I received this book for free from the TLC Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
When We Found Home by Susan MalleryPublished by HQN Books on July 10, 2018
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Family, Romance
Pages: 432
Source: TLC Book Tours
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Life is meant to be savored, but that’s not easy with no family, limited prospects and a past you’d rather not talk about. Still, Callie Smith doesn’t know how to feel when she discovers she has a brother and a sister–Malcolm, who grew up with affection, wealth and privilege, and Keira, a streetwise twelve-year-old. Callie doesn’t love being alone, but at least it’s safe. Despite her trepidation, she moves into the grand family home with her siblings and grandfather on the shores of Lake Washington, hoping just maybe this will be the start of a whole new life.
But starting over can be messy. Callie and Keira fit in with each other, but not with their posh new lifestyle, leaving Malcolm feeling like the odd man out in his own home. He was clever enough to turn a sleepy Seattle mail-order food catalog into an online gourmet powerhouse, yet he can’t figure out how to help his new sisters feel secure. Becoming a family will take patience, humor, a little bit of wine and a whole lot of love. But love isn’t Malcolm’s strong suit…until a beautiful barista teaches him that an open heart, like the family table, can always make room for more.
In this emotional, funny and heartfelt story, Susan Mallery masterfully explores the definition of a modern family—blended by surprise, not by choice—and how those complicated relationships can add unexpected richness to life.
I’m always blown away by how quickly I get immersed in the worlds that Susan Mallery creates. Within just a few pages, I felt right at home with the characters and Pacific Northwest setting, and it was no different with her latest stand alone novel, When We Found Home.
Focusing on three half-siblings who share a father and don’t know each other exist, When We Found Home explores the meshing of strangers who are brought together by blood but must overcome distrust, broken hearts, abandonment to finally find common ground and become a true family.
Grandfather Alberto Carlesso knew that his son wasn’t the most upstanding man when a woman showed up with his twelve-year-old grandson. After DNA testing proved paternity, Alberto invites the mother and young Malcolm to live in their large house where he becomes a surrogate father to Malcolm after the sudden death of his mother.
Having taken over the family mail order food delivery business and made it more upscale and prosperous, Malcolm lives with his grandfather in their large house on Lake Washington after a disastrous break up. While he’s smart, powerful, handsome, and generally content with his life, he doesn’t trust easily and doesn’t give his heart freely anymore. Being a bachelor in his thirties isn’t ideal, but it’s his situation right now, so he’s dealing by immersing himself in work.
After Malcolm’s dad died, Alberto discovered that there are two more children out there, and now he won’t rest until his two granddaughters are located. And more importantly, Alberto wants them to move into the mansion with them where they can be taken care of like the family they are.
Twelve-year-old Keira was plucked from foster care in California after the overdose death of her mother. She doesn’t feel safe in the large house, and she’s having a hard time adjusting to having money, a family, and people to take care of her. She has an especially hard time connecting with her brother Malcolm. The only person she seems to like is the nice barista in Malcolm’s office building, and she’s not the only one that enjoys Delaney’s company.
Callie has had it especially rough. Her mother died of cancer while Callie was in jail for a very stupid mistake when she was eighteen, and she’ll pay for that felony for the rest of her life. When she finds out she has family and that they are rich, she’s reluctant to move in with them or spend their money. She’s been on her own for so long she doesn’t think she can truly count on anyone but herself. She and Malcolm butt heads right away while she finds herself connecting with Keira and Alberto. Romance is also in the air for Callie from one of the most unexpected of people.
I give When We Found Home a 4.5 out of 5. This contemporary womens fiction focuses heavily on the struggles the three siblings have as they adapt to each other and their situations, as well as on their day-to-day struggles with putting their past behind them. Malcolm ignites a romance with barista Delaney, who has a complicated past of her own that she needs to overcome before she can move forward. Along with a few troubles in the family business and with Callie’s love interest, there’s enough conflict in this book for the plots to move along nicely. Susan Mallery brings the engaging story lines, humor, realistic dialogue and situations, as well as the emotional hits—and I enjoyed every minute spent reading this one. The characters were distinct and interesting, and you get the story from Callie, Malcolm, and Delaney’s points of view. I would have liked to have seen more of Grandpa Alberto, though. He was quite the impressive character.
Find WHEN WE FOUND HOME
Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
About Susan Mallery
#1 NYT bestselling author Susan Mallery writes heartwarming, humorous novels about the relationships that define our lives-family, friendship, romance. She’s known for putting nuanced characters in emotional situations that surprise readers to laughter. Beloved by millions, her books have been translated into 28 languages.Susan lives in Washington with her husband, two cats, and a small poodle with delusions of grandeur. Visit her at SusanMallery.com.
Connect with Susan Mallery
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
Giveaway
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Susan Mallery’s TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS for WHEN WE FOUND HOME:
Excerpt Tour:
Monday, June 18th: From the TBR Pile
Tuesday, June 19th: Book Reviews and More by Kathy
Wednesday, June 20th: Books & Spoons
Thursday, June 21st: Palmer’s Page Turners
Friday, June 22nd: The Sassy Bookster
Monday, June 25th: Reading Reality
Tuesday, June 26th: A Holland Reads
Wednesday, June 27th: Drey’s Library
Thursday, June 28th: Cheryl’s Book Nook
Monday, July 2nd: The Sketchy Reader
Tuesday, July 3rd: Satisfaction for Insatiable Reader
Friday, July 6th: What is That Book About
TBD: Mama Reads Blog
TBD: OMG Reads
Instagram Tour:
Monday, July 9th: @read.write.coffee
Tuesday, July 10th: @worldswithinpages
Wednesday, July 11th: @thepagesinbetween
Thursday, July 12th: @utcbookblog
Thursday, July 12th: @mwladieswholit
Friday, July 13th: @brookesbooksandbrews
Saturday, July 14th: @pretty_little_library
Sunday, July 15th: @createexploreread
Sunday, July 15th: @basicbsguide
Review Tour
Monday, July 9th:Satisfaction for Insatiable Reader
Monday, July 9th: From the TBR Pile
Tuesday, July 10th: Books & Bindings
Tuesday, July 10th: Book Reviews and More by Kathy
Wednesday, July 11th: Broken Teepee
Thursday, July 12th: Reading Reality
Friday, July 13th: Not in Jersey
Monday, July 16th: Kritter’s Ramblings
Tuesday, July 17th: Palmer’s Page Turners
Thursday, July 19th: Into the Hall of Books
Friday, July 20th: Kahakai Kitchen
Monday, July 23rd: Patricia’s Wisdom
Monday, July 23rd: Cheryl’s Book Nook
Tuesday, July 24th: Becky on Books
Tuesday, July 24th: Bewitched Bookworms
Wednesday, July 25th:OMG Reads
Thursday, July 26th: Why Girls Are Weird
Friday, July 27th: Moonlight Rendezvous
Monday, July 30th: The Romance Dish
Monday, July 30th: Stranded in Chaos
Tuesday, July 31st: Romantic Reads and Such
Wednesday, August 1st:Mama Reads Blog
Thursday, August 2nd: A Chick Who Reads
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I haven’t read one yet!!
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Hard choice, perhaps The Friends We Keep.
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The Tulip Sisters
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My favorite novel is The Secret of the Tulip sisters. Thanks,.
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I am not sure if I have read any of her books.
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