warmth and humor.
Divorce left Harper Szymanski with a name no one can spell, a house she can’t afford and a teenage daughter who’s pulling away. With her fledgling virtual-assistant business, she’s scrambling to maintain her overbearing mother’s ridiculous standards and still pay the bills, thanks to clients like Lucas, the annoying playboy cop who claims he hangs around for Harper’s fresh-baked cookies.
Spending half her life in school hasn’t prepared Dr. Stacey Bloom for her most daunting challenge—motherhood. She didn’t inherit the nurturing gene like Harper and is in deep denial that a baby is coming. Worse, her mother will be horrified to learn that Stacey’s husband plans to be a stay-at-home dad…assuming Stacey can first find the courage to tell Mom she’s already six months pregnant.
Separately they may be a mess, but together Harper and Stacey can survive anything—their indomitable mother, overwhelming maternity stores and exes’ weddings. Sisters Like Us is a delightful look at sisters, mothers and daughters in today’s fast-paced world, told with Susan Mallery’s trademark warmth and humor.
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First things first, when I started in on this one, I had to get reacquainted with the characters (it's been a while!), but they fell into place pretty quickly and allowed for a seamless continuation of life in Mischief Bay.
I was anticipating all that would happen, anxious to see Bunny's reaction to the "news" Stacey was hiding, and frankly beyond tired by Harper's tenacity to do EVERYTHING from scratch! I mean, kudos to her for effort but who really has the time nowadays? *-* But I digress, she didn't really have the time either (something she eventually comes to grips with), but it was so ingrained in her being (thanks Bunny...*evil glare*), that she felt naked without it. I get it, Bunny meant well (I guess), and was coming from a place of love (whatever dark corner it was hiding in), but sometimes you've got to let go, evolve, go with the times, or learn how to duplicate yourself in order to make it work which unless you know some major futuristic technology stuff, pretty much ain't happening. As for our other sister, Stacey, I applauded her for just being her more often than not, but I had a hard time coming to grips with her sudden realization of "hey, I'm the same but different". Grant it, she doesn't accept things as colorfully as some, but it seemed so sudden and drastic of a turnaround, something more emotion based, which she really isn't. Moving forward...
I get the falling in love with Lucas warning the author gives at the beginning of the book, but the man is a conundrum! He talks a great talk, lives admirably for the most part (I loved how he was there for Becca but also wouldn't let her get away with stuff either...more of a father than her actual father), but the parade of "trophies" he constantly has (by the way, kudos to Becca for calling him out on it!) is beyond disturbing. We learn the why of it all later on, but when he goes and breaks a promise that he SPECIFICALLY made and so BOASTFULLY, I just...ugh! I mean, he was given an easy out. Nothing was expected of him, more than what he gave any of the other bimbettes, but geez louise, I couldn't fathom simply forgiving and forgetting and carrying on. There would at the very least be some groveling or something...
Next up, Becca. I felt for her. Let's me honest, they say "the best years of our lives" and yet in all honesty, teenage years... pretty much total suckage. Never feeling good enough, never quite fitting in, trying to keep up with everyone...but the truth? You are you (then and now, simply evolving) and that's BEYOND special all on its own, both for her and you. As for the rest of our (semi) starring cast, Kit, Ash, and even Harper's newly hired helper, are all TOTAL ROCKSTARS in my book. Yep, that's right...ROCK STARS. Wanna know why? Oh, I bet you do...but there are TOO MANY reasons to list here, since I've already written your eyes dry. Read it and see...
So like I said from the start...I didn't not love it, I just didn't LOVE love it...you know? A hard truth that sometimes happens even with works from your favorite authors, but it certainly doesn't mean I'll be looking askance when the next one comes out. Nope. I'll be right up front, holding my money high, saying (politely) as loud as I can...TAKE MY MONEY! ^-^
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About the author...
Susan Mallery is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of books about the relationships that define women’s lives—romance, friendship, family. With compassion and humor, Susan keenly observes how people think and feel, in stories that take readers on an emotional journey. Sometimes heartbreaking, often funny, and always uplifting, Susan’s books have spent more than 200 weeks on the USA Today bestsellers list, thanks to her ever growing legions of fans.
Critics, too, have heaped praise on “the new queen of romantic fiction.” (Walmart) Booklist says, “Romance novels don’t get much better than Mallery’s expert blend of emotional nuance, humor, and superb storytelling,” and RT Book Reviews puts her “in a class by herself!”
Although Susan majored in Accounting, she never worked as an accountant because she was published straight out of college with two books the same month, January of 1992. Sixteen prolific years and seventy-four books later, she hit the New York Times bestsellers list for the first time with Accidentally Yours in 2008. She made many appearances in the Top 10 before (finally) hitting #1 in 2015 with Thrill Me, the twentieth book in her most popular series, the Fool’s Gold romances, and the fourth of five books released that year.
Susan lives in Seattle with her husband, two ragdoll cats, and a tattletale toy poodle. Her heart for animals has led Susan to become an active supporter of the Seattle Humane Society. Animals play a big role in her books, as well, as she believes they’re an integral component to a happy life.
Website | Facebook | Twitter
Critics, too, have heaped praise on “the new queen of romantic fiction.” (Walmart) Booklist says, “Romance novels don’t get much better than Mallery’s expert blend of emotional nuance, humor, and superb storytelling,” and RT Book Reviews puts her “in a class by herself!”
Although Susan majored in Accounting, she never worked as an accountant because she was published straight out of college with two books the same month, January of 1992. Sixteen prolific years and seventy-four books later, she hit the New York Times bestsellers list for the first time with Accidentally Yours in 2008. She made many appearances in the Top 10 before (finally) hitting #1 in 2015 with Thrill Me, the twentieth book in her most popular series, the Fool’s Gold romances, and the fourth of five books released that year.
Susan lives in Seattle with her husband, two ragdoll cats, and a tattletale toy poodle. Her heart for animals has led Susan to become an active supporter of the Seattle Humane Society. Animals play a big role in her books, as well, as she believes they’re an integral component to a happy life.
Website | Facebook | Twitter
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Special thanks to Lisa at TLC Book Tours for the chance to participate in this promotion and to MIRA Books for the ARC for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, the series, the publisher, THIS TOUR, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title just hit bookstore and virtual shelves the end of last month, so it's ready and waiting for your reading pleasure!
Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!
