In her most powerful novel yet, New York Times bestselling author Marie Bostwick weaves the uplifting story of three grief support group dropouts—women united in loss and rescued through friendship. Fifteen years ago, Grace Saunders vowed to take her beloved husband for better or worse. Now she’s coming to terms with difficult choices as she crafts a memory quilt from scraps of their life … from scraps of their life together—a life torn to shreds by an accident that has left him in a coma. Enduring months of limbo, Grace is at least not alone.
Nan has been widowed for twenty years, but now, with her children grown, her home feels painfully empty. Even the company of her golden retriever, Blixen, and a series of other rescue dogs, can’t fill the void. Then there’s Monica, a feisty woman with a biting wit who’s reeling following her husband’s death—and the revelation of his infidelity.
As for Grace, a chance evening with a man she barely knows brings a glimmer of joy she hasn’t felt since the tragedy—along with feelings of turmoil and guilt. But her struggle to cope will force all three women to face their fears, share their deepest secrets—and lean on one another as they move from grief and isolation to hope, and a second chance at happiness . . .
Praise for Marie Bostwick and Her Novels
“Marie Bostwick is my go-to author . . . always powerful, inspiring, and uplifting.”
—Robyn Carr, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“The Promise Girls is a beautiful story about the ties that bind . . . Marie Bostwick exquisitely tells the tale.” —Melanie Benjamin, New York Times bestselling author of The Swans of Fifth Avenue
“Beautiful, thought-provoking, tragic and redeeming, The Second Sister is a feel-good goldmine.”
—USAToday.com
A MaryJanesFarm Book Club Pick
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just love her books. have read all but one of her books. great writer you enjoy this book.
grandma carol
My favorite of Marie’s books so far.
Although I enjoyed this book, I couldn’t help but think that the author was writing with a Hallmark movie contract in mind. Still, if Hallmark does make this into a movie—they’ll mess it up until it’s unrecognizable. Just read it and enjoy it as it is in book form. Very uplifting story.
Loved this story of three very different women, each grieving in different ways for different reasons. Their friendship is unforgettable…no longer friends but family. Family who is always there for each other. The author wrote of hard topics, drug addiction, long-term illness, divorce, and death and did it well. My first book by this author but it won’t be my last. I read a copy of a library book and was not required to write a review. The opinions are my own.
I have read every one of Marie Bostwick’s in her quilting related series and loved them all. Marie is a wonderful writer and writes very enjoyable books. Heart warming.
Shows resiliency in life after experiencing a loss. Very redeeming.
This book is a marvelous story and very believable. Marie Bostwick is one of my favorite writers and this book certainly does not disappoint. Her characters are very believable and she makes you root for them. Absolutely loved it. Please write another, Marie!
Love this author
This was a fun and easy read about women overcoming adversity and sticking together.
Great book about three widowed women. Full of warmth as they rely on each other toget over their loss.
Unfortunately, I came away very disappointed. As a rule I really enjoy Bostwick’s books but this just did not grab me. Maybe she was trying too hard to unite 3 very different female characters, yet she does that successfully in the Cobblestone books. In this book no one resaly grabbed me snd I didn’t feel invested in their lives. I slso found myself resenting that once agsin women can’t find self-worth but need a man to fulfill them.
A good book! It has well interwoven characters.
Just in Time by Marie Bostwick takes readers to Portland, Oregon. Grace Saunders is looking for a support group, but none of them are the right fit for her or her situation. Grace meets Nan Wilja and Monica Romano who are also looking for a different type of support group situation. The three of them form their own support group that meets each Monday night. They are helping each other move on and the three women became more than friends. Grace’s husband, Jamie is in a permanent vegetative state. Monica’s husband died in a boating accident with his girlfriend and she is left to run his restaurant as well as raise his children. Nan has been widowed for twenty years, but now her children are out of the house which leaves it very quiet despite her dogs. While visiting with Jamie in the evenings, Grace works on a memory quilt. Each block represents Jamie and their relationship. One evening, Monica sets up Grace with Luke Pascal (she tricks her). Luke is a lawyer turned furniture craftsman. Grace is attracted to Luke (and he makes her smile), but she feels that she cannot move on while Jamie is still alive. Each of these women must work to overcome their grief, heartaches and fears. It is time to move forward with their lives and with each other’s encouragement, they can get their second chance at happiness.
Just in Time is nicely written and has a good pace. It is a lovely story about three women that are ready to move forward, but they each need support (compassion, comfort, encouragement). These women have loved and lost. We follow them as they work through grief and heartache to get a second chance at having a joyful future. I liked the inclusion of the dog rescue, Rainbow Gate in the story and the therapy dogs. I did, though, feel that Just in Time was predictable. Why do the women have to have a man in their lives to be fulfilled? I would love to see a something different (a better role model for the younger generation). Just in Time is a heartwarming story about women getting a second opportunity. Grace’s story was the dominant one, and I felt that the business world was portrayed realistically. Grace’s company is bought out and in order for her to keep her job, she is required to do twice the work along with working long hours (she needs her job for the insurance for Jamie). I wish the quilting had been more prominent. It was an aspect I wanted to see woven throughout the story. I am giving Just in Time 3 out of 5 stars (it is okay). Just in Time is not the author’s best work. I have read all of her books, and I know she can do better (her Cobbled Court series is wonderful). I keep hoping Ms. Bostwick will go back to what she does best.
Just in Time by Marie Bostwick
Three women meet in a parking lot after attending part of a grief support group. The group is not for them BUT the three find they may have reason to spend time supporting one another in their own smaller group and thus begins a friendship that is one all women would like to someday have. The ages are 60’s, 40’s and 30’s. Two of the women have lost their husbands to death and the other woman’s husband has been in a coma for almost two years. All have issues to contend with that their friendship helps alleviate. Whether the issue is money, difficult children or finding money that is needed they are there for one another through thick and thin AND all three find a way forward that brings them a great deal of happiness.
If you are looking for a feel good story with strong women that have great stories to tell then this book is one I can and do recommend. It made me think, care and want to be friends with these three women. Great story by a wonderful writer and one that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
When I first started this book, it took me a couple of chapters to get into it, but from then on it became a page turner, and is reminiscent of a Debbie Macomber read, and I wanted more once the last page was turned.
The author introduces us to three women who share a common bond, in that they have all lost or are losing a spouse. We get to walk in each of their shoes and get to know them personally, what makes them happy and what makes them tick.
As we journey with them we see what dear friends they have become, and wouldn’t we all want the same. As for me I am a dog lover and a quilter, think I could fit in with this group, and one of the reasons that I chose to read this book, and I am so glad that I did.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Kensington, and was not required to give a positive review.
“Love isn’t something you negotiate, it just is.”
I wish that everyone had best friends like these three main characters; Grace, Nan and Monica.
While attending a support group meeting to attempt to understand their losses, their friendship begins.
They come together and become each others ears for listening, advisors and confidantes. They share throughout the chapters their families, their pets, their fears, dreams and hopes.
As time moves on, all three women unite and expand their love and talents with many other people needing help and hope.
This was a genuinely uplifting story, one we all need! I loved it!