Welcome to Pecan Valley, where the town may be small but the townspeople will always lend a helping hand or a shoulder to lean on. Where good times, good humor, and good people will always lead to happily ever after. Life for Felicity, and her teen children, is finally back on track. After her divorce, she wasn’t sure if her sweet family would ever be the same. But things are good––right up until … good––right up until her ex’s spirited toddler lands on Felicity’s doorstep. If the universe is going to throw lemons at her, thank God she has her best friend, Graham, to help her make lemonade out of them. How did she never notice how kind and sexy he is?
Graham is still recovering from his wife’s death years ago and trying to help his teen daughter get her life together. Who is he kidding? His daughter hates him. Forget lemons––he’s got the entire lemon tree. So when Felicity suggests they join forces and help each other, he’s all in. And suddenly he can’t stop thinking about her as more than just a friend. Too bad their timing couldn’t be worse…
Because life rarely goes as planned. Luckily there are many different kinds of family to hold you together and lift you up…plus maybe even a little love between friends.
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Tugs at your heartstrings in all the best ways.
This book is a sweet look at two families that have been devastated by loss and betrayal. Summers deftly weaves the plot between the main three women of the story, along with a couple of the guys, too. She did a good job of transitioning from each person’s point of view and story arc without annoying the reader by switching on horrible cliffies at the end of chapters or switching too often. No character-hopping whiplash but still enticing enough to keep me wanting to eagerly turn the pages.
Overall, this novel evokes all the warm fuzzies and a few tears that makes this a great, feel-good beach read—something I desperately needed with all the stress of dealing with the Covid-19 scare. Highly recommend!!
Accidentally Family was one of those special books that I will hold in my heart forever, think about often, and of course, tell everyone about. It had the most wonderful small-town feeling that made it seem so personal. The various storylines made for an emotional book full of interesting characters from many different perspectives. I really enjoyed the variety. I was worried, at the beginning, that this book might have been too emotional for me, but it really was a beautiful story. A piece of my heart now resides in Pecan Valley.
4 1/2***
“She sighed, digging deep for strength. But he didn’t move. His arms stayed wrapped around her, holding her tight. It almost opened the floodgates. Almost. Instead, she relaxed, sliding her arms around his waist and leaning into him.”
Comfort. That is exactly what Felicity needed. Graham was the perfect person to lean into for it. Not to mention, he was more than happy to provide comfort.
Felicity has had the second biggest shock of her life. The first being when her husband leaves her for a young pharmaceutical rep. Now this car accident. Things unravel quickly. But Felicity has always been strong. She will get through this. Wouldn’t it be nice to not have to get through it alone?
Graham has had his share of sadness and heartbreak. Losing his wife and then dealing with his angry teenage daughter, it’s been enough to send anyone over the edge. When he’s thrown back into the life of old family friends, he wants to be there for them. Especially Felicity. Now he’s seeing that there could be so much more than friendship and comfort in this situation.
This book weaves a great story. You get a lot of information about secondary characters. Which is this particular book, is a good thing. I can’t wait to get even more of those character’s story in the future. Felicity and Graham’s story is perfect!4
A charming, slightly angsty story about a tragic loss and how a family deals with the aftermath. I loved that there are several plot lines and the author did a great job in working them all together seamlessly. I also loved that it’s not just a romance but a story about how a family deals with a loss, keeps together in spite of tempers and teenage angst, and how a couple who haven’t had contact for some time find each other and find comfort and a support that leads them to love.
Filly’s husband Matt left her for another woman. In his immense infatuation with this floozy, he left his wife of many years, abandoned his two children, broke up his medical office with his best friend, and moved away to the city to live with this woman. They then had a baby boy and meanwhile, he neglected the children he had with Filly.
When this book starts, there’s a horrible accident, Filly is left with her husband’s baby to raise and then has to deal with the turmoil the aftermath of his loss caused. She has been a superb mom and her children have a strong base, but it still rocks them and they go through a rocky phase. It takes all Filly’s strength to withstand the loss, the heartbreak of her children, absorb her new responsibility and deal with the small town gossip mill. then the town’s biddies start to match make and it gets interesting!
Graham Murphy has also gone through his own tragedy. He lost his wife to cancer, and for a while he lost his way and neglected his teenage daughter. She went off the rails and now he’s trying to make amends with no success. Diana is a hot mess and she’s not helping her father deal with their loss. When she meets up with Filly and her children again, she latches on to Filly, finding in her the love she lost when her mother died.
