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The Godmothers #5
Breaking News
The best of friends, Toots, Ida, Mavis, and Sophie have been there for each other through thick and thin . . .
LIFE IS FULL OF SURPRISES
Teresa “Toots” Amelia Loudenberry has her quirks, but no one would ever question her loyalty. So it’s no surprise when Toots decides to extend her stay in Charleston to help care for her ailing housekeeper.
Though the Charleston air is drenched with azalea and honeysuckle, and there’s always a pitcher of sweet tea close to hand, the ladies have little time for relaxing. Ida’s new line of cosmetics is about to launch, and Toots, Mavis, and Sophie are relishing new careers as models. And Abby, Toots’s daughter, is getting hitched. In the middle of so much change, Toots is almost too busy to notice her own unexpected romance. After eight husbands, she’s sworn never to get involved again. But fate—and her friends—may have other plans. And every godmother, fairy or otherwise, loves a story that ends with happily-ever-after . . .
Praise for Fern Michaels and The Godmothers Series
“Whoever thought the ‘golden years’ were boring never met the Godmothers.”
— RT Reviews
“Michaels’ engaging version of the Golden Girls.”
— Booklist
LIFE IS FULL OF SURPRISES
Teresa “Toots” Amelia Loudenberry has her quirks, but no one would ever question her loyalty. So it’s no surprise when Toots decides to extend her stay in Charleston to help care for her ailing housekeeper.
Though the Charleston air is drenched with azalea and honeysuckle, and there’s always a pitcher of sweet tea close to hand, the ladies have little time for relaxing. Ida’s new line of cosmetics is about to launch, and Toots, Mavis, and Sophie are relishing new careers as models. And Abby, Toots’s daughter, is getting hitched. In the middle of so much change, Toots is almost too busy to notice her own unexpected romance. After eight husbands, she’s sworn never to get involved again. But fate—and her friends—may have other plans. And every godmother, fairy or otherwise, loves a story that ends with happily-ever-after . . .
Praise for Fern Michaels and The Godmothers Series
“Whoever thought the ‘golden years’ were boring never met the Godmothers.”
— RT Reviews
“Michaels’ engaging version of the Golden Girls.”
— Booklist
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
639 people are currently reading
2830 people want to read
About the author
Fern Michaels
427 books6,545 followersFern Michaels isn’t a person. I’m not sure she’s an entity either since an entity is something with separate existence. Fern Michaels® is what I DO. Me, Mary Ruth Kuczkir. Growing up in Hastings, Pennsylvania, I was called Ruth. I became Mary when I entered the business world where first names were the order of the day. To this day, family and friends call me Dink, a name my father gave me when I was born because according to him I was ‘a dinky little thing’ weighing in at four and a half pounds. However, I answer to Fern since people are more comfortable with a name they can pronounce.
As they say, the past is prologue. I grew up, got a job, got married, had five kids. When my youngest went off to Kindergarten, my husband told me to get off my ass and get a job. Those were his exact words. I didn’t know how to do anything except be a wife and mother. I was also a voracious reader having cut my teeth on The Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Cherry Ames and the like. The library was a magical place for me. It still is to this day. Rather than face the outside world with no skills, I decided to write a book. For some reason that didn’t intimidate me. As my husband said at the time, stupid is as stupid does. Guess what, I don’t have that husband any more. Guess what else! I wrote 99 books, most of them New York Times Best Sellers.
Moving right along here . . . Several years ago I left Ballantine Books, parted company with my agent, sold my house in New Jersey that I had lived in all my married life and in 1993 moved to South Carolina. I figured if I was going to go through trauma let it be all at one time. It was a breeze. The kids were all on their own at that point. The dump was a 300 year old plantation house that is listed in the National Registry that I remodeled. Today it is beyond belief as are the gardens and the equally old Angel Oaks that drip Spanish moss. Unfortunately, I could not get my ghost to relocate. This ghost has been documented by previous owners. Mary Margaret as we call her, is “a friendly”. She is also mischievous. It took me two weeks to figure out that she didn’t like my coffee cups. They would slide off the table or counter or else they’d break in the dishwasher. I bought red checkered ones. All are intact as of this writing. She moves pillows from one room to the other and she stops all the clocks in the house at 9:10 in the a.m. at least once a week. When the Azaleas are in bloom, and only then, I find blooms on my night stand. I have this glorious front porch and during the warm months I see my swing moving early in the morning when the air is still and again late in the day. She doesn’t spook the dogs. I always know when she’s around because the five of them line up and look like they’re at a tennis match. As of this writing we’re co-habiting nicely.
Most writers love what they do and I’m no exception. I love it when I get a germ of an idea and get it down on paper. I love breathing life into my characters. I love writing about women who persevere and prevail because that’s what I had to do to get to this point in time. It’s another way of saying it doesn’t matter where you’ve been, what matters is where you’re going and how you get there. The day I finally prevailed was the day I was inducted into the New Jersey Literary Hall of Fame. For me it was an awesome day and there are no words to describe it.
I’ve been telling stories and scribbling for 37 years. I hope I can continue for another 37 years. It wasn’t easy during some of those years. As I said, I had to persevere. My old Polish grandmother said something to me when I was little that I never forgot. She said when God is good to you, you have to give back. For a while I didn’t know how to do that. When I finally figured it out I set up The Fern Michaels® Foundation.
READ FERN MICHAELS' FULL BIOGRAPHY HERE: http://www.fernmichaels.com/biography/
As they say, the past is prologue. I grew up, got a job, got married, had five kids. When my youngest went off to Kindergarten, my husband told me to get off my ass and get a job. Those were his exact words. I didn’t know how to do anything except be a wife and mother. I was also a voracious reader having cut my teeth on The Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Cherry Ames and the like. The library was a magical place for me. It still is to this day. Rather than face the outside world with no skills, I decided to write a book. For some reason that didn’t intimidate me. As my husband said at the time, stupid is as stupid does. Guess what, I don’t have that husband any more. Guess what else! I wrote 99 books, most of them New York Times Best Sellers.
Moving right along here . . . Several years ago I left Ballantine Books, parted company with my agent, sold my house in New Jersey that I had lived in all my married life and in 1993 moved to South Carolina. I figured if I was going to go through trauma let it be all at one time. It was a breeze. The kids were all on their own at that point. The dump was a 300 year old plantation house that is listed in the National Registry that I remodeled. Today it is beyond belief as are the gardens and the equally old Angel Oaks that drip Spanish moss. Unfortunately, I could not get my ghost to relocate. This ghost has been documented by previous owners. Mary Margaret as we call her, is “a friendly”. She is also mischievous. It took me two weeks to figure out that she didn’t like my coffee cups. They would slide off the table or counter or else they’d break in the dishwasher. I bought red checkered ones. All are intact as of this writing. She moves pillows from one room to the other and she stops all the clocks in the house at 9:10 in the a.m. at least once a week. When the Azaleas are in bloom, and only then, I find blooms on my night stand. I have this glorious front porch and during the warm months I see my swing moving early in the morning when the air is still and again late in the day. She doesn’t spook the dogs. I always know when she’s around because the five of them line up and look like they’re at a tennis match. As of this writing we’re co-habiting nicely.
Most writers love what they do and I’m no exception. I love it when I get a germ of an idea and get it down on paper. I love breathing life into my characters. I love writing about women who persevere and prevail because that’s what I had to do to get to this point in time. It’s another way of saying it doesn’t matter where you’ve been, what matters is where you’re going and how you get there. The day I finally prevailed was the day I was inducted into the New Jersey Literary Hall of Fame. For me it was an awesome day and there are no words to describe it.
I’ve been telling stories and scribbling for 37 years. I hope I can continue for another 37 years. It wasn’t easy during some of those years. As I said, I had to persevere. My old Polish grandmother said something to me when I was little that I never forgot. She said when God is good to you, you have to give back. For a while I didn’t know how to do that. When I finally figured it out I set up The Fern Michaels® Foundation.
READ FERN MICHAELS' FULL BIOGRAPHY HERE: http://www.fernmichaels.com/biography/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews
May 16, 2022
This volume of the Godmother series was better than the last two. Thank goodness we have finally dealt with the volume one cliff hanger. On to #6 to see how everyone ends up. This series is definitely good summer/pandemic reading.
July 26, 2012
Not the greatest until about the last third of the book. Maybe my taste in authors is changing.
March 13, 2015
This is the fifth sequel in this series. A little better than the last couple. The Godmothers are funny but the story line needs to end. I have the sixth book on my bookshelf hope it's better.
May 12, 2012
This book reminded me of The Golden Girls television series. It included some of the more recent references to people and events that have occured since the series.
January 13, 2014
fern michaels never fails to provide a story that you just cannot put down, I cant wait for her next one
March 14, 2015
Another good read!
July 13, 2020
Pandemic reading
February 19, 2023
5 stars
This is book 5 in the Godmother series. I found it a very enjoyable story. Full of laughs, love and mystery. Thank you Fern Michaels!
This is book 5 in the Godmother series. I found it a very enjoyable story. Full of laughs, love and mystery. Thank you Fern Michaels!
Want to read
June 8, 2020Teresa “Toots” Amelia Loudenberry has her quirks, but no one—especially not her trusted friends Sophia, Ida, and Mavis—would ever question her loyalty. So it’s no surprise when Toots decides to extend her stay in Charleston to help care for her ailing housekeeper.
Though the Charleston air is drenched with azalea and honeysuckle, and there’s always a pitcher of sweet tea close to hand, the ladies have little time for relaxing. Ida’s new line of cosmetics is about to launch, and Toots, Mavis, and Sophia are relishing new careers as models. And Abby, Toots’s daughter, is getting hitched. In the middle of so much change, Toots is almost too busy to notice her own unexpected romance. After eight husbands, she’s sworn never to get involved again. But fate—and her friends—may have other plans. And every godmother, fairy or otherwise, loves a stoTeresa "Toots" Amelia Loudenberry is extending her stay in Charleston to help care for her ailing housekeeper, Bernice. Here in her beloved hometown, the air is rich with the scent of azaleas and honeysuckle and there's always a pitcher of sweet tea (or something a little stronger) close to hand. Not that the ladies have much time for relaxing. Ida's new line of cosmetics, "Seasoned," is about to launch, and Toots, Mavis, and Sophia are relishing their new career as models. Most exciting of all, Toots's daughter, Abby, is getting married. Toots has her hands full, especially when Abby's criminal ex-boss resurfaces and the bride-to-be jeopardizes her big day in order to catch him. Toots is so busy taking care of the upcoming nuptials that she's blindsided by her own unexpected romance. After eight husbands, she's sworn never to get involved again. But every godmother, fairy or otherwise, loves a story that ends with happily-ever-after.ry that ends with happily-ever-after.
These are most pleasant to read. I really like them a lot.
Though the Charleston air is drenched with azalea and honeysuckle, and there’s always a pitcher of sweet tea close to hand, the ladies have little time for relaxing. Ida’s new line of cosmetics is about to launch, and Toots, Mavis, and Sophia are relishing new careers as models. And Abby, Toots’s daughter, is getting hitched. In the middle of so much change, Toots is almost too busy to notice her own unexpected romance. After eight husbands, she’s sworn never to get involved again. But fate—and her friends—may have other plans. And every godmother, fairy or otherwise, loves a stoTeresa "Toots" Amelia Loudenberry is extending her stay in Charleston to help care for her ailing housekeeper, Bernice. Here in her beloved hometown, the air is rich with the scent of azaleas and honeysuckle and there's always a pitcher of sweet tea (or something a little stronger) close to hand. Not that the ladies have much time for relaxing. Ida's new line of cosmetics, "Seasoned," is about to launch, and Toots, Mavis, and Sophia are relishing their new career as models. Most exciting of all, Toots's daughter, Abby, is getting married. Toots has her hands full, especially when Abby's criminal ex-boss resurfaces and the bride-to-be jeopardizes her big day in order to catch him. Toots is so busy taking care of the upcoming nuptials that she's blindsided by her own unexpected romance. After eight husbands, she's sworn never to get involved again. But every godmother, fairy or otherwise, loves a story that ends with happily-ever-after.ry that ends with happily-ever-after.
These are most pleasant to read. I really like them a lot.
February 23, 2022
I loved this installment! Book 5 and it's better than the previous books. The story had just enough thrills and laugh out loud jokes. I read in some other reviews that the cussing and middle finger salute, really bothers people! I just think that at our age, who's it harming? They are best friends since Middle school and how many of us can say we still have those kinds of friendships? I enjoyed the plot and I love that one book picks up where the other left off and you can see the characters change and grow. Nice happily ever after without drawing out the Chris and Abby sub-plot thru all the books. I've enjoyed this series so much because I was in a reading slump and needed something light and entertaining. I think there's one more book and two novella's and that will be the end for me. So sorry to see this series end.
June 20, 2018
I’m not quite sure what you say about this book. I didn’t really like how it started out because it was quite confusing. The plot started to actually get good when Toots daughter, Abby was introduced. Toots and the Godmothers have quite the old witch personality. It did get a little old because they bickered with each other quite often but I did find myself laughing out loud from time to time.
This is story is really out of my reading zone and I did enjoy it. I’ve never read any books by Fern Michaels and I like her writing style. Although I don’t see myself reading any books by her in the near future, I wouldn’t recommend it if you do not enjoy the tv show, “The Golden Girls.” If you love The Golden Girls, this is the book for you.
This is story is really out of my reading zone and I did enjoy it. I’ve never read any books by Fern Michaels and I like her writing style. Although I don’t see myself reading any books by her in the near future, I wouldn’t recommend it if you do not enjoy the tv show, “The Golden Girls.” If you love The Golden Girls, this is the book for you.
March 18, 2018
I'm only a few chapters in, but I need to comment that there are already a few typos. I was quite surprised as I didn't find any in the previous books in this series. Now I can live with the mistake of typing 'thing' instead of 'think', but it's really not acceptable that a character's name has been completely changed. In 'Deadline' there was a character named Laura Leigh. In 'Breaking News' her name magically changed to Laura Leighton. I wasn't even sure they were talking about the same person. I found this to be very sloppy editing. I'm really enjoying this series and this was disappointing. Thankfully Laura's character was only in the beginning of the story.
June 8, 2017
I love, love, love this series! Abby was kidnapped by her former boss and her family went into action. I spent the whole day reading. I couldn't put it down. I finished up the end of the book, which was tying up loose ends, as soon as I got up this morning. Now off for some breakfast.
October 2, 2017
Fern writes such amazing books and I can get them in large print which is great. Toots is my idol and the Godmothers are so different and very funny. Bernice is a big focus in this book. I really. enjoyed this book. Perfect ending.
October 7, 2018
Not a surprise
I am not at all surprised at how wonderful this book was. I have read all of the previous books in this series and just love the way Fern Michael's spins a tail. I love this series, as well as I have loved all of her other series I have read.
I am not at all surprised at how wonderful this book was. I have read all of the previous books in this series and just love the way Fern Michael's spins a tail. I love this series, as well as I have loved all of her other series I have read.
April 17, 2022
I always enjoy Fern Michaels’ writing. But this book rehashed book number four of the series. About the first 25% of the book told me what I had already read, so I was disappointed with that. But the rest of it held my interest.
September 4, 2025
Another great book where the godmothers have more adventures that they become a part of. These books are such an easy read, are funny...especially when the godmothers interact with each other, and always have an ending that leaves you smiling!!
May 4, 2017
The old ladies drove me crazy. The lives they have led could only be in a book. Married and widowed 7 times and all of them wealthy??? It was a time filler.
May 20, 2017
I enjoyed it, however it was predictAble. A fast read.
September 19, 2017
too much repetitive text for my liking
April 30, 2018
There is nothing these old ladies won't get into! They are so awesome! On to the very last one...
May 3, 2018
yeah Abby and Chris are in this one more
May 17, 2018
An enjoyable relaxing read. Good story that is easy fun reading. Fern Michaels does a great job with her stories. I won this book in a GoodReads Giveaway.
June 5, 2018
I love this whole series
I really love that you are not just following one story line. There is always more than one thing going on, just like in really life
I really love that you are not just following one story line. There is always more than one thing going on, just like in really life
July 15, 2018
Another story in the Godmother series, one of enduring friendships, family crisis and adventures.
December 28, 2018
Very sweet and funny series - older ladies with a lot of spunk! Great stories.
February 20, 2019
That hit the spot! 😊
October 2, 2019
Action Galore
A quick read that is full of lots of action and intrigue. The cast of main characters expands in this book and after all the drama, the book end happily.
A quick read that is full of lots of action and intrigue. The cast of main characters expands in this book and after all the drama, the book end happily.
October 19, 2019
A great story of love and friendship lasts a lifetime
Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews