Blessings

by Belva Plain

At thirty-six, Jennie Rakowsky's dreams were  coming true. She was about to marry a wonderful man,  her career as a lawyer was skyrocketing, and she  had never been more beautiful. And then the secret  she had hidden for nineteen years threatened to shatter it all.


From the Paperback edition.

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Chick Lit, Contemporary Romance, Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Jewish

Hardcover

First published July 1, 1989

About the author

Belva Plain was a best-selling American author of mainstream women's fiction. Her first novel, Evergreen (1978) topped the New York Times bestseller list for 41 weeks and was made into a TV miniseries. At her death, there were over 30 million copies of her twenty-plus novels in print in 22 languages.

Reviews

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jennie Rakowsky had a daughter out of wedlock as a young college student. Unwilling to consider abortion, she went to a home for unwed mothers, had the baby and immediately gave her up for adoption. She then moved forward with her life, putting this difficult time behind her. Now, almost 20 years later she is a successful lawyer and advocate of women's rights and is engaged to be married. Out of the blue she receives a phone call from an agency stating that her daughter would like very much to meet her. Jennie is horrified at this and states that she wants no part of the meeting. For one thing, she'd never shared this information with her fiance Jay and is convinced that if he found out about her past that their future together would be over. The remainder of the story is Jennie working through the emotions while also handling an environmental legal case that escalates towards violence.
I really enjoyed this. The story line drew me in and I found myself pulling for the characters throughout.

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this book kept my interest, I have to agree with an earlier review questioning why an attractive young successful self-made attorney would be so insecure. Also, her fiancé is apparently this wonderful human being and yet she keeps a major secret about her past from him even through their engagement, it doesn't sound logical.

[Kaydee · Rating 2 out of 5]

It dragged

I hate books where 50÷ of the story is someone knowingly lying because they don't have the guts to own up to the truth. You know they'll never confess but will get caught. But, first you have to suffer through hundreds of pages and gibberish and guilt.

[Missy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I only read 30 boring pages.

[Shirlene]

Janine Rakowsky, Jennie, was daughter to Jewish holocaust survivors. She graduated from high school and went away to college. She fell in love with Peter Mendes. Peter came from a wealthy family and Jennie felt out of place when she went to visit. Peter met her parents and they got along okay. She found out that she was pregnant and went to a home for unwed mothers in Nebraska. Peter wanted to marry her but his parents objected. Jennie never told hers. She told them that she was going away to work on a school project. She had a the baby and she was adopted by the Miller family.
Peter transferred to another college closer to his home in Atlanta. Jennie knew that she couldn't go back to him as if nothing had happened and was not terribly upset that he was no longer at the college. She quit answering his letters and they lost touch with each other. Peter's family wanted her to have an abortion but paid for her to stay in the home and gave her money besides. Jennie used the money to continue her education and became a lawyer. Peter completed his education and became an archeologist. He had some articles published in the National Geographic magazine.
As Jill Miller grew up, she knew that she was adopted. She was well loved but often felt out of place with her red hair, light complexion and height. The Miller's and their natural children all had dark hair and were shorter than Jill. She was curious about her birth parents and spoke to the Miller's about finding them. Mr. Miller was a physician and agreed to help. He led her to the doctor who had delivered her and she saw the name of her birth father in the file the dr. had on his desk as he bent over to pick up something he dropped on the floor, on purpose.
Dr. Miller recognized the name but couldn't recall where. He had read an article written by Peter in one of his National Geographic's magazine. Jill went to a group near her college in NY that helped adopted children find their birth parents. They soon found Peter. They gave Jill his number and she called him that evening. He was excited to hear from her and wanted to meet her. He was living in Chicago. He told her the name of her mother and she found out that she lived in NY which was were Jill was attending college. The group leader asked Jill to let her contact Jennie first and Jennie asked that things remained as they were. She couldn't undue the past and she wanted to remain anonymous.
Jennie was a lawyer who dealt mostly with battered and abused women. She had been dating Jay Wolfe for close to 18 months and they were preparing to get married. She had met him 2 years after losing his wife to cancer. He was left with 2 young daughters and an infant son. Jay was part of a wealthy family and they asked her to consider doing some work for their home town to keep a marsh from being filled in and developed. She agreed to do what she could.
It was 19 years after she gave the baby up for adoption when she received the call from Emma Dunn regarding her meeting Jill. Jennie was already nervous about fitting into Jay's family. The call brought back a lot of feelings and insecurities that she though were dead and buried. She hadn't told anyone about Jill and was frightened that Jay would leave her if she told him now. She was feeling like and imposter, then Jill showed up at her apartment one evening when Jay was home sick.
They talked some and Jennie told Jill that she wanted a relationship but it would have to be on her terms and Jill would have to fit into her schedule. Jill wasn't happy with that. Jennie didn't know how to explain but she was frightened of introducing Jill to her fiancee and his family. Jill left upset at Jennie and told her that she was going to see Peter in Chicago. They saw each other again before she went and they did more talking but Jill was still upset because Jennie wasn't explaining her situation very well.
Jennie was working with Jay's family and someone from his hometown came to see her. He was in NY to take his wife for a cancer treatment. He told Jennie that he had received a phone call to meet someone who knew of his financial situation and the name of his wife. He agreed to meet this person and wear a wire. They met and he recorded the other guy bribing him to vote for the development of the marsh. Jennie went back to Jay's place and they went a to see the guy at his home. He had been a dentist and played the recording for them. He mentioned that the guy had ugly, yellow teeth. They set up another meeting but that all went wrong when he found out that he had been talking with Jennie and Jay. He had received a threatening phone call and he told the guy he had been taped. The guy was crazy mad. The guy was killed when his car was run off the road a short time later. Jennie called his wife to ask about the tape and she told Jennie that the tape had been accidentally thrown out by their housekeeper. Jennie didn't know what their next step would be with this vital piece of evidence gone.
Jennie was at home a few days later and she answered the phone thinking it was Jay. It was Peter. He asked Jennie to have dinner with Jill and himself. She reluctantly agreed and it was an uncomfortable situation because Jill was still upset at Jennie. Jennie was having a hard time concentrating on anything because all of this was bringing up memories that she thought were dead and buried. She left the restaurant upset and not being a drinker, had a drink and ended up drunk. Peter went by to check on her and found her drunk and told her he was staying until she sobered up. Jay came by to check on her because had told him that she was working late. He was mad when he found her drunk and Peter staying over. They got in a fight and he left saying that they were no longer together.
Jennie took a couple days off work to get her mind settled. She called Jill and they had lunch. She had found out that Jennie and Jay were no longer an item and she felt responsible. Peter came to see her and apologized for getting between Jennie and Jay. Jennie went back to work and found out that she had been replaced on the environmental case for Jay's hometown. She was working late trying to catch up for being off and she received a visitor, the guy with the bad teeth. He was looking for the tape and she told him that she was no longer on the case. She went through the trash to find the letter proving that to be a fact. He was attempting to kill her when the cleaning crew came in and he left. She had fallen and hit her cheek but other than torn clothing, she was fine. She didn't know who to call so it ended up being Peter. He came by and took her home. They ended up talking and she found out that he had been married 3 times. His last wife had died. He was hoping that maybe the two of them would get back together. Jennie told him that she no longer had feelings for him.
Jennie had found out from a neighbor that Jay had come by but the neighbor had told Jay that she was out with her 'red-haired friend' and he had left. Jennie packed up her engagement ring and a pearl necklace that her soon to be mother-in-law had given her and sent it back to Jay.
Jill came by to see her and convinced her that she needed to go to the last meeting to try and save the marsh in Jay's hometown. Not as a lawyer but as a concerned citizen. She went and gave an impassioned speech and the vote went to save the marsh. Jay wasn't there. He had stayed in NY for work. His family was there but didn't speak to her. Jennie drove back to NY with Jill.
Jennie arrived home and was concerned that the lights were on in her apartment. She told Jill to stay in the car but Jill followed her in. She found Peter and Jay in her apartment. Jay told her that Peter had come to see him and explained the situation to him about himself and Jill. Jay apologized for thinking the worst of Jennie and told her that she could have come to him. Peter had explained to him why she hadn't done that. Jay accepted Victoria Jill Martin into their lives. Jay told Jennie them they were getting their marriage license and getting married within the three days allowed to them. Jennie was so happy. It was more than she could have ever expected.

[Sabrina · Rating 1 out of 5]

If this had been the first Belva Plain book I had ever read, I certainly wouldn't pick up another. The lead female character was weak and simpering and spent much of her time wailing about her life and not being able to face anything (despite being described throughout the book as a strong women's advocate lawyer) and the plot was predictable and boring. I'm all for a light, guilty pleasure read, but there wasn't any pleasure in this for me, just a lot of eye-rolling.

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting enough story to keep me reading. Jennie has everything going for her until a secret she has kept for 19 years interrupts her life. Too tidy and abrupt of an ending for me. A secondary story surrounding conservation vs. development case could also have been fleshed out more and again was wrapped up too neatly.

[Phenix · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stereotypical weak willed and meek woman who feels she deserves scorn because she can’t (doesn’t even imagine) assimilating into a culture class not her own.

The other character is a strong willed selfish spoiled adopted brat who barge in and takes over.

I did not like the storyline , however I must say Plain has a great way of writing. I may try another one of her books one day.

[Julie Tombs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pleasant and easy enough read. Story line a bit contrived and predictable and characters one dimensional. Difficult to have sympathy with a character who does not have the guts to come clean about something so important regardless of her history. The story was stretched out for that reason then resolved in double quick time which was slightly unbelievable.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of Belva Plain's best books. Real life situations, tough real life decision making, reunion, relationships trials and triumphs. Viewing perspectives differently as decades pass. Forgiveness and acceptance.

[Christal · Rating 4 out of 5]

a new author I had never tried before. I couldn't put this book down, strong characters and a good story about the choices we make.

[Tami · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a terribly weak main character. Blech.

[marg hembroff]

Not a realistic situation surrounding adoption

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this quickly in a few days, so it was good enough to keep my attention, but really too sappy for me to rate highly. Jennie, a successful 36 year old, is engaged to a widower with three young children. Somehow she is totally panicked when the newborn she gave up for adoption appears in her life, 19 years later. She thinks because she did not tell her fiancee right away about this birth, that he will never forgive her or accept things as they are. Although she is described as intelligent and strong and a good person, she comes across as weak, indecisive, and insecure. The secondary story of environmental issues and concerns in a legal case should have been the bigger part of the book.

[Rita · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m rounding up to 4 stars. I’ve no idea where or when I bought this book, but I’ve had it for years. I finally got around to reading it, & I’m glad I did.

Jennie - a lawyer in NYC, engaged to be married.
Jill - a student in NYC from New Mexico, & happens to be the daughter Jennie gave up for adoption 19 years ago. Jay, the fiancé ... and Peter, Jill’s biological father & Jennie’s first love.

I liked Jennie’s spunk, but her lack of courage in accepting & owning her “mistakes” from years ago drove me nuts. Peter was a spineless coward when they were kids, but grew to be a very cool guy. Jay was - well, I suppose he was okay. Jill was adorable!

Jennie’s parents had survived a concentration camp during WW2, and I wish had more of a part in this story.

[LeAnna · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book packs a lot of punches but not in a good way. High drama drives the plot yet manages to hang in the background without contributing as much to the characters as it could’ve—its like a reference point to explain certain decisions without seeming to come from the characters themselves. There were a few inconsistencies that seem to be the product of poor editing. And, my goodness, were the characters awful! They’re either pushy & inconsiderate, or naive and shallow. I finished the book because I was curious to see if it would get better, but no…everything wrapped up neatly in the end and all as friends despite egregious behavior along the way.

[Merari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me gustó, 👀 la primera mitad estuvo increíble sobre todo el elemento del flash back, dándonos los elementos indicados para entender la vida que había tenido Jennie.
🤯 Lo que me desesperó un poco fue el problema en el que se metió Jennie, entendí que no quisiera que su pasado no se supiera por la razón que fuera, pero si su pasado había llegado a ella y no quería que la molestarme tanto bien pudo explicar las cosas como eran ahora en su presente, no sé, quizás se hubiera ahorrado buena parte del drama.
Pero en general es un buen libro para sentarse a leer 🙌🏼

[Anne Fischer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read many of her books as a young woman. I wanted another light novel for my trip to the Lake. Was surprised at how “dated” the role of women were in the 1980’s. I don’t remember the author writing more traditional roles for women. That bothered me.
Also, I didn’t like any of the lead characters and the shallow relationships they had with each other.
It’s hard for me today to believe Belva Plain was one of my favorite authors. What they say is true. You don’t return to the past. Not the same as you remember.

[Jim Maass · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read two of Belva's books some time ago and really enjoyed them. I came across this book recently and I was not let down. It was as delightful as the others were. It is a bit difficult to write a sound review for this story because it may give away the heart of the story. I'll just briefly say that this book deals with choices that an individual must make in life which can and will affect ones life, good or bad. I would highly suggest reading this book, it will be an enjoyable read.

[Andrea George · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Blessings" by Belva Plain started off with great promise. The plot was interesting; the characters were realistic and engaging and the settings fit within the storyline. However, halfway through the story, lost its luster. The plot dragged on, the characters' dialogue and mannerisms felt unrealistic and phony. I found myself skipping through pages, just to get to the ending. The ending felt quite fake. I'm a fan of Ms. Plain's writing. This in my opinion, wasn't one of her better novels.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

I suppose I should have known that "all's well that ends well", but as a person who has a problem with people who tell lies I was quite frustrated that the main character allowed herself to be less than honest. I'm sure it was the author's intent to write the story this way, (and I thoroughly enjoyed Evergreen) but I found myself annoyed with her main character for most of the book.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blessings by Belva Plain

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A story of love lost, adoption and love refound, with a bit of environmental action thrown in for good measure. Told in two timelines - the 1960s and 19 years later - sometimes the switches between were a bit blurry but just as a delightful read as it was almost 35 years ago

[Anne Oloo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite unexpectedly enjoyed this book. I've never before read anything by Belva plain and was skeptical about picking it up- I'm so glad that I did.
I hated Jennie's inability to tell Jill and Peter about being engaged to someone else (Jay), but everything turned out well in the end.

[Paula Stern · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found that I lost interest toward the end of the book because I thought that the main character acted so irrationally, based on her character up to that point. The author spent so much time setting up the plot and the characters, it was a shame she stumbled so much at the end.

[Lynette Lark · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a young woman who has searched for and found her birth parents. It had a lot of meaning for me because my youngest sister was put up for adoption as a newborn. Unfortunately, my sister's search didn't end up as well as the story did.

[Therese Bergwall · Rating 1 out of 5]

Läst på svenska: Efter nattens regn

[Marianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nobody does angst as well as Plain.

[Marlene Bessette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life with its twists and turns cam sometimes be full of surprises. The hurt can become real joy and happiness. So never give up. Who knows what the next open door will reveal!

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Frustrating read, but at least it ends well. My least favorite book of one of my favorite authors.

[Anna May Emanuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!

As with all Belva Plain books, she develops characters real and memorable. All her books are fast and easy reads!