What do you think?
Rate this book
The Godmothers #3
Late Edition
Teresa "Toots" Loudenberry likes adventure, and in this installment, the action moves from Los Angeles to Charleston, where the Sisters take up the search for the murderer of "sister" Ida's late husband, Thomas. Little do they realize that the killer is after Ida too. Meanwhile, Toots notices that a bakery that makes fabulous baked goods is going bankrupt because of a scandalous rumor, so she seizes on an opportunity there.
282 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
604 people are currently reading
1529 people want to read
About the author
Fern Michaels
431 books6,579 followersFern Michaels isn’t a person. I’m not sure she’s an entity either since an entity is something with separate existence. Fern Michaels® is what I DO. Me, Mary Ruth Kuczkir. Growing up in Hastings, Pennsylvania, I was called Ruth. I became Mary when I entered the business world where first names were the order of the day. To this day, family and friends call me Dink, a name my father gave me when I was born because according to him I was ‘a dinky little thing’ weighing in at four and a half pounds. However, I answer to Fern since people are more comfortable with a name they can pronounce.
As they say, the past is prologue. I grew up, got a job, got married, had five kids. When my youngest went off to Kindergarten, my husband told me to get off my ass and get a job. Those were his exact words. I didn’t know how to do anything except be a wife and mother. I was also a voracious reader having cut my teeth on The Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Cherry Ames and the like. The library was a magical place for me. It still is to this day. Rather than face the outside world with no skills, I decided to write a book. For some reason that didn’t intimidate me. As my husband said at the time, stupid is as stupid does. Guess what, I don’t have that husband any more. Guess what else! I wrote 99 books, most of them New York Times Best Sellers.
Moving right along here . . . Several years ago I left Ballantine Books, parted company with my agent, sold my house in New Jersey that I had lived in all my married life and in 1993 moved to South Carolina. I figured if I was going to go through trauma let it be all at one time. It was a breeze. The kids were all on their own at that point. The dump was a 300 year old plantation house that is listed in the National Registry that I remodeled. Today it is beyond belief as are the gardens and the equally old Angel Oaks that drip Spanish moss. Unfortunately, I could not get my ghost to relocate. This ghost has been documented by previous owners. Mary Margaret as we call her, is “a friendly”. She is also mischievous. It took me two weeks to figure out that she didn’t like my coffee cups. They would slide off the table or counter or else they’d break in the dishwasher. I bought red checkered ones. All are intact as of this writing. She moves pillows from one room to the other and she stops all the clocks in the house at 9:10 in the a.m. at least once a week. When the Azaleas are in bloom, and only then, I find blooms on my night stand. I have this glorious front porch and during the warm months I see my swing moving early in the morning when the air is still and again late in the day. She doesn’t spook the dogs. I always know when she’s around because the five of them line up and look like they’re at a tennis match. As of this writing we’re co-habiting nicely.
Most writers love what they do and I’m no exception. I love it when I get a germ of an idea and get it down on paper. I love breathing life into my characters. I love writing about women who persevere and prevail because that’s what I had to do to get to this point in time. It’s another way of saying it doesn’t matter where you’ve been, what matters is where you’re going and how you get there. The day I finally prevailed was the day I was inducted into the New Jersey Literary Hall of Fame. For me it was an awesome day and there are no words to describe it.
I’ve been telling stories and scribbling for 37 years. I hope I can continue for another 37 years. It wasn’t easy during some of those years. As I said, I had to persevere. My old Polish grandmother said something to me when I was little that I never forgot. She said when God is good to you, you have to give back. For a while I didn’t know how to do that. When I finally figured it out I set up The Fern Michaels® Foundation.
READ FERN MICHAELS' FULL BIOGRAPHY HERE: http://www.fernmichaels.com/biography/
As they say, the past is prologue. I grew up, got a job, got married, had five kids. When my youngest went off to Kindergarten, my husband told me to get off my ass and get a job. Those were his exact words. I didn’t know how to do anything except be a wife and mother. I was also a voracious reader having cut my teeth on The Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Cherry Ames and the like. The library was a magical place for me. It still is to this day. Rather than face the outside world with no skills, I decided to write a book. For some reason that didn’t intimidate me. As my husband said at the time, stupid is as stupid does. Guess what, I don’t have that husband any more. Guess what else! I wrote 99 books, most of them New York Times Best Sellers.
Moving right along here . . . Several years ago I left Ballantine Books, parted company with my agent, sold my house in New Jersey that I had lived in all my married life and in 1993 moved to South Carolina. I figured if I was going to go through trauma let it be all at one time. It was a breeze. The kids were all on their own at that point. The dump was a 300 year old plantation house that is listed in the National Registry that I remodeled. Today it is beyond belief as are the gardens and the equally old Angel Oaks that drip Spanish moss. Unfortunately, I could not get my ghost to relocate. This ghost has been documented by previous owners. Mary Margaret as we call her, is “a friendly”. She is also mischievous. It took me two weeks to figure out that she didn’t like my coffee cups. They would slide off the table or counter or else they’d break in the dishwasher. I bought red checkered ones. All are intact as of this writing. She moves pillows from one room to the other and she stops all the clocks in the house at 9:10 in the a.m. at least once a week. When the Azaleas are in bloom, and only then, I find blooms on my night stand. I have this glorious front porch and during the warm months I see my swing moving early in the morning when the air is still and again late in the day. She doesn’t spook the dogs. I always know when she’s around because the five of them line up and look like they’re at a tennis match. As of this writing we’re co-habiting nicely.
Most writers love what they do and I’m no exception. I love it when I get a germ of an idea and get it down on paper. I love breathing life into my characters. I love writing about women who persevere and prevail because that’s what I had to do to get to this point in time. It’s another way of saying it doesn’t matter where you’ve been, what matters is where you’re going and how you get there. The day I finally prevailed was the day I was inducted into the New Jersey Literary Hall of Fame. For me it was an awesome day and there are no words to describe it.
I’ve been telling stories and scribbling for 37 years. I hope I can continue for another 37 years. It wasn’t easy during some of those years. As I said, I had to persevere. My old Polish grandmother said something to me when I was little that I never forgot. She said when God is good to you, you have to give back. For a while I didn’t know how to do that. When I finally figured it out I set up The Fern Michaels® Foundation.
READ FERN MICHAELS' FULL BIOGRAPHY HERE: http://www.fernmichaels.com/biography/
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews
May 9, 2014
I'm a huge Fern Michaels fan, and the many different series she has written! Her newer one "The Godmothers" is delightful and I'm enjoying it so very much! Very light reading. Cute series about four old ladies, doing good in the world..... And solving a few mysteries. Entertaining.
Teresa "Toots" Loudenberry is filthy rich, and likes adventure, and in this installment, the action moves from Los Angeles to Charleston, where the Sisters take up the search for the murderer of "sister" Ida's late husband, Thomas. Little do they realize that the killer is after Ida too. Meanwhile, Toots notices that a bakery that makes fabulous baked goods is going bankrupt because of a scandalous rumor, so she seizes on an opportunity there as well and helps the new owner and becomes a co-owner and with her millions helps get the bakery back in business. Very cute. They also have developed clothing for the dead, make up, polish and items to help the dead look their best. Cute concepts to make this book a fun read!
Good one Fern! Great job!
Teresa "Toots" Loudenberry is filthy rich, and likes adventure, and in this installment, the action moves from Los Angeles to Charleston, where the Sisters take up the search for the murderer of "sister" Ida's late husband, Thomas. Little do they realize that the killer is after Ida too. Meanwhile, Toots notices that a bakery that makes fabulous baked goods is going bankrupt because of a scandalous rumor, so she seizes on an opportunity there as well and helps the new owner and becomes a co-owner and with her millions helps get the bakery back in business. Very cute. They also have developed clothing for the dead, make up, polish and items to help the dead look their best. Cute concepts to make this book a fun read!
Good one Fern! Great job!
October 9, 2013
Não foi um livro cativante e tenho pena pois gostei imenso do livro que li anteriormente desta escritora "Um sonho de mulher". A ideia até é engraçada, para variar das tão na moda adolescentes apaixonadas/com super poderes temos 4 amigos com idades à volta dos 65 anos, mas depois é tudo um pouco embrulhado e confuso, suponho que a autora quis colocar demasiada ação num livro tão pequeno. Provavelmente também terá a ver com o facto de este ser o 3º livro de uma saga, algo que descobri através do Goodreads. Confesso que não percebo o que leva a Editorial Presença a publicar um livro desta autora sem publicar os 2 anteriores, quando pode escolher outro qualquer, visto esta escritora ter já escrito imensos livros...
May 18, 2022
Vejam a minha opinião em vídeo, AQUI.
August 18, 2012
Para quem gosta de histórias muito muito levezinhas, este é o livro ideal.
É um livro mesmo para se passar bons momentos, caracterizados inclusivé pelo bom humor.
Ideal, diria eu, para ser lido no verão numa espreguiçadeira e com uma caneca de café ou de chá.
Não exige grandes reflexões e é, ele todo, baseado na amizade. Na amizade verdadeira e duradoura, pois as suas protagonistas, são mulheres nos seus 65 anos, estando nos seus dias de ouro (várias vezes assim referenciados) e que sempre foram amigas.
Amizade essa que passou por vários desgostos e dissabores ao longo de toda a vida e também por reviravoltas e que me proporcionou alguns sorrisos durante a leitura.
Também testemunhamos como a amizade e o bom coração podem dar origem a novos negócios e maneiras de ajudar o próximo.
O livro também demonstra quão as pessoas podem ser diferentes e mesmo assim serem amigas.
Não posso também deixar de referir a belíssima capa deste livro, a qual, ajudei a escolher numa votação proporcionada pela editora.
Concluindo, só posso reforçar que é um livro baseado na amizade e que, eu, quando e se chegar aos 60 anos tenha tanta vitalidade, espírito de aventura, vida e alegria de viver como estas senhoras.
Uma nota à autora por nos mostrar tão bem o que a amizade proporciona.
P.S. No final, até somos agraciados com uma receita de um bolo, que quem sabe, até pode ser acompanhado com o tal chá ou café que mencionei em cima. . .
É um livro mesmo para se passar bons momentos, caracterizados inclusivé pelo bom humor.
Ideal, diria eu, para ser lido no verão numa espreguiçadeira e com uma caneca de café ou de chá.
Não exige grandes reflexões e é, ele todo, baseado na amizade. Na amizade verdadeira e duradoura, pois as suas protagonistas, são mulheres nos seus 65 anos, estando nos seus dias de ouro (várias vezes assim referenciados) e que sempre foram amigas.
Amizade essa que passou por vários desgostos e dissabores ao longo de toda a vida e também por reviravoltas e que me proporcionou alguns sorrisos durante a leitura.
Também testemunhamos como a amizade e o bom coração podem dar origem a novos negócios e maneiras de ajudar o próximo.
O livro também demonstra quão as pessoas podem ser diferentes e mesmo assim serem amigas.
Não posso também deixar de referir a belíssima capa deste livro, a qual, ajudei a escolher numa votação proporcionada pela editora.
Concluindo, só posso reforçar que é um livro baseado na amizade e que, eu, quando e se chegar aos 60 anos tenha tanta vitalidade, espírito de aventura, vida e alegria de viver como estas senhoras.
Uma nota à autora por nos mostrar tão bem o que a amizade proporciona.
P.S. No final, até somos agraciados com uma receita de um bolo, que quem sabe, até pode ser acompanhado com o tal chá ou café que mencionei em cima. . .
