Welcome Home: Island of Flowers / Her Mother's Keeper

by Nora Roberts

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts, Welcome Home collects two heartfelt novels about people in need of healing—and of finding love—in one volume.

Her Mother’s Keeper
When Gwen Lacrosse learns her mother has taken in the famous novelist Luke Powers as a boarder, she immediately catches a flight from New York to her hometown just outside New Orleans. Convinced the reputed womanizing author is going to break her mother’s heart, Gwen wants him gone. But when Luke turns his skills with words and seduction on Gwen, she can’t deny the weight of her own growing desires.

Island of Flowers
To visitors and vacationers, Hawaii is a romantic paradise of palm trees and pristine beaches. To Laine Simmons, it is merely home to her father, a man she has traveled far to see in hopes of repairing their estranged relationship. But Dillon O’Brian, her father’s young business partner, is getting too familiar with Laine’s family matters, accusing her of seeking reparations over reconciliation. Dillon’s arrogance and audacity would be more off-putting if Laine didn’t find him more attractive and desirable whenever they meet…

Previously published

Genres: Romance, Fiction

352 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published August 25, 2020

About the author

Nora Roberts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels, including Hideaway, Under Currents, Come Sundown, The Awakening, Legacy, and coming in November 2021 -- The Becoming -- the second book in The Dragon Heart Legacy. She is also the author of the futuristic suspense In Death series written under the pen name J.D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print.

Reviews

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Her Mother’s Keeper

Gwen Lacrosse learns her mother has taken in the famous novelist Luke Powers as a boarder, so she immediately arranges a flight from New York to her hometown just outside New Orleans. Gwen is complety convinced the reputed womanizing author is going to break her mother’s heart, even though she hasn't spoken to her mother about the situation. Gwen has decided she wants him gone. But Luke turns his skills with words and seduction on Gwen, she can’t deny the weight of her own growing desires.

Island of Flowers

To the many tourists and others that visit every year, Hawaii is a romantic paradise of palm trees and pristine beaches. For Laine Simmons, it is merely home to her father, a man she has traveled far to see, without advance notice, in hopes of repairing their estranged relationship. Dillon O’Brian, her father’s young business partner, seems to know a lot about Laine’s family matters. He even accuses her of coming to the Island just because of her father's money. This appalls Laine as she doesn't know this about her father as her mother kept Laine from knowing her father while Laine was growing up. Laine finds Dillon’s arrogance and audacity off-putting but Laine finds him more attractive and desirable whenever they meet.

I enjoyed this book. It was nice having two short reads in one. This would be a great long weekend or vacation book, as well.

[Sara Barker · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won a copy of this book via a Goodreads giveaway.

So- Pros:
- Roberts style of writing is easy and quick to read
-this book is actual two older stories (1982 &1983) republished together with this new title

Cons:
- back when originally written I'm sure there was no concern, but I'm quite shocked these two were selected for reprint. Yes, both tell a story of a female come of age visiting a parent, so the 'welcome home' theme fits both. However within 1 hr of coming home in each story, a male character completely unknown to the female lead asserts himself upon her. What's more striking is she isn't phased by it. Sure, 30+ years ago that would have been the norm, but in 2020? With all the #metoo ...? Feels tone deaf on the part of the publisher to resurrect these two stories.
-beyond the blatant sexual assault that is simply accepted, in each story the female was present for 2 weeks to less than a month, and yet both end with not simy a proposal of marriage but to do so immediately? I'm all for love at first sight and quick courtship but this is too far fetched given the strained relationship each female-male pair experienced in each of the stories

I give 2 stars simply for the cheap and easy brain fodder, and it was a quick read for my 2021 book challenge. The plots and glorification of men pushing themselves on women would get no stars if I could.

[Sneha Patel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Her Mother's Keeper:
I am in a spree of reading all Nora Roberts books and this one was such a simple read. I enjoyed the mother daughter relationship which was light. The spark between Luke Powers and Gwen was not immediate although I expected it to be. Overall great and quick read.
Island of Flowers:
Definitely liked it much more than Her Mother's Keeper. I like how Dillon is protective of Cap and suspicious of Laine, Cap's daughter. The character of Vanessa being self centered is portrayed well. I wish father and daughter would have had more heart to heart conversations to fill 15 years worth of doubts and heart pain. I enjoyed reading Laine's school memories and how simple and contented she wants her life to be. Set in the 80's, I enjoyed the story being so genuine without a phone or text involved. Great story overall.

[Barbara Bland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read by Nora Roberts! I really enjoyed Island of Flowers. The setting is Hawaii, mostly, for the book Island of Flowers and I always enjoy books set in the Hawaiian Islands. Her Mothers Keeper is set not too far from New Orleans, LA. It is a sweet book and I really enjoyed it. Although Island of Flowers is my favorite!

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably more like 2.5 ⭐️ 2 small books in one, wasn’t a huge fan of the first. Forcing himself on the girl was a turn off for me. Seems far fetched to fall so fast. Not sure if it was the time period it was written or what. Second was better. Could tell early on where both were going. Didn’t love how they were kind of left open-ended.

[Tami Fidler · Rating 3 out of 5]

You can definitely tell this was an older publication as it was a little rushed. The heroes were a little over-the-top alpha male, and the heroines a little too on the innocent side. However, they were both enjoyable stories.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

For Hilliary and Tiffany.

[Judith And · Rating 4 out of 5]

Need a quick beach, or quarantine read? This is the one for you. Most of the book is set in Hawaii and I love Hawaii, so enjoyed the descriptions. Story was mostly believable.

[Christina Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was two very cute stories. A nice easy read

[Connie Glasgow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet two good reads in one! So happy to be in a world of make believe again.

Love to read for fun!@

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Typical romances. Girl meets boy in first few pages and she wants to dislike him. Must be earlier works of hers as later ones have more to them.

[Carol Stanley-Snow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two great stories.

Beach read..

[Julie Culpin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both novels were very different yet they were Nora at her best

[Amanda Filiowich · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just lacks Nora Roberts’ usual in-depth character nuance. Fell flat for me.

[Lynette · Rating 1 out of 5]

Her Mother’s Keeper
A stupid, shallow book. DNF.

[Deborah Smith]

I never write reviews; I just enjoy the reading, but I disliked the first part of this book so much, that I didn’t want to read the second part! I was shocked.