There is a rocky road, full of obstacles, but there’s a lot of love, a lot of good intentions, and a group of good kids who had their hissy fits but rally around to help their parents. There are secondary plot lines regarding Honor, Filly’s oldest, and a boy named Owen; another plot line with Filly’s sister Charity, who eats like there’s no tomorrow and guards a little secret . There’s the sheriff in town who seems to be sweet on Charity and I hope there’s a future story there.
The book is about redemption, acceptance, overcoming life’s trials, family togetherness, and being generous in your love. It felt a little sad but good when I finished the book. It reminded me of the saying that when God closes a door, he opens a window. And there were a few doors opened in this one!
What a rollercoaster of a ride! In a good way! This book gave me all the feels! It was a wonderfully written and beautiful story. You get to see two family’s that suffered great tragedies build there life back up. This book was real. It captures emotions that would be true to the situations at hand. It left me wanting more in a good way! I was drawn in from the very beginning and pretty much read this book in one sitting. I would absolutely recommend this book!
Received an arc for an honest review
Accidentally Family by Sasha Summers is a must read! It’s a beautifully written story of two families who navigate loss, betrayal, second chances, and love. Every character is distinct and so real you’ll feel like you know them or want to meet them. They all fit perfectly into this well woven story that gives you all the feels. It’s emotional and heartfelt and will keep you turning the pages. This was such a satisfying read!
A beautifully written story full of emotion that touches the heart. Sasha Summers has written a story that weaves together a tale of grief, loss, anger, hope, and love, and how the bonds of family can be tested but hold true through it all.
Felicity and Graham were both strong characters. It was easy to relate to both of them as they tried to be strong and do the right thing for their kids, but also were faced with their own emotions as they began to realize that their hearts wanted each other. I especially felt for Graham as he dealt with his daughter – they have been through so much and neither of them have dealt with their trauma well. It was clear that Felicity has not had to deal with the same things Graham has had to, and she appears to be a super-mom, but…I loved the way she dealt with her kids as their stable world gets turned upside down – and also that it showed she wasn’t always the super-mom that she showed to the world, that she had feelings that extended beyond her children and that she was learning that it was ok to not be ok sometimes.
Although this is Felicity and Graham’s story, this book is so much more. The other storylines added so much dimension to the book and helped define who both Felicity and Graham were as individuals, to their families and friends, and to each other. I enjoyed getting to know the kids and watching the first love bloom between Honor and Owen, seeing Nick struggle as he dealt with his father’s betrayal, and watching Diana’s rebellion were great stories on their own, but I loved how they were interwoven with one another, showcasing the family ties that they all have. I just loved Felicity’s sister Charity, who has her own challenges she is facing – and I can’t wait to see how her story plays out.
This book had multiple points of view which sounds overwhelming but actually helped with understanding the characters and the relationships they had. There was a lot going on in this book and I did find there were a few minor things that felt forced or maybe just needed a little more discovery to understand. Honor and Owen were wonderful together, but I never fully understood her reluctance to get involved with him and felt there was more of a story there. I also felt there was so much more story surrounding Felicity’s ex-husband, his mistress, and their baby. The video from the nanny-cam was kind of left hanging and I wished there was just a bit more closure to that relationship. Not major issues, just a couple things I wanted to know more about – and maybe some of the answers will be discovered in future books!
Sasha Summers has crafted a realistic, emotional, heart-felt book that will bring all the feels. What starts off as a tragedy turns in to a love story that conveys hope and highlights the bonds of family and definitely belongs on any bookshelf!
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy from the publisher via NetGalley of this book.
This is a must read book. I literally couldn’t put this book down. I was reading this book well into the night until my eyes no longer could stay open. I loved everything about this book. There is so much raw emotion in here that I was ugly crying a few times.This is a book that you have a tissue handy. Though parts of this book are going to rip your heart it’s also such a beautiful story. The title fits this book perfectly. Felicity is such a strong character. What is asked of her not many could take in stride and carry on. Felicity’s children go through a lot and you can see the struggle, but there is light at the end. There is a sense of hope for them throughout this book. Plus Graham and his daughter reconnect with each other and Felicity and her brood. There are so set ups for what I hope is future books in the series because I’m invested in Felicity’s sister story. I would highly recommend reading this one, but I do say pick a day for uninterrupted reading time because you won’t want to stop reading this one. This is my first book read by Sasha Summers and she had gained a new reader!
Even though “Accidentally Family” by Sasha Summers had its share of sadness and drama, it was still sweet and funny at times, and I loved it. In some ways, it reminded me of Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove series or Emily March’s Eternity Springs series because of the way it included the primary couple as well as some of their friends and family. I think this book is especially likely to appeal to fans of those types of ensemble stories, which have characters and plotlines that sometimes carry over from one book to the next, though I highly recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance because I enjoyed it so much.
