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The Godmothers #4
Deadline
Life Starts Now
No sooner have Toots Loudenberry and her three best friends--Sophie, Ida, and Mavis--returned from Sacramento, where Sophie provided some much-needed psychic advice to the First Lady of California, when another situation demands their attention. . .
Laura Leigh, a Hollywood starlet whose main talent seems to be landing in trouble, is missing. Toots' daughter, Abby, has both a personal and professional stake in the story. Not only is she editor-in-chief at gossip magazine The Informer, but entertainment attorney Chris Clay, Abby's would-be beau, was the last person seen with Laura. And now he's missing, too.
With the help of friends in high--and low--places, the Godmothers will navigate Hollywood's glittering inner circles and seedy underbelly to discover the truth. Along the way, they'll uncover unexpected secrets that not even one of Sophie's séances could have predicted. . .
Praise for Fern Michaels and The Godmothers Series
"Pure recession-proof fun." -- Publishers Weekly
"Delightful. . .witty, charming, and complicated, these four childhood chums prove that life is a gift no matter what age you are." -- RT Reviews
No sooner have Toots Loudenberry and her three best friends--Sophie, Ida, and Mavis--returned from Sacramento, where Sophie provided some much-needed psychic advice to the First Lady of California, when another situation demands their attention. . .
Laura Leigh, a Hollywood starlet whose main talent seems to be landing in trouble, is missing. Toots' daughter, Abby, has both a personal and professional stake in the story. Not only is she editor-in-chief at gossip magazine The Informer, but entertainment attorney Chris Clay, Abby's would-be beau, was the last person seen with Laura. And now he's missing, too.
With the help of friends in high--and low--places, the Godmothers will navigate Hollywood's glittering inner circles and seedy underbelly to discover the truth. Along the way, they'll uncover unexpected secrets that not even one of Sophie's séances could have predicted. . .
Praise for Fern Michaels and The Godmothers Series
"Pure recession-proof fun." -- Publishers Weekly
"Delightful. . .witty, charming, and complicated, these four childhood chums prove that life is a gift no matter what age you are." -- RT Reviews
262 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
650 people are currently reading
1506 people want to read
About the author
Fern Michaels
424 books6,516 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
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
July 30, 2022
Pleasant contemporary fiction with a hit of paranormal and a tease of romance.
August 1, 2012
I didn't realize when i bought this book its from a series. I won't pick up another one. I'm not a name dropper, don't like name droppers. The writing could have said, she got in her car.....no, she got in her Escalade. It could have said his credit card......no it was his Am. Ex. gold card. They didn't go out to any old place, no its the Polo Lounge. Was the writer getting kickback for dropping the names of these places? Don't know. Not my style of writing.
June 28, 2023
This is another great book in The Godmother’s series
July 12, 2024
This was a quick fun read!
August 31, 2013
Yeah.. This one was mostly review.. it felt like it took forever to get started and then when it should have been a huge build up it was a little disappointing.. There was a part where a couple of the characters finally do something that has been building since the beginning.. and what a let down the way it was handled in the book.. All that for a big fat nothing.. Also, the characters keep getting mixed up in the writing and that is a little confusing.. Plus there are more errors on this one with the editing.. I would never go to this publisher because it seems like they do a terrible job!
January 30, 2013
Although the storyline was ok.....I found the writing kind of elementary. Not one of her best, although, I loved the sisterhood series, near the end it was getting boring as well with repitition.
May 28, 2018
Another winner
I need Mavis to come live with me a while. I could Sophie too so she could tell me if I'm ever gonna get it right. I'm giving Toots a run for wedding banquets. I got my 7 the divorce while I was still in my 40's. I'm 51 now and give up but then at times I still want to grow old with someone and these ladies are giving me hope. Though unlike Toots none my husband's had any money......lol
I need Mavis to come live with me a while. I could Sophie too so she could tell me if I'm ever gonna get it right. I'm giving Toots a run for wedding banquets. I got my 7 the divorce while I was still in my 40's. I'm 51 now and give up but then at times I still want to grow old with someone and these ladies are giving me hope. Though unlike Toots none my husband's had any money......lol
October 13, 2018
Part of the ‘God Mother’ series the book follows 4 extremely wealthy retired female friends who live together.
There is a good mystery at the beginning with a step-son having gone missing, but the story ultimately falls flat because of the over dramatic and unrelatable actions and dialogue of the protagonists, especially in the second half of the novel.
Not a great example of female friendship when they are rude to each other and don’t trust each other (Talking to you Toots)!
There is a good mystery at the beginning with a step-son having gone missing, but the story ultimately falls flat because of the over dramatic and unrelatable actions and dialogue of the protagonists, especially in the second half of the novel.
Not a great example of female friendship when they are rude to each other and don’t trust each other (Talking to you Toots)!
February 19, 2022
Another goodie! I’m still enjoying this series and will continue to read them (in order) until I need a break or they start really getting silly! I’m finally glad that Abbey and Chris got their act together! I love that Sophie is happy and her paranormal abilities are getting stronger. Poor Berniece got the short end of the deal in this one.
May 22, 2022
Love this series of The Godmothers. Each one has been married, some multiple times, and are on their own. Friends since eight grade they all got back together again and live between Charleston and Los Angelas. Each woman has come into her own thru different ventures and together. They are a wonderful group of 60+ woman who continuously make me laugh! I LOVE THIS SERIES!!
August 30, 2021
Godmothers 4
These women are truly enthralling, exhilarating and hilarious! If they aren’t bickering they are laughing uproariously! They luck into their cases and then figure them out with almost as much aplomb! I absolutely love these ladies!!
These women are truly enthralling, exhilarating and hilarious! If they aren’t bickering they are laughing uproariously! They luck into their cases and then figure them out with almost as much aplomb! I absolutely love these ladies!!
May 9, 2022
Deadline
I am thoroughly enjoying this series. This was another good book. Although I don't usually read about fiction about paranormal activities, this book is an entertaining story. The older women are a hoot. Love their banter. I can't wait to see what the next book holds.
I am thoroughly enjoying this series. This was another good book. Although I don't usually read about fiction about paranormal activities, this book is an entertaining story. The older women are a hoot. Love their banter. I can't wait to see what the next book holds.
May 12, 2022
This Godmother book starts out slow and there could be more spice in all the story lines. I found this book to be rather boring and wish they were written more as stand alone. I am still waiting for cliff hangers from previous books to be resolved, although I like the characters.
May 31, 2025
Loving this series - even though I am reading the books out of order. The mother/daughter relationship is spot on. Sometimes the situations are a little far fetched but so enjoyable. (But if I was as rich as Toots I wish!) these are probably not far fetched as I think. LOL
November 30, 2016
I love the stories a out Toots, her daugter Abby and her three G's. They have such wonderful adventures and lots of stories to tell. Keep up the great writing!
June 29, 2017
Fun easy read
July 5, 2017
Good read.
August 30, 2017
It's a series you will always remember
I have enjoyed the godmother and their extended friends. You never know what they will get into or who they will help next.
I have enjoyed the godmother and their extended friends. You never know what they will get into or who they will help next.
September 10, 2017
Another in the godmother's series .. always an easy one to enjoy
April 25, 2018
good times with Godmothers and more of Abby and Chris and ending left open for more of Chris and Abby to come I imagine in book 5 and 6
April 28, 2018
Love, love, love these ladies!!! Toots and Sophie are so awesome! Just like true best friends should be for each other.
April 2, 2019
This installment of the Godmothers series meandered a bit, but in a good way.
May 9, 2019
I am loving this series
May 12, 2019
Love these older ladies doing their thing ! Page turning love the whole book!
September 25, 2019
Took a long time to get a short way. Not my favorite by her.
October 21, 2019
I am really enjoying this series. I am sorry I gave book 2 a bad review a few years ago. I must have got it mixed up with another book at the time. I did reread it and loved it. On to book 5.
Read
December 3, 2019Good series love it!!!!!!
February 26, 2020
Another winner!
What can I say?.This book was such gun to read!! They can really get stuff done, can't they??? Happy for Bernice!!! Great stories!!! More please!!
What can I say?.This book was such gun to read!! They can really get stuff done, can't they??? Happy for Bernice!!! Great stories!!! More please!!
December 10, 2020
DNF
I tried, but realized this wasn't my cup of tea.
I tried, but realized this wasn't my cup of tea.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews