Lorrie Thomson

A MEASURE OF HAPPINESS by Lorrie Thomson
Cover first got to me as I connect blueberries with Maine and that's where this book is situated. Like the area enough to visit every other year, if not sooner to take in all it's calm via footpaths and fierceness of the cliff edges.
Story line sounds really good also. I think I've found yet another new author for me to pursue her writings.
Starts out with Katherine and she's walked into her bakery to find it all trashed, she checks various things and finds the money is still safe. She is always thinking she's found her baby-the one she gave away.
Book also follows Celeste who had worked for Katherine and was to buy the bakery from her but headed to NY for culinary school. She still has friends in town.
Book goes back in time to how they worked together at the shop and Kat's exhusband Buddy would come by to get coffee and was always able to draw things out of them.
Liked hearing of the mementos that she treasures in a dishcloth. Katherine has kept many secrets to herself over the years...
There are also chapters from Zach who works at the bakery and is searching for his birth mother.
Lots of twists at every turn, keeping you so engulfed in this story. Recipes included!
I received this book from The Kennsington Books in exchange for my honest review… (meer)

Family, friendship and relationships are at the core of this story.

Who is family? What is true friendship? Why do things happen? How should one deal with issues? All are questions I asked myself as I read about Katherine, Barry, Zach, Celeste, Abby and Blake.

This is a complex story that deals with choices, loss, love and coping mechanisms. It made me think about what I am willing to do or not do for family and friends.

A recipe comes with specific ingredients and exactly how much of each is necessary to create a perfect end result. The recipe for human happiness is not written down and even if it were would no doubt vary for each and every one of us. It is a recipe many of us will pursue our entire lives. In this book the characters are looking for a measure of happiness and how they find drives this story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for a copy of this book to read and review.

4.5 Stars… (meer)

I was first drawn to this book by the cover and the cover blurb....”Life is a balancing act...” Then I read the synopsis and knew this was a book I had to pick up!

Laura Klein is a widow with two teenaged children. One year ago, her bipolar husband committed suicide, and the family is still struggling with the after effects; not only the affects of his suicide, but also the affects of watching him battle his illness for many years. Laura always has in the back of her mind that the illness may have been passed on to her children, Darcy and Troy, and doesn’t quite realize that her children share this same fear. Darcy is fifteen and going through a rough time. She becomes involved with the new boy, Nick, a ‘bad’ boy, and together they test Laura’s boundaries. Troy is a thoughtful and quiet thirteen year old. As the anniversary of her husband’s death approaches, Laura realizes that the money is running out, and before long she will need to find a job. So when her friend suggests she get a renter, she agrees to rent her husband's former studio apartment to a young and attractive emergency room doctor, who quickly becomes more than a tenant.

The book started out a little slow, especially with the telling of Laura’s history with her husband; how they met and their stuggles with his illness. But the story picked up steam rapidly. Towards the end, there was even a bit of suspense involving Darcy and Nick. The book spent a lot of time on the relationship of Laura and Darcy, and their feelings. I would have liked to have seen a bit more of Troy and what he was thinking and feeling. Sometimes he was ‘just there’ in the background, not really doing much to move the story along. I also would have liked to have learned more about Darcy’s friends, Cam and Heather, and where their friendship with Darcy was headed at the end of the book. And I REALLY would have liked to have known more about what happened with Nick. He may have been my favorite character in the book; a ‘typical bad boy’ but underneath it all, a good, but very confused, kid.

This would make an excellent book club selection. There is plenty to dicuss with subjects ranging from mental illness to abuse to tough teen issues like drugs, alcohol, and sex. There are also questions at the end of the book to help guide your discussion.

My Rating: ★★★1/2 3-1/2 Stars

SOURCE: I received a copy of this book through TLC Book Tours in return for an honest review!… (meer)