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The Mommy Club #3
Wanted: A Real Family
In the first book of her new miniseries The Mommy Club, Karen Rose Smith introduces readers to down-on-her-luck single mom Sara Stevens;and the sexy photojournalist who just might be her knight in shining armor...
Two years ago, Sara helped to heal Jase Cramer's injured body--and his soul. Now, with their home destroyed in a fire, she and her daughter are the ones in need. Accepting Jase's offer to stay at his family vineyard is a temptation the widowed physical therapist can't resist. But can she put the brakes on the sparks flaring between them?
Jase never forgot Sara's tender loving care...or the attraction that couldn't go anywhere. Now she's back in his life, awakening feelings that bring back memories of heartache. With the help of Sara's little girl and The Mommy Club, the volunteer group that's transforming their California community, Jase just might be ready for a second shot at love and the family he always wanted!
Two years ago, Sara helped to heal Jase Cramer's injured body--and his soul. Now, with their home destroyed in a fire, she and her daughter are the ones in need. Accepting Jase's offer to stay at his family vineyard is a temptation the widowed physical therapist can't resist. But can she put the brakes on the sparks flaring between them?
Jase never forgot Sara's tender loving care...or the attraction that couldn't go anywhere. Now she's back in his life, awakening feelings that bring back memories of heartache. With the help of Sara's little girl and The Mommy Club, the volunteer group that's transforming their California community, Jase just might be ready for a second shot at love and the family he always wanted!
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
14 people are currently reading
264 people want to read
About the author
Karen Rose Smith
352 books909 followersAward-winning author Karen Rose Smith was born in Pennsylvania. Although she was an only child, she remembers the bonds of an extended family. Family is a strong theme in her books and she suspects her childhood memories are the reason.
In college, Karen began writing poetry and also met her husband to be. They both began married life as teachers, but when their son was born, Karen decided to try her hand at a home-decorating business.
She returned to teaching for a while but changes in her life led her to writing relationship novels. Now she writes romances as well as mysteries full time. Her first book was published in 1992; her 110th novel will be published in 2024. A winner of New Jersey's Golden Leaf Award in Short Contemporary Romance, Colorado Romance Writers Award Of Excellence for short contemporary, as well as the Phoenix Desert Rose Chapter's Golden Quill for Traditional Romance, she has also been honored with Cataromance.com's award for Best Special Edition and Washington Romance Writers Career Achievement Award. Her romances have made both the USA TODAY list and the Amazon Romance and Contemporary Romance Bestseller lists. Her mysteries have made the USA TODAY and Barnes and Noble bestseller lists.
She has written for Meteor/Kismet, Kensington, Silhouette and Harlequin. Readers can contact Karen through her website, on Facebook (Karen Rose Smith Author) and on Twitter @ Karenrosesmith, on TIKTOK at karenrosesmithauthor and on Instagram. They can also follow her monthly e-zine IN TOUCH with KAREN ROSE SMITH which has the latest news about her books, recipes and contests.
In college, Karen began writing poetry and also met her husband to be. They both began married life as teachers, but when their son was born, Karen decided to try her hand at a home-decorating business.
She returned to teaching for a while but changes in her life led her to writing relationship novels. Now she writes romances as well as mysteries full time. Her first book was published in 1992; her 110th novel will be published in 2024. A winner of New Jersey's Golden Leaf Award in Short Contemporary Romance, Colorado Romance Writers Award Of Excellence for short contemporary, as well as the Phoenix Desert Rose Chapter's Golden Quill for Traditional Romance, she has also been honored with Cataromance.com's award for Best Special Edition and Washington Romance Writers Career Achievement Award. Her romances have made both the USA TODAY list and the Amazon Romance and Contemporary Romance Bestseller lists. Her mysteries have made the USA TODAY and Barnes and Noble bestseller lists.
She has written for Meteor/Kismet, Kensington, Silhouette and Harlequin. Readers can contact Karen through her website, on Facebook (Karen Rose Smith Author) and on Twitter @ Karenrosesmith, on TIKTOK at karenrosesmithauthor and on Instagram. They can also follow her monthly e-zine IN TOUCH with KAREN ROSE SMITH which has the latest news about her books, recipes and contests.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 3, 2018
This is the 4th book I read by Karen Rose Smith. I liked this book's storyline. This book's storyline was sad 😢. I liked the hot & steamy scenes. I liked Sara's character. I loved ❤ Amy, she was adorable. I liked Jase's character. I liked the ending.
