Friday, August 7, 2015

Rainy Day Sisters by Kate Hewitt



Rainy Day Sisters by Kate Hewitt
Genre: Women's Fiction
Publisher: NAL

Publish Date: 8/4/2015
Pages: 368

Series: Hartley-By-The-Sea #1
Format: Trade paperback, ebook








My Review:
If you are looking for heartwarming, entertaining and real in a novel, then Rainy Day Sisters is just the book for you.  And now that I have read it and fallen in love with the village of Hartley-by-the-Sea and some of the townspeople, I cannot wait for future books in this series by Ms. Hewitt.

Rainy Day Sisters is a primarily character-driven novel.  Lucy leaves Boston after a public embarrassment to go to England to stay with her half-sister and seemingly find herself.  Lucy imagines herself on a quintessential British holiday, however she doesn't realize how far out of the way Hartley-by-the-Sea is or how two cultures can speak the same language yet not be understood. She also pictured bonding and healing with her half-sister Juliet.  However as expected in a book, things don't go as planned.  But sometimes things that aren't planned work out for the best.

Juliet extends the invitation to her sister then wonders why she did it.  She's not a total recluse, she runs a B&B but she doesn't have anyone really steady and involved in her life.  She sees the townsfolk and talks to them and she and her neighbor Peter talk from time-to-time but she doesn't even realize that she doesn't have any close bonds.  And she doesn't expect any to form with her half-sister who their mother took with them when she left England and left Juliet behind.

There are bumps in the road with the relationship between Juliet and Lucy, but I was always pulling for them.  I wasn't sure if I liked Lucy at first but she grew on me.  I liked Juliet and could relate to her (well except for the being estranged from her mother).  Both women want something more but they don't realize that they will find that something more together.

It's a great, fun novel about finding yourself and learning to trust others and trust yourself and decisions you make.  Of course the path isn't easy, but life isn't. There are funny moments, sad moments, and profound moments.  The writing is great. I think Ms. Hewitt told this story very well, interspersing humor and wit with the serious aspects.

If you enjoy women's fiction or just a great relationship read with some hints at a romance plot then this is the book for you. There is something for everyone in this one.  Sisters, friendship, romance, failed relationships, family squabbles, small village life, it's all in there.  And I loved the setting. I want to go to Hartley-By-The-Sea.  No the weather is not always ideal but somehow it does sound like that quintessential British village in the countryside.  I felt like I was there getting to know Lucy and Juliet and the townspeople.

I loved this book, the characters, the writing, the storyline and I look forward to future books in this series.  Give this book a chance and I think you will really enjoy it.  I suggest you find yourself a comfy place and just enjoy.

My favorite comfy place - a front porch hammock.
My Rating: 5.0/5.0


Summary


The USA Today bestselling author presents a heartfelt novel about two sisters struggling toward new lives and loves.

Welcome to Hartley-by-the-Sea in England’s beautiful Lake District, where two sisters who meet as strangers find small miracles tucked into the corners of every day....

When Lucy Bagshaw’s life in Boston falls apart, thanks to a scathing editorial written by her famous artist mother, she accepts her half sister Juliet’s invitation to stay with her in a charming seaside village in northern England. Lucy is expecting quaint cottages and cream teas, but instead finds that her sister is an aloof host, the weather is wet, windy, and cold, and her new boss, Alex Kincaid, is a disapproving widower who only hired her as a favor to Juliet.

Despite the invitation she offered, Juliet is startled by the way Lucy catapults into her orderly life. As Juliet faces her own struggles with both her distant mother and her desire for a child, her sister’s irrepressible optimism begins to take hold. With the help of quirky villagers, these hesitant rainy day sisters begin to forge a new understanding…and find in each other the love of family that makes all the difference.


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Author Biography
Kate is the USA Today-bsetselling author of 35 romances with Harlequin Presents, hundreds of short stories, and several historical novels and anthologies now available on Kindle. Her first women's fiction with Penguin/NAL, Rainy Day Sisters, will be out in August 2015.

She likes to read romance, mystery, the occasional straight historical and angsty women's fiction; she particularly enjoys reading about well-drawn characters and avoids high-concept plots.

Having lived in New York City, she now makes her home in a tiny village on the windswept northwest coast of England, with her husband, five children, and an overly affectionate Golden Retriever. You can read about her life at http://www.acumbrianlife.blogspot.co.uk.

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***I received this book from the publicist for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any other way except receiving the book for free. My links for Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. ***