“A perfect read for someone who feels lost when it comes to family [or is] looking for a second chance at love.”—Fresh FictionWho says you can’t choose your family? USA TODAY bestselling author Sarah Morgan returns with a life-affirming exploration of love, loss, and new beginnings… dream, but her bubbly optimism hides a secret. Orphaned as a child, she’s never felt like she’s belonged anywhere…until she meets Jack.
Teenager Izzy is holding it together by her fingertips. Since her mother passed away, looking after her family is the only thing that makes Izzy feel safe. Discovering her father has a new girlfriend is her worst nightmare—until her father invites Flora on their summer vacation…
Flora’s heart aches for Izzy, but Izzy is determined to keep Flora at arm’s length! As the summer unfolds, they forge a tentative bond, but Flora and Izzy must push past their boundaries to learn that families come in all shapes and sizes…
Don’t miss Sarah Morgan’s next book, The Summer Seekers!
“Readers will be delighted.”
—Publishers Weekly on One More For Christmas, starred review
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Thanks goes to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary copy of Marriage for Beginners by Sarah Morgan for purposes of reading and reviewing prior to publication. My opinions are my own and no one has influenced me.
Marriage for Beginners is a well written emotional reading experience that deals with grief, loss, betrayal, and family. The pacing pulled me in and kept me enmeshed with the enthralling plot from start to finish.
Flora Donovan’s character is quirky and bouncy. She presents an optimistic attitude to the world because she wants to fit in and has never that she did, not with her aunt, or school friends and even her co-workers. She works as a florist and loves building beautiful arrangements and dreams of who will enjoy them. I loved her character from the beginning. She has so many insecurities, and identified with her feelings of not fitting in.
Jack Parker is a lovely hero who’s dealing with raising his two daughters after his wife’s death. His teenager has taken over the household, ensuring her little sister’s needs are met. When he brings Flora home for dinner, it does not sit well with Izzy. Poor Jack is a little clueless, not looking below the surface, believing his kids are moving on. He’s holding his secrets close to protect his daughters, not wanting them to know anything that could tarnish their memories of their mother.
The romance between Flora and Jack grows cautiously. There’s no doubt they care for each other, but since there are children, they must take it slow. I loved how Flora tries so hard to fit in and not disturb Izzy, even though the seventeen-year-old is clearly not happy over his father’s new love interest.
Marriage for Beginners is so much more than a romance. It’s a novel of a family trying to heal, and secrets being held to protect each other. I thoroughly enjoyed this lovely novel and so glad I accepted the invitation from HQN. Happy reading!
While I knew the premise of the book, I was not prepared for the emotional journey that I was going to be taken on. Sarah Morgan weaved a story that captures the struggles and challenges that people deal with all too frequently in real life. My heart ached along with the characters, cried with them and felt the anger and sadness as they worked through their grieving and insecurities. I loved how the relationship of Flora and Jack bloomed slowly, taking into consideration the kids and the family dynamic. I loved watching Flora grow, become the person she was meant to be and become part of a family she has always craved. My only wish is that there had been more of the teen romance and what the future holds for them. Don’t miss out on this precious book!
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader copy of this book.