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Cherry Blossom Point #1
Starting from Scratch
A story of love, sisterhood, and starting over…
Lena Merrill and Owen McEnna have been best friends for decades, and she’s done a great job of pretending she’s not in love with him that whole time…until recently. Maybe it’s all the changes in the air. Maybe it’s realizing that life is passing her by and most of her dreams are still unfulfilled. Whatever the case, her already notoriously bad poker face is slipping, and it needs to stop, pronto. Because there’s only one thing worse than not having Owen love her back, and that’s the thought of driving him away altogether.
When Nikki Merrill set off to find her long lost sister, Anna, she never imagined she'd be returning home to Cherry Blossom Point with her in tow. Battle lines are drawn when each of her siblings have wildly different reactions to their new family member. Lena is willing to invite Anna into their lives, Gayle and Jack can’t even look at her, and Nikki? She’s caught dead in the middle of things. Will building a relationship with her new sister splinter the one she has with the siblings she's always known?
Anna Sullivan didn’t want another family. Now that she has one, though, she’s in for the long haul. When she leaves Bluebird Bay to spend some time with Nikki and meet the rest of her siblings, she isn’t prepared for the drama that ensues. It’s kind of hard to make a good impression when half of them see her as a walking representation of their father’s infidelity. And when more family secrets are uncovered, she realizes they’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg.
Will Anna figure out how to navigate these choppy family waters, or will her visit to Cherry Blossom Point turn out to be a disaster of Titanic proportions?
**The Cherry Blossom Point series is a spinoff from the Bluebird Bay series but can be read as a stand alone.
Lena Merrill and Owen McEnna have been best friends for decades, and she’s done a great job of pretending she’s not in love with him that whole time…until recently. Maybe it’s all the changes in the air. Maybe it’s realizing that life is passing her by and most of her dreams are still unfulfilled. Whatever the case, her already notoriously bad poker face is slipping, and it needs to stop, pronto. Because there’s only one thing worse than not having Owen love her back, and that’s the thought of driving him away altogether.
When Nikki Merrill set off to find her long lost sister, Anna, she never imagined she'd be returning home to Cherry Blossom Point with her in tow. Battle lines are drawn when each of her siblings have wildly different reactions to their new family member. Lena is willing to invite Anna into their lives, Gayle and Jack can’t even look at her, and Nikki? She’s caught dead in the middle of things. Will building a relationship with her new sister splinter the one she has with the siblings she's always known?
Anna Sullivan didn’t want another family. Now that she has one, though, she’s in for the long haul. When she leaves Bluebird Bay to spend some time with Nikki and meet the rest of her siblings, she isn’t prepared for the drama that ensues. It’s kind of hard to make a good impression when half of them see her as a walking representation of their father’s infidelity. And when more family secrets are uncovered, she realizes they’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg.
Will Anna figure out how to navigate these choppy family waters, or will her visit to Cherry Blossom Point turn out to be a disaster of Titanic proportions?
**The Cherry Blossom Point series is a spinoff from the Bluebird Bay series but can be read as a stand alone.
- GenresRomance
256 pages, Paperback
First published November 21, 2019
2657 people are currently reading
401 people want to read
About the author
Christine Gael
44 books157 followersChristine Gael is the women's fiction writing alter-ego of USA Today Bestselling contemporary romance author, Christine Bell, and NYT Bestselling paranormal romance author, Chloe Cole.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
July 18, 2021
So very glad the Bluebird Bay series moves to a new location with an extension of Anna’s family, where she meets her half sisters and brother. Great characters, each with a story of their own and great mentions of food! Ha! Looking forward to the next installment for Jacks story.
December 28, 2021
Solid read
January 29, 2026
I loved the characters of the Merrill family siblings. The book reads with a POV of each sibling and each had a good character. I enjoy series and getting more in depth of each character with each book, so I think I’ll enjoy this series and continue with it. This was personal for me with Anna’s story on finding a new family and how that develops. This is a spinoff of another series, but stated could be a stand alone.
July 2, 2021
I just loved traveling with Anna to visit Cherry Blossom Point as she met all the Merrill family members. I love the Bluebird Bay series and this spin-off story is picking up right where the last book ended. I have enjoyed meeting Nikki's family and look forward to reading the next installments. I was particularly fond of Lena and Owen. If you are looking for a great summer read I highly recommend this book and all the rest of the Bluebird Bay series as well.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 26, 2021
Nice new start
From Bluebird Bay, the story moves to Cherry Blossom Point, with Anna meeting her biological father and her newfound half-siblings when she went with Nikki in her hometown, with the joys and challenges it entails.
A nice new start to a new series, and meeting the rest of the Merrill family was wonderful. And meeting Owen, of course!
Looking forward to the next story!
From Bluebird Bay, the story moves to Cherry Blossom Point, with Anna meeting her biological father and her newfound half-siblings when she went with Nikki in her hometown, with the joys and challenges it entails.
A nice new start to a new series, and meeting the rest of the Merrill family was wonderful. And meeting Owen, of course!
Looking forward to the next story!
June 21, 2021
Christine grabs you from page one and never lets you go. Great characters that make you escape to the what if times in your life. Starting from scratch or adding to friendships... I love this series. The possibilities in life are endless one just needs to be open to them.
September 8, 2025
great story
I live the series! Getting the next one now! Can’t wait to see what happens next! I know it will be great.
I live the series! Getting the next one now! Can’t wait to see what happens next! I know it will be great.
October 23, 2025
Not very catchy
It was a pretty good book not what I was expecting, but all I all a good book , we'll see how I feel after I read book 2.
It was a pretty good book not what I was expecting, but all I all a good book , we'll see how I feel after I read book 2.
June 24, 2021
Phenomenal read! Emotionally charged tight bonded extended family story. Mending fences. Finding courage and freedom from being stucked in the past. Imperfectly perfect characters you just connect to and love them fiercely. Their emotions become yours. Happy and sad tears. Heartbreaks and Happiness. Acceptance. All this and much more is waiting for you. Just go and pick this book but I'd suggest you read entire series to get the whole picture and story unfolded before your eyes.
July 18, 2021
Great book. I can’t wait to read more about the Merrill family. Book 2 can’t come soon enough. I strongly encourage anyone to read Bluebird Bay series first. This book picks up right after book 7 of Bluebird Bay. Nikki, Anna, and Lena are my favorite of the sisters, but I’m starting to like Gayle. There’s laughter, tears, family, and great story. My only reason for 4 stars is that I felt there was almost too much going on for this being the 1st book of the spin off series.
December 25, 2021
Fantastic story! Great writing!
I love this book! The first series is very good and this spin off is really excellent.
This book flows so well you can't put it down! Amazing! This particular story is so beautiful and so well constructed, it's my favorite..... so far.😉
Remembering life can be short and over when we least expect it, so we should be open and clear to what we want as much as possible so that it does not pass us by.
Read it! you'll love it! 👍 ❤
I love this book! The first series is very good and this spin off is really excellent.
This book flows so well you can't put it down! Amazing! This particular story is so beautiful and so well constructed, it's my favorite..... so far.😉
Remembering life can be short and over when we least expect it, so we should be open and clear to what we want as much as possible so that it does not pass us by.
Read it! you'll love it! 👍 ❤
June 24, 2021
Love how the sister came together and worked through all their issues well what they could. And for Gayle and Lena to take the next steps in their lives is amazing. Jack has such a broken heart and is completely miserable since what happened happened. The ending is a great start to the next book...
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 24, 2021
The fami!y grows
Gael has managed to create another family with a history and daily dynamics as interesting as Anna's tribe of sisters, extended family and friends. As the relationships grows so does the story line and the readers commitment to learn more about them. Sheer enjoyment.
Gael has managed to create another family with a history and daily dynamics as interesting as Anna's tribe of sisters, extended family and friends. As the relationships grows so does the story line and the readers commitment to learn more about them. Sheer enjoyment.
June 25, 2021
Perfect segue between series!
The continuation of Anna’s story with the enhancement of her siblings lives and side dramas make this a perfect addition to Bluebird Bay and an excellent start to Cherry Blossom Point. The characters are definitely provocative and the situations thought inducing. Nope, I will not cave in and give any spoilers. That being said, this is a must read!
The continuation of Anna’s story with the enhancement of her siblings lives and side dramas make this a perfect addition to Bluebird Bay and an excellent start to Cherry Blossom Point. The characters are definitely provocative and the situations thought inducing. Nope, I will not cave in and give any spoilers. That being said, this is a must read!
August 28, 2021
Start at the beginning.
Do yourself a favour and start at the beginning. You will enjoy every moment as you fall into the lives of the women and men of Cherry Blossom Point and Bluebird Bay. Romance, angst and desperation in bucketloads as the characters sift through their everyday lives. Never a dull moment and plenty of spectacular ones.
Do yourself a favour and start at the beginning. You will enjoy every moment as you fall into the lives of the women and men of Cherry Blossom Point and Bluebird Bay. Romance, angst and desperation in bucketloads as the characters sift through their everyday lives. Never a dull moment and plenty of spectacular ones.
June 23, 2021
Family
Are you looking to loose yourself in some tight knit family drama? Or maybe you would like to escape into warm family relationships? This well developed book has it all! Grab a cup of coffee and settle in for a wonderful time!
Are you looking to loose yourself in some tight knit family drama? Or maybe you would like to escape into warm family relationships? This well developed book has it all! Grab a cup of coffee and settle in for a wonderful time!
June 28, 2021
So flippin’ Good
Oh how I’ve missed the Sullivan clan but now to meet the Merrill’s wow. This was so good. I cannot wait to read more. Intrigue, twists and curvy curls just too good.
Oh how I’ve missed the Sullivan clan but now to meet the Merrill’s wow. This was so good. I cannot wait to read more. Intrigue, twists and curvy curls just too good.
June 30, 2021
Anna Enters the Herrick Family
Anna had grown up with two older sisters. She has discovers that her mother had an affair with Eric Merrick. Anna must come to terms with three additional sisters and a brother.
Anna had grown up with two older sisters. She has discovers that her mother had an affair with Eric Merrick. Anna must come to terms with three additional sisters and a brother.
July 9, 2021
Love this series
I was first introduced to Christine through Denise Grover Swank. Honestly I wasn't sure about the series because it is not my normal genre but I have grown to love the Sullivan sisters and now the Merrill family as well.
I was first introduced to Christine through Denise Grover Swank. Honestly I wasn't sure about the series because it is not my normal genre but I have grown to love the Sullivan sisters and now the Merrill family as well.
July 14, 2021
Really enjoyed this book and all of the books in the Bluebird Bay/Cherry Blossom Point series. Real life -- good and bad, happy and sad, with all the family dynamics. I'm looking forward to the next books.
July 15, 2021
Bluebird
This story continues to follow the characters from the small town if Bluebird. I have read all of the books in this series so far. I'm hoping that the author of this series keeps writing more of these stories.
This story continues to follow the characters from the small town if Bluebird. I have read all of the books in this series so far. I'm hoping that the author of this series keeps writing more of these stories.
August 10, 2021
4 Stars
4 stars for Starting From Scratch. Meeting the Merrills and fitting into their family might be a hard process for Anna Sullivan and her newly discovered family but life is full of choices and she chose to meet the challenge head on.
4 stars for Starting From Scratch. Meeting the Merrills and fitting into their family might be a hard process for Anna Sullivan and her newly discovered family but life is full of choices and she chose to meet the challenge head on.
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March 15, 2022Breeds a few more ingredients
From Scratch picks up where the other books end. It does not stand on its own. If you had not read the other books the story would not make sense. The character development was mini mal It depended too much on previous books.
From Scratch picks up where the other books end. It does not stand on its own. If you had not read the other books the story would not make sense. The character development was mini mal It depended too much on previous books.
June 21, 2021
A great women's fiction, romance with family drama: I love this series and look forward to to next book.
I would highly recommend it.
I would highly recommend it.
June 22, 2021
Wow, just wow!
You get lost in the world of these characters that draw you in and you feel like you’re part of their world! Can’t wait for the next book in the series!!!
You get lost in the world of these characters that draw you in and you feel like you’re part of their world! Can’t wait for the next book in the series!!!
July 4, 2021
This book was a great read. I loved all the new characters introduced. I couldn’t put it down!! Can’t wait for the next book to come out
July 7, 2021
Great read
I love this series!! It just keeps getting better!! Anna finally meets her half sisters and her biological father. It just keeps you wanting more
I love this series!! It just keeps getting better!! Anna finally meets her half sisters and her biological father. It just keeps you wanting more
July 26, 2021
Love Maine
This was a great story,the sister's are so warming . Anna is sure a great character, and she blends in so nicely.
This was a great story,the sister's are so warming . Anna is sure a great character, and she blends in so nicely.
August 31, 2021
Wow
Great first installment of the cherry blossom books. I can’t wait to read the next one! This one was so awesome and well written
Great first installment of the cherry blossom books. I can’t wait to read the next one! This one was so awesome and well written
September 24, 2021
Perfect beach read
Romance is not so much my thing but this series in general and this book in particular are wonderful to escape from the daily grind.
Romance is not so much my thing but this series in general and this book in particular are wonderful to escape from the daily grind.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews