I enjoyed this contemporary romance. It features Kelly Murphy, a tulip farmer. Her estranged sister, Olivia, returns home and the two have much to work out in their relationship. At about the same time, Griffith Burnett returns to their hometown. Both sisters have a chance at romance, as well as an opportunity to work on their relationship.

I liked the characters in this one and thought that the story was interesting. I enjoyed the romance involved, as well as the relationship between Kelly and Olivia as it changed. This was a good one!

I love many of Susan Mallery's books, and this was no different. There were a lot of different stories throughout the book, and I loved all of the characters. This book kept my interest, and I wanted to know how it would turn out. I did not find it too predictable, and I'm hoping for more books with these characters.

I DNF this title halfway through. I have loved the author's other work, but this one just didn't work for me.

It's been a while since I read a Susan Mallery book, but I enjoyed this one as much as her others. I don't really care for typical romance books so I was pleasantly surprised that this one has a little more substance. It's a story revolving around sisters, friends and a somewhat dysfunctional family in a quaint little touristy town. And true to reality, sometimes the relationships are just hot messes. I would recommend this one as an easy beach read or for those who just need a little escape.

I was so happy to read this smart, fun, contemporary, relatable book about two very different sisters — the farmer and the fashionista. What’s underneath is what really matters, of course, but the ladies needed to find that out themselves. There were nosy gossips, nice guys who definitely didn’t finish last, big jerks who get sent on their merry way, and a couple of romances that made me sigh with giddiness. You’ll get all you bargained for and more in this novel with terrific dialogue and likeable characters. Reminded me of Jill Shalvis’ Lucky Harbor books. Excellent writing.

This is definitely a great summer read, full of messy and not so messy secrets. The family dynamics are such that it seems in the end, all are very generous in forgiveness, even as more secrets creep up throughout the story. Sisters Kelly and Olivia have remained polar opposites since their youth and it was heartwarming to see them create an adult relationship. Tulpen Crossing is described so vividly, from the tulip farm to faltering tourism, that I felt like it was somewhere I visited in person.

6 Women’s Fiction Best Bets for July 2017
Scarlettleigh
One benefit of Summer was that each day we had more light to read by.”
—Jeanette Walls, The Glass Castle
With electricity we don’t really need to worry about light to read by—but don’t you find as the summer gets hotter and the humidity gets higher you’re staying indoors more? I know I am—which is perfectly fine. It gives me the perfect excuse to spend more time reading.
From beach read books to books that make you think about social mores or just how it feels to be different, there is the perfect book just for you in this month’s selection:
The Seven Rules of Elvira Carr by Frances Maynard
(Amazon | B&N | Kobo)
Elvira Carr believes in rules. She also strongly believes in crisp schedules, clear guidelines, and taking people at face value. Not that the twenty-seven-year-old sees many people. After several unfortunate incidents, her overbearing mother keeps her at home.

But when her mother has a stroke, Elvira is suddenly on her own. To help her navigate a world that is often puzzling, she draws up seven ironclad rules. Armed with these, a notebook full of questions, and guidance from a helpful neighbor, she takes charge of herself ? and realizes that something isn't quite right about the life she thought she knew.

She'll need all the courage, perseverance and curious charm she can muster to unravel the mystery of what happened to her family and to manager her own life, her way.
Strengths: Atypical heroine; Multi-faceted characters; Compelling storyline; Uplifting ending
Measure of Love: Dash
Mood: Poignant
Why You Should Read this: This book is definitely a favorite. I loved the characters, especially Elvira and her altruistic neighbor. And while the book thoroughly entertained it's a great societal reminder that we're all different.

Secret of the Tulip Sisters by Susan Mallery
(Amazon | B&N | Kobo)
Kelly Murphy's life as a tulip farmer is pretty routine—up at dawn, off to work, lather, rinse, repeat. But everything changes one sun-washed summer with two dramatic homecomings: Griffith Burnett—Tulpen Crossing's prodigal son, who's set his sights on Kelly—and Olivia, her beautiful, wayward and, as far as Kelly is concerned, unwelcome sister. Tempted by Griffith, annoyed by Olivia, Kelly is overwhelmed by the secrets that were so easy to keep when she was alone.

But Olivia's return isn't as triumphant as she pretends. Her job has no future, and ever since her dad sent her away from the bad boy she loved, she has felt cut off from her past. She's determined to reclaim her man and her place in the family…whether her sister likes it or not. For ten years, she and Kelly have been strangers. Olivia will get by without her approval now.

While Kelly and Olivia butt heads, their secrets tumble out in a big hot mess, revealing some truths that will change everything they thought they knew. Can they forgive each other—and themselves—and redefine what it means to be sisters?

Told with Mallery's trademark heart and humor, the Tulip Sisters are in for the most colorful summer of their lives…
Strengths: Appealing characters; multi-romances; Complex relationship dilemmas; HEA
Measure of Love: Tablespoon
Mood: Poignant and lighthearted
Why You Should Read this: Perfect feel-good beach read. Another one of Mallery's page turners.

The Bookshop at Water’s End by Patti Callahan Henry
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Bonny Blankenship’s most treasured memories are of idyllic summers spent in Watersend, South Carolina, with her best friend, Lainey McKay. Amid the sand dunes and oak trees draped with Spanish moss, they swam and wished for happy-ever-afters, then escaped to the local bookshop to read and whisper in the glorious cool silence. Until the night that changed everything, the night that Lainey’s mother disappeared.
Now, in her early fifties, Bonny is desperate to clear her head after a tragic mistake threatens her career as an emergency room doctor, and her marriage crumbles around her. With her troubled teenage daughter, Piper, in tow, she goes back to the beloved river house, where she is soon joined by Lainey and her two young children. During lazy summer days and magical nights, they reunite with bookshop owner Mimi, who is tangled with the past and its mysteries. As the three women cling to a fragile peace, buried secrets and long ago loves return like the tide.

Strengths: Multi-generational characters; Atmospheric setting; Complex emotional issues; Uplifting ending
Measure of Love: Teaspoon
Mood: Poignant
Why You Should Read this: The problems that the characters face are not lighthearted –the disappearance of a mother, and the death of a patient— but Henry's lyrical writing pulls you into this rewarding story.

Hello, Sunshine by Laura Dave
(Amazon | B&N | Kobo)
Sunshine Mackenzie is living the dream—she’s a culinary star with millions of fans, a line of #1 bestselling cookbooks, and a devoted husband happy to support her every endeavor.
And then she gets hacked.
When Sunshine’s secrets are revealed, her fall from grace is catastrophic. She loses the husband, her show, the fans, and her apartment. She’s forced to return to the childhood home—and the estranged sister—she’s tried hard to forget. But what Sunshine does amid the ashes of her own destruction may well save her life.
In a world where celebrity is a careful construct, Hello, Sunshine is a compelling, funny, and evocative novel about what it means to live an authentic life in an inauthentic age.
Strengths: Flawed heroine; Thought provoking scenarios; Real-life compromises; Uplifting ending
Measure of Love: Teaspoon
Mood: Poignant
Why You Should Read This: Fascinating look at the role social media now plays in our life. Sunshine is not always an easy character to like, so intent on getting back her successful life, but her journey is a compelling one.

Wives of War by Soraya M. Lane
(Amazon | B&N)
London, 1944. Two young nurses meet at a train station with a common purpose: to join the war effort. Scarlet longs for the chance to find her missing fiancé, Thomas, and to prove to her family—and to herself—that she’s stronger than everybody thinks. Nursing is in Ellie’s blood, but her humble background is vastly different from Scarlet’s privileged upbringing. Though Ellie puts on a brave face, she’s just as nervous as Scarlet about what awaits them in France.

In Normandy, the two friends soon encounter the seemingly unflappable Lucy. Scarlet and Ellie are in awe of her courage and competence, but the experienced nurse is well aware of the dangers of the job they’ve chosen—and even she is terrified they won’t make it home alive.
Pushed to their limits by the brutality of a world at war, Scarlet, Ellie and Lucy will need to rely on each other—and the power of their friendship—to survive.
Strengths: Strong female friendships; multi-romances; HEA
Measure of Love: Tablespoon
Mood: Poignant
Why You Should Read this: While this is an historical-light book the emotional poignancy definitely makes up for that.

The Perfect Recipe for Love and Friendship by Shirley Jump
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Bridget O'Bannon is ready for a do-over. After years of pretending she had a happy marriage and denying that she missed the friends and family she'd left behind, she's headed home to restart her life.

But working alongside her family every day at their bakery isn't as easy as whipping up her favorite chocolate peanut butter cake. Her mother won't give her a moment's peace, and her sister Abby is keeping secrets of her own. And there doesn't seem to be enough frosting in the world to smooth over the cracks forming between them.

Bridget can see the recipe for a happy life- including the possibility of a new romance- written out before her, but first she and her family will need to lay bare their secrets and rediscover the most elusive ingredients of all: forgiveness, laughter, and love.

Strengths: Authentic familial relationship issues; Appealing characters; Uplifting ending
Measure of Love: Teaspoon
Mood: Poignant
Why You Should Read this: Intriguing skeleton-in-the-cupboard plots—more than one secret! Delicious description of food and examination of the bonds of sisterhood.

https://www.heroesandheartbreakers.com/blogs/2017/07/best-july-womens-fiction

This was my first Susan Mallery book. Kelly, Olivia, and Helen all have secrets that intertwine. The result is a semi- decent story for beach-reading. Friendships are rebuilt. Sisterhood is restored. Some parts of the story were handled better than others. It could have used a rewrite.

Favorite Quotes:

Every year Delja visited her daughter for three weeks. The entire town wept as the supply of cinnamon rolls dried up. Tempers grew short and people counted the days until Delja’s return.

She was currently subscribing to the when-then philosophy— distant cousin to the if-then concept. When she lost weight, then she would be brave and throw herself at Jeff.

I don’t want to hate her because that means I’m devoting too much energy to her. I want to not care. I need to find my Zen center.

I’d invite you over, but my mother is there and I like you too much to subject you to that.

I know you could do better, but I hope you won’t try.


My Review:

I adore Susan Mallery’s work; I don’t think she could write a bad story even on a dare. I haven’t read all of her books but of the ones I have, I’ve noticed her characters tend to be complicated, complex, endearingly flawed, and much like real life people they are also frustrating at times yet they are always compelling and highly relatable. Secrets of the Tulip Sisters was an engrossing women’s fiction novel boasting an entertaining, well-balanced, and well-paced storyline with lots of family drama, several romances, clever humor, small town issues, and challenges to bonded friendships. The writing was colorfully amusing with clever banter and witty quips between characters, scalding hot sensual scenes, insightful observations, and a vile and conniving villain for everyone to despise.

My review of this title has been posted on the Fresh Fiction website and can be viewed in its entirety at:
http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=63350
I would like to thank NetGalley and Harlequin for the opportunity to view this ARC.

If there is one thing that the Susan Mallery does well, and I mean really well. is writing about family and friendships. If you are in the mood for a great story with both of those things, then The Secrets of the Tulip Sisters is the book for you. I adored this story. It's messy, gut-wrenching, funny and awkward. It's also a story about how we perceive ourselves and others. It's about personal growth and feeling comfortable in your own skin. And, finally, finding forgiveness.

As I said, I loved this book. While there is romance in the book, it was the relationship between Kelly and here sister Olivia that really made the book for me. Their family dynamic has been pretty dysfunctional. I was really rooting for them to find their way back to becoming the sisters they should have been all along. It was wonderful to watch. I also thought that Olivia had the most growth out of the sisters. I loved watching her find her confidence again. As for romance, my favorite out of the three was Helen and Jeff's. I wasn't in the least bit bothered by the age gap. Their relationship was so adorable and I loved every minute of it.

I highly recommend this one. It is a wonderful story to get lost in and would make a great vacation read this summer. Go out and get it, you won't be sorry!

This fantastic book features many main characters such as moms, dads, sisters, friends and brothers. It touches on many issues such as divorce, separation of families, mistrust, plenty of secrets and ultimately love. I don't know how this author fit all the above in this book. She not only did but did it in a way that didn't seem rushed or crowded. I was so involved in everything happening in this tiny little town that as I was reading I felt like I was watching it all happen.

I love feeling satisfied after turning the last page. As always, I look forward to whatever comes next for this fabulous author.

I loved Susan Mallery's newest book, Secrets of the Tulip Sisters, and can only hope this is book one in what could be a new series set in Tulpen Crossing. There are multiple story lines in this enjoyable read. Mallery gives us loveable characters that navigate the issues of loss, abandonment, independence, love, lust and sex! You will route for Kelly, Olivia and Helen and swoon over Sven, Griffith, and Jeff. If you are looking for a HEA read, look no further...

This is a class Susan Mallory story. The main story follows Kelly Murphy, but the reader is also able to see bits of her sister Olivia and her best friend Helen's lives as well. Ultimately there are three love stories and lots of character development and drama that ensues throughout. If you have read one of Mallery's books previously, you know what to expect and if you liked those books, you will like this one. If you are not familiar with the author, you are in for a real treat. She does a great job of weaving three different story lines together and making each one compelling on their own while still keeping one coherent thread throughout. Ultimately this story is about family relationships as much as it is about romantic ones and learning how to navigate life with some family members that you probably wouldn't have ever chosen as friends by your side.

I want to say that the Murphy family puts the fun back in dysfunctional – but too many of the relationships within this family are all dysfunction and damn little fun. Of course, those dysfunctions add to the drama of the story – and there is plenty of fun outside these very messy family dynamics.

This is a story about three women, Kelly Murphy, her sister Olivia, and her best friend Helen, in their little small town of Tulpen Crossing, Washington. Tulpen Crossing is a lot closer to Spokane than Seattle, on the eastern side of the Cascades – a location that matters a lot in Washington state. Tulpen Crossing, and nearly everything in town, is named for it’s annual tulip crop, the economic engine of the entire town.

The Murphy family have been growing tulips in Tulpen for generations. Kelly Murphy and her dad Jeff are continuing the family tradition. They also still share the Murphy family house, in spite of Kelly being well-past the age where most young adults fly out of the family nest – Kelly is 28. And seems to not think that love and marriage are for her. She watched her parents’ marriage implode, explode and every other ‘plode when she was in her early teens, and wants to stay as far away from that kind of mess as possible.

Until it comes looking for her.

Griffin Burnett is the prodigal son – he returned to Tulpen Crossing to set up his very successful Tiny House business. He’s had his eye on Kelly for a long time. He likes her no-nonsense no-games attitude, and he thinks her no-fuss, no muss style is beautiful, as is she. But he’s not interested in love and marriage either, just a long-term relationship of friendship, respect and, of course, benefits.

Kelly, whose self-esteem issues know very few bounds, thinks he’s nuts. But she’s willing to try.

And that’s where all the dysfunction in the Murphy family comes home to roost – and to stir up trouble. First Olivia comes back, after over a decade of absence. She got sent to boarding school when she was 15, not long after their mother abandoned the family – after seducing every single post-pubescent male for about 100 miles around Tulpen Crossing – and being far from discreet about it.

Just as Olivia and Kelly begin to rebuild their very strained sibling relationship, Marilee returns to Tulpen Crossing in Olivia’s wake, not because she’s missed either of her daughters, but because she wants to stir up as much trouble as possible.

She nearly succeeds beyond even her wildest expectations.

Escape Rating B+: As much as I hate the label, Secrets of the Tulip Sisters falls squarely into that category so awfully named “women’s fiction”. While there are not just one but three romances in this story, it’s really about the relationships between Kelly, Olivia and Helen, how they support each other and sometimes how they sabotage each other, and their relationships with the town and the way that all of them step forward, sometimes hesitantly and sometimes boldly, into their own futures.

One of the themes of the story is about the keeping of secrets. Olivia arrives in Tulpen Crossing with a huge secret. Every time she and Kelly begin to get their relationship back on track, a piece of that secret gets let out of its bag and derails their relationship. That the derailment is intended makes it all that much more heartbreaking.

Kelly also has plenty of secrets. A whole lot of it is self-blame – she has persisted in the belief that it is all her fault that her mother left, and even more damning, all her fault that Olivia was sent to boarding school. She was 15 when she and her mother had the supposedly fateful argument, and 18 when she convinced her father to send Olivia to boarding school. As much as she needs to tell Olivia about her part in some of the worst parts of Olivia’s life – Kelly was not the adult in either situation. Her mother was always going to leave – and it was her father’s choice to send Olivia to boarding school. It helps a lot that, in retrospect, Olivia realizes that Kelly was probably right, no matter how selfish her motivations seemed at the time.

And then there’s Helen. She too, has a secret that impacts the Murphy family. Helen, who is a few years older than her best friend Kelly, owns the local diner. And she’s been in love with Kelly’s dad for years. Jeff Murphy is clueless about Helen’s feelings, but well aware of his own – and can’t imagine that Helen, 16 years his junior, could possibly be interested in him.

Of course he’s wrong. He’s wrong about a whole lot of things, as we discover when Marilee breezes back into Tulpen Crossing to screw with everyone’s heads and screw up everyone’s life. She’s irredeemable. But everyone else, learning to cope with the crises she leaves in her wake, finally rise to the challenge to find their happy and boot her out of their lives, and especially out of the headspace she’s taken from all of them over the years.

At the end, everybody stands taller and stronger. And it’s wonderful.

This is not my usual type of book but it is an easy, fun read. I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my opinion.

28 year old Kelly lives with her father and together they run the family tulip farm. Kelly's sister, Olivia, has returned after being gone at boarding school since she was a teenager. Family secrets and past troubles come back with her, along with the mother who walked out on the family years ago.
While all the characters work though and/or resolve their issues, there is also several lines of romance going on. The main characters are pretty well developed, but the romance parts seem somewhat disjointed. Several scenes are sexual, so if you don't like that you can skip right past them without losing any of the storyline.

Susan Mallery’s newest contemporary romance is a stand-alone novel about the relationships of two sisters, one best friend, and the men in their lives. And they all carry big secrets that threaten to change their relationships when revealed or discovered. Told in her usual entertaining and heartfelt style, Mallery’s story pulled me in with the lovely small-town Washington state setting and the intriguing dynamics of all characters involved. Could they survive when times get messy? You’ll have to read to find out. I enjoyed this novel about learning to trust oneself and the important people in one’s life. It’s a breezy read – perfect for the beach, poolside or anywhere you care to spend a few relaxing hours.

Received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

I truly loved this one. While there were times I wanted to strangle a few of the characters, I truly enjoyed getting to see how this little town operated. I will say that all of the small-townness of dating the handful of people in your age range was a little odd to get used to, but the couples all ended up the way they were supposed to.

Clearly the Murphy sisters had a lot between them, mostly time and a few pretty huge secrets. I'm with Kelly...I would have not been too happy if my long-lost sister decided to put herself back in my life after all they'd been through, but watching the two of them grow and fight and move on, was a joy to watch. The men in their lives were truly special (except for Ryan...he's a turd) and while they had their own little missteps, they did what was best for their loves.

Another great read by Mallery...

All I can think about is a tiny house now, though.

What I liked: I devoured Secrets of the Tulip Sisters on the way home from a conference. It was the perfect diversion and absolutely enthralling — I SO did not want to catch my connections because I’d have to put it down.

Kelly, Olivia, and Helen are great people. I respected how they were accountable for the choices they’d made and actually apologized or them. They were honest and forthright. This could have been a heart-wrenching series and would have played well, but I’m glad it was a stand-alone read with glimpses into the girls’ lives. That made it less romantic and more personal-growth oriented.

What I didn’t like: The only thing I didn’t love about Secrets of the Tulip Sisters was the detailed intimacy info. It was really a bit much for me. ;(

The Secrets of the Tulip Sisters is a delightful read if you don't mind the plot being exposed early on. Susan Mallery does a great job of incorporating the lives of Helen, Kelly and Olivia in this stand alone novel. The characters lives are open books to the reader, however there are only glimpses into the lives of their partners. This book has well developed main characters but I'm left wanting more with other background characters of the book. Some of them I found too one dimensional as I was only able to learn about the character through someone else's biased point of view. It would have been great if there were glimpses from the person themselves and not just the others.