A Place Called Home

The McInnes Triplets #1

by Margaret Watson

Zoe McInnes is used to the stares. The whispers. They started when she and her sisters were young – the triplet daughters of a famous father. Now, the people of Spruce Lake watch her for a different reason – they think she murdered her husband.

When her former father-in-law has a stroke, Zoe is blamed. When she's thrown in jail, the man she assumes was sent by her attorney turns out to be the stroke victim's son – and her former husband's brother. She's appalled by her attraction to Gideon Tate. Horrified to find that he's equally attracted to her. There's no way she'd get involved with another Tate.

She and her sisters are trying to rebuild their ruptured relationship, and Zoe insists she’s not interested in Gideon. But she finds herself spending more and more time with him. Could Mr. Wrong be Mr. Right?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Romantic Suspense, Amazon

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

USA Today bestselling author Margaret Watson is a two-time RITA Finalist with thirty books in print for Harlequin and Silhouette and many other award-winning romantic suspense novels.

When not writing, Margaret practices veterinary medicine in the Chicago area.

Reviews

[Ana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed and was annoyed by A Place Called Home. The plotting is sound and the characters are fully realized and compelling but my issue was the constant re-iteration of the heroine’s past. Okay, she was a wild-child and she slept around and broke up a few marriages…I got it the first few times it was mentioned. The reader doesn’t need to be hit over the head with this time and time again.

I had the same issue with the ‘murder’ of Gideon’s brother. The hero calls the heroine a murderer multiple times even though she was acquitted. Gideon is a lawyer so if anyone should understand the legal process it’s him yet he still believes she’s a murderer. IMO, he deals with this situation all the time and should know how to accept the verdict gracefully. A Place Called Home is a pleasant read though it could have been much stronger. ~ Ana, www.ireadromance.com

[Suzi (Obsessive Reading Disorder) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

What a wonderful and complicated mess this series starts off with! Triplets who were in the limelight way more than they were comfortable with as children. A complicated relationship with their father. Grown women who haven't resolved their issues with each other much less anyone they want to have a relationship with. Intrigued yet?

Then lets just throw in the idea that Mr. Wrong becomes Mr. Right and all the small town gossips are going to go bonkers over that! This is a story of ups, downs and all overs. We meet the main characters but there is such a rich side story going on, I found I didn't want the book to end.

Thank goodness, cooler heads prevail and Zoe finds her HEA. Gideon is just perfect for her. Her sisters may be a bit harder to crack, though. I am looking forward to more small town life, the history behind the splitting up of the sisters and most of all, what swoon worthy partners these last two stubborn women will attract!

Zoe runs a Women's Shelter. Be mindful of triggers as you read, but jump in to this series today!

*Complimentary copy provided for an honest review.

[Cathy Geha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Place Called Home by Margaret Watson
The McInnes Triplets #1

Three sisters, triplets, dressed alike as children, pitted against one another by their father, finally returning to the family house to go through it after their father dies and hoping to become closer while dealing with the ghosts they never left behind. Their stories will unfold one by one in Spruce Lake where they once were not the happiest girls in the world but where love just might find each one of them.

This book starts with Zoe in a diner eating, accosted by an older gentleman and being accused of something she did not do. Not one to buckle under pressure she stays strong till she can get home again. Zoe runs a women’s shelter and has personal reasons for doing so. When her deceased husband’s brother appears on the scene she is flummoxed, as is he, by the instant attraction between them. Gideon Tate is not much like her ex…not at all…and why is that?

With bullies in abundance, battered women to take care of, accusations to defend against, sisters needing to reunite and become true friends, romance in the air and a town to contend with this is an excellent beginning to a series I can’t wait to read more of.

Thank you to the author for the copy – this is my honest review.

4 Stars

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zoe McInnes is one of three triplets and should be used to stares that she and her two sisters have been getting since they were born. The girl's father was a controlling and manipulative man that constantly demanded attention and encouraged the girls to fight with each other after their mother passed away when they were young. Each of the girls left home and Zoe left to marry another controlling and abusive man.

Her ex-father-in-law collapses in front of her and she is back in jail when Gideon Tate comes to visit her. Wallace, Gideon and Derrick's father had a stroke and Gideon is in town to help his estranged father.

The more Gideon and Zoe come together in the small town the stronger the attraction grows until Gideon has to face the truth about his father and brother and Zoe. Zoe also has her two sisters and a nephew visiting so they can get their childhood home ready to sell and to mend their relationship too.

The author shows the emotional drama of spousal abuse on the wives and children of the abuser; it also shows how important women's shelters are to help these families to start over and find safety and the strength to start over. A Place Called Home is an emotional and heartwarming love story.

[Karen Shortridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zoe McInnes is one of triplets. She was the only one who stayed in Spruce Lake while her sisters moved away to escape their memories. After their father dies they all come home to sort through his house and belongings so they can sell it. Zoe was married to Derrick and it wasn't a good marriage, he was a violent husband and in self defence she killed him. After being in prison for months the judge released her but Derrick's father never let Zoe forget and constantly tried to humiliate her. You really should read this to find out the full story with plenty of revelations, twists and turns with great characters that you will fall in love with and some you will hate with a great balance.

[Karla Brandenburg · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid 4.5 stars.

I was immediately pulled into the story wondering how these two people who couldn't possibly get together would get together. The story was well-constructed, the characters carefully drawn. I really enjoyed the book... until the end. Even then, I liked it, but the ending did seem rushed (which is where the 1/2 star deduction comes in). A great story, well written which I would recommend.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Place Called Home grabbed me from the beginning and kept me hooked until the end. You can't help but feel for Zoe and everything she has been through, from her childhood manipulation by her father to her abusive husband and what she had to do to escape. She's a tough woman, and I admired the fact that she wasn't afraid to back down. I also liked that she took her experience and used it to open up a shelter for abused women.

A part of me was frustrated with Gideon, the brother of Zoe's deceased husband. He was adamant that his brother would never lay a hand on a woman, but he doesn't seem to know his brother at all. He admits he had limited contact with him over the years, but refuses to believe that it's possible his brother might not be as innocent as he'd like to believe. When Zoe tries to tell him otherwise, he basically shuts her down. I did feel bad for him, however, when he realizes just what type of man his father was.

Due to the manipulations of their father when they were younger, the triplets aren't close, and there's some tension between them. It was nice to watch some of it thaw as they spent more time together and got to know one another again. I'm looking forward to seeing how their relationship progresses through the series.

Margaret Watson always writes books with characters readers will love, and this is no exception. Give it a try; you won't be disappointed.

**I voluntarily read a copy in exchange for an honest review**

[April · Rating 1 out of 5]

The concept was okay (triplets with a rough upbringing work on resolving their past and fix their relationship with each other in order to be able to have any meaningful relationships) but the delivery went from good to bad to ugly. I personally found the attraction between Zoe and Gideon to be unbelievable. She was accused of having murdered his half-brother and he goes from wanting to make her pay to wanting to get in her pants. She goes from being a strong, independent woman standing up to him and his father to yet another puddle of mush when he touches her and keeps orchestrating alone time so they can talk but end up ... kissing... fondling ... having sex. I hate it when characters are written that state they shouldn't be attracted, shouldn't be having sex but then let their hormones rules and a short while later go "Oh! I must love him/her". Ugh. I now don't care enough to see what happens to the other two in the triplet trio because of the writing/delivery of this book.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Character development is shallow. Emotional issues, changes, etc. are too swift. Where's the struggle? And the romantic pair were too quick to acknowledge their attraction. They had real reasons to be skittish and wrestle with it, but that struggle was only superficial. This book had a great premise, but nothing went deep enough. I won't be reading anything else in the series (and probably not by the author).

[Lillian Cummings · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will the past ever let you go? Being a triplet has never been easy for the girls, their father always pushed them against each other and now that they are adults they have nothing in common expect bad memories. Zoe knows that it is time to put the past to bed but it is hard when the other two sisters Fiona & Bree have different ideas. Can they work together to get the house cleared out now that their father is dead and can they ever repair their bond? Zoe has tried so hard to let go of the past but it haunts no matter how hard she tries. And now that old man Wallace is in hospital and she has been accused of putting him there it is like history repeating it's self. Will she ever get away from that family, the one son already destroyed it and now the other is back to get his venegance. Zoe did nothing wrong she was protecting her life as she knew that she was about to die. Her shelter for abused women is very inmportant to her and she won't allow anyone or anything to harm it.
But Gideon is here to do his duty and to make Zoe pay for her crime, his brother never deserved to die but no one knows the truth expect Zoe will he believe her side or will he be hell bent on getting to make her life miserable?
They have this pull towards each other and no matter how much they try, they just seem to need each other but it won't ever work will it? Can both of them let go of the past or will it destroy whatever happiness they could have? A great read.

[Donna Feibusch · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Awesome Book!

I loved reading A Place Called Home(The Mcinnes Triplets Book 1), all about Zoe & Gideon Tate, Bree & Charlie and Fiona or Fed for short. The girls are triplets and Bree & Fiona are back in town to help their sister Zoe clean out their fathers house and put it up for sale! The girls all have horrible memories of this house and the man they called Dad, on the other hand they loved their mother but she died seventeen years ago in this house! All three have had tough adult lives, Zoe killed her husband Derrick because he was abusing her, and it was either his life or he would have killed her, so she shot him! Bree has a fourteen year old son named Charlie who has a heart condition and no Dad. Fiona has her own line of jewelry called Fee-Mac and is very high end and sells well all over the world! But each girl has cobwebs and they don’t always get along, so this trip and the cleaning out of all the old is supposed to help repair all that is wrong! The author wrote a story about three young ladies who are in their thirties and are trying to overcome their young memories from when they lived in Spruce Lake with the father they came to despise in the end! Read this story and see how Zoe & Gideon go from being distant relatives, to rediscovering life in a small town!! I can’t wait to read book 2 all about Bree!!

[Sharon Grow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so enjoyed reading Zoe and Gideon’s story. Ms. Watson wrote such a different twist to this story, between the past and present history of the sister triplets and Zoe having been accused of murdering her husband. When her former father-in-law suffers a stroke, in Zoe’s presence, once again she has to defend herself against the town. Her husband’s brother arrives in town to check on his father (whom he has not seen in years) and the plot twists continue. The storyline was easy to follow, but an involved story that kept you turning the pages. Zoe finds herself attracted to her husband’s brother and he is fighting between wanting Zoe in prison or in his arms. Such genuine characters, dealing with life choices. The other sisters are part of Zoe & Gideon’s story, making me eager to read the next two books. A very unique story showcasing Zoe and the battles she has fought and Gideon who has to deal with his own issues concerning his dead brother and his father. Great first book. I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to give an honest review. (by paytonpuppy).

[Joan]

This was 'okay' but generic and far too predictable to be an engaging read. As with a lot of #1 books in a series we are introduced to various flawed/damaged/lonely characters (usually female) and an assortment of potential suitors all of whom will no doubt star in the following books.
There was very little that made this stand out, and it fairly soon became a series of 'same-old' sexual encounters.

A couple of things that irked me:

WHY do women who wake up to find last night's man no long in bed with them INSTANTLY think he has done a runner?? Can the poor bloke not be in the bathroom, having a pee or a shave? Or perhaps downstairs letting the dog out or making her a cup of tea? But no - she ALWAYS has to think the worst of him.

And secondly - Zoe tells Barb that she gave the location of the safe house away to her lover, thereby putting everyone in danger. But Barb's husband already knows the location and so do most of the husbands of the women in the house. (It was her husband who reported the building)

[Sue Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adventure, Love, Excitement

I chose this rating because the framework of the entire book is plausible and logical, not to mention exciting and to the point. Psycholigically, the characters reveal EXACTLY how a person abused physically or emotionally reacts to others after their abuse. Theirs is a "coming back" to life of sorts, a relearning how to deal with those around them, the life itself has to be re-established, new ground rules applied within the parameters they can now tolerate. A person who has never been abused has no concept if the oricess. Margaret Watson does, either because of abuse in her past or having done a heck of a lot of valid research on the subject. Impressive, and exactly what it is like to finally find that person u fall madly in love with despite all reservations set up. Good work here, for sure!!

[Debbie Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Romance with a cause

While parts of this story are a little far-fetched, the story does deal with an shelter for a used women and the great need for those places. It also deals with ways people can beat the system to their advantage only to hurt others in the process.

Early in the story, we learn that Zoe had killed her abusive husband and had endured the pure hatred of his family ever since. Quite understandable and as we find out, abuse ran in his family. But how can she end up falling in love with her dead husband’s brother. My first thought...If they marry, would she take his name and have the same name she had in her first marriage?

The introduction of sex into the story line was quick but then, you gotta tie it all together in a meat little package to fit it in to a story this length.

Hope to read the other two stories a bit these triplets..

