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Already Home
After nearly a decade as a sous-chef in a trendy eatery, Jenna is desperate for a change. She's supported her ex-husband's dreams for so long that she can't even remember her own. Until she sees a for-lease sign near her parents' home and envisions her very own cooking store.
Her crash course in business is aided by a streetwise store manager and Jenna's adoptive mother. But just as she's gaining a foothold in her new life, in walk her birth parents—aging hippies on a quest to reconnect with their firstborn.
Now Jenna must figure out how to reconcile the free-spirited Serenity and Tom with her traditional parents, deal with her feelings for a new love interest and decide what to do about her ex's latest outrageous request. In the end, Jenna will find that there is no perfect family, only the people we love….
Her crash course in business is aided by a streetwise store manager and Jenna's adoptive mother. But just as she's gaining a foothold in her new life, in walk her birth parents—aging hippies on a quest to reconnect with their firstborn.
Now Jenna must figure out how to reconcile the free-spirited Serenity and Tom with her traditional parents, deal with her feelings for a new love interest and decide what to do about her ex's latest outrageous request. In the end, Jenna will find that there is no perfect family, only the people we love….
368 pages, Paperback
First published March 29, 2011
651 people are currently reading
4043 people want to read
About the author
Susan Mallery
862 books15.4k followers#1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery writes heartwarming and humorous novels about the relationships that define women's lives—family, friendship, romance. She's best known for putting nuanced characters into emotionally complex, real-life situations with twists that surprise readers to laughter. Because Susan is passionate about animal welfare, pets play a big role in her books. Beloved by millions of readers worldwide, her books have been translated into 28 languages.
Critics have dubbed Mallery "the new queen of romantic fiction." (Walmart) Booklist says, "Romance novels don't get much better than Mallery's expert blend of emotional nuance, humor, and superb storytelling," and RT Book Reviews puts her "in a class by herself!" It's no wonder that her books have spent more than 200 weeks on the USA Today bestsellers list.
Although Susan majored in Accounting, she never worked as an accountant because she was published straight out of college with two books the same month. Sixteen prolific years and seventy-four books later, she hit the New York Times bestsellers list for the first time with Accidentally Yours in 2008. She made many appearances in the Top 10 before (finally) hitting #1 in 2015 with Thrill Me, the twentieth book in her most popular series, the Fool's Gold romances, and the fourth of five books released that year.
Susan lives in Washington state with her husband, two ragdoll cats, and a small poodle with delusions of grandeur. Her heart for animals has led Susan to become an active supporter of the Seattle Humane Society. Visit Susan online at www.SusanMallery.com.
Critics have dubbed Mallery "the new queen of romantic fiction." (Walmart) Booklist says, "Romance novels don't get much better than Mallery's expert blend of emotional nuance, humor, and superb storytelling," and RT Book Reviews puts her "in a class by herself!" It's no wonder that her books have spent more than 200 weeks on the USA Today bestsellers list.
Although Susan majored in Accounting, she never worked as an accountant because she was published straight out of college with two books the same month. Sixteen prolific years and seventy-four books later, she hit the New York Times bestsellers list for the first time with Accidentally Yours in 2008. She made many appearances in the Top 10 before (finally) hitting #1 in 2015 with Thrill Me, the twentieth book in her most popular series, the Fool's Gold romances, and the fourth of five books released that year.
Susan lives in Washington state with her husband, two ragdoll cats, and a small poodle with delusions of grandeur. Her heart for animals has led Susan to become an active supporter of the Seattle Humane Society. Visit Susan online at www.SusanMallery.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 580 reviews
September 23, 2011
Absolutely Fabulous!! I kept putting this book off because I knew it wasn't a true romance, the cover didn't excite me, the story overview never made me put it to the top of the read list and it was more about family relationships. Lesson learned: "Don't judge a book by its cover- front or back". I loved it and wish I wouldn't have waited to read it. This is a book that I will recommend to everyone and it was such a great read from beginning to end. There is nothing I didn't like about it; it was a fantastic story, wonderful characters and lots of them, and it was very touching and emotional.
Jenna is returning home to her loving, adopted parents after her marriage has failed and her self-esteem has been demolished by her cheating, arrogant husband. She was a sous chef so she decides to open up a cooking store, having never worked in retail, and hires a goth girl, Violet to help. It fails immediately until she lets Violet free to manage and develop the store which allows Jenna to create and teach cooking classes. This is the beginning of all the healing for both Jenna and Violet, who also had a troubled and violent younger life. A big event occurs when Jenna's hippie parents who gave her up because they were 15 years old, come looking for her and it turns her world upside down. There is a lot of emotions she has to deal with because she had such a wonderful life growing up with nurturing parents so she doesn't want to open up to her "crazy" biological parents, Serenity and Atomic. She doesn't understand why they have come looking for her now, which is the secret of the story and is hinted throughout. She also finds out she has brothers named Wolf and Dragonfly and Dragon has a lot of good one liners that made me laugh even though this was major tear jerker book for me. There is some romance for Jenna and Violet as well, and the feelings were deep, but there wasn't much time spent on it. The HEA was fulfilling in the end. Both of the heroes were involved in the support and the healing process for Jenna and Violet.
5+ stars from me! Definitely a keeper!
February 27, 2014
1/5; 1 star; DNF
I have never read anything by this author. Would someone please recommend one to me that they thought was awesome? I was expecting something with the feel of Robyn Carr or Jodi Thomas but it didn't happen.
I gave this book 1 star at least because the flow of the prose was good. I just really disliked the main character's personality. Maybe I'm too intolerant but I could not work up an interest in a character who would, on a whim, throw all her money into a retail store, knowing full well she had no experience or knowledge of retail, then proceed to ignore and blow off all the coaching and advice of people who did have experience, then feel all defeated and bummed out because things were going down the tubes. Gah!
Maybe I just wasn't in the mood but this put me right off so I gave up.
I have never read anything by this author. Would someone please recommend one to me that they thought was awesome? I was expecting something with the feel of Robyn Carr or Jodi Thomas but it didn't happen.
I gave this book 1 star at least because the flow of the prose was good. I just really disliked the main character's personality. Maybe I'm too intolerant but I could not work up an interest in a character who would, on a whim, throw all her money into a retail store, knowing full well she had no experience or knowledge of retail, then proceed to ignore and blow off all the coaching and advice of people who did have experience, then feel all defeated and bummed out because things were going down the tubes. Gah!
Maybe I just wasn't in the mood but this put me right off so I gave up.
April 14, 2011
Let's start with the cover of this book... just look at it.... I mean, this is the type of book I'd buy just because of its stunning cover. But once I opened its pages I knew that this is the type of book that you enjoy owning because you just want to own it.
When Jenna's husband betrays her, she leaves her home and career as a sous-chef in L.A. and returns to her small hometown in Texas to rebuild her life. She decides to switch gears and opens a cookware store where she meets a slew of characters (some family, some friends, some customers) who play important roles in her coming to terms with the lemons life has given her.
I love stories where the dynamics of relationships are the main focus and that is what you will find in Already Home. Jenna's friendship with Violet, her love for her adoptive mother and that of her biological mother, even her feelings for a new suitor are at the forefront of this story.
Although Jenna is our leading lady, you also meet Violet, a young woman who begins working with Jenna with her own skeletons in the closet. There is a lot going on and there are a lot of characters that you are introduced to that have their own side stories. Ms. Mallery is an expert storyteller for what I would normally find to be too busy, was rather uncomplicated. She gave you time with each of her characters giving you a chance to know them and understand them which helped in distinguishing each one separately and in the end relating to and connecting with them.
As for romance, there was some romance, but it was almost like a side note. Instead, I found this to be a story about relationships, about friendships, about love, about finding and believing in oneself. My only concern was that I found that it ended rather abruptly. And while I do enjoy a happily-ever-after ending, I found that it ended on the right note -- leaving the reader feeling hopeful.
All in all, this was a very well-written, emotion-packed story. I loved its wonderful characters and surprisingly how much depth the story truly had. A great introduction to this author - I'll definitely be looking for more from her.
When Jenna's husband betrays her, she leaves her home and career as a sous-chef in L.A. and returns to her small hometown in Texas to rebuild her life. She decides to switch gears and opens a cookware store where she meets a slew of characters (some family, some friends, some customers) who play important roles in her coming to terms with the lemons life has given her.
I love stories where the dynamics of relationships are the main focus and that is what you will find in Already Home. Jenna's friendship with Violet, her love for her adoptive mother and that of her biological mother, even her feelings for a new suitor are at the forefront of this story.
Although Jenna is our leading lady, you also meet Violet, a young woman who begins working with Jenna with her own skeletons in the closet. There is a lot going on and there are a lot of characters that you are introduced to that have their own side stories. Ms. Mallery is an expert storyteller for what I would normally find to be too busy, was rather uncomplicated. She gave you time with each of her characters giving you a chance to know them and understand them which helped in distinguishing each one separately and in the end relating to and connecting with them.
As for romance, there was some romance, but it was almost like a side note. Instead, I found this to be a story about relationships, about friendships, about love, about finding and believing in oneself. My only concern was that I found that it ended rather abruptly. And while I do enjoy a happily-ever-after ending, I found that it ended on the right note -- leaving the reader feeling hopeful.
All in all, this was a very well-written, emotion-packed story. I loved its wonderful characters and surprisingly how much depth the story truly had. A great introduction to this author - I'll definitely be looking for more from her.
April 6, 2011
Originally posted on: Romance Around the Corner
I have enjoyed almost everything I’ve read by Susan Mallery, some of her books I liked more than others, and some of them are pure gold. I believe this book falls into the last category.
Already Home is about a group of women whose lives get mixed together by different reasons. Jenna is recently divorced and is back at home, her self-esteem has gotten such a huge blow that she is even changing careers, she used to be a chef but now feels so insecure that is starting a cookware store. Violet is also insecure in her personal life, but for a complete different set of reasons, she comes to the store looking for a job, and quickly a friendship ensures between the two of them.
On the other hand is Beth, she is Jenna’s adoptive mother, and she is happy that her daughter is back in town, but is worried about her. And then, along comes Serenity, she is Jenna’s birth mother and has come to meet her daughter. Needless to say that Jenna is shocked and not too happy about it.
This book has a lot going on, but Susan tells the story in a way that it doesn’t feel confusing, or complicated, and she treats every character as a leading lady, they all get the spotlight at the right time, and that gave me the opportunity to get to know each one of them, and specially let me connect and relate to them.
I loved both Jenna and Violet, I liked how they were aware of their flaws, and I liked how they each learned from their mistakes. I think Violet’s story in particular had the potential to become a soap fest and a melodrama, but it never felt that way, and I am really glad, I think is great to have wounded characters, but there is a fine line between sympathy and pity. Jenna’s reaction to Serenity was realistic, and the development of their relationship was slow and full of highs and lows.
Beth’s character was also real, at first she reacts almost too good and carefree to Serenity, but then she cracks and the insecurities start to show. Serenity was perhaps my least favorite character, but it was more of a personal reaction, I didn’t really understand the reasons behind her showing up like that, and that is part of the plot, you have to read the entire book to find out, but she was just too wise, too perfect, sometimes she rubbed me the wrong way.
You will notice that I haven’t mentioned any romance, and that is because this is not really a romance novel, yes, there are love interests for both Violet and Jenna, but they play a secondary role, and in this case that is ok because the book is about other types of love, the love between friends, the love between mother and daughter, the love between married couples, the love between siblings, and self-love. If you expect a book where the main couple relationship gets all the attention, then don’t read this one, there are lots of different POVs in this one, but they are all the women’s, I don’t think there was any need for us to get into the men’s heads though, their intentions towards the heroines were really clear.
I did feel that the ending was a bit rushed, maybe the book would have benefited by some extra pages, or perhaps an epilogue (although I’m not much of a fan of those), there were some actions and decisions left unexplained, and we do get the certainty that everything is going to just fine, and the girls do get their HEA, but maybe it would have been nice to see it. And yeah, the very last sentence was really, really corny, at least for my taste.
Overall it was a wonderful story, very heartening, I laugh, I cried, it kept me glued to my seat, and after reading it I feel the need to recommend it to everyone. Go and buy it, and if this is your first encounter with Susan Mallery (although I don’t think there is a fan of romance out there that is not familiar with her) go and check her backlist because she is very talented, and this book was the perfect example of that.
Don't forget to check out my blog
I have enjoyed almost everything I’ve read by Susan Mallery, some of her books I liked more than others, and some of them are pure gold. I believe this book falls into the last category.
Already Home is about a group of women whose lives get mixed together by different reasons. Jenna is recently divorced and is back at home, her self-esteem has gotten such a huge blow that she is even changing careers, she used to be a chef but now feels so insecure that is starting a cookware store. Violet is also insecure in her personal life, but for a complete different set of reasons, she comes to the store looking for a job, and quickly a friendship ensures between the two of them.
On the other hand is Beth, she is Jenna’s adoptive mother, and she is happy that her daughter is back in town, but is worried about her. And then, along comes Serenity, she is Jenna’s birth mother and has come to meet her daughter. Needless to say that Jenna is shocked and not too happy about it.
This book has a lot going on, but Susan tells the story in a way that it doesn’t feel confusing, or complicated, and she treats every character as a leading lady, they all get the spotlight at the right time, and that gave me the opportunity to get to know each one of them, and specially let me connect and relate to them.
I loved both Jenna and Violet, I liked how they were aware of their flaws, and I liked how they each learned from their mistakes. I think Violet’s story in particular had the potential to become a soap fest and a melodrama, but it never felt that way, and I am really glad, I think is great to have wounded characters, but there is a fine line between sympathy and pity. Jenna’s reaction to Serenity was realistic, and the development of their relationship was slow and full of highs and lows.
Beth’s character was also real, at first she reacts almost too good and carefree to Serenity, but then she cracks and the insecurities start to show. Serenity was perhaps my least favorite character, but it was more of a personal reaction, I didn’t really understand the reasons behind her showing up like that, and that is part of the plot, you have to read the entire book to find out, but she was just too wise, too perfect, sometimes she rubbed me the wrong way.
You will notice that I haven’t mentioned any romance, and that is because this is not really a romance novel, yes, there are love interests for both Violet and Jenna, but they play a secondary role, and in this case that is ok because the book is about other types of love, the love between friends, the love between mother and daughter, the love between married couples, the love between siblings, and self-love. If you expect a book where the main couple relationship gets all the attention, then don’t read this one, there are lots of different POVs in this one, but they are all the women’s, I don’t think there was any need for us to get into the men’s heads though, their intentions towards the heroines were really clear.
I did feel that the ending was a bit rushed, maybe the book would have benefited by some extra pages, or perhaps an epilogue (although I’m not much of a fan of those), there were some actions and decisions left unexplained, and we do get the certainty that everything is going to just fine, and the girls do get their HEA, but maybe it would have been nice to see it. And yeah, the very last sentence was really, really corny, at least for my taste.
Overall it was a wonderful story, very heartening, I laugh, I cried, it kept me glued to my seat, and after reading it I feel the need to recommend it to everyone. Go and buy it, and if this is your first encounter with Susan Mallery (although I don’t think there is a fan of romance out there that is not familiar with her) go and check her backlist because she is very talented, and this book was the perfect example of that.
Don't forget to check out my blog
March 20, 2011
I have to start out by saying that I love the cover of this book. It is so beautiful and inviting and it makes me want to host a back yard dinner party.
I have read a few of Susan Mallery's book and I have really loved the combination of romance and family and heartbreak she weaves into her stories...and this book is no different.
