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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
Having read the other two books in the Blackberry Island Series, #3 “Evening Stars” did not disappoint. I especially enjoyed #2 and enjoyed catching up with Nina, which we met in Three Sisters (#2), a nurse working for Andi, the pediatrician.
A sweet story of two sisters, Nina and Averil, who lives in California and decides to come to the island to work on a book with a dog, escaping her husband and is not ready to start a family. Nina which has always taken care of everyone, has two guys fighting for her attention, plus juggling her career and her crazy mom, her mom’s antique shop, and her self-centered sister.
Likeable and realistic characters, a book about relationships between mothers and daughters, personal growth, and two sisters with some fun guys in the mix in this small island town. Lots of tears and laughter from this cast of characters….Evening Stars can be a standalone; however, you will want to read the previous two, as they were delightful!
Looking forward to the Mischief Bay series where Averil will be the link to a new series in 2015 with lots romance and friendship.
Copy provided by Harlequin MIRA Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
A sweet story of two sisters, Nina and Averil, who lives in California and decides to come to the island to work on a book with a dog, escaping her husband and is not ready to start a family. Nina which has always taken care of everyone, has two guys fighting for her attention, plus juggling her career and her crazy mom, her mom’s antique shop, and her self-centered sister.
Likeable and realistic characters, a book about relationships between mothers and daughters, personal growth, and two sisters with some fun guys in the mix in this small island town. Lots of tears and laughter from this cast of characters….Evening Stars can be a standalone; however, you will want to read the previous two, as they were delightful!
Looking forward to the Mischief Bay series where Averil will be the link to a new series in 2015 with lots romance and friendship.
Copy provided by Harlequin MIRA Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Evening Stars by Susan Mallery
This book in the Blueberry Island saga is about the 3 girls that used to live next door. Now Nina lives there and rather than finish her nursing degree to go into practice with her love Dylan they split up and he left. She now works for the pediatrician, Andi next door who is pregnant.
She also helps her mom run the antique store along with her lover Bettie. Her sister Averil who's with Kevin and she runs the Girl Magazine in CA but she needs time away from him. They had planned to start a family but she's using on the pill...
The antique store has its problems and Nina doesn't spend as much time there as she should-not much is even inventoried and the latest person running it while the elder ladies were going to estate sales had robbed from them... Nina thinks she might find an honest salesperson in Casey who now has children in college.
Andi is married to the contractor Wade and they now raise his teen daughter Cassie.
Kyle, whom Nina used to babysit is now back in town for a visit and wants to take her to dinner. Dylan also wants to take her to dinner...
Interesting to see how this all plays out for everybody because of all the twists and turns. So many emotions and love what the evening stars title really stands for. Hot steamy sex scenes.
I received this book from Net Galley via Harlequin MIRA in exchange for my honest review.
This book in the Blueberry Island saga is about the 3 girls that used to live next door. Now Nina lives there and rather than finish her nursing degree to go into practice with her love Dylan they split up and he left. She now works for the pediatrician, Andi next door who is pregnant.
She also helps her mom run the antique store along with her lover Bettie. Her sister Averil who's with Kevin and she runs the Girl Magazine in CA but she needs time away from him. They had planned to start a family but she's using on the pill...
The antique store has its problems and Nina doesn't spend as much time there as she should-not much is even inventoried and the latest person running it while the elder ladies were going to estate sales had robbed from them... Nina thinks she might find an honest salesperson in Casey who now has children in college.
Andi is married to the contractor Wade and they now raise his teen daughter Cassie.
Kyle, whom Nina used to babysit is now back in town for a visit and wants to take her to dinner. Dylan also wants to take her to dinner...
Interesting to see how this all plays out for everybody because of all the twists and turns. So many emotions and love what the evening stars title really stands for. Hot steamy sex scenes.
I received this book from Net Galley via Harlequin MIRA in exchange for my honest review.
While it is well written, I just did not like this one as much as the previous two in this little series.
Not as good as the first two books in the series, but still a nice read.
This was a fun, solid read for my vacation that featured a funny lead character, an entertaining plot and a satisfying ending. Some areas of the book felt a little repetitive and I thought that the supporting characters could have been explored further - but all in all thumbs up!
Another great book by Susan Mallery. Typical romance fare, but still a great treat.
I have very mixed feelings about this book.
This book revolves around a very dysfunctional family dynamic and Nina's journey to "normal".
I hate to say it, but I was more vested in Averil's story than Nina's.
... was a bit disappointed in who Nina ended up with ... which is a first for a Mallery book for me.
Bonnie kind of drove me nuts, and Bertie should have stepped up WAY before now.
I really liked Cindy. I wish there'd been a bit more interaction with her in this book.
Overall though, I enjoyed the book and was happy to see previous characters pop in here and there.
This book revolves around a very dysfunctional family dynamic and Nina's journey to "normal".
I hate to say it, but I was more vested in Averil's story than Nina's.
Spoiler
I loved Nina with Kyle. He was fun and spontaneous, but the writing on the wall was pretty clear it was just a fling for Nina. I really resisted her relationship with Dylan, andBonnie kind of drove me nuts, and Bertie should have stepped up WAY before now.
I really liked Cindy. I wish there'd been a bit more interaction with her in this book.
Overall though, I enjoyed the book and was happy to see previous characters pop in here and there.
Good story revolving around two women and the changes that come to their lives. Nina is almost thirty years old and has lived on Blackberry Island most of her life. She has spent most of her time, since she was twelve, taking care of her flaky mother and younger sister. Averil is now married and Nina's mom also has someone special in her life, but Nina is still stuck where she is. She isn't happy, but she isn't miserable either. Then some things happen that really shake up her life.
Nina's high school boyfriend comes back to the island to help with his dad's medical practice. It's been ten years since their breakup and she's pretty sure the old feelings are dead. She opens her door one day to find Kyle, the older brother (but still younger than her) of a girl she used to babysit. He had a crush on her then, and is now interested in pursuing a more adult relationship with her. Averil shows up, needing a break from her life, and the chance to actually try writing the book she keeps talking about. And mom is there, avoiding anything she doesn't want to deal with, leaving it all up to Nina to take care of.
The relationships between Nina, Averil and their mother were very complicated. Bonnie (mother) had Nina when she was just a teenager, and Averil a few years later. Bonnie never really took to mothering, leaving the responsibility to her mother, who died when Nina was twelve. Nina took control of making sure things got done, and ended up being more mother than sister to Averil. Nina had her own dreams of going to medical school, but couldn't leave her family, so she gave them up and became a nurse instead. Continuing to take care of everyone, she put Averil through school. When Averil comes home for an extended visit, there's strain between them. Averil whines and complains that Nina is bossy, but Averil doesn't take responsibility for any of her actions. Nina snipes at Averil about how she has left such a perfect life, and what is wrong with her, etc. Bonnie flits through the days, creating problems that Nina then has to fix, but getting mad at Nina for doing it.
The relationships that Nina had with the two men were also complicated. Kyle showed up and his intensity was pretty flattering to Nina. He's a few years younger, very good looking, and she is actually attracted to him. He's not going to be in the area long, and Nina figures that he's looking for a fling to pass the time. They definitely have some chemistry going on, but that really seems to be it. When he's not off flying, he comes to Nina, takes her to dinner and then to bed. There isn't much in the way of conversation, and what there is seems to be mostly centered around his flying. Dylan's reappearance is a bit more stressful at the beginning. Nina remembers what they had together, and how heartbroken she was when they split. Dylan is friendly, and once they get past dealing with their history together, their old friendships resurfaces. Dylan is there for her when she faces a couple family issues, and when she comes down with the flu he really steps up. What she didn't expect from him were some hot kisses that bring her old feelings roaring back to the surface. She isn't sure what her feelings really are for the two of them, but she's going to have to decide.
Nina's sister Averil has her own problems that she's trying to deal with. She's very much in love with her husband, likes her job writing for a magazine, and has the urge to write a book. They are also thinking about starting a family, but that has Averil suddenly starting to panic about her life. An argument with her husband has her headed home, but that has problems of its own. I thought Averil was pretty immature. She never really accepted responsibility for any of her actions. When she first arrived I thought she was pretty selfish, expecting Nina to take care of her. She also had quite an attitude problem with almost anything Nina would say to her. She did start to change pretty quickly. I liked seeing her get involved in the antique store, and how the things she did there started her looking at her life differently.
When an unexpected treasure is found it forces all of the women to look at their lives and the choices they've made in the past. I especially liked seeing Nina take her courage in hand and go after her dreams. I really enjoyed the visitor she got at the end and the result of that visit.
Nina's high school boyfriend comes back to the island to help with his dad's medical practice. It's been ten years since their breakup and she's pretty sure the old feelings are dead. She opens her door one day to find Kyle, the older brother (but still younger than her) of a girl she used to babysit. He had a crush on her then, and is now interested in pursuing a more adult relationship with her. Averil shows up, needing a break from her life, and the chance to actually try writing the book she keeps talking about. And mom is there, avoiding anything she doesn't want to deal with, leaving it all up to Nina to take care of.