June 13, 2020
Protagonistas: Sarah & Jase
Profesiones: Fisioterapeuta & Fotoperiodista/Viticultor
Pais: USA
Profesiones: Fisioterapeuta & Fotoperiodista/Viticultor
Pais: USA
August 31, 2013
Good book. Two years ago Sara had used her skills as a physical therapist to help Jase heal from physical and emotional wounds. Now, thanks to a fire, she and her daughter need a place to live. Jase takes the chance to repay her by offering the guest cottage at his family's winery. Sara accepts the offer, but is worried about the attraction that is affecting both of them. Her marriage before her husband's death hadn't been a happy one and she is reluctant to get involved with anyone. Jase is also reluctant to get involved in anything permanent.
Sara is still in shock over the loss of her home when Jase offers the use of the cottage. She remembers him well from when he was her patient and is glad to see that he's doing so well. What she doesn't expect is the burst of attraction she feels toward him. Her focus right now is on her daughter and on recovering from the fire. Her husband also left a lot of debt when he died. She had trusted him when he said everything was fine and now she questions her actions. Jase doesn't hide his attraction to her but tries to give her space. As she gets to know him better she likes the way that he acts with her daughter but worries that he will go back to his traveling ways and they will be hurt by his absence in their lives. She also sees him renewing his love of photography and writing as he starts a series of articles about the Mommy Club. She is hesitant to be interviewed because of her preference for privacy but Jase convinces her. I liked the way that she waited to get intimate with Jase until she was sure of her feelings. I also liked that she was honest with him about the fact that she doesn't do "just sex" that there has to be an emotional connection. She has to decide at the end if she's willing to take a chance on them.
When Jase first met Sara she was his physical therapist. In the course of his treatment she had also helped him deal with his emotions after the breakup with his fiancee and the things he had seen during his last photo shoot. He had felt a connection with her but she was married so he knew it wouldn't go anywhere. He was happy to be able to help her after the fire. He also discovered that his attraction to her hadn't gone away. Now he's working at the family winery and finding any excuse to see Sara and her daughter. After his breakup he had put aside any thoughts of having a family of his own. Between the problems with Dara and his own rocky relationship with his adoptive father, he felt that he wasn't emotionally suited for long term like that. I loved seeing him with Sara's daughter Amy, and how great he was with her. He loved playing with her, reading to her, just being around her - it was obvious to everyone what a great Dad he would be. Being around Sara also started to break down the walls he had built up. He was starting to remember the good things about his photojournalism not just the bad memories from the last trip. He put those feelings to use in a series of articles about the Mommy Club that ended up bringing him a chance to go back to doing the work he used to love. He has to decide if he wants that enough to leave everything else behind or try to find a way to have it all.
I also liked seeing Jase's dad. He comes across at first as kind of a cynical grouch. He and Jase don't have a close relationship and it has affected Jase's personal life. Through some conversations he has with Sara it becomes obvious that he loves Jase but never learned how to express it, leaving Jase with the feeling he doesn't care. I loved the way that Sara helps them connect with each other.
I'm looking forward to more stories about the members of the Mommy Club. I love the idea of the club and the way they help each other. This looks like it will be a very good series.
Sara is still in shock over the loss of her home when Jase offers the use of the cottage. She remembers him well from when he was her patient and is glad to see that he's doing so well. What she doesn't expect is the burst of attraction she feels toward him. Her focus right now is on her daughter and on recovering from the fire. Her husband also left a lot of debt when he died. She had trusted him when he said everything was fine and now she questions her actions. Jase doesn't hide his attraction to her but tries to give her space. As she gets to know him better she likes the way that he acts with her daughter but worries that he will go back to his traveling ways and they will be hurt by his absence in their lives. She also sees him renewing his love of photography and writing as he starts a series of articles about the Mommy Club. She is hesitant to be interviewed because of her preference for privacy but Jase convinces her. I liked the way that she waited to get intimate with Jase until she was sure of her feelings. I also liked that she was honest with him about the fact that she doesn't do "just sex" that there has to be an emotional connection. She has to decide at the end if she's willing to take a chance on them.
When Jase first met Sara she was his physical therapist. In the course of his treatment she had also helped him deal with his emotions after the breakup with his fiancee and the things he had seen during his last photo shoot. He had felt a connection with her but she was married so he knew it wouldn't go anywhere. He was happy to be able to help her after the fire. He also discovered that his attraction to her hadn't gone away. Now he's working at the family winery and finding any excuse to see Sara and her daughter. After his breakup he had put aside any thoughts of having a family of his own. Between the problems with Dara and his own rocky relationship with his adoptive father, he felt that he wasn't emotionally suited for long term like that. I loved seeing him with Sara's daughter Amy, and how great he was with her. He loved playing with her, reading to her, just being around her - it was obvious to everyone what a great Dad he would be. Being around Sara also started to break down the walls he had built up. He was starting to remember the good things about his photojournalism not just the bad memories from the last trip. He put those feelings to use in a series of articles about the Mommy Club that ended up bringing him a chance to go back to doing the work he used to love. He has to decide if he wants that enough to leave everything else behind or try to find a way to have it all.
