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Ten Kids, Two Lemon Pies, and a Miracle
Inspired by Cathy Lamb's childhood, the amusing adventures of the Rossi and O'Brien families continue in Book Two of the Deauville Drive series.
1979. Deauville Drive, Huntington Beach, California. Ten kids, a singing mermaid, hundreds of pies, and a body in the kitchen.
Jesse O’Brien, twelve-years old, announces to her stricken mother, Annie, that the motionless man looks “pregnant” and may not be breathing as he lies corpse-still on the laminate floor. Annie clocked him with her favorite red pie pan which is now, sadly, cracked into tiny pieces.
Jesse knows that her mother will dearly miss the perfect pie pan, but the pregnant looking man, a sneaky friend of Annie’s weasel-face soon to be ex-husband deserved it, as he had angrily thundered through their screen door like a dump truck and Annie had protected them both.
Unfortunately, Annie is frazzled and upset. Clocking a man had not been on her day’s agenda! It had not been on her list of things to do!
Furthermore, there had been no sign of this upcoming calamity. Why, there were freshly baked apple and peach pies on the table, along with a Ball jar full of roses, with hummingbirds whizzing around and birds chirping on a fine blue afternoon.
With five kids, an upcoming divorce, a full-time job waitressing at Robby’s Big Boy, and a growing pie business, Jesse knew that her mother had enough on her plate. Falling in love with Vietnam veteran Tommy Rossi, who lives next door in a sprawling white house on an old orange orchard with his five kids offered up a sweet, if sometimes flustering, complication.
And now this! A body in their pretty yellow kitchen!
As Porky, the talking parrot, declares, “I want a beer!” and “I’m a cat!” Jesse and her close-knit family try to navigate a life that has been recently turned upside down and shaken.
The hilarious cast of Deauville Drive returns with quirky neighbors, a friendly stripper, and Liliana the singing mermaid, the one who brings peace and joy to all – unless she’s scaring the wits out of Annie’s almost-ex-husband with a high-pitched C note blast, right in his ears.
Additional books by Cathy Lamb for those who like to
Ten Kids, Two Lovebirds, and a Singing Mermaid, book one in the Deauville Drive Series
Ruthie Deschutes O’Hara Has Ulterior Motives, and Bellini’s Christmas Burlesque Show.
1979. Deauville Drive, Huntington Beach, California. Ten kids, a singing mermaid, hundreds of pies, and a body in the kitchen.
Jesse O’Brien, twelve-years old, announces to her stricken mother, Annie, that the motionless man looks “pregnant” and may not be breathing as he lies corpse-still on the laminate floor. Annie clocked him with her favorite red pie pan which is now, sadly, cracked into tiny pieces.
Jesse knows that her mother will dearly miss the perfect pie pan, but the pregnant looking man, a sneaky friend of Annie’s weasel-face soon to be ex-husband deserved it, as he had angrily thundered through their screen door like a dump truck and Annie had protected them both.
Unfortunately, Annie is frazzled and upset. Clocking a man had not been on her day’s agenda! It had not been on her list of things to do!
Furthermore, there had been no sign of this upcoming calamity. Why, there were freshly baked apple and peach pies on the table, along with a Ball jar full of roses, with hummingbirds whizzing around and birds chirping on a fine blue afternoon.
With five kids, an upcoming divorce, a full-time job waitressing at Robby’s Big Boy, and a growing pie business, Jesse knew that her mother had enough on her plate. Falling in love with Vietnam veteran Tommy Rossi, who lives next door in a sprawling white house on an old orange orchard with his five kids offered up a sweet, if sometimes flustering, complication.
And now this! A body in their pretty yellow kitchen!
As Porky, the talking parrot, declares, “I want a beer!” and “I’m a cat!” Jesse and her close-knit family try to navigate a life that has been recently turned upside down and shaken.
The hilarious cast of Deauville Drive returns with quirky neighbors, a friendly stripper, and Liliana the singing mermaid, the one who brings peace and joy to all – unless she’s scaring the wits out of Annie’s almost-ex-husband with a high-pitched C note blast, right in his ears.
Additional books by Cathy Lamb for those who like to
Ten Kids, Two Lovebirds, and a Singing Mermaid, book one in the Deauville Drive Series
Ruthie Deschutes O’Hara Has Ulterior Motives, and Bellini’s Christmas Burlesque Show.
424 pages, Paperback
Published September 8, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 11, 2026
And the Rossi's and O'Briens are back. I had thought it might pick up from where we left them in the first book but this is more like a parallel story of their escapades. It explores the church's (Catholic) attitude to divorce which is not that old, and some in society's attitudes as well. As well we see abuse, no not in either family though, and well we see Annie O'Brien being stretched to her limits in all that she has to endure. How does she do it? Thank goodness Tommy is there, Rossi that is. The singing mermaid was still with us in this book. Those kids are loyal and wonderful and fun. Lots of double meanings that Jesse doesn't get - yet. The twins are always a delight, what wonderful doctors they will make. There is a cliff hanger ending - whaaaaat? 4.25 stars.
September 23, 2026
I just love Cathy Lamb’s books. Her writing is whacky and funny. This book made me laugh a lot and also cry a lot. She presented serious elements into the plot that are emotional and thought provoking. I loved the O’Brien and Rossi families, plus Robert, Mouse and Illiana and all the neighbors. I loved Jesse’s teacher (I had a 5the grade teacher just like her.) There were some serious lessons: for Dad, for the Bartlett family, for Dirksen. The only thing I didn’t like was the “to be continued” ending. Overall, I would recommend this series; this book is the second in the series.
October 14, 2026
Ten Kids, Two Lemon Pies, and a Miracle by Cathy Lamb is book two in the Deauville Drive Families series and it was absolutely delightful. As with the first book, it’s narrated by Jesse O’Brien, a 12 year old girl. Set in 1979 in Huntington Beach, the book follows the O’Briens and the Rossis. All the characters have returns, with new and interesting characters added. Fantastic and fun (I laughed out loud at one particular church scene, I cannot wait for the next book.
September 13, 2026
Welcome to book 2 in the series.
This book has it all, family bonds, starting over, friends that become family, laughter and an abundance of love!
There is nothing that a Cathy Lamb cannot fix!
But…. Holy Cliffhanger… how can you leave us like that? lol
I am Anxiously awaiting the next book
This book has it all, family bonds, starting over, friends that become family, laughter and an abundance of love!
There is nothing that a Cathy Lamb cannot fix!
But…. Holy Cliffhanger… how can you leave us like that? lol
I am Anxiously awaiting the next book
September 9, 2026
Loved this book and the quirky, spirited characters! This book is so heartwarming as the family deals with challenging issues that deepen their family bonds. When will the next book come out?
September 20, 2026
I love her books. The first book in the series was funny, this one is even funnier.
October 9, 2026
I love all of Cathy Lamb's books and this one does not disappoint!
October 22, 2026
Loved it!
But is there going to be a sequel?!? What a cliffhanger! Please write the sequel!!! I love Cathy's books. Her writing and people are awesome!
But is there going to be a sequel?!? What a cliffhanger! Please write the sequel!!! I love Cathy's books. Her writing and people are awesome!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews