Review: The Girls of Mischief Bay by Susan Mallery

Title: The Girls of Mischief Bay by Susan Mallery
Mischief Bay Book One
Publisher: Mira
Genre: Contemporary, Fiction
Length: 416 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Summary:

New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery is world renowned for her “insightful, funny, and poignant” stories (Booklist). With her brand-new Mischief Bay series, she brings vivid color to the story of three friends on the brink of a new life.

Nicole Lord wants to be a good wife, but there’s a difference between being supportive and supporting her husband, who quit his job to write a screenplay she’s never seen. He won’t even help take care of their son, leaving Nicole to run the house and work full-time.

Sacrificing a personal life for her career is how Shannon Rigg became a VP at her firm, but she wonders now whether she made the right choice. An exciting new relationship with a great guy convinces her that it might not be too late—until he drops a bombshell that has her questioning whether she really can have it all.

Although Pam Eiland adores her husband, she feels restless now that the kids are grown. Finding sexy new ways to surprise him brings the heat and humor back to their marriage, but when unexpected change turns her life upside down, she’ll have to redefine herself. Again.

Through romance and heartbreak, laughter and tears, the girls of Mischief Bay will discover that life is richer with friends at your side.

The Review:

The Girls of Mischief Bay is a beautiful novel of friendship and new beginnings for three very different women who are at very different stages of their lives. Heartwarming and poignant, this first installment in Susan Mallery’s Mischief Bay series is a very emotional story that is sure to appeal to readers of all ages.

Nicole Lord is the youngest of the three women and she is married with a five year old son, Tyler. She is trying to be a supportive wife, but she has become increasingly unhappy with her home life. Without warning, her husband Eric quit his job to pursue his dream of becoming a screenwriter, leaving her as the sole breadwinner in the family. Nicole is physically exhausted from juggling her long hours at her pilates studio with household chores and childcare duties. Her frustration with Eric increases as he does less and less around the house and fails to follow through with his promises to help out more. With their unresolved disagreements hanging over them, Nicole is beginning to worry their marriage might not be worth saving.

Shannon Rigg is a successful businesswoman who has never been married. She longs for a husband and family, but she is unwilling to give up the career she loves. Deciding to give on line dating a try, she meets Adam, a divorced father of two. Adam is not intimidated by her success or her dedication to her job and he is determined not to repeat the mistakes that contributed to his divorce. Just as Shannon is on the verge of having it all-career, husband and family, Adam’s stunning revelation threatens their future together and leaves Shannon questioning what she really wants in life.

Pam Eiland is happily married but after thirty plus years of marriage, their life is more routine than passionate. She is having a bit of a mid life crisis when she decides it is time to put the spark back into her marriage. A weekend retreat is just what she and her husband need to get back on track and they are happier than ever when an unexpected tragedy forces her to re-evaluate her life.

While all three women must face some of the changes in their lives on their own, Nicole, Pam and Shannon are always on hand to offer one another unconditional love and friendship. With the most life experience, Pam is calm and reassuring and Nicole and Shannon often turn to her for advice. Pam and Shannon are both very business savvy and Nicole finds their guidance invaluable in both her professional and personal lives. Nicole and Shannon provide Pam with emotional support when her life dramatically changes.

The Girls of Mischief Bay is an absolutely marvelous beginning to Susan Mallery’s Mischief Bay series. The small town setting is very charming and quite homey. The characters are well-drawn and easy to relate to with true to life flaws and imperfections. The challenges each of the women are facing are realistic and the novel’s conclusion feels more like a beginning as they each prepare for the next stage in their lives. It is a very endearing and heartfelt novel that will leave readers impatiently awaiting the next book in this delightful new series.