I also liked seeing Jase's dad. He comes across at first as kind of a cynical grouch. He and Jase don't have a close relationship and it has affected Jase's personal life. Through some conversations he has with Sara it becomes obvious that he loves Jase but never learned how to express it, leaving Jase with the feeling he doesn't care. I loved the way that Sara helps them connect with each other.
I'm looking forward to more stories about the members of the Mommy Club. I love the idea of the club and the way they help each other. This looks like it will be a very good series.
January 24, 2014
This is not my usual genre that I like to read, but it was well done. I read it very quickly and enjoyed it.
May 22, 2022
A friend sent me this book in a box of books. I'm not sure if she read it or not.
What I liked:
*Sara seems practical. She's a single mom, but she puts her child high in her life priority list.
*There's a history between Sara and Jase that makes it more believable that their relationship would progress as it did.
*The Mommy Club (though a somewhat unfortunate name choice) seems to be doing real good and helping people.
What I didn't like:
*First and foremost, I'm not a big fan of sex outside of marriage. Nor of the steamy scenes this series now contains. Quite different than the ones I read as a teen. I have a hard time believing Sara goes off with Jase for a weekend (leaving her daughter with a sitter) and then falls into bed with him. In addition to that, we have Marissa who is another single mother that we find out had sex outside of marriage as well.
*The Mommy Club is a bit of an unfortunate name that might limit who seeks help from them and who helps them. Obviously, the club is open to help from non-moms. Jase and Tony (both decidedly not mothers) help with the food drive. Connie and Tony are happily married while others are single or single parents. But if I saw a club with that name, I'd assume I couldn't join because I wasn't a "mommy" or that I couldn't get help from them because I wasn't a "mommy". It's no wonder they need a PR boost.
What I liked:
*Sara seems practical. She's a single mom, but she puts her child high in her life priority list.
*There's a history between Sara and Jase that makes it more believable that their relationship would progress as it did.
*The Mommy Club (though a somewhat unfortunate name choice) seems to be doing real good and helping people.
What I didn't like:
*First and foremost, I'm not a big fan of sex outside of marriage. Nor of the steamy scenes this series now contains. Quite different than the ones I read as a teen. I have a hard time believing Sara goes off with Jase for a weekend (leaving her daughter with a sitter) and then falls into bed with him. In addition to that, we have Marissa who is another single mother that we find out had sex outside of marriage as well.
*The Mommy Club is a bit of an unfortunate name that might limit who seeks help from them and who helps them. Obviously, the club is open to help from non-moms. Jase and Tony (both decidedly not mothers) help with the food drive. Connie and Tony are happily married while others are single or single parents. But if I saw a club with that name, I'd assume I couldn't join because I wasn't a "mommy" or that I couldn't get help from them because I wasn't a "mommy". It's no wonder they need a PR boost.
October 18, 2020
A warm and improbable story about two people who have experienced a whole string of dramatic problems but end up finding love together.
September 6, 2013
Wanted: A Real Family is a wonderful feel-good book. Karen Rose Smith creates characters that you love and care about. Sara Stevens has lost so much in her life. First her husband, Conrad, died leaving her with a mountain of debt then she lost her home in a fire. Now it was just Sara and her daughter, Amy. They need help. The Mommy Club is a volunteer group in her community. They comes to her aid with emotional and practical support. Jase Cramer wants to help too. When he was seriously injured in a brutal attack, Sara had been his physical therapist and friend. Now he shows his support by offering her a place to live. She can stay at the guest house at his family's vineyard. These two feel a bond which grows as they get to know each other better. Can they learn to love again? Can they become a real family? This is the first book in The Mommy Club. I loved it! I want more. The author writes of second chances and the goodness and love people are capable of.
November 6, 2014
A nice romance in a new series.The story centers around Sara,a widow and her daughter Amy.After a tragedy forces Sara to accept help from "The Mommy Club" she reconnects with Jase Cramer,who gives her a place to stay.Both have baggage from their pasts.Both want the same things in life and are not sure about how to get there.I enjoyed this story.
September 5, 2013
I won a copy of this book in the Goodreads giveaway. I really loved this book as I fell in love with the characters of the book. It was a truly sweet and realistic love story. I look forward to reading more of the books in this series.
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December 29, 2014"Smith's new series starts with an emotional bang that pulls at the heartstrings. She makes us wait for the lovemaking, but it's worth it." RT Book Reviews, rated 4 stars
Miniseries: The Mommy Club
Category: Home and Family
Miniseries: The Mommy Club
Category: Home and Family
February 14, 2014
I am dying for this series right now. I am addicted after this book and I'm itching for the next one to come out. Defiantly read this book if you can. Does anyone have any details on the next book in the series.
August 15, 2013
I liked the winery setting of this. I also liked the story arc.
September 10, 2016
Ok, but nothing to write home about.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews