Happy Hour

by Michele Scott

Every woman has that group of friends in her life ~ her "go to girls" The friends that she can turn to who "get it." The ones who are there for you no matter what. The ones who laugh with you and cry with you. The ones that will always be there. These are the women of Napa Valley.

Jamie is the editor-in-chief of Wine Lover's Magazine, a single mother and caretaker to her senile mother-in-law ~ a woman who thinks her daily caregiver is Dean Martin. Jamie is still recovering, financially and emotionally from the death of her husband several years earlier. And when she finds what could be the key to happiness, can she open the door and let it in? Or will her feelings of guilt and betrayal hold her back?

Danielle is a vintner and the divorced mom of two. She's basking in what she knows is going to be a successful launch of her new wines. Wines she created on her own after her divorce. But what she doesn't expect is for her daughter to come home with news that will shock her to her core. Will an old flame help her accept the changes that are coming and find the love she's been missing in her life for so long? Or will a tragedy that no one sees coming change their lives forever?

Kat is a sommelier, co-owner of a magnificent restaurant with her chef husband, and mother of a blended family. But is being deeply in love with your husband enough to get them through the teenage years, step-children and exes? And what happens when old faces return and she's faced with the knowledge that not everything is what you thought it was. What happens when she finds she was mad at the wrong person and finds out the "right one" was in the wrong? Can she forgive and move on? Can love overcome everything and truly bring a family together?

Alyssa is an artist and gallery owner with a secret of her own. One she was hoping would stay buried deep in her closet. But the time has come for her to put someone else first, to face the past and to deal with her demons. What she never expected to find was love and her "home."

No matter what is going on in their own lives, no matter the heartache or joy they're experiencing these four women are always there to love, support and encourage each other.

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit, Romance, Contemporary, Family, Womens Fiction, Friendship

320 pages, Paperback

First published October 5, 2009

About the author

Michele Scott is an American author and the CEO/owner of equestrian sports medicine company Professional’s Choice, Inc. She has written over forty novels in various genres including thrillers, mysteries, young adult mysteries, fantasy, and women’s fiction. Her thriller Daddy’s Home from her Holly Jennings’ series written under her pen name of AK Alexander has sold over one million copies and was the #1 bestselling book in the UK Amazon. Her thriller Mommy, May I? and was number 2 on the Amazon list.

Subsequently, Daddy’s Home hit #4 in the US Amazon store (over all books). She was a featured author in Jeff Bezos letter to the shareholders and one of fifteen authors invited to the reveal of Kindle Fire. Amazon also produced a short documentary about her and her writing story and featured her in a book on bestselling Amazon writers. Daddy’s Home was also a top ten bestseller on The Wall Street Journal bestseller list.

Michele’s bestselling mystery series (The Wine Lover’s Mysteries) has gone into multiple printings and has been optioned by a Los Angeles based producer and production company.

Michele is a lifelong equestrian, having horses since she was five-years-old. If you don’t find her at her desk writing, you’re sure to find her at the barn!

Reviews

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

For self-published novel, I'd say this one is better than average. I've decided that books get 50 pages to grab me, or they are gone. When I first picked this one up, I figured it for a 50 pager, based on the layout alone. I don't quite know what it is, but may self-published books have the same "look" if you just open to a random page and glance at them--a look books by major publishing houses don't have. This is a good story with interesting characters; and unlike some books about 40-somethings who have problems in their lives, I didn't want to shake these gals and tell them to grow up or get a life. The book is rough around the edges with some typos or grammatical errors that a good editor would have caught, but it kept me around for the whole 300+ pages. Grade: B-

[Ginger Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to admit that I was reluctant when I first began this book. I don't care for wine, or horses for that matter, so I went in a bit biased, thinking that it wouldn't be my style. I couldn't have been more wrong.

Happy Hour chronicles the lives of four friends, each dealing with different elements of family drama within their lives. The stories, while told separately through most of the novel, are woven seamlessly together through their weekly "Happy Hour" meetings. The author has done a wonderful job really bringing these characters to life, and after reading for a bit they came to feel less like characters in a book and more like friends of my own. I laughed with them, cried with them, and rejoiced at their successes.

This book is about the lives of four friends, but really, it's so much more. Learning to love again, to trust again, dealing with demons of the past, embracing new lives of the future...there are so many elements that make Happy Hour a wonderful read. It's about rediscovery, finding who you are again when your life is rocked out of control, and discovering that the person you've become is smarter, stronger, more able than before.

I'm so glad I took a chance on Happy Hour. I found much more than I expected within the pages. This is a book that will stay with me for awhile.

[Anjie Harrte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Happy Hour is a story about four friends in the prime of their life who come together over wine and good food to bond and unload from life's adversities. It follows them through all their trials and their happy moments. It shows interaction between friends, family, dealing with extended families, and teenagers (both male and female), unexpected pregnancies, secrets and harbouring deep hurt and pain.
The best part of this book is when I found myself in Kat. I felt like I was reading about myself when I read her words. I saw my friendships and my family relationships in those between the friends and their interactions with their family. Their trials were believable. I shared their tears and laughed out loud with their funny moments. I saw the characters grow and heal and I enjoyed the journey that brought them through it. The imagery was very clear and leaped off the pages to put me there in the rooms, seeing and smelling and hearing what the characters experienced.
Scott was successful in evoking emotions and laughs out of me, because every situation was believable and real. I felt as thought I had gotten to know these ladies and they were my best and closest friends.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marriage, infidelity, divorce, death, children, food and wine...the most delicious components that make up Happy Hour by the lovely and talented Michele Scott.
I absolutely love stories of women and friendships that come together naturally and the sisterhood bond we share because of the particular hardships women face. We are introduced to each of the women at the very start with each having a chapter briefly describing where they came from...and then she moves to present day.
It was at times very sarcastic, romantic, tragic and uplifting but the bonds of friendship and the strength of each woman to deal with the cards life dealt to them was inspiring.
A beautifully written book for women about women, told with honesty, sincerity and humor.
Never stop living no matter what happens...grab that way too expensive bottle of wine and uncork it =)
**5** fantastic stars =)

[Charlie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A contemporary novel addressing modern day problems faced by women. These are serious problems that are dealt with through laughter, friendship and tears. Those who are fans of the 'Sex and the City' or 'Desperate Housewives' generation will enjoy this read. It is chick lit., but has depth that separates it from the fluff stereotype. However, it isn't so heavy that it becomes depressing. There is a perfect mix of humor and realism that many readers will relate to.

If you can't relate to issues or friendship bonds commonly featured in contemporary novels and shows (i.e. Sex in the City), then this read probably wouldn't interest you. Like most reads, personal experiences will dictate whether a reader can connect with the issues faced by the characters.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heartwarming book about four friends who meet monthly for wine and friendship. Chapters are written around each character.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy fun read, with reminders about life, faith, love, and light. Story about a group of friends who support each other. Reminders that sometimes we do not know people as well as you think you do.
Reminder that all relationships need communication on an ongoing basis.

Little treats about food and wine.

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a sucker for a good woman's story, and this book is has 4 good stories. It is lighthearted, heartbreaking, touching and funny.

[Christine Bode · Rating 4 out of 5]

Publisher: D Vine Press
Released: 2009
Pages: 318
ISBN-10: 1449505570
ISBN-13: 978-1449505578
Stars: 3.5

Happy Hour, by the author of the Wine Lover’s Mystery Series, Michele Scott, is a Sex and the City style (minus the fashion) chicklit novel featuring four female forty-something best friends who live in the Napa Valley and meet every Sunday for “friendship, good food and great wine.” The book opens three years before the story really begins, giving the history of each main character, so that we know what they’ve been through up until present day. Each chapter is dedicated to one of the four women: Kat, Alyssa, Danielle and Jamie and Jamie’s chapters occasionally offer one of her columns from the magazine she edits. There is a bonus section at the back of the book that includes each woman’s favourite recipe (I think I’m going to try Kat’s Fettucine, Goat Cheese and Pancetta!) and complementary wine mentioned in the story, an interview with the author, and book club discussion questions.

Kat McClintock is a sommelier who owns a restaurant with her second husband Christian. Together they endure the challenges that come with a blended family including Christian’s less than perfect connection with Kat’s sons from her first marriage, Jeremy and Brian, the addition of Christian’s young daughter Amber into their household, and Kat’s estranged new age mother, Venus who had left her father to find herself many years before.

Alyssa Johnson, an artist and gallery owner, is keeping a deep dark secret from her best friends. She left her fiancé Terrell three years earlier when she discovered that his best friend James was someone from her past who had changed her life forever. Now she must find the courage to let the skeleton out of the closet in order to overcome a life and death situation and decide who she really wants to spend her future with.

Danielle Bastillia is a divorced vintner whose rebellious teenage daughters Shannon and Cassie just can’t seem to communicate with her. Danielle’s high school crush Mark Murphy, who is now a doctor, reappears in her life just as she is shaken to her core when Shannon admits that she is pregnant and they later discover that her baby has Down’s syndrome.

Jamie Evans, the editor-in-chief of Wine Lover’s Magazine, is raising her young daughter Maddie alone after her husband Nathan died of cancer. Jamie, who finds herself financially challenged, is also stuck looking after her doddering mother-in-law Dorothy and understandably has trouble moving forward with her life. However, with the help of Maddie’s horseback riding coach, the handsome Tyler Meeks, Jamie slowly begins to join the land of the living once again.

These are strong female characters that you can truly empathize with and root for but there is no Mr. Big among the men. With the exception of Tyler Meeks, none of the men were particularly appealing to me and weren’t written with a lot of detail.

Together, these women find the strength to deal with the hardships of life within the protective bonds of their friendship and in the end it would seem that everyone gets to enjoy fine wine (Pinot Grigio for me please!) and live happily ever after which makes for good escapism. It was as hard for me to pick a favourite among them as it was with Sex and the City, which coincidentally, I just finished watching all 6 seasons of, back to back on DVD.

This is the first book I’ve read by San Diego’s Michele Scott and while I enjoyed it and think that the characters were well developed, the dialogue authentic, and the contemporary pop culture references very relatable, there is something about the flow of her writing style (somewhat staccato) that just doesn’t quite live up to the quality I’ve found in other contemporary women’s writers like Helen Fielding, Jane Porter or Maggie O’Farrell. However, I would read more of Scott’s work and can certainly identify with her personal philosophy and sense of humour. She left me wanting to take a trip to the Napa Valley with my best girlfriends so that we can enjoy our own Happy Hour. Cheers, Michelle!

[Janejellyroll · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a perfectly pleasant example of women's fiction -- four friends navigate the various challenges of new relationships, blended families, aging parents, career turmoil, etc. It's a bit contrived. The editing is pretty rough if that's a concern.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/4 Reviewed for BookPleasures.com

What’s better than good food and great wine? The answer is “Friendship, good food and great wine.” Happy Hour is a novel about just that. Four women with careers and messy lives meet every Sunday in their home of Napa Valley for fun, fellowship and of course good food and great wine. Through it all the women discover that sometimes all you need is friendship. Friendship can be the best prescription for happy through the hard times and the good. Here’s a little about each character you’ll meet in this story.

Kat owns a restaurant with her second husband, Christian. They face the challenges of a blended family between her two sons and his daughter. In addition Kat also has her estranged mother to deal with since her parents split.

Alyssa is an artist and owns a gallery. She holds a dark secret that she hasn’t told anyone, including her friends. However, in order to move on with her life she must face this skeleton in her closet before its too late.

Danielle is a divorced vintner, a wine merchant/maker, with two rebellious teenage daughters. Mark, her high school crush reappears in her life just as she receives news that her daughter is pregnant. On top of that, the baby is diagnosed with down syndrome.

Jamie is the editor- in-chief of wine lovers magazine. Her husband, Nathan died of cancer leaving her to raise their daughter Maddie alone. Stuck with financial challenges and a senile mother-in-law is tough on Jamie. When Jamie meets Tyler, her life begins to transform as she removes her cocoon and starts to live again.

Happy Hour is a novel with no real male lead characters. The book focuses on these four strong, independent and unique women as they face the challenges of life together and rely on their friendship to see them through. They have a mutual love of great food and great wine that brings them together once a week and offers them a chance to escape and talk as only women can. Just as in life, the friends get frustrated with one another, but they find the strength to move on together even during the most difficult times. With lots of love, laughter, tears and acceptance these women learn how to overcome the past and look forward to the future.