June 25, 2023
This was the best book of the series so far. But I have really enjoyed the others also.
July 27, 2011
Should have read the blurb better because seances were a big part of the story. As if! The book is about four woman who have been friends since childhood. One is super rich and another quite rich. Granted the woman spread the wealth and help others but as I was reading I thought lets have a story about the men and women who are living on pensions and social secruity and still do good maybe not to the extent but still do good. Money makes everything just too easy.
June 30, 2013
Gostei do primeiro livro que li da autora, talvez por me ter identificado com o tema, mas este livro... Não me liguei a nenhuma das personagens, senti como se não conhecesse nenhuma, além de que ok era suposto mostrar que para os seus 65 anos elas se sentiam jovens, mas calma lá, aqui a juventude foi demasiado forçada. Não gostei muito :S
October 29, 2013
Not a terrible story but the writing is a bit repetitive. Everything is stated and then restated and then often stated once more in the following chapter. I'd love to edit this book down for a more concise story. I would also make the murder mystery more of the focus, instead of solving it 3/4th of the way through.
September 17, 2011
I don't know what it was about this book. I read the first two and liked them. I can't even finish Late Edition. What I did read of the book had a been there, done that feel. This book, to me, was just not worth my time and I had to move on to another book.
Read
March 30, 2013Couldn't do it. Talking to dead people and flipping each other off in the first chapter. Too much nasty talk and talk about smoking. Smoking smoking smoking! How do u land right husbands with an ashtray for a mouth?
December 16, 2016
Another adventure for the senior ladies. This time Mavis is mailing mysterious packages. The ladies find out that Ida's husband was murdered and try to find out who did it. Never a dull moment with these ladies. I loved every minute of it!
August 14, 2017
In the past I have read so many books and series by Fern Michaels. Thought I would try some books I have yet to read. I had already ready the first two books of this series years ago, so I checked out the remaining books from this series.
I am sorry to say I didn't enjoy the books. Two main reasons. I do not read or follow books or movies that are about "the other side." Also, I love the closeness of these women, yet with all the fighting, flipping each other the bird and mean things said to one another, I was not happy with this book. I would think by the time we are in our sixties we have had much experience in this world. Especially about how to treat one another. Yes, these women were there for one another and I loved that part. Also, Toots is rich, O.K. Only most people that I know that are in the same tax bracket do not steal material from a warehouse and leave $10,000. or whatever is was in cash so taking the material was not wrong because they over paid so much for it. These people do not just throw thousands and more money around because they have it. Did not seem real to me. So disappointed in this series. I will return the rest of the series books back to the library. Bummer...
I am sorry to say I didn't enjoy the books. Two main reasons. I do not read or follow books or movies that are about "the other side." Also, I love the closeness of these women, yet with all the fighting, flipping each other the bird and mean things said to one another, I was not happy with this book. I would think by the time we are in our sixties we have had much experience in this world. Especially about how to treat one another. Yes, these women were there for one another and I loved that part. Also, Toots is rich, O.K. Only most people that I know that are in the same tax bracket do not steal material from a warehouse and leave $10,000. or whatever is was in cash so taking the material was not wrong because they over paid so much for it. These people do not just throw thousands and more money around because they have it. Did not seem real to me. So disappointed in this series. I will return the rest of the series books back to the library. Bummer...
September 28, 2019
The Birth of New Businesses
The Godmothers continue with their escapades to help Abbey and The Inquirer to gain notoriety. Mavis and Ida become obsessed with the dead after the groups interest in seances grows? Mavis creates a business called Good Mourning creating stylish and comfortable clothes for the living relatives to wear to funerals. Toots becomes the co owner of a haunted bakery in Charleston, helping Jamie to stop struggling. Jamie and Berniece (Toot’s friend and housekeeper) plan to make a success of the Bakery after it reopens after a haunting is cleansed by Sophie. Ida starts Drop Dead Gorgeous a line of cosmetics for corpses made to coordinate wit Mavis expanded line of clothing for dressing funeral client in a colorful line if clothes designed to absorb any leaks. Sophie starts a Tarot Card Reading business. All that and the ladies solve a murder as well!
The Godmothers continue with their escapades to help Abbey and The Inquirer to gain notoriety. Mavis and Ida become obsessed with the dead after the groups interest in seances grows? Mavis creates a business called Good Mourning creating stylish and comfortable clothes for the living relatives to wear to funerals. Toots becomes the co owner of a haunted bakery in Charleston, helping Jamie to stop struggling. Jamie and Berniece (Toot’s friend and housekeeper) plan to make a success of the Bakery after it reopens after a haunting is cleansed by Sophie. Ida starts Drop Dead Gorgeous a line of cosmetics for corpses made to coordinate wit Mavis expanded line of clothing for dressing funeral client in a colorful line if clothes designed to absorb any leaks. Sophie starts a Tarot Card Reading business. All that and the ladies solve a murder as well!
February 17, 2022
More of the same from the zany senior citizens! I enjoyed book 3 because this series is so entertaining!
It's nice to know that life can be just as exciting in your 60's as in your 20's. The ladies seem to have found their calling and all have new enterprises that they've started.
Still involved in the paranormal but it doesn't bother me as much as the last book. Nice sub-plot with a murder/mystery, which I felt they could have made a little more thrilling! It was just nicely tied-up and I think the focus was on the budding relationship that developed because of it.
The author did tied up incidents from book 2 in this one and I think there will always be cliff hangers from each book that will be either tied up or explained in the next.
On to the next installment.
P.S. I know some reviewers didn't like all the smoking or flipping the bird to each other done by the friends but I say, We should live so long to do as we please?
It's nice to know that life can be just as exciting in your 60's as in your 20's. The ladies seem to have found their calling and all have new enterprises that they've started.
Still involved in the paranormal but it doesn't bother me as much as the last book. Nice sub-plot with a murder/mystery, which I felt they could have made a little more thrilling! It was just nicely tied-up and I think the focus was on the budding relationship that developed because of it.
The author did tied up incidents from book 2 in this one and I think there will always be cliff hangers from each book that will be either tied up or explained in the next.
On to the next installment.
P.S. I know some reviewers didn't like all the smoking or flipping the bird to each other done by the friends but I say, We should live so long to do as we please?
August 22, 2019
Things got kinda surreal in this book. Solving a 2-year old mystery that wasn't even a mystery until a dead guy said it was. Coincidences that lead to this needle in a haystack. Illegally obtained evidence working to convict a respectable scientist (who is also a complete psycho).
And the bakery... how random is that???
I think I'll take a break from this series. I feel myself starting a book with one eyebrow already raised & that's not fun for me or fair to the book. Maybe a YA palette cleanser...
And the bakery... how random is that???
I think I'll take a break from this series. I feel myself starting a book with one eyebrow already raised & that's not fun for me or fair to the book. Maybe a YA palette cleanser...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 26, 2025
I've read several of The Godmothers' series and found them to be worthwhile. However, the "Late Edition", the 3rd in the series, was plain awful! "Toots" and the Godmothers were rude and disrespectful to each other. They discussed inappropriate topics, that I wouldn't expect from somewhat successful and educated women. The disparaging comments that Toots made about her deceased husband was the final straw for me. I'm giving up on the remainder of The Godmothers' series. Hopefully, her other novels will be more dignified.
April 11, 2023
They're getting worse, I'm just hanging in there because I sort of like the idea of 4 fairy godmother throwing their money around like their is no tomorrow and helping out poor down of their luck people, and sometimes the gallows humour is sort of ok.
Also I have all the books and feel like I HAVE to finish now. Yes I know life is too short .... something that comes out loud and clear in these books.
Also I have all the books and feel like I HAVE to finish now. Yes I know life is too short .... something that comes out loud and clear in these books.
May 17, 2019
In this installment, Ida has recuperated from her embarrassing episode with her former doctor. Maisie finally reveals her covert business and later in the story Ida assists and then forms an off shoot business for herself. The "irascible one" continues her connection with the departed. The godmothers kept me smiling with their hijinks. I'm looking forward to their next adventure.
August 30, 2021
Godmothers 3
These are the strongest and bravest older age women I have ever read or heard about! Oh, they also silly, cranky, smart cookies! They talk to each other like they hate each other then in the next few minutes they are crying and hugging. They are humanitarian, loving, caring ladies! I won’t to totally be just like them 😊
These are the strongest and bravest older age women I have ever read or heard about! Oh, they also silly, cranky, smart cookies! They talk to each other like they hate each other then in the next few minutes they are crying and hugging. They are humanitarian, loving, caring ladies! I won’t to totally be just like them 😊
May 21, 2022
The characters in this series are phenomenal. I laugh so hard every time they talk to each other! Their friendship has lasted since they were children and you can tell by the way they are with each other. I would love to have friends like them!
Cannot wait to read the next book in this series to see what trouble they will get into next!!
Cannot wait to read the next book in this series to see what trouble they will get into next!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2017
You don't have to read the others in this series to like this book. Four spunky and adventurous ladies who have been friends since childhood now live together as widows. They find themselves solving a mystery of who killed Ida's husband with clues revealed through a seance.
April 23, 2021
Number 3 is a Winner
Enjoyed this series but this one is so far the best! Travel, intrigue, murder, romance and of course humor! The friendship between thr Godmothers thickens and is prized among all!
Enjoyed this series but this one is so far the best! Travel, intrigue, murder, romance and of course humor! The friendship between thr Godmothers thickens and is prized among all!
June 27, 2021
What will the ladies do next?
I enjoyed this book because the friends are always coming up with great adventures to keep the reader surprised and trying to picture their silly antics.
I enjoyed this book because the friends are always coming up with great adventures to keep the reader surprised and trying to picture their silly antics.
November 14, 2021
Do not hesitate, this is another great book from this author.
I highly recommend this series to binge read. The story is very entertaining. #3. If you want something to relax and smile,sometimes out right laugh, this is for you.
I highly recommend this series to binge read. The story is very entertaining. #3. If you want something to relax and smile,sometimes out right laugh, this is for you.
March 3, 2022
Godmothers doing great things
These wonderful friends have such a great relationship and great imagination to keep everyone excited to read what will happen next. Fern Michaels at her best as usual.
These wonderful friends have such a great relationship and great imagination to keep everyone excited to read what will happen next. Fern Michaels at her best as usual.
May 6, 2022
Late Edition
This another book that I have enjoyed by Fern. She is an excellent storyteller. The characters are interesting and entertaining. The god mothers are "Golden Girls" funny. Lol out loud funny. Although I am not a fan of the paranormal the book was very entertaining.
This another book that I have enjoyed by Fern. She is an excellent storyteller. The characters are interesting and entertaining. The god mothers are "Golden Girls" funny. Lol out loud funny. Although I am not a fan of the paranormal the book was very entertaining.
May 10, 2022
The Godmother’s and Toots head back to Charleston where all sorts of shenanigans take place. Each Godmother lays the ground work for their futures and then they head back to Malibu. You could probably read this as a stand alone, but better to read earlier books to set the characters.
September 3, 2017
Very cute book in the Godmothers series.
March 9, 2018
I haven’t read the first two books in this series, and I’m not sure that I will.
This was a fast and easy read.
I liked parts of the book , but a lot of it was really not believable
This was a fast and easy read.
I liked parts of the book , but a lot of it was really not believable
March 31, 2018
Cute easy reading. I like Fern Michaels. If I want something easy to read with a little humor, I can always turn to one of her books.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews