What do you think?
Rate this book
Ladies of Covington #1
The Ladies of Covington Send Their Love
Cautious Grace Singleton, uncertain of her place in an intimidating world. Outspoken Hannah Parrish, harboring private fear that may change her life. Fragile Ameila Declose, shattered by devastating grief. Circumstance has brought these disparate women of "a certain age" to a Pennsylvania boardinghouse where three square meals and a sagging bed is the most any of them can look forward to. But friendship will take them on a starting journey to a rundown North Carolina farmhouse where the unexpected suddenly seems not only welcome, but delightfully promising. And with nothing more than a bit of adventure in mind, each woman will be surprised to find that they years they've reclaimed from the shadow of twilight will offer something far more rare: confidence, competence, and even another chance at love...
368 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
125 people are currently reading
1542 people want to read
About the author
Joan Medlicott
24 books77 followersJoan Medlicott lives with her husband in Barnardsville, North Carolina, where she conducts the popular Tea on the Porch workshops.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 193 reviews
Read
March 31, 2022I am not quite sure what I think of this book. I read reviews by others that were pro and con and agree with them all. It sounded good: three elderly women who are living in a rooming house not of their liking move into a farm house because one of the women has inherited it.
They are supportive of each other, which is the nice aspect of this book. They found a better way to spend their old age. This is great too. But at their age, this can't last, unless they can afford help of all kinds. It would be nice if we all could afford such so-called luxuries. We should not have to spend our last years in a rest home. There is a reason why old people walk out of these places, and now there is a reason why the doors are locked.
What some people thought was a fun read, wasn't for me. Maybe they are younger than me. Maybe they had children who say, "Mom (or Dad) you will never have to go into a rest home.
What else? This read like a soap opera. Now, I like my friends to confide in me. I like to hear their stories and help when asked. But these stories grew tiring for some reason, plus no matter what they were doing at the time, a catastrophe would occur. If driving, one would get stuck and almost die from exposure. If hiking, one wold get lost. If they had a party, one of the ladies would become upset with her friend and a riff would occur. It wouldn't get solved for days. So much for supporting each other.
Still, when I finished the book, I wondered what these women were going to do in the next book. A day later, quit wondering. I just don't care. But it was kind of a fun read and it kept my interest.
They are supportive of each other, which is the nice aspect of this book. They found a better way to spend their old age. This is great too. But at their age, this can't last, unless they can afford help of all kinds. It would be nice if we all could afford such so-called luxuries. We should not have to spend our last years in a rest home. There is a reason why old people walk out of these places, and now there is a reason why the doors are locked.
What some people thought was a fun read, wasn't for me. Maybe they are younger than me. Maybe they had children who say, "Mom (or Dad) you will never have to go into a rest home.
What else? This read like a soap opera. Now, I like my friends to confide in me. I like to hear their stories and help when asked. But these stories grew tiring for some reason, plus no matter what they were doing at the time, a catastrophe would occur. If driving, one would get stuck and almost die from exposure. If hiking, one wold get lost. If they had a party, one of the ladies would become upset with her friend and a riff would occur. It wouldn't get solved for days. So much for supporting each other.
Still, when I finished the book, I wondered what these women were going to do in the next book. A day later, quit wondering. I just don't care. But it was kind of a fun read and it kept my interest.
July 13, 2008
I have several senior friends in the same situation as the women in this book--single and not sure if they can afford to live on their own. And not really wanting to be alone.
This book provided food for thought and an inspiration to think outside the box regarding living arrangements for seniors. I loved the idea of senior women facing their last years with vigor and new boldness.
I liked the beginning of this book best. I liked the way the characters were introduced and how the author examined their feelings of loneliness, aloneness, powerlessness, regret. I found it progressively sappy and politically correct as it went along, but overall I liked it. I tried the recipe for sugar cookies included at the end--they were great!
This book provided food for thought and an inspiration to think outside the box regarding living arrangements for seniors. I loved the idea of senior women facing their last years with vigor and new boldness.
I liked the beginning of this book best. I liked the way the characters were introduced and how the author examined their feelings of loneliness, aloneness, powerlessness, regret. I found it progressively sappy and politically correct as it went along, but overall I liked it. I tried the recipe for sugar cookies included at the end--they were great!
May 29, 2009
I've been smitten with the Ladies of Covington, as well as her other novels. I've read them all!
Perhaps I enjoy them so much because of the life stage--since I'm approaching it. I appreciate that these women continue to grow, to learn, to love, to LIVE. Though I don't always agree morally with choices they make, I would enjoy these women as friends. I've appreciated Medlicott's bringing to the page mature women! I've also wondered if I could move in with two other women!
Perhaps I enjoy them so much because of the life stage--since I'm approaching it. I appreciate that these women continue to grow, to learn, to love, to LIVE. Though I don't always agree morally with choices they make, I would enjoy these women as friends. I've appreciated Medlicott's bringing to the page mature women! I've also wondered if I could move in with two other women!
July 9, 2011
The Ladies of Covington Send Their Love is what I would describe as a gentle read. Yes, there is tension; and yes, there is conflict. More than that, however, there is a sense of serenity and joy. I would even describe it as the ladies from Ladybug Farm 10+ years down the road.
Two older (and I use that term loosely since they are my age and a little older) have been shuffled into a rooming house by their children, and one chose to go their herself. The landlady is mean-spirited and believes that what she says is best for all. Grace, Hannah, and Amelia become friends while at this house. None of them are satisfied with their lives, but because of the way they were raised, they believe they must do "what is expected". Grace is afraid of everything and has had a slight heart attack; Hannah fled an abusive marriage and has had to fight for everything she every got, and she has bad knees and hips - hips that need to be replaced; Amelia's husband was high up in the Red Cross, and she is totally devastated by grief.
Shortly after the book starts, Amelia learns that a cousin with whom she has just started to communicate, has died and left her a house and $50,000 to fix the house, in North Carolina. And there begins the tale. The 3 decide to go to NC to look at the house. Amelia does not know how to drive, Hannah can't drive because of her knees and hips, and Grace has never driven on an interstate nor faster than 40 mph. They do get to NC, however, and decide that they really don't need anyone to take care of them. They can take care of each other, make decisions, learn to stand on their own and be supportive of each other.
I think I liked this book so much because, again, it is a story of women's friendship. It did remind me a lot of the Ladybug Farm books without the exuberance. If you like stories of women of a "certain age" (50+), I would suggest you read this. It shares lessons we all can learn.
Two older (and I use that term loosely since they are my age and a little older) have been shuffled into a rooming house by their children, and one chose to go their herself. The landlady is mean-spirited and believes that what she says is best for all. Grace, Hannah, and Amelia become friends while at this house. None of them are satisfied with their lives, but because of the way they were raised, they believe they must do "what is expected". Grace is afraid of everything and has had a slight heart attack; Hannah fled an abusive marriage and has had to fight for everything she every got, and she has bad knees and hips - hips that need to be replaced; Amelia's husband was high up in the Red Cross, and she is totally devastated by grief.
Shortly after the book starts, Amelia learns that a cousin with whom she has just started to communicate, has died and left her a house and $50,000 to fix the house, in North Carolina. And there begins the tale. The 3 decide to go to NC to look at the house. Amelia does not know how to drive, Hannah can't drive because of her knees and hips, and Grace has never driven on an interstate nor faster than 40 mph. They do get to NC, however, and decide that they really don't need anyone to take care of them. They can take care of each other, make decisions, learn to stand on their own and be supportive of each other.
I think I liked this book so much because, again, it is a story of women's friendship. It did remind me a lot of the Ladybug Farm books without the exuberance. If you like stories of women of a "certain age" (50+), I would suggest you read this. It shares lessons we all can learn.
July 27, 2014
My apologies to the many people who loved this book, but I had to force myself to finish it.
Grace, the main character, is extremely weak and a doormat. Amelia, scarred horribly from mental and physical pain, is self-centered and vapid. Hannah hides inside a hard outer shell. In what has become a cliche' (but maybe wasn't in 2000, when this book was first published), three women (one who cooks, one who does the handy-man work, and one artist - of course) move to an old, dilapidated but charming (of course) house in the country (of course) where they work through their character arcs with the help of some fine country folk (of course).
There are logic errors (Hannah rakes a bunch of dried leaves into piles in an orchard and, noticing the breeze is coming up, decides that rather than have them blow around, she'll burn them. Big surprise the whole orchard goes up in flames), weird repetitions (Amelia wanders off first into a forest and then into a snowstorm; twice, people come to find and rescue her, carrying her almost dead body to warmth and rescue), and typos in both spelling and punctuation. The publisher, and especially the editor, did not serve this author well. IMO, the one redeeming aspect was that Grace found her spine at the end and made a satisfying decision.
Grace, the main character, is extremely weak and a doormat. Amelia, scarred horribly from mental and physical pain, is self-centered and vapid. Hannah hides inside a hard outer shell. In what has become a cliche' (but maybe wasn't in 2000, when this book was first published), three women (one who cooks, one who does the handy-man work, and one artist - of course) move to an old, dilapidated but charming (of course) house in the country (of course) where they work through their character arcs with the help of some fine country folk (of course).
There are logic errors (Hannah rakes a bunch of dried leaves into piles in an orchard and, noticing the breeze is coming up, decides that rather than have them blow around, she'll burn them. Big surprise the whole orchard goes up in flames), weird repetitions (Amelia wanders off first into a forest and then into a snowstorm; twice, people come to find and rescue her, carrying her almost dead body to warmth and rescue), and typos in both spelling and punctuation. The publisher, and especially the editor, did not serve this author well. IMO, the one redeeming aspect was that Grace found her spine at the end and made a satisfying decision.
March 5, 2008
What I loved about this book is its location and its concept. What I gagged over what the writing. When is a book wonderful because of its characters, ideas, setting, resolution and feeling? And when does the writing intrude so often one longs to take a red pencil to it. Location, western North Carolina, near Mars Hill College which I attended long enough ago to be nostalgic about it. Near Hendersonville where most of my family since 1700 are buried. One of my favorite places on Earth. The concept: how and what do three single, by circumstances - mostly horrible - older women more than survive (they triumph)cleverly with realistic trepidations, bond, live together and create splendid lives. Too much plot perhaps, too much silliness, and yet this book heals and gives hope. It's an amazing seller, and spawned a series of Covington books, each with the writing deteriorating, but I love characters, their perserverence through tv-like plots. And the location. She got so much right. Read the book, support the author, we need more books for grandmothers.
April 14, 2009
I enjoyed this one more in the beginning and then a little less as it went on and on. Reminded me a bit of Jan Karon's books--very character and place driven, and these ladies of Covington are interesting girls for the most part, but I think Karon does a better job over all. Medlicott has a curious, almost unfinished writing style, and her sentences sometimes just don't work. And while I found myself invested in these characters right off, in their appealingly mundane ordinariness with a little bit of mystique, I became less interested as their past trials and relationship woes began to cover the broad gamut of misery and woe and their current choices became more drastic and "modern." Still, the core of the story, the coming together and bonding of these three women that allows each to more fully realize their individual potential and dreams, is a wonderful premise, and should have had a lot more promise.
January 23, 2014
LOVE this book.... about three ladies in their 70's who become friends and move to the Asheville, NC area when one of them inherits a house there...I just find it so inspiring and hopeful and heart-warming to read about people who gain wisdom AND HAPPINESS as they age, who are moving on in life into their better and better years. Lovely.
July 31, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. Hannah, Grace and Amelia are, like me, women of a certain age. (I’m 69 years old). It is about friendship and self discovery and learning that it’s never too late.
April 29, 2009
A fun book to read about three dear ladies and their move to Covington, South Carolina. Three ladies living in a rest home meet and decide to go it alone in a new city. They have their ups and downs and there are lots of interesting characters. I look forward to more adventures with these three.
January 19, 2019
This was a surprisingly good book...surprising because I remember looking at these books when they were first put on BARD in braille and thinking they didn't sound interesting at all, but eventually, one came along that caught my interest. I don't remember now which one that was, but I figured if one book later in the series captured my attention, I might as well start from the beginning and see how good the books are.
We have three ladies in their late 60's to early 70's living in a retirement home. All three are widows. Grace has a son and Hannah has two daughters, but Amelia has no children.
This book starts with Grace and Hannah having to deal with their meddling family while helping Amelia recover from surgery.
They're looking for Amelia's next of kin, in case something should happen to her, and they realize how little they do know about her. Grace is the closest to Amelia, so she's charged with the task of going through Amelia's things to try to find any reference to anyone who could be notified, and she finds nothing, except a group of letters from a cousin Amelia apparently didn't even know she had until fairly recently. So it's then they discover that, as meddlesome as their families can be, at least they have one; Amelia truly seems to be alone.
Then the unexpected. Upon her cousin's death, Amelia receives a letter informing her that a house and property were left to her by her cousin. She talks Grace and Hannah into making the drive from Pennsylvania to North Carolina for what the other two women think will be just to see the house. Whatever Amelia did with it after that never crossed their minds, until Amelia wants to move into the house, use the money her cousin left her to fix it up...and wants Grace and Hannah to move in with her.
This move brings a lot of changes to the ladies' lives. Hannah had to give up a nursery she owned because of knee surgery and an impending hip replacement, but she still had the drive to work, so she's restless, while Grace seems to have found romance in an unexpected way and Amelia finds her calling doing something she'd always thought she'd like but never tried.
They begin calling themselves the ladies of Covington. The town has grown on them, they've met some of the nicest people they could ever think to meet, and they're all finally finding happiness, after a lot of hardships on the way, when they find that they could stand to lose the house and property unless Amelia can find the letters from her cousin, leaving the property to her. Can she find them in time, or are they gone for good? And if they're gone for good, what does that mean for them? They went through a seesaw of emotions over the past year, making that house into a home, and now that they've done it, could they really lose it all?
I found myself totally absorbed in this book after reading only a little of it. You feel like you're there, experiencing the joys and the hard times right along with them, and you feel the gut-wrenching fear right along with them when they realize they could lose everything.
I find myself relating to one character more strongly than the others in books like these. They each have their own personalities, experiences that shaped them into who they are, just like we do, and you find at least one character you can identify with more than the others. For me it's Grace. She's the nurturer. She mothers her friends and everyone she cares about. She loves to cook and tend the home, while Hannah still loves to garden, nursery, greenhouse or not, so she finds a way to busy herself with that. Grace was definitely my connection in this book.
Now that I've read the first one, I can't wait to get into the next to see how life further develops their characters and what other adventures (or misadventures) they find themselves in, because no matter what they are, they always find a way to come out on top.
We have three ladies in their late 60's to early 70's living in a retirement home. All three are widows. Grace has a son and Hannah has two daughters, but Amelia has no children.
This book starts with Grace and Hannah having to deal with their meddling family while helping Amelia recover from surgery.
They're looking for Amelia's next of kin, in case something should happen to her, and they realize how little they do know about her. Grace is the closest to Amelia, so she's charged with the task of going through Amelia's things to try to find any reference to anyone who could be notified, and she finds nothing, except a group of letters from a cousin Amelia apparently didn't even know she had until fairly recently. So it's then they discover that, as meddlesome as their families can be, at least they have one; Amelia truly seems to be alone.
Then the unexpected. Upon her cousin's death, Amelia receives a letter informing her that a house and property were left to her by her cousin. She talks Grace and Hannah into making the drive from Pennsylvania to North Carolina for what the other two women think will be just to see the house. Whatever Amelia did with it after that never crossed their minds, until Amelia wants to move into the house, use the money her cousin left her to fix it up...and wants Grace and Hannah to move in with her.
This move brings a lot of changes to the ladies' lives. Hannah had to give up a nursery she owned because of knee surgery and an impending hip replacement, but she still had the drive to work, so she's restless, while Grace seems to have found romance in an unexpected way and Amelia finds her calling doing something she'd always thought she'd like but never tried.
They begin calling themselves the ladies of Covington. The town has grown on them, they've met some of the nicest people they could ever think to meet, and they're all finally finding happiness, after a lot of hardships on the way, when they find that they could stand to lose the house and property unless Amelia can find the letters from her cousin, leaving the property to her. Can she find them in time, or are they gone for good? And if they're gone for good, what does that mean for them? They went through a seesaw of emotions over the past year, making that house into a home, and now that they've done it, could they really lose it all?
I found myself totally absorbed in this book after reading only a little of it. You feel like you're there, experiencing the joys and the hard times right along with them, and you feel the gut-wrenching fear right along with them when they realize they could lose everything.
I find myself relating to one character more strongly than the others in books like these. They each have their own personalities, experiences that shaped them into who they are, just like we do, and you find at least one character you can identify with more than the others. For me it's Grace. She's the nurturer. She mothers her friends and everyone she cares about. She loves to cook and tend the home, while Hannah still loves to garden, nursery, greenhouse or not, so she finds a way to busy herself with that. Grace was definitely my connection in this book.
Now that I've read the first one, I can't wait to get into the next to see how life further develops their characters and what other adventures (or misadventures) they find themselves in, because no matter what they are, they always find a way to come out on top.
November 21, 2020
Three ladies; Amelia 67, Grace 68, and Hannah 73, meet at a retirement home/boarding house in PA. When Amelia goes to a hospital for emergency surgery, the landlady makes Grace search her room for contact info on relatives. She only finds a few letters from a cousin who recently passed away. Shortly after returning from the hospital Amelia gets a letter from the cousin's attorney informing her of an inheritance of a farmhouse and some money to fix it up. Amelia convinces the other 2 women to accompany her on a visit to see the farm in NC. It's run down but on a beautiful piece of property. She proposes that they pool their money and fix the place up and live there. The story follows their decision making, their interactions concerning the house and then dealing with their relative. But once they move in there are more problems to iron out, a town to learn about and new people as well as family dynamics that each woman has to deal with. A gentle but entertaining plot.
January 19, 2022
Initially, a slow read that got better as the story progressed. This story is about three women in their 60's that deal with everyday concerns such as health scares, financial concerns (including Amelia inherited a house that may or may not be rightfully hers), pursuits of passions and lifelong dreams, adult / parent relationships (Grace and her son Roger & his partner, Charles or Hannah and her daughter, Miranda), and the necessity of female friendships and what this looks like ... the ups and downs of relationships ...
The supporting cast really gives this book dimension - Roger & Charles, Miranda, Olive, Bob, Mike, even the ghosts of former spouses, etc. They all help shape this story.
This should prove for an interesting discussion with my book group.
The supporting cast really gives this book dimension - Roger & Charles, Miranda, Olive, Bob, Mike, even the ghosts of former spouses, etc. They all help shape this story.
This should prove for an interesting discussion with my book group.
May 12, 2019
This book is such an incredible story of three women who, though from separate lives, come together in their senior years to live in a home one of them inherited. It shows a move from where you are comfortable, where your family is close, and getting used to new surroundings and building great lasting friendships. Just the right amount of drama to hold your interest and a great story that makes you want to jump right into the next book.
September 6, 2021
enjoyed this so much - couldn't put it down. loved reading about the 3 women & their friendship, etc.
November 14, 2014
I have to say I am only about 70 pages into this book but so far..it's just so gooey. About these cozy goofy old ladies- that AREN'T REALLY IN THEIR HEART OF HEARTS ..SO OLD.
I'm sorry but it just seems like a Norman Rockwell painting of old ladies. I swear that I can smell my grandmother's talcum powder in these characters. I'm giving it 20 more pages and then I'm out of here. Too gooey. Too cozy. Too something or other for me. JM
Okay I finished.This woman-Joan Melicott is a good writer. I just can't figure out why she wrote such pap. Really smarmy gooey fluff.
The good thing is that she made me get all philosophical about old age. The bad thing is that she made me get all philosophical about old age.
The way I'm looking at it you tell your body what to do -and it does it.The wrinkles, the cellulite - there ain't nothing you can do about it.
But this book -if you're looking for Simone de Beauvoir - this ain't it. If you're looking for Madame Curie- this ain't it. BUT- if you're looking for Lifetime channel THIS IS IT.
It's a "NICE" book- at times I even thought it was PUDGEY. All pudgey and pink and cozy.
Usually I get very angry when I don't like a book. This one not- I just assumed I was in the wrong aisle at the bookstore. Self help,old ladies and sex, aging gracefully. None of that interests me. I have no intention of aging gracefully. I intend to age like a raging bull. BUT if those things interest you- then THIS IS YOUR BOOK.
And I'll say it again. She's a good writer.
Joan Medlicott . Listen if you're reading this you have got to have it out with St. Martin's Press. There were so many typos, and mistakes, and sentences that didn't make sense - that I could not believe it.It was astounding. (I even came across speeches with no closing quotation marks???)Stupid errors-which make for very serious errors, in a published book.
St. Martins Press. They're one of the best. I would read a book based on them alone. If they published it- it must be good. Their taste in publishing is impeccable. SO how the hell did this happen? I don't mean how did they come to publish this book -that was fine by me- because like I said this is a well written book- but how did it happen that their proof reading seemed completely non existent.
They're the best. How could this happen?
Okay Joan Medlicott if you are reading this- stop. You don't need to read this. Just go write another book but make it smart this time.
That's it for me.
JM
I'm sorry but it just seems like a Norman Rockwell painting of old ladies. I swear that I can smell my grandmother's talcum powder in these characters. I'm giving it 20 more pages and then I'm out of here. Too gooey. Too cozy. Too something or other for me. JM
Okay I finished.This woman-Joan Melicott is a good writer. I just can't figure out why she wrote such pap. Really smarmy gooey fluff.
The good thing is that she made me get all philosophical about old age. The bad thing is that she made me get all philosophical about old age.
The way I'm looking at it you tell your body what to do -and it does it.The wrinkles, the cellulite - there ain't nothing you can do about it.
But this book -if you're looking for Simone de Beauvoir - this ain't it. If you're looking for Madame Curie- this ain't it. BUT- if you're looking for Lifetime channel THIS IS IT.
It's a "NICE" book- at times I even thought it was PUDGEY. All pudgey and pink and cozy.
Usually I get very angry when I don't like a book. This one not- I just assumed I was in the wrong aisle at the bookstore. Self help,old ladies and sex, aging gracefully. None of that interests me. I have no intention of aging gracefully. I intend to age like a raging bull. BUT if those things interest you- then THIS IS YOUR BOOK.
And I'll say it again. She's a good writer.
Joan Medlicott . Listen if you're reading this you have got to have it out with St. Martin's Press. There were so many typos, and mistakes, and sentences that didn't make sense - that I could not believe it.It was astounding. (I even came across speeches with no closing quotation marks???)Stupid errors-which make for very serious errors, in a published book.
St. Martins Press. They're one of the best. I would read a book based on them alone. If they published it- it must be good. Their taste in publishing is impeccable. SO how the hell did this happen? I don't mean how did they come to publish this book -that was fine by me- because like I said this is a well written book- but how did it happen that their proof reading seemed completely non existent.
They're the best. How could this happen?
Okay Joan Medlicott if you are reading this- stop. You don't need to read this. Just go write another book but make it smart this time.
That's it for me.
JM
March 5, 2018
Women over 65 start new lives
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 8, 2010
This title begins a domestic fiction series full of likeable and relatable characters, the type you just might recognize among people you know. There is a faint Christian fiction feel to it, but it is possible that some Christian-fiction readers may not agree with some of the directions the story goes. The three main female characters between them are all working through tough, but common issues such as: physical changes due to aging, loneliness, domestic abuse, sex in the older years, financial strains, elder care, homosexuality, alcoholism, and dating. While these are heavier issues, this is nevertheless a light book in its tone, pacing, and plot. This is also a great testament to the power of friendships. Highly recommend for most female readers.
July 1, 2009
This author is from Barnardsville, NC which is only about 20 minutes from my home. Having been there and seen the school and the area she describes, her descriptions of the mountains and valleys put into words what I feel as I look at my beautiful surroundings. The characters in the story are near my age and I easily relate to their joys and problems as we reach those silver haired times. I will definitely read more of the books in her series about the Ladies of Covington. I already have the next one loaded on my kindle.
January 5, 2011
This was an honest book about growing older, friendship, and family. It is laden with religious subtext. Amazingly, the mentions of church and bible verses were not distracting because the characters seemed believable in their own challenges in life, love, and faith.
From the publisher's:
Joan Medlicott writes lovingly about the complexity and tenderness of women. she writes with honesty about relationships, about love and passion, about commitment and friendship, as well as about the intricate bonds between parents and their children.
From the publisher's:
Joan Medlicott writes lovingly about the complexity and tenderness of women. she writes with honesty about relationships, about love and passion, about commitment and friendship, as well as about the intricate bonds between parents and their children.
March 25, 2011
This is a fast, easy read. It takes you to a simpler place and time where life moves at a slower pace. I loved the detailed descriptions the author provided and by the time I was finished, I felt as if I knew the house, the area, and the ladies. Friendships like these are hard to find and maintain in such a busy world. I loved the characters, the whole concept. I remembered all my friends from Indiana fondly and thought of how we would do in in a similar situation. I think I just long for simplicity, beauty and true meaning in my life and this book seemed to capture all of those ideals.
September 21, 2013
Grace and Hannah have rooms in a retirement house owned by Olive, when Amelia comes to join them. None of them are really happy there, so when Amelia inherits a house in Covington, North Carolina, and money to fix it up, they all decide to live there together. Amelia is a photographer, and Grace teaches reading at a school where she meets Bob. Hannah has a greenhouse built for commercial use. Then, the villain shows up, a man who claims to have been the caretaker, with a will naming HIM. Amelia has to find the papers proving her claim. Can she?
