Do Over Daughter: A Marriage Survivors Club Book

by Annette Nauraine

Frankie Carter can build anything--a house, a family, and a life without the alcoholic mother who abandoned her when she was eight. When her mother, Doralee, reappears after forty-seven years, Frankie finds herself yearning for her mother’s love and admiration. Even though Doralee breaks Frankie’s heart at every turn, indomitable Frankie fights for the love she grew up without.

Frankie is elbow-deep in establishing an LGTBQ+ youth shelter in a house that holds painful memories of her childhood with Doralee. Real estate developer, Cam Simpson, demolishes her dream when he snatches the house away. Charming Cam wants to develop a relationship with Frankie, but the house will always be a barrier between them.

With all her plans collapsing, Frankie is devastated to learn she will soon lose Doralee forever. Frankie’s best friends in the Marriage Survivors Club remind her all mothers—herself included, are imperfect. If Frankie can find the courage to forgive, she might be able to accept what love her mother can give before time runs out.

Genres: Contemporary, Womens Fiction

348 pages, Paperback

First published October 15, 2023

Reviews

[Jenefer · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a mom I’m always second guessing myself. Am I doing the right thing? Am I enough? What else can I do to make things better for my kids? Most days it feels like I’m trying my best and still somehow coming up short. This book took me through a rollercoaster of emotions because those questions sit at the very heart of Frankie’s story.

Frankie has spent most of her life carrying the wound left behind when her mother walked away. Now, years later, being a mom herself, she is forced to confront the woman who left and all the questions that never stopped haunting her. Watching Frankie wrestle with hurt, anger, hope, and the desperate need for answers absolutely broke my heart.

What I loved most was that this story never takes the easy route. The characters felt real, flawed, and painfully human. There were moments when I wanted to hug Frankie, moments when I wanted to shake some sense into people, and moments that had me tearing up because they felt so honest. The relationship between mother and daughter is messy, complicated, and emotional in a way that felt incredibly authentic.

The romance is sweet and beautifully woven into the story, but for me the real magic was watching Frankie learn that forgiveness and healing are not the same thing as forgetting. Her journey stayed with me long after I finished the last page.

This is one of those books that quietly sneaks into your heart and refuses to leave. If you enjoy emotional women’s fiction filled with family, faith, second chances, and characters who feel like real people, I highly recommend picking this one up.

A heartfelt and moving read that reminded me there is no such thing as a perfect parent, only people doing the best they can with the pieces they have.

[Ayezu Tamarapreye Okoko · Rating 4 out of 5]

BOOK:-DO OVER DAUGHTER -MARRIAGE SURVIVORS CLUB BOOK 1 BY ANNETTE NAURAINE.

A Fiction centred on the character Frankie Carter(Fee-rank/ra-earn-k-E-Ca-Ta) a builder of physical structures and relationships and his mother Doralee(Door-ra-lee/Dor-ra-lee with for for drag in ikwerre language in Nigeria and Ra for sell or no in Yoruba language in Nigeria).It tells of Doralees struggles after Cam Simpson snatches her dream house yet wanting relationship with her and Frankie's bid with Cam for the house at 61 East Avenue in which Frankie failed and Cam won.The book raises questions whether divorce or being a divorcee(devour -sea) twice made difficult real estate or real estate law application.It discusses Do over daughter (Do-owe-va-daughter/dor-ta with owe for depth in coitus , dor for drag in ikwerre language in Nigeria ,Ta for go or move in engenni language in Nigeria and VA for affair )as the belief at St Paul's that everyone was worthy of love and deserved a family and a home ;as divorce and Frankie's scare of spending the evening with Cam an opponent;as Doralee and Frankie her daughters visit(ve-sit/sea-ta);as Frankie's thoughts and much Ado on whether Doralee was scared of dogs while hosting her at her house; as Frankie wanting to do so much care for her mother Doralee ;as Cam not giving up but being relentless in character

[Lucille Guarino · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is said that the most complicated relationship is the mother-daughter relationship. Compound that with an alcoholic mother who time and time again chose alcohol over her daughter and the strain deepens. At eight-years-old, Frankie’s mother left her to the sole responsibility of her father, but many years later, a chance encounter with the mother she never thought she would ever see again has Frankie yearning for answers and a reconciliation. This is where the Do-Over Daughter story begins and I immediately sympathized with Frankie, but with her mother ravaged by years of alcoholic abuse, time is running out. With incredible determination and forgiveness, Frankie learns of her mother’s harrowing past that set her on a destructive path and to breaking the pattern of mistreatment the only way she knew how. Occasionally, when lucid, Frankie’s mother's words go straight to Frankie’s heart, giving her “a pearl to hold on to.” This is one of those books where I started out disliking a character and wound up understanding her better, even sympathizing. Surrounded by her wonderful Marriage Survivors club friends, an adoring father and sons, and a new love, Frankie has enough pearls to string an entire necklace. Author Nauraine’s Do-Over Daughter is a heartwarming story that will stay with you long after you’ve read it.

[Suanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series, the first being In the Beginning, the prequel which introduces the intertwined stories of the members of the Marriage Survivors Club. A nice, inspiring women's fiction read with lovely characters. I received this free ARC, and I'm leaving my honest review of this book.

[FRANCES L OGORMAN · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoroughly enjoyable read with very relatable characters, this is a tale of mothers and daughters and forgiveness despite seeming betrayal, and about love even in brokenness and the need for reconciliation and closure. As truths and insights are fully realized the main character learns her own lessons of love.. full of warmth, wisdom and good humor.. highly recommended.

[Emma Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hadn't read anything by the author before but I will definitely be reading more by them. The author's writing is beautiful and easy to follow. I loved the great mix of characters too. I highly recommend it.
💝 Thank you to the author and publisher for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Gabi Coatsworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A touching and ultimately hopeful story of a mother and daughter relationship that needs to heal, despite obstacles, before it's too late. Recommended for book clubs, because there's plenty to discuss.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Do-Over Daughter was such a wonderful book to read. Following Frankie’s story of finding out her alcoholic mother was back in her town after leaving Frankie and her father so many years ago. Frankie only knew what her father told her about her mother leaving.
Now all these years later Frankie has teenage kids of her own and understands how much she loves her boys and knows she could never just walk out on them. How could her mom have done it? What did Frankie do to make her mom leave? What could she have done different to make her mom stay and love her? She was only eight years old when her mom left so how could she understand the complexities of being an alcoholic.

With Doralee back in town she doesn’t want to see Frankie, afraid of hurting her all over again but Frankie is determined to see her mom and find out the reasons behind everything.

Frankie is also running her own business and part of the Marriage Survivors Club and the church she went to with her mom all those years ago she is also trying to purchase a old run down home that has meaning and memories for her. This is when Cam enters the picture and love blossoms over time.

I particularly enjoyed the headers(for lack of better word) on each chapter whether it be a Bible verse, part of a hymn or a quote by someone.

I really enjoyed reading the Do-Over Daughter and thank Vorocious Readers Only and the author for a copy of the ebook to read

[Ayezu Tamarapreye Okoko · Rating 4 out of 5]

BOOK:-DO OVER DAUGHTER -MARRIAGE SURVIVORS CLUB BOOK 1 BY ANNETTE NAURAINE.

A Fiction centred on the character Frankie Carter(Fee-rank/ra-earn-k-E-Ca-Ta) a builder of physical structures and relationships and his mother Doralee(Door-ra-lee/Dor-ra-lee with for for drag in ikwerre language in Nigeria and Ra for sell or no in Yoruba language in Nigeria).It tells of Doralees struggles after Cam Simpson snatches her dream house yet wanting relationship with her and Frankie's bid with Cam for the house at 61 East Avenue in which Frankie failed and Cam won.The book raises questions whether divorce or being a divorcee(devour -sea) twice made difficult real estate or real estate law application.It discusses Do over daughter (Do-owe-va-daughter/dor-ta with owe for depth in coitus , dor for drag in ikwerre language in Nigeria ,Ta for go or move in engenni language in Nigeria and VA for affair )as the belief at St Paul's that everyone was worthy of love and deserved a family and a home ;as divorce and Frankie's scare of spending the evening with Cam an opponent;as Doralee and Frankie her daughters visit(ve-sit/sea-ta);as Frankie's thoughts and much Ado on whether Doralee was scared of dogs while hosting her at her house; as Frankie wanting to do so much care for her mother Doralee ;as Cam not giving up but being relentless in character