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Malcolm, Callie & Keira #1
When We Found Home
Becoming a family will take patience, humor, a little bit of wine and a whole lot of love...
Life is meant to be savored, but that's not easy with no family, limited prospects and a past you'd rather not talk about. Still, Callie Smith doesn't know how to feel when she discovers she has a brother and a sister--Malcolm, who grew up with affection, wealth and privilege, and Keira, a streetwise twelve-year-old. Callie doesn't love being alone, but at least it's safe. Despite her trepidation, she moves into the grand family home with her siblings and grandfather on the shores of Lake Washington, hoping just maybe this will be the start of a whole new life.
But starting over can be messy. Callie and Keira fit in with each other, but not with their posh new lifestyle, leaving Malcolm feeling like the odd man out in his own home. He was clever enough to turn a sleepy Seattle mail-order food catalog into an online gourmet powerhouse, yet he can't figure out how to help his new sisters feel secure. But affection isn't Malcolm's strong suit...until a beautiful barista teaches him that an open heart, like the family table, can always make room for more.
In this emotional, humorous and heartfelt story, Susan Mallery masterfully explores the definition of a modern family--blended by surprise, not by choice--and how those complicated relationships can add unexpected richness to life.
Life is meant to be savored, but that's not easy with no family, limited prospects and a past you'd rather not talk about. Still, Callie Smith doesn't know how to feel when she discovers she has a brother and a sister--Malcolm, who grew up with affection, wealth and privilege, and Keira, a streetwise twelve-year-old. Callie doesn't love being alone, but at least it's safe. Despite her trepidation, she moves into the grand family home with her siblings and grandfather on the shores of Lake Washington, hoping just maybe this will be the start of a whole new life.
But starting over can be messy. Callie and Keira fit in with each other, but not with their posh new lifestyle, leaving Malcolm feeling like the odd man out in his own home. He was clever enough to turn a sleepy Seattle mail-order food catalog into an online gourmet powerhouse, yet he can't figure out how to help his new sisters feel secure. But affection isn't Malcolm's strong suit...until a beautiful barista teaches him that an open heart, like the family table, can always make room for more.
In this emotional, humorous and heartfelt story, Susan Mallery masterfully explores the definition of a modern family--blended by surprise, not by choice--and how those complicated relationships can add unexpected richness to life.
424 pages, Hardcover
First published July 10, 2018
2540 people are currently reading
14585 people want to read
About the author
Susan Mallery
862 books15.4k followers#1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery writes heartwarming and humorous novels about the relationships that define women's lives—family, friendship, romance. She's best known for putting nuanced characters into emotionally complex, real-life situations with twists that surprise readers to laughter. Because Susan is passionate about animal welfare, pets play a big role in her books. Beloved by millions of readers worldwide, her books have been translated into 28 languages.
Critics have dubbed Mallery "the new queen of romantic fiction." (Walmart) Booklist says, "Romance novels don't get much better than Mallery's expert blend of emotional nuance, humor, and superb storytelling," and RT Book Reviews puts her "in a class by herself!" It's no wonder that her books have spent more than 200 weeks on the USA Today bestsellers list.
Although Susan majored in Accounting, she never worked as an accountant because she was published straight out of college with two books the same month. Sixteen prolific years and seventy-four books later, she hit the New York Times bestsellers list for the first time with Accidentally Yours in 2008. She made many appearances in the Top 10 before (finally) hitting #1 in 2015 with Thrill Me, the twentieth book in her most popular series, the Fool's Gold romances, and the fourth of five books released that year.
Susan lives in Washington state with her husband, two ragdoll cats, and a small poodle with delusions of grandeur. Her heart for animals has led Susan to become an active supporter of the Seattle Humane Society. Visit Susan online at www.SusanMallery.com.
Critics have dubbed Mallery "the new queen of romantic fiction." (Walmart) Booklist says, "Romance novels don't get much better than Mallery's expert blend of emotional nuance, humor, and superb storytelling," and RT Book Reviews puts her "in a class by herself!" It's no wonder that her books have spent more than 200 weeks on the USA Today bestsellers list.
Although Susan majored in Accounting, she never worked as an accountant because she was published straight out of college with two books the same month. Sixteen prolific years and seventy-four books later, she hit the New York Times bestsellers list for the first time with Accidentally Yours in 2008. She made many appearances in the Top 10 before (finally) hitting #1 in 2015 with Thrill Me, the twentieth book in her most popular series, the Fool's Gold romances, and the fourth of five books released that year.
Susan lives in Washington state with her husband, two ragdoll cats, and a small poodle with delusions of grandeur. Her heart for animals has led Susan to become an active supporter of the Seattle Humane Society. Visit Susan online at www.SusanMallery.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,248 reviews
July 11, 2018
Favorite Quotes:
He gave her a smile that would have melted a frozen planet.
She agreed with generous —he was that. As for kind, well, he was growing on her. Like the famous Seattle moss, she thought with a smile.
I’d offer to let you borrow one of mine, but you’re what, twenty pounds lighter, two inches shorter and yet you have bigger boobs. Why do I like you?
We’re going to deal with our heartaches the way God intended— with liquor, sugar, a movie and people we love.
You did everything right. And when you screw up, I promise to be just as gracious.
My Review:
I always look forward to reading Susan Mallery’s books, as her stories have never failed to please or satisfy. She is top shelf entertainment with engaging storylines full of feels, a full slate of endearingly lovable yet vulnerable and flawed characters, clever humor, witty banter, and sharply honed repartee. When We Found Home was well paced and adroitly plotted while equally balanced with levity and heart-squeezes. I was engaged and invested from beginning to end. The characters experience new love, second chances, discover and develop vital family connections, solve a mystery, and even save a precious kitten. Sigh, it was nirvana.
He gave her a smile that would have melted a frozen planet.
She agreed with generous —he was that. As for kind, well, he was growing on her. Like the famous Seattle moss, she thought with a smile.
I’d offer to let you borrow one of mine, but you’re what, twenty pounds lighter, two inches shorter and yet you have bigger boobs. Why do I like you?
We’re going to deal with our heartaches the way God intended— with liquor, sugar, a movie and people we love.
You did everything right. And when you screw up, I promise to be just as gracious.
My Review:
I always look forward to reading Susan Mallery’s books, as her stories have never failed to please or satisfy. She is top shelf entertainment with engaging storylines full of feels, a full slate of endearingly lovable yet vulnerable and flawed characters, clever humor, witty banter, and sharply honed repartee. When We Found Home was well paced and adroitly plotted while equally balanced with levity and heart-squeezes. I was engaged and invested from beginning to end. The characters experience new love, second chances, discover and develop vital family connections, solve a mystery, and even save a precious kitten. Sigh, it was nirvana.
July 5, 2018
I love the idea behind this story, I can’t imagine finding out I had not one, but two half siblings as an adult. How hard would it be to form a familial bond later in life? Difficult I’m quite sure, especially when every one of the siblings comes from a completely different background. Malcolm is the oldest and moved to his grandfathers home as a teenager, Keira was discovered when she was twelve and Callie as a woman in her twenties. Each age would present a new set of challenges and many are explored throughout this book.
The handful of Susan Mallery books that I’ve read in the past have leaned to the contemporary romance genre but this one definitely fits better under women’s fiction. There are bits and pieces of developing romances, even some spicy, sexy scenes, but the exploration of complex family dynamics is really the heart of this novel. Not only are the Carlesso family’s relationships with each other complex, their own individual personalities are also extremely complicated. I was invested in each of them right away and enjoyed watching them grow and blossom throughout the book.
This had the perfect blend of lightness and depth, plenty of heart and humor but also intrigue and even a light mystery too. It’s full of relatable and well drawn characters and written in an easy, fluid way. If you’re already a fan of Mallery you’ll love this and if you haven’t read her before this is the perfect place to start.
When We Found Home in three words: Heartwarming, Engaging and Relatable.
The handful of Susan Mallery books that I’ve read in the past have leaned to the contemporary romance genre but this one definitely fits better under women’s fiction. There are bits and pieces of developing romances, even some spicy, sexy scenes, but the exploration of complex family dynamics is really the heart of this novel. Not only are the Carlesso family’s relationships with each other complex, their own individual personalities are also extremely complicated. I was invested in each of them right away and enjoyed watching them grow and blossom throughout the book.
This had the perfect blend of lightness and depth, plenty of heart and humor but also intrigue and even a light mystery too. It’s full of relatable and well drawn characters and written in an easy, fluid way. If you’re already a fan of Mallery you’ll love this and if you haven’t read her before this is the perfect place to start.
When We Found Home in three words: Heartwarming, Engaging and Relatable.
August 2, 2018
Finding out you have two other siblings and have a wealthy grandfather definitely was overwhelming news for Callie and had been very overwhelming for Keira two months ago. Their step brother, Malcolm, had been with his grandfather since he was twelve and was used to the lifestyle and family.
Malcolm was already working in the family business and didn’t want to be bothered with a twelve-year-old and now he had another sister. At least this sister wasn’t a child.
The siblings were all children conceived when their father had affairs while on business trips.
Wealthy businessman Alberto Carlesso found out about his grandchildren after his son passed away in papers his son had kept hidden and was determined to find his newest granddaughters.
WHEN WE FOUND HOME was an enjoyable read for me. The characters were believable and most were lovable even though the wonderful situation seemed a little hard to believe. The characters were what carried the story line, kept my interest, and had me wanting to be friends with the characters and the entire family.
Keira was twelve, sweet, loveable, and a bit on the outspoken side. Callie was twenty-six, struggling financially and emotionally, and hiding a secret about her life.
Keira was my favorite because she just KNEW the right things to say and do even though she had her own issues to deal with.
The book had heartwarming as well as funny moments.
Women’s fiction fans and Susan Mallery fans will not be disappointed in WHEN WE FOUND HOME.
This book has something for everyone...family, food, secrets, surprises, and love.
ENJOY if you read it. 5/5
This book was given to me as an advanced reader copy by the publisher. All opinions are my own.
July 21, 2018
This is my 3rd book by Susan Mallery and it’s the third book of hers I’ve given 3 stars. It started really good but then it started to drag about 3/4 in with only 1/4 left. It was good. Not a great book, just good.
February 25, 2019
LOVED IT! Say what you will about the genre label "women's fiction", but it's how I instinctively label this one - otherwise, I'd have to say "contemporary sweet/cozy surprisingly complex multi-storyline family fiction with romantic elements". I mean, yes, that second one is more descriptive, but the first one sure is shorter! Some have classified this as romance, and I guess it kind of is?
.
Set in Seattle, this is a story of half-siblings brought together by their grandfather for the first time when one is 12 and the other two are adults. There is a much-appreciated storyline about the difficulties that reformed convicted felons face upon reentry to society which I almost never read in fiction - I hope that this book helps spread the empathy-building message far and wide among readers who may otherwise not encounter the issue in fiction or real life. The characters are flawed but loveable and the romances and other events in the book are all deeply explored.
.
What else can I say? This is the type of book that IS comfort to me. There is depth amidst the love and family and I desperately want to read more of these characters. Mallery's book "Daughters of the Bride" was my previous favorite of hers, but this one is now tied or possibly even in first place! Her other work has been hit or miss for me but these two are solid favorites in this genre - whatever that genre may be.
.
Set in Seattle, this is a story of half-siblings brought together by their grandfather for the first time when one is 12 and the other two are adults. There is a much-appreciated storyline about the difficulties that reformed convicted felons face upon reentry to society which I almost never read in fiction - I hope that this book helps spread the empathy-building message far and wide among readers who may otherwise not encounter the issue in fiction or real life. The characters are flawed but loveable and the romances and other events in the book are all deeply explored.
.
What else can I say? This is the type of book that IS comfort to me. There is depth amidst the love and family and I desperately want to read more of these characters. Mallery's book "Daughters of the Bride" was my previous favorite of hers, but this one is now tied or possibly even in first place! Her other work has been hit or miss for me but these two are solid favorites in this genre - whatever that genre may be.
August 29, 2018
I particularly liked the 4 young characters – one young teen and three adults in their twenties and thirties, and I also really liked the grandfather, and the housekeeper, and wish there was even more on the pages about those two. I really identified in various ways with Keira, Callie, and Delaney. Virtually all of the characters are very relatable and understandable, and there is a lot to like about them. They are complex and realistic and I enjoyed hearing their internal process. I felt as though I knew exactly what was going on with Keira even though the reader doesn’t directly get her point of view.
This is not my typical book: it’s definitely chick lit, summer reading, but also includes some deep issues and wish fulfillment not at all unconscious re finding family and instantly becoming wealthy, and being orphaned or quasi-orphaned. A lot of depth is packed into the story/stories.
And wow, I also don’t typically read books like this (chick lit romancne) and most books I read don’t happen to contain detailed sex scenes. Here there are a very few sweet but very graphic sex scenes. Because of the sweetness, “making love” vs. “graphic sex” feels like a better description of them. This is definitely not like my usual genres (which are just about all but romance, horror, and religion – I’m sure there are a few more, but I do have eclectic tastes!) but I kind of liked it. It was a good book for me right now, though without the orphans angle I don’t think it would have held my interest. That so many characters were orphans certainly made the story seem familiar and I particularly loved those parts.
The endings of the few stories wrapped up way too fast and a bit too neatly, though I did appreciate what the characters needed to go through to get there.
The menu & recipes at the end seemed 100% superfluous and not needed and didn’t relate to the story, and should have been left out, in my opinion. Why they were included perplexes me.
I was disappointed that the scene on the cover never materializes. I was waiting for it and it could have made a great part of the story.
The discussion questions at the end indicated that this author writes a lot about finding family and if true I will look into reading more of her books; I loved that aspect of this story, but given that I don’t usually go for romance books I’m not sure which, if any, to pick up next. I’m open to suggestions.
P.S. There is a lovely cat character too.
This is not my typical book: it’s definitely chick lit, summer reading, but also includes some deep issues and wish fulfillment not at all unconscious re finding family and instantly becoming wealthy, and being orphaned or quasi-orphaned. A lot of depth is packed into the story/stories.
And wow, I also don’t typically read books like this (chick lit romancne) and most books I read don’t happen to contain detailed sex scenes. Here there are a very few sweet but very graphic sex scenes. Because of the sweetness, “making love” vs. “graphic sex” feels like a better description of them. This is definitely not like my usual genres (which are just about all but romance, horror, and religion – I’m sure there are a few more, but I do have eclectic tastes!) but I kind of liked it. It was a good book for me right now, though without the orphans angle I don’t think it would have held my interest. That so many characters were orphans certainly made the story seem familiar and I particularly loved those parts.
The endings of the few stories wrapped up way too fast and a bit too neatly, though I did appreciate what the characters needed to go through to get there.
The menu & recipes at the end seemed 100% superfluous and not needed and didn’t relate to the story, and should have been left out, in my opinion. Why they were included perplexes me.
I was disappointed that the scene on the cover never materializes. I was waiting for it and it could have made a great part of the story.
The discussion questions at the end indicated that this author writes a lot about finding family and if true I will look into reading more of her books; I loved that aspect of this story, but given that I don’t usually go for romance books I’m not sure which, if any, to pick up next. I’m open to suggestions.
P.S. There is a lovely cat character too.
July 13, 2018
Why does this book have such a high rating? I am so disappointed that I paid $12 for it. I am not a fan of this authors writing style at all. The story was promising, but really...it sucked. I found zero chemistry between any of the characters. I was okay with the siblings, but the two romances, were boring and what a bland character the grandfather turned out to be.
The romance between Santiago and Callie was just plain stupid. They talked about what a macho, jock, player he was and one look at Callie and he turns into a total fake sap. There was absolutely nothing between them. Zero chemistry at all.
The worst is the character's interactions were extremely robotic. That is the writing....people don't talk like that. Only in books like this I guess....not my thing, I prefer realistic.
I have read plenty of better books that were $1.99 or free at the library. This was in my BookBub, hand picked emails. I am considering canceling that subscription. And just to say...this is the last one by this author.
The romance between Santiago and Callie was just plain stupid. They talked about what a macho, jock, player he was and one look at Callie and he turns into a total fake sap. There was absolutely nothing between them. Zero chemistry at all.
The worst is the character's interactions were extremely robotic. That is the writing....people don't talk like that. Only in books like this I guess....not my thing, I prefer realistic.
I have read plenty of better books that were $1.99 or free at the library. This was in my BookBub, hand picked emails. I am considering canceling that subscription. And just to say...this is the last one by this author.
January 4, 2020
I think I may put Susan Mallery in perma-pass status. By which I mean that I just don't even try with her books any more. And this book may become the standard for the justification of doing so.
The thing is, this story was outstanding during much of its progress. I came to love each sibling very much (and Kiera absolutely stole my heart, even though I don't really buy her as a 12 turned-13 year-old) and the romantic partners for the older two were kind of perfect (for them, I mean). Malcolm struggled so hard to learn relationship skills he had never had modeled and was quick to own fault and reform and do better. I loved how earnest he was and how he continued to improve his relationship with his half-sisters. I was worried that Callie would become tedious with the constant drum-beat of failure and "I'm a convicted felon" mantra. But Mallery managed to imbue her with real heart and I loved how she became a bridge for her siblings to understand each other.
And the love interests were equally dynamic and endearing with their own quirks and character arcs to go through that were as engaging in their own way.
So I didn't mind all the PoV hopping and that this functions as two romances in one because I was more-or-less equally engaged by each and I think Mallery chose her current PoV well (which is a big challenge when telling a story through multiple PoVs).
There are minor issues that had me considering whether this would end up four or five stars. And then Mallery manufactured not one but two dark moments. Which is the problem in her other books recently, I've noticed. It seems that she can't conceive of a romance where one partner doesn't betray the other after they've fallen in love. I kind of hate that trope in romances but it's even worse when if feels like the character takes a giant step backwards to make it happen. Which is totally the case, here.
So I'm giving this three stars for the enjoyment and some deep emotional highlights that really touched me. Those dark moments really killed the ending for me, so I'm hanging onto the good things as tight as I can to console myself that it wasn't all a complete waste of time.
A note about the Audiobook: Tanya Eby has kind of a mechanical cadence that bugged me more the longer I listened. It hits most frequently during character dialogue and detracts most in the most emotionally poignant scenes. Not a good experience, at least for this listener.
A note about Steamy: There are two explicit sex scenes, one for each couple. They're standard romance fare but in such a large story only makes the light end of my steam tolerance. I actually liked what she did with Callie and Santiago and them having to work out their expectations for intimacy, so not gratuitous so much as typical.
The thing is, this story was outstanding during much of its progress. I came to love each sibling very much (and Kiera absolutely stole my heart, even though I don't really buy her as a 12 turned-13 year-old) and the romantic partners for the older two were kind of perfect (for them, I mean). Malcolm struggled so hard to learn relationship skills he had never had modeled and was quick to own fault and reform and do better. I loved how earnest he was and how he continued to improve his relationship with his half-sisters. I was worried that Callie would become tedious with the constant drum-beat of failure and "I'm a convicted felon" mantra. But Mallery managed to imbue her with real heart and I loved how she became a bridge for her siblings to understand each other.
And the love interests were equally dynamic and endearing with their own quirks and character arcs to go through that were as engaging in their own way.
So I didn't mind all the PoV hopping and that this functions as two romances in one because I was more-or-less equally engaged by each and I think Mallery chose her current PoV well (which is a big challenge when telling a story through multiple PoVs).
There are minor issues that had me considering whether this would end up four or five stars. And then Mallery manufactured not one but two dark moments. Which is the problem in her other books recently, I've noticed. It seems that she can't conceive of a romance where one partner doesn't betray the other after they've fallen in love. I kind of hate that trope in romances but it's even worse when if feels like the character takes a giant step backwards to make it happen. Which is totally the case, here.
So I'm giving this three stars for the enjoyment and some deep emotional highlights that really touched me. Those dark moments really killed the ending for me, so I'm hanging onto the good things as tight as I can to console myself that it wasn't all a complete waste of time.
A note about the Audiobook: Tanya Eby has kind of a mechanical cadence that bugged me more the longer I listened. It hits most frequently during character dialogue and detracts most in the most emotionally poignant scenes. Not a good experience, at least for this listener.
A note about Steamy: There are two explicit sex scenes, one for each couple. They're standard romance fare but in such a large story only makes the light end of my steam tolerance. I actually liked what she did with Callie and Santiago and them having to work out their expectations for intimacy, so not gratuitous so much as typical.
July 12, 2018
I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I was very excited about reading this book because I've read Susan Mallery's contemporary romances before (some of the Fool's Gold series) and I wanted to try a different genre by her. Plus the premise of the story seemed to have everything I was looking for in a summer read. This is about three half siblings who didn't know anything about their father or their family until the father died and their grandfather decided to track them all down. Different ages, different pasts. And they all need to learn to deal with their new family as well as move on with their lives. I thought this would be very interesting. Instead, the execution fell flat for me.
I actually liked all the characters in this story and the main issues presented. But I didn't care for the actual reading experience. I found myself constantly bored. There was a lot of day to day detail that I found wasn't getting me to any kind of point fast. It's slow moving and in the end nothing really caught my interest enough.
There are two romance storylines as well for the older siblings of the bunch. One of them I didn't have much of a problem with. But the other was the biggest case of insta love. Guy sees girl and without even talking to her knows she's special and not like his other string of women and pursues her pretty strongly. I just can't buy into that kind of scenario, it's probably just on me.
In the end, I'm sad to say I couldn't get over the boredom and even though I finished it I can't say it was a great read.❤ ♡ Don't want to miss any of our posts? Subscribe to our blog by email! ♡ ❤
October 19, 2019
4.5/5
When We Found Home by Susan Mallery in a nutshell is the story of three siblings who end up with one another after their much-older grandfather goes to great lengths to bring them together as family. All three have the same father but three different mothers. They all have different backgrounds and come from different parts of the United States. Malcolm is in his thirties, Callie is in her mid-twenties, and young Keira is only twelve.
Callie is the last to arrive at the family home in Seattle, where she finds that Malcolm has grown up there. He has lived there for many years and had the opportunity to have a great education. He now runs the hugely successful family business. She also finds that Keira is already living in the home, much to the delight of their grandfather, but to the apparent distress of Malcolm, who either doesn’t know what to do with a tween-aged child or doesn’t like her. Callie can’t quite tell how Malcolm feels about his “new” sisters — he’s really tough to read and frankly, he’s a little rude at times. While Keira has an “I’m fine” attitude about everything, Callie can hardly justify all of her new fortune. It’s a little overwhelming.
It turns out that all three are having a little bit of trouble coping with their new family dynamic. They need to adjust. They need to learn how to relate to each other.
Probably my favorite thing about this story is the way that Susan Mallery explores relationships. I mean, she does it so, so well. It seems like nearly every type of relationship is represented in here: siblings, parent-child, romantic relationships, grandparent-grandchild, coworkers, and even the complicated relationships between staff and their bosses. There are also wonderful and complex friendships. I most loved the way Malcolm related to both Keira and Callie. It felt almost tangible to me as I understand difficult relationships with siblings; I can’t even imagine how difficult it can be with the issues that these three have. There is also a special way that Callie and Keira are able to bond over certain aspects of their pasts and new shared experiences, and I related to this as well. These three are patient with each other, even when it is hard, and I can’t even express how much I love that theme in this story.
There are several neat surprises in these pages with regard to the journey these three make. I don’t want to give anything away, but I think that certain details that were thrown in made the story extra-appealing. Heartwarming and emotional, for sure, but also with smiles. Sometimes a young character like Kiera, especially with a tough past, can weigh a book down for me, but thankfully not here. Kiera was a delight, even as she had a hard time adjusting. She was insightful and funny, and I loved her interaction with her cat, Lizzy.
When I first saw the cover for this one, I thought it was about three similarly-aged people that are getting to know one another after meeting for the first time. I didn’t realize that they are of three different ages and stages in life, so I loved going back and glancing at the cover as I read the book. I loved the cover even more as I learned more about where Callie and Kiera came from, and about how great these three are together as they learn to become family. By the end of the book, this cover is perfect and EXACTLY how I picture the siblings.
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you, Harlequin Books!
Find this review and more like it on my blog, Into the Hall of Books!
When We Found Home by Susan Mallery in a nutshell is the story of three siblings who end up with one another after their much-older grandfather goes to great lengths to bring them together as family. All three have the same father but three different mothers. They all have different backgrounds and come from different parts of the United States. Malcolm is in his thirties, Callie is in her mid-twenties, and young Keira is only twelve.
Callie is the last to arrive at the family home in Seattle, where she finds that Malcolm has grown up there. He has lived there for many years and had the opportunity to have a great education. He now runs the hugely successful family business. She also finds that Keira is already living in the home, much to the delight of their grandfather, but to the apparent distress of Malcolm, who either doesn’t know what to do with a tween-aged child or doesn’t like her. Callie can’t quite tell how Malcolm feels about his “new” sisters — he’s really tough to read and frankly, he’s a little rude at times. While Keira has an “I’m fine” attitude about everything, Callie can hardly justify all of her new fortune. It’s a little overwhelming.
It turns out that all three are having a little bit of trouble coping with their new family dynamic. They need to adjust. They need to learn how to relate to each other.
Probably my favorite thing about this story is the way that Susan Mallery explores relationships. I mean, she does it so, so well. It seems like nearly every type of relationship is represented in here: siblings, parent-child, romantic relationships, grandparent-grandchild, coworkers, and even the complicated relationships between staff and their bosses. There are also wonderful and complex friendships. I most loved the way Malcolm related to both Keira and Callie. It felt almost tangible to me as I understand difficult relationships with siblings; I can’t even imagine how difficult it can be with the issues that these three have. There is also a special way that Callie and Keira are able to bond over certain aspects of their pasts and new shared experiences, and I related to this as well. These three are patient with each other, even when it is hard, and I can’t even express how much I love that theme in this story.
There are several neat surprises in these pages with regard to the journey these three make. I don’t want to give anything away, but I think that certain details that were thrown in made the story extra-appealing. Heartwarming and emotional, for sure, but also with smiles. Sometimes a young character like Kiera, especially with a tough past, can weigh a book down for me, but thankfully not here. Kiera was a delight, even as she had a hard time adjusting. She was insightful and funny, and I loved her interaction with her cat, Lizzy.
When I first saw the cover for this one, I thought it was about three similarly-aged people that are getting to know one another after meeting for the first time. I didn’t realize that they are of three different ages and stages in life, so I loved going back and glancing at the cover as I read the book. I loved the cover even more as I learned more about where Callie and Kiera came from, and about how great these three are together as they learn to become family. By the end of the book, this cover is perfect and EXACTLY how I picture the siblings.
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you, Harlequin Books!
Find this review and more like it on my blog, Into the Hall of Books!
August 22, 2018
Its heartwarming and beautiful.
Callie finds out she has alot of family and they want to get to know and its their journey through friendship and relationships and finding their way home. It was adorable.
Callie finds out she has alot of family and they want to get to know and its their journey through friendship and relationships and finding their way home. It was adorable.
August 30, 2018
I was not feeling this book. I skipped about 50 pages towards the end but ended up finishing it. I just couldn't connect with any of the characters. It was a disappointing Mallery read, that is for sure.
December 16, 2018
I think this is my first ever 1-star rating? This book was so bland, cheesy, and predictable that it might have been written by a family-drama-romance-generating algorithm. The complete lack of depth and surprise in the plot and characters could have been salvaged if the writing was any good, but it really wasn't, especially when it came to the randomly interspersed sex scenes.
Here are some choice lines to illustrate the intolerable writing style:
1. The world's strangest kiss-as-party metaphor: "He moved deliberately, brushing her mouth with his before running his tongue along her bottom lip. She parted insistently, inviting him to the party."
2. The world's least sexy description of arousal: "Her girl bits did a little dance, while her heart seemed to get a little fluttery."
3. The world's least parseable sentence, somehow both a run-on and a fragment at the same time: "There weren't any words to convince him that she was worthy and while in time she would get her mad on and convince herself that if he didn't see that she deserved to be judged on who she was today and not on her eighteen-year-old self, then he wasn't someone she wanted in her life."
The silver lining of this reading experience was that I now viscerally understand what it means to "hate read" a book, because after all, I did finish it.
Here are some choice lines to illustrate the intolerable writing style:
1. The world's strangest kiss-as-party metaphor: "He moved deliberately, brushing her mouth with his before running his tongue along her bottom lip. She parted insistently, inviting him to the party."
2. The world's least sexy description of arousal: "Her girl bits did a little dance, while her heart seemed to get a little fluttery."
3. The world's least parseable sentence, somehow both a run-on and a fragment at the same time: "There weren't any words to convince him that she was worthy and while in time she would get her mad on and convince herself that if he didn't see that she deserved to be judged on who she was today and not on her eighteen-year-old self, then he wasn't someone she wanted in her life."
The silver lining of this reading experience was that I now viscerally understand what it means to "hate read" a book, because after all, I did finish it.
November 15, 2025
What an incredibly well written story about
family
. That’s it. Family. One of the most powerful words, in my opinion. It can mean so many things to different people. Yes, there’s an actual definition, but the essence of the word is so much more. This is a story of family and its power. And it is outstanding.
From the blurb you know three half siblings find each other and this is their journey to family. What you don’t know is the powerful way Susan Mallery turns mere words into a saga that is captivating and emotional and heartfelt and joyous, that you just don’t ever want it to end. Honestly, I could have read about this family for a ling time. She’s a wizard, this woman. I never tire of her stories. I could read one story for days or hours and I would feel the same about each one. She has done a phenomenal job with this book. I was engaged from page one.
From the blurb you know three half siblings find each other and this is their journey to family. What you don’t know is the powerful way Susan Mallery turns mere words into a saga that is captivating and emotional and heartfelt and joyous, that you just don’t ever want it to end. Honestly, I could have read about this family for a ling time. She’s a wizard, this woman. I never tire of her stories. I could read one story for days or hours and I would feel the same about each one. She has done a phenomenal job with this book. I was engaged from page one.
July 9, 2018
See the full review at HarlequinJunkie.com
A lovely work of fiction about the complexity of family relationships, what it takes to make lasting connections, and overcoming past insecurities and issues, When We Found Home was wonderfully touching and absolutely heartwarming.
Susan Mallery’s books are always a joy to read. I love the flow of her writing, the emotions she touches upon, detailing them perfectly, and of course her characters who are flawed and relatable. When We Found Home turned out to be more emotionally involved than I thought it would be at first glance. And I loved that about it. Read More
A lovely work of fiction about the complexity of family relationships, what it takes to make lasting connections, and overcoming past insecurities and issues, When We Found Home was wonderfully touching and absolutely heartwarming.
Susan Mallery’s books are always a joy to read. I love the flow of her writing, the emotions she touches upon, detailing them perfectly, and of course her characters who are flawed and relatable. When We Found Home turned out to be more emotionally involved than I thought it would be at first glance. And I loved that about it. Read More
July 26, 2018
Holy cow. Started this yesterday afternoon and finished it at 2:00 a.m. No one does interesting, complicated characters as well as Mallery.
May 16, 2018
ARC won through goodreads giveaway. I really struggled with finishing this book...for me it was too repetitive, bounced around and skipped through events with no clarification. Thus, I had trouble making a connection with the characters especially the Santiago character.
September 25, 2018
Ms. Mallery is a master entertainer, her prose is light hearted but can quickly switch gears to serious, when appropriate. Reading her is like a good desert for the mind. You are devoted to the experience and it is sheer pleasure but once finished the enjoyment is a passing thought.
This book's premise is about as unlikely as they come, three half siblings have little in common except their genetics. Their irresponsible father abandoned them shortly after they were conceived or born with little if any contact after that. Likewise, all their mothers are dead even thought the siblings are quite young 30, 25 (?) and 12 (who turns 13 during the story). Their Grandfather is very exceedingly wealthy from a business, he started years ago. He is lonely in his mansion though he and the housekeeper are more than friends...So he searches for his heirs and they are all invited to live with him and share the wealth. Each is given an allowance and all will have access to their trust funds at age 35. In addition, they will inherit 1/3 of the mansion and the business.
Malcolm the oldest, is not to overly cordial with his sisters Callie the middle child or Keira the youngest. With Callie riding his back, he evolves into a compassionate person that engages his sisters in a brotherly way. Keira has the most trouble adapting to her new life but with Callie's support and guidance she gains the self-confidence she needs to live in a new life that is totally different than her former experience of living in housing provided by social services.
This story also has three love stories that also face many challenges along the way, as well situations where trust becomes an issue. Each struggles with commitment with their love interests for different reasons giving us a view into how their past haunts their actions in the present. Malcolm's love interest struggles with her guilt at not loving her fiance enough, when he died in a shoot-out while on duty as a police officer.
Of course, each person realizes their foibles, inadequacies and each experiences personal growth in the realm of their personal issue(s) by the time the story closes. There were several graphic sex scenes, which I skipped. I typically avoid books with sex scenes but it seems to be a requirement for chick-lit to be published.
If you are hooked on Ms. Mallery's writing or love a fantastical chick-lit, this is a must read.
This book's premise is about as unlikely as they come, three half siblings have little in common except their genetics. Their irresponsible father abandoned them shortly after they were conceived or born with little if any contact after that. Likewise, all their mothers are dead even thought the siblings are quite young 30, 25 (?) and 12 (who turns 13 during the story). Their Grandfather is very exceedingly wealthy from a business, he started years ago. He is lonely in his mansion though he and the housekeeper are more than friends...So he searches for his heirs and they are all invited to live with him and share the wealth. Each is given an allowance and all will have access to their trust funds at age 35. In addition, they will inherit 1/3 of the mansion and the business.
Malcolm the oldest, is not to overly cordial with his sisters Callie the middle child or Keira the youngest. With Callie riding his back, he evolves into a compassionate person that engages his sisters in a brotherly way. Keira has the most trouble adapting to her new life but with Callie's support and guidance she gains the self-confidence she needs to live in a new life that is totally different than her former experience of living in housing provided by social services.
This story also has three love stories that also face many challenges along the way, as well situations where trust becomes an issue. Each struggles with commitment with their love interests for different reasons giving us a view into how their past haunts their actions in the present. Malcolm's love interest struggles with her guilt at not loving her fiance enough, when he died in a shoot-out while on duty as a police officer.
He was a great guy, " Chelsea said, leaning toward her, her brown eyes bright with anger. "He loved you with everything he had, but it wasn't enough. Not for you. And you know what's ironic, because hey, even without going to college, I can still use ironic in a sentence. What's ironic is all the time you were wondering if he was good enough for you, we all knew it was the other way around. You weren't good enough for him."
Of course, each person realizes their foibles, inadequacies and each experiences personal growth in the realm of their personal issue(s) by the time the story closes. There were several graphic sex scenes, which I skipped. I typically avoid books with sex scenes but it seems to be a requirement for chick-lit to be published.
If you are hooked on Ms. Mallery's writing or love a fantastical chick-lit, this is a must read.
July 18, 2018
I struggled with the rating I wanted to give this book. In the end I would say I give it 3.5 stars. I did like the book but had a few issues with it. Let me say that I love the premise - which is three people discovering that they are half siblings at different points in their lives. Keira, the 12 year old who was abandoned by her mother and left in foster care, Callie, who is 26 and struggling to find her way in a sometimes unforgiving world after making a mistake and being punished harshly and Malcolm who is 34 and part owner of Alberto's Alfresco. They share a father who is now dead and has lacked decency and responsibility while alive. The journey the three siblings took to become a family who trust and love one another was my favorite part of the book. They share a grandfather - Alberto - whom I wish had a larger role in the book. I really thought he might have more to do with bringing the three together as a family unit but other than finding the girls (Malcolm already lived with him) he didn't.
There were also two romances in the book and while good - they just weren't my favorite. Delaney and Malcolm started off so funny and charming and with a lot of potential. However, I never felt like I was actually experiencing them fall in love., I liked Delaney at first then she got really whiny and annoying. She definitely had some hardships in her life (like everyone else) but I never did understand why she clung to them for as long as she did. And the resolution of said hardship was rushed. I felt Malcolm had the most growth in the book - along with Keira who came a long way in feeling like she was accepted and finally had a family. In fact, I wishe that some of the story had been told from her POV.
I did like Callie and Santiago's relationship minus the instant love part. That's my own personal thing, though, I believe someone can feel an instant attraction and perhaps a sense of possible connection but I think love takes time, knowledge of the person, shared experiences and trust.
Overall, I like the book and feel fortunate to have been able to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Susan Mallery writes with humor and emotion which I appreciate and those qualitites saved this book for me.
There were also two romances in the book and while good - they just weren't my favorite. Delaney and Malcolm started off so funny and charming and with a lot of potential. However, I never felt like I was actually experiencing them fall in love., I liked Delaney at first then she got really whiny and annoying. She definitely had some hardships in her life (like everyone else) but I never did understand why she clung to them for as long as she did. And the resolution of said hardship was rushed. I felt Malcolm had the most growth in the book - along with Keira who came a long way in feeling like she was accepted and finally had a family. In fact, I wishe that some of the story had been told from her POV.
I did like Callie and Santiago's relationship minus the instant love part. That's my own personal thing, though, I believe someone can feel an instant attraction and perhaps a sense of possible connection but I think love takes time, knowledge of the person, shared experiences and trust.
Overall, I like the book and feel fortunate to have been able to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Susan Mallery writes with humor and emotion which I appreciate and those qualitites saved this book for me.
November 24, 2023
This was a good concept for a moving, funny, romantic novel. Unfortunately, it fell short in the writing department. Mallery falls into the habit that I have noticed in some competent but uninspired writers which is to spell. out. every. single. thing. about inconsequential parts of the story. Like she is getting paid by the word.
At which point he grabs her for a kiss. No build-up or chemistry.
Fascinating, No?
The writing seems geared for juvenile readers, except for the bordering on crude sex scenes that seem discordant with the tone of the book as a whole. The author writes like she is a bored and uninterested transcriber typing out what happens in her story and with her characters. For the first third or so of the book, the plot was interesting, and the characters promising enough that I kept reading. It moves along pretty well, and I love a good fish out of water story. But I became as disengaged as the author seemed to be and so had to skim over the rest of it. I am amazed at the great reviews. She is not a horrible writer, but her narrative voice had no personality. I felt like she was on autopilot.
https://rebekahsreadingsandwatchings....
Delaney noticed that several of the booths around them were empty and realized it was much later than she’d thought. Malcolm had long since paid the bill and they were on their second cup of decaf. “This has been great,” she said with a smile. “Thank you for asking me out to dinner.” “Thank you for taking care of Keira.” They both stood and walked out front. “How are you getting home?” he asked. “Uber.” Because no one drove in the city if they didn’t have to. “Me, too. Want to share?” “Sure.” He opened the app on his phone and entered her address, then requested the car. “Three minutes,” he said, sounding unhappy. “Sometimes they’re too efficient.”
At which point he grabs her for a kiss. No build-up or chemistry.
Fascinating, No?
The writing seems geared for juvenile readers, except for the bordering on crude sex scenes that seem discordant with the tone of the book as a whole. The author writes like she is a bored and uninterested transcriber typing out what happens in her story and with her characters. For the first third or so of the book, the plot was interesting, and the characters promising enough that I kept reading. It moves along pretty well, and I love a good fish out of water story. But I became as disengaged as the author seemed to be and so had to skim over the rest of it. I am amazed at the great reviews. She is not a horrible writer, but her narrative voice had no personality. I felt like she was on autopilot.
https://rebekahsreadingsandwatchings....
November 11, 2019
Šiuo metu man norėjosi kokios nors lengvos bei neįpareigojančios istorijos.. Tad nusprendžiau perskaityti štai šią Susan knygą.
Gyvenimas nepasirodo rožėmis klotas, kuomet lieki viena kaip pirštas.. Tuo įsitikinti pačiai teko Kelei Smit. Mergina dar visai jauna neteko savo motinos, o "tėvelis" visiškai nesidomėjo savo dukra.. Tačiau lyg perkūnas iš giedro dangaus Kelę aplanko žinia, jog šiam pasaulyje ji vis dėlto yra nebe viena.. Ji turi senelį, vyresniąjį brolį Malkolmą bei dvylikametę seserį Kirą. Staiga gyvenimas apsiverčia taip, kaip mergina nebūtų net pagalvojusi..
Ji yra pakviečiama apsigyventi prabangiame šeimos name kartu su visa savo naująja šeima. Seserys netrunka susidraugauti,o Malkolmui ima atrodyti, jog jis yra svetimas savo paties namuose.. Jis tikrai labai nori rasti bendrą kalbą su savo sesėmis, o ypač jaunesniąja. Kavinukėje sutikta mergina tiesiog atveria Malkolmui akis.. Ji parodo, jog norint suartinti šeimą tereikia trupučio kantrybės, laiko bei meilės..
Norėjau lengvos istorijos, būtent tokią ir gavau. Greitai skriejau šios knygos puslapiais. Pasakojimas buvo iš tiesų lengvas, įtraukiantis bei su humoru. Kartais skaitant šią knygą, jos veikėjai man pasirodė kiek naivoki.. Ir susimąstydavau ar tikrai taip būtų ir realiame gyvenime.. Bet iš esmės pati istorija gana nebloga.Pailsinti galvai tokia knyga bus pats tas. Rekomenduočiau ją tiems, kam norisi šmaikščios, romantiškos bei jaukios knygos.
Gyvenimas nepasirodo rožėmis klotas, kuomet lieki viena kaip pirštas.. Tuo įsitikinti pačiai teko Kelei Smit. Mergina dar visai jauna neteko savo motinos, o "tėvelis" visiškai nesidomėjo savo dukra.. Tačiau lyg perkūnas iš giedro dangaus Kelę aplanko žinia, jog šiam pasaulyje ji vis dėlto yra nebe viena.. Ji turi senelį, vyresniąjį brolį Malkolmą bei dvylikametę seserį Kirą. Staiga gyvenimas apsiverčia taip, kaip mergina nebūtų net pagalvojusi..
Ji yra pakviečiama apsigyventi prabangiame šeimos name kartu su visa savo naująja šeima. Seserys netrunka susidraugauti,o Malkolmui ima atrodyti, jog jis yra svetimas savo paties namuose.. Jis tikrai labai nori rasti bendrą kalbą su savo sesėmis, o ypač jaunesniąja. Kavinukėje sutikta mergina tiesiog atveria Malkolmui akis.. Ji parodo, jog norint suartinti šeimą tereikia trupučio kantrybės, laiko bei meilės..
Norėjau lengvos istorijos, būtent tokią ir gavau. Greitai skriejau šios knygos puslapiais. Pasakojimas buvo iš tiesų lengvas, įtraukiantis bei su humoru. Kartais skaitant šią knygą, jos veikėjai man pasirodė kiek naivoki.. Ir susimąstydavau ar tikrai taip būtų ir realiame gyvenime.. Bet iš esmės pati istorija gana nebloga.Pailsinti galvai tokia knyga bus pats tas. Rekomenduočiau ją tiems, kam norisi šmaikščios, romantiškos bei jaukios knygos.
August 17, 2020
Romantiniai romanai man sušildo širdį, leidžia atsiriboti nuo visko ir bent kelias akimirkas patirti tai, ką išgyvena knygos veikėjai. Jeigu visą laiką skaityčiau vien trilerius labai greitai pasidaryčiau nejautri, abejinga skausmui. Meilės romanai man nėra tiesiog lengvas skaitinys, naudoju juos kaip savotišką terapiją. “Kai atradome namus” puikiai tam tiko. Tai buvo pirmoji Susan Mallery knyga, kurią teko skaityti, bet dabar manau, jog tikrai perskaitysiu ir kitas jos išverstas knygas. Šis jos romanas galėtų tapti puikiu filmu, kuriuo būtų galima pasimėgauti rudens vakarą apsikabinus didelį puodelį arbatos.
Pasakojimas sukasi apie Kelę, Malkolmą ir Kirą, netikrą brolį ir seseris. Jų tėvas buvo mergišius, paleidęs į gyvenimą tris vaikus ir nė neketinęs jais pasirūpinti. Viskas taip susiklosto, jog jie apsigyvena kartu ir turi išmokti bendrauti kaip tikri šeimos nariai, nors visų psichologinės žaizdos neleidžia to taip lengvai padaryti. Šioje knygoje buvo bene idealus kiekis meilės - nei per saldu, nei per daug skausminga, tad nuo ašarų tikrai apsisaugosite. Užsimezgantys romantiniai santykiai ganėtinai nuspėjami, bet dar neteko skaityti tokios knygos, kuri šiuo atžvilgiu nustebintų. Be to, man buvo šiek tiek per daug, kuriamos ganėtinai nenatūralios dramos veikėjų praeityje. Kažkodėl buvo sugalvota visus veikėjus paversti nemylėtais, praradusiais vieną arba abu tėvus, vienaip ar kitaip įkliuvusius teisėsaugai. Jeigu dabar pabandytume atsitiktine tvarka surinkti penkis žmones iki trisdešimt penkerių metų, kokia tikimybė būtų, jog jie yra praradę vieną arba abu tėvus? Mano nuomone, ganėtinai menka, bet galbūt tik man taip atrodo. Taip pat intrigos linija buvo perdėtai sustiprinta, o ir paaiškinimas, kodėl taip buvo pasielgta, ne itin įtikinamas.
Visgi, net jeigu ši knyga ir nebuvo tobula, bet atitiko visus mano lūkesčius ir atliko tai, ką turėjo atlikti - baigusi skaityti jaučiausi tarsi apsisupusi minkštutėliu šiltu megztiniu ir svarbiausia buvau laiminga. Rekomenduoju visiems, kurie norėtų panirti į panašias emocijas ir jų neatbaido kiek perspausta drama.
Pasakojimas sukasi apie Kelę, Malkolmą ir Kirą, netikrą brolį ir seseris. Jų tėvas buvo mergišius, paleidęs į gyvenimą tris vaikus ir nė neketinęs jais pasirūpinti. Viskas taip susiklosto, jog jie apsigyvena kartu ir turi išmokti bendrauti kaip tikri šeimos nariai, nors visų psichologinės žaizdos neleidžia to taip lengvai padaryti. Šioje knygoje buvo bene idealus kiekis meilės - nei per saldu, nei per daug skausminga, tad nuo ašarų tikrai apsisaugosite. Užsimezgantys romantiniai santykiai ganėtinai nuspėjami, bet dar neteko skaityti tokios knygos, kuri šiuo atžvilgiu nustebintų. Be to, man buvo šiek tiek per daug, kuriamos ganėtinai nenatūralios dramos veikėjų praeityje. Kažkodėl buvo sugalvota visus veikėjus paversti nemylėtais, praradusiais vieną arba abu tėvus, vienaip ar kitaip įkliuvusius teisėsaugai. Jeigu dabar pabandytume atsitiktine tvarka surinkti penkis žmones iki trisdešimt penkerių metų, kokia tikimybė būtų, jog jie yra praradę vieną arba abu tėvus? Mano nuomone, ganėtinai menka, bet galbūt tik man taip atrodo. Taip pat intrigos linija buvo perdėtai sustiprinta, o ir paaiškinimas, kodėl taip buvo pasielgta, ne itin įtikinamas.
Visgi, net jeigu ši knyga ir nebuvo tobula, bet atitiko visus mano lūkesčius ir atliko tai, ką turėjo atlikti - baigusi skaityti jaučiausi tarsi apsisupusi minkštutėliu šiltu megztiniu ir svarbiausia buvau laiminga. Rekomenduoju visiems, kurie norėtų panirti į panašias emocijas ir jų neatbaido kiek perspausta drama.
January 10, 2019
A little anti-climatic at the end but still good. 3.5 stars
July 16, 2018
Dear Ms. Mallery,
A few years back, I discovered your Fool’s Gold series and absolutely devoured it. I read nothing else for weeks! It was pretty glorious, since one of my favorite things an author can do is continue to tell new stories in the same world.
When We Found Home isn’t part of that series, but my head canon is that it’s still the same world – just different characters in a different town. And oh what characters they are!
At first I had a bit of trouble with the frequent narrative changes, but once I had a handle on each character’s voice it was easy to distinguish between them. Of course, my favorite was 12 year old Keira. That child stole my heart right from the start. Watching these strangers become family was almost as if I, too, was becoming part of the family. And generally speaking, that’s the exact kind of thing I go to a story for.
I want to come out of it full of warm fuzzies, wearing a huge smile, and bursting with joy.
Your book gave that to me, and I really couldn’t have asked for much more than that.
A few years back, I discovered your Fool’s Gold series and absolutely devoured it. I read nothing else for weeks! It was pretty glorious, since one of my favorite things an author can do is continue to tell new stories in the same world.
When We Found Home isn’t part of that series, but my head canon is that it’s still the same world – just different characters in a different town. And oh what characters they are!
At first I had a bit of trouble with the frequent narrative changes, but once I had a handle on each character’s voice it was easy to distinguish between them. Of course, my favorite was 12 year old Keira. That child stole my heart right from the start. Watching these strangers become family was almost as if I, too, was becoming part of the family. And generally speaking, that’s the exact kind of thing I go to a story for.
I want to come out of it full of warm fuzzies, wearing a huge smile, and bursting with joy.
Your book gave that to me, and I really couldn’t have asked for much more than that.
June 19, 2018
When We Found Home takes us through the emotional story of three siblings. They never know the other existed, but are brought together at the request of their Grandfather.
After the death of Alberto Carlesso’s son he learns that he two other children out there somewhere. Of course Alberto stars searching for them, he first finds Keira, a 12 years old, who hasn’t had the best life. Callie, the other granddaughter Callie hasn’t had it much better. Keira and Callie hit if off right away, but Malcolm not so much.
Malcolm was a stoic man, all business. That is until he meets Delaney, who happens to be the barista that he sees as his normal daily visit to the coffee shop. I think she might exactly what he needs too. She’s just as intrigued by him as he is of her.
Now as for the younger sister, Keira, she is a spunky kid and I just adored her, and I felt bad for her when it came to her and Malcolm. She’s just a kid and Malcolm has no idea how to be around her or even talk to her. I have to admit, I really enjoyed Callie, she grown and been through hell and back. Trust is an issues for her. She isn’t used the luxurious life that Macolm has grown up in. They butt heads a lot, but what sibling don’t. Mine sure do.
There is a lot of little stories from all three of the sliblings, and the company that the Carlesso family owns. A little bit of romance was in the air too. I enjoyed the growth this family went through, it was always easy but it was so sweet and inspiring at the same time. I just kept rooting for them all to get that happiness they so dearly deserved.
When We Found Home was such a beautiful story of family, second chances and a little bit of sweet romance.
After the death of Alberto Carlesso’s son he learns that he two other children out there somewhere. Of course Alberto stars searching for them, he first finds Keira, a 12 years old, who hasn’t had the best life. Callie, the other granddaughter Callie hasn’t had it much better. Keira and Callie hit if off right away, but Malcolm not so much.
Malcolm was a stoic man, all business. That is until he meets Delaney, who happens to be the barista that he sees as his normal daily visit to the coffee shop. I think she might exactly what he needs too. She’s just as intrigued by him as he is of her.
Now as for the younger sister, Keira, she is a spunky kid and I just adored her, and I felt bad for her when it came to her and Malcolm. She’s just a kid and Malcolm has no idea how to be around her or even talk to her. I have to admit, I really enjoyed Callie, she grown and been through hell and back. Trust is an issues for her. She isn’t used the luxurious life that Macolm has grown up in. They butt heads a lot, but what sibling don’t. Mine sure do.
There is a lot of little stories from all three of the sliblings, and the company that the Carlesso family owns. A little bit of romance was in the air too. I enjoyed the growth this family went through, it was always easy but it was so sweet and inspiring at the same time. I just kept rooting for them all to get that happiness they so dearly deserved.
When We Found Home was such a beautiful story of family, second chances and a little bit of sweet romance.
June 28, 2018
Fans of this author's is in for a great treat. When We Found Home is a pure delightful read! This book is filled with many engaging characters: Malcolm, Callie, Keira, Delaney, Alberto, and Santiago. All of these characters interacted well with each other. There are a few relationships that blossomed as well between Malcolm and Delaney as well as Callie and Santiago. Both relationships I was a fan of.
At the end of the book are some discussion questions. I chose the following question to answer:
With which character did you relate to most strongly? Why?
I related to all of them. I will tell you why. Where Malcolm is concerned; he may have come from money but when it came to sisters, he struggled to connect. Well only in the beginning. I too find it hard at times to connect with people until I really get to know them.
Callie kept a protective barrier around her that Santiago had to break through in order to win Callie's heart. Again, I too have a protective barrier around me and can find it easy to hide behind when confronted at times. In Keira; I can be light hearted and find joy in my friends and family.
Delaney is more soft spoken as am I. Alberto is the powerful figure that brought everyone together but also likes to be behind the scenes. Same with me. I have many ideas for fun parties and such but I like to let others take charge of executing the plan. Finally, there is Santiago. He is charming, shows patience, and family is important to him. These are all qualities and values that I showcase and hold as well.
At the end of the book are some discussion questions. I chose the following question to answer:
With which character did you relate to most strongly? Why?
I related to all of them. I will tell you why. Where Malcolm is concerned; he may have come from money but when it came to sisters, he struggled to connect. Well only in the beginning. I too find it hard at times to connect with people until I really get to know them.
Callie kept a protective barrier around her that Santiago had to break through in order to win Callie's heart. Again, I too have a protective barrier around me and can find it easy to hide behind when confronted at times. In Keira; I can be light hearted and find joy in my friends and family.
Delaney is more soft spoken as am I. Alberto is the powerful figure that brought everyone together but also likes to be behind the scenes. Same with me. I have many ideas for fun parties and such but I like to let others take charge of executing the plan. Finally, there is Santiago. He is charming, shows patience, and family is important to him. These are all qualities and values that I showcase and hold as well.
May 23, 2025
Third read: Just keeps getting better and better!
Second read: Yup. This one’s a keeper!
Wow! I really liked this book! Best one yet I’ve read by Susan Mallery. In fact, I loved it so much, I just started reading it again from the beginning!
Very likable characters and a very satisfying HEA! Two graphic sex scenes.
Second read: Yup. This one’s a keeper!
Wow! I really liked this book! Best one yet I’ve read by Susan Mallery. In fact, I loved it so much, I just started reading it again from the beginning!
Very likable characters and a very satisfying HEA! Two graphic sex scenes.
September 10, 2018
Normally I like her books but this one not so much. A part of the problem was that it really didn't need to be over 400 pages long. Not too much happens. In the end everyone is happy. Which is why it got 2 stars.
July 4, 2023
This was such a heart-warming read and I wish I could read about these characters forever. It turns a family into the found-family trope and all their stories are so well-linked and all feel equally important to the book. A lot of romance, a lot of family feels, a lot of love.
March 17, 2020
RATING: 3.5 STARS
2018; HQN/Harlequin
When Malcolm's estranged father passes, his grandfather discovers that Malcolm has two half sisters. While Malcolm grew up with his grandfather and mother's love, he has not really let his heart open up to new people. Kiera, a wise twelve year old, is found in foster care, after her birth mother leaves her with a friend. That friend has a criminal record so is put into the system where her paternal family finds her. Callie made a dumb mistake and has paid for it by going to prison for a few years. When she is told that a wealthy family has been looking for her she is suspicious. As the three very different people try to live under one roof, they learn to realize that blood may be thicker than water.
I liked the idea of this story, and the characters, but felt like there was something missing. Kiera seems to have a strong presence in the beginning which gives the novel heart. Yet, as the romances build, Keira gets a bit shafted. I think the two romances were also a bit forced and may have been better as two separate books. I did overall like the book.
***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
2018; HQN/Harlequin
When Malcolm's estranged father passes, his grandfather discovers that Malcolm has two half sisters. While Malcolm grew up with his grandfather and mother's love, he has not really let his heart open up to new people. Kiera, a wise twelve year old, is found in foster care, after her birth mother leaves her with a friend. That friend has a criminal record so is put into the system where her paternal family finds her. Callie made a dumb mistake and has paid for it by going to prison for a few years. When she is told that a wealthy family has been looking for her she is suspicious. As the three very different people try to live under one roof, they learn to realize that blood may be thicker than water.
I liked the idea of this story, and the characters, but felt like there was something missing. Kiera seems to have a strong presence in the beginning which gives the novel heart. Yet, as the romances build, Keira gets a bit shafted. I think the two romances were also a bit forced and may have been better as two separate books. I did overall like the book.
***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
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