Category Archives: Melissa Foster

Review: Sisters in Bloom by Melissa Foster

Title: Sisters in Bloom by Melissa Foster
Love in Bloom Series Book Two
Snow Sisters Book Two
Publisher: World Literary Press
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 372 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Author

Summary:

You loved Danica and Kaylie in SISTERS IN LOVE, find out what happens next with SISTERS IN BLOOM

Kaylie Snow has always been the fun, flirty, pretty sister. Now, her burgeoning baby bump, hormone infused emotions, and faltering singing career are sending her into an unexpected identity crisis. Watching her older sister Danica glide through a major career change and a new relationship with the grace of a ballerina, Kaylie’s insecurities rise to the forefront—and her relationship, with fiancé Chaz Crew, is caught in the crossfire.

Chaz Crew has everything he’s ever wanted: a lovely fiancé, a baby on the way, and soon, the film festival he owns will host its biggest event ever. When he’s called away to woo the festival’s largest sponsor—and the lover he’s never admitted to having—secrets from his past turn his new life upside down.

With her baby shower around the corner, and her fiancé’s big event looming, the pressure is on for Kaylie to pull herself together—and for Chaz to right his wrongs. In a few short weeks, the couple who had it all figured out will learn things about life and love that may change their minds—and their hearts.

SISTERS IN BLOOM is a testament to the bond of sisters, the strength of women, and the pains and delights that accompany motherhood. A book for every mother, sister, and daughter, SISTERS IN BLOOM will resonate with readers who love to explore family dramas.

Content Warnings: Due to mature content, recommended for readers aged 18+

The Review:

Sisters in Bloom, the second novel in Melissa Foster’s Love in Bloom: Snow Sisters series, is full of drama, misunderstandings and romance. Danica Snow is happy with Blake and her youth center is thriving. Kaylie Snow is in the midst of major turmoil as she prepares for the upcoming birth of her baby.

Danica is at a good place in her life. No longer a therapist, she has accomplished her goal of opening a youth center and her relationship with Blake is flourishing. But as we soon discover, there is still room for improvement in her life. Danica is reluctant to take the next step in her relationship with Blake and she falls back on old defense mechanisms to protect herself.

In the beginning, Kaylie is still the immature, self-centered and irritating character we were introduced to in the first book. And to make matters worse, we (and her poor fiancé Chaz) are subjected to over-the-top hormone induced mood swings. Kaylie’s insecurities are at a fever pitch as she faces a career crisis, her unresolved issues stemming from her parents’ long ago divorce and her inability to see herself as more than just a pretty face. After her kneejerk reactions cause her to leap to some wildly inaccurate and unsubstantiated conclusions, Kaylie’s discussions with Danica force her to face some unpleasant truths and Kaylie finally faces her problems head on. Her character from this point is much more likable and sympathetic.

Kalyie’s relationship with Chaz is fraught with tension. Her careening emotions cause her to lash out at Chaz as he tries to help her find viable alternatives for her faltering musical career. When a person from his past re-emerges, Chaz’s mishandling of the situation causes tension between the couple. Fortunately their misunderstanding is quickly and easily cleared up and they use the opportunity to strengthen their relationship.

The ending of Sisters in Bloom is a happy one for Danica and Kaylie and their respective partners. It beautifully sets the stage for Sisters in White, the next installment of Melissa Foster’s Love in Bloom: Snow Sisters series.

Please click HERE for my review of Sisters in Love.

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Filed under Contemporary, Love in Bloom Series, Melissa Foster, Rated B, Review, Romance, Sisters in Bloom, Snow Sisters, World Literary Press

Review: Sisters in Love by Melissa Foster

Title: Sisters in Love by Melissa Foster
Love in Bloom Series Book One
Snow Sisters Book One
Publisher: World Literary Press
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 195 pages
Book Rating: C+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Author

Summary:

Danica Snow has always been the smart, practical, and appropriate sister. As a therapist, she prides herself on making reasonable, conservative choices, even if a bit boring, and as part of the Big Sister Program, she has little time for anything more in her life.

Blake Carter is a player. He never gets bored of conquering women, and with his sexy good looks and successful lifestyle, he has no trouble finding willing participants. When his friend and business partner dies in a tragic accident, he suddenly, desperately, wants to change his ways. The problem is, he doesn’t know how to stop doing what he does best.

When Blake walks into Danica’s office, the attraction between them is white hot, but Danica isn’t the type to give into the heat and risk her career. Danica’s desire sets her on a path of self-discovery, where she begins to question every decision she’s ever made. Just this once, Danica wants to indulge in the pleasures of life she’s been so willingly ignoring, but with her
Little Sister in turmoil and her biological sister’s promiscuousness weighing heavily on her heart, she isn’t sure it’s the right time to set her desires free.

SISTERS IN LOVE is a light, uplifting work of women’s fiction and will resonate with readers who enjoy emotional journeys of the heart with strong heroines and sexy, lovable heroes. Readers of books by Jane Porter and Beth Kendrick will enjoy Danica and Blake’s story.

The Review:

Melissa Foster’s Sisters in Love is a journey of self discovery for the three main characters, Danica Snow, her sister Kaylie and Blake Carter. While there is a romantic element to the novel, it is more of a secondary story arc.

In the beginning of Sisters in Love, I was not sure if I was going to like any of the primary characters. Danica comes across as judgmental and her assessments of her sister and Blake are honest but a little harsh. Kaylie comes across as immature and rather flaky. My first impressions of Blake were mixed and I liked him the most.

Luckily, about a quarter of the way into the novel, I began to reassess my opinions. As more of the characters’ back stories were revealed, I had a better understanding of their thought processes, actions and reactions to certain situations.

Blake’s story gave me a different viewpoint of his attitude towards women and his inability to commit to a relationship. Of the three, Blake is the most introspective and self-aware. His efforts to change are very sincere and while he sometimes briefly falls back into old habits, his transformation begins immediately. Blake is a stand up guy who wants to do the right thing and despite his discomfort and inexperience, he provides a tremendous amount of emotional support for his deceased friend’s family.

I was really on the fence about Danica for most of the novel. I sympathized with her feelings of being cast as the “smart, responsible” one by her family. However I had a difficult time understanding how a therapist (and twenty-nine year old woman) could not figure out how to take charge of her own life. Her reflections about sister Kaylie are hypercritical and her disapproval of Kaylie’s lifestyle is quite apparent. Fortunately, as Danica begins to re-evaluate her life, she better understands Kaylie and offers her valuable and life-altering advice.

The one area that really highlights Danica’s positive traits is her relationship with her “little sister” Michelle. Their interactions showed Danica’s vulnerabilities and made her a much more sympathetic character. The warm and caring side of her personality is brilliantly showcased and helps to smooth over Danica’s sharper edges.

The relationship between Danica and Blake was a little uncomfortable for me since Danica is Blake’s therapist for much of the novel. There is a strong sexual attraction between them right from their first meeting and I questioned their decision to continue their professional relationship. Their romance feels rushed since they do not act on their feelings until very late in the story. While I definitely felt their passion for each other, I never really had a sense of an emotional connection between them.

Despite a few qualms about certain aspects of the novel, I enjoyed Sisters in Love. The personal growth of the main characters is believable and I liked the progress each of them makes in their lives. Despite the fact they deal with some serious issues, the story is fairly light and easy to read. I am very curious to see what Melissa Foster has planned next for the sisters and I am looking forward to Sisters in Bloom, the next novel in the Snow Sisters/Love in Bloom series.

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Filed under Contemporary, Love in Bloom Series, Melissa Foster, Rated C+, Review, Romance, Sisters in Love, Snow Sisters, World Literary Press