19 | May | 2020 | Berit Talks Books

Happy Thursday all!

It’s getting hot it was almost 100° F today! I’m ready for summer but not for the heat! This was such a wonderful story about grief, new beginnings, and family dynamics.

My Thoughts

What a gem! Sarah Morgan always writes such beautiful stories that warm my heart. This is such a lovely story about grief, new beginnings, and family dynamics. Flora as always been a little lonely, felt a little like an outsider. Her mother died when she was eight years old and she was sent to live with her Aunt who was more interested in her career than raising Flora. Izzy is 17 and still grieving the death of her mother. When Flora shows up to dinner with her father Jack, Izzy is none too pleased. Hurt and confused, and annoyed that little sister Molly has taken to Flora. Izzy is determined not to allow this interloper into her family. So, what happens when Jack invites Flora onto the family’s summer vacation?

Loved the story! Told from the alternating perspectives of Flora and Izzy, I really got both sides of the story. I really connected to both of these characters and found their grief and desires palpable. Flora really just wanted to belong and Izzy just really wanted to be understood. The first half of the book takes place in New York City and the second-half takes place in the Lake District in the UK. The Lake District was so beautifully described, I really hope I can make it there one day. The second half of the book also brought a third perspective, Claire, Izzy’s mother’s best friend. I really loved Claire’s personality she was so down to earth and kind. There is romance in this book between Jack and Flora. It was a sweet slow burn romance, and I thought that worked perfectly in the story where the focus really was on family. A delightful story that just made me feel good!

This book in emojis 👨‍👧‍👧 🐶 💐 🐎 🛶

*** Big thank you to HQN for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***

About the Book

Book Summary:

USA TODAY bestselling author Sarah Morgan returns with a life-affirming exploration of love, loss, and how families come in all shapes and sizes…

New York florist Flora Donovan is living the dream, but her bubbly optimism hides a secret. She’s lonely. Orphaned as a child, she’s never felt like she’s belonged anywhere…until she meets Jack Parker. He’s the first man to ever really see her, and it’s life changing.

Teenager Izzy Parker is holding it together by her fingertips. Since her mother passed away a year ago, looking after her dad and little sister is the only thing that makes Izzy feel safe. Discovering her father has a new girlfriend is her worst nightmare—she is not in the market for a replacement mom. Then her father invites Flora on their summer vacation…

Flora’s heart aches for Izzy, but she badly wants her relationship with Jack to work. As the summer unfolds, Flora must push her own boundaries to discover parts of herself she never knew existed—and to find the family she’s always wanted.

FAMILY FOR BEGINNERS

Author: Sarah Morgan

ISBN: 9781335014931

Publication Date: 5/5/2020

Publisher: HQN Books

Buy Links:

Harlequin

Indiebound

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Books-A-Million

Google

iBooks

Kobo

Social Links:

Author Website

Twitter: @SarahMorgan_

Facebook: @AuthorSarahMorgan

Instagram: @SarahMorganWrites

Author Bio: USA Today bestselling author Sarah Morgan writes lively, sexy contemporary stories for Harlequin.

Romantic Times has described her as ‘a magician with words’ and nominated her books for their Reviewer’s Choice Awards and their ‘Top Pick’ slot. In 2012 Sarah received the prestigious RITA® Award from the Romance Writers of America. She lives near London with her family. Find out more at http://www.sararahmorgan.com.

Review

This book is told from 2 POV, Nina who is a con artist, and Vanessa who is an Instagram Influencer.

Nina learned everything she knows from her dear old mum who is also a con artist, but she has now fallen ill and is no longer able to hustle like she used to, her medical bills are stacking up, and Nina doesn’t know what to do except what she is good at, Hustling.

Vanessa is an “it” girl, she is famous just for being famous, and rich!

She has millions of followers who love her, but for someone who is so loved, she is also very lonely, that is why she jumps at the chance to make new friends when she meets a lovely woman with her handsome Irish boyfriend.

But is everything as it seems?

Unreliable narrators and twists and turns a-plenty in this thriller which is soon to be made into a TV series starring Nicole Kidman, so read it before you watch it otherwise it will spoil it for you.

Synopsis

Nina once bought into the idea that her fancy liberal arts degree would lead to a fulfilling career. When that dream crashed, she turned to stealing from rich kids in LA alongside her wily Irish boyfriend, Lachlan. Nina learned from the best: her mother was the original con artist, hustling to give her daughter a decent childhood despite their wayward life. But when her mom gets sick, Nina puts everything on the line to help her, even if it means running her most audacious, dangerous scam yet.

Vanessa is a privileged young heiress who wanted to make her mark in the world. Instead she becomes an Instagram influencer – traveling the globe, receiving free clothes and products and posing for pictures in exotic locales. But behind the covetable façade is a life marked by tragedy.

After a broken engagement, Vanessa retreats to her family’s sprawling mountain estate, Stonehaven: a mansion of dark secrets not just from Vanessa’s past, but from that of a lost and troubled girl named Nina. Nina’s, Vanessa’s and Lachlan’s paths collide here, on the cold shores of Lake Tahoe, where their intertwined lives give way to a winter of aspiration and desire, duplicity and revenge.