No Place Like Home

Cisco #1

by Fern Michaels

Join beloved bestselling author Fern Michaels in her first holiday novel, a spirited, touching tale of three dynamic siblings who will do anything to bring their grandmother home for Christmas. The Cisco triplets are appalled by their widowed father's behavior. He seems to care more about his gold-digging fiancée than he does about his own son and daughters. Even worse, Dad put their spunky grandmother -- head of the family candy company -- in a nursing home against her will. Setting out to spring Granny Cisco, college seniors Sara, Hannah, and Sam soon prove that trouble comes in threes. Apparently, so does love....As the triplets get their grandmother the medical care that will make her independent again, all three find unexpected romance. If everything goes according to plan, there's going to be quite a crowd at Granny's house come Christmas -- and more proof than ever that there's no place like home for the holidays. Includes a discussion with Fern Michaels and an excerpt from her next novel, Late Bloomer

Genres: Romance, Christmas, Fiction, Contemporary, Holiday, Chick Lit, Audiobook

196 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

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/

Reviews

[Courtney · Rating 1 out of 5]

Brutal lol

[Loraine · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Cisco triplets are just about to graduate from college. Their mother died when they were young and their father in his grief was too busy make a high income living to bother much with them. Now he is wrapped up in the socialite "Barbie" he is planning to marry. The one stability in their life has been "Cisco," their grandmother. Now she is struggling with some health issues including problems due to cataracts, so their father planks her in an old folks home right before Christmas. This infuriates the triplets.

Filled with lots of humor and action from the triplets where if one doesn't think of something to help their grandmother as well as spring her from the old folks home, then one of the others will. I enjoyed the high jinx, but thought the developing romances with Sara and Hannah and the doctors was rather rushed and did not care for the occasional swear word that was used. I loved the relationship between the grandmother and the triplets. They truly understood her and what she needed and wanted. Also glad to see their father realized what had been missing from his life. Nice theme of second chances and grace and good life lessons on family and friends.

[Lynnette · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a light, easy read, but I won't be seeking out the remainder of the series. The main character and her dog are likable, but her beloved son and grandchildren? Not so much. I also found it odd that her grandchildren call her by her last name, which is also their last name. I could overlook that, but the idea of multiple people choosing to drive in 14 inches of snow with more coming down in order to make it to a planned gathering and seemingly everyone finding their perfect match so quickly made the story a little too "over the top".

[Catherine Vamianaki · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet story nothing more than that

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 3 Triplets are a lively and fiercely loyal trio who rebel against their wayward father in order to save their beloved grandmother, Cisco who has always held the family and her business together through the good times and the bad times. They are determined to spend Christmas at Cisco's country home but they must first bust her out of the Assisted Living Home that she was forced into against her will. A lot of adventures and mishaps take place as well as romance and a chance for the family to truly come together once again.

A feel good holiday adventure!

[Jo Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like Fern Michaels and easy romances that take place at Christmas. I liked the characters. I even liked the tired old plot of: the long dead mom, Dad hooking up with a gold digger and his 3 kids (triplets in their early 20s) being angry at him, partly for the gold digger but mostly because he has treated his aged mother, the kids' beloved grandmother, callously.
The book was a quick read but the writing was simplistic, aimed at tweens. I've read other books by Ms. Michaels that were much richer, so maybe this was an early work.

[Adeline Kam · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't enjoy reading this book at all. It is so shallow and very boring. The characters and storyline is so predictable and flat. Fern described the characters and situations with too much details and step by step, so it was like reading a children's storybook, instead of an adult's fiction. I was very disappointed in this book. The title and cover is nice. Could at least put some twist in this story. Maybe the only character that I find interesting is Alexandra herself.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great feel good book for the holidays!

[Jackie Becker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book..A nice book to read in the winter...

[Margaret Fraleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story - Loretta Cisco is the owner of a candy company. She lives alone in her home with her dog. She has cataracts causing poor eye sight. She falls breaking her arm and her son, jon decides it time for a nursing home.

Her grandchildren, triplets - Saw, Hannah and Same think differently. Their mother passed away when they were young and were raised by their grandmother mostly.

Jon announced that he is going to be married on New Years. His children are not happy
and feel is is abounding them.

[Prabhani · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had this on my shelf for 4 or 5yrs and how come I missed such a beautiful book. It’s a story about a beautiful family a grandma, father and lovely triplets who are about to finish college. It’s full of joy and love. The bond with each other and their celebration of the holidays often reminded my childhood. When I started I never wanted to put this down. It’s that good, fun and flowless. Feels like you are a part of that story and the characters become close to your heart. It’s a book that can make you smile laugh and cry throughout the story. I absolutely love it💕

[Jeanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was concerned I may not like this new family, after being so attached to the Sisterhood and the Gentlemen, but wow, I was not disappointed. I was also a little leery that the narrator wasn't going to be the one I'm used to and love - no worries, she has done a great job!

The storyline of the Cisco Family is really one of those books you want to curl up in your favorite chair and read. It's full of love, family matters - good and bad, and when it ends you want more! So glad it is a series!

[Heli · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is quite the feel-good book. Even too much so. I never have cared much about insta-love. And here it happens to every single member of the Cisco family. Excluding Sam, who apparently has known his love interest longer. The plot is cheerful and the triplets are lively. Sometimes you just have to read a book, that you know from the beginning, will have a happy ending. And sometimes you need to read a book about triplets for a challenge ;-)

[Mettesknit · Rating 3 out of 5]

🎧📚

I don't even know why I give this 3 stars 😂😂😂😂

It's super cliché 🙈

But - I actually stopped myself on my way to the kitchen to make more tea, just to keep listening to the story.

Is it good? No.

Is it cliché? Absolutely!

Will I recommend it? Yes.

Am I glad it's a stand alone? Definitely.

Enjoy, and welcome to the Christmas spirit 🎅🏻🤶🏻🧑🏻‍🎄

[Naomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the triplets in this. Their dad really lost his mind over that crazy gold-digger. Great family holiday story. I loved what the triplets did for their grandma. I think the romance with the triplets was rushed and didn't add anything to the story.

[Swankiiartteacher · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a Re-read!

Read this when it was first released enjoyed it then, added it to my Christmas reading list for this year.

Enjoyed it as much this time 'round. Just the right amount of angst to balance out the happy ending.

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pleasant story, but the father is so unbelievable and poorly developed. And it wraps up too neatly with the romantic relationships. Seemed like it was mass produced, quickly pushed out with minimal effort.

[Nadine Bourgault · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quick read, and so much fun. The characters are triplets, and their Dad and Grandmother are a very important part of their lives. Home, family, love, and Christmas. Add it all together, and you will be smiling and even laughing out loud. Thoroughly enjoyed this book.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first of 2 books in this series. Will be looking for the next book soon.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute sweet read. Now on to book 2 Family Blessings

[Beatrice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely story. It is great for holiday time.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enjoyable story by Michaels, not your typical "romance".

[Elaine Tucker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished this book quite quickly as it was a page turner. Grandma and the triplets. Two girls and a boy. A good little story that I did not want to put it down.

[Sara Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very likeable. Humor, family, and romance.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was cute, yet kind of corny. A quick Christmas read.

[Chris Meiser · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cheerful Christmas book. Something happy was just what I needed right now.

[Angel Downs · Rating 2 out of 5]

story about 3 spoiled brats and a dad having a mid life crisis. the rudeness and selfcenteredness never stops in this book

[Doris Schepers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in a weekend. I couldn't put it down.

[Louise A · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title says it all

As many times as I have read this story, I still find new understanding of family dynamics in the tale.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet story about a how family comes together and how to recover from mistakes then move on.