At Home on Marigold Lane

Highland Falls #5

by Debbie Mason

True love deserves a second chance.

For family and marriage therapist Brianna MacLeod, moving back home to Highland Falls after a disastrous divorce feels downright embarrassing. Bri blames herself for missing the red flags in her relationship and worries she’s no longer qualified to do the job she loves. But helping others is second nature to Bri, and she soon finds herself counseling her roommate and her neighbor’s daughter. Bri just wasn’t expecting them to reunite her with her first love . . .

Caleb Scott knows his failed marriage has been tough on his stepdaughter, so he’s grateful she’s found someone to confide in . . . even if it’s Bri MacLeod. Seeing Bri brings up feelings he’d thought were long buried. He knows it’s not the right time for either of them to be rekindling a relationship, but being with Bri feels right—like coming home. He’ll just have to convince her that risking her heart again might give them exactly what they both need . . . a second chance.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Second Chance, Chick Lit, Friendship

351 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 27, 2022

About the author

Debbie Mason is the USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of the Christmas, Colorado series and the Harmony Harbor series. The first book in her Christmas, Colorado series, “The Trouble with Christmas,” was the inspiration for Hallmark’s “Welcome to Christmas.” Her books have been praised by RT Book Reviews for their “likable characters, clever dialogue, and juicy plots.” When Debbie isn’t writing, she enjoys spending time with her family in Ottawa, Canada.

Reviews

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review coming soon.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

AT HOME ON MARIGOLD LANE is the fifth book in the Highland Falls series. The story follows Brianna who has moved back to Highland Falls after her marriage falls apart. She is recovering from injuries her ex-husband inflected. Caleb Scott is the doctor in town who saved her life. Caleb was one time the love of her life, he’s now married to another doctor in town. AT HOME ON MARIGOLD LANE is a heartwarming, spirited, satisfying tale about teamwork, communication, love, and taking chances. It’s a fabulous addition to the Highland Falls series by Debbie Mason, and I can’t wait to read Josh & Emma’s story next.


Brianna might have suffered a couple of setbacks, but she is not about to let this get her down or deter her from her plans to climb back up to the top – and as luck would have it, fate has presented her with the perfect opportunity to get her back on her feet. AT HOME ON MARIGOLD LANE involves the whole town and a range of characters are introduced, which helps to develop the story. I loved the dogs, they just add a touch of light hearted humor. I loved the whole opposites attract thing going on with the Brianna and Caleb as well.

AT HOME ON MARIGOLD LANE is filled with mystery, but it is always fun and light hearted. I found myself giggling at many of the situations with Caleb and Brianna. I’ve read Debbie Mason before and have always enjoyed her stories. I truly thought I knew who was behind the mystery, but I was totally off base. I love reading about Highland Falls, North Carolina, and I’m looking forward to continuing this wonderful series. I finished this one with a huge smile on my face and that is why I always rush to pick up Debbie Mason’s books when they come out. They are just that good.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Forever through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Kaye · Rating 1 out of 5]

Lies, lies and more lies. Oh my goodness I can’t think when I’ve read a book where the main plot involves so many lies and then trusting the most inept people to be a part of the lies you’re telling others. I will start by saying this is the fifth book in a series but can be read as a standalone. I read and liked the second book but evidently haven’t kept up with this small town romance series. This one did not sit well with me and I kept waiting for the author to save it but that didn’t happen for me.

Brianna MacLeod almost died the previous year and is recovering from injuries and will be divorced any day. She’s come home to Highland Falls but is being smothered by her sister's attention. She ends up moving into a rental not knowing her old boyfriend Caleb Scott, whom she was engaged to, lives a few doors away. And his sister is going to be her new roommate. Turns out he’s “separated” from his current wife but they are living together as they are both doctors and want the local hospital to get the new trauma center they both want. They are also concerned about their teenage daughter who didn’t like the idea of them splitting up. Well it turns out that Caleb and Brianna learn they broke up over lies and now he can’t keep his lips off hers. Literally they don’t work at getting to know each other now after 11 years. It is jump right back to full on love. And then to top it off Bri is also a therapist and proceeds to counsel the sister, the wife of her not divorced boyfriend, their teenage daughter and even her own parents. It is over the top ridiculous. And in all that counseling no one ever thought to say come clean about all the lies. By the 90 percent mark I was angry I was still reading and the lies were still coming. And the ending did not resolve my issues with the storyline.

The last book I read by the author was a sweet Christmas romance so I know she can write. The cover gets a star for being adorable. I was going to go with 2 stars but I also take down a star for cheating. If you’re not divorced you’re not free to date. Obviously others are going to have differing opinions. This is a clean book for language. Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing).

[Brooke — brooklynnnnereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the PERFECT autumnal read! Not only does the cover exude all things Fall, so does the pages inside between the lovely settings, descriptive foods, and Fall festivals.

I really liked this book. As in, I'd love to see this book adapted into a Hallmark/Lifetime movie. It was such a cute and cheesy story but it also packs an emotional punch as well. I absolutely adored ALL of the characters and want to read all of their stories.

Cal and Bri were both perfect (well, perfectly imperfect) characters and I loved each of them individually along with their relationship. They truly did make a perfect match.

You can definitely read this book as a standalone but know that aspects of previous novels in this series will be revealed and spoil you for those books.

***Thank you to Forever Publishing for sending me a copy of this book to read and review.***

[DAISY READS HORROR · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the gorgeous Fall 🍁 cover of this book.

Unfortunately I didn’t love the story as much as I had hoped. I was in the mood for more romance 💘 it was too slow of a build up for me to care what happened in the end between Cal & Bri honestly 🤷🏽‍♀️

[Rosite Sony · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this story.

[Ann Lorz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been waiting for what seems like forever for this one but it was really only a few months ago. We left off wanting to see what happens to Bri and how she'll move on from the horror that had been her life.

You go into the story feeling so bad for Bri. You know what she's been through and then start to learn more about her life in general and feel even worse. It seems like her mother has spent most of her life choicing what she should do and making decisions for her. I really can't stand the woman and don't feel bad about what she herself has gone through. She's not a good person.

But enough about her mother. I was happy that at the beginning of the book you see that she's not a hundred percent yet. She still has some healing to do. Some of it is her own fault but I think after all she has gone through she just could face her health.

I really liked Caleb and wasn't happy about him and his wife staying together for the dumbest reasons. His wife needed a ton of growing up to do and needs a lot of help with her many issues. She's not a horrible person but has an issue with only thinking about herself and making others do as she wants. I kinda wish Caleb had more of a backbone when it came to her but he didn't. Part of it was because of his love for his stepdaughter.

Because of all the lies, it put both Caleb and Bri in a bad light. At times I didn't care for where the story was going but understood why it did. There is a ton of good humor in the story and I liked how so many of the characters are forced to do things that are uncomfortable for them but are the right thing to do.

The story ends how it should and makes you wonder what's happening next. As always I enjoyed the book and want more from Mason. I'd love to say even more about the book but I don't want to ruin anything for anyone else. You should read it for yourself.

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ARC received for an honest review

[Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never cried, laughed, and at times got so angry at a book that I wanted to chuck it against the wall. Glad I didn't chuck it against a wall cause I am sure my neighbors would not have been happy so late at night something hitting their wall.

I got this as a Goodreads Giveaway win and I was so stoked when I heard I won because this one I was looking forward to reading. Debbie Mason does a brilliant job in writing and describing her characters and their location. I was able to visualize the who Highland Falls with ease and felt at home. Bri and Cal I somehow was able to relate to. Throughout the book I never felt like I was the reader but actually felt like Bri and I could feel the guilt she carried, the emotions she had towards Cal, her frustration and anger with her mother, her annoyance with her sister, and the dislike towards Dimitri. You were able to feel all that with all of the characters in this book.

It is one of the most beautifully written books I have ever read and I would be lying if I said it wasn't.

