Category Archives: Jane Porter

Review: It’s You by Jane Porter

Its YouTitle: It’s You by Jane Porter
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Contemporary
Length: 326 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

From the USA Today bestselling author of the Brennan Sisters novels comes a heartwarming story about finding love and strength, even in the darkest moments…

In the wake of a tragedy that tore her life down to the foundations, Dr. Alison McAdams has lost her way. So when she’s summoned to Napa to care for her ailing father, she’s not sure she has anything to offer him—or anyone else.

What Ali finds in Northern California wine country is a gift—an opportunity to rest, and distance from her painful memories. Most unexpectedly, she finds people who aren’t afraid of her grief or desperate for her to hurry up and move on.

As Ali becomes part of her father’s community, makes new friends of her own, and hears the stories of a generation who survived the Second World War, she begins to find hope again. In a quest to discover the truth about another woman’s lost love, she sets off on a journey across oceans and deep into history. And in making sense of that long-ago tragedy, Ali is able to put together the broken pieces of her heart and make new choices that are right for her.

Review:

It’s You by Jane Porter is a deeply emotional and sometimes heartbreaking novel. Although very different from Ms. Porter’s usual books, it is a very well-written story with a compelling plot and sympathetic characters.

Scottsdale, AZ dentist Allison “Ali” McAdams is still struggling to comes to terms with the loss of her fiancé just weeks before their wedding. Her world was turned even more upside down when six months after his death, her mom unexpectedly passed away. Her dad then moved into a retirement facility in Napa and although they were never very close, this is yet another change that she finds difficult to deal with. When her dad takes a spill, Ali takes a few weeks off from work to spend some quality time with him.

Ali is a little surprised at some of the changes in her dad. Instead of the introverted man she has always known, she is taken off guard by how social he has become. He has made numerous friends and participates in several of the retirement center’s planned activities. One of his closest friends is ninety five year old Edie Stephens and while her dad deeply cares for her, Ali and Edie do not exactly hit it off when they first meet. But all of that changes as the two women bond over their shared losses once Ali learns that Edie lost her first husband during WW II.

Edie’s story is quite tragic and at first, Ali has a difficult time wrapping her head around the fact that Edie’s husband was an officer in German army. However, through Edie’s recollections and her diaries, Ali learns there is much more to the story than she first thought. She is so moved by Edie’s life in Germany that she impulsively plans a trip to Berlin so she can see firsthand some of the important places that figured so prominently in Edie’s long ago past.

It is not until Ali begins talking with Edie that she begins to make peace with her own past. Ali is very introspective and her pain and sorrow is so palpable that it is very heartbreaking to read just how deeply she is still suffering from her losses. She remains steadfast in her decision to never risk her heart again, but once she learns about Edie’s past, she begins to realize that loss is an inevitable part of life. By the novel’s end, Ali has recovered from her losses enough to consider making some changes in both her personal and professional lives.

There is also a slight romantic element to the story and the introduction of Ali’s potential love interest provides longtime fans of Jane Porter the opportunity to catch up with characters from the Brennan Sisters trilogy. Although the overall storyline is somewhat somber, the historical aspects of the storyline are quite fascinating and the novel’s conclusion is upbeat and positive. All in all, It’s You is a poignant and heartfelt novel of healing that I highly recommend.

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Filed under Berkley, Contemporary, Jane Porter, Rated B, Review

Review: The Good Wife by Jane Porter

Title: The Good Wife by Jane Porter
Brennan Sisters Series Book Three
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley
Genre: Contemporary, Fiction, Romance
Length: 432 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

Is it possible to love someone too much?

Always considered the beauty of the family, the youngest Brennan sister, Sarah, remains deeply in love with her husband of ten years. Boone Walker, a professional baseball player, travels almost year-round while Sarah stays home and cares for their two children. Her love for her husband is bottomless—so much so that her sisters say it will end up hurting her.

Living apart most of the time makes life difficult, especially since Sarah often wonders whether Boone is sharing his bed with other women on the road, even though he swears he’s been true to her since his infidelity three years ago. While she wants to be happy and move forward in her life, Sarah constantly fears that Boone will break his promise. Now with Boone facing yet another career change, tension rises between the two, adding more stress to an already turbulent marriage. Emotionally exhausted, Sarah can’t cope with yet another storm. Now, she must either break free from the past and forgive Boone completely, or leave him behind and start anew . . .

The Review:

Jane Porter’s The Good Wife explores the devastating and lingering effects of infidelity. This third installment of the Brennan Sisters series is youngest sister Sarah’s long awaited story and I eagerly devoured every page.

Married to a professional baseball player, Sarah is still working on forgiving Boone for a short-lived affair three years earlier. Although Boone has sworn it will never happen again, Sarah finds it virtually impossible to trust him while he is on the road. In the wake of her mother’s death and another unexpected family tragedy, Sarah is quickly overwhelmed by Boone’s traveling schedule and her (unfounded) fears that he is once again cheating on her. Late in the story, an angry confrontation and ugly accusations take this passionate couple in a very unexpected direction.

Throughout the Brennan Sisters series, Sarah has been plagued by her unresolved issues with Boone’s infidelity. In an effort to keep the peace with Boone, Sarah keeps her anger and hurt bottled up but following her mother’s death, she becomes obsessed with her fears. Feeling she has lost her identity, Sarah questions her past decisions regarding her relationship with Boone and their marriage. With another career change for Boone, Sarah’s anger becomes unmanageable and she finally explodes. This conflict will either make or break their marriage and Sarah is finally forced to take a long hard look at what she wants for herself and ultimately, her marriage.

Characters from other novels Brennan Sisters series are also revisited in The Good Wife. Meg’s marriage to Robert is on shaky ground months after her affair and a stunning plot twist reveals surprising information. The Brennan family continues to distrust Kit’s love interest, Jude and the sisters’ attitudes toward him are source of friction. Everyone continues to worry about Brianna’s health and she finally reveals the nature of her illness. Brother Tommy’s marriage is still rocky and he stubbornly refuses to listen to his family’s advice.

As with most of Jane Porter’s novels, The Good Wife is a realistic portrayal of life and all the messy emotions that accompany it. The characters are faced with real life problems that do not always have easy answers. The Brennans are close but they also have disagreements and there are tense moments between various family members. However the tight bond shared by the members of this loving family is strong enough to withstand any obstacle that life throws their way.

Another outstanding addition to the Brennan Sisters series that I absolutely love and highly recommend.

Read my reviews of the other novels in the series HERE.

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Filed under Berkley, Brennan Sisters Series, Contemporary, Fiction, Jane Porter, Penguin Publishing, Rated B+, Review, Romance, The Good Wife

Saturday Spotlight & Contest: Jane Porter

One of my favorite authors, Jane Porter, is giving away a Jane Porter Summer Reading Totebag that includes a copy of Flirting With Forty, Odd Mom Out, and Easy On The Eyes along with other fun goodies. Contest is open to US addresses ONLY.

Title: Flirting with Forty by Jane Porter
Publisher: 5 Spot
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 356 pages

Summary:

He got the second home and the Porsche. She got the kids and a broken heart. Now Jackie, post-divorce and heading toward the big four-oh, is on vacation in sunny Hawaii and staring down her upcoming birthday-alone. But not for long. She’s soon falling for Kai, her gorgeous, much younger surf instructor, and the wild passionate fling they have becomes the biggest surprise of Jackie’s life.

Back home in Seattle, Jackie has to struggle with single parenthood…and memories of Kai. He hasn’t forgotten her. Yet thousands of miles of ocean-not to mention an age difference that feels even wider-separate them. And, of course, her friends disapprove. When a choice must be made, can she, will she risk everything for her chance at happiness?


Title: Odd Mom Out by Jane Porter
Publisher: 5 Spot
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 410 pages

Summary:

Advertising executive Marta Zinsser is no poster child for her wealthy Seattle suburb-and nothing could please her more. This former New Yorker wears combat boots, not Manolos, and drives a righteous Harley hog instead of a Mercedes SUV. Now she’s launching her own agency in this land of the Microsoft elite, even though her ten-year-old daughter wishes she’d put on a sweater set and just be normal.

Can this ex-urbanite remain uniquely herself without alienating the inner circle of smug, cookie-cutter executive wives? And when push comes to shove, can she stop being the proud odd mom out and take a chance at something frighteningly-and tantalizingly-new?


Title: Easy on the Eyes by Jane Porter
Publisher: 5 Spot
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 335 pages

Summary:

At 38, Tiana Tomlinson has made it. America adores her as one of the anchors of America Tonight, a top-rated nightly entertainment and news program. But even with the trappings that come with her elite lifestyle, she feels empty. Tina desperately misses her late husband Keith, who died several years before. And in a business that thrives on youth, Tina is getting the message that her age is starting to show and certain measures must be taken if she wants to remain in the spotlight. It doesn’t help that at every turn she has to deal with her adversary–the devilishly handsome, plastic surgeon to the stars, Michael Sullivan. But a trip away from the Hollywood madness has consequences that could affect the rest of her life.


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It’s that easy! The winner will be selected using random.org. Prize will be mailed by media mail. The winner will be posted HERE on Tuesday.

***Thank you to Ms. Porter for her generous donation of this week’s Saturday Spotlight giveaway.***

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Filed under Contest, Jane Porter, Saturday Spotlight

Review: The Good Daughter by Jane Porter

Title: The Good Daughter by Jane Porter
Brennan Sisters Series Book Two
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley Trade
Genre: Contemporary, Fiction, Romance
Length: 384 pages
Book Rating: B+

Review Copy Obtained from Author

Summary:

Love was given to all, except herself . . .

Kit Brennan has always been the most grounded of her sisters. A Catholic school English teacher for seventeen years and a constant giver, her decisions have been sound—just not very satisfying. Her fortieth birthday is right around the corner, causing Kit to consider some wilder notions, like skipping right past the love and marriage to raising a child all by herself . . .

A girls’ weekend away is just the reprieve Kit needs from school, Mr. Wrongs, and life-changing decisions. It’s there that she meets a man who’s dangerous; a man who challenges who she thought she was, or rather should be. Kit wants to indulge herself this once, but with one of her students in crisis and the weight of her family’s burdens weighing heavy on her heart, Kit isn’t sure if now is the time to let her own desires take flight . . .

The Review:

In The Good Daughter, the second installment of the Brennan Sisters trilogy, Jane Porter brings her readers another novel that is as heartwarming as it is poignant. It a journey of self-discovery for middle sister Kit as she struggles with an impending loss, unsettling memories from her past and what she wants for her future.

In The Good Woman, high school English teacher Kit Brennan broke up with her longtime live in boyfriend. She is quite close to her family and she shares a tight bond with her sisters. As the middle daughter, Kit is the family peacemaker. Her twin sister, Brianna, is the family wild child while Kit is content to stay out of the limelight. She does not do anything to rock the boat and she is not very assertive. But all of that begins to change when Kit meets a man that her family most likely will not approve of.

Kit is very reflective in The Good Daughter. Her forays into the dating scene ended with disastrous results and she is contemplating what she wants for her future. With the purchase of her first home and with a few successful home renovations under her belt, she realizes she does not need a man in her life. What Kit really desires is a family and she knows what she is considering will not go over very well with her rather conservative and very Catholic family.

The two men that Kit meets prove that appearances can be deceiving. Michael Dempsey is a clean cut professional and new to the area. Kit is not really interested in dating, but she has a hard time saying no so she agrees to go on a date with him. Kit is quite uncomfortable with some of the things he reveals and she realizes that something is not quite right about Michael.

The other new man in Kit’s life is Jude. He is sexy and mysterious. A bad boy biker type that Kit is drawn to despite the fact that he is nothing at all like anyone she knows. Like many people, Kit is guilty of judging someone based on their appearance, so she quickly dismisses the possibility of any type of relationship with Jude.

Eventually Kit’s personal and professional lives converge and both men play key roles in this part of the storyline. We discover the secrets both men are hiding and Kit learns a lot about herself as the story arc plays out.

The Brennan family remains on the periphery for much of The Good Daughter. While Kit shares many scenes with her parents, most of the interactions with sisters Meg, Sarah and Brianna are mainly on the telephone. Her brother Tommy and his wife Cass are still at an impasse in their struggle with infertility. Brianna is dealing with a health issue of some kind. Neither Brianna and Kit have yet to come to terms with an incident from their childhood.

The Good Daughter is full of deep emotions and some of the scenes moved me to tears. Jane Porter provides Kit with a happily ever after ending, but the remaining unresolved storylines will leave readers impatiently awaiting the next book of the Brennan Sisters trilogy which is scheduled for release later this year.

Click HERE to read my review of The Good Woman .

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Filed under Berkely Trade, Brennan Sisters Series, Contemporary, Fiction, Jane Porter, Penguin Publishing, Rated B+, Review, Romance

Preorder Contest for Jane Porter’s The Good Daughter

For more information please visit Ms. Porter’s website or Facebook Fan Page.

Read my review of The Good Wife, the first book in the Brennan Sister’s series HERE.

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Filed under Jane Porter

The Good Woman by Jane Porter

Title: The Good Woman by Jane Porter
Brennan Sisters Series Book One
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley Trade
Genre: Contemporary, Fiction
Length: 368 pages
Book Rating: B+

Review Copy Obtained from Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

Is it possible to leave it all behind?

The firstborn of a large Irish-American family, Meg Brennan Roberts is a successful publicist, faithful wife, and doting mother who prides herself on always making the right decisions. But years of being “the good woman” have taken a toll and though her winery career thrives, Meg feels burned out and empty, and more disconnected than ever from her increasingly distant husband. Lonely and disheartened, she attends the London Wine Fair with her boss, ruggedly handsome vintner, Chad Hallahan. It’s here, alone together in an exotic city, far from “real” life, that Chad confesses his long-standing desire for Meg.

Overwhelmed, flattered, and desperately confused, Meg returns home, only to suddenly question every choice she’s ever made, especially that of her marriage. For Meg, something’s got to give, and for once in her life she flees her responsibilities—but with consequences as reckless and irreversible as they are liberating. Now she must decide whether being the person everyone needs is worth losing the woman she was meant to be.

The Review:

The Good Woman by Jane Porter is a captivating novel about the complexities of sibling and marital relationships. This first book in a series about a large, close-knit Irish Catholic family details Meg Roberts’ complicated yet loving relationships with her sisters. It is also a compelling story about her unhappiness with her marriage and her unexpected attraction to her sexy boss Chad.

The oldest of the Brennan children, Meg is the responsible one. She holds herself to high standards and the stress of always being perfect is wearing thin. She is overwhelmed by the demands of a busy life as a working wife and mother who works a “second shift” at home taking care of their children and household chores. After seventeen years of marriage, she is feeling neglected, overlooked and underappreciated by her husband Jack.

Another source of contention for Meg is her close but complex relationships with her family. The annual Brennan women’s retreat is anything but peaceful as each of the women is experiencing their own personal crises. Sarah, married to a major league ballplayer, is dealing with her insecurities in the aftermath of her husband’s affair. Kit is tired of waiting for her boyfriend of ten years to propose. Kit’s fraternal twin sister, Brianna is hypercritical of Meg, rude and sometimes downright hateful. Sister-in-law Cass and brother Tommy are struggling with infertility. But the news that devastates the family is the fact that their mother’s cancer has returned.

I think there are many women who will be able to relate to Meg and some of what she is going through. Busy, hectic lives keep us frantically trying to keep up with our kid’s various activities. It is easy to become complacent in long term relationships. Communication between partners fails when resentment builds. The dynamics between adult siblings are oftentimes mired down by long held rivalries and disagreements.

The Good Woman is an incredibly realistic novel that is heartbreaking and poignant. It is an accurate depiction of both the good and bad that comes with family life. Jane Porter takes her characters and her readers on an emotional journey that is full of surprising twists and turns.

An excellent first installment in a promising new series that I greatly enjoyed and highly recommend. I am greatly anticipating The Good Daughter, the next novel in the Brennan Sisters trilogy.

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Filed under Berkely Trade, Brennan Sisters Series, Contemporary, Fiction, Jane Porter, Penguin Group, Rated B+, The Good Woman