Siobhan Bendlow is struggling with her recovery from an eating disorder and the financial downturn of her photography business. The last thing she needs is to become the sole caretaker of her wacky grandmother. Especially since the man of her teenaged dreams, Jimmy Vais, has moved back to town, newly single and available. So has his pesky younger brother, Justin. One Vais is fun, but juggling two … two is a problem.
Althea Bendlow may be in her seventies now, but she still craves all the things she wanted in youth: joy, comfort, laughter, and happiness for her loved ones. If gaining the latter means performing some matchmaking magic for her only granddaughter, she’s up to the task. As long as her own past doesn’t keep distracting her, in the form of Captain Lou Rugerman, a man who meant the world to her for one night only.
Welcome back to Snug Harbor, where the memories of a lifetime can become the dreams of tomorrow…
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I really enjoyed this story. The characters were real and flawed. They were relatable. Siobhan is struggling with her business and with her life in general. She is surprised when her Grandmother moves back home and in with her. Althea is a bit eccentric but felt Siobhan needed her. Althea isn’t the only one who has moved home recently. Jimmy and Justin Vais both have recently moved back to Snug Harbor too. I enjoyed both Althea’s story of the past and her current romance. I like Siobhan who proves how strong she is by continually fighting her battles. The story wasn’t a straight path to happily ever after. It had twists and complicated characters. It was a great story from beginning to end.
I received an advance copy and am voluntarily leaving a review.
She has lost the love of her life and now she she is going back home. Where she will see an ex. Can she love again after the post of her husband? What will others think? See if she finds love again
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Loved the book, the story was well written and the characters were intriguing. Once I started I could not get enough, from the start till the end I was engrossed I was even on the edge of my seat with twists and turns, lust and passion, strength. The story of love of sensation. Do yourself a favor and buy the book you want be disappointed.
Thank you for allowing me to review your book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I’m really liking her writing style. I can tell you she has gained a new reader. This book takes you on the journey of Siobhan and her grandma. It’s really like a two for one deal because you get two romance stories going on. It’s easy to follow between the back and forth. Siobhan is struggling a little and her grandma returns at the right time to be some meddling help. There is a good amount of humor in this book, but it also has plenty of feels to make a well rounded story. Siobhan is an easy character to like and she’s good for Jimmy. Jimmy is a little jerky in the beginning, but with the Bendlow women he doesn’t stand a chance. This was an easy book to get lost in.
4.5 cranky stars
This book jumps right into the storyline, but it is fine read as a stand alone book. Siobhan if single living in the family home in Snug Harbour, her sister tries to sell it from under her, but she soon puts a stop to that as her parents said she could live in the house for 7 years after their death. She had over 6 years to go and tells her sister such.
Siobhan’s slightly eccentric grandmother rings her from the airport to say she has arrived to keep her company. Not that Siobhan wanted or needed her company!!!
Siobhan or Bonbon as her grandmother calls her collects her from the airport as she couldn’t leave her there. She always managed to get herself in some sort of trouble, so wanted house guest or not she had one.
Dropping her home, she couldn’t believe it her childhood crush, Jimmy, was moving into his parents home. Everything for her was so embarrassing as her grandmother calls out to him.
This is the start of plenty of antics especially when she is hired by Jimmy’s brother Justin who was also back in town, to take photographs for his company brochure.
Siobhan is a professional photographer with her own studio shop, but times are hard, especially in the winter months. She could not afford to turn work away, so she agrees to do them. She is very good at what she does.
Her grandmother, Althea, thinks she is a matchmaker and tries her best for Siobhan and Jimmy, but she realises she has her own problems when she meets up with Lou, who 40 years ago was her saviour on one horrific night.
I loved reading this book, it was heartwarming and it drew you into it. Althea and her antics were brilliantly portrayed, she was my favourite character.
A recommended read.
At first I wasn’t sure what to think about this book. In reality, this is like to love stories packed into one. One half of the book follows Siobhan and her journey in finding not just love, but herself. The other half of teh book follows Siobhan’s grandmother, Nana Thea, as she returns back to New York to spend time with her family and deal with the death of her husband, and find new love in an old friend. Both journeys are in parallel with each other, and while they each are there for each other in the way family should be, they are also there in support of each others’ next steps in life and love.
A very good story in where both journeys have their ups and downs, but in the end its all about family and finding what makes you happy. While there isn’t a lot of the standard steam or romance in this book, I enjoyed the change of pace and getting to know these two amazing women and the ones they keep close. I hadn’t read any of the other books in this series, and to me this can be read as a standalone. However, I will be looking into her other books as I look forward to more from this author.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Thea is a total hoot! She doesn’t care what anyone says or thinks about her. Siobhan has hit a rough patch in her life and business. And just to top is all off, her grandmother (Thea) says goodbye to her life in a Florida retirement community, and moves back in with Siobhan. Her high school crush has moved back into his parents’ house across the street, and the fireworks begin. Thea wants Siobhan to have the kind of happiness that she had with her husband, and is convinced that Jimmy is the one to do that. The characters are flawed and real, and so much stronger than they think they are. I had a tough time when I started this book, but it took off for me about three chapters in, and I couldn’t put it down from that point on.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Siobhan survived bulimia, but she may not make it with a meddling grandmother, a selfish sister who is trying to force her to sell their parents’ house where she’s living, a struggling photography business, and grumpy high school crush that just moved back in across the street. Her grandmother is a riot and shows that you are never too old for romance. At first I thought Justin was a better potential boyfriend for Siobhan because he much nicer and volunteered with the church. But Jimmy has depths underneath his grumpy exterior. There were plenty of funny moments in this holiday romance.
This story was not a disappointment! Funny and entertaining characters, a great story line that engages the readers attention and when you finish the story, you’ll want to read it again and again and again. Books like this are the best and you may find yourself laughing out loud.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Book four of the Calendar Girls series a well written story that happens in December. This is two women’s story one is in her seventies Althea Bendlow and her Granddaughter Siobhan Bendlow and the men who come into their lifes. Captain Lou Rugerman for Althea, and Jimmy Vais for Siobhan. There is so much that happens in this book that kept me turning pages. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The first book that I have read by this author and it will not be the last! This book has a great storyline filled with humor, love and wonderful characters. Will definitely check out the other books in this series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I’m new to this author and I’m sold! I adored Thea’s character, eccentric, clever, and always motivated by her deep love for others. I appreciate the characters in this book having flaws and problems that are relatable and the strength to address them in realistic ways. I enjoyed the storyline having depth and still having humorous moments. Wonderful read!
Oh my gosh! I am never disappointed reading this author. Grandma Thea and Siobhan have become like family. I only hope when I reach Thea’s age, I have her spunk. Love for family trumps anything and everything in this wonderful novel. Romance reveals itself in Thea’s memories and in Siobhan’s past and present. Crisp storytelling and believable characters will make you want to read this one several times.
Thea, Siobhan’s grandmother, is a riot! I truly enjoyed the comedic aspect to this story and her thoughts, past and present. The author did a fabulous job writing this book. I found it to be fast-paced and it definitely held my interest. There was some depth to it, too, with various issues the different characters had to deal with. They all had their flaws, none of them perfect, and yet they were likeable and realistic. I really liked that the outcomes of the relationships weren’t completely obvious and it seemed like things could go either way. A happy ending didn’t seem to be completely predictable and I found that to be so refreshing.
Some mild swearing throughout and non-descriptive sex but nothing that would stop me from reading it. This book is a series but can definitely be read as a stand-alone without any issues at all. Although, now that I’ve read this one, I want to go back and read the others again! I thought it was a great story and I highly recommend it. Very well written.