Jeanna is a talented chef in a trendy LA restaurant, married to another popular chef. Her life is going along just "fine", not fantastic, but what marriage is perfect? After her jerk of a husband belittles her to death and weakens her confidence, he leaves her for another woman. That's when she realizes that she has nothing to stay in LA for, so she returns to her small Texas hometown to rebuild her life. Jeanna has to work hard to reconnect with simple social skills she seems to have lost along the way.
In her quest to rebuild her life and regain the confidence she once had, she meets a whole cast of interesting and lovable characters...those characters are family and friends and customers and they all bring a fantastic sense of wholeness to the sweet story told in Already Home.
Please tell me we are going to get a story of Violet and Dragon??? I am in love, love, love with Dragon...the surprisingly grounded brother to Jeanna and son to the kooky, hippie parents, Serinity and Atomic. Aaahhhh...Dragon! Yum!
✳✳ Copy provide by the author/publisher for an honest review.
______________________________________________________________________
✳✳ Reviewed on I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews
___________________________________________________
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Menage Readers
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I have read a few of Susan Mallery's book and I have really loved the combination of romance and family and heartbreak she weaves into her stories...and this book is no different.
Jeanna is a talented chef in a trendy LA restaurant, married to another popular chef. Her life is going along just "fine", not fantastic, but what marriage is perfect? After her jerk of a husband belittles her to death and weakens her confidence, he leaves her for another woman. That's when she realizes that she has nothing to stay in LA for, so she returns to her small Texas hometown to rebuild her life. Jeanna has to work hard to reconnect with simple social skills she seems to have lost along the way.
In her quest to rebuild her life and regain the confidence she once had, she meets a whole cast of interesting and lovable characters...those characters are family and friends and customers and they all bring a fantastic sense of wholeness to the sweet story told in Already Home.
Please tell me we are going to get a story of Violet and Dragon??? I am in love, love, love with Dragon...the surprisingly grounded brother to Jeanna and son to the kooky, hippie parents, Serinity and Atomic. Aaahhhh...Dragon! Yum!
✳✳ Copy provide by the author/publisher for an honest review.
______________________________________________________________________
✳✳ Reviewed on I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews
___________________________________________________
If you like this type of book, you might enjoy one of these groups. Check us out!
Menage Readers
Erotic Enchants
Bookie Nookie's Erotic Lending Group
January 8, 2015
Two-haiku review:
Divorced, she goes home
Opens store in old hometown
Then birth parents come
Dramatic, angsty
Importance of family
Many strong women
Divorced, she goes home
Opens store in old hometown
Then birth parents come
Dramatic, angsty
Importance of family
Many strong women
May 5, 2017
I want to start out saying that this book is Women's Fiction, not Romance, which is generally what Susan Mallery writes and what I read. I don't read a lot of Women's Fiction so this was a new experience for me. However, I just had to read this because I've read almost everything Mallery has written and I knew it had to be wonderful.
That being said, it did take me a little while to get into the book. Because it was not what I was used to, it took me a while to adapt to Already Home. However, once I did get into, I really liked it. It's definitely a different style but the book dealt with a lot of great issues, most of which revolved around the issue of finding yourself and discovering where you belong in life. There were such issues as divorce, the potential for job failure, the appearance of birth parents that had never before been in your life, romantic relationships, domestic abuse, prostitution, friendship, illness, death, and most importantly, love.
I loved all the characters as I have in almost all of Mallery's books. I thought that they were very well developed, and I could see that Mallery put a lot of hard work into giving all the characters personalities that were real and relatable. As a result of that, I found myself able to get involved in the story and feel like I had a right to get involved in their lives. That, to me, is one of the signs of a great book.
The only thing I was a little disappointed with was that there wasn't as much development of Violet and Dragon's relationship as I would have liked because it came about right at the very end of the novel. And, while I really enjoyed the romantic relationship between Jenna and Ellington, I just wish that the interaction and relationship between Isaiah and Jenna, and even Isaiah and Ellington, could have been in the book a little bit more so that I could get a better feel for the relationships there.
However, like I said, I really, thoroughly enjoyed this book once I was able to get used to the different style of writing. Susan Mallery is one of my auto-buy authors and I'm so glad that I was able to get this book as an ARC from NetGalley.
4.5 stars
That being said, it did take me a little while to get into the book. Because it was not what I was used to, it took me a while to adapt to Already Home. However, once I did get into, I really liked it. It's definitely a different style but the book dealt with a lot of great issues, most of which revolved around the issue of finding yourself and discovering where you belong in life. There were such issues as divorce, the potential for job failure, the appearance of birth parents that had never before been in your life, romantic relationships, domestic abuse, prostitution, friendship, illness, death, and most importantly, love.
I loved all the characters as I have in almost all of Mallery's books. I thought that they were very well developed, and I could see that Mallery put a lot of hard work into giving all the characters personalities that were real and relatable. As a result of that, I found myself able to get involved in the story and feel like I had a right to get involved in their lives. That, to me, is one of the signs of a great book.
The only thing I was a little disappointed with was that there wasn't as much development of Violet and Dragon's relationship as I would have liked because it came about right at the very end of the novel. And, while I really enjoyed the romantic relationship between Jenna and Ellington, I just wish that the interaction and relationship between Isaiah and Jenna, and even Isaiah and Ellington, could have been in the book a little bit more so that I could get a better feel for the relationships there.
However, like I said, I really, thoroughly enjoyed this book once I was able to get used to the different style of writing. Susan Mallery is one of my auto-buy authors and I'm so glad that I was able to get this book as an ARC from NetGalley.
4.5 stars
October 23, 2022
NOTE: I didn't like the audio version of this book. The narrator's voice, when she read what Violet was saying was very nasal and annoying.
Third read: Still awesome!
Second read: 4 stars!! I loved this story so much more the second time around. This is right up there with her "When We Found Home" book. Romantic, a little bit sexy but not ewey, wonderful characters and relationships, and a great story with a HEA. Wonderful! Definitely a keeper. If you enjoy Debbie Macomber, Katherine Center, or Kristin Higgins, I think you'll like this book.
Some kissing and no profanity.
This story was similar to those by Debbie Macomber. I enjoyed it and liked the characters. Not sure if I would read it again but I am interested enough to try some of Susan Mallery's other books.
Third read: Still awesome!
Second read: 4 stars!! I loved this story so much more the second time around. This is right up there with her "When We Found Home" book. Romantic, a little bit sexy but not ewey, wonderful characters and relationships, and a great story with a HEA. Wonderful! Definitely a keeper. If you enjoy Debbie Macomber, Katherine Center, or Kristin Higgins, I think you'll like this book.
Some kissing and no profanity.
This story was similar to those by Debbie Macomber. I enjoyed it and liked the characters. Not sure if I would read it again but I am interested enough to try some of Susan Mallery's other books.
December 13, 2011
I find that I really, really enjoy Susan Mallery's women's fiction work much better than I do her romance novels. There is something about how untidy she lets things get in these books that really appeal to me. And they aren't sweet. I am not a fan of sweet.
This was a great story. Jenna is a newly divorced, highly demoralized chef who has returned to her place where she grew up near Dallas to lick her wounds. Her husband was a loser who constantly belittled her cooking, while simultaneously stealing her ideas, and cheated on her.
But now she is home and has impulsively opened a cooking supplies store. With no business plan, and no real idea of what she wants to accomplish the store kinda fizzles at first. But her new hire, Violet, a funky chick with a mysterious past and grand ideas, helps Jenna remake the store into a great success.
However more changes have come Jenna's way. She was adopted as a baby and has a great, loving relationship with her adoptive parents. So when her biological parents show up out the blue, Jenna is not sure she can cope with all the changes, and that includes the new man in her life. Meanwhile, Violet, a self described loser magnet has just met a guy whom she feels just might be a keeper.
This book was compulsively readable. It has all the great hallmarks of a well done prime-time soap without any unnecessary melodrama. There were multiple storylines but nothing felt rushed or over-done. There were so many places where the story could have veered into been-there/done-that territory, Mallery didn't allow it to happen. I loved how even keeled and practical Jenna's adoptive mother Beth was. And while her natural parents, Serenity and Tom sometime got perilously close to a vegan-earth-parent-crunchiness cliche, they never went over the line. There was always a depth to the characters that made them feel 3-dimensional. And there were so many fun and memorable characters who made their place in the story the book at times had the feel of a sprawling yet cohesive tale.
I enjoyed the b-plot with Violet a lot. Jenna's story was light, a bit humorous and deftly told. Violet's story went a bit darker and counter-balanced Jenna's plot-line well. The two women were opposite in so many ways and yet complemented each other.
I think romance purists would not be 100% sold on the story as romance is not the focus of the narrative. This is straight out women's fiction with a strong romantic element. Both Jenna and Violet have a romance arc that ends, if not with an explicit HEA, with at least a strong certainty that both women will go off into the sunset with her guy.
This was a great story. Jenna is a newly divorced, highly demoralized chef who has returned to her place where she grew up near Dallas to lick her wounds. Her husband was a loser who constantly belittled her cooking, while simultaneously stealing her ideas, and cheated on her.
But now she is home and has impulsively opened a cooking supplies store. With no business plan, and no real idea of what she wants to accomplish the store kinda fizzles at first. But her new hire, Violet, a funky chick with a mysterious past and grand ideas, helps Jenna remake the store into a great success.
However more changes have come Jenna's way. She was adopted as a baby and has a great, loving relationship with her adoptive parents. So when her biological parents show up out the blue, Jenna is not sure she can cope with all the changes, and that includes the new man in her life. Meanwhile, Violet, a self described loser magnet has just met a guy whom she feels just might be a keeper.
This book was compulsively readable. It has all the great hallmarks of a well done prime-time soap without any unnecessary melodrama. There were multiple storylines but nothing felt rushed or over-done. There were so many places where the story could have veered into been-there/done-that territory, Mallery didn't allow it to happen. I loved how even keeled and practical Jenna's adoptive mother Beth was. And while her natural parents, Serenity and Tom sometime got perilously close to a vegan-earth-parent-crunchiness cliche, they never went over the line. There was always a depth to the characters that made them feel 3-dimensional. And there were so many fun and memorable characters who made their place in the story the book at times had the feel of a sprawling yet cohesive tale.
I enjoyed the b-plot with Violet a lot. Jenna's story was light, a bit humorous and deftly told. Violet's story went a bit darker and counter-balanced Jenna's plot-line well. The two women were opposite in so many ways and yet complemented each other.
I think romance purists would not be 100% sold on the story as romance is not the focus of the narrative. This is straight out women's fiction with a strong romantic element. Both Jenna and Violet have a romance arc that ends, if not with an explicit HEA, with at least a strong certainty that both women will go off into the sunset with her guy.
December 27, 2017
3.75
This is women's fiction with a little bit of romance. We follow the journey of two different women with two different past, who meet and will become friend when one of them hire the other in her new business.
We are first introduced to Jenna, who was adopted by loving people when she was a baby. After a divorce to a cheating bastard who denigrated her culinary creativity because of jealousy, Jenna signed a lease, on an impulse, to own and operate a shop about teaching cooking and selling products in the town she left ten years ago to become a chef in L.A. With no experience in retails, she can count on the stranger with a goth style to help her manage the shop and find a new business if things doesn't go according to plan. Before finding herself, or did she find herself because of it ? Jenna will have a surprise she never expected : a woman and a man entering her store, annoucing they are her biological parents. It's pretty obvious from the start that Serenity and Tom are unusual characters, not to say a little odd. Can she find love between all these changes ?
Violet left home at fifteen, to escape her mother, an addict whore who beated her and made her go through even worst. To survive, she had to follow in her mother's footsteps but she survived her past and it's all behind her now. Unfortunately, hardship doesn't seem to be done with her, but can Violet finally find peace and can she trust her heart again ?
So I liked this book, but there was time I was pissed about it too, about the unfairness of it all for Violet who just couldn't get a break from the hard knocks of life after having enduring so much already. There was two train wreck I could see coming before and reading with this sword of Damocles, waiting for the catastrophe to happen tone down my enjoyment a little bit. But I liked the plot with Jenna's biological parents and especially the eccentricity, over-the-top, free spirits attitude and how opinions of Jenna and her adoptive mother changed during the story about that. I like the particular sector of medecine Jenna's love interest choose too and I think it's the first time I read about it in books. I absolutely adored the character of Dragon, for his interactions as much with Jenna than with Violet and wished he appear earlier in the story. But more than anything, what I liked was the lesson in this book; the one that tell you, show you that family is what you make of it, that it's not always about blood relationship and that family is more than a mother, a father and a brother. It was great to see the unity between all the characters and feel like they all became one big family.
This is women's fiction with a little bit of romance. We follow the journey of two different women with two different past, who meet and will become friend when one of them hire the other in her new business.
We are first introduced to Jenna, who was adopted by loving people when she was a baby. After a divorce to a cheating bastard who denigrated her culinary creativity because of jealousy, Jenna signed a lease, on an impulse, to own and operate a shop about teaching cooking and selling products in the town she left ten years ago to become a chef in L.A. With no experience in retails, she can count on the stranger with a goth style to help her manage the shop and find a new business if things doesn't go according to plan. Before finding herself, or did she find herself because of it ? Jenna will have a surprise she never expected : a woman and a man entering her store, annoucing they are her biological parents. It's pretty obvious from the start that Serenity and Tom are unusual characters, not to say a little odd. Can she find love between all these changes ?
Violet left home at fifteen, to escape her mother, an addict whore who beated her and made her go through even worst. To survive, she had to follow in her mother's footsteps but she survived her past and it's all behind her now. Unfortunately, hardship doesn't seem to be done with her, but can Violet finally find peace and can she trust her heart again ?
So I liked this book, but there was time I was pissed about it too, about the unfairness of it all for Violet who just couldn't get a break from the hard knocks of life after having enduring so much already. There was two train wreck I could see coming before and reading with this sword of Damocles, waiting for the catastrophe to happen tone down my enjoyment a little bit. But I liked the plot with Jenna's biological parents and especially the eccentricity, over-the-top, free spirits attitude and how opinions of Jenna and her adoptive mother changed during the story about that. I like the particular sector of medecine Jenna's love interest choose too and I think it's the first time I read about it in books. I absolutely adored the character of Dragon, for his interactions as much with Jenna than with Violet and wished he appear earlier in the story. But more than anything, what I liked was the lesson in this book; the one that tell you, show you that family is what you make of it, that it's not always about blood relationship and that family is more than a mother, a father and a brother. It was great to see the unity between all the characters and feel like they all became one big family.
March 6, 2013
I loved this story from the first sentence. There aren't many stories that can capture me from the get-go and Susan was able to do that with her writing in this story. I liked the fact that even though it wasn't a mystery, you weren't able to predict what was going to happen next or look further into the story until it actually happened. You could sense that something was amiss, but you just couldn't quite put your finger on it. I loved every direction that the story took and how it all flowed so smoothly. It is just a lovable story! I loved the fact that is was a moving, touching, sometimes gut-wrenching story that didn't mainly consist of super cheesy romance that never really happens in one's life. I enjoyed the fact that it was a story that didn't revolve around fairy tales!
Each and every character was lovable and exciting to learn about. There was such a variety in each and every character so it kept the story interesting to have all the different personalities!
This was a rather long story, but such an easy, lovable read! There aren't enough good things that I can say about this story other than this is the newest MUST-READ!
This is my first Susan Mallery read and it definitely will not be my last!
Many great thanks to Susan Mallery and her team for creating the Review Crew and so graciously allowing me to be a part of that by providing me an Advance Reader's Copy in return for my truthful unbiased review!
Each and every character was lovable and exciting to learn about. There was such a variety in each and every character so it kept the story interesting to have all the different personalities!
This was a rather long story, but such an easy, lovable read! There aren't enough good things that I can say about this story other than this is the newest MUST-READ!
This is my first Susan Mallery read and it definitely will not be my last!
