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Serendipity
In this beautiful novel, New York Times bestselling author Fern Michaels follows the transformation of a heartbroken girl into a proud, sophisticated woman who stands at a turning point facing a magnificent destiny.
SERENDIPITY
Six years ago, Jory Ryan fled Philadelphia after a brief, tragic marriage to wealthy Ross Landers. Now Jory has come home to make peace with the past. With the unexpected jolt of a brief summer storm, Jory falls for Ross’s best friend—and becomes entangled with the Landers family and the business she ran away from. Suddenly Jory finds herself at the helm of an empire, confronted with changes and choices she never dreamed possible, and ready to meet a future ripe with the promise of lasting love.
SERENDIPITY
Six years ago, Jory Ryan fled Philadelphia after a brief, tragic marriage to wealthy Ross Landers. Now Jory has come home to make peace with the past. With the unexpected jolt of a brief summer storm, Jory falls for Ross’s best friend—and becomes entangled with the Landers family and the business she ran away from. Suddenly Jory finds herself at the helm of an empire, confronted with changes and choices she never dreamed possible, and ready to meet a future ripe with the promise of lasting love.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
About the author
Fern Michaels
281 books6,786 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/
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
June 9, 2013
Stupid Book. Annoying.
November 10, 2015
I thought book was a couple 100 pages to long and the ending wasn't very good.
July 13, 2012
Fern Michaels books are more than romance. They're typically of strong women (or women who find strength through life). This is a beautiful novel of a young woman's transformation to a pround and sophisticated woman who stands at a turning point facing a magnificent destiny.
There are ALWAYS a dog or two to enhance the story. I just finished rereading this for the third time.
There are ALWAYS a dog or two to enhance the story. I just finished rereading this for the third time.
February 2, 2009
This book was good but I rarely like her endings. I always want them to turn out differently.
May 23, 2020
One of the worst books I have read in a while. There are factual errors all over. Dogs are actually color blind and forsythia is pruned in spring after blooming, not autumn. The characters' psychology doesn't make any sense. You can't have someone who deep inside really wants a family and happiness and money doesn't matter, but when decisions have to be taken she chooses a demented career path. She had several chances at a happy ending but blew it every time because of previous baggage. She will never learn her lesson if we follow an arithmetic progression logic. There is Ross who calls his dad 'dad' for the first time and the guy melts and suddenly grows a pair?! From the uppity idiot he turns into a gentle, nice, down to earth guy?! There is no character in the book well done, believable. Their transformation is not progressive but more of a sudden personality transplant.
Don't waste your time with this book, there is nothing to learn and the ending looks like a chapter or ten are missing.
Don't waste your time with this book, there is nothing to learn and the ending looks like a chapter or ten are missing.
September 16, 2023
One of the worst books I have ever read.....I thought it would never end....about 100 pages too long.
Characters were terrible, spineless, non-listeners, and not any one I would care about.....
I will never read another Fen Michaels book again.
Characters were terrible, spineless, non-listeners, and not any one I would care about.....
I will never read another Fen Michaels book again.
November 5, 2016
excellent book by an excellent author
January 18, 2018
Good book
The ending had me crying, but it was well written and a joy to read. The characters are full bodied and the plot was fast paced.
The ending had me crying, but it was well written and a joy to read. The characters are full bodied and the plot was fast paced.
July 9, 2022
Serendipity
I enjoyed this book much more than I thought I would. It touched my heart, particularly the last half of the book. In the beginning, the author familiarizes you with characters you're made to think are good people, and other characters you don't think too much of, but as it continues, you realize that it's actually the opposite. I found it a bit of a fairytale like but in a good way. By the end of the book, you're made to realize people are made of all facets; those that seem good are only good on the surface and others that seem questionable usually have many good reasons for the way they are, and people shouldn't be judged too quickly.
I enjoyed this book much more than I thought I would. It touched my heart, particularly the last half of the book. In the beginning, the author familiarizes you with characters you're made to think are good people, and other characters you don't think too much of, but as it continues, you realize that it's actually the opposite. I found it a bit of a fairytale like but in a good way. By the end of the book, you're made to realize people are made of all facets; those that seem good are only good on the surface and others that seem questionable usually have many good reasons for the way they are, and people shouldn't be judged too quickly.
July 18, 2018
Serendipity
OMG! Fern Michaels, this is absolutely the worst book of yours that I have read so far! I couldn’t believe it where there was the business where Ross was trying to woo Jory back & Woo was trying to woo Jory, too. I thought that Ross would win her back, but no go. It was BORING! There wasn’t any adventure or excitement or mystery to keep my interest, but I read it to the end just to finish it. What a disappointment & a waste of money!
OMG! Fern Michaels, this is absolutely the worst book of yours that I have read so far! I couldn’t believe it where there was the business where Ross was trying to woo Jory back & Woo was trying to woo Jory, too. I thought that Ross would win her back, but no go. It was BORING! There wasn’t any adventure or excitement or mystery to keep my interest, but I read it to the end just to finish it. What a disappointment & a waste of money!
Read
August 30, 2023Fantastic. Love. Mystery. Serendipity!!!
I just loved this book. I mainly loved the surprises and the reality of it all. I felt it in every word and deed. I thought a lot about my life at seventy-two. We get wiser and we know when enough is enough. Life is meant to be lived and if you don't, then take the blame. I thought this would be a short read. I think I had a smooth cocktail. Thank you so much.
I just loved this book. I mainly loved the surprises and the reality of it all. I felt it in every word and deed. I thought a lot about my life at seventy-two. We get wiser and we know when enough is enough. Life is meant to be lived and if you don't, then take the blame. I thought this would be a short read. I think I had a smooth cocktail. Thank you so much.
August 26, 2023
Great Story
As usual, Feen did an amazing job bringing these characters to life! As you learn to know each person, there are many nice surprises along the way! I loved this book and highly recommend!
As usual, Feen did an amazing job bringing these characters to life! As you learn to know each person, there are many nice surprises along the way! I loved this book and highly recommend!
November 20, 2023
Another great story by Fern Michael.
Not sure where Fern Michael's comes up with her story lines, but they are awesome. Each story line keeps you on the edge of your chair wondering how this will end. I would not of guessed this ending at all. Way to go Ms. Michaels.
Not sure where Fern Michael's comes up with her story lines, but they are awesome. Each story line keeps you on the edge of your chair wondering how this will end. I would not of guessed this ending at all. Way to go Ms. Michaels.
March 13, 2024
The story of the coming of age and the journey getting there of Jory (Marjory) as makes decisions and choices leading to a life she had never expected or dreamed of. Following along on her journey from young wife to editor of a successful magazine keeps things interesting!
April 2, 2024
Fern Michaels never disappoints- ever
This is one of her very finest. I’ve read pretty much every one of her books and loved every one of them. This one is one I’ll remember forever. Wow. What a treasure she is!
This is one of her very finest. I’ve read pretty much every one of her books and loved every one of them. This one is one I’ll remember forever. Wow. What a treasure she is!
October 10, 2021
Very disappointing!
February 20, 2023
WOW!
This one was Awesome, and Fantastic! Another Great book by a Terrific author! Thanks again Ms. Michaels. Your the Best!
This one was Awesome, and Fantastic! Another Great book by a Terrific author! Thanks again Ms. Michaels. Your the Best!
August 23, 2023
She Did it Again
Loved this book. I laughed and cried. You are immersed in Marjory and Ethels lives, living throughthe worst and the best moments.
Loved this book. I laughed and cried. You are immersed in Marjory and Ethels lives, living throughthe worst and the best moments.
September 2, 2023
Another Wow Story!!!!
An amazing story about some really nice people and some that were not! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this very interesting tale!
Grab it and enjoy!!!
An amazing story about some really nice people and some that were not! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this very interesting tale!
Grab it and enjoy!!!
September 7, 2023
Super great book
This book will fill you full of emotions
One of the best books I have read in a long time.
It worth the read.
This book will fill you full of emotions
One of the best books I have read in a long time.
It worth the read.
December 4, 2023
I eagerly turned each page and enjoyed the characters and story line immensely. Ms. Michaels is a master author and I enjoy reading each of her books.
January 18, 2024
Incredible, couldn’t put it down!!!
February 7, 2024
Wonderful
This book is about life. It is about what you make of life, and how you see yourself. It is a wonderful book.
This book is about life. It is about what you make of life, and how you see yourself. It is a wonderful book.
July 21, 2024
Great as always!
I liked everything about this book! She is a great story teller and never disappoints.
Fern Micheals is one of my favourite authors.
I liked everything about this book! She is a great story teller and never disappoints.
Fern Micheals is one of my favourite authors.
August 22, 2024
No words for this
Annoying asf
Annoying asf
October 31, 2024
Not a believable story line. It seems to jump all over or was it that I skipped too much trying to get to the end.
Read
May 27, 2025Just awful. Had to stop reading. Only made it through a third of the book, and it was a slog. For a self-proclaimed evolved, grown woman, the main character acted like she was 12
October 24, 2025
captivating!
Fern Michael’s always offers stories that definitely hold you attention and leaving wanting more. Love her books!!!! I look forward to the next one.
Fern Michael’s always offers stories that definitely hold you attention and leaving wanting more. Love her books!!!! I look forward to the next one.
March 1, 2026
Excellent book! I was drawn into the characters and their lives. I did not expect the ending, but it was wonderful.
July 29, 2026
A good tale.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews