What makes a place feel like home? A mother’s embrace, the warmth of new friendship, a sweet reunion—all can be found in these unforgettable stories . . . THREE’S A CROWD * Fern MichaelsThis Mother’s Day will be the first in three years that Samantha Stewart has spent with her parents. And she’s bringing a very special gift—the baby granddaughter they’ve never met. Sam’s work as an overseas … met. Sam’s work as an overseas reporter was exhilarating and dangerous. Now she’s seeking stability for little Caroline—and answers for herself—and finding them in a homecoming full of surprises . . .
NEW BEGINNINGS IN BLUE HOLLOW FALLS * Donna Kauffman
The moment she set foot in Blue Hollow Falls, Dubliner Katie MacMillan felt right at home. Back to help with her sister’s pregnancy, she’s contemplating her own future, especially when she confronts Declan MacGregor, her childhood tormentor and first crush. This Blue Ridge town was supposed to be a new beginning, but can it also be the setting for a second chance?
BRING ME HOME * Melissa Storm
For Hazel Long, spending time with her bedridden father is bittersweet. There’s comfort in the friendship offered by other hospital visitors—and the kindness of a handsome male nurse. And when Hazel’s father begins to tell her the story of the mother she barely knew, it’s an unexpected chance to bond, and a lesson in making the most of each new day.
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This was a delight to dive into with three great reading authors waiting inside. I was working my way through the sisters series so was very pleased with the author line up. With the title you get three very much stories that bring you the feeling of home. As a grandparent Fern gave us a story that touches on my emotional strings strongly especially since I love all my grandchildren to pieces. Samantha has a special story that takes her home with us following her.
Then another fabulous author gives us one that plays with our heart and gives us home. Bonus it also held a second chance that rev up the engine is putting it lightly. We follow Katie to see where her future takes her.
The last author I do not read as much as I like but I do when I can so was most pleased to see her in this. It also brought memories when I bonded with my father in hospice like never before. So to say this one tore at my heart would not be a lie but the sunshine that came with it brightened the day.
In the wonderful new book we are gifted with three romantic shorts that will definitely get you in the mood for love and romance.
In the first short we meet Samantha Stewart who is returning home after several years to spend Mothers Day with her family. She has a daughter that her parents have never met, and is worried about how this reunion will turn out. You see Samantha has spent her life traveling as an overseas reporter and although this life has been very exciting as well as fulfilling it is time for a change. Having a daughter to take care of has her re-evaluating her life and the changes she feels she needs to make.
In the second short Katie MacMillan has come to Blue Hollow Falls to help her sister who is very much pregnant. She feels an instant connection with the small town which starts her looking at where her future may be headed. When she runs into her childhood bully and first crush Declan MacGregor old feelings resurface and have.her questioning everything. Can she let old hurts go and look toward a future with a man who has always made her unsure?
In the third short we meet Hazel Long whose life at the moment is spent by spending time with her sick father. He’s in the hospital unable to leave the bed, visiting him engulfs her with bittersweet feelings that she isn’t sure how to deal with. When her father pulls her in with a story about another she doesn’t really know it helps her view her father in a different way.
A great read filled with heart warming stories that will have you laughing, crying, and in the end happy and smiling!
Rating the three stories in this anthology, I’d have to give it four stars however rating them separately, I would give Blue Hollow Falls: New Beginnings by Donna Kauffman a full five stars, or more, if I could.
In Three’s A Crowd by Fern Michaels, Samantha Stewart has been out of the country reporting in a war zone. She returns to the States, with a baby she has told no one about, and that incudes her parents. It’s hard to say much about the story without spoilers so I will say that we learn what happened in the time she was away and it touched my heart.
In New Beginnings in Blue Hollow Falls by Donna Kauffman, Katie MacMillan – Katherine Elizabeth to her mum – is staying with her pregnant sister (Pippa, whom we met in previous BHF stories; LOVE them!) and her husband Seth. Pippa is experiencing some difficulties with her pregnancy and Katie is playing gatekeeper for all the visitors who arrive. Declan MacGregor, someone from her past in Ireland, has also come to Blue Hollow Falls, ostensibly to take photos. However, when he arrives, he feels as if he has “come home”. What I can tell you about this story is that it is mostly told from the hearts and minds of Katie and Declan and just grabbed my heart and soul, as all the other stories in this series has. It’s a standalone so no worries however characters from other Donna Kauffman Blue Hollow Falls stories show up and I love knowing characters when I read. Love, love, love this story!
In Bring Me Home by Melissa Storm, Hazel sits with her dad during a health crisis and the two of them work through some memories that didn’t happen quite the way Hazel has been told. As her dad nears the end of his life, their close relationship only strengthens. And Hazel’s difficult journey is helped by people she would never think to rely upon.
Wonderful writer, I have read many, many of her books and I can honestly say that I have thoroughly enjoyed each and every one of them! I definitely intend to continue reading her novels, and hope that she continues to write many more!!
Heartwarming, emotionally thrilling and engaging down home romantic adventures filled with exciting charters, witty banter, heart racing twists and undeniable sweet passion. Really enjoyed all three of these stories and the exciting sweetly emotional journey they send you on.
Home Sweet Home by Fern Michaels, Donna Kauffman, and Melissa Storm, is a wonderful compilation of three romances involving going home or finding home. Each author brought their romance to life in a short novella and left you looking forward to more from each of them. Each wrote a delightful romance in their style in order to tell their own story.
Three’s a crowd by Fern Michaels features Samantha Stewart returning home for Mother’s Day after spending three years reporting from war zones; bringing with her a few surprises for her parents.
New Beginnings in Blue Hollow Falls by Donna Kauffman features Kate MacMillan arriving from Dublin to help with her sister, Pippa’s pregnancy. Blue Hollow Falls felt like home to Kate, especially with so many members of her family popping in to check on Pippa. Kate is anticipating a new beginning but a second chance just might also be in the cards when she encounters, and confronts Declan MacGregor, her first crush and brother’s best friend.
Bring Me Home by Melissa Storm features loner Hazel Long as she spends time with her ill father. While he is at the hospital for treatment she finds friendship among other visitors and the kindness of a handsome male nurse. Hazel’s father begins to share with her the story of the mother who died when Hazel was quite young. This was an unexpected opportunity for them to bond.
Ms. Kauffman, Ms. Michaels and Ms. Storm wrote wonderful and moving stories that are not to be missed. Each story is filled with fun dialogue, engaging characters and the magic of being with family. I highly recommend Home Sweet Home to other readers.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
This anthology of three stories was very enjoyable. I love each story for different reasons. The first in the book, by Fern Michaels was unique and a special twist to the meaning of coming home. The second, by Donna Kauffman is a continuation of the Blue Hollow Falls series, which I am a fan and liked visiting the Falls and the characters again. The third, by Melissa Storm is a bit heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time.
I enjoy reading books by new authors and this book introduced me to Fern Michaels and Melissa Storm. I liked their writing style, character development and plots. I am a fan of Donna Kauffman, who always does an excellent job in creating a world in her books that I like to visit and become a member of the community.
I want to thank Kensington Books and NetGalley.com for allowing me to read the advance reader copy of this book. My review is my own opinion not influence by receiving the ARC.
I adored Donna Kauffman’s story. I am a big fan of this series, and I was happy to read a new story about these characters. Katie and Declan get their second chance in this one. It is very heartwarming and romantic. Plus we get to see Pippa and Moira again. This is a great addition to the Blue Hollow Falls series, but it is still enjoyable even if you haven’t read the previous books.
While I read each story in the book and thoroughly enjoyed each one, this review is for Blue Hollow Falls:New Beginnings by Donna Kauffman.
Katie is at her sister, Pippa and Seth’s house helping her sister out during her pregnancy until the blessed event happens. This story is about her lost love to Declan and how they reconnect in Blue Hollow Falls and fall right back in love with each other and have their happily ever after.
Another wonderful installment in the Blue Hollow Fall Series that you will love until the end.
Home Sweet Home by Fern Michaels; Donna Kauffman; Melissa Storm
Like that this anthology contains three different stories from 3 of my favorite authors with one theme: going home.
Other works by the authors are listed at the very start of the book.
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Three’s A Crowd by Fern Michaels
Starts with Samantha and she had left her girlfriends shared apartment to head overseas to be a new reporter.
Years later she’s on her way back to the states, her parents think they will stay with her but she has some things she needs to tell them. She first meets up with her girlfriend and they catch up but there are some secrets she can’t even tell her about…
It’s hard to go back to open up to your parents when they want all the details…
She needs to be strong and get on with her life…Like how they spend their time for the first mothers day spa experience and getting to know one another again.
Mystery really starts and things get scary when she receives flowers, nobody knows where she is at….
Her mother, the librarian and her father, the cop help her solve who is involved and they have a picture…
Very short ending, very fast…
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Blue Hollow Falls New Beginnings by Donna Kauffman
Katie is starting over at home now that she’s returned from overseas. Her sister is home also, pregnant with twins and just announced it…
Katie’s old boyfriend is nearby also, Declan and she knows she would just need to see him once and she’d fall all over him again…
Story also follows Declan and his photography, career and loves what he captures…
He had heard things from her he never should’ve heard at all…
Lots of characters and at times it’s hard to keep them straight. This is the first book in the series I’ve read.
BRING ME HOME by Melissa Storm
Hazel is an interior designer and she learns from her father of his cancer. She helps him at the hospital with the chemo as they remember stories of her mother that they had lost when she was just a toddler.
He soon refuses chemo and just wants to be home where they lived and it gives them time to really talk about the hard subjects.
She learns more about mother and the cancer club of women she had met and are helping as they are going through the same thing
but her father just wants her to head to work…She also learns of his affair.
Hard subject and she’s mad at her mother for dying and now her father…
Quick ending.
Received this review copy from Kensington Books via Zebra via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
#HomeSweetHome #NetGalley
This book is actually three shorter stories: Three’s A Crowd by Fern Michaels; New Beginnings in Blue Hollow Falls by Donna Kauffman; and Bring Me Home by Melissa Storm.
Three’s A Crowd by Fern Michaels – 4 star
Samantha Stewart is an international news correspondent and has spent the past three years overseas. Sam was excited and nervous at seeing her parents again. What would they think of the secret she has been hiding in the form of her 8 month old daughter, Caroline? Of course they were were a little hurt, but mostly excited to being grandparents! Just as Sam is trying to settle back into being in the United States, something surprising from her past shows up again and it could make life really interesting.
Blue Hollow Falls: New Beginnings by Donna Kauffman – 5 star
Katie MacMillan, Pippa’s sister has permanently moved to Blue Hollow Falls. She is excited to be with her sister again while awaiting the new baby, but even more important, Katie is looking forward to a new beginning in her life. Imagine her surprise when Katie finds out that Declan MacGregor is also in Blue Hollow Falls. Declan may have been Katie’s first crush back in high school, but she has never forgotten him. It turns out Declan has never forgotten her either and quickly they come to find a second chance at love and their happy ending!
Bring Me Home by Melissa Storm – 3 star
Hazel Long lost her mother at a very young age and it has always been just her and her dad. Now when Hazel finds out that her dad has cancer it feels like her world is crashing down. Through the trips to the hospital Hazel meets three other women with family going through the same “C” diagnosis as well as the hunky chemo nurse, Keith. As things with Hazel’s dad deteriorates, her new friends and boyfriend help her to navigate through the emotions.
Overall I enjoyed the first book; loved the second book and had a hard time with the third book (cancer is a hard topic for me to read) but I did enjoy all of the characters and their stories.
This is a very well written collection of novellas. Each story is the perfect length when you don’t have time for a full novel. A wonderful collection of heartwarming stories that you hate to see end. Thank you Kensington Books/Zebra via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
I chose to read this anthology for Donna Kauffman’s Blue Hollow Falls-New Beginnings. I have never read Fern Michaels or Melissa Storm before. I was unsure about Fern Michaels’ Three’s A Crowd until the end. It read like a suspense thriller short story and not a romance at all. Melissa Storm’s story Bring Me Home did not impress me at all. In fact I found it depressing, dealing with a daughter going through cancer treatment with her father. There was a couple at the end of the story but it wasn’t their love story. It was overall depressing to me.
Fern Michael’s Three’s A Crowd is about reporter Samantha Stewart returning home with a 8 month old daughter after spending 3 years overseas, part of the time imbedded with the military in Afghanistan. She told no one she had a daughter and secrecy surrounds her missing husband. There is no love story here, just questions and potential threat.
Donna Kauffman’s New Beginnings is a second chance love story about singer Pippa’s sister and Personal Assistant Katie MacMillan of Dublin. Pippa is confined to bed rest for the duration of her pregnancy and Katie is there to keep things calm and run interference with the multitudes of family and friends trying to visit. She arrives and finds Declan MacGregor is also made his home there. He was taken into her family at age 10 and she’s been in love with him for most of her life. They finally clear the air about how they feel about each other. Seems Declan was dealing with guilt over loving a sister, even if they weren’t blood. Pippa’s delivery gives us all a delightful surprise for those following the series.
Melissa Storm’s Bring Me Home is a story of a father who has pancreatic cancer going in for chemo treatments. He and his daughter Hazel are very close as his wife died when Hazel was 3. Frank is an architect and Hazel has an interior design business that her Dad’s clients often make use of. This story is about a daughter losing her beloved father and him coming clean about what happened with her mother. Along the way she makes some friends, 3 other woman who have family undergoing chemo treatments.We also meet a compassionate and very good looking male nurse. Of course she and the nurse fall in love but the story doesn’t detail their story. It’s mostly about Hazel and her Dad Frank. Sorry but I was not impressed and it was not a romance story.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This review is only for NEW BEGINNINGS IN BLUE HOLLOW FALLS by Donna Kauffman.
I love second chance romances. It has been more than 10 years since Katie and Declan last saw each other, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t thought about the other during their time apart. Katie believed Declan wasn’t interested in her all those years ago, only that couldn’t be further from the truth. This is a sweet romance with engaging characters and a guaranteed happily ever after.
NEW BEGINNINGS IN BLUE HOLLOW FALLS is a novella within the Blue Hollow Falls series but it can be read as a standalone. If you have read the other books in the series you will see familiar, beloved characters.
This book is a collection of three different stories. The first Three’s A Crowd, is about Samantha, who leaves her home in Florida for a job reporting on the war in the Middle East. Three years later she comes home to her parents house. With a surprise. And secrets she can’t share.
I enjoyed this story. It was well written and had likable characters. The only issue I have it that it feels rushed at the end. And I feel it could have been a little more detailed. But over all, was a really enjoyable story. The second book, New Beginnings in Blue hallow Falls is about Katie. An Irish woman, who has come to the town of Blue Hallow Falls to help her pregnant sister, through a difficult pregnancy. She goes, anticipating staying there forever. Then when she gets there, she see the man who nearly broke her heart years ago. When he walked away after confessing her love for him. This story was sure a wonderful, sweet story. The characters were so enjoyable, and lovely. It was a refreshing tale of finding the love fate meant for you to have. I really enjoyed it. And the last story, Bring Me Home, Is the story of Hazel. Her father is diagnosed with cancer, and in the months after, as her father gets more sick, he begins telling her things about her mother she never knew. This is a beautiful, heartwarming, and heartbreaking story of love, and family. I found this story hard to read, because the topic of cancer, and losing a loved one. It had me crying several times throughout the story. It was definitely a good story.
This is a collection of three novellas by Fern Michaels, Donna Kauffman and Melissa Storm. The three stories all revolve around home and family, those two things that mean the most to all of us.
The three stories varied widely. Three’s a Crowd by Fern Michaels is the story of a reporter who had been overseas, but is now returning home to her parents bearing quite the surprise. New Beginnings in Blue Hallow Falls by Donna Kauffman is actually more of a story about some family members who are finding a new place to call home and a new place to fall in love. Bring Me Home by Melissa Storm is about a woman who must go through the process of her father’s failing health while discovering things about his past that he had kept hidden. She might also find someone along the way to love her when she’s all alone,
The Donna Kauffman story was my favorite. That story seemed to transport me to a place of magic, faeries and love. And Pippa! Oh, Pippa! Loved it!
I was given a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.
This is a collection of three stories that revolve around family, homecomings, and finding love. All three were good stories, although I enjoyed Donna Kauffman’s “Blue Hollow Falls: New Beginnings” the most. I love the Blue Hollow Falls series, and this novella was an emotional and heartwarming story of second chances, family, friends, and the love that binds them all. Every return visit to Blue Hollow Falls is a bit like coming home, and I look forward to my next visit!
Home Sweet Home (Blue Hollow Falls #4.5 (New Beginnings)) was a great read by Fern Michaels, Donna Kauffman, and Melissa Storm. This set consists of; Three’s A Crowd by Fern Michaels, New Beginnings in Blue Hollow Falls by Donna Kauffman, and Bring Me Home by Melissa Storm. In Three’s a Crowd, Samantha spends her first Mother’s Day in three years with her parents. This year, she is bringing their granddaughter she’s never met. She is looking for stability for her daughter. In New Beginnings In Blue Hollow Falls, Dubliner Katie MacMillan felt right at home the moment she set foot in Blue Hollow Falls. She came back to help her sister during her pregnancy and is finding out what she wants for her future. She didn’t expect that it could be her second chance with Declan MacGregor. In Bring Me Home, Hazel Long is spending time with her bedridden father. She finds comfort in the other hospital visitors and the handsome male nurse. Hazel’s father begins to tell her about the mother she barely knew. I really enjoyed reading these stories and cant wait to read more by the authors.
I enjoyed these three novellas which were each about women finding their way home. In Fern Michael’s story a war weary television correspondent returns home with her infant daughter with secrets she cannot reveal to her parents. In Donna Kauffman’s story two friends have a second chance at love in Blue Hollow Falls and finally in Melissa Storm’s story, we find the beginnings of the Sunday Potluck Club where four friends meet at the hospital cafeteria as they accompany loved ones to the oncology treatment center. These are heartwarming love filled stories.
While these stories were written by three separate, distinct writers, there was an underlying thread of love & sacrifice that ran through them. The heroine in each story finds her true love & her way. Each story is written in that authors’ style & touched my emotions in different ways. If you never read anything by these authors, this will truly give you a good introduction to them & their way of writing.