This book touches on a lot of big topics: first love, dealing with the death of a parent, teenage rebellion, dating after a divorce and/or the death of a spouse, and unexpected pregnancy, among others. There are a number of different characters and plotlines woven together, but the author does so very skillfully, and I really liked that so many characters were able to provide their perspective on the story’s events. It’s easy to see how this book could turn into a series set in Pecan Valley given the hints of potential future romances that were seen here.
As for the central romance in this story between Dr. Graham Murphy and Felicity Otto-Buchanan, I found it very easy to root for them to find a way to be together. They were both very likeable characters, and had been shouldering too much responsibility on their own for too long. Each of them deserved a partner to share their burdens and appreciate how truly special they were. The way their kids and Felicity’s sister Charity played matchmaker for them was very sweet and led to several of the story’s lighter moments, such as when Graham and Felicity were dancing together at a block party and Charity and the kids watched and jokingly critiqued their technique.
I hope that this is not the last we’ll see of the inhabitants of Pecan Valley! I look forward to seeing what Sasha Summers writes next.
*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
You all know how much I love small-town romances. So when I saw the cover of this one I had to have it. Then when I saw the series title I was lost, or hungry, it doesn’t matter which one only that I knew I had to read it.
Another good point for the author is the fact that within pages of the book she had me crying. I love it when an author can do that.
Sasha Summers is a new author for me. So it was wonderful that I was able to get into the story right away. This one is a heartbreaker for sure. What this family goest through it so sad and horrible. But I really liked how for the most part the kids stuck with her.
Felicity is such a good person. You just can’t help by like her. Sometimes I thought she was a little too nice but I got why she always wanted to see the good in life. What she is willing to do for her ex is just special.
I also really enjoyed Graham. He realized that in her grief he almost forgot about his daughter and is working very hard to fix that. I didn’t care for how she acted at times, it reminded me of an immature person but I get that. She lost her mom when she was young and still isn’t handling it well. I’m an adult and still haven’t gotten over the passing of my mom.
Together they work. They are simply good people. I loved all the other characters in the story and I wanted more. I’m thinking I know how the next book is about but since I can’t find anything about it I’m not sure.
I think my only issue with the book is that I would have liked to have more romance between Graham and Felicity. I felt they deserved more. As a whole, I love it and can’t wait for more. It might have been a little bit of women’s fiction but still a good story for those who love just romance.
I loved his emotionally charged story!! My first from this author but most definitely not my last. This is an expertly crafted story that is an amazing mix of family drama, loss, new love, and teenage angst all blended together to form a wonderfully sweet story that will pull you in from the very first page. Put this one on the must read list. I highly recommended
Accidentally Family is filled with drama, love, forgiveness, tragedy and happiness…everything you’d find in a real-life family.
Felicity is practically a saint and should be easy to both love and be annoyed by because of that perfection. Trying to raise two teens alone isn’t easy under the best of circumstances. But add in betrayal, anger and pain and it’s a whole different ballgame. Honor and Nick are her concern always, but more gets added to her load of responsibilities.
Graham is grieving both the loss of his wife as well as the loss of his easy relationship with his daughter Diana. Diana is the most volatile character and the hardest to like, even as I understood why she did the self destructive things she did. Felicity’s sister Charity is a breath of fresh air, with her own secret that she’s isn’t ready to burden the family with yet.
This story pulled at my heartstrings, made me laugh as well as cry, and rejoice in the building and expanding of this flawed but fabulous family.
If everything else that Sasha Summers has written is as good as this book, I’ve discovered a new favorite author!
Accidentally Family by Sasha Summers is a touching story of rebuilding life after staggering loss. At the beginning Felicity and her teenage children are returning to a new normal more happens to them. This is a realistic look at coping, struggling and recovering. A new beginning is again found.
Graham and his daughter also have suffered loss but recovery has been out of reach. As these two families find the ways to blend is an honest look at life during the difficult times. It is a caring story with heartbreak and hopefulness.
The description said, “Welcome to Pecan Valley, where the town may be small but the townspeople will always lend a helping hand or a shoulder to lean on. Where good times, good humor, and good people will always lead to happily ever after.” It never said anything about achieving this would be easy. Authentic memorable story showing the hard work it takes with notable characters, young and older.
4.5 Stars
An ARC of the book was given to me by the publisher through Net Galley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Sasha Summers is yet another new-to-me author, but that doesn’t really ever stop me from grabbing up a book as long as the blurb draws me in and so does the cover. Accidentally Family checked off those two boxes for me, so I dove right in. And now I’m wondering how I missed this author in the last several years?! Suffice it to say, that won’t be the case any longer.
As I read the blurb, I really expected this book to be somewhat light-hearted and heartwarming. It’s very heartwarming…yet very heartwrenching all the same. But I wouldn’t say this book is light-hearted. Just when you think life can’t possibly throw one more bad thing at you, it usually does. At least for these two families, it seems.
NICUnurse’s Rating: I knew within the first few paragraphs that the feel I got from the blurb of Accidentally Family was not what I was going to get in this book. So, if you are looking for that light-hearted romance, you might want to skip this one. There are most definitely light-hearted moments scattered throughout, but it is very much an emotional roller coaster ride. It’s told from several different points of view, too, and not just from Felicity and Graham’s standpoints. I really liked that because it set the tone and the stage for future books (fingers crossed on that!!). The multiple POVs also helped to develop all of the characters. I think the two most moody teens of all would have been sorely misunderstood had the author not included their POVs. But as most teens do, those two took me to the highest highs and lowest lows. I absolutely devoured this book in just a few short hours. And it’s going on my must reread list because it’s one I know I can totally get lost in, and sometimes, when I’m in a real book funk, I need those kinds of stories in my life to go back to.
I give Accidentally Family by Sasha Summers 5 out of 5 stars!
Accidentally Family is a touching women’s fiction novel with a strong, slow-burn romantic thread as well as some teenaged heart throbs. Felicity’s husband left her for another woman and now has a child by that woman and has “forgotten” his parental duties to his earlier children. Felicity is rather too good to be true—almost saintly—as she rises to the challenges of raising her teenaged son and daughter while suppressing her own emotions. As she struggled with her loss of identity as Matt’s wife, she gets word that there has been an accident, and her ex- and the ex’s never-married-girlfriend are killed and their toddler seriously injured. In his will, Matt asks that Felicity be his son’s guardian. Graham, a local obstetrician and former friend of the family, is dealing with a wayward daughter and the loss of his wife to cancer. These two families, devastated by loss and betrayal, must learn to cope. The book is told in multiple points-of-view, and Summers deftly weaves between the male and female voices. All the main players have a satisfying character arc.
Accidentally Family is all about love and second chances. This book is emotional, a few pages in and I said out loud to myself “I hate this because it’s already making me cry” and I knew if the beginning was that emotional the whole story would just shatter me and it did. Once I started this book I really couldn’t put it down, I became so invested in the story and the lives of all the characters.
I loved that this story included point of views and inner thoughts of all the characters, there wasn’t just a sole focus on one or the other. Each character was going through something, from the adults to the children. Everyone was struggling with something in their life, a betrayal of some sort. Two families were broken, but found a way to work together, to have a second chance at love.
Accidentally Family is an emotional story that will have you crying, laughing, and falling in love with everyone involved. I completely fell in love with these characters, this blended family and the entire town of Pecan Valley. I’m hoping there is more of this group in the future, because this book was a MUST READ and I’m hooked.
This is a very emotional story. Felicity is supposed to be celebrating her daughter’s high school graduation when her life his thrown upside down in the worst possible way. She has to deal with all the fall out from her husband dying while trying to support her children, and keep her self together. Graham is struggling to connect with his teenage daughter after the death of his wife. This is a real life story about the struggles with depression, suicide, and death in families. As families struggle, how they deal with each other in love and honesty is how they are able to get through successfully. This is a very poignant story that warms the heart and will give you are a warm feeling at how happily it ends.
Just like people, life is messy and complicated which is why Accidentally Family is such a relatable read! It’s a story of family and friendship, love, loss, betrayal and new beginnings. Whilst at times heartbreaking, this title is also full of hope and quite heartbreaking.
Accidentally Family is Graham and Felicity’s story, yet it feels like the prologue for several side characters as well. This title is told from multiple points of view.
Graham and Felicity’s story will have you feeling a gamut of emotions, with laughter, tears, sadness and hope.
This was my first time reading Sasha Summers work, but it will not be my last, I was captivated and intrigued by the inhabitants of Pecan Valley and cannot wait for more of their stories. For anyone who enjoys Robyn Carr, this title has a similar feel, that I highly recommend.
A heartwarming and emotional story of a family coming together against all odds. Felicity Buchanan continues to do the best for her two children after her husband left her for a younger woman. It seems as he has left their children behind as well. On the night of their daughter’s high school graduation, there is an accident that will affect all their lives. Dr. Graham Murphy has been a family friend for years, but he has not been close to Felicity and her children since the death of his wife. He is dealing with his teenage daughter who has turned away from him, not accepting the death of her mother. After the accident, will these two separate families be able to unite to support each other? Once I started to read this book, it was next to impossible to stop. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)