Here's the description of the book from Summerside Press' website:"Hope Bartolli has avoided Sisters for years—both her hometown of Sisters, Oregon, and her two sisters who live there. But when the thirty-two-year-old corporate lawyer returns home to attend her beloved grandmother’s funeral, she’s surprised to learn that she has inherited Nona’s old house, her little dog, Andy, and an unexpected friendship with Nona’s handsome attorney. If she had any hopes of burying the hatchet with her sisters, these “gifts” from Nona aren’t going to help. Hope wants more out of life—but is she willing to take the risks to get it? And can she trust her family to stand by her side?"
My Rating: Spring
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My Review:
This book was a fun read! And I'm not just talking about the laughable quotes, such as, "And was it just her imagination or could he pass for George Clooney's younger brother?" The sweet dog Andy, the helpful and trusting niece and nephew, and a handsome and compassionate attorney all made me smile. Melody Carlson really made these characters feel real, so much so that it was easy to be both angry with and have compassion on certain characters, such as Hope's sisters.
The issues that were dealt with in the book were real: divorce, jealousy, anger, pain, love, etc. And many of the attitudes toward these issues (such as divorce) seemed contemporary. That is to say, for example, divorce was treated as something that is shocking when it is happening to people you know and love, but also as something that happens quite often. I appreciated the fact that the author did not shy away from these issues, even if it did seem like a lot was going on to this poor family! And yet, the author showed elements of love that does not judge, but rather shows care and understanding. It is a good lesson to express to readers.
All in all, while the book was not heart-pounding, it turned out to be a sweet romance with some surprising lessons taught about family. And while I did not feel that the language was overly beautiful in the sense that it really resonated with me, I truly did enjoy my time reading this! The author did a great job of making the characters and their lives real to me, and for that I have no qualms with recommending this book!