This novel had a fairly steady pace. The storyline grabbed my attention but parts were slower than others for me. I found my attention wandering occasionally, but overall, found myself rooting for these women in the midst of messy and complicated lives. I easily understood them as mothers and working women. I laughed and cried along with them. The author makes the characters feel real. There were a few flaws in the novel due to typos and grammatical errors. I cannot be sure that these haven’t been fixed since the novel has been published. Overall, I enjoyed the story, the characters and the writing.

[Stacie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It seems that the last few books I have read have been about women and friendships. So, far all of them have been enjoyable reads and this one didn't disappoint either. Even though this could be considered a "light" or "beach read", the topics covered in the story are not light. Each of the women in the story have a crisis going on in their life and must find a way to overcome it. Some of the situations were predictable, but there was just enough "surprise factor" to keep the reader interested. Even though the women were all friends, it wasn't always easy for them to share everything about their lives, but once they did, the friendships became stronger and even more supportive. I was wishing I had a group of friends like this to rally around when I was struggling.

This isn't my first Michele Scott novel and even though this is different from her mystery series, I think Scott can be sucessful in writing a series for these women as well. There was still much that can happen in the lives of these women to make another novel enjoyable.

As this book is read, every woman will realize how important the friends in her lives are. You will realize you can't get through anything without your friends. And, even though they may not give you the answers you want to hear, or understand your decisions, they will still be there for the long-haul. As the story stated, "Life was always changing, never the same." The one thing that did stay the same was their friendships - through all of it -divorce, death, family issues, parenting, teenagers, finances, aging parents, etc. But isn't that what makes life interesting? And each Sunday, as they gathered for wine, food, and support they realized "the only things they can really count on were friends, family and faith".

Since Scott is also a wine lover, and has a passion for writing, horses, and cooking, I feel like we learned a little about her as well, as these were featured throughout the characters in the story. The treat at the back of the book are the recipes for some of the dishes served at their Sunday gatherings.

Since there are a lot of "hot topics" in the novel, this would also make for an excellent book club discussion. There are even discussion questions included in the back of the book. I'm a sucker for great friendship novels and this one didn't disappoint.

[Wendy Hines · Rating 3 out of 5]

Happy Hour is just one of those great novels that come along that have you up late turning the pages. A group of women who gather together to share friendship, ups and downs of life, laughter and tears.

There is Jamie, a woman who was living the dream until her husband's cancer came back. Now, she's the editor-in-chief at a wine lover's magazine, raising her daughter on her own, as well as caring for her elderly mother-in-law.

Danielle, whose husband divorces her after twenty years of marriage. She has one daughter in college, one still at home, but she decides to pursue her lifelong dream of winemaking, a dream her ex-husband had mocked.

Alyssa, a beautiful woman who owns a gallery but is also an artist. She is living a wonderful life until an event from her past catches up to her future.

Then there is Kat, when recently divorced was looking for a job, and she found Christian's. She is the Sommilier and her and Christian hit it off instantly. They marry and they work together and raise a passel of children.

Though ups and downs, laughter and joy, tears and tragedy, the women meet every other Sunday for their Happy Hour. A time they try new wines, gourmet food and share their lives and offer advice and understanding.

The characters of Happy Hour are well-developed and realistic. Their troubles are tangible and relatable to the reader and the writing is smooth, the pages flowing like water. I loved Happy Hour and I'm sure if you enjoy Women's Fiction, you will too. Two thumbs up!

[Staci · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. I think I suffer from some misconception that the "free" books are not always the highest caliber of writing or story. I can honestly say that I've been proven wrong! The author wrote a very readable story with a great plot, depth, and characters that you could really identify with and root for during their tough moments in life. I was lucky to have been able to read and discuss this with a group of women who are just as varied as the four women in this novel. We all felt some type of connection to one or more of the characters and could easily empathize with their heartaches! The best part of this book was that the women came together every Sunday to eat, drink wine, and share. I really liked that type of bonding and friendship!!

Recommend? Absolutely! Especially to those that love books that are about women, friendship,  love, heartache, and realizing life-long dreams. And it's a steal for $2.99!!

Source: Free Book for my Kindle


Bookish Thoughts #30
© 2012, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

[Al · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story about Four friends working in Napa Valley, Sundays are for fellowship, good food and wine. Jamie is editor-in-chief at "Wine Lover's Magazine," and a single mother. Before her husband died, she lived a fairy tale life. Guilt from his death keeps her from moving forward. Kat is a sommelier, and co-owner of a restaurant with her chef husband Christian. Although deeply in love they deal with a myriad of issues, including ex-spouses, Kat's teenage sons and her new age mother Venus. Danielle is a vintner who finds herself entrenched in both an identity and family crises when her eldest daughter returns home from college with a bombshell of a secret. Alyssa is an artist and gallery owner. When a tragic past event catches up with her, she must face the skeleton in her closet and rely on her friends to see her through her darkest hours. These women discover that friendship is the right prescription to get through the hard times as well as for enjoying the wonderful moments together.

[Ursula Gorman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy Hour is a story of four friends and what each of them goes through and how their friendship helps them through tragedy, heartbreak, divorce and coming out on the other side.Four women that are vastly different, yet share a common interest in wines in some fashion. One makes it, one writes about it, one is an expert on what it goes with and one paints works of art about it...
The only thing that kept this story from getting a five star is there are certain parts that drag some and get a bit boring. I felt the story could have been shortened a bit and kept the pace moving better. That being said, it is worth the read.
It's a fairly clean read and the faith they have/find in God throughout the story was a nice surprise. It isn't 'in your face', but rather subtle and works well with the story lines.
I'm very pleased that all the ladies have a happy ending...at least for now!

[Jo Notary · Rating 5 out of 5]

358pgs, Four women who are there for each other:
Jamie is the editor, a single mother and caretaker to her senile mother-in-law, still recovering, financially and emotionally from the death of her husband.
Danielle is a vintner and the divorced mom of two. She's basking in the success of the wines she created, after her divorce. Then her daughter comes home with news that will shock her to her core.
Kat is co-owner of a magnificent restaurant with her chef husband, and mother of a blended family. But is being deeply in love with your husband enough to get them through the teenage years, step-children and exes?
Alyssa is an artist and gallery owner with a secret of her own. The time has come for her to put someone else first, to face the past and to deal with her demons. What she never expected to find was love and her "home."

[Cecilia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last of my Summer 2010 Challenges was to read a book with an alcoholic beverage on the cover. It was harder to find than you think... at least to find one I wanted to read.

I stumbled upon this little gem, and like finding a great bottle wine that well balanced and a joy to the palate for an amazing low prize ($2.99/Kindle) I am so happy to share this with my friends.

Four women living in Napa with real grown up problems find strength and frustration with each other as they move forward in their lives. This self published book is written so lovely, that you can over look the tiny flaws and typos.

To top it off, Ms. Scott shares recipes and wine pairing suggestions to go with those recipes. I cannot wait to try Kat's Fettuccine, Goat Cheese and Pancetta

[Deb Cushman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The women of Happy Hour are an eclectic group. Their lives intersect in numerous ways and their friendships survive many trials of adversity. Through it all, they share their stories, their joys and pains, their disappointments and loves.

I loved the relationships these women shared. I wanted to join their little group, and by the end of the book, I felt that I had. I consider a book a good read when I don’t want to leave the characters behind after turning the last page. That was certainly the case with Happy Hour.

Each of the women’s stories is unique, yet each carries a similar theme of what constitutes a family and makes a home. Each woman searched and discovered her own answer to that question.

I received this book in a giveaway from the Goodread’s First Reads program.

[Leah Hortin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Free kindle read. I was excited about reading a story about 4 women in Napa that are each uniquely involved in the wine industry but I ended up having a hard time getting into the story. Each chapter focused on a different woman, rotating throughout the book. The women were middle aged, all going through their own crisis - divorce, caring for an ailing mother-in-law, an un-wedded pregnant daughter, etc. I couldn't relate to the story at all but it was fine... I envied the bond that they had. Then the end of the book just took a nose-dive. The story-line because so incredibly unbeleiveable I just couldn't take it. I ended up skimming the last bits, trying to not let my eyes roll out of my head.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book from GoodReads! :) It was a quick (I read it in 3 days) and enjoyable read. The story follows 4 friends and the ups and downs of their lives. In parts, the story was a little predictable and with a few of the love matches, I had to close the book and say, "Come on, Really?? That quick..." but I over all I liked it. I will pass this book on to my friends. I enjoyed the camaraderie of the women and it often made me think of my girlfriends and the bond that we have. :) With this book, I also received another one of Michele Scott's books, Saddled with Trouble, and I am going to start that one tonight. I hope I enjoy it and have a new author to follow! :)

[Jeannie and Louis Rigod · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book to be excellently crafted. It is so much more than a Women's Literature novel. The woven tapestry of the four lives of the characters make you feel you are the fifth friend. It is a story about life, hopes, dreams, despair, and love. Then as a stellar bonus, you get outstanding recipes and wine pairings. A book club guide is included and I can see why this book should be selected as a featured read.

The sad thing is that Men might give it a pass because the characters are women. It is sad, because, men could learn alot about women's viewpoints by reading it through to conclusion.

I recommend this book to all over 18.

[Brogan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won my copy of Happy Hour from a Goodreads giveaway. Truly a heartwarming story of 4 women, friendship, and life's trials. I loved reading each woman's story and how they dealt with challenges in their lives. However, the Wine Lover's Magazine pieces written by Jamie seemed like an afterthought and didn't seem to support the rest of the story. Also, based on the title and description given of the book, I'm not sure there was enough emphasis on the actual happy hours to call the book Happy Hour. What I read was each woman telling her own story but not as much about the four women interacting with each other. Happy Hour, while warm and enjoyable, was predictable and familiar.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed getting to know Kat, Jamie, Danielle, and Alyssa in this book. The common denominator that brought these women together was wine. They would get together every other Sunday to share wine, a meal, and help each other through the ups and downs of their every day lives. The things they were going through are things we all may have to deal with at one time or another, that's why this story felt so true to life. I could picture myself being friends with these women and to me that is the hallmark of a great book! The only down side was that the story had to end...please continue with these characters!

[Krystle Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book took me a while to get into it. I almost gave up on it a few times but didn't want to...I'm glad I didn't because I love how everything ended up. I think my problem in the beginning was keeping everyone straight. Having 4 main characters was a hard thing for me to grasp and it wasn't until they became more intertwined did I feel like the book moved in the right direction for me. I ended up really liking the characters and the stories all ended in a beautiful way. ALl in all I'd say it was a good one :)

[Deanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Happy Hour was an inspiring book that looks into the lives of a group of women. Through all of life's ups and downs, the women get together, share, and help each other through. This look into the women's psyche shows that through it all, with the help of some good friends, you can endure anything that life throws at you. My book club highly recommends this book and would love to read a follow up, if Michele Scott writes one, looking into the women's lives further.

[Dan Silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

I worked on this book. Though not my usually choice for recreational reading, I was lucky have the opportunity to pick this up. The characters are fresh and diverse, giving the reader a wide range of protagonists to relate to. The topics are fun, but the plot does deal with serious issues regarding relationships, life, and love, without getting too heavy. It is a fun read for anyone who enjoys women's fiction.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy Hour is about a small group of women who meet once a month for a dinner and wine date to catch up on each other's lives. I enjoyed the book because the women are real and relatable. They are dealing with problems in their lives that many middle-aged women in this day and age go through. I almost didn't want to read this book because the cover is hideous but I'm so glad that I opened it to the first page and dove in. The read was so worth it!

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was super easy and quick to read. The strong friendships between these four women are amazing and awesome and I can only hope that years from now I can look back at the friendships I've had the ones I will have and hope we will be that united. It reminds me of my mother and her "Girls". Bestfriends since childhood, they've gotten married, had children, divorces, death, love, ect and still these women get together once a month and I think will continue to do so until they're dead.

[Macy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful story about how much better life is when getting through with true friends. Not just people you are friendly with, but true deep there for the tough stuff along with all of the good. Marriage, divorce, step-families, business successes and failures, illnesses and some great food and wine. Good narration (Audible.com) made for a delightful listen. A little bit too much talk of religion and faith for me, but not overwhelming. Its just there.