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keep them coming, Ms. Watson! Another surprising read by Margaret Watson, A Place Called Home, may not be what you expect but it definitely is a great romance. There are other books with the same name, so remember Margaret Watson. Zoe is a triplet now running a shelter for abused women. Gideon is her former brother-in-law and also an Assistant DA. He blamed Zoe for his brother's murder and his father's trip to the hospital. An unlikely pairing, that's for sure. The sparks fly for the two of them after meeting at the jail. Each has to put their own misguided past behind them in order to finally find a place called home.

[E Lowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up second hand in a thrift store in British Columbia, having never read this author, or this Harlequin line before.
I loved it. An easy to read, fast paced story, with feisty, stubborn as all hell heroine. The story follows the first of the McInnes triplets foray into her happy ever after, as she fiercely protects victims of domestic violence in her the shelter she opened for battered women. The struggle to trust after her own experiences is real, something she learns as she deals with Gideon Tate.
I definitely need to find Fiona and Bree’s stories next :)

[MooseGirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

For me, this was more of a 3 1/2 stars, but we don't get to do halves and 3 stars was far too harsh. I enjoyed the book and liked the couple.

I did feel we could have used more detail in the back stories to fill it out a bit more. Both with Zoe and Gideon. There were a few things I felt were a little rushed. I have to stress that I did really enjoy the book, I would just have liked a little more detail to make it even better.

[BookWorm · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was good but could have been better. Would you really be attracted to someone you thought had murdered your brother? (That's a no from me). And then when Gideon does decide to believe in Zoe's innocence it seems to come out of nowhere.

But the story is still interesting and the relationship dynamic between the triplets is well done. And I did like Zoe and Gideon together. Worth a read but I haven't decided if I will read the next in the series.

[Meryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read.

Zoe runs an abuse shelter that she started up after her turbulent marriage resulted in the death of her husband. The town is divided into those who support and those who don't. To add to her woes her ex's half brother comes to confront her when his father has a stroke in her vicinity.
There's a lot of harsh judgment in the beginning of their relationship. Eventually you see their blinkers come off as they get to know each other.

[Erin Mcnamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. It was relatable as well as addressed real issues in this mad world we live in. I felt that the characters were relatable and I could picture them being a neighbor or co worker. I didn’t like the quick progression so close to the end though. It held interest and then it was just over and the end was unrealistic in my opinion.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Triplets

This is a great beginning to this series. It deals with many different issues that need to be talked about. Domestic violence is scary. But out is great that there are people to help. And that violence comes in different forms. This is also a story of healing of 3 sisters who were controlled by their dad.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Abusive men

The author had a strong message to write about. After heroine herself is abused by her husband she shoots and murders him in defense The brother Gideon comes into town and his take on protecting the heroine. I like how the author wrote him into the story. Thinking about reading book 2 of the series

[Ambrosia · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Meh. What could have been a complex and psychologically intense and reluctant relationship between the H and h devolved too quickly into love and sex. Things were resolved too quickly, too easily for the fraught situation. I enjoy light hearted and simple romances, but the background and situation must match.

I will not be reading further books by this author.

[Laura Cozicar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book even though I found it confusing at times. We meet the triplets but we don’t know what they look like until well into the book. The phrase ‘you murdered my brother’ was overused and the drama of a small town that is big enough to hide a woman’s shelter? Nice premise but needs a little more thought.

[Virginia L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Too much control.

A story about abusive fathers and husbands. A woman who had an abusive marriage now struggles with her desire to always be in control of her life and everything around her. This causes problems between her and her sisters as well as the man she falls for. A very interesting and entertaining story.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zoe killed her husband. His father is now angry with her to the point that he has a stroke. She is arrested for pushing him. Gideon finds her in jail and starts questioning her. He thinks that she killed his brother and now did something to cause his father to have a stroke. That’s how they met. Each had biased opinions about the other. A good story.

[Rose Helg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Book

This was an Good Wholesome Book. I couldn't put it down. want to read more of her books, but they not on kindle unlimited and I don't have the money to buy them. 😧 my lost.

[Sherri Romero · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hard to buy into

The premise of the relationship between the H\H is hard to believe. There were a lot of ugly characters in this story. Just did not find it a good read. It was edited well and grammatically correct, but overall I did not like the storyline

[Rose Boniello · Rating 4 out of 5]

Close to 5*

Very good story— but it bothers me when a book about abuse has the woman make stupid decisions with a male she has the hots for. The ending was very rushed. And the police captain just disappeared after a while. Well written.