A heartwarming story about love, loss, and picking up the pieces afterwards. Susan Mallery brings family dynamics to the forefront in her latest release. We meet two sisters who have been estranged for years and are all of a sudden thrust together again ... and have to learn how to co-exist without pulling each other's hair out! The characters are well developed, there's love, loss, humor and sex all rolled up into an entertaining read. It didn't take my breath away, but it was a really fun read.

Kelly Murphy's life in small town Tulpen Crossing, Washington was just getting interesting when she's blindsided by her estranged sister returning to town! Sexy Griffith Burnett had recently returned to town and was making his interest in her more than obvious, but how can she concentrate on starting something up with him when her life all of a sudden feels like Public Enemy Number One has invaded?

Olivia Murphy sashays back into town looking for trouble and planning to wrangle in the man that got away, but when she gets met with disappointment as soon as she arrives, she decides to sit back and see what other damage she can do. She's not expecting the friendliness and hospitality that is showered on her in town. She never felt like she belonged here in the past ... but could she have been jinxing herself with her attitude?

Secrets are the norm around this town, and as they come out little by little, lives will be unraveled and they'll be left picking up the pieces of the after math!

Susan Mallery is one of a handful of authors that can get a reader to laugh while wiping away heartfelt tears. Secrets of the Tulip Sisters is about what it means to be a family. It's not always pretty or easy but that's what makes it all worthwhile. Through the eyes of Kelly and Olivia, Ms. Mallery teaches the benefits of redemption and forgiveness. The Murphy sisters learn about love, pride and the power of healing in this soulful tale that warms the heart.

Mallery knows how to put words to paper and bring a story to life. This new book was a true journey of self discovery and what it takes to make a family operate. The dynamics between the sisters rang true and made me think about my own sister and our relationship. She showed us that a true family is never easy but definitely worth the effort in the end. I love it when a book pulls me in and makes me take a look at my own surroundings. I would definitely recommend this book and look forward to what else she has to offer to the everyday reader.

Ms. Mallery is one of my go to authors. I enjoy her light refreshing romances but I wait for her insightful romances that delve into a woman's soul. There is no more tangled a web than human relationships and this story promised a very interesting ride which for me failed to realize the full potential of my expectations.

Kelly Murphy at the ripe age of 28 still lives at home with her divorced dad. She carries a lot of guilt that seems to have had an impact on her forming a healthy and fulfilling relationship. Having broken off with long term boyfriend Sven she's licking her wounds when her estranged sister Olivia moves back to town. Her friends with benefits relationship with high school crush Griffith has definitely come at the right time and will go a long way towards healing her wounds.

Olivia comes back to town to pick with her high school heart throb who had abandoned her in college in favor of a now washed up career and is currently mooching off his brother Griffith. Olivia has her own share of baggage but ends up wandering into opportunities that cause her to shine. As she explores a relationship with her sister and her father and school friends she finds herself quite enjoying the town except she knows the bubble is going to burst when her family finds out the secrets she's hiding. To complicate things she starts up a booty call relationship with her sisters long term now ex-boyfriend.

Kelly's father is a handsome man who's been widowed a long time takes up a sexual relationship with Kelly's best friend who's been in love with him for a long time. If readers aren't already waiting for the other shoe to drop between all these complicated secrets and crossovers, Kelly and Olivia's mother arrives on the scene ready to cause mischief.

With all the secrets every one is keeping the reader definitely knows that each one of these characters is going to get caught sooner or later and it makes for interesting reading as each hidden truth emerges with it's attendant consequences. For me I felt that the story did not strike a light hearted note with the psychological impact on each of the characters and how it's impacted their lives coming to the surface and yet the story did not reach the emotional depths and intensity that I'm used to from the author.

Love's blooming in tulip country (okay corny but I couldn't resist)

Kelly Murphy and her father Jeff own a huge tulip farm in Tulpen Crossing, Washington. Kelly is 28 years old and still lives with her father.

Kelly was in a serious relationship until six months ago but hasn't given much thought to another relationship until just lately. Her high school crush, Griffith Burnett, has been following her around. She's wondering what's going on since she's not the femme fatale type. She's a farmer - in work boots, cargo pants, and tee shirts.

While she's trying to figure out what Griffith is up to her sexy younger sister arrives back in town after being gone for ten years. And her best friend, Helen, who owns the local diner, is acting strangely.

I loved the characters in this story. They all had secrets and a lot of the secrets were intertwined. The whole storyline felt very true to life and it was loads of fun reading about each of the women.

I received this book from Harlequin Books through Net Galley in exchange for my unbiased review.

I mildly enjoyed this read. I tend to get suckered in to reading sister-themed romance, as I have many sisters. However this one was sort of light on both character development and good pacing. I didn't fall in love with any of the characters (particularly Griffith), and in general the story moved a bit slowly for my taste.

3 stars.

*I received a review copy from the publisher/author via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.*

Will post at Romance Reviews Today sometime this month.
www.romrevtoday.com


SECRETS OF THE TULIP SISTERS – Susan Mallery
HQN
ISBN: 978-0-373-80276-0
July 2017
Contemporary Romance

Tulpen’s Crossing, Washington – Present Day

Kelly Murphy and her father, Jeff, own a busy tulip farm, their lives pretty much mundane and settled in the small town of Tulpen’s Crossing. One day, Kelly is asked out on a date by Griffith Burnet. She agrees, but wants to take it slow, and that’s all right with the marriage shy Griffith. Her father, Jeff, stops in every day for breakfast at a local café owned by Helen, who happens to be Kelly’s best friend. What Jeff doesn’t know is that Helen is in love with him. One day Kelly and Jeff’s lives are uprooted when Kelly’s younger sister (and Jeff’s daughter) returns to town after many years in Phoenix. Olivia is different and seems out of place after living in a big city, but Jeff and Kelly invite her into their home to spend the summer. What do Kelly, Helen and Olivia have in common? They’re all carrying secrets.

Kelly feels guilty for being the one to suggest to Jeff years ago to send the then fifteen-year-old Olivia away to boarding school after their parents divorced. She feared her little sister would end up pregnant and resent being tied down. The sisters haven’t been in contact for years as Oliva never returned to Tulpen’s Crossing, and now they’re living under the same roof. As can be expected, there is tension. Meanwhile, as Kelly’s relationship with Griffith develops, she’s soon forced to admit she has an issue that may come up if they make love.

Unknown to Kelly, Olivia has not only been in contact with their mother, Marilee, she has been employed by her. Kelly’s relationship with Marilee is frigid, with no contact since the divorce due to her mother’s infidelity during her marriage to Jeff. There is also tension between the sisters that Olivia can’t put a finger on. Olivia originally came back to see if she could rekindle a relationship with her old love, Ryan, who is Griffith’s brother, but he’s now involved with another woman. One day, while out on a run, Olivia meets a handsome man named Sven and they start a fling. Then Marilee shows up in town, seemingly determined to reunite with both her daughters…and her ex-husband.

Just before Marilee comes back to town, Helen works up the nerve to tell Jeff that she’s attracted to him. While he’s shocked and it takes a couple of days before he returns to her café, he admits he also feels the same for her, despite their age differences. But the return of his ex-wife, Marilee, sets off an uneasy tension between the new lovers. Helen can’t talk to Kelly, her best friend, because she and Jeff agreed to keep their affair a secret. Watching Marilee fawn over Jeff eats at Helen.

SECRETS OF THE TULIP SISTERS is an ensemble romance, with all three main females—Kelly, Olivia, and Helen—involved in romances. Tulips are in Kelly and Jeff’s blood and an integral part of the town. Griffith runs a “tiny homes” building business that is booming more than he anticipated. He also has to deal with Ryan, who’d rather goof off than work. It’s hard when one of your employees is your brother. Jeff hasn’t had a steady girlfriend since his divorce from Marilee, and the town gossips hint that he goes out of town for his “needs.” Helen approaches Jeff by asking if he’s dating someone, and when he says no, she reveals her attraction to him. Meanwhile, Olivia adjusts to being back in town, though after many years away she feels out of touch with her old friends. Her sex only relationship with Sven is going much better. Marilee’s presence affects many lives. Will she end up staying?

The external plot that drives SECRETS OF THE TULIP SISTERS is a charity auction that everyone gets involved in, with Olivia the driving force behind the planning. She soon realizes she has a knack for planning events. Since she has been unhappy working for Marilee, could she find a job in event planning somewhere…like in Tulpen’s Crossing? But telling Marilee, a manipulative bitch, that she wants to quit her job is one task Olivia isn’t looking forward to.

As mentioned before, the women have secrets that could hurt their relationships with each other. In SECRETS OF THE TULIP SISTERS, the secrets are not divulged all at once, but one by one and that makes for some nice story pacing. Of course, there are blowups and the making up, but everything is finally revealed by the end.

SECRETS OF THE TULIP SISTERS is the perfect beach read you’ll want to tuck into your beach bag and one that I thoroughly enjoyed. Kelly, Helen, and Olivia will have you rooting for them to find their happily-ever-after. Here’s a hint…they do!

Patti Fischer

Susan Mallery always writes books that are pleasantly readable, and this one is no exception. Yes, this book is women's fiction, but the plot is engaging and the characters likable and believable. As I got deeper into the book, I found I couldn't put it down. A pleasant summertime read!

Griffith Burnett knows why tulip farmer Kelly Murphy is avoiding him. After he insulted her fairly cruelly in high school, he deserves a little bit of a cold shoulder. But also wants her to get over it because he wants to get with her.
Kelly has more issues that just an overzealous suitor. Her sister is home for the first time years and Kelly has to admit that she had a large part in helping to have her sister sent to boarding school. Also in town as a surprise? The mother who had a number of embarrassingly public affairs and then walked out on them all. And then there's her best friend who's harboring a secret crush on Kelly's father....
Olivia Murphy isn't exactly loving her life either. Her father sent her away as a teenager and, though Olivia has built a life for herself, she's not really sure it's a life that she wants. Maybe going home will help her clear her head.
I didn't love the main hero, Griffith. I think he was supposed to be forceful but was mostly sort of a jerk. And Kelly has an issue that I felt was not handled well. Olivia was a nice addition but she had too many problems that got solved way too quickly without any build or tension.

Three Stars
This book comes out July 11

Review featured at www.books-n-kisses.com

3.75 Hearts When someone asks me my favorite author Susan Mallery is the first author that comes to mind. If someone asks me my favorite series Fool’s Gold is the answer. This was not a Fool’s Gold book that is for sure.

I never seemed to connect with any of the characters in this story. I thought the story was good and enjoyed the dynamics of the sisters and brothers being so different than they were in school but I just didn’t understand a lot of why’s in this story. I mean I get the concept of the “why” but the why’s in this story just didn’t work for me. Just because Griffith got a divorce he will never love again? Why? There are a lot of secrets in this story too which didn’t make sense. I could go on and on of things that I just didn’t get but I won’t.

But I will say that any Mallery book is worth the read. I based this review on what I know of her writing. If I was to compare it to all the authors I read the number would have been much high. Now on to Happily, Inc. (a spin off of Fool’s Gold).

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

No one can tell a story quite like Susan Mallery. Kelly and Olivia are sisters who have been apart for years due to their selfish mother's defection. Now they're back together and have to find a way to be sisters again. Second chances is a theme between the sisters, the men they love, and their family. Outstanding!

I am a huge fan of Susan Mallery but I did not care for this book. Without going into details too many ick factors.

The Secrets of the Tulip Sisters is another winner from Susan Mallery. She seems to always know just how to write a great book, filled with love, laughter, family dynamics and small town friendships. Kelly and Olivia are sisters who’ve be estranged due to the breakup of their parent’s marriage. Now grown and trying to be on her own, Olivia returns to her father’s tulip farm in Washington where her sister works. Hurt feelings, secrets, lies, friendships and romances are explored and handled with TLC. I fell in love with this town and the characters from the start. I’m hoping Ms. Mallery re-visits New Holland, Washington real soon.
Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Susan Mallery always writes a good romance with great ladies who find love. Kelly and Olivia are sisters whose family has a large tulip farm in Washington state. The girls are older and they think wiser but life doesn't always go where you expect it. When the Martin brothers return to their small town the girls have secrets they don't want revealed. I like the fact that their father is understanding and supportive of the girls. This book is a little more steamy than most of Susan's books and I didn't like that as much.

Sisters Kelly and Olivia Murphy are as different and estranged as two sisters can be, especially since they haven’t seen one another in years. When their promiscuous mother left town 13 years ago, leaving them with a stunned father, both girls grew into very different women.

Years later, they come back together and journey towards forgiveness and family is beautifully told by Susan Mallery in The Tulip Sisters.

Each character in the book – and there are many – is intricately woven and complex. The underlying theme of secrets, betrayals, and abandonment form a multifaceted storyline about a little town know for it’s tulip population.

Mallery never disappoints. 5 stars from me. I was given an ARC of this book via Netgalley for an honest opinion

Kelly murphy was still holding on to the hurt of Griffith embarrassing in her highschool about not being into her. Fast forward ten plus years Griffith has come back home to the small town and it seems everywhere Kelly goes she has be running into him. She tells her best friend Helen she does not believe its an accident the last straw was him joining her book club. She confronts him and find out he wants to start seeing her without any marriage or love in the future. Although the book as mention in the title is about sisters they are lot of co-main characters on the canvas of this novel. Kelly and her dad Jeff are tulip farmers and she still resides home with him. Her younger sister Olivia returns home after fifteen years of being away and still adjusting to life again with her father and sister. There is the girls estranged mother Marilee who cheated on the father years ago and left the town. There is Sven Kelly ex who begins a relationship with Olivia as she comes back to town and then there is Ryan Olivia ex who wants her back but has a girlfriend. Then Helen Kelly best friend is secretly in love with Kelly's dad. At first the many characters seemed too much but as time goes by and the way Susan dealt with the various characters giving most of them they own voice the style became more understanding. This novel reminded me of Mallery's Mischief bay books. This and those novels do not only focus on the romance but also the realism that is life. Reviews on Goodreads and amazon.

I truly enjoy books written by Susan Mallery. She is masterful at creating heartwarming characters that are so full of life and are multi-dimensional. Secrets of the Tulip Sisters is no exception. The story was sweet and romantic with intense emotions elicited from those charming characters.

Kelly and her father, Jeff, have a good working relationship as well as a relaxed home life together. Things have run smoothly in their tulip growing business. But that is about to change as the "past" comes head-on with the "now". First comes the arrival of Griffith, who definitely has the hots for Kelly, especially since she had broken up with her long-time boyfriend Sven six months earlier. Griffith pursues Kelly but has some rather unrealistic guidelines for their romance. Then comes the arrival of Olivia, Kelly's sister. Olivia had been sent away to boarding school when she was younger and had not been back home in many years. Shortly after that, just as Kelly and Olivia are getting reacquainted, the mother from hell arrives. This is the mother (and I use that term loosely) who ran around and abandoned Jeff, Kelly and Olivia many years ago. Add in Kelly's best friend Helen who has secretly been in love with Jeff for a long time, Kelly's hot ex-boyfriend Sven, Olivia's old boyfriend Ryan (the jerk of the century) and we have one delightful small-town powder keg, ready to explode.

This story has secrets unfolding and family ties binding them back together. Lots of sweetness and lots of romance. A definite book for summer reading.

Predictable romance in a small tulip town. Two sisters reuniting and finding love back at home.