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meldav4's review against another edition
4.0
Susan Mallery has a signature style of writing that is comortable and easy, and her novels involve relatable characters facing familiar situations. Sisters by Choice is a perfect example of Mallery's classic style. I breezed through it in two days and was happily engaged and interested the entire time. I am a huge fan of novels about family; I love the psychology, the dynamics, the emotion, and the drama that each family holds, and am intrigued how each family and family member interacts and evolves as different situations arise. This novel is able to capture all of the topics I am drawn towards, and it is done with such talent and ease that I was completely enraptured. Highly recommended!
I also want to add that I did not realize this was book four of a series that I had yet to read any of the previous ones, and I was able to jump right in easily.
I also want to add that I did not realize this was book four of a series that I had yet to read any of the previous ones, and I was able to jump right in easily.
hannas_heas47's review against another edition
5.0
I love this series! Love the cover but the blurb looked great! I’ve never had a bad book by this author and she never disappoints.
What did I like? All three of these women are family with ties that bind. One is just starting out, one is starting over, and one can’t get started. All at different stages in life which is intriguing and fun to watch. It’s an amazing transformation from beginning to HEAs. Five fabulous stars!
Would I recommend or buy? Yes to both! I love the simplistic covers and deep messages in the writing.
This would have made a great beach read!
I received a complimentary copy to read and voluntarily left a review!
What did I like? All three of these women are family with ties that bind. One is just starting out, one is starting over, and one can’t get started. All at different stages in life which is intriguing and fun to watch. It’s an amazing transformation from beginning to HEAs. Five fabulous stars!
Would I recommend or buy? Yes to both! I love the simplistic covers and deep messages in the writing.
This would have made a great beach read!
I received a complimentary copy to read and voluntarily left a review!
kbranfield's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars.
Sisters by Choice by Susan Mallery is an emotionally compelling novel of new beginnings. This newest release is the forth installment in the Blackberry Island series but can be read as a standalone.
Thirty four year old Sophie Lane returns to Blackberry Island after a fire destroys her business. She is grateful to have the support of her cousin Kristine Fielding but Sophie is struggling with rebuilding her business. Overwhelmed by starting over, she impulsively hires her twenty year cousin Heather Sitterly along with Heather's manipulative mother Amber. Not long after, Kristine unexpectedly faces a crisis in her marriage when husband Jaxsen vehemently objects to her plans to open a bakery. Sophie, Kristine and Heather are incredibly supportive as each of them confronts the issues that are standing in their way as they attempt to make needed changes in their lives.
Sophie is a strong-willed, controlling woman who micromanages everyone who works for her. She has no personal life since she spends the majority of her days at work. Kristine convinces her cousin to join a Tai Chi class where gorgeous instructor Dugan catches Sophie's eye. As she resists giving up control at work, Dugan offers thought-provoking advice that often infuriates her. Sophie has serious trust issues that threaten to derail both her business plans and her budding romance with Dugan. With her goal of expanding her lucrative business into new markets, will Sophie understand she is not the expert she believes herself to be?
Kristine is a stay at home mom to three sons. She also runs a successful baked goods business on the side. Kristine has long dreamed of opening her own bakery and when the perfect store becomes available, she is finally ready to put her plans into action. However, she is completely stunned by Jaxsen's reaction when she finally reveals her business plan. Forced to take a hard look at her marriage and her own behavior, Kristine must decide if she will put aside her own aspirations in the face of Jaxsen's obstinate refusal to support her desire to be more than a wife and mother.
Heather is working several jobs to support herself and her lazy, entitled mother. Caught in a vicious cycle of wanting to leave Blackberry Island and always giving in to Amber's demands, Heather is absolutely miserable. Grateful for the opportunity for valuable work experience, she throws herself into her new job at Sophie's business. Out of her depth yet determined to succeed, Heather must soon decide whether she will do what is best for her instead of always acquiescing to Amber. Will Heather find the courage and strength to extricate herself from her toxic relationship with her mother?
Sisters by Choice is a thought-provoking novel with realistic characters and true to life issues to overcome. Sophie is a little overbearing but her rougher edges begin to smooth as she becomes more self-aware of how unreasonable she can sometimes be. Kristine must break her pattern of always giving in during disagreements with her husband. Jaxsen loves his wife, but his intransigence over the bakery endangers their marriage. Heather is a sympathetic young woman who is facing a tough choice that could have long lasting repercussions for her future. Amber is a thoroughly unlikable woman who makes no effort to take responsibility for her increasingly despicable actions. With believable character growth and surprising solutions to the characters' various situations, Susan Mallery brings this charming novel to an uplifting conclusion. Old and new fans will enjoy this latest addition the Blackberry Island series.
Sisters by Choice by Susan Mallery is an emotionally compelling novel of new beginnings. This newest release is the forth installment in the Blackberry Island series but can be read as a standalone.
Thirty four year old Sophie Lane returns to Blackberry Island after a fire destroys her business. She is grateful to have the support of her cousin Kristine Fielding but Sophie is struggling with rebuilding her business. Overwhelmed by starting over, she impulsively hires her twenty year cousin Heather Sitterly along with Heather's manipulative mother Amber. Not long after, Kristine unexpectedly faces a crisis in her marriage when husband Jaxsen vehemently objects to her plans to open a bakery. Sophie, Kristine and Heather are incredibly supportive as each of them confronts the issues that are standing in their way as they attempt to make needed changes in their lives.
Sophie is a strong-willed, controlling woman who micromanages everyone who works for her. She has no personal life since she spends the majority of her days at work. Kristine convinces her cousin to join a Tai Chi class where gorgeous instructor Dugan catches Sophie's eye. As she resists giving up control at work, Dugan offers thought-provoking advice that often infuriates her. Sophie has serious trust issues that threaten to derail both her business plans and her budding romance with Dugan. With her goal of expanding her lucrative business into new markets, will Sophie understand she is not the expert she believes herself to be?
Kristine is a stay at home mom to three sons. She also runs a successful baked goods business on the side. Kristine has long dreamed of opening her own bakery and when the perfect store becomes available, she is finally ready to put her plans into action. However, she is completely stunned by Jaxsen's reaction when she finally reveals her business plan. Forced to take a hard look at her marriage and her own behavior, Kristine must decide if she will put aside her own aspirations in the face of Jaxsen's obstinate refusal to support her desire to be more than a wife and mother.
Heather is working several jobs to support herself and her lazy, entitled mother. Caught in a vicious cycle of wanting to leave Blackberry Island and always giving in to Amber's demands, Heather is absolutely miserable. Grateful for the opportunity for valuable work experience, she throws herself into her new job at Sophie's business. Out of her depth yet determined to succeed, Heather must soon decide whether she will do what is best for her instead of always acquiescing to Amber. Will Heather find the courage and strength to extricate herself from her toxic relationship with her mother?
Sisters by Choice is a thought-provoking novel with realistic characters and true to life issues to overcome. Sophie is a little overbearing but her rougher edges begin to smooth as she becomes more self-aware of how unreasonable she can sometimes be. Kristine must break her pattern of always giving in during disagreements with her husband. Jaxsen loves his wife, but his intransigence over the bakery endangers their marriage. Heather is a sympathetic young woman who is facing a tough choice that could have long lasting repercussions for her future. Amber is a thoroughly unlikable woman who makes no effort to take responsibility for her increasingly despicable actions. With believable character growth and surprising solutions to the characters' various situations, Susan Mallery brings this charming novel to an uplifting conclusion. Old and new fans will enjoy this latest addition the Blackberry Island series.
cami19's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
ford0218's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jen2499's review against another edition
5.0
I love Susan Mallory’s books. There are parts of this book many can relate to.
There isn’t one lifestyle that fits all woman. Some want only a career & no children, others want a family & a career & others are happy to be a stay at home. There’s nothing wrong with choosing the right one for you.
There isn’t one lifestyle that fits all woman. Some want only a career & no children, others want a family & a career & others are happy to be a stay at home. There’s nothing wrong with choosing the right one for you.
sonia_reppe's review against another edition
3.0
I can't share my review since it belongs to Library Journal. I like Mallery and I fly through her books. This one I didn't love because the toxic relationships were draining to read.
tracyherbener's review against another edition
3.0
Great story about family and the choices we make.
madamelibrarian's review against another edition
2.0
I was a bit disappointed in this 4th of the series. Heather and Amber’s relationship was too similar to the mother and daughter in the previous book. And at least that relationship had a positive shift to it. I want to know how the other women in the previous books are doing, but I’m not sure I care enough about these women. I’d rather learn how the cats are—if there are going to be more books in this series!
krys72599's review against another edition
4.0
I love her series books, and this one was OK. I don’t think it was her best; I like some of her other series better than this one. Mallery is great at character development and her strength at weaving together several different lives and several different stories so that they’re related but independent of each other was clearly strong in this book. Her ending was OK but I thought one of the characters missed out a little bit on her happy ending. She got it but it just seem to wrap up a little too easily and quickly. Maybe she’ll be the main character of another booking all feel better…