Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book
Rate this book
A Life Filled With Riches

The riches that mean most to Teresa "Toots" Loudenberry are the loving friends and family she's accumulated over the course of a life well lived. And now that her daughter, Abby, has married her beau Chris and settled down near Toots in Charleston, life is even more satisfying than the delicious pralines sold at Toots's bakery, The Sweetest Thing.


Abby isn't the only one enjoying a little romance. Toots's friendship with Dr. Phil Becker has grown unexpectedly close. . .and that brings both joy and complications. As a distraction, Toots throws herself into helping Abby and Chris open an animal rescue shelter on their plantation. But life takes a serious turn when two young children disappear after visiting The Sweetest Thing. Toots immediately enlists Ida, Sophie, and Mavis to help in the search. But as Sophie's psychic abilities draw them closer to the culprits, they realize the stakes are much higher than they ever could have imagined. . .

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

1000 people are currently reading
2877 people want to read

About the author

Fern Michaels

427 books6,545 followers
Fern 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/

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
752 (44%)
4 stars
473 (28%)
3 stars
295 (17%)
2 stars
100 (5%)
1 star
58 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews
Profile Image for Andrei Bădică.
392 reviews10 followers
July 8, 2019
Potrivită pentru vară...


"Era mamă. Trebuia să facă tot ce era mai bine pentru fiica ei. Orice femeie/ mamă în deplinătatea facultăților mintale ar face tot ce e posibil pentru a-și ajuta fiica în carieră."
Profile Image for Kristy.
19 reviews1 follower
November 26, 2013
I have read quite a bit of Fern Michàels books, when I saw this new book I grabbed it thinking it would be a good light read. I was very much intriged by the beginning, but lost me soon after. I thought the story had too many holes, It seemed like there were several plots that she started and then never mentioned again? By the end of the book I found myself rolling my eyes a lot. I felt this book was really corny. I could not return this book to the library fast enough.
Profile Image for Jeannine.
798 reviews7 followers
July 2, 2016
I've never read this author before and took this book out of the library because it was in the mystery section and there was a dog on the cover. It is a romance novel which I dislike so I am surprised I finished it. I guess I kept waiting to be interested in or have empathy with the plot or any of the characters. I didn't. Not even the dogs............and I am a dog rescue volunteer. Very disappointing.
Profile Image for Carol  MacInnis.
453 reviews
March 12, 2014
Teresa 'Toots' Loudenberry and her three best friends, Sophie, Mavis, and Ida, better known by Toots' daughter Abby, as the three Godmothers are back. Now Abby is newly married to her long time beau Chris Clay and they now reside in Charleston at the 'Clay Plantation'. It was the perfect location as they were only blocks from Abby's mother and her godmothers and they all visited one another often. As Abby & Chris get settled in their 12,000 square foot mansion, Toots has a new love interest, Dr. Phil Becker, who is hoping to take their relationship to the next level. As Phil is winding his practice down, he's hoping to retire to Myrtle Beach with Toots by his side. But with Toots' track record of eight marriages, all eight husbands having passed away, Toots feels as if she's cursed and is literally afraid for Phil's life!

Toots learns of Abby & Chris' plans to restore the old buildings built many years ago that were used as the slave's quarters on the Plantation. They have decided to set up a non-profit organization 'Dogs Displaced by Disaster' not just in Charleston but wherever disaster strikes. Suddenly, as quickly as anticipation rises in the images of Abby & Chris' upcoming enterprise, it's learned that two young children, ages 12 & 9 have disappeared and the last place they were seen was at 'The Sweetest Thing' which Toots' owns. The parents of the children have learned of Sophie's psychic powers and want her to help aid the police in their search. Time is of the essence and hopefully Sophie's skills will shed some light sooner than later.

Author Fern Michaels has yet another hit with Toots and the Three Grandmothers. Wonderful story!
82 reviews12 followers
October 28, 2013
A number of my friends are Fern Michaels fans, so I was glad to dip into this book as a GoodReads First Reads. Unfortunately, the thing I liked best about this book was the adorable dog picture on the cover.

I thought the plot, what there was of it, was full of holes and non sequiters. The disturbing Prologue bore no relation to the rest of the book that I could see. The paranormal aspect of the story was unexpected, since I wasn't familiar with the characters. Also unexpected was the rude and vulgar dialogue. I didn't feel it added anything to the story or the characterization except to make them unsympathetic. What it did do was remind me of just why I watch so little television. It had the same glossy overlay to conceal the lack of content.

If you're a fan, you'll read this book anyway. If you're not, there are much more profitable ways to spend your time.
Profile Image for Judy Churchill.
2,567 reviews31 followers
June 3, 2018
OMG! I thought this book would never end. I have to stop buying books with pictures of dogs on the cover. This was a silly story of a young couple awash with godmothers and very sexually active seniors. They were all terribly rich, did start a home for homeless animals, and donated to all of the charitable causes in their community. The end!
1 review
July 2, 2013
This book had a little of everything. The main characters are Toots Londerberry, her boyfriend Dr. Phil Becker; Abby and Chris Clay married about a year, there is also Abby's godmothers Ida, Sophie, Bernice and her boyfriend Robert, and Mavis. Abby and Chris establish an animal rescue facility on their plantation for animals that have been injured in fires, hurricanes, tornados or abused. They will help animals large (farm) or small (dogs, cats etc).

Abby's mother Toots opens a canine cafe where pet owners can take their animals to a real cafe with water bowls food, treats and toys for their pets can play.

Sophie has psychic abilities that helps the police find two children a brother and his little sister that were kidnapped from the bakery called The Sweetest Thing. Sophie takes a stuffed rabbit and a game boy and by touching them is able to lead the police to the ally and basement apartment where the children are being held. By finding the children she saved their lives and brought down one of the largest child-pornography rings in the state. Sophie and her boyfriend Goebel, open an office to help people with psychic services. Sophie has several wonderful experiences in the book.


This book has a range of adventures, some make you happy some make you cry but all of them make a wonderful read!
Profile Image for Nancy.
1,427 reviews27 followers
October 31, 2013
Great book. Really makes you feel good. Life is good. These ladies are so wealthy and so chummy. Fast read. Looks like this series will blend in with the Vigilantes -- great - love that series, too.

The riches that mean most to Teresa "Toots" Loudenberry are the loving friends and family she's accumulated over the course of a life well lived. And now that her daughter, Abby, has married her beau Chris and settled down near Toots in Charleston, life is even more satisfying than the delicious pralines sold at Toots's bakery, The Sweetest Thing.


Abby isn't the only one enjoying a little romance. Toots's friendship with Dr. Phil Becker has grown unexpectedly close. . .and that brings both joy and complications. As a distraction, Toots throws herself into helping Abby and Chris open an animal rescue shelter on their plantation. But life takes a serious turn when two young children disappear after visiting The Sweetest Thing. Toots immediately enlists Ida, Sophie, and Mavis to help in the search. But as Sophie's psychic abilities draw them closer to the culprits, they realize the stakes are much higher than they ever could have imagined. .
694 reviews36 followers
September 2, 2018
I guess I just got a little bored with this one. Older women with active sex lives and lots of money. It seems like one of those filler books that come along, not a lot of content but an obligation to produce a book.
Profile Image for Joan.
967 reviews
May 13, 2018
The Godmothers is a good name for this series, because it certainly reads like a fairy tale about potty mouthed, over-sexed, smoking fairy godmothers.

Abby is a beautiful young woman, married to the man of her dreams. lives in a mansion in Charleston, was given $10 million dollars as a wedding present, her twins are each given $1 million as a christening gift, and her mother, her 3 godmothers, and even the housekeeper all have gorgeous, sexy boyfriends and successful businesses to which the seem to devote little time.

Abby and her new husband Chris start a sanctuary for animals who are rescued following disasters. The animals are set up in the former slave quarters of her mansion and there is plenty of money to fly in top veterinary surgeons when required.

When Abby is about to deliver her twins, a helicopter is sent to whisk them off to the hospital. Of course labour is a breeze - one is born in the helicopter, the other in a hospital corridor.

We should all be fortunate enough to live the life of Abby.
Profile Image for Penney.
710 reviews
July 5, 2019
About the book,
The riches that mean most to Teresa “Toots” Loudenberry are the loving friends and family she’s accumulated over the course of a life well lived. And now that her daughter, Abby, has married her beau Chris and settled down near Toots in Charleston, life is even more satisfying than the delicious pralines sold at Toots’s bakery, The Sweetest Thing.

Abby isn’t the only one enjoying a little romance. Toots’s friendship with Dr. Phil Becker has grown unexpectedly close . . . and that brings both joy and complications. As a distraction, Toots throws herself into helping Abby and Chris open an animal rescue shelter on their estate. But life takes a serious turn when two young children disappear after visiting The Sweetest Thing. Toots immediately enlists Ida, Sophie, and Mavis to help in the search. As they draw closer to the culprits, they realize the stakes are much higher than they ever could have imagined.
I loved this story so much I'm going to start with the 1st and catch up with the series, I highly recommend reading this.
Profile Image for Beverly.
302 reviews20 followers
June 12, 2017
This book was different from the other Godmother series. The first half was about 2 children who were kidnapped and the police used Sophie's psychic abilities to find them. A child porn ring was broken up. This half really stressed Sophie's growing abilities. Throughout the book was the line of the story about the growing relationships with the men interested in the 5 women. Then there was the reunion with Berniece and her son Daniel. Finally there was the storyline about Abby's first pregnancy. There was a lot going on and it was well written. I felt the author was tying up loose ends and starting new storylines so the series could go on. I hope now that she has accomplished that the books go back to what they were before this book.
45 reviews2 followers
February 4, 2014
I think someone else is writing in Fern Michael's place. This book was almost painful to read, I had to keep pushing myself to finish. Her earlier works were amazing. I really enjoyed her Kentucky, Vegas, and Texas series. The Weekend Warriors were great at the beginning, but by book 15 or 16, it started getting cheesy. Either the poor gal has lost her touch, or more likely, someone has started writing in her place. I'm not impressed with her latest books. Highly recommend her earlier stuff. I will definitely reread the Kentucky/ Vegas/ Texas (Rich, Heat, Sunrise). It's a 10 book saga - make sure you read in order.
1,024 reviews13 followers
May 22, 2018
The riches that mean most to Teresa "Toots" Loudenberry are the loving friends and family she's accumulated. And now that her daughter, Abby, has married her beau Chris and settled down near Toots in Charleston . Toots's friendship with Dr. Phil Becker has grown unexpectedly close. . .and that brings both joy and complications. Toots throws herself into helping Abby and Chris open an animal rescue shelter on their plantation. Toots immediately enlists Ida, Sophie, and Mavis to help. But as Sophie's psychic abilities draw them closer , they realize the stakes are much higher than they ever could have imagined. . .
18 reviews
Read
September 20, 2016
What happened??????????
I was so interested in the beginning with the dream and Abby looking into the plantations history -- then it was never mentioned again.
I thought OK the kidnapping story line will be interesting but it was over before it started.
Some things seemed to be repeated........the kidnapping from the previous book was referred to way too many times. Yes Toots lived in the Clay plantation house........I think it was mentioned 6 times.
I couldn't wait for it to be over.
It was painful to listen too.
546 reviews13 followers
August 9, 2018
I got this book through Goodreads.
It is the first book of the Godmothers series that I have read.
There are many characters to remember and only short bits of action.
The first not until page 50.
The book is filled with too many prior happenings before anything new happens.
I think this is one series that it would be better to start with the first book.
The end hints at what the next book will tell about the lives of the characters.
24 reviews1 follower
October 19, 2023
This was so bad omg. I got the ick from this book but for some reason I feel obligated to finish a book when I start. So many random plot lines, everything worked out “perfectly” (which included 2 million dollar gifts at a baby shower), and 70 year old women had a ton of sex and used the word “frig” regularly.
454 reviews3 followers
May 4, 2018
this book kept my interest the whole way through
there was a kidnapping in the middle which was solved right away so I knew other things would be happening since I was only in the middle of the book
there is more of Abby and Chris in this book which I enjoyed
537 reviews
January 1, 2019
This book had a slow start about Toots and the 3 Godmothers. All of them in their golden years and enjoying life. But Abby,the daughter was the highlight of all the women. All of their wealth was spread out and enjoyed by all.
All in all it was a good entertaining story.
Profile Image for Amber Taylor.
556 reviews
May 7, 2019
Meh. I’ve really enjoyed the Godmothers series, but this one was a little off for me. There were story lines that were unfinished and others that wrapped up in a predictable and convenient way. This one was just so-so for me.
447 reviews3 followers
April 22, 2022
Even with some of the crazy hi-jinx and bottomless bank accounts of the ladies, the themes of family, friendship, honesty and what really matters in life shines through. Another feel-good read in the series.
Profile Image for Jean Kovats.
246 reviews2 followers
February 11, 2017
Too sweet. People are nice but the story is sickening sweet.
Profile Image for Judy van Ryn.
210 reviews2 followers
October 16, 2017
Fern Michaels writes fantastic books. I love reading about the Godmothers. I can't wait to read the next book.
1 review
February 11, 2018
Loved it

Everything I expected from Fern Michaels. Couldn't wait to continue the story and find out what was next for the Godmothers.
Profile Image for *Weebles*.
403 reviews7 followers
May 2, 2018
Loved it! This was definitely the best one of the series, in my opinion. I am kinda sad that this is the last one, however.
710 reviews2 followers
May 21, 2018
Did not realize part of a series. Should have read previous books to get back stories of characters. Abby, her mother and 3 godmothers and life in Charleston.
50 reviews
May 24, 2018
Wasted time

One of the most unenjoyable books I,ve ever read Had a hard time finishing it and I always read to the end
Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews

Join the discussion

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.