Romance

Nice cheesy heart tugger. Really liked the characters. I had read #1 but you don’t have to... ( )

Maybe 2.5. Romance novels aren't really my thing. This was one of those, "I'm looking for something to listen to while I cook and clean and this one's available at the digital library right now" books. Once we got around to the GOOD GUY calling his significant other "my woman," I was pretty much out. There was a little too much cliche and too much predictability. Characters just magically changed at the end to wrap things up in a bow. And Nikolai's accent - just stereotypical and awful. Not for me. ( )

This second book of the series focuses on two main protagonists. Leanne has divorced her philandering husband, and her daughter-in-law Nichole has left her equally unfaithful husband. Leanne remains closer to Nichole than she is to her own son. Now, each woman has met someone new, and both these romantic interests are as different from their former husbands as night is to day. Debbie Macomber writes an excellent story, examining the struggles of these women as they recognize their developing feelings for someone new while retaining some feelings for and having a history with the husbands they could no longer live with. She also does a good job of representing the actions of the new men in lives of these two women when they are compelled to confront the former husbands. It’s a romantic story that embraces reality. Life is not all sunshine and roses, but eventually, people adjust and make a conscious effort to be happy. ( )

I've been reading Debbie Maccomber for years, and quite honestly, I think this is one of my favorite novels to date. It's a tale of new beginnings, reinventing oneself, and of friendship as a woman and her mother-in-law both leave troubled marriage and start over, leaning on each other as they create a "guide" to how they will move forward.

Now, I'll be honest: Maccomber doesn't necessarily write the deepest of novels or the most complex of characters, and can veer towards formulaic - the last few I've read in particular reflected this. However, this felt a bit different from her usual style, and a bit deeper. Nikolai leans a bit towards a caricature, but his enthusiasm and simplicity is irresistible. If you're looking for a light escape read, (or are recovering from a breakup), this empowering story is for you.
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