Please run to your nearest library or book store and get your hands on a copy of Ar Home On Marigold Lane especially if you love Hallmark like books that make you laugh, cry, angry, and feel all that mushy inside.

You won't regret it.

[Christine Reeves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rolling over on the floor laughing in chapter one already from this down to earth story with a big squishy pumpkin romance growing in it.

[Denise Schenk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brianne is living back in Highland Falls after her disaster of a marriage. She is recovering from injuries her ex-husband inflected. Caleb Scott is the doctor who saved her life. Caleb was one time the love of her life, he's now married to another doctor in town.
Caleb and is wife are keeping secrets from town while trying to raise money to build and open a new trauma center for the hospital.
Brianne's sister has been putting her honeymoon on hold to care for Bri and she is finally scheduled to go in two weeks. Bri is trying to make sure Ellie doesn't postpone it again. Bri decides to move into her own home sharing the house with another person.
Caleb's sister lost her fiancé and needs to come home to Higland Falls to recover. The two ladies end up sharing a house together and they are not really happy with that arrangement.
Can Cal and Bri get their lives back on track and everyone else find peace?

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC of, At Home on Marigold Lane, by Debbie Mason. As a therapist and marriage counselor you would think Bri would have the perfect marriage. Unfortunately Bri is back home following her divorce. Helping people is what Bri does, and loves to do, is she able to pick up the pieces and move on with her life?

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read all of Debbie Mason's books and really enjoyed them. That being said I don't know what happened with this book. It is just so frustrating. I literally wanted to smack everyone in this book upside the head. All the characters were written like they were angsty teens, not professional adults! Everyone was creating lies that were harming people, and then just layering more lies on top of them. Half of the people in the book - I would never want to associate with. I just really do not know where else to go with this. There were so many issues that could have been resolved if the characters in the book would just talk to one another.

Received as an ARC from Netgalley.

[Tanja ~ KT Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Breathe, just breathe."

Just because a marriage didn’t work out doesn’t mean you’re not capable of love. But when your job entails so much of what a marriage is made up of, and it fails, you feel as if you did something wrong. Brianna MacLeod, a family and marriage therapist, is battling impostor syndrome as well as severe anxiety. A recovering survivor of domestic abuse free from her abuser, but not the overprotective reach of her well-intended family. This story is a lot. Anyone with triggers are warned. This deals with abuse and its after-effects.

“No situation is good or bad it’s how you react to it that matters.”

Debbie Mason gives an honest and real telling of surviving and the journey to recovery.

~Tanja

*Thank you to @Forever for sharing this title with me


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[Taryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brianna MacLeod has moved back home after a bad divorce from her ex turned violent. She is trying to heal and doesn't feel like she is still capable of doing her job as a therapist. Living at home isn't going the way she thought it would though and she realizes she needs to move out so she can truly start healing. She moves and soon learns she'll have a roommate to share the house with. Her roommate turns out to be her ex best friend. Brianna was in love with her brother and gothurt in the end, the two went their separate ways and her once great friendship soon followed. Now not only is her once.good friend in her life but her brother lives next door with his wife and daughter. Caleb's home life is complicated. His wife and himself are no longer together but have to pretend for work purposes. Seeing Brianna has brought back tons of feelings but now isn't the time for the two of them to try to make a go of things again. They both would like a second chance but it seems as if everything is working against them. Follow along and see if they can reconnect or is it truly to late.

[Sara Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Bri and Cal's story. The story focuses on how Bri overcomes her trauma and finds happiness again. Cal learns how to move on from his previous marriage and still maintain his relationship with his step-daughter. For those upset that he was still married, they were separated and this in not uncommon for people to date during this transition period. In fact, I think it helped the storyline of Cal and Raine move on from the fear that they needed to put up a "perfect family" front to run a successful campaign for their trauma center. I loved how this focused on Bri's relationship with her step-dad and mother as well. Helping her step-dad see how important the trauma center was to the community over a casino. A beautifully written story. I can't wait for the next one!

