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A Place Called Home
When Thea Wyndham and Mitchell Baker learn they've been named joint guardians for their late friends' three children, they're little more than acquaintances. Barely polite acquaintances, at that. Something about Mitch's forthright intensity has always left ad exec Thea feeling off-balance, while Mitch makes no secret of his disdain when Thea offers him financial assistance if he'll take sole guardianship.
Thea is far from heartless. She's just plain terrified of her new parenting responsibilities. Both she and Mitch are romantically involved with other people. Yet the more time they spend together, the less certain she is of her loyalties. There are complications and missteps, tears and laughter--lots of it. And somehow, through it all, the dawning realization that the last place she thought she'd find herself could be just where she belongs. . .
Praise for Jo Goodman's Marry Me
"Fans of historical and western romance will appreciate Goodman's witty dialogue, first-rate narrative prose and clever plotting." -Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"An insightful, gently sensual love story." -Library Journal
Thea is far from heartless. She's just plain terrified of her new parenting responsibilities. Both she and Mitch are romantically involved with other people. Yet the more time they spend together, the less certain she is of her loyalties. There are complications and missteps, tears and laughter--lots of it. And somehow, through it all, the dawning realization that the last place she thought she'd find herself could be just where she belongs. . .
Praise for Jo Goodman's Marry Me
"Fans of historical and western romance will appreciate Goodman's witty dialogue, first-rate narrative prose and clever plotting." -Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"An insightful, gently sensual love story." -Library Journal
432 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 6, 2011
111 people are currently reading
519 people want to read
About the author
Jo Goodman
60 books479 followersTo find characters to illustrate my first family saga, I cut out models from the Sears catalogue. I was in fourth grade, but it was a start. In seventh grade I wrote a melodrama about two orphan sisters, one of whom was pregnant. There was also a story about a runaway girl with the unlikely name of Strawberry and one about mistaken identities and an evil blind date. My supportive, but vaguely concerned parents, sighed with relief when I announced I was going to write children's books. They bought me an electric typewriter and crossed their fingers, but somehow PASSION'S BRIDE came out. No one was really surprised.
I graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a major in biology and a minor in chemistry and some notion that I would do marine research. Years of competitive swimming didn't help me anticipate seasickness. A career change seemed in order. I began working with adolescents and families, first as a childcare worker and later, after graduating from West Virginia University with a master's degree in counseling, as a therapist. I am currently the executive director of a child caring/mental health agency and find my work and my writing often compliment each other. One grounds me in reality and the other offers a break from it.
I graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a major in biology and a minor in chemistry and some notion that I would do marine research. Years of competitive swimming didn't help me anticipate seasickness. A career change seemed in order. I began working with adolescents and families, first as a childcare worker and later, after graduating from West Virginia University with a master's degree in counseling, as a therapist. I am currently the executive director of a child caring/mental health agency and find my work and my writing often compliment each other. One grounds me in reality and the other offers a break from it.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
May 12, 2019
3.5 stars. Might have been 4 if it was a bit shorter ... dragged a bit towards the end and saw what was coming... was a bit obvious, I thought.
June 24, 2015
With great hesitation I am writing this review. The main characters have moments of unlike-ability but you soon understand their reasons for it. I believe that, at this time, this is Ms. Goodman's only contemporary romance. Written with some darker content it might be hard for some people to enjoy.
With the deaths of their married friends, Mitch Baker and Thea Wyndham are given joint custody of the couple's three children. Thea declines and, naturally, Mitch is upset. He has always had a thing for her and can't understand why she is behaving this way. On the other hand, he has a good support system and has always enjoyed being around the children so his decision is somewhat easier to make.
At the beginning of this story, each is romantically involved with another person. Long story short and trying not to give away spoilers, this couple's relationship grows slowly. If you have read any of my other reviews regarding this author there is no insta-sex but when it finally happens it borders on erotic.
My guess is that those 30 and older would appreciate this romance most. If you have children you will understand better why the main characters have their moments. There is no big misunderstanding but each has a few times where you'd like to say, "Really? You want to leave it like that?" and knock their heads.
I am giving it four stars because of the realism of the subject line. Too often the hero and heroine meet, they have sex, there is the hated 'Big Misunderstanding', yada-yada-yada, they realize they love each other and we have the HEA. You WON'T find that here.
If, after reading this story and you enjoyed it, you may want to look for contemporary romances by Theresa Weir. Her main characters also have depth, are not perfect, there are moments of angst and the hero and heroine have to work for a HEA. In other words, the stories have meat and it is something I like.
With the deaths of their married friends, Mitch Baker and Thea Wyndham are given joint custody of the couple's three children. Thea declines and, naturally, Mitch is upset. He has always had a thing for her and can't understand why she is behaving this way. On the other hand, he has a good support system and has always enjoyed being around the children so his decision is somewhat easier to make.
At the beginning of this story, each is romantically involved with another person. Long story short and trying not to give away spoilers, this couple's relationship grows slowly. If you have read any of my other reviews regarding this author there is no insta-sex but when it finally happens it borders on erotic.
My guess is that those 30 and older would appreciate this romance most. If you have children you will understand better why the main characters have their moments. There is no big misunderstanding but each has a few times where you'd like to say, "Really? You want to leave it like that?" and knock their heads.
I am giving it four stars because of the realism of the subject line. Too often the hero and heroine meet, they have sex, there is the hated 'Big Misunderstanding', yada-yada-yada, they realize they love each other and we have the HEA. You WON'T find that here.
If, after reading this story and you enjoyed it, you may want to look for contemporary romances by Theresa Weir. Her main characters also have depth, are not perfect, there are moments of angst and the hero and heroine have to work for a HEA. In other words, the stories have meat and it is something I like.
June 30, 2022
So I didn’t expect this to be 4 stars but it was ! I just love the plot and ok there were things glossed over to facilitate the romance. Mitch was a month in with the kids when the book started and if I was looking for maybe a bit more plausibility it would be to see the kids struggle with grief more and Mitch (not a playboy but a well defined bachelor) to struggle more with being a dad. He was paternal first off the bat and Thea was the one that looked cold sophisticated rich lady . But as the story developed you saw that she wasn’t and so did Mitch . Now they both had partners going into this and they kissed while both in a relationship with OP. Honestly I don’t mind that at all ... if I was being Picky I would like more of Mitch’s POV about Thea. Don’t get me wrong he had asked her out 5 times in the past before they were thrown together as co guardians and while both single but he has this hot little girlfriend that he likes sex with finds attractive but has no interest in marrying right now. When him and Thea get together for the first time he is clearly deep in but then he allows them to pull away again after saying something hurtful to her . I didn’t see it coming and I felt while he contacted her constantly he was sure of himself and didn’t grovel enough when the apology came . Don’t let that deter you because he a gem of a hero and really loves her. His ex inadvertently says something near the end of the book about him never forgetting to wear a condom and while a lot of you may not like the old ow talking about their sex life I thought it was brilliant because Thea knew instantly he wanted her so much he never thought of it . A clear distinction of his attraction to Thea over the younger ex girlfriend. Maybe I’m weird but I thought it was cute. 🥰
...Thea shrugged. “You never really said who the father was. I thought it was Mitch.” “Mitch!” Gina’s jaw actually went slack. “You’re kidding.” “Oh, no, she’s not,” Mitch said. “Well,” Thea began defensively, “how was I supposed to know?” Gina shook her head, her mouth pulling in a wry twist. “Because Mitch never forgets to wear a condom.” Mitch nearly blew a mouthful of coffee across the table. Thea stepped behind him and pounded his back—hard. “You okay, Mitch?” asked Gina. “Your face is red.” He made a strangled noise, part cough, part wheeze. Thea gave him another hearty slap between his shoulder blades. “He’ll be fine,” she assured Gina. “I think the coffee just went down the wrong pipe. Isn’t that right, Mitch?”