The relationships between Nina, Averil and their mother were very complicated. Bonnie (mother) had Nina when she was just a teenager, and Averil a few years later. Bonnie never really took to mothering, leaving the responsibility to her mother, who died when Nina was twelve. Nina took control of making sure things got done, and ended up being more mother than sister to Averil. Nina had her own dreams of going to medical school, but couldn't leave her family, so she gave them up and became a nurse instead. Continuing to take care of everyone, she put Averil through school. When Averil comes home for an extended visit, there's strain between them. Averil whines and complains that Nina is bossy, but Averil doesn't take responsibility for any of her actions. Nina snipes at Averil about how she has left such a perfect life, and what is wrong with her, etc. Bonnie flits through the days, creating problems that Nina then has to fix, but getting mad at Nina for doing it.
The relationships that Nina had with the two men were also complicated. Kyle showed up and his intensity was pretty flattering to Nina. He's a few years younger, very good looking, and she is actually attracted to him. He's not going to be in the area long, and Nina figures that he's looking for a fling to pass the time. They definitely have some chemistry going on, but that really seems to be it. When he's not off flying, he comes to Nina, takes her to dinner and then to bed. There isn't much in the way of conversation, and what there is seems to be mostly centered around his flying. Dylan's reappearance is a bit more stressful at the beginning. Nina remembers what they had together, and how heartbroken she was when they split. Dylan is friendly, and once they get past dealing with their history together, their old friendships resurfaces. Dylan is there for her when she faces a couple family issues, and when she comes down with the flu he really steps up. What she didn't expect from him were some hot kisses that bring her old feelings roaring back to the surface. She isn't sure what her feelings really are for the two of them, but she's going to have to decide.
Nina's sister Averil has her own problems that she's trying to deal with. She's very much in love with her husband, likes her job writing for a magazine, and has the urge to write a book. They are also thinking about starting a family, but that has Averil suddenly starting to panic about her life. An argument with her husband has her headed home, but that has problems of its own. I thought Averil was pretty immature. She never really accepted responsibility for any of her actions. When she first arrived I thought she was pretty selfish, expecting Nina to take care of her. She also had quite an attitude problem with almost anything Nina would say to her. She did start to change pretty quickly. I liked seeing her get involved in the antique store, and how the things she did there started her looking at her life differently.
When an unexpected treasure is found it forces all of the women to look at their lives and the choices they've made in the past. I especially liked seeing Nina take her courage in hand and go after her dreams. I really enjoyed the visitor she got at the end and the result of that visit.
I've been really impressed by the Blackberry Island series. I really liked Barefoot Season and loved Three Sisters, so I was expecting great things from Evening Stars. I was not disappointed.
Like the previous two books, I found myself really impressed with the characters. They're so well done. They're realistic in feelings, interactions, and flaws. I often times found myself incredibly frustrated, but it was such an enjoyable journey to watch the characters grow, Nina and Averil in particular. I enjoyed Bonnie and Bertie's relationship, but I was so frustrated with Bonnie much of the time, and even by the end of the book, I just wasn't impressed with her and didn't hold out a lot of hope for change in her, but I think that held true to life.
The side bits of romance were fun, too. Kyle was such a fun character, and I loved his introduction, but there was something so solid about Dylan, and after hearing about him as "my son, the doctor" in Three Sisters it was really nice to actually meet him. Even though there were two guys in Nina's life, it never really felt like a love triangle, which was refreshing.
I thought the story was solid through and through, and I really enjoyed the revelations these characters came to as individuals and as a family while working through those dynamics and breaking free from old habits. I always enjoy Susan Mallery's work, but she continues impress me with every book.
Like the previous two books, I found myself really impressed with the characters. They're so well done. They're realistic in feelings, interactions, and flaws. I often times found myself incredibly frustrated, but it was such an enjoyable journey to watch the characters grow, Nina and Averil in particular. I enjoyed Bonnie and Bertie's relationship, but I was so frustrated with Bonnie much of the time, and even by the end of the book, I just wasn't impressed with her and didn't hold out a lot of hope for change in her, but I think that held true to life.
The side bits of romance were fun, too. Kyle was such a fun character, and I loved his introduction, but there was something so solid about Dylan, and after hearing about him as "my son, the doctor" in Three Sisters it was really nice to actually meet him. Even though there were two guys in Nina's life, it never really felt like a love triangle, which was refreshing.
I thought the story was solid through and through, and I really enjoyed the revelations these characters came to as individuals and as a family while working through those dynamics and breaking free from old habits. I always enjoy Susan Mallery's work, but she continues impress me with every book.