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great addition to the Highland Falls series!

Bri has been through a lot, and is still struggling with a physical disability. She's a strong, accomplished woman, and is determined to work through her problems - as alone as possible. Enter Cal, her first love, hometown hero doctor who happens to be married (sort of) to another woman.

Suffice it to say that there is lots of drama between the two women, plus Cal's sister Em, formerly Bri's bestie, who winds up being Bri's roommate, and Cal's stepdaughter Izzy. Secrets abound, and only add to the drama. Will Bri and Cal work through everything and find their way to happiness? Read this and find out!!

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. My opinions are my own.

[Jo Ann Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance copy of this book. I enjoyed it very much. A story about how messy life can get and along the way there is a second chance for a happy ending. I recommend it for anyone who loves an uplifting story.

[Debra McEathron · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good series about family and friends helping each other . This is Brianna and Caleb's story they were high school sweethearts but her moth sabotaged them, Now its ten years later Brianna has suffered a tragic accident and is trying to reinvent herself. Caleb just wants to build the trauma center and get to know Brianna again.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another wonderful Highland Falls book. I love the mix of humor and romance in a small town setting. Bri is staying at the family inn while recovering from a traumatic brain injury and leg injury caused by her ex husband. One on of her rare trips out of the inn, she comes across her first love, Cal, at the grocery store and does her best to avoid him, since he is married to someone else. The road to recovery from her ex’s abuse and a second chance at romance is well written and I had my fingers crossed until the end about the subplot of fundraising for a trauma center.

I received a free copy of this book to review through NetGalley and am looking forward to the next book.

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

At Home on Marigold Lane by Debbie Mason is about a young woman returning home to recuperate after a serious injury and a failed marriage. To add insult to injury, she then runs into the man that broke her heart years ago. Brianna MacLeod is a Family and Marriage Therapist and she feels embarrassed that she has to return home to Highland Falls after her marriage had imploded.
Bri is ashamed that she missed the red flags in her abusive relationship and feels that she isn’t qualified to be a therapist anymore. However, she loves helping others and it is second nature to her. When Bri gives up being a therapist she feels that she lost her purpose in life and she is giving up something she loves. Bri decides to move out of the inn she shares with her sister and grandfather to live by herself. Unfortunately, her plan is dashed when she finds out that she has a roommate and it’s someone she would never expect to see again.

Bri and her roommate concoct a plan to keep Bri’s sister from worrying about her. In the process of creating the plan, Bri ends up counseling her roommate and her neighbors. She didn’t expect that it would lead to her reconnecting with her first love.

Caleb Scott feels that his failed marriage to Raine is tough on his stepdaughter, Izzy. He feels that Izzy needs someone to talk to and work through her emotions with. However, he wasn’t expecting that person to be Bri. Caleb thought his feelings for her were gone when she broke his heart years ago but he finds himself falling for her. Unlike his marriage to Raine, being with Bri feels like home and comfortable. The only problem Caleb has is trying to convince Bri that their relationship deserves a second chance.

The novel is the fifth book in the series and it can be read as a standalone. However, I felt that there were some character nuances and storylines that were referenced that went over my head because I didn’t read the previous books. I felt that the novel started out strong and then slowly fizzled out because they were parts of the story that were connected to the previous books. The book also had a lot of characters that were mentioned once or twice in the beginning and then they would make another appearance later in the book. It was hard keeping track of these minor characters and how they related to the story.

The book was filled with characters who were trying to find their own paths to happiness but they could be annoying. I enjoyed reading about most of the characters but I found Raine to be very annoying. There were points in the story when she garnered some unwarranted sympathy and seemed selfless such as with her drive to build a new trauma center. However, there were many points in the story that Raine would stop at nothing to get what she wants even if it means throwing other people into the fire.

Then we have two characters who seem to have something going on between them but nothing is disclosed or goes further with their chemistry. I felt that this side story did not add to the main plot and detracted from the story. I didn’t care for Caleb’s best friend, Josh. Josh seems to support Caleb but Josh never seems to be able to keep his mouth shut or read the room. Josh knows Caleb is trying to keep a secret from the town but yet Josh manages to tell everyone the secret within a few minutes of meeting the person. He then always wants to know the story but then can never keep it to himself. I am not even sure why they keep telling Josh anything since he can’t keep a secret to save himself.
My other annoyance is with Caleb and Bri. They know they should be keeping their relationship a secret but yet they can never seem to keep their hands off each other in public. Instead of limiting their physical embraces in public, they go at each other like teenagers as if they want to be caught. And they kept getting caught on multiple occasions but they continued acting like lovers in public. I felt like this type of behavior was unrealistic and the continuous references to previous storylines prevented me from completely enjoying and immersing myself in the book.

[Cynthia Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love all books by Debbie Mason.

[Shavona Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Debbie Mason writes the most entertaining stories. I have read all of the books in this series. I love that they are sweet, clean love stories with suspense, mystery, and a touch of clean passion. Talk about miscommunication, this book has lots of that. Between Bri and Cal (her first love), his current (soon to be ex-wife) Raine, his sister Em, Bri's (know-it-all) mother and her "two" fathers, it is mass confusion. Everyone jumps to conclusions. One thing is for sure, Bri and Cal still love each other. It does seem that the universe is conspiring against them though.
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for this advanced review copy. In return, I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

[Kati · Rating 2 out of 5]

To be perfectly clear, I won this on Goodreads. My opinions are my own.

This story was a mess. Not a fun mess, unfortunately. The main characters, all supposedly mature 30-something professionals in high-authority positions, acted with less maturity and believability than the sole teen character. There was a faked pregnancy by a trauma surgeon; another surgeon acting like a horny teenage boy; a marriage on the rocks but being "covered up by the participants"; a marriage counselor who acted with extreme lack of professionalism; a Mom whose screw up nearly ruined lives but was forgiven as though she'd bought the wrong size shoes at christmas, a mafia-esque bio-father who shows up to take save the day at the very end..... Just, a total mess. The MOST believable part was the 16 year old teenager getting into mild trouble and stressing about her parents' divorce, but that's probably because at least this was a teenager acting like a teenager.

Never once did any of the main characters seem to grow. We're TOLD that they did, but the timelines and actual growth were all over the place, and the actual showing of their growth is glossed over entirely. The story itself jumps all over the place, from dialog that almost makes sense, to being told about actions entirely unrelated to the dialog, to new people being present that had no place in the scene, to jumping scenes without warning.

[Crazinss · Rating 3 out of 5]

At Home on Marigold Lane by Debbie Mason

I should start by stating that I don’t like romance novels, but I got this book as part of a giveaway and wanted to try it. I liked the cover and title.

The story moved right along, as there was lots of drama constantly happening.

I disliked most of the characters, and I’m not sure that I even liked the two main characters, Bri and Cal. Everyone lied. All the time. There was so much lying, manipulation, deceit, secrecy, and bullying that I often felt disgusted. Character redemption was flippant, surface, and happened out of nowhere. It seemed to happen for the purpose of, and just in time for, a happy-ever-after ending.

My appreciation to Forever and author Debbie Mason for the Goodreads Giveaway and finished print edition.

[Leslie Ooten · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly, I almost gave up on this one a couple of different times. The writing itself isn't the problem, it was the amount of lying and "don't tell anyone" that was absolutely over the top. I seriously wanted to throw my Kindle at 84% when Raine yelled, "you're trying to seduce my husband". That woman was supposed to be Bri's friend, but she didn't hesitate to throw her under the bus. Also, there's a reason why doctors aren't supposed to treat their family members. Bri was counseling her ex/current boyfriend, his wife, their daughter, her parents and her biological dad. To say there was conflict of interest was a major understatement. It took entirely too for everyone to come clean, and for things to be cleared up. Cal and Bri do get their HEA, I just wish there would have been a lot less drama getting there.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book.

[Lyndsey Bookish Nature · Rating 3 out of 5]

~~~ I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ~~~~

So far I have loved this series "Highland Falls" by Debbie Mason. However, At Home on Marigold Lane is my least favorite. This book follows the story of Brianna and Caleb. The premise of this book is very unrealistic- scam marriages, a therapist acting very unprofessionally, and more. This book's plot just contains too many secrets and shams. Hoping the next one in the series lives up to the first 4 books of Highland Falls. I normally love Mason's books, so it was very disappointing. The one thing I did like was following up on characters from the last books.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve been a Debbie Mason fan for years but this book was not a favorite. One aspect I liked is it touched on some serious topics such as traumatic brain injury and dealing with the loss of a significant other. My favorite character is Emma, Caleb’s sister, and I hope we get her story in a future book. This is the story of Caleb and Brianna and their second chance romance. While it wasn’t my favorite, it may be for others :). Thank you to the author and publisher for an early copy to read and review. All opinions are my own.

[Janet Newcomer · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was the first book by Debbie Mason that I’ve read. I didn’t enjoy the story and thought the character development was weak. What we learned about the characters was consistently from angry memories. The entire story is built on angst and anger and regret. The fact that the glamorous wife would easily accept the woman her husband was in love with as her therapist was utterly ridiculous. Doubtful I’d pick up another Debbie Mason book.

[Rosemary · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book as a give away from Goodreads. Unfortunately, I found it uninteresting and slow.

[OpenBookSociety.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

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Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra

I must say this right off the top – I have never been disappointed by the writings of Debbie Mason and At Home on Marigold Lane is no exception. As far as I am concerned – I want to live in Highland Falls. Ms. Mason’s storytelling is so good that I feel like a member of the community, being sad for various community members when things go wrong, happy tears when life goes oh so right, and just coasting by when life is just happening.

At Home on Marigold Lane is the fifth installment of the Highland Falls series and can be read as a stand-alone title. Though I must say – knowing some of the townsfolks add a certain amount to the story. This is a second chance romance with all the right ingredients.

Brianna MacLeod had moved back to Highland Falls a little over a year ago (living at the family’s inn on Mirror Lake) to recover from her divorce from her abusive husband Richard and a near fatal fall. To make things a wee bit harder for Bri – her ex-fiancé Cal (Highland Falls’ Hometown Hero) still lived in Highland Falls as a successful doctor working at the local hospital – and the doctor overseeing a portion of her recovery! In order for Bri’s sister and brother-in-law to finally go on their long-postponed honeymoon – Bri must convince them that she is on solid ground with respect to her recovery (she’s not…but she must pretend). Bri decides moving out on her own will set the stage for making everyone believe she is better. Well, that idea becomes fraught with challenges -> Bri has a roommate in the house she has rented! Who one might wonder? Turns out Bri’s once best friend AND sister of ex-fiance Cal (happily married Cal – or is he?). The story evolves from there… and what a story it is.

I found the story filled with romance (remembering her first kiss with Cal at Bridal Veil Falls for example), lighthearted banter (I can see how Bri and Cal were once good together), and some very funny moments. There are also very serious issues brought up as well – abuse being first and foremost. And having the story filled with hunky doctors is never a bad thing 🙂

There are numerous storylines (above and beyond the romance) that kept me entertained. The challenges Cal and his wife (soon-to-be ex) had with their teenage daughter (Izzy) for one. The recovery of Bri was also well written and kept my interest. Intrigue as to why Brid and Cal’s nuptials were called off is another mystery – which is revealed in due time…

The cover of the book is definitely eye-catching…probably the dog, though I do love the big house with the great wrap-around porch.

All in all – another great addition to the Highland Falls series. If you love a well-told tale that will keep your interest throughout the whole story – then I suggest you pick up At Home on Marigold Lane by Debbie Mason. Though in reality – any title written by Ms. Mason is worth reading, in my humble opinion 🙂