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Bellingwood #42

A Lifetime with Friends

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School is out. Kids are busy. Polly is ... doing what Polly does. Which means that you will be just as exhausted as she is by the end of the story. Life turns upside down in Bellingwood, but a week later, it is all put back to rights.

The young family, Maria Wooden, her two daughters, and her brother, Tommy have settled into the home that Lorianne Sutter forced Polly and Henry to purchase. They were finally feeling hopeful about their future. Then the lights went out. Someone broke into the house. Maria is panicked. Her only thought is to get away from the place that she has made into a home because her abusive husband is in town to hurt her little family again.

Things only get worse when Polly finds a body in the field behind the house. What in the world is going on over there? Is it really the husband or is it something else entirely?

Friends come into town and take Polly away for a night of relaxation at The Hub, the vacation home Polly and Henry share with the Ogdens. Barely out of town, Polly receives a phone call. More problems with Maria. Instead of trying to force a night of fun when trouble is on the horizon, she and her friends head back to Bellingwood. With this crew, they can have fun wherever they are.

Families grow and friends take care of each other, no matter what. Even when life is more difficult than it should be.

Welcome back to Bellingwood!

298 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 1, 2023

122 people are currently reading
17 people want to read

About the author

Diane Greenwood Muir

117 books270 followers

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5 stars
534 (81%)
4 stars
99 (15%)
3 stars
17 (2%)
2 stars
5 (<1%)
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3 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
38 reviews
July 3, 2023
another great visit to Bellingwood

Diane has built such a wonderful world. I line forward to my quarterly visits. She makes sure that things aren’t all rainbows and unicorns, but real life. Things don’t always turn out the way I expect but it’s always a closed ending. The storylines that carry through the series are positive and uplifting.
164 reviews1 follower
July 3, 2023
My Favorite Books

This latest book in my very favorite series of books is another winner. If you haven’t read any of them, go back and start at the beginning. By the time you get to this one, you will want to live in Bellingwood, too.
10 reviews
July 4, 2023
Lifetime of Friends

I always want the Polly books to keep going and never end! They always leave me wanting to know more and hating to wait for Diane's next book.

When I start on a new book I feel like its a family reunion!

Keep them coming! Can't wait for the next one!
5 reviews
July 6, 2023
O no she's done it again!

Well Polly AND her friends all working together for good,not ironically, but with love. And , of course there are things of all tied up ,and some to be continued.
Van hardly wait to find out what happens to surprises for anniversaries, weddings who will replace Charlie at the office, Ray's return to Bellingwood, etc.
It will be hard to wait until Christmas time.
Profile Image for sheila.
566 reviews
July 6, 2023
Thank goodness for Diane

The continuing story of Polly and family is addictive.

I love Polly. Fun to read. The body count grows so a little mystery. Love.

Diane gives life to her characters. And though it's entertaining, there are lessons to learn. How to support the ones you love. Always help when you can. Encourage people to be the best they can. To love with your whole self. And be loving to animals. But have fun with all of it.
228 reviews
July 14, 2023
Good family friendly mystery

There is always tons of solid good advice and love in all these books. Family is not always born from the sam3 parents, and Polly is a great mom like figure to all she brings into her circle. Just one thing bothers me, and that I’d Polly’s aversion to newborn babies. I find it odd for a woman not to gush coo and ahh over a newborn. And a baby of her best friend no less!
7 reviews
July 15, 2023
Great series

I loved this whole series. Don't want it to end. I laughed and cried many times. The characters are so relatable to me as I have lived in Iowa and am from small town Illinois. Once I started each book, I didn't want to put it down. There wasn't anything that I didn't like about them,except they didn't last nearly long enough. Plan to check out more of your books. Thank you for the enjoyment I got from reading this series.
484 reviews2 followers
July 4, 2023
A Lifetime with Friends.

I love this series with Pollyand all her friends, both new and old, and to see what everybody is up to, including kids and animals. Mama Renaldi needs to find a way to Bellingwood, even if they have to do her like they did B. A. Barracas, on the A-Team, and knock her out.
2 reviews
July 5, 2023
Lifetime Friends

Truly a wonderful read. How complicated and fascinating friendships, work relationships are. Family relationships, raising kids to well adjusted teens and adults. As always filled with a little mayhem, murder, love, family. A great book and ready for the next one.
7 reviews
July 5, 2023
Diane has another hit!

It was wonderful to get to travel back to Bellingwood again. Polly and friends are so much fun to be around and there is never a dull moment.
Now I’m sad that I devoured it so quickly and have to wait months for another new visit with Polly and family! Time to start over with book 1 again.
15 reviews
July 7, 2023
WOW.She's done it again.

I loved everything about. I'd recommend the whole series to everybody. Now comes the hard part of waiting for the next book to come out. If you like suspense, good characters and want to feel like you know the people in the book, I thourghly (spelling?) recommend this book.
Profile Image for Diana.
1,930 reviews12 followers
July 21, 2023
And with this entry into the series, I am done. I always admired the author for writing such a fun series and publishing four books per year. Unfortunately, the writing is not holding up well. I believe it is a case of quantity over quality at this point. I sure enjoyed the first part of the series, and highly recommend books one through thirty five.
9 reviews
August 6, 2023
TEARS AT BEDTIME… FOR JOY!

Another gorgeous Bellingwood book by a master/mistress of words. Simply constructed but intricate relationships, drama of all kinds and a whole sheaf of smiles throughout - not forgetting the emotional moments too. Diane Greenwood Muir had done it again, thank you, already awaiting volume 43!
363 reviews7 followers
September 4, 2023
Great book

Still love the series but so many people to remember. And Polly is getting a little too preachy with just about everyone. Maybe rein her in a little. The other thing that bothers me is the phone and tablet thing. A little too rigid for this day and age. But still very good reading.
79 reviews
September 15, 2023
The Sutter House

After moving a scared family into the Sutter house the drama begins. Polly hears a window is broken in the basement and the family takes off. Polly goes by the house only to discover a very young man dead in the field.
The Bellingwood Series is a wonderful series to read I have been hooked from book one.
21 reviews
July 3, 2023
Another wonderful trip to Bellingwood

I enjoyed this trip to Bellingwood and reading about all the changes and new exciting things happening. I'm looking forward to seeing more about Ray and who ends up working at Sycamore House after Charlie leaves.

7 reviews
July 4, 2023
Another wonderful story!

I love how Polly is the support everyone needs. This is another home run. Diane is a great story teller. Have read this series twice, and will read it a third time before year end.
Profile Image for Jacque Webb.
14 reviews
July 5, 2023
Perfect

I started reading Bellingwood books years ago. I still love them. The books keep getting better and better. We are drawn into the town of Bellingwood and the lives there. It's wonderful. The books are full of mystery and love. Thank you Diane!!!
23 reviews
July 5, 2023
Bellingwood book 42

Another lovely story from Diane about the small town of Bellingwood. I really enjoy reading this series. It's full of fascinating characters, human, canine and feline.
69 reviews
July 5, 2023
Belling wood once again !

Another wonderful story from Diane! Once you've read one you just have to read them all, and also read over and over again! Recommended highly and eagerly waiting for Number43.
70 reviews
July 6, 2023
Another Great Bellingwood Story

Diane keeps.writing about everyone and everything in Bellingwood. We all.want more news a out Polly and her family. This was another great book.I'm the swriea. There is always a lot.going on in Bellingwood.
Profile Image for Jenny Clark.
150 reviews1 follower
July 7, 2023
awesome

Diane did it again! I just love these stories!! Spending time in Bellingwood is like spending a day among friends!! It is fun to watch all the people together and the kids growing up. I so enjoy my time in Iowa! Thanks Diane!
Profile Image for ROBERTA CLAYTON.
8 reviews
July 10, 2023
Sad review.

There is a great disappointment in reading the books by Diane Greenwood Muir and that is that they seem to end too soon. The 2nd great disappointment is that you have to wait months till the next one.
Profile Image for Kim Williams.
17 reviews
July 13, 2023
Polly is at it again.

I love this series so much. I have read every book and I still can’t get enough of these wonderful people. If this was a real town I would move there tomorrow just to be around the wonderful people in these books. I am so ready for the next book lol.
Profile Image for gloria marquardt.
732 reviews7 followers
July 5, 2023
Amazing! Heartwarming!

My only regret is the book is done. I never get to visit Bellingwood long enough. Unfortunately I have to leave long before I'm ready.
Profile Image for Susan.
10 reviews1 follower
July 5, 2023
Loved it

Diane's stories, get better with each continued book!
Thank you Diane!
I share your books with other readers.
Congrats on another successful novel!!
Profile Image for Sheila Fritz.
10 reviews
July 5, 2023
To fast

I love this series , I read it way to fast , can't wait for the next book
Keep up the good work ❤
3 reviews
July 6, 2023
Friends

It's another great story. I couldn't put it down. Thank you Diane. I can hardly wait for the next book.
Profile Image for Susan Carey.
78 reviews2 followers
July 7, 2023
To paraphrase what my sister in law says, this is the best one yet. Start with the first one and join the family.
Profile Image for Patty.
69 reviews1 follower
July 9, 2023
I love being reminded how we need others / community in our lives.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews

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