January 23, 2014
This book involves three women "of a certain age" that has lived very different lives, but become very best friends. They begin their friendship while living in a boarding house in Pennsylvania. Circumstances lead them to a very small town, Covington, North Carolina. Most of the book's setting is near the mountains, in western North Carolina, which is close to home. The three ladies come to life through the pages. Although I wanted to "hurry" some of it along, I did enjoy the book. If you enjoy books set in rural areas and family/life experiences, I would recommend this book.
May 6, 2021
Three older women find themselves living at a boarding house in Pennsylvania, and hating it. Their landlady is no Mother Teresa. Amelia used to travel to all parts of the globe with her husband who worked for the International Red Cross. She lived in his shadow. They had a daughter together. The daughter, then her husband died. She lost most of her fortune from a rehabilitation center to get her back on her feet, mentally. Grace was married to Ted, her protector. Ted succumbed to cancer 6 months after his diagnosis. Her son, Roger, whisked her out of the house and into Mrs. Pruitt's boarding house. Hannah ran away from her drunken and abusive husband. She worked herself silly trying to provide for her two daughters. She worked at, then purchased a nursery, eventually turning it over to one of her daughters. Soon, Amelia receives letters from a long lost cousin of hers. After his death, she's informed that he's left a house in North Carolina, 28 acres and $50,000 to fix it up, if she so chooses. Amelia doesn't know how drive, and Hannah, who has a car, can't drive because she is suffering from hip pains-she needs a hip replacement, so they cajole Grace, who won't drive over 40 mph and never been on an interstate, into driving from Pennsylvania down to North Carolina. All three pile into Hannah's old junker and set off. Their kids are beside themselves with worry. These woman are not old by any stretch of the imagination-all in their mid to late 60s, but have never done anything like this....ever. The house is--neglected would be a nice way of putting it. They find local workmen through their real estate person. The town that this house and land is located is more a village, very small, but filled with interesting characters. Slowly they get the house looking like it should, all safe and up-to-day. They start venturing off, exploring their area, meeting new people, trying new things, but always, always, with the guilt of failed past relationships, marriages, losing contact with their children-now grown with families of their own. Are grown women not allowed to be happy? Where is that written? There's about 100 pages that could've been cut from this book. It was draggy after page 450 or so until about 600(at least that's how it was set up on my computer). To be fair, I had just finished reading Steve Berry's The Venetian Betrayal, which is fast paced and keeps moving. I've learned an awful lot reading his books. I hope you like this book as much as I did.
June 20, 2017
The harsh circumstances of life have brought together three very different women of "a certain age" in a Pennsylvania boardinghouse where the most any of them can hope for is a sagging bed and three square meals a day. Grace Singleton is an extraordinarily cautious woman who remains uncertain of her place in such an intimidating world; Hannah Parrish may be outspoken about a great many things, but she harbors a profoundly private fear that could change her life forever; Amelia Declose is a fragile soul who has been shattered by devastating grief. These three ladies may be as different as can be, yet their friendship will ultimately lead them all to experience the adventure of their lifetimes.
Their friendship will take take them on an extraordinary journey to North Carolina - and to a dilapidated farmhouse where the unexpected suddenly seems delightfully promising. Such startling changes will not only seem entirely welcome, but also come as a sweet surprise to each woman. As each lady travels along on this shared adventure, they will be surprised to find that the years they have managed to reclaim from the shadows of twilight just may be the best years of their lives. Years which will offer something infinitely more precious and rare: confidence, competence, and even another chance at love...
I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book; in my opinion, it is a truly delightful story. This was certainly easy reading for me, but there was just enough going on in the plot to hold my attention all the way through the story. While this isn't completely a 'fluffy, feel good' story, I appreciated that it also wasn't entirely dark and depressing - I would give this book an A!
Their friendship will take take them on an extraordinary journey to North Carolina - and to a dilapidated farmhouse where the unexpected suddenly seems delightfully promising. Such startling changes will not only seem entirely welcome, but also come as a sweet surprise to each woman. As each lady travels along on this shared adventure, they will be surprised to find that the years they have managed to reclaim from the shadows of twilight just may be the best years of their lives. Years which will offer something infinitely more precious and rare: confidence, competence, and even another chance at love...
I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book; in my opinion, it is a truly delightful story. This was certainly easy reading for me, but there was just enough going on in the plot to hold my attention all the way through the story. While this isn't completely a 'fluffy, feel good' story, I appreciated that it also wasn't entirely dark and depressing - I would give this book an A!
September 17, 2019
This is a delightful story of a different type of coming of age. Three mature ladies (Amelia, Hannah and Grace) biding time at a senior care boarding house. All three feel like they are just waiting for the end of life. They are all feeling a bit discarded and are not sure what is left to live for. Amelia inherits a home and property in Covington, North Carolina from a long lost cousin. They decide to go on a road trip ( only one has a valid license and she has never driven over 40mph) to check the property out. Initial impressions were not bright but after reviewing what needed to be done the ladies decide to fix it up initially as a vacation place but then decide to move in. It was beautiful to see how the women grew. Wallowing in their self doubt and recriminations and seeing their way through with the help of good friends. There is a little bit of Christian lit overtures but from ladies of this generation I would expect no less and it wasn't preachy or over bearing. It was despairing and then heartlifting- I found it well written, maybe a little cheesey at times but still very enjoyable.
March 11, 2022
Interesting story. So many good points made in the previous reviews but......
I am of the characters age now, and am friends with a number of women who are older, even into their mid 80’s, and so I relate to a lot of the story lines. I could see myself, if need be, doing the same thing with friends, joining together to share a home without being forced into a retirement home by well-meaning families. The backstories are sad and a little overblown, and catastrophes somewhat too frequent yet easily solved, but then again, such things do happen. I get the feeling the author has people in her life who are urging her into making the story and the characters “woke”, accounting for some of the piling on.
Living near the area, the description of the land and the tourism is well done, and while people have, in their reviews, sort of made fun of the homespun country folk side characters, these people are out there, and most of them as nice as can be.
All in all, I look forward to the subsequent books in the series.
I am of the characters age now, and am friends with a number of women who are older, even into their mid 80’s, and so I relate to a lot of the story lines. I could see myself, if need be, doing the same thing with friends, joining together to share a home without being forced into a retirement home by well-meaning families. The backstories are sad and a little overblown, and catastrophes somewhat too frequent yet easily solved, but then again, such things do happen. I get the feeling the author has people in her life who are urging her into making the story and the characters “woke”, accounting for some of the piling on.
Living near the area, the description of the land and the tourism is well done, and while people have, in their reviews, sort of made fun of the homespun country folk side characters, these people are out there, and most of them as nice as can be.
All in all, I look forward to the subsequent books in the series.
April 3, 2021
A book about older women appealed to me as a break from the usual youthful protagonists and, on that score, it didn't disappoint. I enjoyed the first part where the three women get together and end up taking on a huge, life-changing project that helps them all grow away from their more hidebound ways, but the second part tends to drag as the author dwells on each character's angst, hang-ups and fears; includes far more detail than is strictly necessary; and throws in just about every disaster and challenge imaginable to add pages to her book, apparently (fire, flood, search & rescue, etc.). The characters were likable to a point but their constant fretting over every little move or decision was wearing. I wanted to yell, "Get on with it!" It does deal with some of the challenges of age: health and mobility, romance/sex in one's golden years, and how to remain useful. I think it's worth reading, just not one I can rave about due to the above flaws.
April 19, 2018
I really liked the idea of this book--three women who had had difficult marriages with domineering men band together in their widowhoods to live together and form a community. If nothing else, I was interested in reading about women of a similar age to me. It is cozy and somewhat charming, but I found the pace quite slow, with too many details about tourist sites in the area of North Carolina where they settled and too much focus on the foods they were eating. I also thought their problems were quite mundane and too easily solved. It seems they all were able, after a dose of introspection, to throw off the difficulties of their pasts and embrace a new future. It seemed all rather unrealistic. The whole renovation of the farmhouse also went off without a hitch--totally unrealistic! I liked the premise, but not the execution.
March 23, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, perhaps because the women were my age and I could relate to where they were and what they were going through in their lives. Three women meet and become friends in a "retirement home" where they were placed when they either suffered minor health issues or death of a spouse. They were perfectly healthy and of sound mind and hated being stuck in a room instead of living their lives and cooking and gardening. Due to the inheritance of a farm house in Covington NC, they decide to move in together and find their lives are filled with joy despite the house needing extensive renovations and various mishaps common to us all. There were some moments that weren't quite believable but on the whole the book showed the joy of friendship and how friends can truly change how you think and feel about yourself.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 193 reviews