...Thea shrugged. “You never really said who the father was. I thought it was Mitch.” “Mitch!” Gina’s jaw actually went slack. “You’re kidding.” “Oh, no, she’s not,” Mitch said. “Well,” Thea began defensively, “how was I supposed to know?” Gina shook her head, her mouth pulling in a wry twist. “Because Mitch never forgets to wear a condom.” Mitch nearly blew a mouthful of coffee across the table. Thea stepped behind him and pounded his back—hard. “You okay, Mitch?” asked Gina. “Your face is red.” He made a strangled noise, part cough, part wheeze. Thea gave him another hearty slap between his shoulder blades. “He’ll be fine,” she assured Gina. “I think the coffee just went down the wrong pipe. Isn’t that right, Mitch?”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 23, 2015
Goodman’s writing style is the only reason I was able to power through this long, slow-paced book. The blurb states both MCs are romantically involved with other people. Well, in the first half of the book, the plot devices such as a 31-year-old heroine being engaged with a 61-year-old man or a 33-year-old hero being romantically involved with a 23-year-old woman held little appeal for me even though the author carefully crafted both relationships with a certain level of maturity. Once her fiancee and his girlfriend were out of picture, these two ex also played supporting roles in the last few chapters on some baby/hookup drama which I found totally unnecessary. Overall, I didn’t enjoy the story:/
June 30, 2019
Jo Goodman is such a marvellous portrayer of people and she writes such authentic dialogues. This book is her only CR and I don't know why, because it's as good as any of her historicals. Thea and Mitchell are nominated co-guardians of 3 young children, recently orphaned following the tragic deaths of their parents, close friends of both protagonists. Problem was that Thea was nowhere to be found immediately after the accident and Mitchell was the sole person available to take in the shell-shocked children. A month later and they have just started to settle into a semblance of a routine at his house. Thea finally turns up without any explanation of where she had been and seemingly reluctant to share in the responsibility of raising the kids. Instead of committing her time and care, she instead offers monetary aid, something she has plenty of, being in charge of her family's advertisement firm. As a political cartoonist, Mitchell's bank balance is not quite as impressive, but he is not willing to accept Thea's emotionally void alms and the children, who have always adored their 'Aunt Thea', definitely deserve better. Slowly we and Mitchel learn that Thea is not quite the aloof and uncaring rich bitch, she initially appeared to be.
It's an interesting premise. The children are adorable. Mitchell is perfect as the instant father-figure who did not baulk at taking on this role, entrusted to him by his dear late friends. Both protagonists started the book in relationships with other people, Thea engaged to a man 30 years her senior (!) and Mitchell dating a young lady almost 10 years his junior. Mitchell broke up his relationship soon enough, but Thea kept her fiance in the picture for a while longer, which did not sit well with me. I really didn't quite get her attraction to this much older man, because she was wealthy herself and did not need his money. The author did explain the reasons (*spoilers* she didn't want children and he was a safe choice), but it was still a bit cringy if I may be judgemental. Despite this, I like that there are no evil characters, everyone's amicable and the growing attraction or affection, I should say because the attraction had as always there, between the protagonists is slowburn and very respectful of the children's feelings.
It's an interesting premise. The children are adorable. Mitchell is perfect as the instant father-figure who did not baulk at taking on this role, entrusted to him by his dear late friends. Both protagonists started the book in relationships with other people, Thea engaged to a man 30 years her senior (!) and Mitchell dating a young lady almost 10 years his junior. Mitchell broke up his relationship soon enough, but Thea kept her fiance in the picture for a while longer, which did not sit well with me. I really didn't quite get her attraction to this much older man, because she was wealthy herself and did not need his money. The author did explain the reasons (*spoilers* she didn't want children and he was a safe choice), but it was still a bit cringy if I may be judgemental. Despite this, I like that there are no evil characters, everyone's amicable and the growing attraction or affection, I should say because the attraction had as always there, between the protagonists is slowburn and very respectful of the children's feelings.
September 23, 2011
Thoroughly enjoyable contemporary romance between two people who never thought they'd end up being instant parents to the orphaned children of their respective best friends. Very sweet and surprisingly sexy at the same time. I need to read some of Jo Goodman's other books, many of which I have on my to read shelf at home.
Reviewed in the December 2011 issue of Affaire de Coeur Magazine: http://affairedecoeur.com.
Overall rating: 4.5/5.0
Reviewed in the December 2011 issue of Affaire de Coeur Magazine: http://affairedecoeur.com.
Overall rating: 4.5/5.0
February 1, 2012
3.5 stars. Goodman’s first contemporary novel works surprisingly well with her elegant, understated style, aside from attempts to make her characters sound like “typical” men and women that sometimes come off as awkward. It’s not a typical romance in many ways: both of the two main characters are involved with other people for a good third of the story, and we even see some of those characters’ perspectives, which makes for a slightly uncomfortable read. I suspect A Place Called Home is closer to realistic fiction than many romance readers will enjoy -- the characters also live in a world in which religion and politics exist (!) -- but it was such an absorbing story, I willingly left my comfort zone.
Mitch and Thea don’t know each other well, despite their best friends being married to each other. Then an accident leaves them joint guardians of three young children. As the book opens, Mitch has been waiting impatiently for Thea to return from a trip so that she can take on some of the parenting responsibilities, and is shocked and disgusted when she flatly refuses to contribute anything more than financial help.
I was afraid at first that this was going to be a story blaming a selfish woman for choosing her fiance over her God-given obligation to raise children. As it turns out, Thea has some serious and compelling reasons to fear being a mother. But her love for the children, all she has left of the man who was essentially the only family she has, draws her into their lives... and into Mitch’s life.
Thea’s story is deeply sad: she had three sets of parents, birth, foster and adoptive and the only pair that truly wanted her wasn’t allowed to keep her. She’s not the most lovable person in the world, but increasingly sympathetic. Mitch is a warm, caring man -- not perfect, but just flawed enough. His interactions with the children are especially sweet and tender.
Incidentally, I don’t know if I would have noticed this if I weren’t concurrently reading a lot about rape culture vs. consent culture, but the first half A Place Called Home is set firmly in the latter and I think it’s done very well. It’s not an in your face message, just subtle looks and questions between the characters during intimacy to make sure they’re both on the same page -- a great example of how this can be done without “ruining the moment.” There’s also some interesting depiction of non-consent in the other direction -- Mitch’s girlfriend is overly physical with him and frequently crosses his boundaries. I was disappointed when the second half of the book noticably lost that focus.
There were a number of things about this book that bothered me: some headhopping, occasional overwriting (often an issue for me with Goodman), the fact that neither Mitch nor Thea brought up their other relationships before having sex, and that they then had unsafe sex, which was kind of icky under the circumstances. (Both relationships were over at that point, but neither of them knew that.) And I thought it kind of odd that . The plot takes a weird, distracting dive towards the end, which left me feeling somewhat dissatisfied. Overall, I won’t be broken hearted if Goodman sticks to historicals from now on, but will certainly read her next book, whatever genre it belongs to.
Mitch and Thea don’t know each other well, despite their best friends being married to each other. Then an accident leaves them joint guardians of three young children. As the book opens, Mitch has been waiting impatiently for Thea to return from a trip so that she can take on some of the parenting responsibilities, and is shocked and disgusted when she flatly refuses to contribute anything more than financial help.
I was afraid at first that this was going to be a story blaming a selfish woman for choosing her fiance over her God-given obligation to raise children. As it turns out, Thea has some serious and compelling reasons to fear being a mother. But her love for the children, all she has left of the man who was essentially the only family she has, draws her into their lives... and into Mitch’s life.
Thea’s story is deeply sad: she had three sets of parents, birth, foster and adoptive and the only pair that truly wanted her wasn’t allowed to keep her. She’s not the most lovable person in the world, but increasingly sympathetic. Mitch is a warm, caring man -- not perfect, but just flawed enough. His interactions with the children are especially sweet and tender.
Incidentally, I don’t know if I would have noticed this if I weren’t concurrently reading a lot about rape culture vs. consent culture, but the first half A Place Called Home is set firmly in the latter and I think it’s done very well. It’s not an in your face message, just subtle looks and questions between the characters during intimacy to make sure they’re both on the same page -- a great example of how this can be done without “ruining the moment.” There’s also some interesting depiction of non-consent in the other direction -- Mitch’s girlfriend is overly physical with him and frequently crosses his boundaries. I was disappointed when the second half of the book noticably lost that focus.
There were a number of things about this book that bothered me: some headhopping, occasional overwriting (often an issue for me with Goodman), the fact that neither Mitch nor Thea brought up their other relationships before having sex, and that they then had unsafe sex, which was kind of icky under the circumstances. (Both relationships were over at that point, but neither of them knew that.) And I thought it kind of odd that . The plot takes a weird, distracting dive towards the end, which left me feeling somewhat dissatisfied. Overall, I won’t be broken hearted if Goodman sticks to historicals from now on, but will certainly read her next book, whatever genre it belongs to.
June 9, 2012
This is third Jo Goodman book I've read and I've not enjoyed any of them. I keep trying though, because I feel that the writing is well-done, clean.
Even though this novel is well written, it's not plotted well. It's TERRIBLY boring. I've had an incredibly stressful couple of weeks and I wanted an easy-going read to take my mind off of real life. I should've chosen something rigorous and exciting, because this book certainly wasn't the relaxing read I wanted. It bored me to tears.
There is no real conflict for this couple. Their pairing was inevitable from the beginning. The rest was a slow sentimental trudge to the end.
Also, what's with Goodman's characterizations? It seems to me that all of her characters have these incredibly heinous pasts. This main character was abused, dragged out of a loving foster home into a cold and heartless environment only to end up severely addicted to pills. Yet, this backstory was not a true conflict in the storyline because she had already acknowledged her addiction. She just had to learn confidence or trust or something. This was all just so depressing and tiresome filler.
About 90% through the book I found myself just wishing it was over. Then there was a STUPID misunderstanding (one of my romance novel pet peeves), so I started skimming through. At 95% I decided I didn't care how it ended and stopped reading.
Even though this novel is well written, it's not plotted well. It's TERRIBLY boring. I've had an incredibly stressful couple of weeks and I wanted an easy-going read to take my mind off of real life. I should've chosen something rigorous and exciting, because this book certainly wasn't the relaxing read I wanted. It bored me to tears.
There is no real conflict for this couple. Their pairing was inevitable from the beginning. The rest was a slow sentimental trudge to the end.
Also, what's with Goodman's characterizations? It seems to me that all of her characters have these incredibly heinous pasts. This main character was abused, dragged out of a loving foster home into a cold and heartless environment only to end up severely addicted to pills. Yet, this backstory was not a true conflict in the storyline because she had already acknowledged her addiction. She just had to learn confidence or trust or something. This was all just so depressing and tiresome filler.
About 90% through the book I found myself just wishing it was over. Then there was a STUPID misunderstanding (one of my romance novel pet peeves), so I started skimming through. At 95% I decided I didn't care how it ended and stopped reading.
September 7, 2020
Even though I hate when the hero sleeps with another woman in the same book, I WAS liking this story.
Until the hero said the biggest assholish thing ever. It was plain mean. I kept waiting for it to be resolved but it never was. It totally ruined him for me. I just couldn’t like him any more.
And jokes about threesomes? Admiring his ex while she’s in a robe while being in a new relationship with the heroine? Not my idea of a good guy.
Add to that, there’s way too much page time dedicated to the hero’s much younger girlfriend (not the heroine) and the heroine’s much older boyfriend. Top it off with the fact that the two ex’s get together in the end and have a nearly 40 year age difference. ICK.
POV's and transitions were rough.
Until the hero said the biggest assholish thing ever. It was plain mean. I kept waiting for it to be resolved but it never was. It totally ruined him for me. I just couldn’t like him any more.
And jokes about threesomes? Admiring his ex while she’s in a robe while being in a new relationship with the heroine? Not my idea of a good guy.
Add to that, there’s way too much page time dedicated to the hero’s much younger girlfriend (not the heroine) and the heroine’s much older boyfriend. Top it off with the fact that the two ex’s get together in the end and have a nearly 40 year age difference. ICK.
POV's and transitions were rough.
December 17, 2020
I’ve had this book sitting on my TBR pile since 2011 – I didn’t realize it was that old. I think the reason I’m so late getting to it is I see Jo Goodman as a historical author but when I read the recently released Ramsey Rules, I see that she kills it with contemporary books too so that kicked into reading this one. And I’m so glad I did as I really enjoyed this book.
Thea Wyndham and Mitchell Baker don’t have much in common before the start of the story, but as the book opens, they’ve been made co-guardians of three children, twin boys and a slightly older girl, when the children’s parents and their respective best friends are killed in a car crash. Thea and Mitch barely know each other. They met at the wedding but have had very little interactions since then. Now they are responsible for raising a family together. The story opens as they are at the lawyer trying to work things out. Mitch, a political cartoonist is all onboard though he does realize how much his life has changed in a very short period of time.
Thea, a high-power advertising executive is not so on board. At the very beginning of the book she comes across as somewhat uncaring and reluctant to get too involved thinking rather that giving money should be enough. However very soon we see that’s not the case at all. In fact, she is a wonderful and caring person who had a very difficult upbringing and copes the best she can.
Mitch is delightful. He has a girlfriend but as he is drawn more and more to Thea, he knows he has to let her go. He’s funny and giving and makes for a great parent. You can tell he loves the children and is willing to do whatever it takes to help them.
I love the relationship between Mitch and Thea. At first, it’s a bit adversarial but as they get to know each other better, they become friends and work together for the kids. Thea has a fiancé but when it becomes clear her fiancé is at best ambivalent about the kids, she put them first.
As with all of Jo Goodman’s books, the dialogue is sparkling and the character development throughout the book is masterfully done. The kids are delightful, real kids and she even writes vividly about the parents to the point the reader too mourns them.
With two books, Jo Goodman has proved she’s just as good at writing contemporary books as she is at writing historicals
Thea Wyndham and Mitchell Baker don’t have much in common before the start of the story, but as the book opens, they’ve been made co-guardians of three children, twin boys and a slightly older girl, when the children’s parents and their respective best friends are killed in a car crash. Thea and Mitch barely know each other. They met at the wedding but have had very little interactions since then. Now they are responsible for raising a family together. The story opens as they are at the lawyer trying to work things out. Mitch, a political cartoonist is all onboard though he does realize how much his life has changed in a very short period of time.
Thea, a high-power advertising executive is not so on board. At the very beginning of the book she comes across as somewhat uncaring and reluctant to get too involved thinking rather that giving money should be enough. However very soon we see that’s not the case at all. In fact, she is a wonderful and caring person who had a very difficult upbringing and copes the best she can.
Mitch is delightful. He has a girlfriend but as he is drawn more and more to Thea, he knows he has to let her go. He’s funny and giving and makes for a great parent. You can tell he loves the children and is willing to do whatever it takes to help them.
I love the relationship between Mitch and Thea. At first, it’s a bit adversarial but as they get to know each other better, they become friends and work together for the kids. Thea has a fiancé but when it becomes clear her fiancé is at best ambivalent about the kids, she put them first.
As with all of Jo Goodman’s books, the dialogue is sparkling and the character development throughout the book is masterfully done. The kids are delightful, real kids and she even writes vividly about the parents to the point the reader too mourns them.
With two books, Jo Goodman has proved she’s just as good at writing contemporary books as she is at writing historicals
January 9, 2013
4/5; 4 stars; B+
The pacing and tone of this book are more in keeping with 'women's fiction' than typical contemporary romance. However, there are enough romantic moments and sex scenes to put it in the romance category.
I have always liked Jo Goodman's voice and I have always enjoyed a well written story about people finding happiness under challenging circumstances. Both combined in this story to make a satisfying read. I really enjoyed the children in the story and would have liked to see a bit more.
The slow unveiling of Thea's past was well done. I thought the character was amazingly effective, compassionate, and strong; especially when it became clear what kind of horrible upbringing she had.
Mitch was a great character also. He had couple of major screw ups but managed to redeem himself.
This book also really made me laugh. The conversation between Mitch and Thea during the Feminine Hygiene Emergency had me in stitches.
The pacing and tone of this book are more in keeping with 'women's fiction' than typical contemporary romance. However, there are enough romantic moments and sex scenes to put it in the romance category.
I have always liked Jo Goodman's voice and I have always enjoyed a well written story about people finding happiness under challenging circumstances. Both combined in this story to make a satisfying read. I really enjoyed the children in the story and would have liked to see a bit more.
The slow unveiling of Thea's past was well done. I thought the character was amazingly effective, compassionate, and strong; especially when it became clear what kind of horrible upbringing she had.
Mitch was a great character also. He had couple of major screw ups but managed to redeem himself.
This book also really made me laugh. The conversation between Mitch and Thea during the Feminine Hygiene Emergency had me in stitches.
December 14, 2011
This wasn't your typical story of - two friends coming together to raise their deceased friends children and end up happily ever after. Thea had her own issues to deal with while Mitch thought she was trying to get out of taking care of the children. But as they get to know each other more - they come to realize that as friends they can do this together. Eventually they figure out what they want. There was some sad parts, some funny parts - like Mitch in the Target trying to figure out what type of product to buy Em. Altogether - a heartwarming story of opposites attract while raising orphaned children.
December 16, 2011
I found this book to be dull. I liked the characters and the kids, but just couldn't bring myself to care about any of them. I realize this is Jo Goodman's first contemporary and hopefully her next will have more zing.
Plus, she needs just one to have a heroine who wasn't abused as a child. Just ONCE!
Plus, she needs just one to have a heroine who wasn't abused as a child. Just ONCE!
September 21, 2012
This is really moving story about two people who have their lives turned upside down by the untimely deaths of their friends in a car accident, leaving behind three children for them to raise together. Mitch has had the children for a month already when Thea returns from her month long vacation. No one has been able to get in touch with her and so she's devastated to learn of her friend's deaths. There has always been a spark between them, but Thea has always fought it. Now that she's thrown together with Mitch, will she able to fight it and her demons?
This book moved me to tears many times. And to laugh out loud just as many times. The characters are well written, I liked Mitch and Thea quite a lot. It was interesting to see a woman have more things holding her back from being the best her. Even learning about Thea did not diminish what I felt for her. This book was an amazing read and I am thinking of keeping it in my personal library.
This is also my first book by Jo Goodman, but I will definitely be looking at the other books she has written.
This book moved me to tears many times. And to laugh out loud just as many times. The characters are well written, I liked Mitch and Thea quite a lot. It was interesting to see a woman have more things holding her back from being the best her. Even learning about Thea did not diminish what I felt for her. This book was an amazing read and I am thinking of keeping it in my personal library.
This is also my first book by Jo Goodman, but I will definitely be looking at the other books she has written.
May 3, 2012
I liked the slow build up of the relationship between Mitch and Thea. I liked that they were willing to work together, without being in a relationship with each other for the sake of the children they ended up with guardianship of. What I didn't like was Joel and Gina. Joel and Gina started off being the significant others of Mitch and Thea and they ended up together and with a baby...Joel being in his 60s and Gina 23. I also didn't care for the change in point of view in what seemed like the middle of the paragraph. We didn't just get Mitch and Thea, but Joel, Gina and emelie's. and emilie was an 11 year old who planned her wedding in the thoughts we got.
January 18, 2012
I'll be honest, I usually love Jo Goodman but there was something off about this book. I couldn't tell what it was but there was something just slightly left of center.
Like knowing that you need to add an ingredient to a dish but not knowing which one.
Thea annoyed me at first, and I'll be honest, I do not like her name. Even with all of her issues I still found her bland. Mitch was a bit of a hothead but I still came away with him being my favorite character.
I wish the kids had been involved more.
Like knowing that you need to add an ingredient to a dish but not knowing which one.
Thea annoyed me at first, and I'll be honest, I do not like her name. Even with all of her issues I still found her bland. Mitch was a bit of a hothead but I still came away with him being my favorite character.
I wish the kids had been involved more.
July 26, 2016
I enjoyed meeting Thea and Mitch. Their story was a sad one, and the two made the best of the situation. I LOVED the twins. The were full of life and said exactly what popped in to their heads. I thought this story was a bit long. It was a slow starter for me. I didn't really start getting all that interested until close to 3/4 through. The thought sequences were VERY descriptive and the sex scenes, while hot, were as equally as wordy. I found myself skimming a lot. I will try this author again, but I think I will wait a while.
August 28, 2016
Orphaned children are given into the joint custody of unrelated friends of the deceased parents. The rest of the romance is built on this rather ingenious device. Characters are strong, dialog is good, and there are some inventive twists in the tale. The descriptions of physical intimacy were thankfully few, but those were intensely graphic.
August 19, 2012
This book started off really strong for me but then became redundant and cookie cutterish/predictable about half way through. It did read quickly, but more because it was skimmable than it sucked me in.
November 29, 2012
Ugh.
Well, that was one of the most WASP-ish books I have ever read.
2 stars:
One for having been able to finish.
The other for it at least being written well enough, although the random pov head-hopping from he to she to them to omniscient etc evinced a bit of poor craftsmanship.
Well, that was one of the most WASP-ish books I have ever read.
2 stars:
One for having been able to finish.
The other for it at least being written well enough, although the random pov head-hopping from he to she to them to omniscient etc evinced a bit of poor craftsmanship.
November 25, 2018
3,5 stars rounded up. Good story, well written, characters funny and likable. Plot not very complicated but we don’t always need a creepy villain or scheming ex to keep things interesting, do we? I rounded it up because kids were really cute - honestly, Emily and twins made this book for me.
August 13, 2016
Another good book by the author who is not afraid to deal with difficult issues and writes wonderful character driven stories.
October 25, 2018
A beautifully crafted family drama.
October 6, 2018
I did not like Mitch
July 17, 2021
I got to 65%, started skimming and by 75%? DNF.
H and h were so unlikeable omg. Seeing other ppl and still ended up having sex and carrying on. And don’t get me started on Thea. A life long pill addict that’s sober for one month, only to find out his BFF died and she doesn’t relapse? And gets into a relationship while engaged to a man 30 years her senior— at 30 days sober??? Not buying it for a second. She’s so unlikeable that by the tine the “big reveal” comes along, I was done with this litany of fabricated drama. No amount of ‘save the cat’ moments made these two made me root for either of them.
By 75% I was done. They deserved each other. Ugh.
H and h were so unlikeable omg. Seeing other ppl and still ended up having sex and carrying on. And don’t get me started on Thea. A life long pill addict that’s sober for one month, only to find out his BFF died and she doesn’t relapse? And gets into a relationship while engaged to a man 30 years her senior— at 30 days sober??? Not buying it for a second. She’s so unlikeable that by the tine the “big reveal” comes along, I was done with this litany of fabricated drama. No amount of ‘save the cat’ moments made these two made me root for either of them.
By 75% I was done. They deserved each other. Ugh.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 16, 2019
Mitch and Thea have been names guardians for their friends three children. The book starts off meeting with the attorneys and finding out the arrangements. Their friends always wanted to set Mitch and Thea up but Mitch always said no and both Mitch and Thea are in other arrangements. I enjoyed this book and the arrangement of these two being thrown together to care from these kids but I never was really rooting for them.
September 13, 2021
One of the few older Goodman books my library had available to borrow as an ebook. Only 10 years old, but the book's gender politics feel VERY dated to me in 2021—so much of the humor and banter and even plot rests on stereotypical masculine/feminine binaries. Wasn't crazy, either, about the "surprise" at book's end (although I did like it that the female protagonist figured it out before it turned into a "big misunderstanding")...
October 18, 2024
Another gem from Ms. Goodman. The romance developed well and fully. The characters all made sense - none were extraneous. The side plots enhanced the story, not distracted from it.
Thea and Mitch were Jo-Goodman-esque ... she wouldn't take $h!t from anyone but still was tentative when it came to him. He has a quiet strength, but has his (gentle & brief) blow up moments when he can't quite figure her out - and grand gestures that are just the right size (not over the top).
Thea and Mitch were Jo-Goodman-esque ... she wouldn't take $h!t from anyone but still was tentative when it came to him. He has a quiet strength, but has his (gentle & brief) blow up moments when he can't quite figure her out - and grand gestures that are just the right size (not over the top).
June 6, 2018
This was a heartwarming tale of how life can change drastically after one night, Mitch and Thea are perfectly flawed adults adjusting to the sudden guardianship of their best friend's children.
I very much enjoyed this book and the struggles that the characters endured. A must read for anyone who loves Jo Goodman!
I very much enjoyed this book and the struggles that the characters endured. A must read for anyone who loves Jo Goodman!
July 15, 2021
This book was well written but a bit boring and predictable for my taste. There wasn't any suspense or thrills to keep you wanting to read more. At times the characters were annoying and the very end was not in my opinion something that would have happened based on what we were told of the nature of the characters.
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