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The Godmothers #1
The Scoop
Teresa 'Toots' Amelia Loudenberry has crammed a great deal of living - not to mention eight much-loved husbands - into her varied and rewarding life. Newly single, Toots is ready to taste life again, and fate has just handed her the perfect opportunity. The owner of the gossip rag where Toots' daughter works is about to lose the paper to his gambling debts. Eager to find a way to keep her daughter employed among the movers and shakers of Hollywood, Toots calls on her three trusted friends - Sophie, Mavis, and Ida - to help her pull some strings. Together, they'll hatch a plan that promises thrills, laughter, and more than a hint of danger. Putting aside her widow's weeds (black was never her color), Toots will prove that you should never underestimate a Southern lady of a certain age, and that each day can be a gift, if you're willing to claim it...
450 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
1477 people are currently reading
2202 people want to read
About the author
Fern Michaels
424 books6,520 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 332 reviews
April 28, 2010
I don't usually read Fern Michaels, and this book reminded me why. It's not that it was bad, it's just that it was . . . lame. She included details that were off. I don't really care that the character washed her hair twice with grapefruit scented shampoo and then used a hyacinth-scented body wash. Unless this is important to the story, I really don't give a rat's ass.
All in all, the characters were just too beautiful and too rich and too kicky and too wonderful. It's like the book was written by someone who grew up watching Dynasty instead of interacting with people. And I was offended by the treatment of the token fat character--do I really need to be told on every other page that she either waddled or toddled? Do fat people need to be infantilized on top of everything else?
All in all, the characters were just too beautiful and too rich and too kicky and too wonderful. It's like the book was written by someone who grew up watching Dynasty instead of interacting with people. And I was offended by the treatment of the token fat character--do I really need to be told on every other page that she either waddled or toddled? Do fat people need to be infantilized on top of everything else?
December 9, 2016
This is a very funny book with some twists and turns. The 4 ladies in their 60's are a hoot! Can't wait to see what trouble they get into in the next book.
September 4, 2016
After the fact, I see that this novel is the beginning of a series. I LOVE series but this book.... it just ended with all kinds of strings left dangling. I was listening to it on CD and had no alternative but to keep listening; had it been a traditional book I would have put it down. I don't like the characters. I didn't like the reader. WHY do readers think they have to be radio-style actors? If a character screeches, the author usually lets you know with words, the reader doesn't need to grate on your nerves. I don't like that the book didn't stand alone. A "to be continued" would have been entirely appropriate though not appreciated in the least. I actually looked for the "next" disc because I couldn't believe it was the end.
November 18, 2009
This is my first Fern Michaels book and I only read one chapter before giving it up. I really disliked the tone of the book towards marriage and relationships. It might turn out to be very good, but I don't want to endure the torture to find out.
September 15, 2013
i read the whole series and while a lot was corny i still loved each book including the latest one just out recently only because i do LOVE Fern Michaels
January 3, 2016
I really enjoyed this book. It was a fun read with hilarious characters and a funny storyline...
July 12, 2025
I'm not sure why I keep reading this author. The first book of hers that I read (Late Bloomer) I absolutely loved. I picked it up on a Saturday morning and read it in one day. The second one was ok, didn't love it, didn't hate it. The third one was pretty awful. One star. This one falls in between.
Toots and her three best friends, the godmothers of her daughter, are all very different, but each was almost a caricature of a character. Toots, at 65 (I think), has been widowed eight times, and is a millionaire. And we, the reader, cannot possible forget that fact because we are reminded constantly that she has plenty of money, more money than she knows what to do with. She throws money at every slight problem that comes along. She drinks, she smokes. She talks about how much she loves to smoke, she'll never quit. She smokes as much as she has money. I don't care if a character smokes, but I don't need that character to constantly - and defensively - tell me how much she loves it and will never quit.
The saving grace is her daughter, Abby, and her stepson from one of those past marriages, Clay. I loved both of them. Abby is a tabloid journalist who loves her job, and is determined to support herself and get by on her own, without her mother's money, as much as Toots would love to throw money at all of Abby's problems and take care of them for her. Clay is an attorney, doing fine for himself, but not loving life in the fast lane. Abby and Clay secretly have a huge crushes on each other, but each thinks the other looks on them as a sibling.
I knew this was the first in a series, but I was still frustrated that when the book ended there were unresolved stories, especially between Abby and Clay. Will I continue the series? Probably, just for them.
Toots and her three best friends, the godmothers of her daughter, are all very different, but each was almost a caricature of a character. Toots, at 65 (I think), has been widowed eight times, and is a millionaire. And we, the reader, cannot possible forget that fact because we are reminded constantly that she has plenty of money, more money than she knows what to do with. She throws money at every slight problem that comes along. She drinks, she smokes. She talks about how much she loves to smoke, she'll never quit. She smokes as much as she has money. I don't care if a character smokes, but I don't need that character to constantly - and defensively - tell me how much she loves it and will never quit.
The saving grace is her daughter, Abby, and her stepson from one of those past marriages, Clay. I loved both of them. Abby is a tabloid journalist who loves her job, and is determined to support herself and get by on her own, without her mother's money, as much as Toots would love to throw money at all of Abby's problems and take care of them for her. Clay is an attorney, doing fine for himself, but not loving life in the fast lane. Abby and Clay secretly have a huge crushes on each other, but each thinks the other looks on them as a sibling.
I knew this was the first in a series, but I was still frustrated that when the book ended there were unresolved stories, especially between Abby and Clay. Will I continue the series? Probably, just for them.
February 1, 2024
**READ FOR MASTER’S CLASS**
This book was so insufferably boring that every sliver of plot eked out of my brain the second I closed the back cover. If I have to read one more internal monologue I’m going to scream
This book was so insufferably boring that every sliver of plot eked out of my brain the second I closed the back cover. If I have to read one more internal monologue I’m going to scream
April 13, 2010
This book is the beginning of another series from the author. This introduction starts out slow but finishes up quite nicely. The introduction of the cast of characters is quite lengthy and involved but I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
February 22, 2010
What an absolute riot!!! Sheer fantasy but what great fun! So nice to see a smart mouth sixty plus year old woman.
April 14, 2018
Such a cute story! I'm starting the second one now.
Want to read
June 8, 2020Fern Michaels is one of what I guess would now be called the old school authors of women's fiction. The stories are complete in each volume, even if characters and plot references carry over, and the writing is solid, literate, and error free. Thank heavens. In the new world of e-books, instant gratification, and illiterate error plagued tripe, it is like sinking into a warm silky bubble bath at the end of a hard day instead of a rushed, tepid shower. I had forgotten how enjoyable books of this caliber can be.
Toots and the godmothers in this series are sweet, snide, brash, shy, raunchy, ladylike, and every other description you can think of, senior citizens who have been friends for over fifty years. Toots is very wealthy, Ida is somewhat wealthy and the others are not but that doesn't matter. What matters is friendship and the desire to grab onto life and live it to the hilt. It is the crazy adventures they get into after reuniting during a visit that is the basis for this series that I have not been able to put down!
This book was a hoot! A gourmet meal in a world of fast food! I believe it to be a truly enjoyable read!
Toots and the godmothers in this series are sweet, snide, brash, shy, raunchy, ladylike, and every other description you can think of, senior citizens who have been friends for over fifty years. Toots is very wealthy, Ida is somewhat wealthy and the others are not but that doesn't matter. What matters is friendship and the desire to grab onto life and live it to the hilt. It is the crazy adventures they get into after reuniting during a visit that is the basis for this series that I have not been able to put down!
This book was a hoot! A gourmet meal in a world of fast food! I believe it to be a truly enjoyable read!
September 27, 2021
Unread shelf project 2021: book 78.
This is the first book by Fern Michaels that I’ve read in its entirety. I picked it up in a Kindle sale and have been reading it before bed as “nightmare antidote” (which doesn’t always work, but “women’s fiction”/slice of life fiction usually has the best chances of letting me sleep calmly). This was a decent story; Toots was an interesting main character and I liked the whole set of godmothers. My only complaint is that the story in no way was wrapped up by the end of the book. Not a cliffhanger necessarily but like… I need to read the next book if I want to find out what happens. Which I may do — eventually.
This is the first book by Fern Michaels that I’ve read in its entirety. I picked it up in a Kindle sale and have been reading it before bed as “nightmare antidote” (which doesn’t always work, but “women’s fiction”/slice of life fiction usually has the best chances of letting me sleep calmly). This was a decent story; Toots was an interesting main character and I liked the whole set of godmothers. My only complaint is that the story in no way was wrapped up by the end of the book. Not a cliffhanger necessarily but like… I need to read the next book if I want to find out what happens. Which I may do — eventually.
Read
September 23, 2021I’ve read several Fern Michael’s earlier books and always enjoyed them, which is what led me to download this one. I really struggled to finish this one. The characters were either unlikeable or overly simplistic. One of the main irritants was the characters names. I’m in my 60’s and have never met a contemporary named Toots, Mabel, or Ida. Their views on marriage, husbands, families and money didn’t ring true either. I found Toots need to “fix” everyone annoying as well. This was disappointing in that I recall Fern Michael’s books As ones I couldn’t put down, this was difficult to keep picking up.
June 12, 2023
This book is about four women who had been friends for many years. They were all different, but they cared for each other and always there for each other, even when they lived in different states. Truly a delightful story at times. I didn’t want it to end.
August 23, 2023
This was my first Fern Michaels book and its probably my last. The story held promise but it needed better character development. While this is pure fantasy of having the rich friend who made dreams come true, there was a lot to be desired. It was fun but not quite enough.
September 14, 2022
dated fun
Over the top, highly unlikely, but I was laughing so I gave it four stars. I won’t be continuing though.
I can’t enjoy the smoking and drinking and wastefulness. It grates more than makes me enjoy the story.
Over the top, highly unlikely, but I was laughing so I gave it four stars. I won’t be continuing though.
I can’t enjoy the smoking and drinking and wastefulness. It grates more than makes me enjoy the story.
September 1, 2023
Rich ladies. Excessive lives.
February 6, 2025
I’m glad I got to finally finish this book… it was very very light. In my opinion, it lacked a lot story wise. I find some parts was not very interesting and the way they treated one of the characters who was fat was very demeaning. I’m glad I read other books by this author before reading this one.
March 5, 2020
I got several chapters in before giving up. 3 chapters in and only one very unlikable character. The writing itself is tedious and boring with no real point or forseeable plot.
Perhaps this is something for an older audience, but it's definitely not my cup of tea.
Perhaps this is something for an older audience, but it's definitely not my cup of tea.
February 7, 2018
I struggled through 30% before I finally realized I wasn't enjoying this story. At all. The last straw should have been Toots judgment of her friends' appearance and joyful undertaking of use of seemingly unlimited funds to "fix" them all, as well as her daughter. What kind of friend does that? Maybe I'm too West Coast and this sort of thing is acceptable in the South (even in 2009), but what kind of friend tells another friend she's fat and puts her on a diet the minute she gets off the airplane? And what kind of friend finds that acceptable? But no, I soldiered on for a couple more chapters, hoping for some kind of redemption for these characters and this story before realizing it wasn't coming. Ever.
By the time I put it down, I despised all of them. And I didn't chuckle or smile even once because I found nothing funny or charming about these people or their story.
By the time I put it down, I despised all of them. And I didn't chuckle or smile even once because I found nothing funny or charming about these people or their story.
March 25, 2016
This one was disappointing. There is no way those old ladies would look that great if they had been drinking and smoking for fifty years like they claim to have been. Their view of relationships was disappointing, everyone is just waiting for their latest husband to kick off so they can "fry them up" and get on with their lives. And finally, the kind of "issues" that the godmothers are trying to recover from don't go away that easily. You don't suddenly wake up and realize your germ phobia is a mistake and take off your latex gloves and filtering mask and go get a manicure.
August 17, 2009
Either I am very confused on my authors or she has changed her writing style. I thought this was very disjointed and flitted between a couple of different stories and just was not pleasant to read. I think I used to like her books a lot.
August 7, 2013
I enjoyed this book a lot but it seemed like it went by fast. I was disappointed with the ending and so I had to purchase a TON of them! That's ok because I enjoyed it. I cant wait till I'm done and I can read it again.
October 10, 2009
Really enjoyed this first book in the new Godmother series. Feisty characters, a pleasant plot and I think there's a lot more ahead for these ladies.
October 16, 2010
Love the Godmother series.
January 19, 2012
I knew this book was the first in a new series, but this book felt unfinished when I turned the last page.
May 26, 2012
This series - read them all - was a lot of fun! Grandmothers/ Godmothers and great friends woven in to this series!
August 3, 2015
Głupiutkie, nierealne i w ogóle hm... dziwne. Ale jednocześnie potrzebowałam teraz takiego odmóżdżacza :D
January 30, 2022
Change of pace for me. Great cast of characters in this series! The Golden Girls meets Steel Magnolias. Loved it! Will definitely continue reading this series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 332 reviews