There is a lot going on in Anna McNichol's life - She is a recent widow and mother of three who have their own issues to unpack. She finds a surprise in her husband's will. Recent developments have her discovering family from her deceased husband's and from her mother's past. She is navigating having a mother who is now in a care home battling memory issues. She also is a busy and respected judge who has found love (with a friend of her husband's) - the type of companionship that she has deserved and craved all of her marriage. Top all that with a health scare, and we watch the family come together in support and love.

The aspects of Anna's life/drama are interesting, and the story lines of her children (mostly Jessie and Michael) add depth to the characters' grief and growth. Readers will appreciate a satisfying ending. An excerpt from Robyn Carr's Sunrise on Half Moon Bay is included.

Thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing/MIRA, Robyn Carr and NetGalley for the ARC.

I was really drawn in by the blurb for this one, but it just didn't deliver for me. I knew it was going to be more drama than I normally read, but I was not prepared for how much.

The book is definitely not plot-driven, but I didn't feel it was character-driven either. None of the characters felt that well-developed or real to me. The protagonist, Anna, trapped herself in a loveless marriage for the sake of her children, yet threw herself into her career and missed out on much of their lives. I could never really grasp this juxtaposition.

The main driving force of the story is the never-ending drama. Each family member has their own boatload of it.

I don't want to include any spoilers, but I'll just say that I found the ending to need a little too much suspension of belief. It wasn't awful, but it just wasn't for me.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

I enjoy a lot of Robin Carr's books, this isn't any different. She has a way of drawing you into the characters' lives and making you live their experiences with them.

This book is about Anna McNicoll who is the centre of her family. When her husband dies unexpectedly and the lawyer advises them that there are changes to the will. that brings up old secrets and fears. Anna's 3 grown children are struggling with the death of their father and aren't aware of the history of their parents.

This family drama deals with the heartache, betrayal, secrets and emotions that happen when you lose a loved one.

Always a pleasure to read this author. She always delivers! Well written and thought provoking, this was no different.

Family bonds. Secrets. Forgiveness. After 30 years of marriage, Anna McNichol loses her husband to a water accident. While she deals with her grief, his last will and testament reveals some secrets that rock the family. Anna and her three adult children are left with the realization that their father is not the man he portrayed himself to be.

Robyn Carr has been a must-read author for me for many years. This book was different than her usual and was hard get lost in. It felt forced and rushed to me. There were many story lines and not all rang true for me. The characters were hard for me to relate to and not very likable. However, the story moved and it was a fast read. If you are looking for a lighthearted romance, this is not the book for you. If you are looking for a book of love, grief, angst, betrayal, family drama and ultimately forgiveness, read A Family Affair.

After Anna's husband Chad dies, Anna is put in a position of finding out who she is and she goes through a period of self discovery. Her 3 children are upset when they find the inheritance includes someone else not in the immediate family.

There is some drama, love, rekindled relationships and as always everything works itself out in the end.

4 stars

Another winner from Queen Robyn. She can do no wrong and I love her writing so much. Thank you Therese for the awesome narration - easily 5 stars!

DNF @18%
2022; Mira/Harlequin/HarperCollins

I love Robyn Carr, so it was super sad to DNF this one. I usually enjoy her novels a lot, or can at least finish and like them. I know I only gave it 18% but the storyline was just not something I wanted to dip into. It's about a dead husband who had a secret girlfriend, and maybe a baby as well. I might come back to this later, but probably not.

***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through Edelweiss and NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***

I'm a fan of Robyn Carr books. She has great characters and an interesting story line. Anna is a go getter. She and her husband have great careers, their children are grown and happy. When her husband dies unexpectedly she is trying to help her children with their grief as well as the shock for herself. When a young woman comes to the funeral Anna knows instantly that the woman is carrying her husband's child. I've read books with similar themes before but Ms. Carr gives this line a good outcome for all the characters involved. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Overall, an enjoyable and quick read.

I got tired of Jessie's personality and thought her breakthroughs in therapy were rushed. I also found it hard to believe that she had a lot of medical school debt (which was referred to early in the book) and was still able to work part-time and work in a free clinic, all while living in an expensive part of the US, even with her inheritance.

I also got sick of the overuse of exclamation points.

Boring with unlikeable characters. The beginning started out so abruptly that I wondered if the ARC I was sent was missing the first couple of chapters. I was so lost trying to figure out who, and what, and who is that, yet again. Ms Carr has been a favorite since Grace Valley and Virgin River, but her latest books have been sadly lacking for me.

I absolutely loved this one. For starters, I love this author, so I knew I would at least somewhat enjoy what was written but wow, she exceeded expectations. Robyn Carr wowed us with the Virgin River series and this was equally as wonderful.

I liked this one, but for me it didn't quite hit the note of some of her other books. It felt a little stale, maybe rushed.
That being said, it was a nice story and I am glad that I took the time. It just wasn't my favorite.

Another excellent book by Robyn Carr! It was a fast read and I could not put it down. Anna’s husband suddenly dies and he left some major secrets for his family to unravel. Both Anna and her three grown children dealt with the sudden grief and the unexpected new woman in their lives in their own ways. I love how Carr can write about realistic situations where It is always easy to get absorbed and connect with the story. Overall, It is a beautifully written story about loss, grief and forgiveness.

Thank you to NetGallery and to Harlequin Trade Publishing for giving me a copy for my honest review.

Nobody can explore the complexities of women’s lives quite like much-loved best-selling author Robyn Carr and she dazzles and delights her legion of fans once again with a searingly emotional, highly engrossing and superbly written new novel, A Family Affair.

Anna McNichol is one tough cookie. Raised by a single mother, Anna knew at a very early age that there were no certainties in life and she has worked so hard to ensure that her own kids have the best possible childhood and that they had all the advantages she didn’t have as a child. With her kids growing up and leaving home, Anna is on the precipice of great change, both professionally and personally. Sure, her marriage has its problems, but Anna is looking forward to the future – until a cruel twist of fate causes her entire world to come crashing down around her ears.

The sudden death of her husband shocks the entire McNichol clan. As Anna’s carefully constructed world is smashed into a million pieces, she finds herself confronted with her grief, her family’s heartbreak – and a mysterious young woman who pulls the rug out from under her feet by revealing an earth-shattering secret that brings Anna to the conclusion that she didn’t know her husband after all. Determined to get to the truth about her late spouse, Anna finds herself in desperate need of closure – even if she doesn’t know which way to turn or where to go.

For once in her life, Anna cannot control the narrative. Her kids are mourning their dad, her mother’s health is in decline and she feels as if she’s lurching from one crisis to another. When help comes from an unexpected source, Anna feels as if at long last there is light at the end of the dark tunnel she has found herself trapped in.

Anna begins to put herself and her family back together and realizes that sometimes it’s okay not to have all the answers…

Robyn Carr is women’s fiction royalty and with good reason. A Family Affair is a heart-rending, uplifting and emotionally satisfying tale about starting over, new beginnings and women’s indomitable strength in times of tragedy that cannot fail to pluck at the heartstrings and strike a chord with readers everywhere.

A Family Affair is a story about renewal, healing, hope, love and loss that is impossible to put down. The characters are vivid, layered and believable and their story is one readers won’t forget in a hurry.

The always superb Robyn Carr has written another outstanding page-turner with her latest novel, A Family Affair.

I have enjoyed every Robyn Carr book I have read. This one has all the good feels, even with the traumas. Highly recommend

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and the publisher. This is my honest and personal review.

Anna McNichol has not only suddenly become a widow, she is also an empty nester. While sorting out her husband's affairs, she discovers that he left a certain percent of his inheritance to a young woman - a young woman who was also at his memorial services. Anna knew her husband had not always been faithful, but she wasn't aware that he had fathered a child.

Meanwhile, each of Anna's three adult children are grieving the loss of their father in different ways. For Michael, for example, losing his father was like losing his best friend. Anna's daughters also felt the pangs of their father's death quite deeply. Meanwhile, Anna is also coping with her mother's failing health.

Anna does have some support. Family friend Joe is very helpful when it comes to Anna understanding her husband's past behaviors. Other challenges face Anna, and it is the combination of everything that end up pulling this family even closer together.

What a wonderful emotionally driven story. The writing is excellent, and the characters prove very interesting, especially as each of them are dealing with things in different ways. Robyn Carr is an excellent storyteller and she has brought this family to life for this reader.

Many thanks to MIRA and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Please also enjoy my YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/3Q17co-WBoI

This book was an absolute pleasure to read. Anything by Robin Carr is actually. I highly recommend this book.

A portrayal of how one person's choices effect everyone in a family and how differently people handle the effects. Great family dynamics.

Such a great read. I could relate to the characters and was really rooting for Anna. Robyn Carr is a great writer. I highly recommend!