Many great thanks to Susan Mallery and her team for creating the Review Crew and so graciously allowing me to be a part of that by providing me an Advance Reader's Copy in return for my truthful unbiased review!
November 4, 2020
Susan Mallery - Already Home
After breaking up with her chef husband who was a philanderer, Jenna (who is also a chef) needs to get a life of her own. She seems to find one when she buys a store and starts to convert it to a cookware store. With the help of a newly hired store manager, Violet, who is a bit of an unusual character with an interesting background, Jenna starts to make a ‘go’ at her store.
Now Jenna has always known she was adopted and never cared to know who her birth parents were…but fate has a way of demanding that you change your mind about how things should be. And she finds this out the hard way when her ‘aging hippie’ parents show up out of the blue.
This was a complex story, but not a romance as we have come to love from Ms. Mallery. Instead of a romance, this was more of a story about how an adult child of adoption handles her birth parents coming to find her. In addition, the sub-story from Violet is one that some sensitive people may find difficult to read.
Unfortunately, the things that should have been a surprise to the reader were so obvious throughout the story, that I never felt the strong emotions that I’m sure Ms Mallery was trying to evoke.
After breaking up with her chef husband who was a philanderer, Jenna (who is also a chef) needs to get a life of her own. She seems to find one when she buys a store and starts to convert it to a cookware store. With the help of a newly hired store manager, Violet, who is a bit of an unusual character with an interesting background, Jenna starts to make a ‘go’ at her store.
Now Jenna has always known she was adopted and never cared to know who her birth parents were…but fate has a way of demanding that you change your mind about how things should be. And she finds this out the hard way when her ‘aging hippie’ parents show up out of the blue.
This was a complex story, but not a romance as we have come to love from Ms. Mallery. Instead of a romance, this was more of a story about how an adult child of adoption handles her birth parents coming to find her. In addition, the sub-story from Violet is one that some sensitive people may find difficult to read.
Unfortunately, the things that should have been a surprise to the reader were so obvious throughout the story, that I never felt the strong emotions that I’m sure Ms Mallery was trying to evoke.
January 30, 2012
I've always kind of liked Susan Mallery's frothy little romantic comedies. It looks like now she is trying to redefine herself as an author who's a bit more serious, like Susan Wiggs, maybe. There's still some romance in this book, but it is more of a women's fiction book, focusing on relationships between mothers and daughters.
I was drawn to the book because the main character is a chef who decides to open a cookware store. I love to cook and worked in retail until recently, so I was interested see where this would go. If only my bookstore had managed to draw customers as easily as Grate Expectations does! I found some of it a bit unrealistic, but really the point of the book is that the main character was adopted, and suddenly her birth parents contact her.
Violet was the character that really spoke to me- trying so hard to make something of herself, to be "normal" while dealing with a painful past. I've never read a character like her before.
I found myself wishing that I had more close female relationships in my life after reading this book. The writing isn't always the most skillful, and you can see what's coming with the adopted mom long before the characters do, but it's a nice, gentle book that's good to read to relax.
I was drawn to the book because the main character is a chef who decides to open a cookware store. I love to cook and worked in retail until recently, so I was interested see where this would go. If only my bookstore had managed to draw customers as easily as Grate Expectations does! I found some of it a bit unrealistic, but really the point of the book is that the main character was adopted, and suddenly her birth parents contact her.
Violet was the character that really spoke to me- trying so hard to make something of herself, to be "normal" while dealing with a painful past. I've never read a character like her before.
I found myself wishing that I had more close female relationships in my life after reading this book. The writing isn't always the most skillful, and you can see what's coming with the adopted mom long before the characters do, but it's a nice, gentle book that's good to read to relax.
January 16, 2016
I listened to the audio book. For me, most of the narration fell flat, which I believe was due to the writing. The characters seemed flat and one dimensional for the most part, particularly the men. Violet was the exception, however. I enjoyed her plot line, as well as the narrator's kind of odd characterization. So, more Violet! Hers is a story I'd very much like to read, if Ms. Mallory should choose someday to write it. Having two mothers doesn't really seem much of a problem when stood next to a character who's had none.
June 19, 2011
What a great book!! I fell in love with all the characters, felt their joy and heart break on each and every page!! Can't wait to read more of Susan's books!!
September 24, 2023
This was a very pleasant surprise. Until now, I've only read Mallery's series, and I'll admit that they are hit-or-miss for me. But this was wonderful. Jenna is a chef who is reeling from a recent divorce and who decided to open a kitchen store in her hometown. She hires Violet when they just hit it off, even though they are very different people. After a rough start, they begin to be successful, settling in to become a mainstay in their community. But when a shocking situation occurs (Jenna's birth mother suddenly shows up), Jenna's world is rocked again. She begins to learn about all the different ways that family can manifest itself, either not having enough (like Violet) or too many (like herself at the moment). At the same time, both Jenna and Violet are starting new romances, both gun-shy but ready to begin something fresh. Their friendship is solid, spreading to Beth (Jenna's adoptive mother) and Serenity (Jenna's biological mother). All the characters were warm, but with flaws (of course). They were open to being flexible while hoping for their dreams to be met. I enjoyed watching the store grow with Violet and Jenna working together. At the same time, it was fascinating to watch both Jenna and Violet grow and evolve into different people from the ones we met at the beginning of the book. There was a lot of love and support and sharing, all of which was hopeful and kind. Excellent characters that worked within this interesting plot line and drew us all into this world. Great job, Susan Mallery!
January 13, 2022
This was almost a 5 star book for me. I really like contemporary fiction that feels more real, with smart but imperfect people and interesting story lines that manage to avoid a lot of tropes. This book was all that and more. It lost about half a point for being so predictable toward the end, and I was upset that no one suggested Violet I know why she wouldn't have followed through, but it should have been mentioned. Still I enjoyed it a lot, read it in one day, and will recommend it to my friends who are fans of Katherine Center's Happiness for Beginners, and similar stories.
NB - Slight
NB - Slight
May 9, 2022
An interesting story of a woman who returns home and changes her career after a divorce, and the lessons she learns and the people she meets as she navigates her new challenges—plus a few more that she was not expecting.
The main characters and primary secondary characters are intriguing and quite diverse with interesting backgrounds and/or backstories. The story is well-plotted and -paced. As always, Ms. Mallery keeps the reader engrossed until the very last page. This story has two slowly-developing romances, so there are two happily-ever-after endings to anticipate.
The main characters and primary secondary characters are intriguing and quite diverse with interesting backgrounds and/or backstories. The story is well-plotted and -paced. As always, Ms. Mallery keeps the reader engrossed until the very last page. This story has two slowly-developing romances, so there are two happily-ever-after endings to anticipate.
February 16, 2020
Family, Love, Home
Another outstanding Mallery novel that adds meaning and further definition to what constitutes family and love. No one does a finer job of developing characters the reader cares about than Ms. Mallery. The plot deepens as the characters experience life with its twists and turns. This novel is a heart-warming read from start to finish.
Another outstanding Mallery novel that adds meaning and further definition to what constitutes family and love. No one does a finer job of developing characters the reader cares about than Ms. Mallery. The plot deepens as the characters experience life with its twists and turns. This novel is a heart-warming read from start to finish.
Read
April 1, 2017Was a great story
Would advise anyone to read this book,enjoyed the storyline very much,Susan Malley is a very good writer. I have read several of her books.
Would advise anyone to read this book,enjoyed the storyline very much,Susan Malley is a very good writer. I have read several of her books.
January 15, 2023
Great book!
July 13, 2023
Okay book, but realized halfway through I had already read it. Guess that is why I knew what was going to happen.
August 3, 2014
I really really enjoyed this book. This book is a little different from any other book I've read from Susan. This is not so much of a romance contemporary but more fiction. So it's a different kind of read. "Already Home" is a book, that I would assume may be an interesting read for those who are adopted or going through a divorce. Because this book is about a woman named Jenna who is newly divorced that went back to her hometown to start her life over again.
So in "Already Home" Jenna comes back home and pursues her life dream to opens her own store. As she opens for business she hires a girl named "Violet" whom I LOVE and I am so glad that Susan wrote her in the story. Violet and Jenna became good friends immediately. With so much they both been through the girls needed a friend and they found that friend in one another. They both have such great yet different personalities but they both balance each other out. I'm glad Susan wrote Violet in the story. Maybe if we ask nicely, Susan can give us a book for Violet. =)
Then one day out of no where life just threw another curve ball and presented her birth parents at her Jenna's work place. Not exactly knowing how to handle the arrival of her "birth" parents, she turns to her adopted parents, her real parents for help. In which her mom encouraged her to go forward and get to know her birth parents. So she went forward and tried her best to build a relationship with her birth parents.
But what Jenna didn't expect was for her to develop a whole new family when her birth parents came to town, and introduced her to her brothers. I fell in love with one of her brothers . He brought a lot to the table and he made Jenna feel comfortable about being with her "new" family. He makes it easier for her. They had an instinct bond. She got a new family came along with her new life.
This book had so many great characters. For Jenna, although she's starting new life after her divorce she doesn't want to give up on her dreams. Violet is a character, I can hug and love forever. She brings a lot to the book. Then you have Jenna's "adopted" parents, they are exactly what an image of parents should be. I LOVED her father. Made me miss my daddy. Her "birth" parents, basically your typical hippies but sweet people that mean well. And then you have her brothers, their personalities are so well descriptive you can tell and visualize which one is the "well behaved" one or the "Mischievous" one.
Overall Susan did a fantastic job with this book. I cried and I laugh and I fell in love with her characters. Susan wrote another 5 star book here! "Already Home" is a "Lifetime" story waiting for motion picture. Great job Susan! A must buy! Must read! And a definite Good Choice for Reading!
So in "Already Home" Jenna comes back home and pursues her life dream to opens her own store. As she opens for business she hires a girl named "Violet" whom I LOVE and I am so glad that Susan wrote her in the story. Violet and Jenna became good friends immediately. With so much they both been through the girls needed a friend and they found that friend in one another. They both have such great yet different personalities but they both balance each other out. I'm glad Susan wrote Violet in the story. Maybe if we ask nicely, Susan can give us a book for Violet. =)
Then one day out of no where life just threw another curve ball and presented her birth parents at her Jenna's work place. Not exactly knowing how to handle the arrival of her "birth" parents, she turns to her adopted parents, her real parents for help. In which her mom encouraged her to go forward and get to know her birth parents. So she went forward and tried her best to build a relationship with her birth parents.
But what Jenna didn't expect was for her to develop a whole new family when her birth parents came to town, and introduced her to her brothers. I fell in love with one of her brothers . He brought a lot to the table and he made Jenna feel comfortable about being with her "new" family. He makes it easier for her. They had an instinct bond. She got a new family came along with her new life.
This book had so many great characters. For Jenna, although she's starting new life after her divorce she doesn't want to give up on her dreams. Violet is a character, I can hug and love forever. She brings a lot to the book. Then you have Jenna's "adopted" parents, they are exactly what an image of parents should be. I LOVED her father. Made me miss my daddy. Her "birth" parents, basically your typical hippies but sweet people that mean well. And then you have her brothers, their personalities are so well descriptive you can tell and visualize which one is the "well behaved" one or the "Mischievous" one.
Overall Susan did a fantastic job with this book. I cried and I laugh and I fell in love with her characters. Susan wrote another 5 star book here! "Already Home" is a "Lifetime" story waiting for motion picture. Great job Susan! A must buy! Must read! And a definite Good Choice for Reading!
March 18, 2011
Rated BEST BOOK!
For years, Jenna has lived the city life. She was married, worked in a restaurant by her husband's side, and was doing well. Or was she? Her marriage crumbled,leading into Jenna rethinking her life and her dreams. What did she really want? Was she really living our her dreams? What does one do when she realizes she needs something different? Well, go home, of course. On a whim, she starts her own business. But Jenna's going to need a lot of help to keep up with her new store.
Enter Violet, a woman who dresses different and is unsure of things. Having a dark past that haunts her to this day, Violet is a loner, but has the experience and skills necessary to help Jenna run her store. After a hesitant start, the two become friends and rely on each other to keep afloat. Violet helps Jenna rethink her business strategy when it shows that Jenna has no idea how she wants to run her store. And when a love interest enters Violet's life, she turns to Jenna for advice on what to wear on her date.
As Jenna's new life and business fall into place, who should come into her life unexpectedly? Her birth parents. What a complete surprise to Jenna and her adoptive parents. Beth, Jenna's adoptive mother stays supportive and encouraging to Jenna to get to know the strangers that gave her up all those years ago.
Susan Mallery creates an emotional story that stretches the boundaries of relationships. She tests all relationships in this story - between mothers and daughters, friends, strangers, and significant others. Her well thought out characters are so believable and engaging that the reader can't help but smile, laugh and cry at the situations each one faces.
The story is full of conflict and decisions, and questions. Jenna is torn between her feelings and how to react now that her birth mother swiftly enters her life, and how will that affect her relationship with Beth, the woman who has raised Jenna as her own and given her a wonderful life? How does Beth really feel, even though she's encouraging Jenna to get to know her parents? What brought them here now, instead of when Jenna was younger?
I know when I pick up a book with Susan Mallery's name on it that I'm in for a heartwarming, emotional, pleasurable read. Already Home was no different. She weaves the the plot and subplot in so wonderfully and long after the last page is read, her stories and characters stay with me in my mind. Her books are a keeper and can be enjoyed after the first, second, and hundredth time reading.
If you enjoy a contemporary story full of heart and love, then you'll feel like your right at home with this book.
Originally posted at http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.c...
For years, Jenna has lived the city life. She was married, worked in a restaurant by her husband's side, and was doing well. Or was she? Her marriage crumbled,leading into Jenna rethinking her life and her dreams. What did she really want? Was she really living our her dreams? What does one do when she realizes she needs something different? Well, go home, of course. On a whim, she starts her own business. But Jenna's going to need a lot of help to keep up with her new store.
Enter Violet, a woman who dresses different and is unsure of things. Having a dark past that haunts her to this day, Violet is a loner, but has the experience and skills necessary to help Jenna run her store. After a hesitant start, the two become friends and rely on each other to keep afloat. Violet helps Jenna rethink her business strategy when it shows that Jenna has no idea how she wants to run her store. And when a love interest enters Violet's life, she turns to Jenna for advice on what to wear on her date.
As Jenna's new life and business fall into place, who should come into her life unexpectedly? Her birth parents. What a complete surprise to Jenna and her adoptive parents. Beth, Jenna's adoptive mother stays supportive and encouraging to Jenna to get to know the strangers that gave her up all those years ago.
Susan Mallery creates an emotional story that stretches the boundaries of relationships. She tests all relationships in this story - between mothers and daughters, friends, strangers, and significant others. Her well thought out characters are so believable and engaging that the reader can't help but smile, laugh and cry at the situations each one faces.
The story is full of conflict and decisions, and questions. Jenna is torn between her feelings and how to react now that her birth mother swiftly enters her life, and how will that affect her relationship with Beth, the woman who has raised Jenna as her own and given her a wonderful life? How does Beth really feel, even though she's encouraging Jenna to get to know her parents? What brought them here now, instead of when Jenna was younger?
I know when I pick up a book with Susan Mallery's name on it that I'm in for a heartwarming, emotional, pleasurable read. Already Home was no different. She weaves the the plot and subplot in so wonderfully and long after the last page is read, her stories and characters stay with me in my mind. Her books are a keeper and can be enjoyed after the first, second, and hundredth time reading.
If you enjoy a contemporary story full of heart and love, then you'll feel like your right at home with this book.
Originally posted at http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.c...
March 15, 2011
This was quite the heavy hitter for me. I'm not sure if I've read most of Susan Mallery's work or not, but this type of story deviates from the other stories I've read from her.
In Already Home we see at least 3 (Jenna, Violet, and Beth) women work towards and through one of those "defining moments" we all have in life. I think that is the best way to describe the story here. Yes there is romance, new and old relationships, but the story isn't about that.
I actually had a bit of trouble with this book because it was a little more complex and deeper than I expected. I couldn't handle it with my workload when I originally started it. More than it being deeper, it drew on my emotions right from the beginning and I just wasn't in a place to appreciate that in a story. But I came back to it today and pick it back up from 30% and finished it.
It is a great story. Not what I expected, and so I'm having trouble processing it, but it is a beautiful story about acceptance and family.
You'll get it when you read it, but Violet was amazing. I loved her as soon as she walked onto the page, same with Dragon so I was happy about that little sub-plot with all its ups and downs.
Serenity was a hilarious character in the way she was written. She was just so much herself, and I didn't find her all that imposing, more so she was open and accepting as she tried to build (force) a relationship with Jenna. But seriously, some of her dialogue was hilarious. I loved it.
The story is very girl-centred. I can understand why it's being heavily pushed for book clubs. I sort of wish we could have known the fathers more but I understand how knowing them might have taken away from the story (if you can imagine that).
I am really impressed with this and I am so happy that I relocated it on my kindle this morning while the coffee was brewing.
Now from what I understand, the knitting store has a short story in an Anthology. It makes sense now because Robyn kept popping up but she doesn't play a big role and I kept thinking "go away or do something meaningful" but now I understand. I'll be reading her story shortly.
I don't know if this is the start of a series in Georgetown, and I don't know how I will feel about that because this was a heavier book. But we shall see, I'm open to reading more of this type of Susan Mallery. That being said, the fluffier Susan Mallery definitely has its place as well, but it really is nice to see her break out from the mould I've stuck her in.
In Already Home we see at least 3 (Jenna, Violet, and Beth) women work towards and through one of those "defining moments" we all have in life. I think that is the best way to describe the story here. Yes there is romance, new and old relationships, but the story isn't about that.
I actually had a bit of trouble with this book because it was a little more complex and deeper than I expected. I couldn't handle it with my workload when I originally started it. More than it being deeper, it drew on my emotions right from the beginning and I just wasn't in a place to appreciate that in a story. But I came back to it today and pick it back up from 30% and finished it.
It is a great story. Not what I expected, and so I'm having trouble processing it, but it is a beautiful story about acceptance and family.
You'll get it when you read it, but Violet was amazing. I loved her as soon as she walked onto the page, same with Dragon so I was happy about that little sub-plot with all its ups and downs.
Serenity was a hilarious character in the way she was written. She was just so much herself, and I didn't find her all that imposing, more so she was open and accepting as she tried to build (force) a relationship with Jenna. But seriously, some of her dialogue was hilarious. I loved it.
The story is very girl-centred. I can understand why it's being heavily pushed for book clubs. I sort of wish we could have known the fathers more but I understand how knowing them might have taken away from the story (if you can imagine that).
I am really impressed with this and I am so happy that I relocated it on my kindle this morning while the coffee was brewing.
Now from what I understand, the knitting store has a short story in an Anthology. It makes sense now because Robyn kept popping up but she doesn't play a big role and I kept thinking "go away or do something meaningful" but now I understand. I'll be reading her story shortly.
I don't know if this is the start of a series in Georgetown, and I don't know how I will feel about that because this was a heavier book. But we shall see, I'm open to reading more of this type of Susan Mallery. That being said, the fluffier Susan Mallery definitely has its place as well, but it really is nice to see her break out from the mould I've stuck her in.
December 23, 2014
This book was a pleasant surprise for me, the kind of book that I wouldn’t have thought I liked but ended up enjoying a lot.
I’ve never read anything by Susan Mallery and I picked this one up because I liked the cover. I’m glad I knew from the beginning this wasn’t a romance (Ms. Mallery’s usual genre) because if I thought it was, I’d have given up on it within the first few chapters. I’m glad I didn’t.
The beginning of the book was slow and a bit too deliberate. It deals mostly with Jenna opening her store and making tons of (stupid) mistakes. But once the problems with the store are resolved and we get to the part where Jenna meets her birth parents, things get a lot better.
One of the things I liked about this book is that sometimes I didn’t like how a character was behaving but I understood where they were coming from. Like real people, characters would surprise me by acting in unexpected ways (both good and bad.)
My least favorite character was Jenna, a spoiled brat who didn’t appreciate her luck in life. Although I imagine that meeting your birth parents all of a sudden can be very traumatic, I couldn’t understand all her complains. Unlike my brother in law’s birth mother, it wasn’t as if her biological parents showed up to ask for money; they were great people who just wanted to get to know her. Jenna acts like a sullen teenager for a good chunk of the book and after a while Serenity (birth mother) starts threading on Beth’s toes (adoptive mother) but Jenna never does the adult thing and has a serious conversation with Serenity about her behavior. She prefers just to whine.
The narration was…interesting. Overall it was good but sometimes I felt that the narrator wasn’t portraying the right emotion. At some point, Violet is thinking about her horrible past and the narrator makes it seem like a trip to the movies. I don’t know if this was intentional so the book wouldn’t sink into darkness or if we are left to understand that Violet has come to terms with her youth. Regardless, it creeped me out a bit.
Overall, an emotional story with real life characters. The pace is a bit sedate so I would only recommend it to those of you who are into contemporary fiction.
I’ve never read anything by Susan Mallery and I picked this one up because I liked the cover. I’m glad I knew from the beginning this wasn’t a romance (Ms. Mallery’s usual genre) because if I thought it was, I’d have given up on it within the first few chapters. I’m glad I didn’t.
The beginning of the book was slow and a bit too deliberate. It deals mostly with Jenna opening her store and making tons of (stupid) mistakes. But once the problems with the store are resolved and we get to the part where Jenna meets her birth parents, things get a lot better.
One of the things I liked about this book is that sometimes I didn’t like how a character was behaving but I understood where they were coming from. Like real people, characters would surprise me by acting in unexpected ways (both good and bad.)
My least favorite character was Jenna, a spoiled brat who didn’t appreciate her luck in life. Although I imagine that meeting your birth parents all of a sudden can be very traumatic, I couldn’t understand all her complains. Unlike my brother in law’s birth mother, it wasn’t as if her biological parents showed up to ask for money; they were great people who just wanted to get to know her. Jenna acts like a sullen teenager for a good chunk of the book and after a while Serenity (birth mother) starts threading on Beth’s toes (adoptive mother) but Jenna never does the adult thing and has a serious conversation with Serenity about her behavior. She prefers just to whine.
The narration was…interesting. Overall it was good but sometimes I felt that the narrator wasn’t portraying the right emotion. At some point, Violet is thinking about her horrible past and the narrator makes it seem like a trip to the movies. I don’t know if this was intentional so the book wouldn’t sink into darkness or if we are left to understand that Violet has come to terms with her youth. Regardless, it creeped me out a bit.
Overall, an emotional story with real life characters. The pace is a bit sedate so I would only recommend it to those of you who are into contemporary fiction.
January 17, 2016
I read the book and listened to the audio version with this story.
Audio Version:
I found the narrator to be irritating/grating. There wasn't a lot of creativity with the characters' voices. It was more like I was reading the story to myself at home. While it took away from the story, it is still preferable to listen to it rather than read it (at least for me).
The story:
I am glad I read something I would not normally read. Trying something different is a great thing to do especially when it comes to books. What matters is I tried. The story got one star from me. It just wasn't my cup of tea. I like brightly colored characters with detailed plots. But this story didn't provide that level of entertainment for me.
I found the characters one dimensional. . Most of the time I feel like I have a new best friend at the end of the story. But it was the contrary with Mallery. By the end of the story, the characters felt like acquaintances I had just met. Yet, I had no desire to get to know any of them, due to selfish behaviors. I am still trying to figure out how why Violet's lack of family was compared to someone with multiple parents. It seemed like an unfair and irritating situation for Violet's character. There was also a large amount of (what I call) compliment fishing from carious characters. ugh. Now on to the plot.
The plot wasn't strong enough for me to give it two stars. There wasn't anything captivating or intriguing. It was a predictable simple story, which is fine. But when it's accompanied by the above problems, I can't ignore my frustrations. If Jenna had, at least, gotten back at the high school friends...A good old fashioned cat fight is what the spark this story needed. Revenge or something because let's be honest, take a note from Pretty Woman: women love getting back at other women who treat them ugly or speak ill of them. Jenna deserved that victory.
Audio Version:
I found the narrator to be irritating/grating. There wasn't a lot of creativity with the characters' voices. It was more like I was reading the story to myself at home. While it took away from the story, it is still preferable to listen to it rather than read it (at least for me).
The story:
I am glad I read something I would not normally read. Trying something different is a great thing to do especially when it comes to books. What matters is I tried. The story got one star from me. It just wasn't my cup of tea. I like brightly colored characters with detailed plots. But this story didn't provide that level of entertainment for me.
I found the characters one dimensional. . Most of the time I feel like I have a new best friend at the end of the story. But it was the contrary with Mallery. By the end of the story, the characters felt like acquaintances I had just met. Yet, I had no desire to get to know any of them, due to selfish behaviors. I am still trying to figure out how why Violet's lack of family was compared to someone with multiple parents. It seemed like an unfair and irritating situation for Violet's character. There was also a large amount of (what I call) compliment fishing from carious characters. ugh. Now on to the plot.
The plot wasn't strong enough for me to give it two stars. There wasn't anything captivating or intriguing. It was a predictable simple story, which is fine. But when it's accompanied by the above problems, I can't ignore my frustrations. If Jenna had, at least, gotten back at the high school friends...A good old fashioned cat fight is what the spark this story needed. Revenge or something because let's be honest, take a note from Pretty Woman: women love getting back at other women who treat them ugly or speak ill of them. Jenna deserved that victory.
October 24, 2011
Several times while reading this book, I was reminded that as a new author, I have a lot to learn and will hopefully keep getting better. This is the first book I've read by Susan Mallery and, wow, she is an amazing story teller.
It's hard to summarize the plot of this book because there were many things going on at the same time (in a good way) but in a nutshell, Jenna is a woman who is recently divorced from a pretty emotionally abusive man. An ex-chef, she has returned to her hometown where her adoptive parents live and has opened a cooking store. After some initial bumps and with the help of her assistant, Violet, the store begins to thrive. Jenna starts to become more comfortable with her living situation until her life is, again, turned upside down when her birth parents make an appearance and aggressively pursue getting to know her. While this is happening, we also get to know Violet, a beautiful and intelligent young woman who is ashamed of her shady past and has serious trust issues with men.
This book had it all - romance, friendship, family issues, humor, depth, etc. and I seriously loved it. I really felt like I got to know all of the characters and not just Jenna and Violet. I very much enjoyed the storyline between Jenna and her adoptive mom, Beth. The love between the two of them was apparent but the mixed emotions felt by Beth when Jenna began to bond with her birth mother felt very real. And I also loved the instant brother/sister bond between Jenna and Dragon. All of the characters were flawed in their own way but incredibly self-aware.
What a great book.
It's hard to summarize the plot of this book because there were many things going on at the same time (in a good way) but in a nutshell, Jenna is a woman who is recently divorced from a pretty emotionally abusive man. An ex-chef, she has returned to her hometown where her adoptive parents live and has opened a cooking store. After some initial bumps and with the help of her assistant, Violet, the store begins to thrive. Jenna starts to become more comfortable with her living situation until her life is, again, turned upside down when her birth parents make an appearance and aggressively pursue getting to know her. While this is happening, we also get to know Violet, a beautiful and intelligent young woman who is ashamed of her shady past and has serious trust issues with men.
This book had it all - romance, friendship, family issues, humor, depth, etc. and I seriously loved it. I really felt like I got to know all of the characters and not just Jenna and Violet. I very much enjoyed the storyline between Jenna and her adoptive mom, Beth. The love between the two of them was apparent but the mixed emotions felt by Beth when Jenna began to bond with her birth mother felt very real. And I also loved the instant brother/sister bond between Jenna and Dragon. All of the characters were flawed in their own way but incredibly self-aware.
What a great book.
April 22, 2011
Jenna Stevens has moved back home to Texas. After splitting from her ex. Jenna is ready for a brand, new start. What she didn’t expect was to purchase a building. It sounded like a good idea when Jenna purchased the place. She was going to open up a store and sell all kitchen supplies. There is just one problem…Jenna does not know the first thing about retail. Besides Jenna is better in the kitchen. Lucky for Jenna, she finds Violet. Violet has lots of retail experience. Now if only Violet can help teach Jenna to loosen up some.
I have not read many books by author, Susan Mallery. Just because, she writes a lot of contemporary romance stories. Not that there is anything wrong with that but I usually limit myself as to how many of these types of books I read a year. Though, when I read the book summary for this book, I thought it sounded interesting and worth my time. I like to read books that involve cooking.
This book could have gone wrong but it ended up just right. Jenna could have been a downer but she was fun, though a little on the boring side but she was working on that, thanks to her mom and assistant, Violet. My favorite was Violet. She had a bubbly personality that was like a rainbow. Which I think she wore just about every color of the rainbow in some fashion or another. Cliff started out a nice guy but he ended up not so nice in the end. This was a bummer. It was nice to see somehow other than the main character, Jenna get all the attention. Already Home is like a slice of warm, apple pie…tasty and satisfying!
I have not read many books by author, Susan Mallery. Just because, she writes a lot of contemporary romance stories. Not that there is anything wrong with that but I usually limit myself as to how many of these types of books I read a year. Though, when I read the book summary for this book, I thought it sounded interesting and worth my time. I like to read books that involve cooking.
This book could have gone wrong but it ended up just right. Jenna could have been a downer but she was fun, though a little on the boring side but she was working on that, thanks to her mom and assistant, Violet. My favorite was Violet. She had a bubbly personality that was like a rainbow. Which I think she wore just about every color of the rainbow in some fashion or another. Cliff started out a nice guy but he ended up not so nice in the end. This was a bummer. It was nice to see somehow other than the main character, Jenna get all the attention. Already Home is like a slice of warm, apple pie…tasty and satisfying!
June 6, 2011
I really enjoy Susan Mallery's books. The stories and are almost always well-written and entertaining. Almost Home starts off a bit slow and is a less engaging but eventually picks up. Jenna Stevens returns to her hometown after divorcing her husband. On an impulsive move, she leases out a retail store. With no clue on how to run a business, she finds herself blindly starting over. She quickly hire Violet to help her run her cooking store. As she tries to settle into her new life, her biological parents show up, forcing her to connect with them and their family.
The characters were realistic and well developed. By the end of the book, I saw growth in each one of them. Though the book centers around Jenna, the supporting characters captured my attention. Violet takes on a different relationship while trying to conceal her past. My problem is that Violent had blinders on for most of the book. For someone so street smart, she was rather dumb.
My heart and sympathy went to both set of parents. Beth was really a good person to open her home and life up to Serenity. It would have been a struggle for any adoptive mother to do so. At times, I didn't like Serenity. Her pushy nature annoyed me but at the end I came to understood why she was so pushy.
Overall, a good and heartwarming story.
The characters were realistic and well developed. By the end of the book, I saw growth in each one of them. Though the book centers around Jenna, the supporting characters captured my attention. Violet takes on a different relationship while trying to conceal her past. My problem is that Violent had blinders on for most of the book. For someone so street smart, she was rather dumb.
My heart and sympathy went to both set of parents. Beth was really a good person to open her home and life up to Serenity. It would have been a struggle for any adoptive mother to do so. At times, I didn't like Serenity. Her pushy nature annoyed me but at the end I came to understood why she was so pushy.
Overall, a good and heartwarming story.
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