Once they had it all: a home with a man who adored her, three children they cherished, a life filled with passion and promise.Until one troubled child cost them everything.After a childhood of constant upheaval, all Cleo Formby wanted was to put down roots, to fill a house with family and love. When Malcolm Channing swept into her life, she gained it all: the home, the children, the love of a … her life, she gained it all: the home, the children, the love of a good man who adored her—
Until their firstborn daughter tore their family apart, and even the love between Cleo and Malcolm wasn’t strong enough to survive the devastation.
Five years later, that daughter returns, destitute—with a child in tow. Cleo and Malcolm are thrown together again…and realize that their love has never died.
But both have ties to others now, and their daughter is no less troubled than before. Being in constant proximity yet unable to be together is a constant heartache, but the welfare of this little grandson has to take first place.
When Malcolm’s new life is shattered by treachery, can he and Cleo overcome the wounds of the past and find their way back to the magic that once filled the house that love built?
(A companion story to The Road Back Home, a different perspective of the story seen through Ria’s eyes and going beyond)
“Jean Brashear’s distinctive storytelling voice instantly draws in the reader. She writes with warmth and emotional truth.” ~ #1 NY Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber
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Amazing! This is a poignant story of a family torn apart by tragedy now desperately trying to find a way to piece their lives back together. The story is riveting and you can feel the pain and love these characters have and feel on every page. This is one for the must read list, I highly recommend it.
What an emotional journey for Cleo and Malcolm! They were married for 28 years and lost their way after their son,, David’s death & then their daughter, Victoria’s disappearance. Cleo pushed Malcolm away, too. They were divorced for about 5 years. When their estranged daughter Victoria returns home, she is not alone. She has a son, Benjy ( he looks just like David, his deceased uncle). Jean Brashear takes the reader on quite an emotional journey. The characters and story telling are outstandingly and artfully done. It was as if, I could see, hear, and feel all that occurred. I can’t wait to read the companion book, “The Road Back Home”.
I did receive an ARC for The House That Love Built. And I’ve chosen to write an honest review.
Whew, what an emotional roller coaster this book was. Not your typical second chance romance by any means. The main characters are mature, meaning 40-50’s, and have complex lives and history with each other. They both struggled with their pasts meeting their present and the family drama that it all brings.
Well written, intense reality of modern life.
I received an ARC from the author for an honest and unbiased review. No compensation was promised or received for the review.
They had a perfect marriage until it was pulled apart by their eldest daughter and the death of their son. Now Victoria is back, destitute with a son that looks just like David. Can they work through their problems so it can be a house of love again?
Jean Brashear is always a joy to read.
An emotional book. With the deep and abiding love that Cleo and Malcolm had for each other, it just couldn’t survive tragedy. A second chance is in the making. Victoria, there eldest daughter, is back. She has the most adorable son named Benjy. Victoria was a troubled child and no matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t reach her. Benjy is the key. He is the most adorable little boy. He has Malcom coming around. He has Cleo loosening up. It isn’t until the emotional issues of the past are laid to rest, can this family move on. I can’t wait to read the next book.
ARC for honest review with no compensation
House That Love Built is book 4 in the Second Chances series by Jean Brashear and oh what an emotional journey!!
Cleo and Malcolm Channing had it all..love, children, family and a happy home…until tragedy struck and the family was torn apart by divorce and heart break. Now 5 years later more upheaval, deceit, return of their first born, heartache and a grandchild that somehow needs them all…
Can this family find their way back to each other, possibly mend a broken marriage and find their way back to the House That Love Built??
This book has it all…tears, tragedy, pain, heartbreak and so much more…
Jean Brashear has earned my loyalty as I read through her Sweetgrass Springs Series. I guarantee she is not disappointing me with these new books! They are different, but written with the same passion. It’s refreshing. While reading “The House That Love Built”, I cried, was frustrated, smiled, and laughed. So many emotions. A great read!
*I received an ARC of this book and this is my voluntary review.
Her childhood was bad. Grown now she thought she had risen above all that and had a good life. Along comes a troubled daughter who tears the family apart. When she comes back with her own child with her things change. They have to heal and work out how to be the family their grandson needs. It is turbulent, suspenseful, very emotional, lots of twists and turns and much more. It is a edge of your seat page turner with both heartache and heartwarming moments. I received a review copy and voluntarily review it.
The characters in “The House That Love Built” burrowed deep into my heart. I felt such strong empathy for them and their situations. Malcolm and Cleo were deeply blessed with their love for each other their children and their lives. One difficult child destroyed it all, made it all crumble under their feet. A death in the family, a child runs away a marriage in ruins. Years later the runaway child returns with a child of her own in tow. Malcolm and Cleo are thrust back together to act as the parents they are. It’s obvious to everyone how deeply they still care for each other but now Malcolm has a girlfriend and a new baby on the way. Can they work their way out of this quagmire, help their child to ease back into the family while welcoming her child while finding their way back to each other? Will there be a HEA for the Channing family this time? I devoured this book and can’t wait for the next one about Sander and Victoria “The Road Back Home”. There has not been a Jean Brashear book yet that I didn’t absolutely love and this one is no exception I was gifted a copy of this book. My honest review is voluntarily provided.
This book was exhausting, but worth 4.5 stars. Cover to cover angst. Normally the type of thing I avoid reading. I only planned to read a chapter or two in order to get a feel for it, but then I couldn’t put it down.
Ria’s son Benjy was the one bright light in the book. Everyone else was so full of sadness, pain, regret, anger, hostility, fear, blame, etc.
The book was truly intense. Almost everyone including Ria, blamed Ria for the way their lives imploded. I felt sorry for Ria. They talked about all the damage she had done, but I never read anything about anyone mentioning getting professional help for her. All of them needed professional help.
I had to wonder how the hell did they make such a mess of their lives. As I continued to read, the explanation was slowly revealed.
Believe it or not the book ends on somewhat of a high note. I will say a HFN, but with more to come. It will pull several emotions out of you. At one point, I was near tears. I absolutely felt some of this family’s pain. My understanding is the following book will focus more on the situation from Ria’s point of view. I don’t want to miss that.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book received from the author.
I received this book in exchange for a fair review, and loved every moment spent reading it. In fact I couldn’t put it down. This story of a family torn apart by a difficult child and the death of a second child in a car accident. This story begins when Ria, the difficult daughter returns with her son. Her parents have been divorced for 5 years and neither has remarried, but her father is living with a younger woman while her mother is living in their original home in a household with her aunt and grandmother. Ria’s appearance with her son shakes everyone.
I loved every one of the characters in this story. Even the ex-husbands girlfriend who insists on her life on her own terms. While many readers may find her hard and unfeeling, I understood where she was coming from and sympathized with her refusal to give up her life despite the pain that choice causes. I don’t know much about Ria’s back story but understand the next book in the series is her story.
Jean has written a sensitive novel presenting a cast of characters of varied ages, temperaments and problems. They felt real and torn by life and caring. I enjoyed each of them and felt I couldn’t have handled their situations any better than they had.
I received an ARC of this soon to be re-released book and thought I would just read the introduction. Three hours later, with tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat, I finished the book. It had me turning the pages and reading as quickly as possible to find out if I would get my happy ending.
My heart broke for every member of this family as they struggled with the aftermath of the death of their son/brother. The story is an unflinching look into their lives after five years and the pain and damage this accident has caused. I literally read the entire book with lump in my throat.
This is the story of love and second chances and I cannot wait for the sequel. One of the best books I’ve read this year.
This is definitely a story that requires tissues. Many of Jean’s stories have this requirement but The House That Love Built is even more heartbreaking. This family was tragically torn apart but circumstances allowed the family to finally start to heal. This not an easy read, it is soul searching and you just don’t know who carries the most guilt and who deserves the most sympathy. While this story ends on a happy note, it is far from over. I can’t wait for the next book in this series is released.