Evening Stars

( 297 )

Overview

New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery returns to Blackberry Island with the poignant tale of two sisters on the verge of claiming their dreams

Small-town nurse Nina Wentworth has made a career out of being a caretaker. More "Mom" than their mother ever was, she sacrificed medical school—and her first love—so her sister could break free. Which is why she isn't exactly thrilled to see Averil back on Blackberry Island, especially when ...

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Evening Stars

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More About This Book

Overview

New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery returns to Blackberry Island with the poignant tale of two sisters on the verge of claiming their dreams

Small-town nurse Nina Wentworth has made a career out of being a caretaker. More "Mom" than their mother ever was, she sacrificed medical school—and her first love—so her sister could break free. Which is why she isn't exactly thrilled to see Averil back on Blackberry Island, especially when Nina's life has suddenly become…complicated.

Nina unexpectedly finds herself juggling two men—her high school sweetheart and a younger, maverick pilot who also wants to claim her heart. But as fun as all this romance is, Nina has real life to deal with. Averil doesn't seem to want the great guy she's married to or be making headway writing her first book, their mom is living life just as recklessly as she always has and Nina's starting to realize that the control she once had is slipping out of her fingers. Her hopes of getting off the island seem to be stretching further away…until her mother makes a discovery that could change everything forever.

But before Nina and Averil can reach for the stars, they have to decide what they want. Will Averil stay? Will Nina leave? And what about the men who claim to love them? Does love heal, or will finding their happy ending mean giving up all they've ever wanted?

"Gritty and magical, angst-ridden and sweet….Guaranteed to keep a reader up way past bedtime to see how it all works out." —Publishers Weekly on Barefoot Season

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Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly
01/06/2014
Mallery’s third novel (after Three Sisters) set on fictional Blackberry Island, Wash., explores the boundaries of love and loyalty for a quirky mom, her lesbian partner, and her two adult daughters. Flighty, immature Bonnie Wentworth runs the Blackberry Preserves antique store, which barely stays afloat between Bonnie’s buying trips, leaving oldest daughter Nina to assume the “mom” role for her sister, Avery, and for Bonnie too. A crisis in Avery’s marriage forces the sisters, and Bonnie and her partner, Bertie, to re-examine their responsibilities to one another and themselves, while an ugly cast-off painting changes all of their lives. The men in the sisters’ lives—Nina’s first love, Dylan, and young admirer, Kyle, and Avery’s abandoned husband Kevin—along with an unbelievably well-trained stray dog, Penny, are amazingly accommodating during an often dark and difficult tug-of-love between the women as they tame their fears, take responsibility—and hit Antiques Roadshow pay dirt. “I’m going to go for my dreams and see what happens,” Nina decides. And that’s the joy for all of us who were rooting on the sidelines. Agent: Annelise Robey, Jane Rotrosen. (Mar.)
From the Publisher
"Mallery pulls out all the stops in this highly enjoyable and insightful, funny, and poignant look at self-sacrifice and romantic entanglement." -Booklist on Evening Stars, Starred Review

"[A] joy for all of us who were rooting on the sidelines." -Publishers Weekly on Evening Stars

"Mallery has again created an engrossing tale of emotional growth and the healing power of friendship." - Library Journal on Three Sisters

"Susan Mallery gives us a candid, honest look into the turmoil of family life when tragedies and personal crisis' occur... Mallery never disappoints her readers and THREE SISTERS is no exception. It's a winner and should be on everyone's short list of must reads."

- Fresh Fiction

"Barefoot Season is a well-written story of healing, letting go, and making room in your heart for hope."

—USA Today

"Gritty and magical, angst-ridden and sweet."

- Publishers Weekly on Barefoot Season

"Susan Mallery weaves a tale of broken friendship with enough twists and turns to keep even the most seasoned reader of commercial women's fiction guessing about where the story will lead."

- Book Reporter on Barefoot Season

"Mallery skillfully reveals insights into each woman's life to create a poignant tale of forgiveness, friendship renewed, and family."

- Library Journal on Barefoot Season

"Mallery has set the bar high....The characters...come to life in their small-town setting and will touch readers' hearts and funny bones."

- RT Book Reviews on Barefoot Season

"This poignant tale of family dynamics, the jarring impact of change, and eventual acceptance and healing is sure to please Mallery's many, devoted fans."

- Booklist on Already Home

Kirkus Reviews
2014-02-17
Two sisters are taking stock of their lives amid emotional insecurity when an unexpected treasure gives them the chance to have everything they want—if only they can figure out what that is. Nearly 30, Nina has spent her life on Blackberry Island, making sacrifices so her sister Averil could escape their small town even while her own dreams drifted out of reach. Her mother owns an antiques store full of junk and has never been a person anyone could depend on; Nina's been cleaning up after her since she was a kid. Now Averil is back, leaving a journalism career and a husband who loves her, and Nina is frustrated by her sister's ambivalence about a life Nina considers perfect. Meanwhile, Nina juggles her career as a nurse with trying to keep the antiques shop viable; her mother keeps spending money without putting in the work to keep it running. Finding a new, trustworthy employee for the store seems to create a new dynamic, as some of the junk turns out to be worth a second look—and so do the people in Nina's life. Two men from her past come back, and suddenly she has to decide what she truly wants, since all her old dreams are rising like ghosts and teasing her with possibilities. But before she can fix her own life, she might have to stop trying to manage everyone else's. Best-selling romance author Mallery delves into light women's fiction with this third Blackberry Island novel, maintaining her romantic charm and smooth voice yet embracing the freedom of a broader storyline with ease and a bit more depth. A light, engaging family-coming-of-age story that flows gracefully into a handful of happy endings, though with a few more twists, turns and universal conflicts than a strict romance.
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780778316138
  • Publisher: Harlequin
  • Publication date: 2/25/2014
  • Pages: 368
  • Sales rank: 54544
  • Product dimensions: 5.40 (w) x 8.20 (h) x 1.10 (d)

Meet the Author

Susan Mallery

New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery has entertained millions of readers with her witty and emotional stories about women. Publishers Weekly calls Susan’s prose “luscious and provocative,” and Booklist says “Novels don’t get much better than Mallery’s expert blend of emotional nuance, humor and superb storytelling.” Susan lives in Seattle with her husband and her tiny but intrepid toy poodle. Visit her at www.SusanMallery.com.

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Read an Excerpt

IN A BATTLE between Betty Boop and multicolored hearts, Nina Wentworth decided it was going to be a Betty Boop kind of day. She pulled the short-sleeved scrub shirt over her head and was already moving toward the bathroom before the fabric settled over her hips.

"Don't be snug, don't be snug," she chanted as she came to a stop in front of the mirror and reached for her brush.

The shirt settled as it should, with a couple of inches to spare. Nina breathed a sigh of relief. Last night's incident with three brownies and a rather large glass of red wine hadn't made a lasting impression on her hips. She was grateful, and she would repent later on an elliptical. Or at least vow to eat her brownies one at a time.

Ten seconds of brushing, one minute of braiding and her blond hair was neat and tidy. She dashed out into the hall, toward the kitchen where she grabbed her car keys and nearly made it to the back door. Just as she was reaching for the knob, the house phone rang.

Nina glanced from the clock to the phone. Everyone in her world-friends, family, work-had her cell. Very few calls came on the antiquated landline, and none of them were good news. Nina retraced her steps and braced herself for disaster. "Hello?"

"Hey, Nina. It's Jerry down at Too Good To Be True. I just opened, and there's a lady here trying to sell a box of crap, ah, stuff. I think it's from the store."

Nina closed her eyes as she held in a groan. "Let me guess. Early twenties, red hair with purple streaks and a tattoo of a weird bird on her neck?"

"That's her. She's glaring at me something fierce. You think she's armed?"

"I hope not."

"Me, too." Jerry didn't sound especially concerned. "What's her name?"

"Tanya."

If Nina had more time, she would have collapsed right there on the floor. But she had a real job to get to. A job unrelated to the disaster that was the family's antique store.

"You let your mom hire her, huh?" Jerry asked.

"Yes."

"You know better."

"That I do. I'll call the police and ask them to pick up Tanya. Can you keep her there until they get there?"

"Sure thing, kid."

"Great. And I'll be by after work to pick up the stuff."

"I'll hold it for you," Jerry promised.

"Thanks."

Nina hung up and hurried to her car. After her cell connected to the Bluetooth, she called the local sheriff's department and explained what happened.

"Again?" Deputy Sam Payton asked, his voice thick with amusement. "Did you let your mom hire this employee?"

Nina carefully backed out of the driveway. Jerry's humor she could handle. He'd lived here all his life-he was allowed to tease her. But Sam was relatively new. He hadn't earned mocking rights.

"Hey, tax-paying citizen here, reporting a crime," she said. "Yeah, yeah. I'm writing it down. What'd she take?"

"I didn't ask. She's at the pawn shop. Too Good To Be True."

"I know it," Deputy Sam told her. "I'll head out and see what's what."

"Thanks."

She hung up before he could offer advice on hiring policies and turned up the hill. The morning was clear-odd for early spring in the Pacific Northwest. Normally the good weather didn't kick in until closer to summer. To the west, blue water sparkled. To the east was western Washington.

As she climbed higher and higher, the view got better, but when she parked across from the three Queen Anne houses at the very top of the hill, pausing to enjoy the spectacular combination of sky and ocean was the last thing on her mind.

She hurried up the steps to the front porch that was both her boss's home and her office. Dr. Andi, as she was known, was a popular pediatrician on the island. Make that the only pediatrician. She'd moved here a year ago, opened her practice in September and had been thriving ever since. She was also a newlywed and, as of two months ago, pregnant.

Nina unlocked the front door and stepped inside. She flipped on lights as she went, confirmed the temperature on the thermostat and then started the three computers in the front office.

After storing her purse in her locker, she logged in to the scheduling program and saw that the first appointment of the day had canceled. Andi would appreciate the extra time to get herself moving. She was still battling morning sickness.

Nina did a quick check of her email, forwarded several items to the bookkeeper/office manager, then walked to the break room for coffee. Fewer than five minutes after she'd arrived, she was climbing the stairs to her boss's private quarters.

Nina knocked once before entering. She found Andi, a tall, pretty brunette with curly hair, sitting at the table in the kitchen. Her arms cradled her head.

"Still bad?" Nina asked, walking to the cupboard.

"Hi and yes. It's not that I throw up, it's that I feel like I'm going to every single second." She raised her head and drew in a breath. "Are you drinking coffee?"

"Yes."

"I miss coffee. I'm a wreck. I need to talk to my parents about my ancestors. Obviously I don't come from hardy stock."

Nina took down a mug, filled it with water and put it in the microwave. Then she collected a tea bag from the pantry.

"Not ginger tea," Andi said with a moan. "Please. I hate it."

"But it helps."

"I'd rather feel sick." Nina raised her eyebrows.

Andi slumped in her seat. "I'm such a failure. Look at me. I'm carrying around a child the size of a lima bean and I'm throwing a hissy fit. It's embarrassing."

"And yet the need to act mature doesn't seem to be kicking in."

Andi smiled. "Funny how that works."

The microwaved dinged. Nina dropped the tea bag into the steaming water and crossed to the table.

The eat-in kitchen was open, with painted cabinets and lots of granite. The big window by the table took advantage of the east-facing views in the old house. The mainland shimmered only a few miles away.

Andi had bought the house-one of three up on the hill- when she'd moved to Blackberry Island. Undeterred by the broken windows and outdated plumbing, she'd had the house restored from the framework out. During the process, she'd fallen in love with her contractor. Which had led to her current tummy problems.

"Your first appointment canceled," Nina told her.

"Thank God." Andi sniffed the tea, then wrinkled her nose and took a sip. "It's the ginger. If I could have tea without ginger I think I could get it down."

"The thing is, the ginger is the part that settles your stomach."

"Life is perverse like that." Andi took another sip, then smiled.

"I like the shirt."

Nina glanced down at the pattern. "Betty and I go way back."

One of the advantages of working for a pediatrician was that cheerful attire was encouraged. She had a collection of brightly colored fun shirts in her closet. It wasn't high fashion, but it helped the kids smile and that was what mattered.

"I need to get back downstairs," she said. "Your first appointment is now at eight-thirty."

"Okay."

Nina rose and started toward the stairs.

"Are you busy after work?" Andi asked.

Nina thought about the fact that she was going to have to go by the pawn shop and pick up what Tanya had tried to sell, then spend several hours at Blackberry Preserves, her family's antique store, figuring out what had been stolen, then tell her mother what had happened and possibly lecture her on the importance of actually following up on a potential employee's references. Only she'd been lecturing her mother for as long as she could remember, and the lessons never seemed to stick. No matter how many times Bonnie promised to do better, she never did. Which left Nina picking up the pieces.

"I kind of am. Why?"

"I haven't been to Pilates in a week," Andi said. "It's important I keep exercising. Would you go with me? It's more fun when you're along."

"I can't tonight, but Monday's good."

Andi smiled. "Thanks, Nina. You're the best."

"Give me a plaque and I'll believe it."

"I'll order one today."

*
• *

Nina counted out the number of happy fruit and vegetable stickers she had. Just enough, but she would have to order more.

Since opening her practice, Andi had started a program of inviting local elementary school classes into her office as a field trip. Kids learned about a basic exam, were able to use the stethoscope and check their weight and height in a nonthreatening atmosphere. Andi's goal was to make a visit to the doctor less stressful.

Nina handled the scheduling and conducted the tour. Each student left with a small goodie bag filled with the stickers, a small coloring book on different ways to exercise and a box of crayons.

Normally the gift bags were filled by their receptionist before the event, but she had forgotten the stickers last time, so Nina had taken over the task.

She was in the middle of lining up the open goodie bags for quick filling when her cell phone buzzed. She pulled it from her pocket and checked the name, then pushed speaker and set it on the break-room table.

"Hi, Mom."

"Sweetheart! How are you? We're fine, but you were right, as you usually are."

Nina grabbed crayons from the big bag of them on the chair. "Right about what?"

"The tires. That we should have replaced them before we left. We had snow last night."

Nina glanced out the window at the sunny skies. She could see a few clouds pilling up against the horizon. Rain later that afternoon, she thought.

"Where are you?"

"Montana. It was coming down like you wouldn't believe. We had about four inches, and the tires just couldn't handle it. We skidded off the road. We're fine now. Bertie found a Les Schwab store and the man there was just as nice as the one back home."

Nina sank onto the only free chair in the break room. "You were in a car accident?"

"No. We skidded. Not to worry. We're fine. The new tires are very nice. We went to several estate sales and more antique stores than I can count. We're filling the van with so many beautiful things. You're going to love what we've found."

She kept talking. Nina closed her eyes and rubbed her temples, telling herself that her commitment to eat her brownies one at a time had not made any reference to wine, and when she got home that night, she was taking a bath and having a glass. Then she'd have her breakdown.

Bonnie Wentworth had given birth to her oldest at sixteen. She hadn't settled down when she'd become a mother, and she sure wasn't settled now. Bonnie and her partner, Bertie, traveled the country on "buying trips" for their antique store. Antique being defined very loosely in this case. Junk was probably more accurate, but even Nina avoided the "j" word as much as possible.

She drew in a breath as her mother talked about a handmade doll Bertie had found.

"Mom, Tanya was caught trying to sell inventory to Jerry this morning."

Bonnie paused. "No," she said, sounding stunned. "I don't believe it."

Nina resisted the need to point out that Bonnie never believing it was the main problem.

"This is why I want to do the interviewing. Or, if not me, then at least let Bertie do it."

"Are you sure she wasn't selling something of her own?" Bonnie asked. "She seemed like such a nice girl. I hate to think of her doing something like that."

"Me, too. You know this means the store's closed." Again.

There was silence. "Do you want us to come back? We could be there in a couple of days."

"No. I'll find someone."

Nina knew that if she asked, her mother would come home and run the store while they found someone. But then Nina would feel guilty, like she did now. And for the life of her, she couldn't figure out why.

"Sweetheart, you take on too much."

Nina opened her mouth and closed it. Right. Mostly because no one else was here to do it. "Mom, it's fine. But we need someone in the store who's responsible and can work without stealing."

"You're right. There must be someone, and I'm sure you'll find her."

"I will. Did you call on the roof? Is the guy coming out to fix it?"

"I did call." Her mother sounded triumphant. "It's taken care of."

"Great. Thanks."

"You're welcome. I love you, sweetheart."

"I love you, too, Mom."

"I'll call in a few days. By then we should know when we'll be home. Bye."

Nina heard the click and knew her mother had hung up. Before she returned to the goodie bags, she called the local paper.

"Hi, Ellen, it's Nina Wentworth."

The old woman cackled. "Let me guess. You need someone to work at Blackberry Preserves. I have the information from the last ad, which is the same as the one before and the one before that. Want me to run it?"

Nina glanced out the window again. The storm clouds were closer. She could see a bit of the Sound and wondered if she got on a boat right now, where she would end up.

"That would be great," she said instead. "Thanks, Ellen."

"You know, Nina, you've got to stop letting your mama hire people for that store."

Nina tightened her grip on the phone. "Yes, I know."

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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 297 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(181)

4 Star

(80)

3 Star

(25)

2 Star

(7)

1 Star

(4)
See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 297 Customer Reviews

  • Posted Sun Mar 09 00:00:00 EST 2014

    Susan Mallery has another winner on her hands with the release o

    Susan Mallery has another winner on her hands with the release of Evening Stars. This is the third book in the Blackberry Island series and it's just as wonderful as Barefoot Season (book 1) and Three Sisters (book 2). You don't have to have read the first two books to follow the story line in Evening Stars, but I would suggest you read all three -- they are just that good. The characters are compelling as are their stories. I was hooked from the first chapter and didn't want to put it down until I got to the last page.

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Tue Feb 25 00:00:00 EST 2014

    Evening Star¿s is a unique book. It made me sad that Averil and

    Evening Star’s is a unique book. It made me sad that Averil and Nina had such a hard time communicating throughout the book, even though it all works out in the end. I thank God my own mother is not flakey and irresponsible like Bonnie. The whole book made me think a lot about the dynamics of my own family and makes me appreciate them all the more. So, a very good read, and I enjoyed the characters because they were so different.

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Sat Jul 19 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    Fun, Easy, Predictable Read

    I enjoyed this book,even though I pretty much knew how things were going to turn out from the very beginning. But I was reading this while relaxing on a summer trip, and wanted something easy and light. The author does get redundant in describing the characters and the problems they are facing, but easy to just skim read over those parts.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Fri Jul 11 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    Easy Read

    Good mindless beach read.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Sat Apr 05 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    Susan Mallery's Evening Stars is an interesting story on a famil

    Susan Mallery's Evening Stars is an interesting story on a family relationship and failed dreams. The story of a mother and 2 grown up daughters shows how each person sees the same past in very different ways. It also shows how sometimes we stand in our own way in finding happiness and love. Glad that the sisters find a way to deal with their past and handle the present.

    1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Sat Apr 05 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    As always, Susan Mallery's books grab me at the start and I cann

    As always, Susan Mallery's books grab me at the start and I cannot put them down. I instantly fell for the characters and their strengths as well as their struggles. Love the Blackberry Island series and cannot wait for another one.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Thu Mar 13 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    I loved the book, something a little different than the normal S

    I loved the book, something a little different than the normal Susan Mallory book!

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Thu Mar 13 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    5.0 out of 5 stars Not expected but very thought provoking, Mar

    5.0 out of 5 stars Not expected but very thought provoking, March 13, 2014
    By
    m. e. berg - See all my reviews

    This review is from: Evening Stars (Blackberry Island) (Paperback)
    When I started reading Evening Star, I expected another book focused on residents of a small town. Instead, I found a focus on yet another dysfunction family. The more I read, the more involved I became in the interactions between the 2 sisters and their mother. This was the fourth book I read about how affected we remain in adulthood by our childhood family dynamics. That must be the latest publisher preferences, but this's is the strongest and most touching book of the list.

    This is the story of two sisters, the older of which took over caring for her sister and maintaining her home and mother. Why, because their mother didn't want have to grow up and take responsibility for herself or her children. She wants to be a perpetual Peter Pan but that means her daughter has had to be the adult since she was a child. Now both daughters need to figure out how to grow up and get past their history.

    This has become one of my favorite Susan Mallery's novels. It touches something deep inside me and, despite my age, leaves me wondering how to get past my expectations of myself and who I am, just as Susan's characters have done.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Sun Mar 09 00:00:00 EST 2014

    My heart went out to Nina right from the beginning¿The responsib

    My heart went out to Nina right from the beginning…The responsibilities she had to take on at such a young age seem just unbelievable! I wanted to smack her Mom off the side of her head with a two-by-four many, many times and I am not a violent person!
    As a mother myself, I found it hard to believe that someone would actually be this way with her children, but you never know what can happen in this world.
    The story was a little slow at times, but got moving along again quickly.
    Overall, another great story by Susan Mallery!

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Sun Mar 09 00:00:00 EST 2014

    This was a great book. Took me back to a place I love and introd

    This was a great book. Took me back to a place I love and introduced me to characters like me, sometimes fumbling along, sometimes getting it right. I recommend to anyone looking for a good book. 

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Tue Feb 25 00:00:00 EST 2014

    I absolutely loved this books. Susan has a way of writing that

    I absolutely loved this books. Susan has a way of writing that when you finish a book, you start think of your own life and how you can make it better. If you don't learn something about your self from this book then you need to read it again.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Thu Sep 04 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    I reallin I really enjoyedthe book.

    Soothing and enjoyable yet predictable.

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  • Posted Mon Aug 25 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    I Also Recommend:

    Love That Transcends Time
    The Girl of His Dreams
    Then Came the Lightning
    When We Met
    Love's Eclipse Of The Heart

    This series is so heartwarming that it puts me in a great mood w

    This series is so heartwarming that it puts me in a great mood when I read it. The stories are so much more than just romance, and while this book had more romance than the previous with two love interests, it really focuses on family dynamics and inner growth.




    With a flighty mother and a spoiled little sister, Nina has grown up with too much responsibility and as such, put her own dreams aside to concentrate on taking care of everyone else. When things happen and she has a chance to look at her life, she isn’t really happy with it, but is scared to make changes.




    Chronicling Nina’s journey to discover her inner strength, and her true dreams, this is a beautiful story. The characters are deep and complex, and very realistic. Nina’s inner doubts and worries were very familiar feeling, and I was genuinely happy any time she had something happen to make her smile.




    There was a playfulness in this story that was lacking in the previous books, with two love interests, especially the younger Kyle who idolized Nina when he was a kid and she was his babysitter. It was amusing to watch their interactions.




    Overall, this was a great addition to the series. The stories are so human and endearing. I love travelling around Blackberry Island with the characters. There is a predictable HEA feeling to it, but the journey there is worth it.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Sun Aug 17 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    Taylor

    Is sitting in on the bed

    0 out of 8 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Tue Jun 10 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    Mallery has created another small town that sucks you in & m

    Mallery has created another small town that sucks you in & makes you dream of going there.  Her characters are vivid and complex.  
    Their lives involve familial conflict and the resolution.  You find yourself rooting for the main character to follow her dream.  Although this
    is the third in the Blackberry Island series, it can be read as a standalone without feeling lost.  The question is, will Mallery create
    another trilogy on Blackberry Island?  If so, it could rival her Fool’s Gold series!

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  • Posted Tue Jun 03 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    more from this reviewer

    Good Contemporary Romance

    Nina never got to do things for herself. Her mother never accepted responsibility for either Nina or Averil or even her own antique business. Nina had to step up and fill in the roles. Then she had to forget her dreams of medical school when she ended up having to raise Averil. Now things seem to be getting back to a stable area where Nina might be able to pick up those dreams when she is faced with the possibility of two guys that are showing interest in her.

    Then Averil comes back to Blackberry Island. She has never seemed to get a grasp on being an adult. Now she isn’t interested in her husband and can’t figure out what she wants to do in life. So now she is back to try to find herself.

    This is not my usual type of book I read. It wasn’t a bad book, and I’m sure there are many people that will love it. I had a hard time connecting with the characters. I felt like Nina was getting the short end of the deal having to be the responsible one in the family. I thought Averil was spoiled and lazy and their mother was just about as bad.

    It was a good story in the sense of Nina finally getting out and starting to live her life. For those that like contemporary romances, I think this is one that you will want to read.

    I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Tue Apr 22 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    highly recommend

    love all susan mallery books - have never had a bad one

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  • Posted Mon Apr 07 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    more from this reviewer

    Small town romance with spice!

    5 Stars!
    Contemporary Romance
    Release date: February 25, 2014

    ABOUT THE BOOK:

    New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery returns to Blackberry Island with the poignant tale of two sisters on the verge of claiming their dreams.

    Small-town nurse Nina Wentworth has made a career out of being a caretaker. More "Mom" than their mother ever was, she sacrificed medical school—and her first love—so her sister could break free. Which is why she isn't exactly thrilled to see Averil back on Blackberry Island, especially when Nina's life has suddenly become…complicated.

    Nina unexpectedly finds herself juggling two men—her high school sweetheart and a younger maverick pilot who also wants to claim her heart. But as fun as all this romance is, Nina has real life to deal with. Averil doesn't seem to want the great guy she's married to, and doesn't seem to be making headway writing her first book; their mom is living life just as recklessly as she always has; and Nina's starting to realize that the control she once had is slipping out of her fingers. Her hopes of getting off the island seem to be stretching further away…until her mother makes a discovery that could change everything forever.

    But before Nina and Averil can reach for the stars, they have to decide what they want. Will Averil stay? Will Nina leave? And what about the men who claim to love them? Does love heal, or will finding their happy ending mean giving up all they've ever wanted?

    MY REVIEW:

    I haven’t read Susan Mallery before, and I’m ashamed to say that—and now, smacking myself—because this was an extremely cute read. I loved the feel Ms. Mallery set up in this small town, the chemistry she created, and the laugh out loud moments throughout.

    You’ve got Nina who has had to step in ever since she was a teen to play “mom,” not only to her own mother, but also to her younger sister. Fast forward a few years and suddenly things are falling into place and troubles are falling left and right. She tries to keep control of it all, yet finds herself in the mist of attention from two very hot men who want her, and won’t stop at anything to get her.

    The path she takes is visible as the reader goes through the book. It all pieces together very nicely and the chemistry is off the charts. The secondary love story running at the same time was also a nice touch, and goes to prove that just because two people get married, doesn’t mean that they have to stop working for their happy ever after.

    If you want a romance with a small town feel, that still leaves you needing a cold shower, and laughing so much your eyes water, get this today. Great read!

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  • Posted Fri Apr 04 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    Loved the final intallment of Blackberry Island series, although

    Loved the final intallment of Blackberry Island series, although sad to see it end. Nina has been the responsible older sister to Averil since their father left the family and her mother has not ever grown up. She gave up on her dream to become a doctor with her high school sweetheart Dylan who did persue medical school. Nina is a nurse in a pediatric practice on the Island.
    Alone and tired of the pressure put on her by her Mom for cleaning up her messes and taking care of the antiques store her Mom owns, Nina has started to do a lot of thinking on where her life should be. She embarks in a sexy affair with a younger "kid" she knew from high school who shows up out of nowhere and sweeps her off her feet. Then one rainy night when her car dies in the middle of a rain storm, as she is walking a car pulls up and offers a ride - Dylan has returned to town to take over his father's practice.
    There are many twists and turns, funny scenes where you will laugh and amazing transformations that some of the characters go through. Another great book from Susan Mallery.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Fri Apr 04 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    Recommend

    Thoroughly enjoyed Susan Mallery's new book - good read.

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